Page 118 of No Strings

“Fine by me.” I shrug and move towards my brother.

Rhys can’t just shut up. “Oh what? I’m the bad guy here? It was her idea.”

I stop and turn to face him, my eyes wide and mouth what the fuck? He just shrugs.

But Shane doesn’t seem to care. “Yes, you’re the bad guy. You’re older, and my best friend. Goes against guy code.”

Rhys rolls his eyes, “You can have my sister if you want.”

Shane looks disgusted by the offer, and I almost laugh at his expression. “Mate, from what I’ve heard she’s been through half the town.”

“Oh, so your type?” I choke on the laughter, as they argue back and forth.

Shane folds his arms over his chest. “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”

“Uh, Kerry-Anne?” Rhys just needs to throw in a duh to really drive the point home.

“We’re not sleeping together, haven’t in years.”

Rhys shrugs and leans his hip into the bench. “Not what I heard.”

Shane arches an eyebrow in question.

Rhys juts his chin forward as he says, “Heard you two are engaged.”

That gets my attention, looking at him with wide eyes. “Shane you’re not?!”

“I’m not!” He shouts.

Rhys pulls me to him. He wraps his arms around my waist and rests his chin on my head. “Yeah, you might want to sort that rumour out then mate.”

Shane continues to glare at him.

“Anyway, beer?”

I say yes while Shane just grunts.

Rhys releases me, goes to the fridge, and helps himself. He passes me a bottle and throws one at Shane, who catches it.

“Jesus, you two act like children.”

We make our way outside, Esky hot on our heels.

“So, when are two leaving then?” Shane asks; I think he’s trying to be happy for me. A part of me feels guilty. I was gone for six years, and he only just got me back, and now I’m moving states, with his best friend. But at least now I will be able to communicate with him.

I look at Rhys, waiting for him to answer the question. I will have to say goodbye to Paige, and pack. Maybe see Mum and Dad? He looks down at me, smiles and tucks a piece of hair behind my ear, then answers. “By the end of the week?”

End of the week? Four days. Okay.

Chapter Thirty-Four

RHYS

It’s the day we’re leaving. Morgan wants to say goodbye to Paige, and assure her that it won’t be like last time; I’ll make sure she keeps to that. Hell, I’ll fly her back here so they don’t lose touch.

I need to go to Rafter Falls to make sure everything in the storage unit gets on the truck and leaves on time.

When I sold my grandparents’ house, I sold almost everything. But anything that meant something to me, ended up in storage. I wanted to travel light and that’s what I did. But now that I have a home, I’m moving everything with me.