Page 46 of No Dirty Secrets

“Hey,” I tell them as cheerfully as I can. “They’re home. And neither are going back. It’s going to be fine.”

A chorus of agreement hits me. I am not oblivious to the fact that I’d been the one falling apart before the plane landed and I saw Remy with my own eyes.

We are walking through the parking lot after cleaning up our banner mess a few minutes later when I finally think to check my phone.

Two missed calls. Both from Sori, and I know I won’t get out of answering her. Especially with the vacation that she and Emmett are taking.

With a sigh, I let the others go ahead and wave them on when they stop to wait.

“Well, if it isn’t my favorite and friendliest ghost.” Sori laughs at her own joke. “How are you doing? How’s your brother?” The concern I can hear lacing her question is touching, and I smile despite the solemn nature of her question.

“He’s good, or he’s putting on a good show. Either way, he’s alive.”

Sori pauses on the other end, and I can hear Emmett say something in the background. He’s probably angry at me. He wasn’t happy that I had left New York and had even told Sori that I’d betrayed Cole. Which, to be honest, is pretty much impossible because there hadn’t been a relationship to betray.

“Give Laurence a kiss for me.” I think about that beautiful little boy and smile at the last memory I have of him with his little legs running through Cassie’s house to use the bathroom.

“I will.” Something slams in the background. “Oh, I have to go. But can you text me your address? I found something here that I want to send you.”

“Sure.”

“Great!” She sounds like she is moving around now. “I’ll talk to you later.”

She hangs up before I can say goodbye, but that is sort of how Sori rolls. She is always random with her phone. Calling or texting at obscure hours, checking in on me.

The only one waiting for me when I get to the parking lot is Ridley.

“Everyone else left, but I rode with you. So I had to wait.” She stares pointedly at my phone. “Are you ready yet? I’m exhausted. This whole thing was emotionally draining, and they’re not even my brothers.”

“Yeah,” I tell her. “I’m ready. But my head hurts. Can you drive back to my house?” Honestly, I just want to take a nap, and when she rolls her eyes while holding out her hand for the keys, I smile. “Thanks so much.”

I practically bounce in the passenger seat and buckle in, leaning against the cool glass of the window and use my hair as a mini pillow.

“I hate that you can sleep anywhere.” Ridley starts the car, but I am already closing my eyes to catch a half-hour nap while she drives.

“You love me,” I murmur.

Although, I am not really sleeping. I just need to keep my eyes closed and concentrate on absolutely nothing. Nothing but the fact that Remy is home and safe. I have to keep myself from thinking about Cole and how he is doing.

“You should call him,” Ridley interjects. “Or at least send him a text to let him know you’re thinking of him.”

“Get out of my head,” I snap. “I don’t want you in there.”

Sometimes it bothers me that she knows so much about me and is able to get in my head as easily as she can.

“Well, it’s true,” Ridley says distractedly. “You seriously left the guy without a clue how you felt about the situation. About him. You never told him you loved him.”

I shrug even though I know she has her eyes on the road and not on me.

“He caused the accident.”

She snorts in response. “I mean, you’re telling me that because of an accident—that he can’t remember—you’re going to hate him for the rest of your life. I’m calling bullshit. You were afraid of giving up your perfectly planned life. On a man who didn’t run away when he had to face his darkest moment. Naked. In front of another man.”

“Nearly naked,” I correct her. “He had briefs on.” I can’t deny any of the other things she says, though.

Ridley is right. I was an asshole to him. I can’t turn it around on him since I told him that I never wanted to see him again.

So I do what I do best. I change the subject.

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