Page 32 of Stay, Swear.

His eyes shoot to mine and I quickly fumble out, “He asked. I told him I had to talk to you and Clara first.”

Before Rowan can answer Rhett cuts in, “Yes, now you can talk. Daddy, please. Sleepover for me and Auntie?”

Rowan lets out a half groan. “Uh, when were you thinking?” He looks at me, and I can tell he’s not a ‘put on the spot’ kind of guy, he’s definitely unsure of what to do.

“Oh, whenever it works for you guys. I usually get home around eight every night, and I’m off Sundays. When you let me know a date I can take off or just get off earlier.”

His brow furrows before looking to Rhett and someone else, “Bear, go tell Mama I need to talk to her in a little bit. I’ll come find her after I hang up with Auntie.”

“Okay, bye Auntie, I love you.”

Smiling because those words from him are my favorite thing. “I love you baby. I’ll talk to you soon.” Rhett’s little feet run across the room before the sound of the door shutting behind him echoes in the office space.

Rowan brings his attention back to me, his green eyes almost menacing as they bore into mine, “Where are you working Brittany?”

Raising my eyebrow at him I make him wait a minute before answering. “Careful, Rowan, you sound like I answer to you and your goons.”

He huffs out an exasperated breath, “I’m insanely protective of my family, and that extends to you now too. So again, where are you working that requires you to walk home alone in the dark six days a week?”

He seems sincere, and me being upset that he’s demanding answers from me is going to stress Clara out. “Fine, I’m working as a personal assistant for a law firm. My boss works late most days and I need the hours anyway. He’s nice enough though, so I’m positive if I ask he’ll let me off whatever day works for you guys for Rhett to stay the night.”

“Six days a week? You’re walking home alone?”

Rolling my eyes at the voice coming from off camera, “Rowan, I know you aren’t having this conversation with me in front of your brothers.” And because I want to rub it in a little I add, “And no, my boss walks me home some of those days.”

He chuckles just as none other than the one man who makes me melt with just a simple smile snatches the phone.

Kieran’s face fills the screen. Oh, he’s pissed, “What do you mean your boss walks you home, Brave Girl?” I’ve never been one for pet names, but the way he calls me brave makes me want to be it so badly. My nerves settle just by hisvoice wrapping around me like a warm blanket in the middle of a cold rainy day. Even if he is pissed.

I am a brat at heart, so I poke at him a little more. “Hey, Mystery Man. I mean my boss is kind enough to walk me home most days when we get off. He lives in my building.”

I offer him my most ‘trouble making’ smile, and his eyes light up, just like they always do when we talk. He knows I’m probing for a reaction, just like I know he’s going to give me one. He looks like he hasn’t been sleeping well. Under his eyes are dark, and his eyes look tired, maybe even haunted.

“Why are you letting a strange man walk you home?”

“He’s not strange, he’s my boss. And you know I can’t just give you that, Kieran. Tit for tat, what’s in it for me?” His face turns stony and his eyes bore into mine with intensity that would have most people running for the hills. Not me though, all this change does for me is make me sad that I’ve lost his warm smile, kind eyes, and relaxed demeanor. At the same time I can feel the heat pooling low in my belly. He’s so sexy when he’s pissed.

Kieran’s voice comes out sharp and no nonsense, “Seriously, I’m just trying to make sure you’re not going to get kidnapped by an asshole stalker serial killer. You’re trying to play games, and I’m not even on the black top.”

He’s right, I know he is, but I still don’t want to hear it. I’m not in the mood to argue, hang up, yell, or anything else fighting with him involves. Honestly, I owe him for hurting his feelings the other day.

“He walks me home on days we finish up at the same time because he’s nice and also tall and built. I’m not saying that to make you jealous, but to say if I’m walking with him no one will bother me. On the nights he’s still at work when I leave Iwalk alone. I’ve been through worse than a mile walk in the city at night. Trust me.”

Refusing to look him in the face because I don’t want to see that expression directed at me anymore I call out to Rowan. “Talk to Clara and let me know what day Rhett can spend the night, I’ll make anything work.”

He doesn’t respond but Kieran’s “Mo-” is cut off by me killing the call.

Taking my fingers, I rub my eyes, and the frustration away. My mind moves from Kieran to my mom. She texted me yesterday to check in, but I miss her so much. It’s more dangerous now than before to get together and that hurts. My brain’s all jumbled up over a boy, and my mom can’t even come meet him to tell me what to do. She definitely can’t because he has no idea about her.

There’s so many secrets between us still. I don’t know when the proper time to tell him is or even if I want to. This is my story to tell. I don’t have to tell him anything. If my mom drilled nothing else into my head, she did that. No one is owed my story. Kieran and I aren’t even talking right now. My head is everywhere. I’m tired, hungry, and overly emotional. I need a shower and a night to myself. I’ll make moves tomorrow.

* * *

I’ve showered, got dressed in my best sweats, ordered take out from my favorite mom and pop pizza spot, and snuggled up on the couch with a cozy blanket and some trashy reality show on T.V. This is exactly what I needed. Just some me time to process. Later, as I start to drift off my phone starts ringing, checking the I.D. my finger presses the ignore button.

Instantly the phone starts vibrating again, annoyed and half asleep I swipe to answer, “What.”

“Hello to you too, grumpy. Where are you?” His voice slides through me like the most potent alcohol, making me buzz from head to toe.

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