I don’t reply, my mind still lost, wandering somewhere I’ve refused it entrance too so many times. It’s a hard reality, knowing that you’ve risked so many friendships and a life all alone because the future was too uncertain. That you’ve spent years creating walls around yourself, reinforcing them with your pain and guilt and anger, so now, it’s nearly impossible to tear them down.
Brielle didn’t wait for me to build a door and allow her entrance. She stormed them like the beautiful, exquisite woman she is and found her own way in. There’s a crack now, and all I need to do is let it spread.
“She’s in the backyard,” Beck says, tearing me past those thoughts. “I haven’t heard any shouting, which means Wes hasn’t found her yet.”
“Thank you.”
“Thank me by doing this more often.”
“You just like hearing yourself talk,” I muse, my voice tight with unspoken emotion.Gratefulness.
He winks. “I hear that’s one of my best qualities.”
I stand with a low laugh. He watches me move, his eyes a bit too seeing despite the alcohol-induced glaze in them.
“Keep your jerseys to yourself, and I’ll take you up on the offer.”
His snort is loud, unapologetic. “Give her one with your name, and she won’t need to wear mine.”
I don’t bother telling him that I’ve already got that taken care of.
42
BRIELLE
I assumedmy brother would find me first. It’s Kellan instead.
My skin has a chill as I sit on the edge of the pool, kicking my feet in the warmed water. The colourful lights from the inside walls dance up my shins and flash across my knees as I tip my head back and stare at the sky. Dark and empty, it looks back.
“Your brother has a habit of one-upping me.”
I peer over my shoulder and have to crane my neck to meet his dark blue stare. It’s warm, teasing as it does a quick, innocent sweep over me. He’s shirtless, wearing only swim trunks, but I don’t even glance at the torso that I know has so many muscles it’s almost a bit scary.
“Don’t be jealous, K. It’s only a pool.”
He uses his chin to point to the green space across the pool. “There’s golf.”
“It’s only one hole,” I offer, hating how dull my voice sounds.
“More than my backyard has. Now I’ve got to add two holes just to get even.”
I wade my feet in the water, staring down at the lights reflecting off my white-painted toes. “Three would be smarter. You know the moment you add a second one that Wes will jump for a third.”
“As if he needs anything else. This house is ridiculous. I got lost on my way to the bathroom the last time I was here.”
“Well, that’s fifteen million dollars for you. Ask him to make you a map.”
With a grunt, he lowers himself to the ground beside me and dunks his feet into the water. The heat from his naked torso hits me, soothing some of the chill. My bathing suit cover-up is on the lounger behind me, but I make no move for it. Not yet.
“What are you doing out here?” he asks, voice soft.
“Avoiding Wes. You?”
“My brother’s here.”
I gape slightly. “You have a brother?”
“Surprise!” he announces, hands dancing in front of him before they fall to the stone pad around us. “Unlike yours, mine doesn’t let me avoid him.”
