Page 97

The click sounded in my ear faster than I expected.

“Asshole,” I mumbled, looking back down the hall to where Ainsley was currently sleeping. I toyed with the idea of leaving and going to confront my brother, but I knew that when he got like this, our fists would fly first before I got any words out of him.

Instead, I would spend the rest of the weekend with Ainsley, like I promised her, and then I would call my brother out on his shit later. Whether he liked it or not, this would end. Either he supported us or I had no idea what I would do.

Ainsley

Ever since Cyrus andI spent the weekend together, I couldn’t help but think of him. Our feelings for each other were revealed and I was shocked but proud of myself at how he got me to open up so damn quickly.

It was a few weeks later and I hadn’t seen him a whole lot since, but we texted every day and every chance we could. I found out that he was helping his aunt at her auto shop while she had been on vacation, but now that she was home the shop had been busy. I didn’t know he was handy with cars. He was a man of many talents it seemed.

One afternoon, I had a huge grin on my face after reading a text from Cyrus stating how much he missed me and that he was going to pick me up after work. I sighed and told him I couldn’t wait to see him.

The weekend we spent together had been nothing short of amazing. He never pushed for sex. I initiated it before he left Sunday night and while he had been gentle, I had a feeling that there was something in him that was downright filthy. I would find it. The part of him he was holding back. He told me there was a sex kitten in me. Well I knew there was something deeper in him than just him being dominant in bed. I wanted to find that part of him and curl up in his passionate embrace.

“Ainsley.”

I jumped, finding Piper standing a few feet away.

She laughed. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.”

I only smiled.

“I know you’ve been spending a lot of time with Cyrus.”

My heart skipped a beat. I expected her to jump to accusations or demand to know what it was that Cyrus and I had, but when she didn’t, I only nodded.

“I haven’t seen him in a couple days because he’s been working a lot, but I talked to him this morning on the phone and...” Her smile widened. “God, Ainsley, he sounds so happy.” She came toward me. “I don’t know what you did but thank you. I love him and Sammy like brothers. They did so much for me and Brynlee while Jaron wasn’t home. I always felt guilty and as though I was preventing them from finding a love of their own.” She sighed, rubbing her swollen stomach. “I don’t expect you to tell me anything about what you and Cyrus are doing but I just wanted to thank you. That’s all.”

“You’re welcome,” I blurted, my eyes widening.

Her mouth dropped. “You...you just spoke to me.”

It’s no big deal,I signed slowly for her.

Before I could stop her, she pulled me into a hug. “I know you hate hugs, but I need to hug you and yes, Ainsley, it is a big deal. A very big deal.”

A lump formed in my throat. I wrapped my arms around her, returning the embrace.

A shuddered breath left her. As she released me, I saw a car pull into the parking lot out of the corner of my eye.

When the car stopped, Jaron got out of the driver’s side and Sammy got out of the passenger’s side.

I hadn’t seen Sammy in a while, but I knew the situation between him and his brother was getting under Cyrus’s skin. Even though he tried hiding it, I could sense that he was bothered by something. I just never knew what. I asked but he told me not to worry about it.

Jaron came into the building followed by Sammy. “Hi, beautiful, it’s almost time.”

She laughed. “It is time, but he doesn’t want to come out.”

“He’s safe.” Jaron wrapped Piper up in a hug and kissed her. The kiss bordered on inappropriate but before it could get very far, Piper pushed him back.

“God, Jaron.” She laughed, her cheeks flushed.

He chuckled, cupping her stomach. “How’s my boy?”

“Good.” She covered his hands and stared up at him with so much love, it took my breath away. “I think he wants to stay in there forever.”

“He’ll come when he’s ready but he’s safe and you’re safe, so that’s all that matters.” He kissed her forehead. “Both of you are safe.”