Chapter 134: Nathan

Casey’s POV

I almost turned around twice before I reached the Sterling house. The first time was when I was halfway down the road and the second was when I saw the familiar gates ahead of me. It wasn't that I didn't want to come back.

I did that was the problem. Yesterday, I'd left this house with something I hadn't expected to feel so quickly.

Hope, and hope was dangerous when you had spent most of your life learning not to expect anything from people. I parked in the driveway and sat there for a moment with both hands resting on the steering wheel.

My phone buzzed.

Chris: You there?

I smiled.

Me: Almost.

His reply came immediately.

Chris: Breathe.

I laughed softly.

Me: I'm breathing.

Chris: You're probably not.

I looked toward the house. He knew me too well.

Me: I'm fine.

Chris's message appeared on my phone just as I was turning into the driveway. I know. Go see what Victoria has planned for you. I'll call you later.

I smiled faintly at the screen.

Victoria had refused to tell me what her surprise was when she'd called earlier. She had only said that she wanted me to come over and that she had something she wanted me to see.

That had been enough to make me curious.

I put my phone down and parked outside the house, taking a moment before getting out. I wasn't sure why I was nervous. I'd already met Victoria and Alexander. I'd spoken to them. I'd hugged them. I'd even spent enough time with them that their faces were beginning to feel less unfamiliar.

But every time I came here, there was still something strange about knowing that this was the home of the people who were my biological parents.

My parents.

I still wasn't completely used to thinking of them that way.

The front door opened before I even reached it, and Victoria stepped outside with a smile that immediately made some of my nervousness disappear.

“You're here.”

“I said I would come,” I reminded her, smiling back.

“I know.” She laughed softly. “I just wasn't sure you'd actually be able to make yourself do it.”

“Honestly, neither was I.”

Her smile softened, and she stepped forward to hug me.

The embrace wasn't desperate like the first one had been. There was no overwhelming grief in it anymore, no sense that she was terrified I might disappear again. It was simply warm and familiar.

When she pulled away, she studied my face. “Did you sleep?”

“Not much.”

Victoria laughed quietly. “Neither did I.”

I smiled. “You really need to stop doing that.”

“Doing what?”

“Staying awake all night worrying about me.”

She gave me a look that told me she wasn't making any promises.

Then I remembered something. Alexander had told me Victoria had a surprise waiting for me, although he hadn't said what it was.

I looked at her, suddenly curious. “What did he mean when he said you had a surprise for me?”

Victoria's smile widened, but there was something almost nervous behind it. “You'll find out soon enough.”

“That doesn't sound suspicious at all,” I said, trying to lighten the sudden tension in my stomach.

She laughed softly. “Just trust me.”

I studied her face for a moment, wondering what she could possibly have planned. After everything that had happened, I wasn't sure whether I was ready for another surprise, but there was something in her expression that made me nod.

Victoria reached for my hand. “Come inside.”

I took a slow breath and followed her through the door, still completely unaware that the surprise waiting for me upstairs was someone I had never known existed.

I followed her through the front door, glancing around the familiar hallway. The house looked almost exactly as it had the previous time I'd been there, yet somehow it felt different today.

Maybe because I knew Victoria had something planned and she was clearly enjoying keeping me in suspense. “You're being very mysterious,” I said.

She laughed. “Am I?”

“Yes.”

“I'll tell you everything in a minute.”

“That sounds suspicious.”

“It isn't.”

I narrowed my eyes playfully. “That's exactly what someone suspicious would say.”

Victoria laughed again as she led me toward the living room and when we reached the doorway, she stopped. My heart gave a small nervous flutter. “What?”

She turned toward me. “There's someone inside who wants to meet you.”

I looked at her, confused. “Who?”

She smiled, but instead of answering, she gently squeezed my hand. “You'll see.” Then she stepped aside.

I stood there for a second, trying to understand what was happening. I could hear movement inside the room, followed by the unmistakable sound of someone shifting nervously.

I took a breath and walked in. A young man stood near the window with his phone in his hand. He looked up and for a moment, neither of us said anything.

He was tall, dark-haired, and dressed casually, although everything he wore looked expensive without being flashy. There was confidence in the way he stood, but his expression gave away how nervous he actually was.

He lowered his phone. “Hi.”

I smiled awkwardly. “Hi.”

He took a step toward me before stopping again, almost as though he wasn't sure whether he was supposed to come any closer.

“I had a whole speech prepared,” he admitted with a small grimace. “It sounded much better in my head.”

I laughed softly. “A speech?”

He nodded, looking slightly embarrassed. “I didn't know what else to do. I've never met my sister before.”

The words still felt strange to hear.

“Neither have I,” I said, then realized how ridiculous that sounded and laughed again.

He smiled. “Yeah. I guess we're both figuring this out as we go.”

“I suppose we are.”

His shoulders relaxed immediately. “Okay. Good.”

I smiled. “Good start.”

He nodded, looking slightly less terrified. “Good start.”

There was something oddly familiar about his smile, although I couldn't place why. He looked toward the sofa. “Do you want to sit?”

“Sure.”

We sat across from each other, and for a few moments neither of us seemed to know what to say and then he leaned back and let out a quiet breath. “This is weird.”

I laughed softly. “Very.”

“You're sitting right there, and I keep thinking I should know what to say to you.”

“I don't know what you're supposed to say either.”

He smiled. “That's actually a little reassuring.”

I looked at him curiously.

“I'm Nathan.”

The name meant nothing to me at first. “I'm Casey.”

“I know.”

I smiled awkwardly. “Right.”

He laughed softly. “I've been told quite a lot about you.”

My curiosity sharpened. “By who?”

“My parents.”