Page 87 of A Little Bit Reckless

Thatcher shrugged. “I mean, I wasn’t certain, but there were signs. You’ve always looked out for her and you guys were hella close before, well… everything that summer.”

That summer.

A lot of stuff changed. My whole entire fucking life. I made a ton of mistakes, so many.

Thatcher pocketed his hands. “I guess I kind of always knew, but it was easier for me to deny it.” His lips went tight. “She’s my sister, man.”

She was, which made me feel like shit. I grabbed my arms. “I can’t say I’m sorry.”

“I don’t want you to,” he said, and shock flashed across Bru’s face again. It was the same shock I felt. Thatcher pushed back his hair. “Honestly, if I admit it to myself, I know there’s no one better for her,” he said, then tipped his chin at Bru. “Both of you.”

Both of us.

Thatcher raised his hands. “Don’t get me wrong. This shit is still fucking weird and seeing y’all like that with her Ifucking can’t,which was why I reacted the way I did initially. It was shocking to say the fucking least, bro.”

I could imagine, and if things were the other way around, I was sure I’d act that way too. Honestly, I wasn’t sure I’d have been able to stop myself. I supposed that was what made my brother better than myself. His love for his girlfriend also changed him. He was a different person now than he’d been even a year ago.

Thatcher shook his head. “But you guys are all adults, and, like I said, I know there’s no one better for my sister. You guys will look out for her. Protect her.”

I didn’t know what to say, and, when I didn’t, Bru stepped forward.

“You mean you’re okay with this?” Bru asked, and Thatcher lifted his hands again.

“‘Okay’ is a hella strong word. Iacceptyour relationship, yes, and being in one myself now, I know how that shit cantake a hold of you.” He smiled a little. “Being with Aspen put a chokehold over me, bro. I can imagine it was the same for you guys. Especially you, Wells.”

I glanced up.

He nodded. “Bow must have broken you down something crazy, because you’d jump in front of a bus before you’d let shit go bad between you and me.”

I would. I nodded too. “For that, I am sorry. I’d never want to hurt you.”

“I know that, and I’m sorry too. For what I said upstairs? I didn’t mean that. Any of it,” he said. He looked at Bru. “And I’m sorry to you too. Things just got crazy in the moment.”

“I get it,” Bru said, and we all just stood there for a moment. I didn’t think any of us knew what to say.

It turned out we didn’t need to speak.

Thatcher’s hand coming out did all the talking. He was waiting for mine, and when I shook, Thatcher turned it into a hug. Hehugged me,and there was so much relief there. I hadn’t lost him.

“Just be good to her or I will kick your ass, Wells,” Thatcher said, squeezing me hard. “No fucks given.”

I laughed, hugging him back. Thatcher Reed’s hugs were no joke. He was a big fucking dude and put a lot into it.

I did too.

“You know I will,” I said, and he nodded at me when he let go. He reached for Bru too, and Bru received the hug/handshake just as effortlessly.

“She’ll always be safe with me. With both of us. I promise,” Bru said, and Thatcher didn’t let go of him right away.

“I know.” Eventually, Thatcher did let go. He put a hand on my shoulder, then Bru’s. “You guys are good with me. It’s my dad you’re going to have to worry about, so you probably should be thinking about what you’re going to say to him about all this.”

Holy fuck, I didn’t even think about that.

Thatcher laughed. “Anyway, send my sister down. I want to apologize to her for going all caveman.”

Thatcher may have gone caveman, but his dad would go Godzilla on my ass. I couldn’t say it wouldn’t be worth it though. I’d die a thousand deaths before I ever let Rainbow Reed go again. I wasn’t letting go again.

Not this time.