Page 145 of Butter My Biscuit

Be there soon.

He told me he’d let me know when he was heading this way.

I tiptoe down the hallway, trying not to be heard, but know I need to pack for Paris. As soon as I’m in my room, I hear the deep rumble of a man’s voice, followed by her giggle. I think I hear the sound again, and it’s one hundred percent a sex moan. I play through all the people she could be rolling around the sheets with at this time. And while I have an idea, as of now, I have no proof, just a suspicion.

I flick on my light, pull my suitcase from my closet, and toss it onto my bed. It’s still full of clothes that I packed when I went to Hawaii. For months, all of the lingerie and sexy sleepwear I’d bought to surprise Joey has lived in here. As I move things around, I see the pair of socks Harrison gave me for my cold toes. The memory makes me chuckle.

Once I’m packed, I fall back on the bed. My thighs and abs and arms and mouth are already sore.

Harrison and I almost became strangers, and now, we’re …lovers?

Five minutes later, Remi’s door opens, and she walks to the bathroom. When she’s finished, she stops outside my bedroom door. “Didn’t know you were home.”

“I’m stealthy like that,” I say, sitting up with a brow popped, looking at her messy hair and swollen lips. Then, I smile, knowing there is someone in there. “I won’t say anything,” I whisper.

She smirks. “Okay.” Then, she walks farther into my room. “Please tell me he found you?”

“He did. Your keys are on the counter.”

“And?” She glances at my suitcase.

I nod. “I’m going to Paris with him. I’ll be back in a few days.”

She hugs me. “Thank God.” Then, she looks in my eyes, searching my face. “Next time my brother is standing up there, about to promise his life to another person, it’d better be you. Got it? I don’t think anyone in my entire family will be able to handle this again. Nearly destroyed us all.”

“Itwillbe me. I can promise you that.”

Fifteen minutes later, the front door to our condo opens, and Remi turns, seeing all the clothes on the floor, then rushes around, trying to pick them up. She looks at me with clothes in her arms and fear on her face. Then, I remember there’s a man in her room right now.

Harrison comes closer. “Are you doin’ laundry this late at night? I thought you went to bed early like a grandma.”

He stands behind Remi, and I can see she’s having a mini meltdown, so I do my best to distract him. The last thing I need is for him to threaten whoever is in that room and ruin their entire night. When it comes to his little sisters, he’s a total asshole, and he will pull out that dickhead personality that I love and hate, all at the same time. The fiercely protective one. The one who gives zero fucks.

“What’s the rush?” He laughs as I push him out the door, and I wave bye to Remi.

I turn and look at him as I walk to the truck. “I’ll tell you later.”

He opens the door for me. “She has someone in her room, doesn’t she?”

“Don’t you kinda owe her one?” I pull him to me, tugging his lip into my mouth.

“I owe her ten, but I guess it’s nine now.”

I see the sun rising in the far distance, and pull out my phone so we can take our signature road-trip selfie. “I want you to promise me something,” I say.

“Anything.”

“When things between us are good, we enjoy them.”

“I already do that.” He smiles.

* * *

As we’re sitting outside of our gate, ready to board the plane, Harrison interlocks his fingers with mine. I glance over at him. A million different questions stream through me, and I feel like I’ve somehow slipped timelines into this alternate reality that I’ve only wished for.

He leans over. “Why are you lookin’ at me like that?”

I shake my head. “Nothing.”

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