Page 195 of The Romance Adventure

My three brothers, formidable in their own right, stand shoulder to shoulder. Royal had a point. Never thought of it from their side.

The words Lally said about leaning on friends, family, and God come to mind, along with my strategy not to let anyone get too close or else I’d risk hurting them. She was right about that. Spotted it early on, from two klicks away. That woman amazes me.

I broke up with Wanda and didn’t get into any serious relationships, devoting myself to the missions because I was afraid that if something happened to me, they’d wind up alone.

Turns out I’m the one who’s alone, and by distancing myself, she’s alone anyway.

But I’m secretly afraid that if I seal the deal with Lally and something happens as it did with Sean...

As if they can read my mind, my brothers speak in turn.

“You’re being dumb.”

“Stupid.”

“Foolish.”

Chip’s letter, sent long ago when I was in Ramadi, urged me toward companionship in some fashion, but he didn’t specify humans. I have the dogs.

Unmoving and unyielding, my brothers remain standing there. A strong wall of men. Strong enough to see me through this moment of weakness.

“You haven’t been the same since the spider bite,” Royal says.

I nod because I’ve thought the same thing.

“I think we got the diagnosis wrong,” Ryan says. “Mag is lovesick.”

Royal’s eyebrows shoot up. “Lally is a vet.”

“I’m not a dog,” I practically bark.

“The symptoms are the same,” Ryan says.

Royal shakes his head. “No, I meant a veteran. So are you. That means she’s going to understand whatever is going on in that thick head of yours, probably more than anyone.”

I flip my hands upward. “She wasn’t a combat veteran. It’s different.”

“Everyone has a battle out there. She’s been with plenty of people in their last moments. She’s saved lives. Lost a lot too, probably. Your relationship isn’t a live human, but it is worth fighting for,” CJ says with surprising intensity.

Everything they’ve said reaches me, loud and clear. But the message I receive is actually one I need to send.

I thank my brothers, tell them I’m going to be brave, and pull out my phone.

Lally

CHAPTER 21

Sitting in my reading chair, knees to chest, I haven’t yet showered to wash the salt off my skin. After my adventure on the high seas, I should be in bed, fast asleep.

But if I could even doze off, all I’d dream about is how I paddled out to the Dark Seas, challenged the captain to a game of pineapple poker, and lived to tell the tale.

Oh, and I won.

But yeah, it was stupid because no one knew I was out there. They could’ve made me walk the plank—yes, there was a plank—and no one would’ve known.

A terrible thought seizes me. I would’ve had the same story as Magnus’s grandmother, the one whose ring we found. The ring that probably isn’t in Magnus’s pocket anymore.

He’s made it clear that our relationship ran its course. He’s done with me, with us. I don’t know which is worse, a big, dramatic breakup resulting in a viral video or stone-cold silence. More accurately, I should say he’s been all business lately. No pleasure. No smiles. Nothing.