This is.But I ignored that voice. Staying here after… If Gabe… Staying here wasn’t an option.
Although in Montana, I could still see Rhys.
Fuck, how had I screwed this up? Not only had I slept with my boss and my best friend’s brother, but I’d slept my way out of a home. One I’d fallen in love with. Jon and Stefan sending out group texts telling us to come over for dinner. Or Graham popping by after work with fresh pastries. Austin and Hunter were always so nice when they saw me.
It was nice knowing that so many people cared about me.
Just not the one person I really wanted to. I didn’t just want Gabe to care about me.You want more than that…
Okay, so Montana. I wanted to be close enough to these people that actually meant something to me.
Of course, the damn website had used my location and was showing me houses in Asheville. Was that too close?
I didn’t even know. I didn’t know anything anymore.
Maybe I should wait. Rhys had told me not to worry, and he’d sounded very sure of himself. And he did know Gabe better. Maybe he was just one of those people that needed time to process. But that didn’t feel right, not about the decisive alpha.
But then Rhys did say I didn’t know the whole story.
Maybe you’re just grasping at straws.
So the cities maybe. Billings, Butte… I drew in a breath. I was going to focus on things that I could control.
I scrolled and scrolled, but I couldn’t seem to find anything that worked for me.Because you don’t want to.
It was almost two hours later when I heard the door open, and I tried not to get my hopes up, but then there was only one set of footsteps, and my heart dropped to my stomach. I was an idiot for holding out hope.
Rhys had come back by himself. I shut my eyes tight, trying to stop the tears from forming. This was crazy. Why was I getting so emotional?
It was a couple of dates and one night. I didn’t even know him that well. I shouldn’t have felt the loss this much.
Rhys took a seat very close to my feet, and then he picked them up and placed them on his lap. Before he could speak, I said, “I think I found a place. It’s in Missoula. It’s just three hours away. So we’ll still see each other. It’s really nice. Actually just renovated.” I grabbed my phone and went to the tab I’d kept open, maybe because I’d been expecting this, even though I’d hoped I was wrong. I turned it so Rhys could see. “Look, it’s really nice. It has a back patio and a huge yard, and the kitchen was just remodeled. And it’s a single-story, which I guess isn’t my first choice, but it’s a three-bedroom and totally in my price range…or maybe I shouldn’t buy immediately. Renting might be a better idea. But three bedrooms. I can have my own office and a guest room for when you come to visit.” I chewed my lips. “Maybe they’ll let me rent to buy. I should look into that.”
Rhys squeezed my feet, and my mouth snapped shut.
“Kee, look at me, please.” He squeezed my feet again. “Please.”
I closed my eyes and drew the blanket tighter around me, like it would protect me from what Rhys was about to say, before lifting my head and meeting his gaze.
“Please just give Gabe a little time,” Rhys said. “He—” My friend’s head dropped to the back of the couch, and he sighed. “There’s an explanation for this, and I promise you Gabe hates himself for hurting you.”
My shoulders lifted and dropped. “It doesn’t matter. People have one-night stands.” My cheeks heated even saying the words. “I guess I’m making up for lost time from college.” I picked at a spot of nonexistent lint on the blanket.
“Don’t call yourself that, and we both know that you wouldn’t have done anything with my brother if you didn’t have feelings for him.”
“It doesn’t matter.” I shrugged. “Clearly, whatever connection I thought I felt between us was all in my head.”
“No.” Rhys shook his head. “Don’t even think that. Trust me. It’s not.”
“How do you know?” Even to my ears, it sounded like I wanted Rhys to tell me it wasn’t. “Why aren’t you upset? I hooked up with your brother.”
Rhys smiled. “I’m not upset because you and Gabe are perfect for each other. I should have seen it before.”
“You’re crazy.” But my heart jumped at his words. He knew his brother better, so maybe he knew what was holding Gabe back. Maybe it was my imagination, but there was something Rhys wanted to say but wasn’t. Although the truth was I’d felt that way for a long time. Like there was always something at the tip of his tongue. Maybe that was the same thing with Gabe.Or maybe it’s wishful thinking, Kian.
“I’m not. I know my brother, and I guarantee—the first thing he’ll do once he gets his head out of his ass is come over here and explain. Trust me, Kee. I’d never lie… I’d never lie to you about something this important,” Rhys said, but there was a guilty look on his face I couldn’t explain. “Come on, let’s go grab something to eat, and everything will work itself out.”
* * *
