Page 63 of Bones

Still, I wonder if I could break into his room and find her location on his computer.

The idea has merit.

But I don’t even make it to his door before I’m dragged away. Apparently, I didn’t play it as cool as I thought I did.

And when I wake up in the morning, I’m alone in my bed, missing my woman.

There’s a new tattoo of her name right above my heart.

MEREDITH

After spending three nights with Skull, I can say we’re a whole lot closer. I even woke up to him spooning me this morning. I went back to sleep, and the second time I woke up I must have moved in my sleep because I had my head on his chest and my arm on his waist. I’ve never shared a bed with a man I’m not sleeping with, but I didn’t hate it. He didn’t snore or steal the blankets, and it was comforting to have him there. I knew no one would hurt me, and he’d protect me.

Bones tried to call me at bedtime on all three nights, just like we used to do when we first met. I didn’t answer. But my time for hiding has come to an end, and I have to face reality. We pack up our things.

Skull walks me to my car. Tipping my face up with his hand, he scans my eyes. “Are you okay?”

I nod.

“I’ll ride behind you the whole way,” he says, leaning down and kissing my forehead. “See, we bonded without fucking. I actually had a good time. I might have to go to another boozy brunch with you sometime.” The corner of his eyes crinkles in amusement.

I laugh, and he joins me. He’s not wrong. We really did bond on a deeper emotional level. “You’re a good man, Skull.”

“And you’re a perfect woman,” he says, winking at me. He waits for me to get in my car before he gets on his bike, and then we ride home.

When I park in my parking spot, Bones is sitting there against my door. He has a bouquet of flowers next to him, but he leaves it there as he walks over to open my door for me. “Doc,” he whispers, taking me in as I get out of the car. His blue eyes scan over my face and body, as if making sure I’m okay. “I gave you the time you wanted,” he says, and I know that was hard for a man like him. He’s used to getting what he wants, and he’s used to always being in control. He looks tired, and his eyes are missing that bright, mischievous gleam.

Skull doesn’t get off his bike. Instead, he rides off and leaves me alone with his brother.

I don’t say anything to him until I’m inside my house. He carries the flowers and sets them on my kitchen counter. They are my favorites—pink lilies. He remembered. Of course, he did. He was never a bad boyfriend. In fact, he was too good to be true.

“Why weren’t you honest with me?” I ask, sitting at the kitchen counter.

“It’s a lot to lay on someone,” he replies, his throat working as he swallows. “I was going to tell you. I spoke to Skull about it, and I knew I had to. Things were going so well for us. I didn’t want to hurt you. And I didn’t want to cause problems with you and Isla.”

“Instead, you made me feel stupid, being the only one not knowing your history. Do you know how that felt? When everyone at the table knew something about my man, except me?”

“I never meant to make you feel that way, baby,” he says, reaching over the table and taking my hand in his. “I didn’t know how to tell you. It’s not exactly normal for twins to share a woman, and then when Daisy got pregnant, we found out Natalia was one of ours. We decided to raise her together. I didn’t know how to tell you that we both slept with Daisy and didn’t know who Natalia’s father was, so I just avoided the subject. You were already so unsure about being with me because I had a baby. I didn’t want to lose you.”

“So you withheld the truth from me instead.”

“Doc.”

“Do you have feelings for Isla?” I ask because this answer is important to me.

“No,” he replies instantly, his blue eyes pleading with me to believe him. “I don’t have any romantic feelings for her. I love her as Skull’s old lady and as the woman helping us raise Natalia.”

“You liked her enough to sleep with her,” I snap, and I hate the bitterness in my tone.

“I don’t have any feelings for her, Doc,” he says, smiling sadly. “You are the woman of my dreams. The only one who has made me want to settle down. If you only knew how much you fucking own me…”

“I want a relationship where we are honest with each other. Where we prioritize each other’s feelings. You only thought about yourself and how telling me the truth would affect you.”

“I didn’t want to hurt you. I didn’t want you to look at me with pain in your eyes like you’re looking at me right now. It makes me feel sick, Meredith. I love you. I’m crazy in love with you. I don’t think you understand how much.”

“Do you love me? Or do you just want what they have?” I ask, and he flinches, surprised hurt flickering over his face.

“Do you really not feel this between us? Is this so one-sided? Because how could you ask me that?” he rasps, letting go of my hand, leaving me cold. “I’ve given you a side of me no one else gets. Yeah, Isla had my dick for one night. That’s it, Doc. I’ve never been more vulnerable with another person than I am with you. I’ve never waited to sleep with a woman because I wanted her to want more than my body.” His eyes glaze over, and the raw pain in them hits me right in the chest.