Breathe In (Just Breathe, #1)(103)

“Good morning, sweetie,” Jimmy sings.

“Good morning, sexy,” Allen adds.

“Good morning.” I smile sitting down. “Do we know if anyone else is up?”

“Nope,” Jimmy confirms. “You hungry? We ordered plenty.”

“I’m good, thanks. I ate around seven.”

“You are an early bird, just like Joe,” Jimmy comments taking a bite of bacon. “Where is he?”

“Asleep, I think.”

With a wicked grin, he harasses, “Did you have anything to do with the fact that he’s sleeping?”

“What? No. We took Sadie out on the beach, had breakfast, and were reading out on the patio for a while,” I explain calmly. “I’m going to get my phone and text Jared to see if anyone is awake upstairs.”

“Wake Joe up before you come back, please,” Jimmy directs. “I want to spend as much time as possible with my brother. He hasn’t been home much,” he discloses.

“You two are really close, huh?” I state more than question.

“Yes, we are,” he confirms.

There’s no direct line of sight from where Jimmy and Allen are sitting to my room, so I’m in the clear with needing to pretend to go to Joe’s room to wake him up. I grab my phone out of my purse that sits on the dresser before heading over to Joe. He’s in the same position that I left him and he looks so peaceful that I don’t want to disturb him. How should I wake him? Will he wake easily?

I lightly run my hand from his should to his elbow several times and he wakes immediately.

“Hey, beautiful.”

“Hey. I’m sorry to wake you.”

Sitting up, he slides closer to me. “It’s okay. How long have I been sleeping.”

“Not long since I got up. Jimmy asked me to wake you. Says he wants to spend more time with his little brother,” I explain.

He smiles at his brother’s sentiment. “Is everyone up?”

“Not sure. I came to get my phone.” I hold it up for him to see.

“So you weren’t coming back to join me?” he pouts, moving closer.

“Joe.”

“I know, just friends . . . for now.” He delivers a quick kiss to my cheek, but doesn’t pull away.

Not wanting to argue, I shake my head as I stand up, giving myself distance. He pulls me in for a hug before following me out to the living room.

Thirty minutes later, the eight of us and Sadie are driving to embark on an hour drive to the Northern East Coast of Maui to hike. The lengthy car ride to the national park is a little unnerving, but the breathtaking views make up for some of the agitation. We stop at one of the local shops for a few snacks and extra water to take with us. We hike on dirt, rock and wood paths and over a few bridges through a bamboo tropical forest. By the second serene waterfall, we decide to take a break and swim. Sadie jumps in and out of the water swimming with Maggie, Jimmy, Nathan and Allen, as Joe, Jared, Henry and I, the daredevils of our group, climb up the edge of the waterfall to jump in.

As the boys debate who gets to jump first, I fling my body off the rock that sits at least twenty feet above water level. I get an instant wedgie. Swimming out of the way, I join Maggie sitting on a protruding rock that is about ten feet away from the water’s edge.

“Out jumped by a girl!” Jimmy shouts. “You boys should be ashamed of yourselves.”

I smile at my triumph and his praise.

At some point, I slide back into the water and help Sadie up on the rock after watching her swim around it twice. Jared comes to visit and soak in the sun.

“How are you doing from last night?” Jared checks.

“Okay . . . hanging in there,” I share.

“You drank a lot. You had me a little worried,” he admits with concern in his tone. “You haven’t drank like that in a long time.”

“I know. Sorry. I’m okay. From what I remember, Joe was a gentleman. He took care of me,” I offer.

“No dream?”

“Nope,” I lie successfully.

“Good.” he praises.

“Did I get bad?” I question tentatively.

I know he’ll tell me the truth.

“No. What do you remember?”

“Not much after coming out of the bathroom with you,” I admit.

“You’re not losing her, you know,” he encourages.

“Yeah,” I disjointedly reply, not believing him.

“We’re gaining a brother,” he rationalizes. “And, perhaps over time, some nieces and nephews.”

“Don’t go there yet, please,” I beg.


Laying my head on his shoulder, I search for some information that I’m not sure I want the answers to. “Can I ask you something?”

“Of course, Kitten. What is it?”

“This stays between us,” I command.

“Of course,” he genuinely agrees. “Is something or did something happen between you and Joe?”

“What? No.” I smoothly lie. “Why would you ask that?”

“It would be a natural, normal thing that could happen,” he explains.

“Don’t. Please don’t,” I plea.

Worry about starting this conversation has fully erupted in me.