Cash snorts. “We both know Levi was never going to do it. You were looking for a distraction from missing your friends in Aspen Cove. I know you loved it there.”
“I’ll learn to love it here too. My brothers are here, so I’m here. There’s nothing to be sad about.”
Cash pats my shoulder. “It’s okay to be sad, Deac.”
“Don’t try to psychoanalyze me, man. I’m fine.”
He shakes his head. “Whatever. Let’s get lunch.”
“I can’t believe you didn’t tell me you’re in therapy.”
He just gives me a look over his shoulder as he pushes the door open, and he doesn’t need words for me to get the message.
He thought if he told me, I’d give him shit. And I am fully capable of admitting that makes me sad.
***
I’m taking a break on the back porch when I see the text. I don’t know how I missed it, but it’s been sitting there, unread, for over two hours.
I swipe to read it so fast that I hit the wrong text thread and am staring at a two-day-old text from Cash. Taking a deep breath, I chill out, and open the text from Amelia.
Amelia:Turns out I’m free tonight. Think you could swing by and start working on the cat gym?
I’m at the point in the day, late afternoon, where I’ve finished one project and have yet to start on another. It’s not ideal, since we’re in a hurry to get the work done, but it’s also not the end of the world if I have to come in on a Sunday to finish up.
I’m the last guy on any job, as the finish carpenter, and Sebastian is always riding me to hurry up and get it done. But nothing is going as it should in this new town yet or on this particular job. Ryland’s still working on the tiling in the bathroom reno, and Seb’s repairing a hole in the drywall in the home gym. Cash is taking measurements for the furniture he’s going to suggest for the interior design portion of the job.
And I’m fully willing to put up with any amount of shit from Sebastian to get to see Amelia tonight.
In fact… I look around and see no one in sight. I hop over the porch railing and round the house, keeping low so no one will see me through the windows.
I’m not being a chicken. I just don’t want to have to deal with the drama.
“Where the hell are you going?”
I freeze in place, just in case they aren’t talking to me.
“I told him about Mom,” Cash says. “He’s running away.”
I look up to see Cash leaning over the front porch railing and staring down at me with the smuggest fucking expression on his face.
“Why the hell’d you tell him about Mom?” Sebastian joins Cash at the railing, scowling.
“Mom’s going to be okay, Deac,” Ryland says as he steps up next to Sebastian. “It’s just harder for her to get around.”
“The pain’s pretty bad,” Cash says.
“What the hell?” Sebastian shoves Cash. “You’re making it worse.”
“They’re trying new meds,” Cash says, shoving Seb back, even as he keeps his voice calm and steady like I’m a child on the edge of a cliff. “And they’ll keep trying meds until they find something that works for her. She’s going to be okay.”
I’m beginning to feel guilty that I’m not running away because I’m distraught about our mother. I mean, I am upset. I’ve had a twist in my gut since lunch that I don’t think had anything to do with my ham sandwich. But I also know she’ll be okay, especially once we get her here in town with us.
“I’m not running away because of Mom.” I straighten from my crouch to glare up at my brothers. “I’ve got a side job I want to start on.”
“Like hell you do,” Sebastian says. “Sullivans don’t take side jobs.”
Shit. I forgot all about Sebastian’s stupid rule. “It’s just a cat gym. It’s not even a side job. It’s a favor. I’m just helping out a friend.”
