Page 160 of Really Truly Yours

Tripp thinks. “Probably did some sort of rideshare to the airport. I imagine she could change her ticket at the counter.”

Another groan. “The last thing she needs is to shell out a fee for that.” Looks like I’ve made things worse for Sydnee yet again.

I’ll go after her. I’ll explain. I’ll make it up to her.

Sydnee means everything.

I get my phone out and tap on the airline app.

Tripp inclines toward my screen. “What are you doing?”

“Finding a flight.”

“You won’t catch too much heat for missing tonight?”

Annoyed, I pause for a glance. “Are you suggesting I stay?”

He squeezes Avery closer. “No way.”

Whew. I touch the tab for booking. I was about to question everything I thought I knew about the man. He wouldn’t stay, and whatever the consequences may be for me missing tonight, they’re worth it.

“When you think the woman you love might be in danger—”

“Tripp!”

My eyes fly up as Avery digs her elbow out of her husband’s side. “Danger?”

Both of them wince.

The chair supporting me yelps as I stand. “What is going on here?”

They’re sharing looks again. He looks guilty, Avery, mildly annoyed.

“I shouldn’t have said anything. It isn’t my place.”

“What do you know?” I feed the question through clenched teeth.

Tripp, as serious as I’ve seen him, cocks a knee. “Gray…has Sydnee told you about her brother?”

“The one in prison?” The one Tripp knows about because of the last time I was too dense to be the one Sydnee confided in. “Yeah. She told me.”

He nods. “Sydnee was out at the beach yesterday morning when I was swimming. We talked. She’d already told me a little about him that night out by the pool. Sounds like a total creep. Yesterday she mentioned how he’d always caused her trouble and how he’d never liked her.” He squints. “You probably know more, but…is she afraid of him? I got that vibe and that maybe she has reason to be.”

My blood is already boiling. “She has reason.”

Tripp’s frown etches sharply.

My blood pressure spikes. “Tell. Me.”

“I hate to lay this out there, bro, and I don’t think there’s reason to panic…but Sydnee told me that her brother was granted parole and was being released.” He grimaces. “Yesterday.”

Explaining my sudden departure to my parents was difficult.

In the wake of my mistakes with Sydnee yesterday, however, I now know better than to out her secrets without permission. A jailbird brother isn’t on anyone’s brag list. I don’t mind, and my parents would have understood, but I can’t make that decision for Sydnee.

Lesson learned.

First-class was full up, meaning, my legs are clogging the aisle, and pulling them in for the flight attendants to pass every so often is more work than it probably sounds. Turbulence jostles us as we fly overtop a line of storms. Avery grips the armrests for dear life. Apparently, the rough motions hurt. Tripp insisted on coming along. He knew, without a word exchanged, that I’d be tracking down Sydnee, and possibly her loser brother, the second the plane landed. Avery jumped at the chance to get home earlier than planned. I know she’s concerned, as well.

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