SAVANNAH
My whole body shivered. Rafe’s question only meant that they were talking about Michael. Gradually, I understood what was happening.
There were things Rafael didn’t tell me. Things about him he couldn’t entrust others yet, especially to someone like me whom he had just met. That was human nature, so I understood and was still waiting. But things between the two of us kept getting deeper.
It wasn’t just any person who’d accidentally become a part of his life.
Rafe had a sibling (a twin) he’d lost many years ago, and it was my very own brother. The same person who raised me, the same person who carried and fed me as a child. It wasn’t just about his family—it was mine too.
Rafe and I’s connection to the Reeds was already problematic. I wasn’t sure what to believe because the coincidence was too bewildering; it almost seemed impossible.
Unable to answer or move, Rafe snatched my hand and dragged me to his car with brute force. My wrist was hurting, but the noise in my mind from too many thoughts was enough to disregard it.
Rafe shoved me to the passenger seat while still too shocked and swiftly maneuvered out of the place.
“Oh my God,” I whispered to myself.
Rafael Sebastian is Michael’s twin! Michael is a Sebastian!
“Is he home?” Rafe asked icily as he drove in the middle of my contemplation.
I looked up at him. “Huh?”
“Michael. Is he home?” he repeated.
I stared at him blankly.
“Get back to your senses, Savi, and answer me,” his tone was now laced with emotion. He sounded like he was panicking too. The speed of his driving was accelerating by the second.
I swallowed dryly and set my blurry sight on the road. “Probably. I’m… I’m not sure.”
“Then call him.”
I jolted. “I…”
“Savi!” he snapped, glancing at me. “Goddammit. Could you call him now, please?”
With shaking hands, I looked for my phone in my purse. Clumsily, I spilled my things under the seat. My phone landed on my lap.
“I’m s-sorry!” I said.
He sighed and reached for his hand. “Savi?”
“Yes?”
“Breathe.”
“How can I freaking breathe?!” I squealed at his face. The tension building in my chest was getting too much to handle. “Can you please stop the car? I need air.”
He opened my window instead. “We’re in the middle of the highway! Just breathe, okay? Take a deep breath, and listen to my voice.” He squeezed my hand gently.
I shut my eyes and exhaled slowly from my mouth. I inhaled from my stomach one more time and released the air.
“Now. Where is your brother?”
“You are Michael’s brother!” I screamed when I finally had a grasp on what was happening. I faced Rafe with widening eyes.
“You never mentioned your brother was adopted.”
“Family is family blood related or not. What did Brett show you?”
“Documents. Proofs that Michael Gibson is Mikhail.”
“Why didn’t you mention this too? And do you actually believe Brett?”
“How about you? Does your brother even know you were doing this?”
I shook my head. “Why did you say he started this? What did he do?”
“It’s a long story,” he said quietly.
“And you’re not going to tell me about it? You’re going to keep me in the dark again? This is Michael we are talking about!” I buried my face in my palms to hide my anger. I was so livid and frustrated by all this confusion.
“Savi, that’s not my intention. Please. This is unexpected for me too. I don’t know what to think or what to say. For now, I just need to talk to your brother… or mine.”
“Michael is my brother. We’re still not sure if he’s the one you are looking for.”
A muscle in his jaw ticked. “That sounded possessive right there,” he murmured. “Call him.”
I couldn’t believe I didn’t see him for five days, and this was what we were going to face. Problems after problems.
I texted my brother instead of calling him. He might be in class right now. I didn’t want to disturb him. Deep inside, I was hoping I wouldn’t get a response. I wasn’t emotionally ready to tell him the news.
“I’ll tell him,” Rafe said as if he could read my mind. “No one is taking your brother away from you.”
“You’ll let him be? Because I know what your life has been like by being a member of your family. The Sebastians are influential people, while Michael likes to chase dreams, is carefree, and follows what he loves to do. He won’t be accustomed to it.”
He grimaced. “You’re making it sound like we’ll do something bad to him.”
I looked down at my lap, ashamed of my reaction. “I’m sorry, it’s not what I meant. I have nothing against your family, Rafe. Honestly, I like them. They’re compassionate like you and they welcomed me like I was a part of your family. Your mother is one of a kind. It’s just that Michael’s world is different now. We’re not rich like you, but we’re happy because life with people like us was simple.”
Rafe’s world would be unknown to Michael. We weren’t used to being in the spotlight. Even when I was still with Edward, I remained on the sidelines, unseen.
“I know,” he whispered.
“I don’t know if I’m ready for this, Rafe,” I admitted, tearing up. “This is all too much. Everything was too much.” I wiped my tears, sobbing, finally giving in to my emotions.
“You don’t want to be with me?” He sounded hurt, tormented.
“No, it’s not like that. I want to be with you. God, I love being with you because I’m in love with you, Rafe.”
His jaw tightened, and his gaze darkened. But as expected, he said nothing.
“Did you hear me? I said I love you.” I was already putting all my heart into it.
“But it’s too much,” he whispered softly.
“Yes.” I nodded. “I know we’ve barely started, but it’s not going to work—not if you don’t tell me what I need for this relationship to work. Michael needs me more now because our lives have gotten so entangled.”
“We’ll talk about this, Savi, please. I need to figure this out by talking to Michael.”
And I wasn’t sure if he was even listening. It was freaking frustrating.
Michael’s reply came in a few moments later.
What’s wrong? I just got home.
I didn’t reply.
***
This scene felt like déjà vu. It was like when I introduced Michael to Carter, he was standing mightily in our living room, his head was held high, and arms folded across his chest. I only noticed now that they were just as tall.
On the other hand, Rafe was unguarded, lips shaking, hands open, and his gaze locked on the man who possibly shared the same blood with him.
“What’s this about?” Michael asked, scowling.
“I’m Rafael Sebastian.” Rafe reached out a hand to him, but Michael didn’t move a muscle.
“I know who you are.” He looked at me. “What did he do this time, Savi?”
“Nothing. He just wants to talk to you. Do you mind?”
“Why? Is there something you’re not telling me? I don’t have a good feeling about this.”
“You’ll find out.” I grasped his arm. “Please, just hear him out.”
“Is this about you?”
“It’s about you.”
Michael shot daggers at Rafe.
“Mikhail,” Rafe called out.
Michael’s expression turned more disorderly. “What did you just call me?”
Rafe gave him the black folder from earlier. My brother took it but was still confused.
“What is this?” Michael asked.
“I’ll give you two space to talk,” I said.
Michael caught my wrist. “But Savi—”
“It’s okay. You’ll understand when you read whatever is in that folder. I’m sorry if I have to do this, but this might be what you are looking forward to.”
I took off his hand and excused myself. I went outside the house because I was still out of breath. I made sure I closed the door behind me because I didn’t want to hear whatever they’d talk about.
After another hour of sulking in front of the house, Riley, Wesley, Edward, and Sofia came by two cars, pulling over on the driveway. I texted them earlier because I didn’t want to be alone. I needed my friends. Without knowing the reason, they still came.
Right after Riley came down the car, I sprinted toward her and threw my arms around her. I couldn’t help but cry again.
“Oh, Savi. What’s wrong?” Riley also clasped her arms around me and squeezed me against her. “It’s okay now. We’re here.”
I glanced at Sofia and mouthed, “Thank you.”
“Edward told me what happened with Brett,” Sofia said.
“Brett called this afternoon,” Edward inserted.
“What the hell are you doing with Brett?” Riley’s tone was spiked with disgust.
“Oh, God. It’s not like that,” Edward defended, rolling his eyes. “Hey, how are you?” he asked me.
“She’s not fine, obviously,” Riley reacted. She released me. “But you will be because we are here. Tell us what’s happening.”
“Where are they?” Wesley asked. Edward had probably told them.
“Inside. Talking,” I replied.
“Seriously? Him of all people?” Wesley said, shoving his fingers through his hair.
“There are things that you think are impossible but still happen,” Sofia said sincerely. Her hand hooked on Edward’s arm. “But some things happen for a reason, isn’t that right, Savi?”
I nodded, smiling faintly. “They do.” I sniffled my tears back.
“Anyway, how long have they been like that?” Edward asked me.
“Since we arrived.” I sighed. “I don’t know what they’re talking about now. Anyway, shall we get inside? We can use the back door and go to my bedroom. They’re in the living room.”
“Just like the old times.” Riley smiled.
“Yeah,” Sofia agreed.
“But only the girls will stay,” Wesley said, glancing at his watch.
“And it won’t feel right if I’m here too, so I’m leaving too,” Edward said.
But as we were about to get inside, the front door was pushed open, and Rafe came outside. He frowned at the group of people who were also watching him.
His eyes stopped at me. “Savi, do you have a minute?”
“Yeah, sure.”
Michael came out of the door too and was baffled at the crowd in front of his house. “What is this about?”
“Sorry, I invited them,” I said. “I’ll just talk to Rafe.”
My brother nodded and invited my friends to come inside. Rafe and I were left alone outside. Once again, the cold wind touched my skin. I quivered.
“What happened?”
“We can’t talk about everything here. Don’t you think?” His mouth curled up, and the mirth touched his eyes.
Something was different about him now. After his conversation with Michael, he seemed to be in a good mood.
“I suppose.” I crossed my arms. “But you can’t make an excuse. Is Michael really your… you know.”
“It seems. Mikhail doesn’t remember anything about his childhood with us, but he remembers how he got lost. It was exactly how I remembered it too.”
“Don’t call him Mikhail. His name is Michael. Michael Gibson. Remember that.” I pouted. “Don’t you need a DNA test or something?”
“We do, but that’ll only be for formality. My investigator will take care of that. You know, you two are so much alike.” His eyes smiled.
“He raised me. What do you expect?”
“Yes, that.” He exhaled a breath of relief, looking up into the sky. “I still can’t imagine that the only woman I chose to be with for the rest of my life was raised by my other self… Here… Somewhere in Clinton Hill. Meeting you has brought me to him. But it doesn’t mean I am still fate’s favorite person to fuck up.”
“Hold on.” I held up a hand. “Did you just say for the rest of your life and fate? You don’t believe in fate.”
He flashed out a charming smile that made him look younger. He was now back to the Rafe I knew. “If this is not fate, then what is this?”
“You’re not getting it. I said I don’t know if I can do this with you. Not now.” I scowled, suddenly realizing something. “Hey, did you tell Michael that?”
“Tell him what?”
“Our plans? Your proposition?”
“Hell, no! He will kill me.” He wiped his face down with his palm. He looked pale. Wow. Michael had power over him.
“Can you imagine his anger when I told him I left you in my parents’ house? He might be Mikhail, but I’m basically still a stranger to him. He’s still your brother, Savi.”
“Then you didn’t say anything funny?”
“I told you. I won’t do anything against your will. But I mean what I said, Savi. I chose you.” He moved close to me and cupped my shoulders. “I’ll tell you everything you want to know about Mikhail, Erin, my dad, or Brett if that’s what you want. The only reason I can’t tell you is that I’m afraid you’ll leave me—just like what you’re asking me from me now. But don’t leave me, Savi. Please, don’t.”
“You will tell me everything?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
He brushed his thumb on my chin. “Whenever you are ready.”
“How about tomorrow?” I bit my bottom lip. “I have a girls’ night.”
“Yeah, I can see that. Tomorrow then. My place.”
I wrapped my arms around his waist. His warmth slithered into my body.
I love you… “I’ve missed you…”