Page 66 of Caught Stealing

Not at all, even though I can’t say the same for Phoenix, who is back to barely acknowledging my presence.

It’s not until the harnesses are unclipped and we’re ushered off the back deck that I realize I was holding his hand the entire time.

And I didn’t want to let go.

Twenty

Phoenix

We make great time returning to Nashville the next day, giving us the remainder of the late afternoon and evening to spend with my family. And all three of them are a welcome sight in the doorway after ten miserable hours in the car with Kason and Holden.

No amount of Netflix, Spotify, or reading could save me from the thoughts circling around the three of us and the fucked-up situation we’ve found ourselves in—one Kason is still wholly oblivious to. Or from looking in the mirror, only to catch Holden’s gaze already on me, which was so much worse. Because every time our eyes collide now, there’s a lot more depth in them. I don’t know how to describe it other than that, and it’s enough to have me looking away every time.

Just like right now, as he brushes by me to enter the house with the rest of the guys.

“Phoe Phoe!” Charlotte screeches, steering my gaze to her.

“Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes?” I sweep her off the ground the second she’s within reach and swing her around in circles, drawing out endless bouts of laughter and giggles.

“I miss you so much,” she says, wrapping her arms around my neck in a bear hug.

“I miss you too, Bug,” I tell her, squeezing her a little tighter than necessary. I didn’t realize how much that was true until I was actually holding her in my arms.

“Did you have the best time?”

Her hazel eyes twinkle as she smiles at me, ready to hear all about our adventures. Ones probably far more epic in her head than in reality. Nonetheless, Charlotte’s always had a massive love for the ocean, and in turn, any time we spend down at the condo. I think it’s the place she’s happiest, which is why the next words to come out of my mouth are nothing short of the truth.

“It was fun, just not as much fun if you would’ve been there.”

If possible, her smile grows even wider.

She babbles on and on for a couple minutes about all the things that happened at school this term, and I probably only understand half of it because she’s speaking so fast. But the animated way she talks and tosses her hands in the air while she does wraps a fist around my heart and squeezes.

Not as much as when she pauses and looks me dead in the eye to ask, “Do you really have to go back to college tomorrow?”

One single emotion slams into me at full force at her words. Guilt. It’s all I seem to be feeling these days. Maybe it’s because I feel like I’m constantly letting everyone down.

“You know I have to go back to school,” I tell my little sister, hating the sadness on her face the moment the words leave my lips. “I would stay here with you if I could. You know that, right?”

She nods and quickly bounces back into more cheerful spirits when she remembers we have company. Lots of it.

“Put me down so I can go say hi to KK,” she commands. “I didn’t get to see him yet. Or anyone else. I want to meet all your friends.”

Charlotte didn’t see any of the guys when we passed through last week. She was already asleep when we got here on the way down, and with a heavy driving day the next morning, we left before she was even awake. So naturally, her FOMO is demanding she gets the chance now.

I laugh and, per her request, set her on her feet so she can find wherever Kason’s disappeared to within the house. Probably in the room directly across from mine, where he’s always stayed when he needed an escape from his own home.

“She’s cute,” a voice says from behind me as I watch her scamper off, instantly creating a warm, fuzzy sensation in my stomach.

I was so distracted by giving Charlotte my undivided attention, I hadn’t realized Holden was still standing there. Hadn’t felt his penetrating gaze boring into me, so I assumed he’d gone off with the rest of the guys to find a place to sleep.

“Yeah, she is.” I peer down the hall where she disappeared before adding, “She’s one of my favorite people on this planet.”

In truth, I’m close to my entire family. It’s not common these days, but we’ve always had a very tight-knit bond. Despite Dad’s demanding career, he’s always made time for our family, and it’s something I’ll forever be grateful for.

“I can see why.” Holden gives me a soft smile that does something stupid to the organ in my chest. “She seems like a little spitfire. I wonder who she gets it from.”

“Whatever you’re implying, I can guarantee you’re wrong.”

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