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I press her name and bring the phone to my ear. “Are you fucking kidding me?!” is followed by a minute-long tirade of how now was the worst timenotto respond considering there was just someone after me. The word selfish was thrown around. Uncaring. Bitch was used more than a few times. When she finishes, she huffs. “Are you still there?”
“I’m so sorry,” I murmur.
She groans in frustration. “I know. Where are you? You are okay, right?”
“Yes. I’m at Jax and Finn’s.”
She brightens up at that. “He’s back.”
“No.” I peek up at Jax who gives me a little space. “Not yet, anyway. We don’t know when. I just found myself here last night. I’m so sorry. I fell right asleep, and I didn’t even hear the calls and texts. I slept like the dead.”
“You probably needed it,” she concedes.
“So, we’re good?” I probe. I hate it when Jaz is mad at me. It’s the worst.
“We’re good, skank. Just don’t do it again. Jared’s been just as worried as I have.”
“Awww,” I coo, warming up at the thought of the two lovebirds.
“Shut up. You coming home?”
I tap my foot on the hardwoods. “Jax actually invited me to go to the gym to help with the store again. Do you mind?”
“No, ‘course not. Now that I don’t think you’re dying in some fucking alleyway somewhere, I don’t care.”
I chuckle. Leave it to my best friend to be hella blunt. “Love you.”
“Same, bitch. I’m going to go back to bed because I’m fucking tired from being worried about your ass all night. You’re so lucky I never called Cole. I was so close.”
I grimace at that. Yeah, that was definitely lucky.
25
Since I spent the night at their house, my body must have known to wake up at the ass crack of dawn. I have time to make myself more presentable before we head to the gym. After our heart-to-heart, Jax doesn’t talk very much as we walk to the bus stop and ride across town to Elite Boxing. When we get there, we each go our separate ways. I return to work on the shop like he asked me to, and he readies things for a full day of training. Within ten minutes, clients start entering, and the beating of fists on pads and masculine grunts fill the air like I never left.
A few guys approach the counter while I’m working, asking where I’d gone. In a way, this place is like a family to the athletes. The same faces are here all the time, working and committing to becoming a better fighter while they receive help from two of the best coaches around—my completely unbiased opinion, of course.
It takes me a few days to straighten around the mess that occurred while I was gone. I work at the gym after my shift at the bank where I’m all but going through the motions. The gym is where my heart lies. I’ve been going back and forth between the brothers’ house and my own apartment. Jared is always shacking up with my bestie now, so I feel more comfortable in the big traditional house with the grumpy trainer and thinking about Finn. Who’d have thought?
During a lull at the shop one evening, I decide to give my brother a call. Since finding out Finn isn’t actually ignoring me, I need to have a conversation with my brother about how we’re going to move past this bump in our relationship. It’s probably a talk best to have face-to-face, but with Cole, who knows when that will be?
His phone immediately goes to voicemail, and I frown. The message tone beeps in my ear, and I quickly lick my lips and take a deep breath before starting. “Hey, it’s me. I’m going to leave this on your voicemail so I can let everything out that I want to without you getting mad at me.” The more I talk, the easier it gets. I word vomit things I’ve been wanting to say to him since he got back. “When you left, I was devastated. I got why you did it, but I mourned you when you were gone. I wasn’t sure that you were ever going to come back. Then, you did, and I was so happy I got my big brother back.”
I smile, remembering how thrilled I was. Emotion starts to clog my throat, so I choke it back and move to the far wall where I’m out of the way of everybody. “Then things started to change. I became an object for you to keep safe, like a precious piece of glass or something. I get it. I do. I wish I’d been able to help you all those years ago, but I’m not going to shatter. Cole, I’m strong. I grew up in those years you were gone. You’re still my big brother, but I’m not so little anymore. I want to be in your life more than anything. However, you can’t dictate my life anymore. You have to respect what I want. I’ll listen to your advice, especially when it comes to threats or safety, but I’m not your responsibility. You have so much on your plate already, and I don’t want to be that extra thing added to it. I’m not your job. I’m your sister.” I bite my lip. “I love you, big bro. I’m sure I’ll be getting a response as soon as you get this. I hope you’re safe.”
I end the call, pressing the red hang up button. I fret over my lip some more, but in actuality, I feel so much lighter with that off my chest. I had no idea the baggage I was carrying around by feeling as if I was adding to Cole’s long list of responsibilities. Hopefully, he’ll understand what I’m saying.
Shit.I turn, leaning my temple against the wall.I forgot to bring up Finn.I call back, praying the phone goes straight to voicemail again. When it does, I heave a sigh of relief. After the tone sounds, I say, “One more thing. Hopefully, you’re listening to this voicemail last because the other one explains everything. I’m going to be with Finn, Cole. If he’ll have me, anyway. I know you get protective, but this is one of those times where you just have to trust me. He’s a good guy. A great guy, actually. And also, it’s bullshit that you sent him away. Still kinda pissed about that.” I blow out a breath. “That’s all, I guess. Call me.”
I lower the phone after hanging up. I don’t immediately recognize the fact that all sound has stopped in the gym. I’m too caught up in getting all that shit off my shoulders. Then, a single voice breaks through my maze of thoughts. “You’re going to be with me?”
Spinning, my heart lodged in my throat. Finn’s standing at the counter. He’s dressed in his normal joggers and athletic shirt, the tips of his dirty blond hair teasing his ears. I blink, making sure he’s actually in front of me.
I don’t answer him. I run and throw myself into his arms. He catches me in the air, and I hook my ankles around his backside. The whole gym erupts into applause, but it’s white noise to me. My nose finds his neck, and I breathe him in. His musky scent an addiction I don’t want to go without smelling again.
“Leenie,” he breathes, fingers tightening around my middle and moving up my back. “Did you just tell your brother off for me?” The curve of his smile melts against my neck. My breath hitches in response.
Behind us, Jax calls out, “Get back to work. Mind your business.”