Page 76 of Cold Hard Truth

“Too long,” I agree. “How did you even know that I was back?”

Reed glances over at Sage, who’s walking into the kitchen. “Someone still can’t help but call his sister every time he needs to vent.”

“Andsomeonealways makes me regret that.” Sage plants his hands on the counter, watching us.

Reed shakes her head. She’s wearing a bright red sweater that brings out the rosy tinge on her cheeks. It’s short, so even with her high-waisted acid-wash jeans, it shows off a sliver of her stomach.

“My brother loves me.” She winks.

“He does.” Glancing over at Sage, I smile when he smirks at Reed’s comment.

If there’s one person who brings out Sage’s soft side, it’s his sister. He was the one who looked out for her after their mom died when their dad was too busy with the club. I still remember having to explain the different types of tampons to him when his dad sent him to the store the first time Reed got her period.

Embarrassing or not, Sage would do anything for her.

“So, how long are you staying?” I hook my arm through Reed’s, and we make our way into the kitchen.

“A couple of days.” She shrugs. “I have to get back to work at some point.”

“Where are you working?”And how horrible of a friend am I that I have no idea?

Sage wasn’t the only person I left behind when I skipped town. I buried this part of my life and never looked back. Sage, Reed, the club. They all reminded me of someone I wasn’t anymore. They reminded me of the loss of my sister.

It was selfish but necessary.

“I write for an online column. Trends, politics, whatever they need. It keeps it interesting, and I get to travel a lot, depending on where the story takes me. But I’m based out of San Francisco.”

“That’s incredible.” I squeeze Reed’s hand, remembering her writing for the school paper. “You did it.”

“Hard to believe, right?” Her eyebrows pinch.

“Not at all. You’re amazing.”

She forces a smile, but there’s the slightest disbelief in her gaze. Another reminder of how much the people I knew have changed. Reed was always the confident oneof the group, believing she could do anything. But she shrinks with my compliment. It’s odd given she’s living her dream and has clearly proven herself.

“I’m decent at it.” She bites her lip.

“Don’t let her lie to you.” Sage leans against the counter, crossing his arms over his chest. “Reed is hot shit up there. She’s just too shy to admit it.”

“Reed, shy?” I hitch an eyebrow.

Sage smirks, his dark gaze focusing on me. “Compared to present company.”

Shy isn’t a word that’s often used to describe me. Willful. Headstrong. Difficult. I blame it on the fact that I’m the MC president’s daughter, so being born with a spine was a necessity.

“Be nice.” Reed wraps her arm through mine, glaring at her brother.

Sage shrugs. “Just pointing out facts.”

“Well, thank you for making the trip.” I turn to Reed, ignoring Sage and the attention he won’t take off me.

I’m not sure if it’s because of last night, or what happened in the hallway at the clubhouse, but the magnetic pull in the room is distracting.

“I wouldn’t miss it.” Reed squeezes my arm. “I’m still trying to process that you’re actually here. It’s been forever.”

“Eight years.”

Her eyes gloss over, and the lump in my throat closes off my air. It’s easy to not miss people when you don’t think about them. And now I’m forced to face every buried feeling; it’soverwhelming.

---