Page 112 of No Strings

“In my defence?—”

“No, no in your defence. You two are almost thirty, grow the fuck up.” I turn on my heel and walk away, telling Esky to follow. Not before hearing Rhys tell Shane I’m the second person to tell him that in the space of two weeks.

I don’t know how long Esky and I are outside, but I hear the front door close. A part of me aches at the thought of it being Rhys who left.

My fear comes true when Shane steps outside.

“Mo.” Tears threaten to fall. “He told me he loves you.” And then the tears fall freely. “Do, ah, do you feel the same?”

“Yes. I’m so sorry Shane, I didn’t mean to. He… I don’t know. He makes me feel safe and loved and cherished and?—”

“And like home.” He nods, seeming to understand what I’m saying. He looks hurt for a brief moment. Is that what Charlotte felt like to him? I want to ask him, but I know how that’ll go.

“Doesn’t matter, though, he’s gone.” I sob, letting my heart feel the hurt all over again.

“Oh, no, he is just going to get the dog some food.”

“Dingo.” I’m so used to correcting people it takes me a minute to register what he just said. “Wait, what did you say?”

“Yeah, he isn’t leaving, just getting the dingo some food.”

I brush the tears from my face, but they keep flowing. He isn’t leaving. He loves me. He’s staying.

“I’m not okay with it.” Ah, Shane being blunt as always. “But I want you to be happy, and if he makes you happy, I promise I will stop hitting him.”

I laugh. “He makes me happy, Shane. He also annoys me, but I can live with that.”

“Well, that deal still stands: you kill him? I will cover it up for you.” He throws his arm over my shoulders and pulls me into him.

Leaning into his touch, I pat his chest. “You’re the best big brother a girl could ask for.”

We don’t hear the door so when Rhys appears I jump out of my skin, “Are you serious? If she’d murder me, you’d cover it up?”

“One hundred percent, you probably deserved it anyway.” Shane stands up, “I’ll give you two a minute. And just a minute. Mo, if you need him gone, I’ll throw him out.”

“Dude.”

Shane stands toe to toe with Rhys, “My sister is my top priority, hurt her, and I will make it that you never existed.”

Rhys throws his hands up and back away a little. I think he is generally a little scared of my brother.

When Shane enters the house, Rhys sits next to me. Watching Esky as she continues to roam the back yard, every now and then she’ll look back to see if I’m still there. “She missed you, you know.”

“I missed her.” I tell him. “Why are you really here?”

“For you.” Two words and they make me feel whole. “Morgan. We make sense, you and me.”

“I didn’t say we didn’t.”

“Then why the hesitation?”

“Barely.” I say as I roll my eyes.

He stands up and states, “I killed a man for you!”

“So what, you want a medal?”

“Just some recognition, that I’d do anything for you,” He isn’t picking up that I’m just toying with him, too focused on giving his speech I’m confident he practised, he must have forgotten we’re outside, because his next line is a bit too loud. “Like, oh I don’t know, disposing of the body of a man you killed!”