Chapter 4
Arlo
There’s nothing like waking up next to Reynolds after a long night together. My muscles are achy, and my chest is heavy. I wish it could be like this always.
I nuzzle into his side, hit with that familiar feeling of wanting to crawl under his skin and live there. He’s everything to me, and I really wish he’d never brought up his ridiculous rule of no talking about feelings, because I want to talk. I want to tell him.
Instead, I press my face farther into his side.
He starts to stir, and I feel a little guilty about waking him up, but when he blinks those sleepy brown eyes open at me, there’s no room for anything except complete happiness.
“Morning, sexy,” I say.
He hums and his arms tighten around me. “Goddamn, I’ve missed this.”
Me too, me too, me bloody too.
It’s waking up here, looking into his face that’s so exactly like it was when we first met, only darker and more lined, that solidifies the decision I’ve been throwing back and forth for a while now.
I love my life. I love having the freedom to travel and experience things most people in their lives wouldn’t dream of.
This time last week I was leaving Ban Muong Pon and the hidden waterfalls there, to go swimming with turtles at Laniakea Beach.
It’s amazing. And I’m not someone who gets down over being alone, because it’s peaceful most of the time, then when it isn’t, I never have a problem finding company.
But no one compares to Reynolds.
Maybe I’m one of those sappy souls who will always be obsessed with my first love. The man who took my virginity and made me feel special before I’d even figured it out for myself.
I doubt it though.
When I’m with him, I never need to be anywhere else. I never feel hurried or displaced, and even though we’ve never said the words, I’m sure he feels the same. There’s a lazy kind of confidence whenever we’re together.
An unspoken agreement that this is where we’re meant to be.
He stretches and the blanket slips down a little to reveal his lean chest. “We have a very long day ahead.”
“What do you have planned for this bachelor’s day out?”
“Skiing, snowboarding, then I’ve had the hotel turn their bar area into a mini casino for tonight.”
“What’s Liv doing?”
“Spa day or some shit.”
I hum. “Not sure which I’d rather go to.”
Reynolds surprises me by flipping over and pressing me to the mattress. “We only have the weekend, so you’ll be wherever I am. I’m gonna need all the sneaky gropes to get through until tonight.”
“Anyone would think you missed me.” I run my hand through his wild, thick hair and watch as he goes to answer.
But something makes him stop. He drops a quick kiss on my collarbone instead. “Better make sure you hide that.”
He doesn’t have to be specific. If there were ever a man who loved to cover me in his marks, it’s Reynolds. After our times together, I always walk away with a map of hickeys over my skin.
“Well, thank goodness you put this one somewhere I can hide it.”
Reynolds gives me a cheeky smile before rolling out of bed. “Time to go. I’m sure Matti will be wondering where you are.”
I sigh and follow him to get dressed. It’s not that I don’t miss my brother because I do.
I miss out on a lot by being away, but we call each other every few days, so I always know what’s going on with him.
I fly home for the big moments—like this wedding—but with Reynolds … I sort of wish I was here just for him.
Three days for us to reconnect sounds like bliss.
But he’s the best man, and I’m the groom’s brother, so while I still have two mornings to wake up beside him, our days are going to be filled with other people. And as far as anyone knows, we’re merely old acquaintances.
Even after more than ten years, nothing has changed.
Except my need to make a change.
On Tuesday, I’ll be flying back to the small town in Oregon where I grew up, and I have no plans beyond that.
Nothing.
It’s a strange feeling when normally I have an itinerary that stretches a year in advance.
I’m tempted to tell Reynolds that this time, I think I’m here to stay, but my decision is largely dependent on him.
I want to know if this thing between us can actually last, but if I’m going to get through the weekend, and feel his body against mine at least a few more times, I need to wait until after the wedding at least.
Reynolds finishes dressing, then drags his fingers back through his hair and secures it in a knot at the back of his head. He’s let his usual scruff grow out a bit, and as he rolls back his shirt sleeves to reveal his forearms, I can’t drag my eyes away from his every move.
Something crosses his face, and his mouth twitches upward. “Come here.”
Eagerly. I cross the distance between us, and he wraps me up tight in his arms. My head tucks right under his chin. It’s bliss. It’s also over way too soon.
Someone knocks on the cabin door. I jerk away from him as we both turn to look.
“Who is it?” he asks, knowing full well neither of us can see from here.
And it’s not that I want Reynolds to be a secret, but the last thing I need is anyone finding out about us and getting nosey. Pushing us into more than we’re ready for.
Plus I’m not convinced Matti won’t blow it completely out of proportion, given how he’s always seen Reynolds as his.
I creep to the window, and sure enough, there’s my big brother.
Shit.
“It’s Matti,” I hiss.
Reynolds’s eyes shoot wide. “Of course it is.”
“Crap.”
“What do we do?”
“I don’t know.” How on earth was I supposed to know Matti would be up so goddamn early?
Reynolds looks around quickly before scooping his jacket from the floor and darting to the window in the back. “It’s like we’re teenagers again.” And at least he can smile over this whole thing.
My heart is thumping hard.
After blowing me a quick kiss, Reynolds opens the window, swings his legs out, and drops to the ground below.
Only then do I let out a breath and acknowledge how ridiculous this whole thing is.