“Kian is—” Rhys paused, and I couldn’t seem to draw in a breath as I waited for him to finish his sentence. “He’s special. I just knew it from the moment we met. There was this wide-eyed innocence to him, and the truth is, my bear was drawn to him. Wanted to protect him.” Rhys chuckled. “Maybe because he was always meant to be family…who knows. Fate works in mysterious ways.”
I uncrossed and crossed my knees, all the while pressing down my lips, waiting for Rhys to make his point.
My brother sighed again, and I heard him mutter, “Stubborn ass,” just loud enough for me to hear it, but I didn’t rise to the bait.
“Kian is the least judgy person I know, like legit no judgement,” Rhys continued like we were having a back-and-forth conversation. “He’s the kindest, sweetest, most giving person ever.” I waited for my brother to tell me I didn’t deserve Kian. “And he deserves someone amazing, who will protect him and support him. Love him so completely and cherish his big heart.” I shut my eyes tighter even while waiting for the body blow of my baby brother saying my mate was too good for me.Not like you don’t know that already.“And who better than my biggest brother who I know will slay dragons for me if he had to?”
If he’d told me purple elephants had invaded the ranch, I would have been less surprised. I sat up slowly but still didn’t face Rhys.
“I don’t deserve him.” Saying those words were like swallowing glass. “I hurt him.” All I could do was sit there and hang my head in shame.
“Mmm, you did,” Rhys, ever the direct one, agreed, “but only because you’re being an idiot. Just tell him,” Rhys said. “You know, I kinda wish I had already. Then both of you wouldn’t be five seconds away from playing the heroine in a power ballad music video.”
I choked out a laugh at that.
“What if I terrify him, and he runs screaming?” I whispered, sounding like a child that needed reassurance from their mother.
“He won’t.” There was no doubt whatsoever in Rhys’s voice.
“You can’t know that,” I pointed out, leaning back on the chair and covering my eyes once more like it would block out my current predicament.
“On some level, he knows,” Rhys said, “because Kian sure as fuck isn’t stupid or reckless. There’s a part of him that probably wonders. Why else would he walk up to a bear of all things? He doesn’t have a death wish.”
“Maybe he thought he was dreaming,” I reasoned.
“I have a feeling people still run in the other direction when they see a bear in their dream,” Rhys said. “You know, the only reason I never told him while we were in school was because I would hear your voice, Papa’s voice, Dad’s voice, your voice in my head reminding me to guard our secret. But the crazy thing was I knew if I did tell him, he would protect it too. I just didn’t wanna break the rules and get anyone in trouble.”
That was exactly why I hadn’t told him.
“But I never stopped feeling horrible for keeping this huge secret from him. It tore me up inside,” Rhys admitted.
“It’s different now, though.” Rhys sounded happy about this. “He’s your mate. No one expects you to keep that secret from your mate unless you think fate or Great Urs fucked up…” He let his words hang there. “You have no idea how happy I am that he’s yours, Gabe. He deserves someone as awesome as you. And you deserve someone as amazing as him.”
Hope filled me at his words.
“So get your head out of your ass and fix this,” Rhys commanded.
13
Kian
Even though Rhysdidn’t say where he was going, I knew. I’d seen the determined look on his face. To be honest, I was still a little surprised by how he’d reacted to Gabe and me. I pressed down on my chest and blew out a breath. Fuck, even thinking his name hurt.
Which was crazy. It was just one night. I barely knew him. So why did it feel like I’d come home and found my husband of fifteen years had walked out on me without saying a word?
We’d been so in sync. Gabe had made me feel like we were starting something new and wonderful. That thing I’d been searching for…what my parents had. But then, before I even had it in my grasp, it was gone.
I wrapped the blanket tighter around my body, but it didn’t help the cold feeling that seemed to have taken hold of me.
Grow up, Kian. You had a one-night stand. No one forced you to. Hell, you threw yourself at Gabe. So stop sitting here feeling sorry for yourself.
Of course that didn’t work. And it wasn’t the first time I’d said it to myself. I couldn’t even meet Rhys’s eyes when I’d come home last night. But my best friend hadn’t cared. So that wasn’t Gabe’s reason for staying away. It was me.
I squeezed my eyes shut, trying not to think about it. All the while ignoring the small voice that said I was being an idiot for hoping.
I saw my phone on the table and reached for it. Rhys must have charged it and left it there. I closed my eyes and blew out a breath.You can do this.I unlocked my phone, pulled up the internet, and typed in OpenMove. But of course, the first box was location.
“I could go back to Philly.” But that didn’t feel right. It wasn’t home anymore.
