Page 101 of Bend

He looks at me. “What?”

“That’s the first time you’ve admitted I’m your sister.”

Sayshen grins. “Shit, this is officially a historic day.”

Talon exhales through his nose, but the corner of his mouth twitches. “Don’t make it weird, fuck head.”

“Pretty sure you made it weird by announcing it to the entire beach.”

“Bexley asked.”

“Nope. She in fact did not. She just yelled at me.”

“Same thing.”

I shake my head, smiling despite myself.

The smile fades when Talon looks back toward the water.

“Look, I know I’ve been a dick.”

Sayshen opens his mouth.

Talon points at him without looking over. “Don’t.”

Sayshen holds both hands up. “Wasn’t going to say anything.”

“You were absolutely going to say something.”

Sayshen grins. “Probably. But can you blame me? Couple beers in and suddenly you’re a giant fucking teddy bear. Shit, if I’d known this was all it took to get you talking, I would’ve gotten you drunk weeks ago.”

Talon lets out a quiet laugh and drags a hand through his damp hair. “Yeah, yeah. Fuck you.” Then he looks at me, some of the humour fading from his face. “Look, Echo. I know I’ve acted like a dick, but I do know none of this is your fault. It’s just… not exactly an easy situation to wrap my head around.”

“I know.”

Talon looks out at the water for a second, jaw working like he’s deciding how honest he actually wants to be.

“Dad deserved better,” he says finally. “For years, I told myself she left because she couldn’t stay. That she was too sick, too fucked up, whatever made it easier to believe she didn’t really have a choice.”

His gaze cuts toward me.

“Then you showed up, and suddenly that whole story went to shit.”

I keep my eyes on the water. “I get why that hurts.”

“Yeah.” He drags a hand through his damp hair. “Still doesn’t mean I should’ve taken it out on you.”

Sayshen glances between us, then smirks. “Oh, Bex definitely tore you a new one, huh?”

Talon’s mouth twitches. “Maybe.”

“Knew it.”

“Don’t get too fucking excited.” Talon turns his attention back to me. “I still don’t condone the whole three Speed Demons shit.”

I groan. “There he is.”

“It’s messy as fuck,” he says, ignoring me. “And you handled it badly.”