Page 59 of Kyle

My cheeks flush, and my stomach ties in knots. Everything inside me begs for his touch, but knowing I can’t do that to Rafe.

Kyle leans closer, until he’s only a breath away. “You’re my brother’s girl. So, I can’t do the things I want to do. I can’t touch you. Instead, I spend day after day in torture, wanting what I can’t have.”

“Can’t have… or are too afraid to go after?” I challenge, my breath panting from my chest.

He pushes himself from the wall. It feels like a bucket of ice water has been dumped on me, and the greater the distance he puts between us, the colder and emptier I feel.

He shoves the door open and steps down from the truck, turning back. “I think the words you were forgetting were thank you.” Then he slams the door.

“Thank you,” I whisper to no one.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Sutton—

Finally, the ground is dry enough that people are beginning to leave.

A man approaches our window, and Kyle dips his head. “Can I help you, sir?”

“If you’re goin’, now’s your chance. Word is that people are getting through. They say another storm is moving in tomorrow.”

Kyle glances at the sky. “Thanks, man.”

He nods and moves away.

Kyle’s eyes shift to me. “Guess we should pack it up.”

I look at the soft ground. “You sure?”

“I don’t want to risk staying. We could get stuck for a week and run out of food. I need to make sure you get home safe.”

Because everything between us is awkward now? Is that why he’s in a hurry to leave? He’s barely spoken to me since the other night. I feel like I’ve ruined everything.

My shoulders slump. “You’re right.”

He stares at me for a moment, like there’s something more he wants to say, but in the end, he just turns to the grill and starts cleaning it.

I wash utensils and pack them up. It takes us two hours, and the line leading out the only road in is getting long as more and more people decide to try getting out. Some of the other food trucks are sunk in the mud up to their wheel wells.

“Those poor people,” I murmur, watching out the window.

Kyle nods. “That stuff’s probably like cement by now. I’m glad Green made me bring the plywood.”

“What will happen to them?”

“I don’t know, Sutton. Maybe they’ll send in the National Guard to get them out. I’m sure the promotors have contacted someone. Maybe they’ll bring in military helicopters with food. By now, surely this disaster has made the news.”

“I suppose you’re right.”

Within an hour, we’re packed and rolling slowly in the long line of RVs, mini-vans, and pickup trucks.

I stare out the window and think about our time here. I can’t work with Kyle anymore. He’s right. It’ll be too hard. And I can’t pull apart two brothers who’ve been so close their entire lives. I know what I’ve got to do when we get home.

“You okay?”

“Yes. So, your food was a real hit, Kyle. How much did you make?”

“With the food I gave away at the end, I’ll be lucky if I break even.”

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