Page 155 of Reckless Storm


Font Size:

Stepping closer, she curls her fingers through the loops of my jeans, dragging me forward until our bodies touch.

I release a slow sigh, wrapping my arms around her neck while she snakes hers around to my ass, her palms settling inside my back pockets. She glances up at me, peeking through her long, thick lashes. “You’re the one I want, Reed. Not—”

My phone rings, cutting her off as it vibrates against her hand, and she laughs, pulling it from my pocket. “Here.”

Both our gazes dart to the screen to find Bria’s name staring back at us.

“Bria?” Hayley asks, her eyes narrowed as she steps back. “I didn't think you were talking.”

“We’re not. We haven’t.”

“You better get it then.” She shuffles farther away, her smile fading, and I audibly groan as she turns.

My phone stops ringing and I’ve just reached for Hayley when it incessantly starts up again. “Dammit,” I curse under my breath, my eyes locking with Hayley’s, imploring her to smile.

She nods reassuringly and motions for me to answer, maintaining her gaze as I hesitate.

I’m torn, but when Hayley nods again, I finally answer, seconds before it’s likely to stop. “Hang on. I’m finding somewhere quiet.” If she’d only called once, I would have left it, but calling right back is not something Bria does, unless it’s important.

“Reed?” she responds, an urgency in her tone.

“Yeah, it’s me. One sec.”

I’ve just stepped into the hallway near the restrooms when I register her tears. “Bria? What’s wrong?”

“My dad. He…” She sniffs as she trails off and my heart seizes, thinking the worst. “He had a stroke, Reed. He’s alive but we almost lost him. And I didn’t know who else to call.”

“Christ, Bria. I’m so fucking sorry. How’s your mom? Are you with them?”

“Yeah. I’m at the hospital in LA. Mom’s staying strong but I know she’s about to crumble. Thankfully they’ve brought in a recliner so she can stay tonight.”

I breathe a sigh of relief as Bria fills me in on his condition, letting me know he’s awake and able to communicate, and when she’s finished, she sighs much the same as I did. “Can you come here? I know I’m asking a lot but…” She trails off and…Fuck.

My chest tightens and I hate that I have to let her down. “I’m not home, Bria. I’m in Texas. I—”

“Texas?”

“Yeah. I’m with Hayley.”

“Oh, God. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have called. I’ll let you—”

“Wait. It’s okay. I’m here for you. Things may be different between us, but I’ll always be here if you need me. Just in a different capacity.” She falls silent, her quiet sniffs the only clue that she’s still there. “Bria, I—”

“I knew, you know.” She pauses and I stiffen. “I’m so sorry, but I knew how you felt, and I pretended not to. I couldn’t stand the thought of losing you. I still can’t stand it. But then I did in the end, so my silence was wasted.”

Her words sting even though deep down, I always suspected that. “Thanks for letting me know. I never meant for our friendship to turn out the way it did. I didn’t want to lose you either.”

“But you did. You lost me and you never tried to get me back.”

I massage my temples as my mind whirs. “Is that why you disappeared? So I’d fight for you?”

“A little,” she admits. “I’m not proud of it, but I wanted to find out if you cared for her more than you loved me.”

“And…” I pause, holding back on saying anything else, because if I do, I’m likely to snap at her. I thought she was hurting, not trying to manipulate me.

“And…” She sighs again. “I got my answer.”

“Bria.” I run a hand down my face, trying to remember that she’s hurting right now and yet… “Can you hear yourself?”