Page 46 of Hunt You Down

I should have been resting, but I just couldn’t. My mind was racing a million miles an hour, wondering where Regan was now. He was likely lying in wait, plotting his next attack. Dylan watched from the barstools on the counter as I moved around the kitchen. I was slow, but still managed to make coffee for the both of us.

Though when it came to the dishwasher, that’s where I started swaying. Dylan hastened around the counter to help me to the couch, where he forced me to sit down. “You’re finding your place out here, aren’t you?” he asked.

“I think I am. I mean, I’m adamant that I don’t want to be a kept boy, but I’m starting to think that it might not be a bad idea. André takes really good care of me. I really like him, Dylan…” I paused, looking over at my brother. “I love him.”

Dylan eyed me skeptically. “The same way you loved Regan?”

The idea that I ever thought I was in love with that man was laughable at best. But I had to face it: there was a time where I once thought he loved me.

I suppose I did love Regan, but I loved a version of him that didn’t exist.

“No,” I finally answered. “This is different. André’s different. He’s like… walking into a house and suddenly knowing you’re home.”

Dylan’s hardened features relaxed—slightly. “You think you’ll stay out here once all this is over?”

“I want to. I really do, but I can’t leave you on your own. And what about Mom and Dad.”

“Mom and Dad knew they would have an empty nest eventually. You’ve made your peace with Dad and Mom’s got Aunt Cheryl, so she’ll be fine.” Dylan set his coffee cup on the table and scrubbed his hand over his face. “And there’s something I need to tell you.”

I drew my legs up to my chest, waiting for Dylan to continue.

He took a deep breath, and on the exhale blurting out, “I’ve been seeing someone.”

I blinked, stunned. We lived together, often spending every waking minute together as far as the trial was concerned. “How did I not know? Have I been that self-absorbed?”

“Yes, but for all the right reasons,” Dylan said. “I didn’t want you to know. Not until we knew what we were doing. It’s been casual.”

“Do I know her?”

Dylan fidgeted with his fingers, looking everywhere but at me. “Uh, yeah, I think you do…”

“Well, spit it out!”

Dylan hid his face in his hands. It's Emmeline Harford.”

“What?” If I had anything in my mouth, I would have spit it right out. “You mean the same Emmeline Harford that lived next door to us our whole lives?”

Dylan sighed. “Yep.”

“The one you teased relentlessly for eighteen years?”

“That’s the one.”

Dylan stood up and paced the length of the living room floor. “A while back, she was in Savannah for work and asked to catch up. For some crazy reason I agreed. One drink led to another, which ended with me bringing her back to the apartment.”

I tried to think back. “Where was I?”

“Remember when the doctors gave you that new anxiety medication and you basically slept for a week?”

I nodded, eyes narrowing. “I remember a thump against my door…” My eyes went wide. “Was that you?”

Dylan had an embarrassed smile on his face. “She kicked her shoes off a little too aggressively.”

“Okay, why are you bringing that up now?”

Dylan paled and for a second, I wondered if he was about to be sick. “She’s pregnant.”

Stunned, I floundered, looking for something to say.