When Love Walked In

Chapter 32

Chapter 32

"I can't go out there," I said.

"Amber, come on," Gustavo said. "They don't think any different of you."

"Are you sure about that? Because if I were in there shoes, I would be wondering what the hell I was thinking getting myself into with this crazy girl."

"How many times do we have to say it for it to sink in?" Victoria said exasperated. "You're not crazy."

I groaned in frustration. "Ugh, I'm so tired of all this. Why am I such a screw-up?"

"Alright, that's it." Jules got up on his feet and stared me down." The only way for you to accept yourself is to let others accept you. We love you for who you are and nothing will change that. But now, we're not the only ones in your life." He reached down to grab my hand and pulled me up, dragging me by the arm out of the tiny bathroom.

"Jules, what are you doing?" Victoria called out, following close behind.

Damien jumped up as soon as we entered. While his older brothers gave us questioning but cautious looks. Jules stepped in the middle of the room, dropping my arm. His shoulders moved up and down. "We've known you for years now. We've seen you at your best and your worst, and everything in between." He turned and looked me in the eye. "But now, they're the ones who are going to be a big a part of your life. Every part of your life and you need to accept that you can't be keeping secrets from everyone. You need to learn to trust the people in your life. They care about you."

"We all do," Victoria said, coming to stand next to her older brother. "Unconditionally. We all love you. Something you've forgotten how to do for the past three years."

"Maybe if you start accepting other people's love, you'll be able to accept your own," Gustavo said.

I looked around the room at everyone. "I'm scared," I finally said. "I don't know if I'm ready."

"It's okay to be scared," Victoria said. "And it's okay if you don't feel like you're ready, but if you're going to have relationships with these people; they're going to need to understand you, all of you. Not just the pretty parts of you."

By the time everyone had gathered in the living room, Suzy and Damien's dad had come home for the night. Heather had left whatever she was making to slow cook on the stove. Everyone sat waiting for something to happen when Victoria sat up abruptly in her seat. "Wait." She got up from her seat next to me, pulling Jules with her. "Gentle," he warned her, even as she pushed him onto another couch before stomping across the room to where Damien sat. Before either of us could react, she pulled him up by the sleeve and dragged him up from his seat before plopping him down abruptly next to me. "Okay, much better," she said, clearly satisfied.

I stared at her in disbelief. "Way to be subtle, Victoria," Jules said sarcastically.

"To think we're even related," she shook her head.

Victoria had thrown Damien awkwardly on the couch, and I couldn't help but notice as he righted himself how precariously and with caution, he made sure we didn't accidently touch. I couldn't help but feel a little sad. I guess I deserved it after the way I reacted earlier. I squeezed my hands into fists on my lap and lowered my head, letting my hair fall into my face. I felt the couch weight shift next to me. "Are you okay?" Damien said softly.