A Long Time Coming (Cane Brothers, #3)

by Meghan Quinn

I demand to speak to an authoritative human.”

Reaching up to the wall, I rap my knuckle four times. Like clockwork, she knocks three. Four knocks for four letters in love. Three knocks for three letters in you. It’s something we’ve done ever since we shared a wall. It’s a gentle reminder that even though I’m angry, irritated, or even sad, at least I have Lia, my best friend, the one person who can so easily put a smile on my face. I don’t know what I’d do without her. I don’t even want to think about it. Even when things in my life are out of balance, there’s one very solid, very predictable constant. Lia.

“You guys don’t get along.” Breaker shifts on the couch and then offers me a smile. “Well, he’s going to be your husband. Better late than never to build on that relationship because I won’t let any hard feelings or awkward tension with your future husband get between you and me, got it?”

eating green olives straight from the jar.”

I don’t do much other than work out and go to work, so

so relatable

“Do you think that’s why I haven’t found someone? Because I’ve been content with Lia?” Huxley rubs his temple, his short patience showing. “Yes,” he answers. “That’s exactly why, because why do you need a girlfriend when Lia is all you’ve ever needed?”

“And what I don’t know, I’ll spend the rest of our lives finding out. Getting married to someone doesn’t mean you know a list of facts about your partner like some reality trivia game. I’m marrying you because you make me happy, because I can’t imagine a day when I don’t think about you in my life, and because I love you, Lia. I’m not marrying you because I happen to know what you like to order from the sandwich shop around the corner or because you can telepathically answer a stupid Password question. Those are all menial things when it comes to getting married. It doesn’t matter.” He moves his hand to my heart. “This matters. Our love matters.”

“What’s going on in that head of yours?” he asks. “Just grateful you’re here. More grateful than you probably know.” “No matter what happens between us, Lia, I will always be there for you. Always. Okay?”

“I’m so freaking raw right now, Breaker. I can barely breathe. I need you in here, with me, by my side. Please stay . . .”

“Upset? For what reason? This should be fun.” “I agree. That’s why we shouldn’t dictate what she wears and be happy for what she thinks looks beautiful on her.”

I go back to the dressing room, knock, and then enter, only to find Lia standing in the middle of the room, wearing an off-the-shoulder cream lace dress that accentuates her waist and gently flows to the ground. Holy. Fucking. Shit. My mouth goes dry as my eyes slowly work their way up her torso, to her neckline, and then to her face and . . . something hits me. Something so strong, so foreign that I don’t know how to categorize it. Like this overwhelming sense of . . . breathlessness.

“You’re in love with your best friend, and you just finally realized it.”

First and foremost, I love her. I let that sink in. I let myself sit in my feelings and understand them. Lia is the most precious person in my life. She’s my ride or die. She means everything to me. She’s my girl.

It’s that her long red hair has been cut and dyed. Thin blonde streaks are woven through her hair that now sits just above her shoulders, with long flowy bangs and messy curls that fit her personality so well.

Bet you he thinks you’re too hot now, like you’re out of his league, and he’s worried you might wander off.” “Well, if he keeps acting like an ass, I very well might.” That’s the spirit. Wander off, straight into my arms.

“As you are aware, this union was not my first choice for Brian—” “What do you mean?” Lia asks, her eyes falling on Brian. “Mother, that’s not true. You like Lia.”

“I’m done, Brian. I should have been done a while ago, but maybe I just needed the cold-hearted evidence about why I should be done.”

“I’m done. I’m done with everything. I’m done feeling like shit when you’re around. I’m done worrying if you’ll actually kiss me or not when you see me. I’m done asking myself if I’m good enough for you, good enough for your family. And I’m done dealing with your psychopath mother. I need more. I want more. And I sure as hell deserve more. Come on, Breaker.”

“We just matched. Like when everyone left Scrabble that night, and we were alone, I felt like my missing puzzle piece was put into place.” “I felt the same way.” We both lift our drinks to our mouth and take long pulls. “I would be lost without you, Breaker.” “I would be lost without you, too.”

“I think it’s because in my mind, I’ve always been with you. You’ve always been mine.”