Page 57 of These Rough Waters

“No,” She agrees. “But if we can just keep it a secret for now? I don’t know what to tell Harper.”

“She’ll be upset?” I ask.

“I don’t think so,” Maya sighs, “But broken hearts are inevitable.”

“I’m not going to break yours, Maya, or hers. You’re safe with me.” I tell her honestly. Because yeah, I may not deserve this or them, but fuck if I’d do anything or let anything happen to them. I suppose it all spirals back to those secrets she’s keeping, what she’s hiding and who she is running from.

But tonight wasn’t the night to get those from her. I will. She’ll tell me and I’ll keep her safe.

When she doesn’t answer I tuck her in closer, finding her broken pieces fit far too perfectly with all of mine, “We have to get back when light hits, get some rest.”

Her head rests on my shoulder and her sigh warms my skin as she settles in to catch the last few hours of sleep. I couldn’t hear the rain now, but it didn’t mean it wasn’t still torrential out there and the hike back down the cliff tomorrow would be tough.

I close my eyes to the sound of the fire and her soft breathing, not knowing where to go or how to work this.

Fear clenches around the organ inside my chest that has been frozen over for so long. What if I lose this too? What if I fuck this up?

But then Maya’s hand settles over the beat on my chest and her body relaxes further, as if the mere feeling of my heart pumping was enough to chase away whatever demons plague her. So, I choose to focus on the feel of her tiny body curled around mine knowing that tomorrow, she will still be mine, and for as long as she’ll have me, I will work to ensure that nothing happens to her.

I wake to something kicking my foot.

Maya is still wrapped up around me, her bare breasts squashed against my side, and it takes a minute to register but then it does, and I’m moving quicker than I have time to think. I didn’t give a fuck that I was naked. There was someone in the cabin with us.

I jump up from the mattress, positioning myself between Maya and whoever the fuck it is in here.

Maya stirs and then shrieks, “Who are you!?”

I finally turn to look at the intruder, letting out a loud groan when I see who is standing at the foot of the mattress with a smug ass grin on his face. Dressed in hiking gear with a backpack slung over his shoulder and a gun holstered at his hip, my younger brother, Everett Avery, watches me like he’s just caught me doing something I shouldn’t be.

His eyes drop to the still very naked Maya at my feet.

“Don’t look at her,” I growl at him.

His brow kicks up in amusement, “Hello, brother.” He says, “And here I thought I was coming to rescue you, looks like I’m not needed after all.”

“Brother?” Maya hisses.

“Yes,” I look down at her pale face, seeing the white knuckled grip she has on the sheets that she holds to her chest, “Maya, this is Everett.”

“Rett,” my brother corrects, smiling down at my Maya who just stares back with wide eyes and a concerned frown.

“How did you know I was here?” I ask, grabbing a discarded blanket to cover myself.

“Ruthie was very concerned,” Rett pouts dramatically, “Same with the sweet little girl, Harper, is it?”

He turns around and heads into the kitchen, opening and closing cupboards, “No coffee?” He says, “Fuck brother, I know it’s been a while since you’ve been anywhere near a woman, but if you’re going to fuck a chick in the middle of the woods, the least you could do is offer her coffee the morning after.”

“Rett,” I warn, “The fuck are you doing here?”

“Um,” Maya stands, gripping the blankets to her chest, her cheeks a scarlet red, “Where did my clothes go?”

I sigh, closing my eyes, “I’m sorry.” I say to her.

She shakes her head, “I need to go.”

“We will go back,” I tell her sternly, “Together.”

“I’d like to get dressed, Torin.” She glances over my shoulder, and I turn too, finding my brother leaning on the counter casually, his arms crossed and shit eating grin still in place.

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