While I Was Away(59)

If he didn't talk himself out of it first, that was.

Stupid stubborn guy. He always was stubborn, in his own annoying way.

Her phone dinged in her pocket and she pulled it out. A text from Zoey was sitting on her screen, so she swiped it open.

I slept with your brother.

Adele blinked her eyes rapidly, not sure if she was seeing the text correctly. When she read it again, though, it was still the same statement. She gaped at her phone for a bit, then hastily typed out a response.

You'll have to be more specific – there's three of them.

Ocean, you dork, who else!?

Oh.

Oh? OH!? That's it!? I bang your broody older brother and all I get is OH!?

Don't say “bang” and my brother in the same sentence, okay?

ADELE. WHERE ARE YOU. THIS IS A BIG DEAL. WE NEED TO KIKI.

She chewed at her bottom lip and glanced around the cabin.

I'm at Donner Lake.

Where the fuck is Donner Lake?

It's near-ish Lake Tahoe.

Why the fuck are you all the way up there?

She wasn't sure how to answer at first. Even River, her most understanding brother, had thought she was nuts for going up there. She didn't need everyone else thinking she was crazy, too.

But then she remembered that of everyone, Zoey had been the only one to say she believed her.

I came to see a guy about a dream.

There was a long pause before the next text came through.

Lund is with you?

Yeah. We're at his cabin up here.

Alone? Together? In a cabin?

Yeah.

Whoa. You two banging might be an even bigger deal than Ocean and I.

STOP SAYING THAT WORD. We're not banging. I think he might hate me right now.

Bummer. He'll get over it – no one can hate you for long. It's annoying.

Thanks. So how, when, why did this thing with Ocean happen?

I don't know. Auggie was having a sort of random goodbye party, Ocean texted me and asked me to come. I walked in, Ocean and I looked at each other, I walked out, he followed me, and yeah. It was on.

Good. I'm glad. You've been dancing around each other ever since I woke up. Probably even before.

Yeah. I'll spare you the AWESOME details, but I just wanted you to know. You're my friend, and he's something. I don't know what. But I'm not trying to hurt him or you, okay?

Adele smiled at her phone. Since coming out of the coma, she knew she'd been kind of self-centered. Her mental state and her physical state had required it, but that didn't make it any easier on her friends and family. But Zoey had been a trooper through it all, bearing it the best of anyone.

Thanks. I know you're not. And honestly – I'm more worried about you.

Please. A guy has yet to crack this nut.

Ocean isn't just some guy. He's special, and I'm not just saying that because I'm his sister. Be careful. He doesn't always know what to say or do. He doesn't tread lightly. Be patient with him, okay?

Another long pause, and Adele wondered if maybe she'd just scared Zoey off from her brother.

You're right. He's an idiot and he needs to learn how to smile and he's got a flag pole up his ass. What am I doing with this guy? Why can't I stop thinking about him?

That's those Reins boys for you. Get under your skin, so even when you hate them, you can't help but love them. Bane of my existence.

Never should've introduced me.

Sorry.

I take it back. If you hadn't introduced us, I would've missed out on the best sex of my life.

Aaaaand that's my cue to end this conversation. I'll be back in a day or two. Watch over my brothers for me?

Of course. You be careful, too.

I'll try.

Adele closed the chat, then shot off quick messages to her brothers, assuring them she was okay and was taking care of herself. She told them she was at Donner Lake, which River already knew, but she decided against giving them an exact address. The last thing she needed was River or Ocean pulling a “big brother saves the day” routine and storming in on her.

Since Jones was still in the shower, Adele decided to examine her surroundings a little more. She walked around to the front of the easel and stared at the painting in the moonlight.

The canvas was only half finished – he'd told her he'd been trying to capture the wildflowers outside, but had lost interest. It was really well done, she was surprised to realize he was an excellent painter. He must not have mentioned it when she'd been in her coma, because she'd had no idea he was an artist. She hoped he'd take it up again.

“I need to finish it,” his voice said from behind her. She smiled, but didn't turn around.

“It's really good,” she said. “You're quite the artist.”

“You sound surprised.”

She couldn't tell if he was being snide or not, so she turned her around, then nearly fell over. He had a towel wrapped around his waist and was struggling with a shirt in his hands, trying to find the arm holes. Her mouth went dry for a moment.

“I just ...” she tried to jump start her brain. “Didn't know, I guess. You, uh ... swim?” She made a guess based on his muscle definition. He shrugged, then the shirt was pulled over his head.

“Occasionally. I like to mountain bike and hike a lot, that's how I spend most of my days off,” he answered, rubbing a second towel over his wet hair.