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“Yeah?” I asked softly.
Brynn joined me in the room. She had a glass in her hand. “I know your mind is probably running a million miles an hour. Mine is.” She placed the water on the nightstand, then a tiny white tablet. “It will help you sleep. Take it.”
Brynn sat on the bed, assessing me. She’d swapped out her blouse for one of Chance’s tees and still wore her jeans. “You’re exhausted. It’s not a heavy-duty sleeping pill, just enough to relax you. So, if Pierce or the police call, you’ll hear the phone and wake up easily.”
“You’re sure?”
“I promise. Holden, you’re burning the candle at both ends. Tim, River, your club. You’re going to get sick if you don’t get some rest.” She tucked a piece of hair behind her ear and stared a hole through me.
“I know. I’m afraid I’ll miss something important, though. Like what if she calls and I’m passed out and I don’t hear my phone?”
“I’ll stay with you. I’ll wake you if your cell rings or a text comes in. I swear.”
I looked at the floor, debating if I should try the pill or not. “I thought you were with Chance tonight.”
Adoration overflowed from her. “I was, but you need me more. I might not be able to do much to find River, but I can take care of you.” She rubbed my back, and my shoulders sagged.
Conceding, I nodded. “Thanks, Brynn. I really don’t know if I’d make it through this without you and the guys.” I popped the tablet and downed the water.
I laid back again while Brynn walked around the bed and climbed in on the other side. We rolled over and looked at each other.
“It’s been a long time since we’ve slept together.” I gave her a sheepish grin. “We have a lot of history.”
“More than most friends that’s for sure.” She studied me for a second. “Do you ever regret starting our sex club?”
I looked at her quizzically. “No. Not for a second. I regret why I felt the need to start it.”
“We all do,” she whispered, still haunted by our past. “But it was to protect Emerson—to protect all of us.”
Shoving those nasty memories back behind the door where they belonged, I tried to focus on the present moment.
Brynn’s tongue darted across her lower lip, then she looked at me. “She’ll say yes.”
My brows knitted together. “I’m not tracking with you.”
“River will say yes to your proposal.” She offered me an exhausted smile. “I can’t wait to go with her to try on wedding gowns. Maybe I’ll take her to Seattle where there’s a better selection. We can have a girl’s weekend if I can pry the two of you apart.” Brynn’s gaze narrowed. “I have an idea. I overheard Zayne talking to Pierce the other day. I think they know Gemma and Hendrix, the lead singers of August Clover. Maybe we can have Zayne ask Gemma for the name of the designer that she used. I bet she’d create River the perfect dress. Did you see Gemma and Hendrix on the cover of People Magazine? Her dress was to die for.”
“I did. You’re right, the gown was stunning. Gemma is a beautiful woman.”
“Yeah, well Hendrix is cream-your-panties gorgeous. I wonder what their kids would look like if they had any.” Brynn’s smile lit up her entire face. “Anyway, I digress. River and I can have a girl’s weekend if I can pry the two of you apart.”
I loved Brynn for helping me plan for the future when I wasn’t even sure I’d have one. But the way Brynn talked calmed my fears a little.
“She’d love that. Pretty sure you’re the best friend she’s ever had. Thank you for being so good to her.”
“River is easy to love. She’s strong and resilient, Holden. Soon she’ll be snuggled up to you at night again.” Brynn took my hand in hers. “Where do you want to get married?”
I appreciated Brynn steering the conversation in a positive direction. It gave me something to hold onto.
“I’m not sure. We haven’t traveled yet. I’d like to take her to London, Paris, Cancun, and the Caribbean. Wherever she falls in love with, that’s where we’ll have the ceremony. I’ll buy us a vacation house, too.”
“It will be fun to see her expressions and watch her explore places she’s never seen before. You’ll have to send a ton of pictures to me.”
My eyes fluttered closed, then I snapped them open again. “I’m getting sleepy, but please keep talking. It’s helping more than you’ll ever know.”
“What colors do you think she’ll want for the wedding?”
“Lilac and a bright navy.” I yawned as my body began to relax. “You’d look amazing in those colors too. Maybe you can help her meet some more female friends, so we have another person for the bridal party. You’re a given. You’ll be her maid of honor …” My words faded as I gave in to the sleep that was dragging me under.
