Chapter 6 - Part 2

                                    

                                          
Minutes passed like seconds, and before long, when she was rubbing her stuff neck, she looked up to see Joe enter.
"Hi, beautiful," he greeted her with a wink, and she rose to meet his bear hug that lifted her off her feet. "It's been too long." 
"I know," she managed to get out in his tight squeeze.
He released her to hold her by her arms as he surveyed her. "You okay?" He scrutinized her. His dark brown hair was a little longer than the last time she'd seen him.
She shrugged. "Some days are good, some aren't."
He nodded with understanding. He had also grown up with the brothers and had known them as well as she had, maybe even better.
"Well, I'm glad you're back. He hasn't been the same without you."
"Myles?" She frowned.
He nodded. "Losing Dylan was difficult, but not having you around made it harder."
She felt a rush of emotion. "Really?" She had no idea. Why hadn't he reached out? It had been so difficult for her to stick around. Had she been selfish not to stay, not to be there for Myles?
He frowned as his pale green eyes swept her from head to toe. "You look like you've lost a lot of weight."
She shrugged, not wanting to talk about it.
"I thought Charlie was taking good care of you." He folded his arms and gave her a stern look. 
"He was... He did everything right." She didn't want to go into all the details about it, but she didn't want Joe to think Charlie hadn't done his best to make her happy. He had. 
"But?" he prompted. "I thought it was a match made in heaven."
She shook her head. "Some things just aren't meant to be."
"Well I'm glad you're back, and Myles tells me you're staying with him. That's good—he needs some company."
"Really? He didn't look short of company the other night."
Joe's face brightened up and he smirked. 
"What?" she asked innocently.
He smiled at her like he was enjoying a joke she didn't know. "Nothing."
There was some silence that followed.
"I'm glad you're here," he said. "It's nice to have you back."
"Well, it's nice to be back." She smiled, even though she wasn't sure that statement was true. It was hard, and it was only going to get more difficult. She had to build up the courage to tell the brothers the secret she had keeping for far too long.
"You seen Karsyn yet?" He arched an eyebrow at her.
What was it with people and wanting to know about the eldest Shaw brother?
"Yes. I saw him."
He studied her but she refused to elaborate on the short encounter. Whatever happened between them wasn't something she wanted to share.
"Karsyn has a way of blowing things up and Myles is always the one left to clean it up."
She remained silent, not sure where he was headed.
"Don't let Karsyn ruin things."
She nodded slowly. "I'm not leaving again."
There was no surety, though, that once Myles discovered what she had withheld that he wouldn't shut her out. She nervously shifted, very aware she was withholding a secret that could ruin everything.