“She’s the best. My favorite person.”
Her lips fold over teeth, shimmering just enough to draw my attention to her mouth before she says, “Your brothers may take offense to that.”
“Believe me, they already know.”
That earns me a genuine smile.
“She told me some stories about you.”
“I’d bet the most embarrassing ones.” I shake my head thinking a million memories that will make me turn red from head to toe.
“The one where you stood in a hallway like a bodyguard.”
I groan, “She told you that?”
“She seemed proud of it.”
I don’t know what to say to that. “Just protecting my sister.”
It’s quiet for a minute. I’m recalling my childhood. Chances are, she thinks I’m a dork because my sister doesn’tcome off as the type that needs protecting. But Noelle needed to know I was there to defend her no matter what.
Annika finally breaks the silence. “She also told me the one where you sat outside of her door after your mom died. And when you heard her crying, you would crawl in the bed with her and hug her.”
It hits differently. A pinch of pain in my heart. “I was little.” I shrug, knowing my voice came off too strong. “One thing you’ll learn about the O’Ryan family is we’re overly dramatic. It’s required, if you want to be heard.”
I don’t dare look at her face. I can’t be the only one spilling my guts. But I can feel Annika slipping into shrink mode.
“I don’t think she was being dramatic… at all. It’s traumatic to lose your mother.”
I’m the one to shift, clapping my hands once like okay I’m doing this. “Anyway, you want to see the backyard?”
She blinks. “The backyard?”
“Yeah.”
“Why?”
“Trust me.”
She hesitates then nods. As she follows behind me, I hear her muttering, “Trust me. I hate it when you use my words against me.”
Annika steps out onto the patio, pausing just inside the doorway like she’s deciding if this is the line she should cross.
Too late. We crossed that line last week.
Hundreds of stars dot the midnight sky as flames flicker, low and steady. The fire’s soft crackle fills the quiet space.
By Texas standards, it’s getting cool at night and sitting outside is one of the things that relaxes me.
“Do you bring all of the professionals that help you out here?”
I raise a brow. Does she think I have to hire hookers? If so, that cuts deep.
“You know, like your nutritionists, trainers, chefs.”
A boisterous laugh erupts from my core. I can’t help it. She thinks she knows me. Even after everything Noelle told her, she still believes I am someone other than who I am. I don’t have any of those professionals except the trainer for the Armadillos.
“Only the important ones.”
