72. Skyler

I wake up in bed. Alone.

It takes me a few heartbeats to remember where I am. There’s a racket in the main room. The guys must be back.

I glance at the alarm clock and see two hours have passed. Light seeps out from underneath the bathroom door. There’s the faint sound of the sink running. I stretch, gaze landing on a tiny dark spot on the sheets. It’s blood.

Oh shit.

Did I hurt her?

Heart in my throat, I scramble to my feet and half stumble into my boxers as I cross to the bathroom door. Knocking gently, I wait.

She calls back. “It’s unlocked.”

My anxiety eases a little. She doesn’t sound upset. I swing the door open and find her standing in just her panties and bra, ringing out a washcloth at the sink. Our gazes connect in the mirror’s reflection and her lips curl into a shy smile. I come closer, wrapping my arms around her. I pull her into my chest. “Are you bleeding?”

Her cheeks color. “Why?”

“The sheets.”

I turn her in my arms so that she’s facing me. “Did I hurt you?”

She looks confused for a few seconds, then laughs. “No. It’s just my period.”

“Oh, thank God.”

I study her expression. She’s smiling at me, but there’s a tightness to her eyes. “Are you feeling okay, though?”

She sighs, laughing. “I feel like hot garbage. And I don’t have anything with me. Aunt Flow came a few days early, that bitch.”

“What do you need? I’ll go get it.”

She cocks her head to the side. “You’ll buy my tampons?”

I run my hands over her lower back. “Sure. Text me a list.”

Remarkably, Reese allows me to put her back in bed. She must really feel sick to be accepting help so easily. I get dressed, mind already halfway to the drugstore, and stumble to a stop in the kitchen when I see all three guys staring at me.

My shoulders tense under their collective gaze. They watched me leave Reese’s room. I run a hand over my hair, it’s clearly been mussed up. Maybe they want an explanation. But what they want doesn’t rank very high. I step into my boots. “Reese needs some lady products. I’m going to run out to the drugstore.”

Bo pushes off his stool. “I’ll come with.”

Ten minutes later, Bo and I find ourselves standing in front of the feminine products, feeling completely lost.

He scratches the back of his head. “She didn’t tell you what kind?”

I shake my head, feeling like a failure.

He points to a pink box. “Andy uses that kind.”

We grab all the same boxes Andy uses, hoping the girls have similar taste. It’s not until we’re back in Bo’s truck that he finally clears his throat. “Judas, Skyler. Are you going to make me drag it out of you?”

“Drag what out of me?”

I take a look at his face and sigh. I know full well what he wants to know, but I don’t really have an answer. “Reese and I…”

I run out of words. Reese and I… what?

Bo merges into traffic. “Cody and Mitch already told me. I know you two have been screwing around. For a while, from the sounds of it.”

I shake my head. “Those two are the biggest gossips I know.”

Bo glances at me. “Is it serious?”

I consider my response. After a while, I decide to go with the truth. “Yes. Very.”

He nods. “Good. I didn’t want to have to kick your ass.”

I smile at that. “Josh is going to kill me, isn’t he?”

Bo tilts his head. “Not necessarily. He doesn’t like the idea of any man being with his sisters, but he’s also worried about them being alone.”

He glances at me. “Wouldn’t that be wild if became your brother-in-law?”

“Who’s talking about getting married?”

But the idea suddenly spans out ahead of me. Family Christmases with my best friend and the love of my life. Our kids would be cousins. Maybe they’d be as close as Bo and I are. My imagination provides me with the image of Reese pregnant with my child. I want it so badly it hurts.

“Earth to Skyler.”

I look up. We’re back at the resort and Bo is looking at me with a funny, knowing smile on his face. Ignoring him, I climb out of the truck, and we hurry back to the apartment.

I find Reese bundled up under the fluffy duvet. Setting a glass of water and her medicine on the nightstand, I crawl into bed next to her.

She gives me a weak smile, snuggling closer.

My hands trace down her arms. “Where’s it hurt?”

“My lower back.”

I run my hand over her soft skin, trying to ease her suffering. My chest fills with a mix of concern and protectiveness. There’s this deep sense of connection and purpose building brick by brick in my chest. I want to take care of her. I want to be there for the highs and the lows. She’s like the sun and without her, everything goes dark.