Page 55 of From That Moment

“Are you going to tell the girls?”

“We try not to keep secrets from each other. However, if this is just a one-time thing, maybe I shouldn’t tell them at all. That way, it’s not a big deal.”

I moved forward and traced her jaw with my finger. She didn’t move away. I moved my hand so I could cover her cheek.

“What if it’s not a one-time thing, Paris?” I asked, the tension between us palpable. I still had her taste on my lips, and I wanted to kiss her again. Needed to touch her, to know what she felt like.

I wanted so much, yet I knew I was being a selfish dick. I didn’t care.

Or maybe, I cared too much. Perhaps that was the problem.

“I don’t know, give me time.” She paused. “Are you going to tell your brothers?”

“I might. I talk to them when I get frustrated and I can’t think through things.”

“Oh, if you do, then I guess it’s going to be a thing in our group regardless.”

“Well, if you talk to the girls, and it becomes a thing, maybe we should see what happens.”

“I need time to think, Prior. Can you give me that?”

I nodded, lowering my hand. “Of course. Anything you need, Paris.”

“And that’s the problem,” she said softly. “I think you know exactly what I need.”

And on that note, I wasn’t sure what else there was to say, so I turned on my heel and left the house. I heard the lock snick behind me, all three of them, and I was glad that she was making herself safe.

Because even with all the heat between us, the tension that rolled through my belly and slid up my spine, there was still the fact that someone had hurt her. And we didn’t know who it was.

That hadn’t left my mind the entire time I was with her, and the idea of Paris getting hurt again made me want to go down to knees and pray.

As I started my car and pulled away, I knew where I needed to go.

My brothers could help me.

Even if I didn’t know what to say to them.

Since I knew that Cross and Hazel were still at Arden’s, I went to the next closest house, Macon’s. If he wasn’t there, I’d try Nate. I could text them or call and tell them I was coming, but I needed to get my thoughts in order first.

Thankfully, Macon’s truck was out front when I pulled in. It looked like it had recently been washed.

I pulled in next to his vehicle, got out of the car, and headed towards the open garage where my brother was standing, looking over his workbench and frowning.

“Hey,” I said softly, trying not to startle him. Apparently, not well enough. Macon twisted on his feet, fists ready, and punched out. I ducked in time not to get hit in the nose, but he got me in the shoulder. I bent over, cursing.

“Fuck,” I cried out.

“Shit. Sorry, man. Don’t scare me like that. Hell. I’m sorry. You okay?” Macon started rambling and stuffed his hands into his jeans’ pockets, rocking back on his heels.

I nodded, rubbed my shoulder, and looked at my sibling.

He was pale, his face sweat-slick, and I had a feeling that had just happened in the two seconds since I came up and scared him.

“I’m fine,” I said. But I knew my brotherwasn’tokay.

And I had no idea what to do about it.

I’d almost lost both of my brothers that day when they got shot, and while Cross had Hazel to lean on and seemed to act like nothing had happened, Macon was doing his best to pretend like everything was okay, to the point that it was all a lie.