Page 77 of The Jellybean Dilemma

With a reassuring smile, Greg reached over to rest his warm hand on my thigh. “Yeah, but you’re telling him now, and he’s a good guy. You know he’ll forgive you.”

Eventually. But we had a history. Things were just getting good between us again, and it had been mostly my fault. Avery had helped bring us back together, had made me see how awful I’d been to him. And I didn’t want to lose him again. I liked having him in my life.

The miles ticked by. Greg allowed me my mood, settling for shooting me concerned looks and making sure he had some sort of physical contact with me. I appreciated it.

We decided to head right to Derek’s, and I texted him when we were close. We pulled up in front of their apartment, and I felt frozen to the seat.

Greg opened my door, offering his hand to me despite the rugged boots I wore. “Come on, Jellybean. Derek and Avery love you. They want to know you’re all right, and they’ve been worried about you. It’ll be good to have this out in the open, you’ll see.” He tugged on my hand, then pulled to his side where I clung to him, the sweet scent of peppermint grounding me. “Besides, I’m right here. And I’m not going anywhere.” He kissed the top of my head.

I could do this, with him by my side. Together. Stepping back, I gave him a little smile. “Thank you.”

Derek opened the door of his apartment. Once he’d scanned me and seen I was in one piece, a scowl crossed his face. “Don’t ever do that to me again, you hear?” The words were almost a growl, then he pulled me in for a rib-cracking embrace so tight I could hardly breathe.

“Hey, Derek?” Greg put a hand on Derek’s arm. “Gentle, okay? She’s still not a hundred percent after the wreck.”

“Oh, right.”

Derek loosened his grip enough that I could breathe, and I shot Greg a grateful look before hugging my brother back. “Good to see you, too.” I hoped he still felt that way after everything I had to tell them.

After he’d let go, he shook Greg’s hand. I let out a breath when Derek didn’t bat an eyelash as Greg put his hand on the small of my back, guiding me into the apartment.

Avery hollered when she saw us together. “You two are adorable!” Then she ran at me full tilt, arms open for an exuberant hug, which I wholeheartedly returned. She had no qualms about hugging Greg as well. He almost seemed to expect it, which didn’t surprise me. That’s Avery for you.

Liam sprawled on the couch, and Gina perched on a barstool at the kitchen island. I waved to them both, unsurprised to see them there, since I hadn’t specified that we needed to speak in private. Maybe it’d be good for Avery to have the extra support.

“Where’s Josh?” I asked Gina.

She lifted a shoulder. “Play practice. He got a minor role in Fiddler on the Roof. The constable, I think.”

“Nice,” I said, nodding. He was a theater major, which I admired. “Let us know when the play is.”

“Will do.”

“Want something to drink? Or eat?” Avery asked as she took my coat, then she paused, staring at my outfit. “I’m still not used to seeing you in jeans and boots.” A big smile split her face. “Rhonda Elgin, slumming it. Who knew?”

My cheeks were hot as Greg chuckled. He answered for both of us, saying, “White wine, if you have it.” He led me to the free end of the couch, where he sat down, tugging me next to him. His arm wrapped around my shoulders.

Avery appeared with our drinks, then she snuggled in beside Derek in an oversized armchair. They were drinking whiskey, Liam had some sort of beer and Gina plopped onto the floor with a mixed drink in her hand.

“Okay, sis, tell us what happened,” Derek said.

I took a sip of the wine, followed by a deep breath then I did exactly that.

Obviously, there were some things my brother didn’t need to know, like the intimate details of what happened with me and Greg. When we got to the bit about Kevin, I couldn’t look at Derek, but I felt his gaze boring into me. I explained about getting another picture at the reception, but not who was with Kevin. I needed that to be its own thing, not overshadowed by our accident.

Avery gasped when I described the car accident. And I haltingly admitted my claustrophobia, how terrified I was while Greg had left to find the cabin. Then I finished with our recovery, and how he managed to get us home.

“Oh, Rhonda, I’m so glad you’re okay,” Avery said sympathetically. “But stranded in a remote cabin in the middle of a snowstorm…” She let out a sappy sigh as she turned to my brother. “Sounds like something straight out of one of my romance novels.”

“Avery.” Derek said her name like a warning. “No. Just no, this is not the time or the place.” When her lower lip jutted out, he softened. “We’ll talk about it later, okay, Cupcake?”

She answered him back, just as softly. “Aye, aye, Captain.”

Liam pretended to gag, so Gina threw a pillow at him. “Just because you don’t have a romantic bone in your body.”

He glared at her. “I’m plenty romantic when I need to be. I make sure my women are always satisfied.”

She snorted. “Oh, is that why you’re single right now?”

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