Between Us Was My Brother

Lila woke up earlier than usual.

For several seconds, she simply stared at the ceiling.

Then she groaned and pulled a pillow over her face.

This was ridiculous.

Absolutely ridiculous.

Ryder had been back for less than twenty-four hours, and somehow he was already the first thing on her mind.

She buried her face deeper into the pillow.

"Pathetic," she muttered.

The pillow offered no argument.

Eventually, she forced herself out of bed.

The house was quiet.

Ethan was probably still asleep.

Most of his friends were definitely still asleep.

After yesterday's reunion, they had stayed up far too late talking and laughing in the backyard.

Lila slipped into a simple summer dress, tied her hair into a loose ponytail, and headed out.

A morning walk would help.

Fresh air solved everything.

At least, that was the plan.

Twenty minutes later, she found herself walking toward the small convenience store near the edge of town.

Then she froze.

A black motorcycle was parked outside.

Her heart immediately recognized it.

Ryder.

Of course.

Because apparently the universe enjoyed playing jokes on her.

Lila considered turning around.

Instead, she pushed open the door and walked inside.

The familiar bell above the entrance jingled softly.

Immediately, she heard voices coming from the counter.

"You still owe me five dollars."

"I was fourteen."

"Debt doesn't expire."

"That's not how debt works."

"It does in my store."

Lila looked toward the counter.

The elderly owner, Mr. Henderson, stood with his arms crossed.

Ryder stood opposite him.

Looking completely unbothered.

"You were trouble then," Mr. Henderson said.

"I'm still trouble."

"Exactly my point."

Ryder laughed.

A real laugh.

Easy.

Relaxed.

The sight surprised Lila.

Most people only talked about Ryder's tattoos, motorcycles, and reputation.

Nobody talked about moments like this.

Mr. Henderson shook his head, though there was obvious affection in his expression.

"You disappear for two years and come back acting like you never left."

"What can I say?" Ryder replied. "This place missed me."

Mr. Henderson snorted.

"Your ego is still too big."

"Good. I was worried it got smaller."

Mr. Henderson spotted her first.

"Lila!"

Both men turned.

Ryder's eyebrow lifted.

"Princess."

There was that nickname again.

Her heart betrayed her immediately.

"Hi."

Mr. Henderson pointed at Ryder.

"Tell this boy he owes me money."

"I was fourteen," Ryder said again.

"You keep saying that."

"Because it's important."

"It isn't."

"It feels important."

Mr. Henderson rolled his eyes.

Lila laughed despite herself.

The three of them talked for several minutes.

Nothing serious.

They chatted about old times, people around town, and the changes that had happened while Ryder was away.

Then Ryder's phone rang.

He glanced at the screen.

"Ethan."

Mr. Henderson chuckled.

"Hope there isn't a problem."

Ryder answered the phone.

"With Ethan? There's always a problem."

The old man laughed.

A few moments later, Ryder pulled the phone away from his ear.

"You know I can hear you without the shouting, right?"

Lila bit back a smile.

A short pause followed.

Then Ryder said, "Yeah. I'll be there."

He ended the call and slipped the phone into his pocket.

"What did my brother want?" Lila asked.

Ryder shook his head.

"He wants help moving furniture."

Lila groaned.

"That sounds exactly like Ethan. He loves changing things around. Every few months he suddenly decides the house needs a completely new look."

Mr. Henderson laughed.

"Your brother has too much energy."

"He really does," Lila agreed.

"You just got back," Mr. Henderson told Ryder.

Ryder shrugged.

"Try telling Ethan that."

"No point," Mr. Henderson said.

"None at all," Lila added.

As they left the store together, they continued talking casually.

The conversation flowed easily.

The weather.

The town.

The people they both knew.

Simple things.

Comfortable things.

Eventually, Lila glanced at him.

"So... how long are you staying this time?"

Ryder adjusted the keys in his hand.

"A while."

She nodded.

Trying very hard to sound casual.

"Good."

Ryder looked at her briefly.

Then a small smile appeared.

"Good?"

Lila immediately regretted saying it out loud.

"I mean... everyone was happy to see you yesterday."

"Hmm."

Thankfully, they reached Ethan's truck before he could say anything else.

By evening, Ethan's backyard was full again.

Music played softly from a speaker sitting on the patio table.

Someone was standing near the grill.

Someone else was arguing about football.

The air smelled of barbecue and smoke.

Lila was carrying a tray of drinks when Rebecca arrived.

Heads turned almost immediately.

Rebecca looked effortlessly beautiful in a fitted white sundress that moved gently in the evening breeze. Her blonde hair fell over her shoulders, and her smile was bright enough to draw attention without trying.

Rebecca waved at a few people.

Then, without hesitation, she walked straight toward Ryder.

Lila hated that she noticed.

She hated it even more when Ryder noticed too.

"Look who finally decided to show up," Ryder said.

Rebecca placed a hand dramatically against her chest.

"Wow. Is that your way of saying you missed me?"

"Not even close."

"Ouch."

"You'll survive."

Rebecca laughed and lightly slapped his arm.

The gesture was so natural that it immediately drew a few whistles from the group.

"Oh, here we go," one of the guys called out.

Rebecca pointed at him.

"Mind your business."

"No chance."

"Seriously," another friend added. "The town's favorite almost-couple is finally reunited."

Laughter broke out around them.

Rebecca rolled her eyes.

"You people are still talking about that?"

"Of course we are."

"You were supposed to get married."

Rebecca looked at Ryder.

"Remember that?"

Ryder chuckled.

"Unfortunately."

"Unfortunately?"

"I remember your mother trying to plan our future before either of us could drive."

The group burst out laughing.

Rebecca laughed too.

"She still asks about you, by the way."

"That's because she likes me."

"Everybody likes you."

"I know."

"Your ego is unbelievable."

"My best quality."

Rebecca shook her head, smiling.

"You haven't changed."

"Neither have you."

Lila stood near the drinks table.

Watching.

Listening.

Trying not to.

But every time she looked away, her eyes somehow found their way back.

Rebecca seemed completely comfortable beside him.

Comfortable enough to stand close.

Comfortable enough to tease him.

Comfortable enough to share memories that made everyone laugh.

And Ryder seemed completely at ease with it.

He laughed.

He joked back.

He didn't move away.

He didn't look uncomfortable.

At one point, Rebecca leaned closer and lowered her voice.

"Be honest."

"That's dangerous."

"Would we have survived marriage?"

Ryder pretended to think about it.

The entire group waited.

Then he nodded.

"For about three days."

The laughter that followed was loud enough to shake the backyard.

Rebecca nearly spilled her drink.

"Three days?"

"I'm being generous."

"You are unbelievable."

"And yet, here you are."

Lila looked down at the tray in her hands.

Something unpleasant twisted inside her chest.

Maybe Rebecca was just joking.

Maybe Ryder was just joking too.

But they looked good standing together.

Too good.

Like they belonged in the same picture.

A few moments later, Lila quietly slipped away from the backyard and headed into the house.

The noise faded behind her.

The cool air inside the kitchen felt like a relief.

She set the empty tray on the counter and reached for a glass.

The sound of running water filled the room.

"You're hiding."

Lila turned.

Ethan walked into the kitchen.

"I'm not hiding."

"You disappeared."

"I came to get water."

"Sure."

Lila pointed at him.

"Don't start."

Ethan laughed and opened the refrigerator.

For a few seconds, neither of them spoke.

Then Ethan said casually,

"Oh, by the way."

Lila immediately became suspicious.

Whenever Ethan started a sentence with by the way, trouble usually followed.

"What?"

"Ryder's apartment isn't ready yet."

She frowned.

"What apartment?"

"The one he rented."

Lila blinked.

"He rented an apartment?"

"Yeah."

"When?"

"A while ago."

She stared at him.

Nobody had mentioned that.

Ethan grabbed a bottle of water.

"The renovations are taking longer than expected."

"Oh."

"So he'll need somewhere to stay for a little while."

Lila nodded slowly.

That seemed reasonable.

Ryder had plenty of friends.

He could stay with anyone.

Then Ethan said,

"So he's staying here."

The glass nearly slipped from her hand.

"What?"

Ethan looked confused.

"What?"

"Here?"

"Yeah."

"Here here?"

"How many versions of here do you know?"

Lila stared at him.

Ethan stared back.

Then a familiar voice spoke from the doorway.

"Don't look too excited, Princess."

Lila spun around.

Ryder stood leaning against the doorframe.

A lazy grin sat on his face.

The same grin that had caused trouble for years.

"I am not excited," she said immediately.

"That bad, huh?"

"I didn't say that."

"You kind of did."

Ethan laughed.

Lila grabbed a kitchen towel and threw it at him.

Unfortunately, Ryder caught it before it hit its target.

His grin widened.

And suddenly, the thought of spending the entire summer under the same roof as Ryder Black felt a lot more dangerous than it should have.