Wherever It Leads(98)

He blows out a breath and stands, a limp to his stride I haven’t noticed before. He walks the few steps to the railing and leans against it, facing me. “People make mistakes. You know that; you’ve made your fair share. I’ve made mine. I’m sure Fenton’s made his own too, and I know he’s not some Prince Charming.”

“Oh, he’s charming,” I assure him, making him snort.

“I don’t want to know. He’s my boss and you’re my little sister.”

“Does that bother you?” I ask. “You know, there was a day, a particularly hard day, where I sat on the beach and told you about him. I told you how I felt about him and that I needed your advice on what to do. And now you’re here,” I say, still almost unable to believe it. “So you wanna give me some?”

“He’s a good guy,” he says, moving his shoulder and wincing. “And one I think you’d be really stupid not to get to know a little bit more. Just see what happens. I feel like I know him pretty well after all this,” he laughs, “and his friendship and loyalty is like no other.”

My hand goes to the elephant around my neck.

“What’s that?” Brady asks, peering through the darkness.

“It’s a necklace Fenton gave me. It’s an elephant.”

Brady smiles knowingly. “An elephant means family and loyalty in Zimbabwe. That’s why he gave that to you. He was telling you without telling you he would be loyal to you.”

I press it between my fingers and start to speak when I hear the faint jingle of my phone. “Oh my God! Where is it?”

Brady laughs, stepping out of the way. “In the kitchen on the table. I saw it when I walked by.”

I race inside and pick it up, my fingers flying over the keypad when I see Fenton’s name. “Fenton!” I breathe, my voice shaky. My heart is beating so hard I’m afraid I won’t be able to hear his voice. “Fenton! Are you there?”

“Hey,” he husks, his tone full of exhaustion. “How are you, rudo?”

“Where are you? Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. I’m home,” he says, and I know he’s grinning even though he’s demolished. The tenderness in his voice makes me weak, and I collapse into a chair as Brady walks back in the room, the little hole in my heart starting to fill up.

“I’ve been worried,” I say. “I’ve been trying to find out where you are. Just . . . it’s so good to hear your voice.”

“Did you see your brother?”

“He’s right here,” I smile, my heart flickering in my chest as I watch my brother limp to a chair and slide in. “Fenton, I can’t begin to tell you how grateful I am,” I say, my voice breaking. “I can’t thank you enough. You brought him back, even when I said those horrible things to you.”

The line is quiet as I wait for him to respond. He doesn’t.

“I’m so sorry,” I cry. “I should’ve believed you. I—”

“It’s okay, rudo. I understand.”

“No, you don’t. I just . . .” I push away from the table, my blood pulsing in my veins. “I need to see you. Can I see you? Now?”

He chuckles, the weariness heavy. “It’s late. You don’t need to be out driving this time of night after the day you’ve had.”

“After the day I’ve had, all I need is to be with you. If you’ll have me.” I hold my breath, waiting on his response. It occurs to me he might not want to see me and that slays me.

“If I’ll have you? You know I always want you, Brynne.”

I grin, releasing the breath I’m holding.

“But you should wait till morning. It’s a long drive from your parents’ house and it’s late and—”

“I have Presley. She’ll bring me. She’s a terrible sleeper anyway and such a romantic. She’ll love this.”

He groans and I know he isn’t thrilled with my compromise, but I don’t care. I need to see him. Now.

“I’m coming over, Fenton.”

“Maybe I should—”

“I’ll be there as soon as I can!” I interject before he can finish.

I click off the phone and look at my brother. He’s watching me with an amused look on his face.

“Is it okay if I go, Brady? Maybe it’s rude for me to leave you right now?” I bite my lip and plead with my gaze for him to give me the go-ahead.

He laughs and stands, heading towards the living room. “It’d be easier, probably. You’re stressing me out.”

“Shut up,” I laugh.

He chuckles and gets comfortable in the recliner. “Go. Have fun. Make peace with Fenton, but don’t tell me how you plan on doing that,” he snorts. “I have a lot of stuff to do tomorrow, and honestly, I want to try to sleep and eat and just be as normal as possible. So don’t worry about me, all right?”

I jet up the stairs to wake Presley, but remember something. I pause on the steps whip out my phone again and press redial.

“Brynne?” he asks, his cashmere wrapping around me. “Everything okay?”

“I forgot to tell you something.”

“What’s that?”

“I love you,” I whisper. “And I’m not pretending. Not one bit.”