Page 6 of Wilde Flame

“You okay?” I asked.

She nodded. “I’m just happy for Emeline, that’s all.”

I smirked at her. “You’re next.”

Turning her head, she gaped at me. “Why am I next? Because I’m a girl?”

Laughing, I replied, “Because it’s certainly not going to be me. And can you see him settling down anytime soon?” I pointed to Gatlin, who was walking around trying to balance a glass of water on his forehead as Rhett cheered him on.

Ensley burst into laughter. “Fair enough.”

“Now that everyone’s here, please head to the dining room and find a seat! Ensley, Gatlin, Caden—kitchen!” Mom shouted.

“Why is she only calling us and not Emeline?” I griped.

“Because she just got engaged. Let her enjoy being a full-fledged grownup for one day.”

Before I could respond, our mother looked at us and pointed to the kitchen.

Ensley bumped my arm. “Come on. The sooner we haul the food into the dining room, the sooner we can eat.”

“Thank God. I’m starving.”

The creak of the back door opening caused me to glance up to see who was coming out. Everyone was in the house playing stupid games that I wasn’t the least bit interested in. I stood to the far-right side of the porch, in the shadows where the light didn’t reach, so whoever it was, they wouldn’t see me unless they came this way.

But the glow did a great job of revealing the person who was interrupting my peace.

Lilibeth.

I internally groaned. Every time I saw the damn woman, she stirred up two very different emotions in me—anger and desire.

She tightened her coat around herself and brought her hands up to her mouth to blow on them. A light snow had begun to fall, and she reached a hand out and let some flakes fall on her palm. When she smiled, a strange tightness started in my chest.

Her smile slowly faded…and I watched as she reached up and wiped away a single tear.

Oh, just fucking great. If she started crying, I’d be forced to ask her what was wrong.

The back door opened again, and this time, my sister Ensley walked out.

“I see you had the same idea.”

Lilibeth quickly wiped away another tear, but not before my sister saw it. She closed the distance between them and put an arm around her. Lilibeth rested her head on Ensley’s shoulder.

“I know. I feel the same way. Happy but sad.”

Leaning forward slightly, I strained to hear what my sister was saying. Why was she sad?

“I feel so guilty for feeling this way,” Lilibeth stated. “I’m so happy for Emeline. I genuinely am. It just makes me realize how far I am from the things I’d always dreamed of.”

Ensley pulled a hat on, and they both sat down on the top step.

“I have everything I want except love. And I don’t think it’s ever going to happen, Ensley.”

My sister pulled her knees up and wrapped her arms around them. “I don’t think I’ll ever find it, either.”

I closed my eyes. I hated that my sister felt that way.

“At least you’ve had sex. I’m going to die alone and a virgin.”