A Big No-No ( Mature 18+)

Chapter 21

I am not sure how long I slept, but I was jarred away but something...I wasn't sure what but I got up from the bed and grabbing my robe headed out to the living room. It was empty when I got there but the front door storm door was open, leaving just the screen door closed and I could hear the squeak of the chains from the porch swing.

Following the noise I gently opened the door and stepped quietly out onto the porch, Phoenix pushing slightly ahead of me as he checked to see who was there before giving me a look over his shoulder and settling in by the railing. I thought was quiet but Rio's head still shot up at my footfalls and jumping up from the swing he made his way to my side,

"What are you doing up you should be in bed!"

"Help me to the swing, I think I have slept enough for a little while."

"Z will kill-"

"Fuck Rio! Just do it before my legs give out!" I grumbled, playing on my weakness to get my way.

He stopped arguing as he helped me over to sit down on the swing and then took the seat beside me. Neither of us saying anything as we stared out into the quiet of the night. A smile cresting both of our lips as Phoenix let out a content groan as he dosed close to our feet.

I couldn't bare the silence any longer, "why did you never tell her that you cared for her?"

He gave me a sharp look, ready to deny it but seeing the look on my face his shoulders slumped and he leaned his head back letting it bang gently against the side of the house, "I couldn't."

"If you are worried that she might not feel the same you needn't be as she does. It's not too late, I am sure if you told her she would confess-"

"Mea, I know how she feels for me. I am not a fool I can see it in her eyes when she looks at me. But we can't go there."

"Rio, you don't-"

"No Mea! We can't! She deserves so much more than I can give her. She deserves the world, and that guy...the one she is out with tonight he can give it to her. He can get her away from this life, from me!"

"Have you asked her if that is what she wants?"

"It doesn't matter, I know what she would say and I can't do that! Look what happened to you, and you haven't even been back more than a couple months. No, I need to do what is right for her even if she can't see it for herself."

I could sense his resolution with the path he had chosen for them both to follow, regardless of how Tawny might feel about it. I knew Rio felt like he was doing the right thing but I knew this course was going to end up with unimaginable pain for them both because of it.

With a sigh I squeezed his arm and slowly rose from the swing and made my way back over to the door, Phoenix ambling in while I held it open, looking to see Rio, his head bowed as if the weight of the world was on his shoulders. I went into the house without another word, my heart breaking for the two people I loved most in my life outside of Z and for what their future would hold.

I awoke the next morning ready to start the day, although after conquering a shower I felt a little less ready as I flopped back down on the bed, exhausted from the effort.

That is where Z found me when he came back in from grabbing us coffee, splayed across our bed where even lifting my arm to grab the cup of coffee he carried was an effort.

"Yeah, sorry...nope. Back into bed for you!"

"Z, I'm fine I just need to catch my breath-"

"Nope you need to recover and rest like the doctor told you! And that is exactly what you are going to do!" he said as he twisted me gently to tuck me back under the blankets while I glared at him for treating me like an invalid.