Page 103 of South of The Skyway

I gingerly tucked a strand of silky blonde hair behind her ear. “Look, Ace. I’ve got her. Take a breather. Seven people in an RV is a lot for anyone. She’s not hurting anything. Take a bubble bath and a night to breathe. Give yourself time to clear your head.”

She opened her mouth and closed it twice before softly saying, “Yeah, okay. If you’re sure.”

“Positive.” I meant it. But the bonus was she had to come face me once she’d cooled off for a minute.

“Then it’s a plan. I’ll see you in the morning, okay?” I leaned down and kissed her forehead, wishing for her lips, for the feel of her against me. But overwhelm seemed to seep from her in waves. I could give her a moment without any Rhodes to catch her breath. Her stiff silence and rigid posture spoke volumes more than I was prepared to acknowledge.

The rideshare homewas one of the longest in my life, the infinite bridge feeling suddenly every bit as obnoxious as she’d always said it was. Something angry was trying to claw its way to the aching spot in my gut. Anger at myself mostly, for falling for a woman who had blatantly not wanted anything legitimate. But also anger at my family for shoving her over the edge. Brexley deserved the fucking world. Nonetheless, I was the first to admit I should have been more upfront with her.

Moping in an unflattering pool of self-pity, it took the driver slamming on the brakes for me to finally look out the front window. My heart took a nosedive as I flew out of the car.No. Phone in my hand, I bolted for the house. The driver yelled after me, but there was no turning back.

FORTY-SIX

BREXLEY

The sound of a car out front had me peering down through the blinds like a crazy neighborhood busybody. To my absolute horror, it was an idling rideshare. Bright decal lit up in the back window as Rhyett slowly stood from my front porch stairs and climbed into the sedan.

Oh my God. He’d just beensitting outsidealone, waiting for a driver? Where the hell were all the Rhodes? They’d just left him in the city to look after me? Oh god, my irrational meltdown was about to cost him a fortune in mileage fees.

By the time the front door smacked against the drywall and my feet were on the sidewalk, the car was gone. I was left feeling like the biggest jackass. I’d been so overwhelmed in my own emotions, I hadn’t even thought through the implications of just sending him off like that. Palming my face, I slid my phone out of my back pocket.

Brexley

Can you talk?

Noel

Give me a second.

A second passed.About ninety more did as well. But then, like the angel she was, Noel’s face appeared on my screen.

“Brex? What’s wrong? Why do you look like you saw someone run over a box of puppies?”

“Jesus,” I said, recoiling from the mental image.

“Well, that’s about as grim as your face.”

I squinted at the screen, the curtain of clothing to either side of her. “Are you in your closet?”

“Eric’s feeling territorial. Promised him an uninterrupted movie night, but hoes before bros, man.” The laugh bubbled up despite myself. At least until she scowled, demanding, “Now, tell me what the hell is going on.”

My face ached as it fell. “I think I have to stop sleeping with Rhyett.”

“Because you’re fertile?”

“What?”

Noel deadpanned, explaining, “Well, I mean, that’s the only reason I wouldn’t let him do whatever he wanted to me, if I were you.”

“Oh my God.”

“Am I wrong? He’s fucking gorgeous. And he’s crazy about you. Why the sudden celibacy? Some sort of—”

Throat thick, I cut her off. “I’m not good enough for this family, Noel. They’re the freakingBrady Bunch. Except, bigger.”

“Oh, bullshit,” she barked, rebounding quickly from my less-than-polite intervention.

“You don’t get it. They’re all these crazy high achievers.”

---