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Yawning, I realized how exhausted and on emotional overload I was, but I assumed Holden was as well.
I looked at my boyfriend and propped my head up on my fist. “What do you think of moving in with your mom?”
He placed his thumb on my lower lip and stroked it gently. “I don’t know. A part of me thinks that Reid needs to have Mom all to himself. She definitely needs him around. Not once has she ever taken time off work, and now I understand why. She’d lost two children, and being a workaholic was her coping mechanism.”
“Makes sense, but now she’s trying to do the right thing by him. By you, too. I just wonder … ya know … if Brynn comes home, where will we live?”
“When Brynn returns, she’ll most likely stay here with Chance. You and I can have the guest room that Reid was using. I was there before you both got here. We could also stay with Jace if we wanted to. His place is bigger. We have options. Most importantly, I want you to feel safe.”
I looked into his chocolate brown eyes and melted. “How did I get so lucky?” I smoothed his dark brow with my thumb, then kissed him. “I guess for now, we’ll play it by ear and hope that Brynn has good news next week.”
“It’s the best we can do at the moment.” Holden rolled over, and I snuggled up to him. The soft rise and fall of his chest lulled me to sleep in no time at all.
Chapter Thirty-One
“Are you ready?” Holden’s attention bounced between Reid and me as we sat around the kitchen island in Chance’s house. He reached in the back pocket of his jean shorts and retrieved his cell. He’d selected a dark green polo, a color that looked amazing on him, but not one he wore often.
I looped my arm through Reid’s and nodded. “Are you?” I tugged on Reid’s black V-neck designer shirt Catherine had bought for him. It turned out that he and Holden had similar taste in clothes, too. Once Catherine had introduced him to shopping and all of the available choices, he’d taken pride in how he presented himself. He consistently wore designer jeans and shorts that fit his butt and thighs as well as they did his brother’s. He’d also discovered tank tops. I thought Holden was cut, but Reid proved to have more muscle definition. I’d mentioned that little tidbit to Brynn during one of our phone calls, and I was pretty sure she’d started drooling.
“Yeah, let’s do it.” Reid blew out a sigh and ran his hand through his hair. “Man, I’m nervous.”
After a few things were moved into place, including the acceptance of Holden’s offer on the lake property, we’d all decided it was time to call Mallory. She deserved to hear all the good news. Maybe someday, she would even consider visiting.
Holden tapped the FaceTime app on his iPhone and tilted the camera to show only him. He wanted a chance to explain before Reid appeared.
“Hey, little brother,” Mallory said, her soft voice filtering through the phone.
“Hey, yourself.” Holden’s smile lit up his gorgeous face. “How are things in Spain?”
“I really like it here. The time off to focus on what I want has been really helpful. Are you coming to visit soon?”
“I would love to, as long as I can bring my girlfriend.”
Mallory burst into giggles. “You settled down? No way.”
Holden gave her a sheepish smile. “Yeah, it’s been about six and a half months, or close to it.”
“No fucking way! She must have a hell of a pussy if she got you to settle down.”
Holden shot me an apologetic look, and I covered my mouth, stifling my laugh.
“I’m going to ignore that comment. Her name is River. She’s smart, stunningly gorgeous, and feisty. You’ll love her. I know I do.”
A fierce blush crept across my cheeks. Reid nudged me in the side and winked at me.
“Where did you meet?” Mallory asked, eagerness in her tone.
“Well, you’re not going to believe this, but she was sleeping in the recycling bin at Mom’s house.”
“Eww. What the hell?”
I could picture Mallory’s nose scrunching up in disgust. My head hung down, ashamed of my past. I hadn’t wanted to share it, but Holden insisted that she would love me for my strength.
“She was homeless, Mallory, don’t be a bitch.” Holden narrowed his gaze briefly. “She broke her leg and stayed with me while she healed. She’s gone back to college and works with me at the club … well, she will when the new one is ready.”
“Okay, wow. That’s a lot, dude. What happened to 4 Play? She was your baby.”
“Tim burned it to the ground, so I would work with him.”
