Her car door slams behind her as she stomps over to the porch. 

"How fucking dare you!!!!" She screams at me. 

"Keep your voice down or I will remove you myself. I don't care if we're family or not." Chris says coldly. 

"What can we help you with Hope?" 

"Oh it's 'we' now? Jesus Christ Larkin, my parents aren't enough, you have to take my brother too?!" She looks at me, her eyes crazy. 

"I didn't take your parents, what are you talking about? Didn't you just have dinner with them tonight?" I answered confused. I never asked them to do anything on my behalf. 

"It's funny you should bring that up, yes I did. And at that dinner they informed me that they will no longer keep my lawyers for the divorce! He's going to ruin me and I can't do anything about it now! Are you happy now that you have absolutely everything Larkin? You've had my parents wrapped around your finger since your mom and Finn died, you got to get married to your college sweetheart, had no problems having as many babies as you wanted and now my own brother has chosen your back over mine. Shall I go on?" She finishes with her arms spread out wide like she's inviting me in for a hug, though she looks more likely to strangle me. 

"Hope you need to leave. Now." Chris answers for me. He's stayed in front of me the entire time she's been screaming at me. 

"You're right," she chuckles to herself "I should go, I'm sure Eric would love to hear that you're here with his kids playing house with my brother." 

"So it was another lie when you both said you were done with each other? Just trying to keep up." I asked her, retreating back. 

Without missing a beat she laughs "oops guess so" over her shoulder. She's at her car now but pauses at the door long enough to leave me with this parting statement. 

"I'm glad you found out, it was getting harder and harder not to openly be with him, he has so much more fun with me. You may have given him kids but I give him everything else." With that she gets in and starts pulling away. 

I feel like a fool, not that I was planning to stay but Eric made it sound like it wasn't anything he planned on lasting. All her statement does is drive home the fact that I was right in walking away. It doesn't break my heart more at all. Nope not one bit, I think to myself as a sharp crack echos across my chest. My marriage really was a sham. I wipe the tears falling down my cheeks before Chris can turn back around. 

"Well that was a good show for the neighbors," he says, giving me an adorable lopsided grin. I burst into tears at that. 

"I'm so sorry I hope I don't cause problems for you by being here." I tell him sniffling. 

"Stop that, she was the one screaming like a Karen not you," he says as he hugs me. As he pulls back he pauses just as our faces are almost touching. He looks deep in my eyes and there's an emotion I've never seen with him before, the banter he had with me just seconds ago gone now. His eyes flick to my lips before he brushes them softly with his, just barely touching. It's so tender and sweet I touch my lips after letting the feeling linger. 

"Sorry I hope that was ok," he says and my eyes find his again. I'm surprised by how ok I am with this. It feels familiar and new at the same time. Does it speak poorly of me that I'm ok kissing him so soon after my separation? When I remind myself that my husband has been doing this for months those thoughts are quickly pushed away. And it's not just anyone it's Chris, I couldn't have kissed a stranger so soon but I've known him forever. I can only nod along that I'm ok with what happened. 

"I was hoping to talk to you first and have that go a little differently before she dropped by," he says, tucking some of my hair behind my ear. "Larkin I've always loved you but I've been in love with you since your college graduation, I never said anything because you seemed so happy and I knew it was serious with him since you were moving in together. But I can't ignore those feelings anymore and I'd never forgive myself if I didn't at least tell you how I feel. I love the boys and I already love Vivienne. I know this is a lot to share with you but I just wanted to tell you where I stand. No matter how you feel I return, you still have my support. Always." 

Well if I was just sniffling before I'm ugly crying now. I can't believe he's felt this way the whole time! I'm not ready to jump into something so soon but if I was it would be with him. 

"I need some time, but Chris, I'm not upset about the kiss." I say watching his face. His now annoyingly perfectly handsome face. 

"I have all the time in the world," he tells me, kissing my forehead this time. 

"Come on let's get you up into bed, I think that's enough excitement for one night." He leads me inside and begins checking locks and shutting everything down. Last night he slept on the couch but now it's occupied by a fort and two sleeping kids... 

"I'll crash in the guest room" he answers my thoughts for me. He walks me to the master bedroom door after we check Connor and Noah one last time. 

"See you in the morning, Larkin, good night." He hugs me then crosses the hall to the other bedroom door. 

After washing my face and brushing my teeth I lay down, my mind and heart racing. An exciting evening indeed. The confrontation with Hope has given me a lot to think about, and painfully but thankfully it has helped me feel more sure about my recent decisions. 

Chris's kiss and confession have me reeling for entirely different reasons! I can' t deny that there has always been a bit of a secret crush on him, I mean hot older brother that always treated me well? And even as he got older he was always a steady, constant presence in my life, that just seems to get better looking with age... 

But I never even let myself flirt with the idea because of Hope. Obviously that restraint has snapped so I CAN flirt with the idea if I want. I dreamed about Chris that night and what might have been if I had come home from college single.