my feelings for the brothers were complicated before I’d agreed to date Leo. Somehow, I’d convinced myself that it wouldn’t matter. That I could ignore my feelings.
But, after watching Leo, Hayle, and Tristin work together to take care of me these past weeks, I wasn’t so sure I could keep it up for much longer. They were finally rebuilding the bonds that had been broken between them for years now. And I knew without anyone having to tell me that my presence in their lives would only end up shredding them again.
It was inevitable.
Leo placed a soft kiss on my temple. “I’ve been doing my best not to push you to talk about what you overheard me say to Tristin. But I hate this distance it’s causing between us.”
This time, the emotion that rose to the surface was undoubtedly guilt. I’d returned to my default reaction, procrastinating what I didn’t want to deal with.
And I had no doubt that the reaction was born of fear. I hadn’t even been able to admit it to myself, but I was terrified of having that conversation with Leo. More terrified than I’d felt with that damn truck barreling toward me in my dream.
Because I knew that when I was finally honest with him—and myself—I was going to lose him. It was the only result that made a lick of sense. And it was the last thing I wanted.
“You’re right. We need to talk about it.”
I peered into his beautiful aquamarine eyes and lost myself in them for a few moments. Afterward, would I have the opportunity to be this close to him again? Would I get to study the light freckles across his forehead and run my hand over the soft bristles along his jaw?
Or was this it? Was this my last chance?
I didn’t want it to be over yet. I needed more time.
“But can it wait until tomorrow?” I asked, desperation leaking out of my voice. “I want today to be a good day.”
Leo’s gaze heated as it slipped from my eyes, paused on my lips, and then lowered to my chest. “Exactly how good do you want it to be?”
My lips curved up into an impish smile that undoubtedly mirrored the one on his face. “As good as you’re willing to make it.”
When he took my waist in his big hands and carefully tugged me down until my head was nestled against my pillow, his body hovering over mine, I closed my eyes and sighed happily. Finally.
“What’s with the taxi?” Hayle asked from the back seat of the Range Rover.
“Exactly what I was wondering,” Leo answered as he pulled into the driveway and paused in front of the closed gate next to the yellow cab.
“Are you expecting a guest for Thanksgiving dinner?” I asked. Maybe they had extended family who visited for the holidays. I’d never thought to ask.
Leo shook his head. “Unless Dad is courting some new business acquaintance and forgot to mention it.”
“I don’t think so,” Hayle remarked.
The rear passenger door to the taxi opened, and I gasped when a very familiar mop of silky black hair came into view.
“What?” Leo asked, worried. “Who is that?”
My face split into a wide smile. “Tobias.” I wanted to jump out of the SUV and run to him, but my crutches were in the back, and it wasn’t like there was any running in my immediate future.
Leo opened the gate with his remote and waved the taxi driver through as he passed. I watched in the rearview mirror while Tobias got back in the car and it followed us to the circle drive.
“Who is Tobias?” Hayle asked.
“Thea’s best friend,” Leo answered for me. “Who is supposed to be in Kansas.”
I ignored his salty tone and gestured for my crutches before pushing my door open. Hayle brought them to me, his pinched expression telling me he wasn’t any happier about Tobias’s presence than Leo was. But I didn’t care. Not when my friend was only yards away after more than three months apart.
Since I was wearing a skirt and didn’t have any pockets, I handed Hayle my phone before hefting myself out of the Range Rover and onto my crutches. By the time I made it to the back of the SUV, Tobias had exited the cab and stood in the driveway with a duffel bag thrown over one shoulder. I headed his way, but he was the one who bridged most of the gap between us.