Breaking Away

Reese shot him a smirk as she popped her trunk. “Well, after what you just did to me, I think the least I could do was give you a ride.”


He smacked her ass before reaching for his bag and shutting her trunk. He looked around the parking lot and like always, everyone was saying bye to their loved ones. The first people he saw were Erik and Piper. Erik lifted Dimitri in the air, tickling him and receiving a toothless grin from the little guy. Kissing him, he handed him to Piper before kissing her deeply and whispering something to her. It was so private and tender that Phillip had to look away and when he did, his gaze found Tate and Audrey. He was hugging Audrey extra hard, touching his lips to their daughter, and it made Phillip smile. Penelope was their miracle child, and Phillip was glad they found happiness since he cared for them both. Audrey’s sister was beside them and, of course, Fallon was crying, holding her son, Asher, while Lucas was bent down talking to their oldest, Aiden. Beside them was Elli with her stroller full of kids. The twins must have been sleeping because Shea only kissed their heads before wrapping Shelli and Posey up in a tight hug and smacking a loud kiss to their cheeks. Putting them down, he wrapped Elli up in his arm, lifting her off the ground as he kissed her long and hard.

All his close friends were married with babies and man, if they didn’t look fucking happy as hell. In a way, Phillip craved that. He never thought he would, especially with the crap ass childhood he had, but looking around, seeing all this, now seemed like something he wanted and when he glanced down to see Reese pulling at her shirt awkwardly, he knew he wanted it with her. Reaching for her, he brought her in close, kissing her deeply, not caring one bit who saw them, but obviously, Reese did care.

“All my friends are here,” she said, pulling away slowly. “I thought we were keeping things on the down low.”

“We are, but you can’t really expect me to control myself when you look so beautiful and I’m not going to see you for weeks.”

She smiled as she smacked his chest, backing away, and he let her. She was unconformable and despite the fact that he wanted to kiss the stuffing out of her and not worry about anything else in the world, he didn’t want to make it any worse.

So with a grin, he asked, “You’re really going to let me leave without giving me a kiss to keep me warm at night?”

“Phillip,” she groaned, looking around. “My sisters will tell everyone. I think Piper already spotted me. I probably shouldn’t have brought you.”

“We’re friends,” he said with a shrug.

“Yes, but they will think it’s more.”

“So?” he said, not able to take it anymore. He took her hand in his and brought her closer. He dusted her lips with his own and her fingers squeezed his before her other hand came up, resting against his cheek as she deepened the kiss. He kissed her long and hard before smiling against her lips as they parted.

“Go.”

He kissed her nose before backing away. “Bye, friend.”

She rolled her eyes. “Bye. Text me when you land.”

“Of course.”

She waved quickly at him and then turned to go back into her car. He turned, a grin sitting on his face, as he fell into step with Shea. Shea looked over at him and shook his head.

“So that’s the reason you’ve been grinning like an idiot?”

Phillip nodded. “Yup.”

“Was she the one in the shower?”

No reason to lie. “Yup.”

Shea shook his head again before taking hold of Phillip’s arm, stopping him. He knew this was coming. Shea was insanely protective over anyone Elli loved, and Reese was basically Elli’s little sister. “Don’t hurt her okay? She’s been through enough.”

“Won’t happen,” Phillip promised before starting for the plane.

“Good, and another thing,” he said, stopping Phillip again.

“Yeah?”

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