Chapter 24

Tripp

When I left Millie’s apartment this morning it was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. I didn’t want to leave. I would’ve called out again, but she had a point that my family would send out a search party. Especially since I told Callum that I was sick.

I went home and took a quick shower trying to convince myself that a little time away from Millie wasn’t going to shatter me.

Once I got to work, I immediately wished I had fought harder to stay in the bubble that we had been wrapped in. My family is the best, but they also have zero boundaries.

I walk into Atta Boy like I hadn’t called out two days in a row, hopeful everything would just be like normal. Of course it wasn’t.

“Tripp, what happened? Callum said you called out because you were sick?” Anya asks as soon as she spots me walking in. Her eyes are wide with concern, and I can already feel the weight of the lie pressing down on me.

I hate lying to her. Hell, I hate lying to any of them, but there’s no way I can possibly tell her what I was really doing. “I’m good, just had a bit of a cold that kicked my ass,” I say, trying to sound casual.

“Yeah, well, you probably should’ve answered one of our calls or texts. Mom was ready to break down your door,” Brock says, stepping up behind me, his tone more serious than usual.

“Mom came to my place?” I ask, feeling a sudden jolt of panic.

“No, but she wanted to,” Brock replies with a slight shake of his head.

Relief washes over me, and I feel a pang of guilt. It’s so messed up—I’ve had everyone worried, and here I am, feeling relieved that my concerned mother didn’t actually come looking for me.

“Hey, I’m glad you’re feeling better, but I’m not coming any closer because if August gets sick because I was too close to you, Felicity will be pissed,” Shepherd says, half-joking as he covers his mouth and nose with his hand.

“I’m fine, really,” I insist, but the guilt is like a vice, tightening around my chest. I lied to them, and now I’m lying to their faces.

“Damn, I was starting to think you ran off,” Paxton adds with a chuckle, giving my shoulder a playful slap.

“Yeah, seriously, you can’t just ignore us. I understand you didn’t feel good, but I know you, little brother. You always have your phone within arm’s reach. We were really starting to get worried,” Anya says, crossing her arms and giving me a look that makes me feel even worse.

“All right, obviously Tripp had a couple of crap days, but he’s back now,” Griffin says, grinning at me, though his eyes tell a different story. He knows or at least suspects that I’m lying. I appreciate him keeping that to himself, though.

“Yes, he’s back, and shouldn’t you all be working?” Callum’s voice cuts through the conversation, and I turn to face him, my stomach twisting with nerves.

I know he’s pissed, and the disappointment in his eyes is almost too much to bear. This is the problem with hiding away—you eventually have to face what you’re hiding from.

“I’m sorry, Callum. I’m feeling better now,” I lie again, hoping he’ll let it slide.

But I can see the disappointment etched on his face, and it hurts more than I expected. I don’t want to let him down, don’t want to let any of them down, but that’s the problem. Hiding away with Millie, losing myself in the comfort of her arms, makes me want to forget everything else.

We laugh, we talk, we have epic sex. There’s no pressure to show up at the brewery where I don’t really want to be. No pressure to work on my book, the one I’m keeping a secret from everyone. No guilt about falling for my brother’s ex.

With Millie, everything just feels right, like the world outside doesn’t exist. But now, standing here, I’m reminded that it does. And sooner or later, I’ll have to deal with it.

Callum lets out a sigh as he nods before saying, “Good, get to work.” The words are simple, but the weight behind them is heavy. There’s more he wants to say—things he’s holding back for a different time. That knowledge just adds more stress to everything I’m already feeling, making it harder to push through the day.

The hours drag on, every task feeling like a lifetime. I seem to check the time every five minutes, hoping somehow the clock will speed up. I serve food, clear tables, and nod along as Anya excitedly talks about her engagement party that she’s busy planning. But my mind isn’t here. It’s with Millie, wondering what she’s doing. Is she feeling the same emptiness that’s gnawing at me. I wonder if she’s counting the minutes like I am, making the day crawl by at a snail's pace.

“So, how sick were you?” Griffin asks, grinning as he steps outside while I’m trying to get some fresh air. The knowing look on his face tells me he’s not buying my excuse.

I glance over at him and shrug. “I’m not ready to talk about it all just yet,” I admit, hoping he’ll drop it.

He leans against the building next to me, nodding slowly. “I get that. You feel like you’re protecting something new and fragile.”

“Something like that,” I say, giving a slight nod. He’s not wrong, but he’s not entirely right either. It’s more complicated than that.

“Look, you know I support you going after this girl, and I’m thrilled that you’ve finally got the balls to tell her how you feel, and obviously, she feels the same.” He lets out a sigh, and before I can respond, he continues. “But you can’t hide away and pretend you have no responsibilities. I’d never tell Callum, but I can’t stand by and pretend I don’t know what’s going on. You’re not some dumb kid anymore with no responsibilities, Tripp, but you’re acting like it.”

Even though he’s right, his words hit a nerve, and my defenses go up immediately. “I’m not hiding or ignoring my responsibilities. I resent you saying that. I’m here. I’m doing what I’m supposed to do. I just needed a minute, that’s all. I’m here, Griff, I know what my responsibilities are, believe me.”

There’s so much more I want to say, things I wish I could get off my chest. I want to tell him that I’d rather be home writing, doing what I love, but just like everyone else, he wouldn’t understand. Writing isn’t just a hobby for me—it’s my passion, my escape, the one thing that feels right in a world that often doesn’t.

He doesn’t say anything else and I don’t know if that’s a good or bad thing at this point. He simply returns back inside and I’m left out here alone with nothing but my thoughts of the lies I’m keeping and Millie.

Work is finally over and I’m back at the only place I find peace. The only place where I find the happiness that seems to be so difficult to reach lately.

I’m back at Millie’s.

All day this is the moment I’ve been longing for. The minutes felt like hours. The hours felt like days. It’s ridiculous because it’s only been a few hours, but I’ve missed her. I’m aching for her. I’ve never felt anything like this before, it’s overwhelming in the most amazing way.

I knock on her door, my heart slamming against my chest with anticipation of seeing her.

When she opens the door, I grin and step inside, pulling her into my arms.

“Hey, you,” I say, feeling like the missing part of me is back in place.

Millie is the only person who understands me, the real me, and now that she’s back in my arms, nothing else matters. The world feels like it’s righted itself again, and I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.

“Hey.” She holds on tighter and it causes my pulse to race, feeling like she may have missed me just as much.

Millie pulls back, her eyes shining with a happiness I feel. “Did you eat?”

I grin as my hands slide down her back, resting on her perfectly round ass. “I’m only hungry for one thing, little bunny, and it’s not food.”

Her eyes bounce between mine as her teeth sink into her bottom lip. “I like the sound of that.”

“Tell me something. Have you been able to think about anything else today besides the fact that I will be deep inside your tight, greedy pussy tonight?”

A soft moan slips from her lips as her eyes widen, shocked and turned on by my words. It’s a heady feeling, knowing that my words alone can turn her on.

“Honestly, no,” she whispers as a blush creeps up her cheeks.

“Oh, little bunny, I love that you still feel shy even after all the things I’ve done to this perfect body of yours. It’s sexy as hell.”

I don’t let her respond, I crash my lips to hers and we both moan as our tongues tangle together. I pull her closer, pressing my hard cock against her, letting her know she makes me react just the same.

The rest of the world fades away as I deepen the kiss, every thought and worry slipping into the background. It’s just her and me, the connection between us intensifying with every brush of our lips. The way she fits perfectly against me, the way her soft breaths mingle with mine, it’s like nothing else exists.

I get lost in the warmth of her touch, the way her fingers thread through my hair, pulling me closer. My heart pounds in my chest, each beat syncing with the rhythm of our kiss. Everything about this moment feels right, like it’s exactly where I’m supposed to be.

Millie has a way of making the world disappear, of making me forget about the stress, the responsibilities, and all the bullshit that comes with everyday life. With her, there’s no pressure, no expectations—just us, wrapped up in each other.

I have no problem staying lost in this moment for as long as possible, holding onto the feeling of her lips against mine, the scent of her skin, the soft sound of her sighs. This is where I want to be—where I need to be—and I’m not ready to let it go. Not yet.