“I’ll send someone to help you with that,” I said. “And moving the furniture.”
“You will not,” Sunny said, stabbing my chest with a surprisingly sharp finger. “We are fully capable and you have your hands full.”
“Argue all the fuck you want,” I said to Sunny, “but you have one functional arm and I’m—what the hell are you doing now?”
My brother paced away, unzipped his trousers, and pissed on the side of the café. We watched, speechless, as he shook off his dick and shoved it back into his pants. He did not bother to zip up.
“I’m sure Sunny would agree with me,” Meara said, “when I say we would not object to someone who is neither of us coming out here to power wash and disinfect the exterior wall. Now that it has been so thoroughly marked with human fluids.”
I unlocked my car and pointed toward it, saying to Dex, “Get your ass in there now or I’m letting Mel and Wooten tie you up with bungee cords.”
“Already got them.” I shifted to find Parker jogging toward us, an assortment of cords in one hand and zip ties in the other. As if sensing we needed some explanation, he added, “Woot uses this stuff on the boats.”
“I’m happy to hear those aren’t things your chef keeps on hand,” Meara said.
“I know I’m obnoxious when I’m drunk and high, but at least I’m nice about it. All these people around here, they think you’re something special, Dex. Like you’re some kind of big deal. But your behavior is complete horseshit,” Parker said. “Come on. You’re done here.”
“I’m sorry, but when did your balls drop?” Dex replied.
Parker set his hands on his hips and blew out a breath. “I’m a nonviolent guy, but I’ve never wanted to break someone’s nose more than I do right now.”
“Go ahead, I’ll hold him for you,” Meara said.
As if sensing he’d run out every shred of his welcome, my brother slunk off toward the car and dived headfirst into the back seat, leaving the lower half of his legs hanging out the open door.
I reached for Sunny but she didn’t move any closer. As if I could blame her. “I’ll pick you up later,” I said.
Sunny shook her head and Meara jumped in, saying, “I’m driving you home tonight, babe.”
No room for discussion there.
“I’m sorry about all of this,” I said. “About everything.”
“I know.” Sunny nodded. She gave me a tight smile and I would’ve preferred a knife through the heart. “We’ll talk later.”
“Beck,” Parker called. “I could use a hand over here.”
“Go,” Sunny said when I didn’t move. “Everything is fine. I promise. Do what you need to do.”
I backed away, not ready to take my eyes off her. I felt like I was making an irreversible choice right now, stepping over lines I wouldn’t be able to revisit once I crossed them.
“Seriously, Beck,” Parker called.
I rolled my eyes, muttering, “Fuck” to no one in particular.
“Don’t forget about that power washing,” Meara shouted. “Kind of a big deal.”
When I reached the car, Parker slammed the back door shut, saying, “I’ve never hit anyone, but I want to beat his ass to a pulp.”
“Believe me, I know.”
The drive back to my parents’ house was short in distance and excruciatingly long in the amount of grumbly noise spewing out of my brother’s mouth. I barely survived a thirty-second call with Rainey to get him back over to Naked. Every few minutes, Parker and I would exchange a glance and shake our heads, mouthingwe should’ve used the zip tiesandwhat the fuck?as if an answer existed.
As I pulled up and climbed out of the car, Dex said, “If you think I’m staying here, you’re out of your damn mind.”
“Then why the fuck did you come here?” I roared, reaching and flying far past the end of my rope in that moment. “If you’re not staying, why are you here, Decker?”
“I could ask you the same thing,” he shouted, slamming his door so hard the SUV rocked.
