Down on Me (Man of the Month 1)

"He had to go. His dad called. Edie slipped, and she's in the ER."

"Oh no."

"He said he tried to call, but your phone's going straight to voicemail. He thinks you may be out of charge."

She pulled it out of her small shoulder bag and saw that he was right.

"Do you want to go meet him? I know you told Faith that you were going to spend the evening playing with her, but I can smooth that over."

"No. Thanks, but it's okay. I'll check in with him tonight, and I'll go over there and see her tomorrow." She hesitated, then cocked her head to one side. Something was off, but she wasn't sure what.

"I'm not blind," he said, his voice suggesting that he was giving her a clue.

"What are you talking about?"

"You know what I'm talking about," he said. "Why didn't you tell me?"

She hugged herself. "Because I'm an idiot?"

"You?"

"Reece thought we should tell you right away. But I..."

"What?"

"Don't tease me, Brent. You know me too well. I was scared, okay? I love you, too. And this--with Reece, I mean--it changes everything."

"You're right," he said, and her eyes shot to his in shock. "It does change everything."

Her heart was suddenly pounding very hard. "What are you--"

"And you're right that you're an idiot," he continued.

She frowned, confused, but a tiny bit of the terror was lifting. "Am I?"

"Do you think we haven't already survived change? The three of us, I mean?" Before she could answer, he turned and pointed to Faith. "Faith was one hell of a change. Did I lose either of you?"

"No." Her word was barely a whisper. "It's just that I--"

He pulled her roughly to him, his hands on her shoulders, and he stared into her eyes with the same intensity with which she'd seen him look into Faith's. It's just a nightmare, sweetie. None of it is real.

"I know," he said to Jenna now. "I know it scares you. I even know why. But you won't lose me."

"You." She turned the word over i

n her head, examining the implications. "But you think I might lose him?"

He didn't deny it. "Just be careful before you get in too deep."

Her heart skipped a beat, but she understood what he was talking about. How could she not? She knew Reece as well as Brent did--better when you factored in the last couple of days. And she'd seen the way his expression had closed off when Faith mentioned being a flower girl at their wedding.

"I went in with eyes open," she told Brent. "And we've just barely gone from friends to lovers."

"All I'm saying is to be careful. And to be sure what you want--and what you're willing to settle for--before you get too deep."

She managed a sideways smile. "No worries. I'm already treading water. And the truth is, I'm a damn good swimmer."

Chapter Sixteen