Never be afraid to fly, Bren. Even if it takes you from all you know.

I hear his voice so clearly, remember the way he pressed his lips to my head as he said it, that lingering touch like he was memorizing the moment in case I left him. Heart aching, I tear my gaze from his and look around at my shocked friends who have begun to argue.

“This is your fault.” Sophie wags her slim finger under Scottie’s nose.

“Mine?” He raises a brow. “How do you figure, darling?”

“You introduced her to stupid Marshall.”

“I thought she might fancy a date with him, not run off to live in LA.”

Jax makes a noise of annoyance. “Why the hell were you trying to set her up with a tosspot like Faulkner? Who lives in LA.”

“Los Angeles isn’t that far,” Libby tries.

“It’s far enough if she’s quitting.”

“I’m not going to take it,” I cut in before they get any more worked up.

Another sharp silence falls. This one doubtful. I can all but feel my friends vibrating with uncertainty.

Killian tries to speak, croaks, then tries again. “You can, Bren. If you want. Don’t…Don’t stay because of guilt or anything. We wouldn’t want that for you.”

I really do love my cousin.

“I was going to go. But I just can’t. Although the idea of juggling more accounts excites me, leaving you guys doesn’t.” I take a deep breath, pressing my palms on the worn wood table. “So. I’m going to start my own public relations agency. You’ll still be my top priority, but I’m going to expand, take on more clients, hire people.” The idea expands and my words trip out with growing excitement. “Women, actually. I want to create a safe space in the industry that’s run by women for women.”

“I love that,” Stella says. “Power in numbers and all that.”

“I do too,” Libby says.

“I’ll be disappointed if you don’t let me continue to handle your public relations,” I tease.

“As if I’d have it any other way,” she says with a wink.

“And I was wondering, Stella and Sophie, if you two would consider joining me as partners.”

“What?” Sophie claps her hands together. “Really?”

“Seriously?” Stella adds with a smile.

“You guys are excellent at public relations, and you know it. With Stella’s fundraising smarts and Sophie’s social media genius, we could kick ass.”

“Oh, I am in,” Stella says.

Sophie nods, picking up a cookie. “Me too. I mean, I love these guys, but it would be nice to branch out a little.”

“Good.” I exhale with a small, bubbling laugh. “It’ll be fun.”

“Fun,” Whip repeats, a little dazed, but then leans over and kisses the side of my head, ending with a brotherly muss of my hair. “Whatever floats your boat, Bren.”

I swat him away with a smile. I can’t look at Rye. I feel him, though. He is etched in my skin.

Killian lets out a breath. “Okay. That’s good. Like I said, it’s better when we—”

“I’m not finished,” I cut in, my heart in my throat. It’s pounding so hard, I’m surprised I can speak. Part of me is screaming that I need to shut it. Not say another word. But I have to.

“There’s more?” This from an amused but watchful Scottie.

“Yes.” Licking my lips, I look straight at my cousin. “Right after Stella’s birthday, Rye and I began hooking up.”

The room explodes into comments.

“She went there,” Jax says in awe. “Just laid it down on the table.”

“Holy shit,” Stella murmurs.

Killian’s color drains then comes back in a rush. He turns to glare at an obviously poleaxed Rye. “What the fuck!”

“Don’t you dare get mad at him,” I snap, pulling his attention back to me. “It was entirely consensual, and frankly you have no say in either of our personal lives.”

He falls back, slumping in his chair. “Shit. You’re right. I’m sorry.” He does not address this to Rye, and I’m fairly sure Killian is still imagining kicking his ass. Killian’s dark eyes remain on me, wry remorse filling them. “I’ll try my best not to act like an overprotective brother, because I know no one can protect someone else from getting hurt. It’s just…Rye? Seriously?”

At this, Rye makes a noise that might be interpreted as a growl but could also very well be him scoffing. But he doesn’t take his eyes from the table.

“Don’t make me come over there,” I warn Killian.

He holds up a hand in surrender. “I only meant I thought you two hated each other.”

“Not the brightest penny in the jar,” Whip murmurs, earning a glare.

“Moving on,” I say firmly, as though I’m not shaking like a damn leaf on the inside. “I thought, in the spirit of this newfound openness, I’d tell you.”

“Finally.” Jax lifts his hands in exasperation. “It was a nightmare keeping silent.”

“Amen,” Whip agrees with feeling.

Killian gapes. “You two knew?”

I gape too. Not because of Whip, but because almost everyone at the table is nodding.

“From the beginning,” Scottie deadpans.

“Well, I didn’t,” Sophie wails. She glares at her husband. “You kept this from me. This? Gabriel!”

He gives her a sidelong look, fondness lighting it. “You wouldn’t have been able to keep it secret, chatty girl.”

Sophie snaps her mouth closed then wrinkles her nose. “It’s true. I would have blabbed to all and sundry.”

“I can’t believe you guys knew,” I say, still not quite able to look at Rye. I’m aware of him, though, sitting there, humming with tension, staring at me like he can’t quite figure out what the hell I’m doing.

Jax laughs shortly. “Honey, if you’re trying to be discreet, you can’t be making out in your kitchen during family dinner.”

Killian makes a noise of disgusted horror.

But I have to smile. “Caught us, did you?”

Jax glances at Rye, likely gauging how much to say. “Unfortunately. But Rye told me to fuck off with the gossip and leave it alone on pain of death, so…” He trails off with a shrug.

At Jax’s admission, Rye’s head jerks up, his eyes wide and slightly panicked. Our gazes collide, and I shake my head slightly, trying to tell him it’s okay.

I put him in a difficult position with vows of secrecy. I can imagine Rye worrying that everyone would start talking and how it would embarrass me. It’s oddly sweet because I know he was protecting my feelings.

Rye sags slightly, but the muscle in his jaw remains bunched. He breaks our gaze first, blinking down at his hands as though he doesn’t know where to look or how to deal with my sudden confession.

I’m sorry, Ryland. It had to be done.

Libby’s amused voice tugs my attention away from Rye. “I guessed but didn’t say anything because I wasn’t sure. It was your body language. People fucking…” She gives a stewing Killian a hesitant glance. “Er…having sex, act differently around each other.”