Page 15 of Rebel Secrets
“Not gonna happen, dude.Tressy and I have natural rhythm, on and off?—”
“Say another word, and I’ll make you limp down the aisle.”
More laughter because he knew I’d never do anything to sabotage Tressy’s big day.I loved that woman like a sister.And she was the perfect woman for Rowdy.Which still didn’t prove that there was someone out there for everyone.Even if Rain and Brian were pretty good together, too.
“So you’re still coming stag to the wedding?”Rowdy asked when he stopped laughing.
“When the hell do I have time to date, much less meet anyone?Especially now.”
“Yeah, I gotta say you’re making us all proud as hell of the way you’re playing, Reb.You’re kicking ass.”
The praise made my chest tight, damn him.“Thanks.”And since I really didn’t want to touch that subject right now, I deflected.“Hey, that book you suggested is pretty great.”
I wondered if he’d let me get away with it and, luckily for me, he did.
“I knew you’d like it.”The guy sounded practically giddy.“I mean, come on, who doesn’t love dragons.”
“It’s got a good story.The dragons are a bonus.”
“Yeah, the dragons aren’t the reason I told you to read it.I knew you’d connect with the heroine.”
And he was right.Of course.
The female lead character had issues, and I identified with a lot of them.No, I wasn’t female, and I didn’t live in a world filled with mythical creatures and magic and enchanted libraries.But she dealt with a lot of the same issues I did.Anxiety, panic, depression.The trifecta of my dysfunction.So yeah, I identified.
And surprisingly, I’d recently discovered a love of reading, which I’d confessed to Rowdy one night back in September.I’d texted him when I couldn’t sleep.The next morning he’d told me to read a book, and I’d be asleep in minutes.I thought he’d been joking, but I’d been desperate.I didn’t want to take meds.They’d make me slow on the ice.I couldn’t risk it.Been there, done that.It was bullshit.But I also knew if I didn’t get enough sleep, I’d have other issues.So I’d asked him for a recommendation.And after a few minutes, he'd given me the title of a fantasy book with fairies and vampires and werewolves.
It’d kind of reminded me of the movie Underworld, which I fucking loved.Who couldn’t appreciate Kate Beckinsale with fangs in a black shiny skinsuit.But that book had had a hell of a lot more sex.And I discovered I didn’t actually hate that part of the book as much as I thought I might.
And so, our little book club had begun.
“And you were right.As always.”
Rebel snorted.“According to our sister, I’m never right.”
My turn to laugh.“What’s she on your ass about now?”
“She says we’re not moving fast enough on the youth program.”
“Are you?”
“Dude!You’re supposed to be backing me up.”He paused.“But she’s not wrong.We’re running into a few more obstacles than I thought there’d be.”
“Yeah, like what?”
“Red tape from the city council.”
“Why are they giving you a hassle?You’d think they’d be all over this shit.”
“They’re not giving me a hassle.It’s more me learning to deal with this shit.Pop just made this all look so easy.”
I heard something in Rowdy’s voice I didn’t hear much.Doubt.“Pop knew what he was doing handing the reins over to you.I know that for a fact.I also know he wouldn’t have done it if he didn’t think you could do it.”
A pause.“Yeah, well some days I just want to throw in the towel and tell Rain she’s on her own.”
Since I knew that wouldn’t happen, I just smirked.
“Shit.Sorry.Didn’t mean to dump this on you,” he said.“But if this keeps up, I might need the number for your therapist.How’s that going anyway?You still keep in touch with that guy?”
