Page 60 of Have To Be Mine

“We want to be there. We’re bringing Buckaroo.”

I knew I was supposed to feel supported by this. He was trying to show he cared and they were coming because they were family. Brothers supporting each other and all of that. But that wasn’t what I felt.

“I don’t need you there, if that’s why you’re going to make the long trip,” I said, keeping my voice even. “I’ve got it. And if I don’t, the drill sergeant you assigned to me will. So rest easy.”

“I know you’ve got things under control,” Adrian said. “That’s not why we’re coming.”

“Then why?”

“Because it’s a big deal, Dash. Elizabeth doesn’t want to miss it. The new line. The runway. She’s excited about it.” A beat. “We all are.”

I turned away from the pool and looked out at the water. “So this isn’t you coming to keep an eye on me?”

“No.”

“Or to step in if things go sideways?”

“No.” His voice was patient. “It’s not that. I promise you. I mean, if things go wrong and I can help, I will, but that’s seriously not why we’re coming out.”

“Good, because you already sent me a babysitter. I don’t need two.”

“How’s that going, by the way?”

Bucky shrieked again in the background.

“Fine,” I said. “She was a lot at first, but she knows her stuff and she’s not so bad once you get to know her.”

“That’s great to hear,” Adrian said. “It sounds like you’ve found some common ground.”

“We’re getting there,” I said.

“Well, keep up the good work and we’ll see you in Santorini,” he said.

“See you in Santorini.”

I heard a wet cooing sound through the phone. “That was Bucky saying goodbye,” my brother said.

“Bye, little man,” I said with a big smile. “Keep your dad out of trouble.”

We hung up and I stood there for a second with the phone in my hand. Despite what Adrian had said, I couldn’t shake the feeling he was coming out here just to make sure I didn’t screw up. Was this what it felt like to be the youngest? Always the one they came to check on. They were all so convinced I could never stand on my own two feet.

Maybe I was just projecting my own fears onto my brother. Maybe he just wanted to treat his family to a nice trip and maybe work on giving Bucky a little brother or sister.

I turned back toward the pool. Krista was getting out of the water, walking up the steps on the far side. Everything fell into slow motion. Water streamed off her shoulders and down her legs. She walked toward me, her hips swaying and her wet hair slicked back from her face.

Ho-ly fuck. How had she been hiding so much beauty under her gruff demeanor and cargo pants?

She reached for her towel and dried her hair.

“Good call or bad call?” she asked.

“Good, I think. Adrian and Elizabeth are coming to the runway show. And they’re bringing the kiddo of course.”

“That’s nice.”

“Yeah.”

She turned to face me, blotting water from her face.