Page 102 of Bend

“Thanks, asshole.”

“You did.” His tone is blunt, but there’s less edge behind it now. “So clean it up. I can’t have half my fucking team distracted, pissed off, or trying to kill each other because none of you know how to communicate.”

Sayshen snorts. “That almost sounded like concern.”

“It’s team management.”

“Sure it is.”

Talon gives him a look, then turns back to me. “Just figure your shit out before it starts bleeding onto the track. I need them focused.”

I raise a brow. “Anything else, coach?”

“Yeah.” His expression shifts, softening just enough for me to catch it. “And you need to tell Dad.”

I stare at him. “That sounded less like advice and more like an order.”

“Take it however you want.” He looks back toward the water. “He deserves to know you.”

My chest tightens.

Talon exhales and rubs a hand over his jaw. “They all do. You didn’t get a choice in any of this, and neither did he.”

Sayshen goes quiet beside us.

“I’m not saying it’ll be easy,” Talon continues. “It probably won’t be. But you shouldn’t have to keep existing like some secret nobody’s allowed to talk about.”

I swallow. “And what if I’m not ready?”

“Then we wait until you are.” His gaze finds mine again. “But when you do it, you’re not doing it alone.”

Sayshen nods. “Damn right.”

Talon jerks his chin toward him. “We’ll both go.”

The words land right in the centre of my chest.

Not because they fix anything.

They don’t.

But because for the first time, it feels like I’m not standing outside their family waiting to be let in.

“Okay,” I say softly.

Talon gives one short nod, like that settles it.

Sayshen bumps his shoulder against mine. “Family meeting wasn’t so bad.”

I look between them. “Yeah, well, don’t get too fucking comfortable. I’m still the best-looking sibling.”

Talon scoffs. “Delusional.”

“Jealous.”

“Echo!” Lena calls from down by the water. “Your five minutes are up. Get your ass down here!”

I glance toward the shoreline. She’s standing waist-deep beside Bexley and Cece, waving both arms like there’s any chance I missed her.