Page 165 of Rhodes

My heart stutters as the realization of what that means crashes over me.

“When? While we were there?” The kiss flashes back so clearly my face heats despite the cold.

“Yes. He told me he left without saying anything. When we went to get a beer after dinner, he confronted me.”

“And?”

“He asked how long.”

I grip the railing.

“What did you tell him?”

“The truth.”

My stomach drops.

“Rhodes.”

“I know.”

“I’m not mad at you. I just need to figure out how I'm going to handle this.”

He exhales.

“What else? Did you tell him about what went down with Oak Moss?”

“No.”

I look back at the house even though I can’t see Libba through the curtains.

“Why?”

His answer comes without hesitation. “Because you asked me not to.”

Something in my chest loosens. I look down at my bare feet against the porch boards. A chill rushes up through me.

“I’m sorry,” he says. “I know you didn’t want him to know. I couldn’t look him in the face and lie.”

“You don’t have to apologize for that. You were put in an impossible position because I kissed you where apparently my brother was lurking around like a psychopath.”

A short laugh comes through the phone.

“He’s pissed that I essentially lied by omission.”

I lean my hip against the railing.

“He also asked if I hurt you,” he says after several seconds of silence.

“What did you say?”

“That I did.”

The answer is so plain that I close my eyes again. “Okay.”

“I didn’t tell him why.”

“Thank you.”