Page 23 of Hearts Storm

As I’m toweling off, my phone dings with another text.

BREX

Still alive? Call me as soon as you come up for air.

I stare down at the message for a solid ten seconds before I hit the call button.

He picks up on the second ring.

“So. How’d it go? She still there?” Even though Brex’s tone is light, I can practically hear his effing smirk through the phone.

“She’s gone. Left before I woke up.”

The line goes quiet for a beat.

“Well... fuck. That sucks.” He blows out a breath. “Did you at least get her name and number?”

“Doesn’t matter.”

Silence.

“Brex?”

“I know you felt it too, Lo.”

My jaw tightens as I grip the phone, staring out the hotel window at the Columbia River. The water’s gray this morning. Dark and choppy. Kind of how my insides are feeling right about now.

“Like I said. It doesn’t matter. She’s gone.” I shrug. “It’s better this way.”

Water drips down the back of my neck as I run a hand through my wet hair. “Last thing I want to happen is what went down with Mel.”

“That’s not the vibe we got from her and you know it. Bro, it’s not even the same situation.”

“Still.”

He gives me another sigh. The kind that tells me he’s about to say something I don’t want to hear. “Look, man. I get it. Mel fucked you up. But not every woman is gonna⁠—”

“Save it.”

“Fine.” He pauses. “You heading home this weekend?”

“Yeah. Lizzy’s been blowing up my phone.”

“Cool if I come with? We can grab a beer at The Brew. Maybe find someone to help you forget all about Pretty.”

His nickname for her hits me hard. I open my mouth to correct him. Tell him she’s not just ‘pretty’. Her name is Reyna. And she tastes like honey and sounds like heaven when she comes.

“Sure,” I say instead. “Sounds good.”

“Alright. See you soon, brother.”

I hang up and toss the phone onto the bed.

The room feels too big without her in it. Too quiet.

I should be relieved.

So why does my chest feel like someone is fucking sitting on it?