Page 134 of Well That Happened

And I sit there—ankle aching, stomach twisting, heart pounding—wondering if I’ve just set something in motion I won’t be able to stop.

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Rilee

The knock is soft.

Then Caleb’s voice, “Hey. You decent?”

I crack the door and peek out. “Do sweats and damp hair count?”

His grin is immediate. “That’s my favorite look.”

I roll my eyes and let him in. He’s holding a hairbrush and two scrunchies.

“I come bearing tools.”

I raise a brow. “You’re gonna brush my hair?”

He shrugs. “You couldn’t even put on socks this morning without nearly falling over. Sit.”

I do.

He settles on the bed behind me, legs on either side, and gently starts pulling the brush through my hair.

It’s quiet. Peaceful.

Every time the brush snags, he’s gentle. Every time I shift, he steadies me. His fingers are warm when they slide through to detangle the ends.

“You okay?” he asks after a minute.

I nod. “Just tired.”

“From the ankle? Or the lying-to-your-brother stress spiral?”

“Both,” I admit.

He hums softly, then sets the brush down and gathers my hair loosely, twisting it up into a quick bun. It’s messy. Imperfect. But it feels like care.

Then he leans forward and presses a kiss to the crown of my head. “We’ll get through this, Ri. I’ve got you. Always.”

And I swear—my heart actually stutters.

“Thanks, Caleb,” I whisper, turning my head to look at him.

His eyes soften. “Anytime, princess.”

A knock interrupts us again.

It’s Hunter.

He stands in the doorway, hands in the pockets of his jeans, expression unreadable.

“Can I… talk to Rilee for a sec?”

Caleb’s quiet for a beat. Then he nods once. “Sure.” He stands, touches my shoulder, and gives me a wink before brushing past Hunter on his way out.

Hunter doesn’t move for a moment.

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