Page 9 of My Secret to Protect

‘Oh, honey, I’m so happy for you.’ I stand to hug my friend and colleague. Jenna moved into Nick’s place when he moved in with Missy, and she just asked Kacey to officially move in with her.

‘I can’t believe I have a girlfriend, Bree.’ She laughs. ‘All those jock idiots I dated in high school, and now I’m in love with a girl, a really pretty, girly girl.’

‘Don’t you let Kace hear you calling her a girl. She’s a whole-ass woman, and don’t you forget it.’ I smirk as I reach for my jacket and get ready to head home. Jenna smiles widely.

‘Yeah, you are right about that.’

Walking back from the station, I feel so happy for Jenna and Kacey. I can’t keep the smile from my face as I cross the front of the diner, I raise my hand to wave at Merv through the window as he clears some tables. I pass the bar, then the salon, happily walking the streets I've known my whole life. I love this town and the people in it, and the contentment I feel here is tangible.

My cell phone vibrates in my pocket, and still smiling softly, I pull it out as I walk. I unlock it without paying attention to the screen, then my eyes fix on the message, and I stop, freezing in the middle of the street.

Unknown:I Missed you, princess x

No. Not again. I can’t go through this again.

Interrogating Me, Chief?

Bree

‘Oh,thisplaceisnice,’ Doug says as we walk into the new gym that’s opened just thirty minutes out of town. It’s been a week since Lottie was born, and Cara asked me to get him out of the house. He won’t let her lift a finger, and as sweet as that is, he’s driving her crazy.

‘Yeah, nothing like brand new equipment and only a couple weeks’ worth of sweat stinking up the place,’ I quip, and he shoves my shoulder.

I love working out with my brother. Cara makes us girls do yoga with her, and I run with Nick sometimes, but Doug and Leo are my favorite gym buddies, aside from Jenna, but we’re usually on opposing schedules at work, so finding time to go to the gym together can be challenging, and I really fucking needed to work out today.

One message—that’s all it was. I didn’t reply, and no more came, but I haven’t slept in the three days since, getting up multiple times to check my phone and recheck that my doors and windows are locked. I’m on edge.

‘Hey guys.’ Leo arrives looking a little flustered, and I eye him curiously. He shakes his head. ‘Sleep regression, apparently. Lucas was awake all night.’

‘Should you have left them then?’ Doug asks: Papa and protective brother mode kicking in.

‘They were both asleep when I left. I thought the quiet house would do them good.’

We both nod as Leo looks around, taking in the new place with a slow nod.

‘Okay, let’s whip those saggy dad bods into shape,’ I joke as I walk away, knowing they’ll do their own thing, so I head straight for the treadmills to warm up. I need this. I need them.

‘Come on, shrimp, you’ve got more than that,’ Leo teases as I drop from the pull-up bar and shake out my arms.

I playfully shove him, and he laughs, pulling me into a sweaty hug. I push him away, and he winks. I love that my relationship with my brother-in-law is as it always was. He’s still my friend despite the fact that he now sleeps naked next to my sister every night.

To anyone looking at us, I bet it looks like we’re a couple, or at the very least like we’re flirting, but this is just us. We tease and play and laugh, and I love him. I love my brother, and Nick, and my girls. I feel so lucky to have the people that I do.

Leo reaches up to the bar and effortlessly pulls his massive body up. I roll my eyes and move to the leg press as he laughs. Laughs—while doing pull-ups—jackass.

I’m strong. I work out regularly. I’m fit and defined and comfortable in my skin, but no amount of workouts can make me grow a few extra inches, and no matter how many hours on the shoulder press, no matter how many bicep curls or dips or pull-ups I do, my upper body strength sucks. I’m good, to a point, but my limit comes hard and fast. My legs, though, are strong as fuck.

‘I like it here,’ Doug says as he sits at the machine next to mine.

‘Yeah, me too. It’s just a shame we have to drive so far out of town for this.’ I glance around again as I adjust the weight and bring the plate way,wayin, to account for my short legs. Doug chuckles. ‘Shut the fuck up,’ I whine. ‘I had to share Mama’s belly. You got it all to yourself.’

He laughs harder, and I reach over to slap his bicep before settling back and continuing my workout.

It’s good here. The equipment is top-of-the-line, and there’s plenty of it. It’s busy but not so crowded that I’ve had to wait to use anything. I’m using the squat rack while the guys are in the free weights area, and the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. It’s weird how we know when someone is watching us. My focus is set firmly in front of me, but I feel the eyes on my back. Pushing to stand, I replace the bar and step out, turning, taking in the area with the eyes of a cop.

Nobody is looking at me, but I know somebody was. There are two women who look to be racing on the rowing machines and a few people on the bikes. I glance over to see Doug, Leo, and a few other men in the free weights area, and my eyes meet my brother’s just as someone passes me, bumping against my side enough to cause me to stumble, but he just keeps walking.

‘Hey,’ I call out before I notice the headphones he has on over the top of his pulled-up hood.

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