I’m alone in this.
No, I can call London. And Savannah. I can call my non-Boston people, but still, the fact that I have to do that, hurts. I tell my Boston girls everything because that’s what we do.
But I’m sleeping with my friend’s brother.
It makes me a traitor. A bad friend. A liar.
After driving along slick city streets and sanded highways, we pull into the gates of my parents’ compound. Growing up, everyone knew who I was. Rina Fritz. We went to a very private, very exclusive high school so we weren’t alone with our high-ranking name. But yet we still stood out. Still do though we were raised to downplay it.
I’m a nurse and the other nurses I work with don’t care about my family or my wealth as long as I do my job and do it well. That’s all nurses care about. That’s how I became such close friends with Halle, Margot, and Aria through Drew. Doctors too, but there is a prestige and wealth element to their game that my brothers—much like my father—fit into well.
I did blame my family name for a lot of what happened with Harrison. If I hadn’t been Rina Fritz, would Harrison Bishop have been so interested? If I had been a regular girl, would getting a restraining order earlier have done something?
Brecken takes in the grounds and the stables as we meander along the gravel drive and once the house comes into view, I watch as he runs a hand over his hat and squeezes the back of his neck. It’s one thing to know, it’s another to see.
“I didn’t tell you.”
Brecken reaches back, blindly grasping my hand. “I knew. I just didn’t know. It doesn’t change what I told you.”
The sincerity in his voice hits me like an arrow through the heart. Straight. True. Piercing. Deadly.
“And look at that. Lights.” Oliver practically vibrates in his seat at the sight, and after more than thirty-six hours without power, I can’t deny the glee vibrating from my bones as well. I had texted all my friends shortly before getting in the car, all of whom replied that they were fine and didn’t need to make the trip out into the burbs, but looking at the light and knowing the house is warm and has hot water, I’m tempted to send a car for all of them.
Consequences be damned.
The car stops and one by one we empty it, hungrily heading for the house and its promises of electricity. Brecken holds back, helping me down from the car and taking my hand in his. His fingers thread through mine, his warm gaze a salve on my soul.
“Will your brothers kill me if I lure you into the shower with me?”
“Likely.” I grin. My heart flutters. My belly dips. I hate all of it.
“Perfect. Come with me then. I want to shower in your bathroom and fuck you in your bed.”
“Under my posters of Edward Cullen?”
A laugh billows from his chest. “You’re not serious.”
“You’ll have to come upstairs with me to find out.”
“Can I still take you on our date? I’ll Uber into work tomorrow morning. But I’m counting on our date.”
“I work Saturday night.”
“Then I’ll walk you into work.”
“I thought you said our date was Friday night.”
He smirks like the devil, raising my hand to his lips, kissing it knuckle by knuckle. “I plan on making it an extended date.”
“I see. I thought we said we were going to keep this low key and casual.”
“I don’t remember saying that.”
“Brecken—”
“I have my definition of low key and casual and you have yours. Now introduce me to your last brother and your niece.” Our joined hands swing between us. “Your brothers like me.”
“And Landon, despite his penchant for broodiness is the easiest piece to that pie, so you’re made in the shade.”
“I’m more worried about Stella.”
I nearly cackle at that. “Has there ever been a woman you could not woo with your charms?”
“No,” he admits ruefully, eyes glinting with victory. “Some just take more work than others.” He winks at me and I can’t stop the thoughts. The ones that say this already doesn’t feel low key or casual. He’s here with me, meeting my family. Trying to get them to like him. I know he needs power for his laptop and a hot shower, but that’s not what this is, and I know it.
I feel it.
He’s infiltrating my crumbling perimeter.
Part of that is my fault. I made him stay through the storm. I kept him with me, in my bed, with his arms around me. But starting tomorrow, I need to pull back. Because if I don’t, I’ll get sucked in deeper than I already am. And then what will I do?
24
Brecken
The blaring of my alarm jars me out of one of the best night’s sleep I’ve had in weeks. Rina groans, stirring beside me and rolling over as I turn it off. My lips meet the crook of her neck and I take a deep inhale of her blonde hair that’s tickling my face. I’m going to have to wait until Friday evening to see her, and I have no idea how I’ll manage that now that I’ve had her.
These last three nights with her…
She looks so beautiful like this, sleeping peacefully.
I stare at her for another second before silently climbing out of bed, showering, dressing, and getting ready for work. It’s barely five thirty, but I want to get into the office early even if I don’t want to leave her.
“I have to go,” I whisper against her lips as I kiss her goodbye. “I’ll call you later.”
“Wait,” she rasps, her voice thick with sleep. “You have power?”
I grin against her. “Yeah. The city got power back overnight.”
“Okay. Have a good day.”
“I’ll miss you too.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You didn’t have to.” I kiss her, a little deeper this time. “Go back to sleep. It’s early.” One last kiss and then I head out, shutting her bedroom door softly behind me.
Rina’s bedroom is in the east wing of the house. And yeah, there is an east and west wing. There’s even a north and south wing. This house—if you can even call it that—is the size of a small hotel. Like Wayne manor in Batman. That doesn’t even include the staff house out back or the stables and barn.
I knew Rina was wealthy. I knew the Fritz’s were billionaires.
But I didn’t expect this.
And yet, despite their wealth, we all sat around last night laughing and eating and drinking wine and just chilling out. They like to tease each other—especially their baby sister—and there was no pretense or airs about them. It was just fun.
Like when Wes and I hang out.
Creeping through the first floor, I actually get turned around and wind up in the kitchen instead of the foyer. Jesus. This place.
“You lost?” A voice startles me, and I spin around to find Oliver sipping coffee wearing a crisp navy-blue dress shirt and charcoal slacks. His dark hair is wet, brushed back off his face.
“I think so. I was looking for the way out. I need to get an Uber into town.”
He waves me away. “Don’t bother. I have a shift this morning, so I was about to leave anyway. I’ll drop you.”