I nodded. Not here. I wasn’t going to tell him here, with everyone around. I’d wait until we were alone. “What happened to you?” I asked.

“Gina got us down okay but we were a few miles from where you fell out and the prison guards were between you and us. We had to circle around to the village and hope you could make it here.” He looked between Erin and me. “How was it for you two?”

I looked at Erin. “Cold.” Then, to change the subject, “Is there anything to eat?”

“The locals have got some stew on the stove,” said Gabriel. “Should be done by now.” He led the way outside and we all followed. But JD waved for me to hold back for a moment. Erin threw me a look as she left and I nodded. This was a good moment to tell him.

I went to speak but JD got there first. “I wanted to say thanks,” he said. “For getting me out of there. For taking care of Erin.”

I looked at my boots. “You would’ve done the same for me.”

“Sure. But I was an asshole, back home, about Erin.”

I looked up, shocked, my chest filling with hope. He’s going to say it’s okay if I date her!

“I should have known you wouldn’t try to bang her,” said JD. “I mean, she’s my little sister. But…” He sighed. “Y’know, you got a reputation.”

I’d never minded my reputation. It had always been a joke between JD and me that I’d sweet talk every woman we met into bed. But I minded it now. I hadn’t realized I’d been slowly building something that would put Erin off limits to me forever. I suddenly regretted every one of those one-night stands. What if, back when JD and I had first met, I hadn’t been like that? Maybe he would have let me meet Erin back then. Maybe he would have even introduced us deliberately.

JD stepped closer. “I knew I’d never forgive you if you did sleep with her. That’s why I got mad. Because I can’t lose you. I love you, pal.”