Oh God, how embarrassing.
A sudden knock on the glass makes me stiffen, and I glance down at Denielle, who is peering around my legs, wiggling her fingers with a seductive smile. I swivel on my heels. Another set of eyes has joined the first. Asian guy is standing next to his friend and is intently staring at Denielle. As Wes once phrased it, he iseye-fuckingher.
"Den!" I hiss.
Spence chooses that moment to walk in the room and lets the glass door fall shut.
"Let the fun begin!" He grins broadly.
Oh, thank goodness.
I fight the urge to hug Spence. Who knows what would’ve transpired otherwise? Denielle loves Charlie, but she flirts like there’s no tomorrow. I once asked Charlie about it, and he just said, "That doesn’t bother me." Nothing else.
"Get your wraps."
I’m pulled out of my thoughts and grin.
YES!
Spence is in full-body armor as if he sensed what I needed. He pushes me hard, and for ninety blissful minutes, I forget everything. Nothing matters, and I am just me. No kidnapping, no lack of memories, no brother turnedlover. I’m at peace, punching and kicking my trainer in whatever body part he commands.
Denielle and I sit at our usual table with our usual post-workout shake when I tell her, "I’m going home."
I can’t avoid Rhys forever. Well, I probably could, but do I want to?
She just nods as if she knew all along.
She probably did.
I pullup to the house in the early afternoon. Pushing the button on my visor, the garage door slowly lifts, and as expected, Tristen’s car is gone. However, Rhys’s car is not. I swallow hard. I wipe my hands on my borrowed pants since my overnight stay hadn’t been planned.
I’m still unsure what I’m going to do. I can’t avoid him all day—maybe a little bit longer.
Sounds resembling an action movie are coming from the family room, and I duck past the opening without looking and sneak up the stairs.
I showered at the gym, so I only have to change into my own clothes: my go-to home attire of black yoga pants and a long-sleeve, crew-neck shirt. I grab the first shirt I find, which has a gray herringbone pattern. Good enough.
That didn’t take nearly enough time to calm my nerves. I feel like such an idiot. My body gave me all the signals, and I refused to acknowledge them. I smack my hand to my forehead. Den is right. Logically, I haven’t done anything wrong. Rhys and I aren’t blood related, but the thought of what others will think makes my stomach churn.
Pacing the length of my room about a dozen times, I eventually stop and take a deep breath. I can’t stall any longer before it becomes ridiculous. Rhys knows I’m up here. Our house isn’t that soundproof.
I can do this.
I’m halfway down the stairs when my phone vibrates in my hand with an incoming text message. I glance at my screen and stop with one foot in the air. The sender is listed as UNKNOWN. What the—? I swipe and stare at a picture of myself with Denielle at Magnolia’s. It’s from the morning I told her everything and ran into that weirdo. I scroll down, and the next picture shows me walking to my car after school. I’m bundled up, which tells me it’s also recent. The last picture is me at the gymnastics meet yesterday. I had just finished and am walking toward my coach. With every picture, my throat constricts more. After the last photo is a short message, and my throat completely closes up.
I can’t believe it’s really you.
My hands fly to my mouth, and I watch my phone clatter down the stairs.
I shouldn’t have goneto Lilly’s meet—and most definitely not with Kat. What was I thinking? Oh right, I wasn’t. After it sank in that she actually cares about me, possibly the same way I care about her, all I could think about was that I wanted to be near her. Screw the consequences.
I had just put my car in reverse when Kat texted to meet her for breakfast—a demand, not a question. I contemplated ignoring her, but she’d just call, so I sent a quick text back.
I’m busy. On my way to Lilly’s meet.
About to pocket my phone, another message appeared on my screen.
Pick me up. I’ll wait outside.