Fight, Flight, or Freeze: The Healer's Story
Chapter 51: Big Brother And Best Friend

Chapter 51: Big Brother And Best Friend

I entered the arrivals area and looked around for Cheng Bo Jing, knowing that he was going to be front and center.

For some reason, he was worried that I would try to slip past him, but he was my best friend. There was no way I was going to do something like that.

My eyes scanned all of the people in front of me as I walked down the stairs. Why couldn’t I see him?

A man stepped in front of me, preventing me from going forward. I stared at him, wondering who he was. He had a single lock of black hair curled in front of his bright green eyes that made me want to move it away. His black beard was neatly trimmed, but I could see the hint of a tattoo peaking up from the collar of his dress shirt, almost touching his beard.

He was wearing a black leather jacket, form-fitting jeans, and biker boots. He was every girl’s wet dream. The older man was perfectly put together with the slightest hint of a bad boy hiding deep inside.

Just what I needed. Someone else to make me confused.

"Can I help you?" I asked, raising my eyebrow. Just because I was pretty sure I needed to run to the washroom to change my panties didn’t mean that I wasn’t going to give him a bit of attitude first.

"Ah, Sweetie, has it really been so long since you last saw me? I’m almost hurt," chuckled the man, and I could feel his voice caressing my skin with every word he spoke.

Fuck me.

"Cheng Bo Jing?" I asked, looking him up and down a second time like I couldn’t believe it was him. It had nothing to do with the fact that I wanted to burn this image into my head. Absolutely nothing. "In my defense, the last time I saw you was six years ago, and you were wearing a different outfit."

He chuckled low. It was never easy pulling things over on your best friend.

"Sure," he said with a nod. "I guess I need to start sending you pictures if you are going to forget what I looked like."

"Besides, I don’t think that haircut is regulation," I continued, giving in to the desire to move that stray hair. I didn’t know a guy’s hair could feel so soft.

"Those on our team are... special. We can get away with a lot of things that the others can’t," he explained as he took my bag. I took the last step until I was standing in front of him, looking up. "Come. Let’s get the rest of your luggage. I am sure that you are tired. Should we put in a movie when you get back? Order some food and call it a night?"

The tone of his voice was pure sin, something I had never heard from him before.

I wanted to melt into a puddle at his feet and agree to anything and everything he had said.

But I couldn’t.

"That sounds great," I said cheerfully. "For some reason, traveling always tires me out."

He nodded his head and put his hand on the small of my back and led me toward the luggage belt.

I closed my eyes as we walked, 100% confident that he wouldn’t let anything happen to me. But I had to get my emotions under control. I was his little sister. The one that he comforted when my parents died. The one that got me emancipated so I wouldn’t have to go into foster care. He probably still saw me as that child.

I ruthlessly pressed down on my feelings for him, resolving to look at him only as a big brother. He was 14 years older than me, after all. I didn’t stand a chance in hell....

No. That was wrong. I had Bai Long Qiang. He was the only one I needed. I hated those women who went out and cheated on their boyfriends. I would not become like them.

I was his little sister. And that was enough.

-----

’Fuck’...swallowed Cheng Bo Jing as his hand tightened on the small of Wang Tian Mu’s back.

He had agreed to join Bai Long Qiang’s team because he figured that was the easiest way to keep tabs on Wang Tian Mu. But it was only because he wanted to protect her like a big brother wanted to protect his little sister.

However, what he was feeling right now was not that innocent kind of emotion.

He had to bite his tongue to keep from saying what he really wanted to do. He was there to act as a big brother. That was the only way he could stay by her side.

But fuck him if he didn’t want to be more than that.

His mind went to a dark place, and he couldn’t suppress the smirk that was trying to break out.

No one could guarantee that they would make it back at the end of every mission... and if something should happen to Bai Long Qiang... then it would only make sense that he step up and help the grieving Wang Tian Mu.

But for that to happen, he needed to make sure that he was always the one to come back to her.

He shook his head, trying to stop the plans being made without his consent. She had already lost her family; he wouldn’t let her lose the love of her life, too.

No. He would stay in the shadows, always watching... always protecting.

Grabbing her suitcase, he smiled down at the woman pressed up against his side. She was so small, so tiny, only coming up to his chest. It made him feel strong, powerful.

It was a heady feeling.

"Is this everything?" he asked, keeping his voice soft, the smile on his face gentle. If she knew what he was thinking, she would run in the other direction. That was fine. The little rabbit could run as fast and as far as she wanted to...

It didn’t mean that the big bad wolf couldn’t catch her.

No. Not a wolf. Brother. Big Brother.

Maybe if he repeated it enough times, he would start to believe it.