Page 188 of Sexting My Best Friend's Brothers
Tessa scrambles to grab Owen’s iPad from the table. She refreshes the page.
I recite the words I wrote ten minutes ago. The words that will either save us or sink us.
“To our users and investors: Mosaic was built on the foundation of truth. We believe secrets make us sick, and confessions set us free. Today, a private moment was stolen from us and used to shame us. We refuse to be shamed. We are a family. We are expecting twins. And we are more committed than ever to Mosaic, to each other, and to the values of transparency. If you believe in love in all its forms, we welcome you. If not, Mosaic isn’t for you. Welcome to the new era. - The Founders.”
Tessa reads it silently. Her lips tremble.
“You told them to delete the app?” she whispers, looking at me with wide eyes. “Ethan, that’s suicide.”
“It’s a power move,” Owen says from the corner, finally hanging up on Sterling. “And guess what? User downloads have just spiked by 400 percent in the last five minutes. People love rebels.”
Tessa lets out a long, shaky breath. “You guys are crazy.”
“We’re protecting our own,” I say.
My phone rings again. A shrill, demanding tone cuts through the moment. I check the caller ID.
Mother.
My stomach tightens. I haven’t spoken to her since last Christmas, when she spent the entire dinner criticizing Owen’s career choices and asking why I hadn’t found a “nice girl” yet.
“Ethan?” Tessa asks, seeing my expression.
“It’s my mother,” I say grimly.
“You have to answer,” Owen says quietly. “She’s seeing the news.”
I swipe answer and put it on speaker. I want them to hear this. I want no more secrets.
“Ethan,” her voice comes through, sharp and icy. “Tell me the news is lying. Tell me this is some sort of PR stunt.”
“It’s not a stunt,” I say, my voice steady. “It’s the truth.”
A judgmental, heavy silence fills the line.
“You have embarrassed this family,” she says finally. “With your own brothers? You’re ruining your legacy. And for what? An employee who doesn’t know her place?”
Asher stops typing. Owen stands up straight. Tessa shrinks back into the sofa.
“Her name is Tessa,” I say, my voice completely devoid of warmth. “And she’s pregnant with twins.”
“You pay her off,” she snaps instantly. “You fix this scandal before you become the laughingstock of the country.”
“There’s nothing to fix,” I say.
“If you do this,” she warns, her tone dripping with venom, “you are no son of mine.”
“I haven’t been your son since I was twelve years old and had to protect my brothers myself,” I reply coldly. “Do not call this number again.”
I hang up.
The stillness in the penthouse is absolute.
“I’m sorry,” Tessa whispers. “I caused this. I separated you from your family.”
“You are my family,” I say, walking back to her. “They are just blood. You are the choice.”
I lean down and kiss her forehead, lingering there. “Don’t you ever think you ruined anything. You saved us from being them.”
