Page 90 of Without a Hitch
“I am capable of compromise. I’m wearing bloody fucket baby trackies.”
“Baby trackies?” Nova’s laughter makes me smile. “You’re wearing sweatpants, Lochness. Everyone wears them.”
“They’re hideous.”
“And yet, here you are.”
I shrug as I weigh my words. “It seemed important to her.”
“And that’s important to you. Why?”
“I—I think she genuinely wants me to be happy.”
She nods thoughtfully. “And what she wanted seemed more important than staying in your comfort zone.”
I grunt because I don’t like where she’s leading me. She should have been a damn lawyer, not a fashion designer. “She messed up all my Skittles on the plane.” I don’t mean to say it, but it slips past my lips anyway.
“I knew I liked her. Did you yell at her? Fix them? Throw them away?”
A wide grin shows off all my teeth. “No.”
“Hmm. I think you like her, Loch.”
Leaning forward, I place my forearms on my thighs so I can drop my head into my palms. “What if she’s trying to change me?”
I don’t have to turn my head to know my sister is staring at me. I can feel her contemplating her words, so I wait her out.
“What if she’s trying to help you find yourself again?” she finally asks softly. “I know you don’t want to hear this, but Christine changed you long before she deceived you. That entire relationship was never about you. It was always about her, what she wanted, and what she could get, but you trusted her. You couldn’t see past that blinding love. Has Tilly asked you for anything?”
Pulling at my hair until it almost hurts, I think about Nova’s question. “I bought her some shoes, and she tried to return them.”
“What else? Has she dropped hints about what she wants or needs? Is there anything about her that screams manipulative?”
“No, not Tilly,” I say defensively. “She…” Bloody hell. “She’s only asked for my time and keeps trying to take care of me.”
“Mm-hm. Who takes care of her?”
Tilly’s voice carries ahead of her as she makes her way up the beach. It sounds like she’s finishing a call.
“We’re temporary, Nono. Just temporary.” The words smash against my heart as I watch Tilly’s silky hair flow behind her.
“What do you want from her, big brother?”
A sigh that weighs more than I can carry wooshes out on a low groan. “I don’t know. I don’t think what I want and what I can give her coexist with what she needs.”
“Then don’t play games with her, Lochlan. That will make you no better than Christine. If you never plan to give her what she needs, let her go.”
My gaze is still on Tilly as she walks through the sand. Nova’s words make my chest ache, but when Tilly’s eyes find mine? Her smile covers my body like the most sensual caress. I can’t let her go. Not yet.
I’m so in tune with her that I know something’s wrong when she looks back down at the sand. Tilly isn’t one to shy away from me, so I’m out of my seat and drifting away from my sister without a second thought. “Everything okay?” I ask, reaching for her hand as soon as she’s within arm’s reach.
Tilly flashes me a questioning gaze before gracing me with a smile. “Oh, sorry. Yeah. Everything’s fine. I was just checking in with my client in Denver.” She glances over my shoulder, and I already know my sister is watching us closely. It’s confirmed when Tilly offers a shy smile. “Is everything all right with Nova?”
“She’s fine. Just being an annoying younger sister checking up on me.”
She pulls free from my grasp and places both hands on my cheeks. There’s a noticeable shift between us in this moment and my eyes burn. I’m startled to realize tears are forming at their corners. The fear that our end is near causes my knees to buckle and it takes all my strength to remain standing before her.
“I’m glad you have her.” She pats my face like you would a small child, then sidesteps me to walk toward my sister. “Sorry about my freak-out earlier. We’ve been in a little bubble, and I forgot the outside world exists.” Her smile is warm and friendly, but it’s also sad, and the sledgehammer goes to work on my heart again. “How long are you staying? Do you want to stay for dinner? I’m sure we can get some groceries in that big kitchen we have. I’m a great cook.”
