Tyson (Broken Hill Boys 4)

Kaylah shrugs unapologetically. “Investment bankers, Billionaire CEO’s, financial advisors. These are the kind of guys that stereotypes tell her that she should be with, not the scruffy guy who can make her scream until she passes out.” Kaylah moves around the other side of the pool. “Look, you just have to remember that she’s worked her ass off for Yale and her dreams came true when she got in so you can bet your ass that she isn’t going to do a damn thing to distract herself from making a good go of it. Just give her time to come to terms with the fact that you’re not going anywhere and I’m sure she’ll eventually come to you.”

“I always thought she was just scared of getting hurt or didn’t want me the way that I want her.”

A softness flutters over Kaylah’s face and she looks at me as though her puppy dog just stood on his own fucking tail. “It could be that,” she tells me, “but I think she would have told you to fuck off by now if she didn’t have feelings for you and she sure as hell wouldn’t have let you close enough to screw her on Tora’s couch last night.”

My head snaps back to Kaylah. “What?”

A wide, knowing grin stretches across her face as she pulls out her phone, presses a few things, and then holds up a picture of me and Brylee, butt fucking naked with my arms curled protectively around her on the couch.

Fuck.

“Brooke sent this to everyone this morning so I’m sure it’s already been discussed in lengthy details by Courtney and Elle while the boys pretend they’re not hanging on every detail.”

“What’s this?” Jesse asks, putting down a tray with stacks of bacon and egg sandwiches that are staring up at me and begging me to dig in and eat.

I reach for a roll as Kaylah fills him in. “The picture of Brylee and Tyson on the couch.”

Jesse laughs as he flops back down on the sunbed beside me. “Fuck, man,” he says, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “You never told me her ass looked like that. Fucking perfect. You could bounce a quarter off that thing.”

My fist slams into his upper arm and he instantly shuts the fuck up about my girl’s ass while groaning in agony. Brylee’s one of the only chicks in Broken Hill who he hasn’t seen naked and I would have preferred it stayed like that. Brooke should have respected her privacy by not showing that around. I couldn’t give a shit if the world saw me naked, but Brylee isn’t like me and this is for her to take up with Brooke. Though I’m not going to lie, it was dark last night and I was going by feel alone, so actually seeing it again was a nice little treat, but that doesn’t stop the fact that I’ll be stealing every one of my friend’s phones and deleting the picture.

“Hey,” Kaylah snaps at Jesse as she puts the pool scoop away and starts making her way over here. “I’m not denying that Bry has a fucking epic ass because she does, but to you, nothing is better than mine. Got it?”

“Well, that depends,” he says with a grin.

Kaylah narrows her eyes at him. “On what?”

“What you’re going to let me do to it?”

Fuck me. I don’t want to be here for this conversation. “I’m out,” I tell them, grabbing a second and third roll.

“What’s your plan?” Jesse asks. “I’m heading over to Nate’s shop with Jackson to help him with a few things. Are you keen?”

I think it over for a short second before shaking my head. “Nah, man. I think I’m going to head home and chill. Maybe get some more sleep.”

“Alright, no problem,” he says, knowing there’s no way I’ll be changing my mind, not today at least. “I’ll see you later.”

I start heading for the gate with my rolls when Jesse’s voice stops me in my tracks. “Ty?” he calls out in a concerned tone that’s incredibly rare for him. I turn back to find both Kaylah and Jesse watching me. “Just go and fucking talk to her, man. What’s the worst that could happen?”

“What’s the worst that could happen?” I repeat. “Trust me, when it comes to Brylee, the worst is something I don’t even want to think about.”

I walk out of the pool area and back through the house. I thank Trish for my bacon and egg sandwiches and before I know it, I’m dropping back down into my car, unable to stop replaying Kaylah’s words in my head. She’s scared. If that is the case and she’s just worried I’m going to hurt her, then I’ll put those fucking worries to bed and prove to her that there’s absolutely nothing to be afraid of.