The Deepest End of Love (The Brightest Light #3)

by Lisina Coney

It takes me a second longer to realize that his other hand, warm and firm and strong, is also holding me up. Because it’s on the small of my back. And the muscular arm attached to it is wrapped around my body. “Are you okay?” Reed’s raspy voice asks.

“Yep. Sorry we bumped into you.” “You’re sure you’re not hurt?” he asks again.

“Not at all. Um, ...

“You’re not hurt,”

“You’re big, like a superhero!”

“My belly hurt, and I thought I had a baby inside, but Lili told me I was hungry, and I am, so I’m gonna get my sandwich.”

“You…” He steals a quick glance at me, then looks back at the boy. “You thought you were pregnant.”

“My mommy has a baby in her belly, and she ...

“Come on, Lili. What if someone eats my sandwich?”

“So that’s why you’re so big? Now I want to do boxing, too.” “Think about it. There’s no rush,”

“Lila, look at me.” Those pretty eyes lock with mine. “How many times do I have to tell you the children like you?”

Just when I manage to open it with the tips of my fingers, the light turns green and the vehicle moves, jerking me to the side. Shit, shit, shit, s—

A firm grip around my waist prevents me from falling onto Vera and Melody.

“Didn’t they ever tell you that standing on a moving bus is a no-no?” Reed’s...

I really need to check why it is I’m always blushing around this man. Maybe because I have a cru— No. Nope. “Thanks,” I mutter, glancing at him over my shoulder.

saw Reed in dark jeans and a Henley under a leather jacket, doing absolutely nothing to conceal how much boxing is paying off.

I should stop drooling over a man twelve years older than me who happens to be my kind-of boss at the youth center and a close friend of my parents. For my career, I really should. “Sit down, Lila,” he says, sounding firmer but not angry. “I don’t want you getting hurt.”

One moment I’m falling, and the next I’m sitting on a very hard, very muscular seat. “Comfortable?” Reed’s breath is so close, it tickles the shell of my ear, and a shiver runs down my spine. My brain short-circuits.

But I’m not, so I wiggle on his lap, trying to get into a real comfortable position just to be a little shit. This may be violating some sort of code of conduct, for sure, but what the administration office doesn’t see won’t kill them. I hope. The huge man behind—and below—me lets out a grunt as he grabs my waist, his grip strong and warm. “Stop moving.” Just as I’m about to ask why, I feel it. A hard bulge pressing into my leggings. Oh my God.

“I didn’t mean to…” Holy shit. “I’m so sorry.”

“It’s my fault.” His

“That shouldn’t have happened. It was highly inappropriate, and I’ll understand...

“I’m not going to report you, Reed. It was an accident. It was my fault for stand...

“We’re good,” I promise. “You could never make me feel uncomfortable, Reed.”

Turns out my parents were right—I’m in good hands with him. Literally.

“Why do you say that?” She doesn’t meet my eyes. “I… I’m…” She hiccups. “I’m bleeding.”

“Did you fall and hurt yourself?”

“N-No, I…” She touches her belly, right under her belly button, and it clicks in my brain just before she says, “I’m bleeding… down there.”

Oh.

Oh, ...

“I’m afraid I have no experience with periods, but Lila will help you with everything.”

“Melody!” I turn just in time to catch Cameron running directly to his twin sister.

“You’re crying,” he says, out of breath. “Who made you cry? Tell me, Meli. Tell me, and they’ll regret it.” “Slow down, tiger.”

“You like Reed, don’t you?” Why has my heart just jumped? “Of course I like him.”

“I mean that you like him like that.”

“You’re blushing.” Melody giggles. “I knew it.”

Let’s focus on what’s important right now.”

“Vera and I think he likes you like that too.”

“Get inside the bathroom, you busybody.” She laughs. “Do you know how to use it? The sanitary pad?”

“I’ll be waiting here. Holler if you need anything.” “Okay, Mrs. Reed’s Future Wife.”

“Thank you, Lila.” My heart swells. “You’re like the big sister I never had.” Don’t cry, don’t cry, don’t cry. I wrap my arms around her. “I’m really proud of how you’ve handled this whole situation with your period and your brother.” She beams at me. “I’m feeling better now. And your hoodie smells really nice.”

my eyes fall on Reed. Vera and I think he likes you like that too. When his dark eyes meet mine, I tell myself whatever weird infatuation I feel for Reed needs to stop. Now.

“Yeah. He made a face when I told him she’d just gotten her period, so I had to explain to him why periods aren’t gross and why it’s important that he makes his sister feel comfortable.”

I don’t stop to ponder why the thought of Lila getting sick makes me more worried than it should; I shrug off my jacket and drape it over her shoulders. “Now you’re fine.” She blinks up at me. “You didn’t have to do that.” “Like hell I didn’t.” “You’ll be the one getting sick now, Professor Bossy.”

“Don’t care.”

How do you tell someone that you’re falling in love with their mind without freaking them out? Not only with her mind.

could always go to her with a question and never felt embarrassed. We’re really close.” “And you want to help normalize that among children,” I finish her train of thought. “Exactly. It always baffled me when I talked to my friends about sex, and they just… knew nothing,”

“And when I asked them why they’d never asked their moms, they looked at me like I was crazy. Said that it was embarrassing, and they’d rather die than talk to their moms about that.”

“You’ve just calmly walked a crying preteen through her first period, and you don’t think you can run your own workshop?”

“I’ve never met a more brilliant yet insecure person in my entire life,”