Page 59 of I Could Be Yours

“I can help,” Rix offers.

Flip launches himself out of the pool like a fucking dolphinand pulls me in. I go under with him, spluttering as I break the surface.

“Cool off, honey bear. I won’t step on your toes.” He pats my shoulder and flops back into the water, splashing Dred, Lexi, and Shilpa, who are gathered together on one huge, shaded sunbed.

Dred lowers her book and points at her eyes and then at me.

Tristan wades across to me. “How’s your room?”

“Great. How’s yours?” It’s a lie, but he doesn’t need to worry about me. And it will be fine, especially if I don’t have to sleep there.

“It’s literally Bea’s dream. I’ll have to thank Connor. He must have pulled some serious strings.”

“He’s an all-right guy, isn’t he?”

Flip doesn’t have much to say about him, and when he does, it’s usually with disdain. But he can’t be all bad if he managed to fix the hotel situation for us.

“Yeah, he really is. He can be a hard nut to crack, though.” Tristan tips his head toward Rix and Essie. “You and Ess seem to be getting along okay these days.”

“She’s super organized, and smart, and a good friend to Rix.” I shut up and stop digging my own hole.

“She is.” He nods his agreement and claps me on the shoulder. “We couldn’t have pulled any of this off without the two of you.”

“Essie handled most of it. I basically just followed her lead,” I reply.

We look across the deck to where Essie and Rix pose for selfies, laughing and smiling.

For a moment I wonder what it would be like to be in my brother’s shoes.

His relationship with Rix hasn’t always been easy. But he believes in what they have. He’ll do anything for her. Am I capable of loving someone the way he loves Rix? Is someone capable of loving me? Or am I too broken to fix?

CHAPTER 18

ESSIE

“This place is so freaking perfect! Our room is gorgeous, Ess. It’s straight out of a fairy tale!”

“You deserve the fairy tale.” I clink my Badass Babe Brigade travel mug against hers. Hemi had them made for all of us.

“I’m so glad all my friends are here with me!” Rix is channeling her inner exclamation mark. “I can’t believe we have a private pool!” She bumps off the edge and grabs for the tail on my beaver floatie so we don’t drift to opposite ends.

“The water is perfect, and it’s so nice to be weightless,” Shilpa says.

“This.” Lexi clinks her lemonade against Shilpa’s, water lapping at their baby bellies.

“I have never been to a resort this nice,” Dred muses. “Thank you for inviting me.”

Rix smiles fondly. “I’m just glad you could get the time off work.”

“This is exactly what we all needed before the season starts,” Hemi says.

“Right? We’ll be refreshed when we get back to reality,” Hammer agrees. Her gaze follows Hollis, who’s heading over to the rest of the guys.

Nate looks fantastic in a pair of black board shorts, broad back flexing every time he brings his drink to his delightfully full lips. Despite his mirrored sunglasses, I still detect a slight furrow in his brow. I wonder what he’s worrying about now.

“You girls want to take some jet skis out?” Flip calls.

“I will pass on that.” Shilpa pats her belly.

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