Page 48 of Formula Freedom
“Yes, please.” I follow him out of bed, using the restroom and making it under the covers before he returns. I grab my phone from the pocket of my jeans and just as I’m unlocking it, Reid walks in with a bowl of chocolate ice cream and two bottles of water.
The water was sweet, but the ice cream is next level. “You are a god.”
He smirks as he slides in next to me. “I’d prefer if you tell me that in closer proximity to the orgasms I deliver.”
I snort as I navigate to my texts. Reid takes a spoonful of ice cream and practically shoves it in my mouth.
“Mmm,” I groan, licking my lower lip. “So good.”
“Chocolate’s your favorite,” he says.
“And strawberry is yours,” I quip, eyes moving to my phone. The ice cream seems to curdle in my stomach as I see a new text from Lance. I hadn’t heard from him all day yesterday or today, and it fostered a sense of hope that this break up would be easy.
“Lance texted me,” I whisper.
Reid stops with a spoonful of ice cream halfway to his mouth, then lowers it into the bowl. He doesn’t say anything. Doesn’t look at my phone. Just watches me.
I want to ignore it, but I can’t not know what he’s sent, so I bend my head and read:
I know you probably don’t want to talk to me, but I just wanted to tell you again how sorry I am that I hit you. I don’t know how to fix this, but I want to. To at least preserve our lifelong friendship. I hope you’ll talk to me soon. I still love you.
I lift my head, find Reid watching me and then hold the phone out for him to read the text. His gaze doesn’t drop though. He’s silently asking permission even though I’ve given it. I push the phone at him and he sets the bowl of ice cream down before he takes it.
I watch as his eyes fly over the words, and I don’t miss the twitch of muscle in his jaw.
He looks up, hands the phone back to me. “What are your thoughts about what he said?”
I lift my shoulder, reading Lance’s words again. “I’m a little disheartened. He thinks we can work this out and honestly, I don’t want this to be a big, drawn-out argument. I just want him to accept that we’re done and I want to reply right now telling him that, but text is not the way to do it.”
“Are you ready to see him? Or talk to him?”
I shake my head. “No,” I admit quietly. “I need to be strong and ready to hold the line with him. Right now… I feel a little fragile.”
“Then text him back, tell him you appreciate the message but you’re not ready to talk to him and want space. If he meant what he texted, then he’ll respect that.”
I nod. That’s a good idea. My thumbs fly, tapping out Reid’s suggestion and I hit send without overthinking it.
“Oh,” Reid says, nodding toward my phone. “Also text him that his brother’s going to kick his ass when he sees him.”
I roll my eyes. “I’m not texting that, and you’re going to have to figure a way to get over it. We all are if we want our families to have some chance at staying close.”
Reid’s expression is noncommittal. “Are you going to get over it?”
“I’ll have to,” I reply softly. “I don’t want to have this hanging over my head. I want resolution.”
Reid nods, but I doubt he’s ever going to forget about it. I know a reckoning is coming. I have to hope he’ll be satisfied with nothing more than a screaming match with his brother.
CHAPTER 15
Reid
Lara and Isit side by side on oversized beach towels, half buried in the warm sand, legs stretched out lazily before us. We’ve already spent the early part of the morning in the water, chasing wave after wave as the sun climbed steadily overhead. Now we’re soaking in the late-morning warmth, saltwater drying on our skin, the gentle crash of the surf providing a rhythmic backdrop. Occasionally, our eyes meet, and we share quiet smiles that don’t need words—each look speaks volumes about how good it is to be here together, finally.
I glance down the stretch of beach, eyes squinted against the glare of the sun reflecting off the ocean, wondering if Carlos is close. He texted earlier, promising to meet us here, but punctuality isn’t exactly his strong suit.
Except on the racetrack. He always gets where he’s going pretty damn fast.
Lara chuckles softly beside me, clearly reading my thoughts. “Think he’ll show?” she teases, nudging me lightly with her elbow.
