About forty feet separated them. Stephen whispered something to Aurelia, then the two of them walked closer. As they passed under a streetlight, Finn could see that Aurelia had been crying.
The information didn’t change anything, he told himself. She was a good actress. Too bad she hadn’t been paired with Sasha. They could have found fame and fortune together.
“Obviously we have to talk,” Stephen said when they were close enough to have a conversation.
“We can have it out here or in your room.” Finn glared at Aurelia. “Or we could go back to your place and you could tell me your plan.”
Aurelia’s eyes widened. More tears slipped down her cheeks. “It’s not what you think,” she whispered.
“Do I look like I believe that?”
“Don’t,” Stephen told him, then led the way to the motel room. After using his key, he pushed open the door.
Aurelia went in first. Finn followed.
The space was small. Two double beds, a long dresser with an old television sitting on top, a chair in the corner and the door leading to an even tinier bathroom. The digs weren’t impressive, but then Geoff didn’t feel the need to pamper his contestants.
“I know you’re upset,” Stephen began.
“You think?”
His brother ignored that. “Despite how angry you are, you’ll treat Aurelia with respect. If you don’t, this conversation is over.”
“You’re going to make me?”
Stephen stepped between him and Aurelia. “Yes.”
There was quiet determination in his brother’s voice. A strength in the way he stood. Finn was careful not to let his surprise show. Neither of his brothers had ever tried to stand up to him before. They preferred to sneak off rather than confront him directly. Maybe Stephen was finally growing up.
“All right,” he said, folding his arms across his chest. “Tell me why I shouldn’t believe the worst.”
Aurelia and Stephen looked at each other. Finn was aware of silent communication between them, but he couldn’t interpret it.
“We never meant for this to happen,” Aurelia said quietly.
“You came on the show,” Finn reminded her. “It’s a show about meeting someone. Obviously, you wanted to meet someone. I agree that you probably had no control over who you were matched with.”
He could feel his fragile control slipping. The anger returned and with it the need to lash out. “Look at him,” he demanded. “He’s twenty-one. He’s still a kid. His running away to be on this show proves that. If you think there’s anything to be gained, any money, you can forget it.”
Stephen stepped between them again and put his hand on Finn’s chest. “Don’t,” his brother growled. “Don’t push her, don’t threaten her, don’t make this end badly.”
On the one hand, Finn appreciated Stephen’s maturity. On the other hand, this was the wrong time for it to show up.
“Stop,” Aurelia said. She stepped between them and separated them, holding them at arm’s length. “You’re family. Try to remember that.” She looked at Stephen. “Please let me do this. Finn doesn’t mean anything bad. He’s worried about you and that’s a good thing.”
“I’m worried about you,” Stephen told her. “I don’t want him to upset you.”
Aurelia shook her head. “It’s not him. It’s what’s happening around us.” She turned to Finn and dropped her arms to her sides. “You’re right. I did come on the show looking for something. A lot of it was about my mother, which I’m not going to get into now.” She managed a slight smile.
Her whole face changed when she smiled, Finn thought. She went from plain to pretty. There was an intelligence in her eyes. He could see why Stephen found her so appealing. But that didn’t make the relationship right.
“I should have thought this through,” Aurelia admitted. “When they first put me with Stephen, I was so embarrassed. He’s younger and attractive and outgoing. Everything I’m not. But I was afraid to walk away. It would just be another rejection. I also wanted the twenty thousand. I want to buy a house of my own.”
She clutched her hands together in front of her waist. “I know you can’t understand. You’ve always been successful. Look at what you’ve done with the family business and with your brothers.”
She glanced at Stephen, then back at Finn. “I’ve never had the courage to stand up for myself. I’ve always been so afraid. Being around Stephen has shown me who I can be if only I’m willing to take the risk. He’s taught me to be brave. I didn’t know I could be.”
“I’m sure this would be very compelling to someone who gave a shit,” Finn told her. “But I—”
“I wasn’t finished,” she told him firmly, staring directly into his eyes. “I would appreciate it if you would let me finish what I have to say.”