Page 163 of By His Rule

He promises me that it’ll be delivered within the hour before I return to my seat and find myself dragged into some teenage YouTube drama.

Not the way I was expecting to spend my Saturday night.

“I’m going to head out,” I say, pushing from the chair I was sitting in next to Kenzie’s bed.

Her x-ray showed that her break was worse than they were expecting, and she ended up in surgery having it pinned. Something that neither her nor her sister are happy with. It’s going to put her out of action for months.

Neil, their dad, arrived an hour ago after being pulled from his golf weekend, and I can't help but feel like we’re crowding Kenzie, who’s still dozy from the anesthesia.

“Thank you for coming,” a weak voice says from the bed.

“Anytime,” I promise before glancing up at Tilly and smiling at her. “If you need anything, I’m only a phone call away.”

“I’ll walk you out,” Mom says, her eyes dark with exhaustion.

“It’s okay. I can manage. Rest,” I say sternly.

But in true Mom style, she ignores me and quickly follows me out of the room.

“Mom,” I warn.

“Thank you for coming to help me out.”

I dropped everything the second she told me what was happening.

“That’s what big brothers do,” I say, but the second I look over and see dark shadows in her eyes, I know it was a mistake.

Like everyone else in the world, it doesn’t escape me that she’d probably prefer to call King in a crisis. But unfortunately, she’s stuck with me. We both know that as much as Kieran would love to drop everything and run to the girls’ aid, he’s always got something on. I get it. I do. But I also can’t help but feel like she ends up stuck with me when she’d prefer one of the other two.

“I hope you didn’t have to cancel anything important tonight.”

“Nah, you know how it is,” I say, playing it off.

“Oh no, how many hearts did I break tonight?”

“Mom,” I faux-gasp. “It’s only ever one at a time.”

She pats me on the shoulder patronizingly. “Whatever you say, darling.”

I roll my eyes but give up arguing.

“Well, whoever she is. I hope she understands that your little sisters needed you.”

“I’m sure she will.”

My cell burns a hole in my pocket as I think about Lorelei. She should have been delivered her dinner by now. I was hoping to have heard from her, or maybe the restaurant to tell me that she refused delivery.

“Go and enjoy the rest of your night,” Mom says after giving me a kiss on the cheek. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

Shaking my head, I make my way to my car, and the second I’m inside, I pull my cell from my pocket.

Nothing.

The urge to call her burns through me, but I resist.

I don’t want to be that man.

I’ve made my move. Now I need to wait to see what hers will be.

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