Page 69 of Your Secret to Keep

Wes’ mouth hangs open as his chin dips, almost touching his chest. “That would be… like… so fucking cool.” I laugh because hearing my brother swear like that is still funny to me.

“Wait, you and Lia? Like?” Wes asks the question I was waiting for.

“Listen, it’s a secret,” I stress, “but we’re dating. We started hanging out before I got the job with the Jags.”

Wes playfully smacks his hands on the table before immediately crossing his arms. His lips press together in a thin line before he responds, “Cool, cool. I can keep a secret. That’s no problem. I thought you and me were closer than that, but hell, what do I know?”

“It was me. We kept it between us until now. You’re the first person we’ve told.” Brooks jumps in, telling a little white lie but making Wes feel special.

Brooks has that way with people.

My dad would’ve killed for this moment. The wish for my life to be different than it is hits me for a brief second. Wes and I have done a lot of life’s milestones just the two of us, or with my aunt and uncle if they could swing it, and I’m thankful. But every once in a while, I think about how much my parents would love to be here to witness this.

I’m not sure what the afterlife is like, but I hope my dad gets the memo or knows this is happening, because I know he’d love it.

Chapter 42

Brooks

“Threemonths?You’rekidding,”Lia screeches from the other room. She’s on the phone with her landlord and I don’t think it’s going well. “Oh, I’m sorry, atleastthree months.” Sarcasm drips from her voice as they go back and forth.

I pretend like I can’t hear her and put away the groceries I had delivered. It’s not that I don’t ever keep food in the house, but it depends on my game schedule. Plus, I usually only plan for myself.

Lia joins me in the kitchen, her shadow Rocky following close behind.

“So, once we left yesterday, more of the ceiling fell in,” she cries. “Everything in my bedroom is a loss. All my clothes. Bed. Books. All of it.”

“That is awful. Do they know what happened?”

Her eyes water as she slips into a barstool. “Apparently, the unit above me started running a bath and forgot about it. Like, left the apartment for the weekend.”

“Wow. That’s not what I expected you to say.”

Lia shrugs. “They think it will be at least three months until it’s fixed.”

I meant what I said when I brought her here—she can stay. I have nothing but space. Now, seeing if shewantsto stay is a completely different question.

She rambles on. “I can’t afford a hotel. I texted Shelbie about staying with her, but she already has a roommate in a one-bedroom apartment.Someone already sleeps on the couch. There’s no room at my aunt and uncle’s place. I don’t want to disrupt Wes either.”

Leaning on the counter in front of her, I say, “I know your immediate answer is going to be no, or you can’t, but let me offer.” I pause, and she raises an eyebrow. “You can stay here. There’s clearly enough room. Plus, we’re going to be traveling together for away games. If you don’t want to, I understand, but if you’re trying to convince yourself that you don’t deserve this or you don’t want to be a burden… Lia, let me help you.”

“Don’t you think it’s fast?” Her question is quiet while she picks her head up. “Do I move in and sleep in your room? The guest room?”

I shrug my shoulders and answer, “It’s up to you. I mean, it’s not like we’re saying you’ll stay here forever. Or maybe you could? I don’t know. I’m just saying, I have the means to help you through this. If you’re comfortable, I’m comfortable.”

“What I’m too much for you?” she asks meekly. “I don’t want this to ruin this. I know I’m a lot and sometimes I do annoying things, and I’ve never really lived with someone like this and—”

I put a finger over her mouth and let out a laugh. “Lia, I’ve never felt you’re too much. Honestly, I can’t get enough of you. Maybe this is a good thing? We won’t know unless we try.”

She looks at me then gets off the stool, kneeling to pet Rocky.

“Okay,” she agrees after a quiet moment. “But only if you know you’re not locked in. If we try and it doesn’t work, that’s okay. I know I just went down my shortlist of options and they all feel like a ‘no,’ but I’d make something work.”

I walk over and press my mouth to hers. We’ve been through a lot in the last twenty-four hours, and this feels like we’re making a turn. My fingers move up her back and into her hair, which became curly once she took her braids out. When Lia circles her arms around my neck, I murmur, “Okay. I can do that.”

She smiles and kisses me again. Rocky interrupts when he gets on his hind legs, putting his paws on our legs and looking for attention.

“Now, I have an idea for clothes,” I suggest, pulling my phone out and making a call.

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