Logan. I recognize his little brown boots and now his sweet voice.
“Sorry, buddy. No, I’m not sick. I guess I just slept in a little late,” I hear Jasper say. “What are you doing here?”
“Mommy dropped me off. Kelly said I could hang out with her today!” He sounds excited, but my heart sinks for him, knowing if his mother dropped him off, she either had an extra shift to work or their father isn’t doing so well. Maybe both.
I thought Jasper was just an asshole, but after hearing his story and what he’s been through, I don’t think he was mean enough to me. Seeing me pull up in a brand-new car, with expensive shoes that were just going to get ruined, while he’s saving every bit of his money to help his family—yeah, he probably should have punched me right in the face.
“Okay, buddy. Why don’t you go back to the house? I’ll meet you there after I brush my teeth.”
“Okay. But I want to race you to the house. I got really fast!”
I smile, and I swear I can feel Jasper doing the same. “Well, how about you meet me down in the barn, so I know it’s fair. I gotta get my shoes on. You don’t expect me to race without them, do you?” he teases, and my heart kicks a little, hearing how good he is with his little brother.
Logan giggles. “’Kay!” I hear him shuffle toward the door before it opens and then clicks shut, and I slowly climb up off the floor, groaning as I do.
“Holy shit. I’m sorry. I didn’t think,” he says, scrambling to the edge of the bed, his hand catching my arm and helping me up. I look at him, noticing his hair is all mussed from my hands and sleep. The sheet is pooled at his waist, showing off that deep V and cut abs.
“You’re forgiven.”
He grins and leans forward, kissing me hard. “We have to get going. Logan is waiting.”
My expression darkens. “You think your parents are okay?”
He stands up, giving me a nice view of his firm ass and strides into the bathroom to grab his toothbrush, running it under the water. “Yeah. My mom probably got an extra shift. I wish I could help her more.” He scrubs his teeth, and I have no doubt he helps her as much as he can, but I don’t say anything.
It won’t help. Especially coming from a spoiled, rich kid like me.
“Anything I can do?” I ask, walking over to him, just as he rinses his toothbrush out and puts it back in its holder.
I grab his toothbrush and apply more toothpaste before scrubbing my own teeth. He doesn’t even blink, which I like because hello, we had each other’s dicks in our mouths last night, so I think we can share a toothbrush. “Nope,” he says and tugs on a pair of jeans. “Well...”
He turns to face me, and I spit toothpaste out and wipe my mouth. “Anything.”
He walks closer to me and kisses me hard on the mouth. “Maybe we could make today fun for Logan. He kind of missed out on that side of my dad, you know?”
“What do you mean?” I ask, rinsing his toothbrush and putting it back before I reach for his hips and hold onto him.
“My dad got hurt when my mom was still pregnant with Logan. So he never really got to see the fun side. He’s only ever known my dad in constant pain.”
The sad reality hits me, and I nod my head knowingly. “Then we’ll make today the most fun we can. As much fun as shoveling shit can be.”
He chuckles. “Wait five minutes and then come through the back door for breakfast. I’ll get Logan up to the house.”
I nod at his direction and then do what he says after we both get dressed. I wait on his bed and listen for him to count off to Logan for their race up to the house before I make my way up there too.
I’m greeted by Kelly, John, Millie, Logan, and Jasper when I walk in through the door leading into the kitchen, making up some excuse about having gotten up early to do some chores before breakfast.
Kelly and John seem pleased with that, and Jasper just snorts as he cuts up a pancake for his little brother and ruffles his hair before looking into his face with so much love, it’s like a gut punch.
I gotta say, I’m a little concerned I’m falling for the enemy here.
EIGHTEEN
“No. Not like that,” I hear my little brother say, and I laugh softly, watching him try to instruct Emerson how to milk the goat.
Emerson looks nervous as hell, where my brother looks as calm as can be, directing Emerson patiently.
I can’t believe we were almost busted this morning or that I shoved Emerson so harshly off the bed like that—though he didn’t seem too bothered. I’m not sure what I would have done if Logan had found us in bed together.
