It was finally time to tell Rylin about the plans I’d put in motion.
We were snuggled up on the couch, enjoying our last night together before I had to fly out for our next game. I wrapped my arms tighter around Rylin and placed a soft kiss on her neck.
“I have something to tell you,” I confessed.
She turned her head slightly and blinked as she leaned back, her forehead wrinkling. “Okay. Is something wrong?”
Shaking my head, I murmured against her ear, “No. Although I’m not sure if you’re going to be mad at me for overstepping.”
Rylin’s confusion was clear on her face, but so was her suspicion. “Micah Daughtry, what did you do?”
I decided to simply be blunt. “It’s time to go get Reese.”
“What do you mean?” she asked, her brow rising.
“I mean, I found her an apartment here in the city, Close to The Tight Line. Close to us.”
“Wait, what?” Her voice was breathless. “You found her a place?”
“It’s all set. The place is hers. I picked up the keys today.” I explained about everything, including that Tammi had been completely on board with hiring Reese so she’d already have a job when she got here. And the sisters would get to work together. “We’re going to pick her up and move her in once I’m back from the game.”
Rylin was still in my arms, her lips parted, eyes searching mine like she was trying to figure out if I was messing with her. “You’re serious.”
“Of course I am, baby. You think I would fuck with you about this?”
“Holy cow!” She launched into me, her arms twining around my neck as her whole body wrapped around mine like a vine, and she buried her face under my chin. “You—thank you. I mean it. Thank you! I didn’t know how I was going to pull it off.”
“You were going to try, though, weren’t you?” I murmured, grinning as I tucked a hand under her ass and sat back deeper on the couch, cradling her in my lap.
“I...” She sighed. “I thought maybe I had enough saved up to at least get a small truck and bring her back. But I didn’t know what to do with her since my tiny studio is already so crowded. And I didn’t think my roommate would be okay with yet another person taking up the limited space. I thought maybe she could get a job at the deli, but I didn’t want to assume. And I had no idea how the heck I would be able to come up with an apartment deposit—which I will totally be paying you back for.” Her eyes were narrowed, and her tone said she wasn’t going to cave on the issue.
Not a fucking chance in hell.But I just nodded. “I figured. That’s why I didn’t wait. Just made it happen.”
Her hands cupped my jaw, eyes glassy and bright. “I can’t believe you did this for me, Micah. Having my sister safe, close to me, it’s…I have no words.” She popped a quick kiss on my mouth and smiled. “You’re kind of perfect, you know that?”
“I mean, I wouldn’t say perfect…”
“You’re a sexy, generous pain in the ass,” she muttered, dragging her fingers through my hair. “But yeah, also kind of irresistible.”
My brow lifted, heat coiling low in my body. “Irresistible, huh?”
She rolled her eyes and giggled, then kissed the smirk off my face. “Is that all you got from what I said?”
“No.” I brushed my lips down her neck. “But I think we should focus on that part anyway.”
The following morning, she helped me pack for the trip. Her eyes were a little too shiny when I zipped the duffel closed, and I caught her fingers clenching on the hem of my hoodie like she didn’t want to let go.
“You okay, baby?”
She nodded fast, then shrugged and glanced away. “I just…I’ll miss you.”
“Hey.” I tilted her chin up until her gaze met mine. “You don’t have to. I’ll only be gone for two days. And I’ll call, text, even send filthy voicemails if that’s what gets you through.”
Her eyes twinkled. “Promise?”
“On my fucking life.”
She stretched up and kissed me again, and when she pulled back, her voice dropped into something lower and steadier. “I love that you get to do what you love, Micah. Even though I’ll miss you, I’m so happy for you, and I would never wish for youto stay and give up what you’ve worked so hard for. Especially when you’ve been nothing but supportive of my dreams.”
