“We didn’t even get to the girlfriend talk,” Nathan protested. “I wanted to talk about this cute thing Maddie does in her sleep. It’s like a whispery sigh. Gah, it gets me every time I hear it.”
“Pack it up, Will. Liam, we’re out of here.” James shook his head in disgust.
It was taking everything inside me not to giggle like a loon. I never would’ve believed these four tough, blue-collar men would solve this disagreement with baby talk. Where were the swinging fists and threats?
The camera shut off and everyone unclipped their mic packs. Austin elbowed the sound guy, Liam, out of the way, to inspect that all ours were off. Then he stepped up to James and had a whispered conversation I couldn’t hear but still made the hair stand up on my arms.
It was intense andfurious.
“We’ll see about that!” James hollered before stomping out of the room like a three-year-old.
Austin smiled placidly back at him then grandly gestured for them all to leave.
I breathed a sigh of relief once James left.
Austin turned to the table and sighed. “Someone want to tell me what the fuck just happened?”
Chapter 12
Dylan
I sighed. “It might be time to call in any chips we have with the network. He’s getting so controlling and just…weird.”
“You say that like we have any chips.” Austin collapsed into a chair on the other side of the table. “They hold all the cards. James says our ratings are down from the first season since we all got happy and less punchy. We’re on the brink of cancellation as it is.”
“’James says.’ Have you talked to anyone else? I’m sick of him being the authority on our own show.” I shook my head. “And I’m not down for him going after Indy. You heard him—he all but threatened her in front of us.”
“Is there anything he’s going to find if he does a background check?” Nathan asked before sitting down in the chair next to me.
Ryan pulled out the chair at the end of the table, his eyes ping-ponging between us.
Indy sunk down in her chair as her eyes grew large. “I’m nineteen. I don’t even qualify for a credit card,” she pointed out quietly. “What is there to find?”
Austin winced. “We probably should’ve done our own background check before officially hiring her.”
“Fuck you,” I bit out.
Austin reared back. “Seriously? You’re coming after me now too?”
“Like you all don’t have any skeletons in your closets.” I raised my eyebrows as I looked over all my brothers. “If you do a background check on Indy, I think it’s only fair that she gets one on each of you. What do you say? Who’s the first to volunteer?”
“How about you?” Nathan returned placidly.
“I got no problem with that.” I grinned back at my brothers. “Indy and I don’t have any secrets. She knows more about me than you all probably do. Except for Ryan, of course.”
“Kinda weird for you being ‘just friends,’ don’t you think?” Austin returned.
“Just say what you mean,” I sneered.
Nathan sighed. “It’s just hard to believe you two are only friends with the way you’re defending her. How much do you seriously know about each other?”
“Wow.” Indy waved her hands. “You all can see me, right? I’m sitting literally next to you, and you’re talking about me like I’m not even here. If I had a dollar the number of times you all have done this…”
Austin winced. “I’m sorry, Indy. We get a little protective about our little brother sometimes and—”
“Because I’m the fuck-up, right?” I bit out. “This doesn’t have shit to do with her. I’m the one you all can’t trust. You’re still pissed about dad. You didn’t accept my apology last night, and you’re still disappointed that I muled for the Kings back in high school. You’re mad that they blackmailed me a few months back. I am, and always will be, the fuck-up. I got it.” I stood up and yanked my jacket off the back of the chair. “Come on, Indy. We’re leaving.”
She hopped out of her chair and followed me out of the room without a word.
