Junie reached out and patted her on the head.“You’ve always handled trouble just fine.I’m looking forward to watching.”
Hell, Junie was no real help at all.
51
Kameron was waitingin the kitchen when Jacob made it to his brother’s house Friday after a long day picking up Masterson’s shit.Fucking three story, right there across from the inn.Where all the rich assholes lived.Of course, Kameron wanted to be one of them now.Jacob knew the truth though, Kameron had bought the place as a foreclosure six months ago.His dad had yanked Jacob over there to help fix some of the things that hadn’t been able to wait.
Probably so Kameron could shove it down Jacob’s throat.
His brother got a yellow stone mansion in the best part of town, and Jacob shared a three-bedroom dump with his father.Damned economy made it impossible for him to do anything else.He couldn’t get ahead, no matter what he tried lately.
“What’s this about?”Kameron asked.“I’m on my way to pick up Quinn.Friends of ours are having an engagement party tonight.”
“That Talley girl.Everyone is talking about it.”Not everyone, but his dad had mentioned his boss had left early to go to his cousin’s engagement party.Who the hell had engagement parties, anyway?All the rich, fancy people.
Not people like Jacob.“Damned rich assholes.”
“Don’t be like that.What do you want anyway?”
“Need you to help me figure out a budget again.Lost a big client.”
“I heard.”
Kameron was tying his damned tie.Looking like a damned pansy right there.“You fucking her yet?”
Kameron paused.“Why do you always do this?Quinn deserves respect.Why do you have a problem with her?Has she ever done anything to you?”
“That one’s Quinn?I didn’t even know her name.”Still remembered her twin’s name though.That bitch would get what was coming for her one day.Her kind always did.“Twin’s a bitch.I remember them from school.”
“Kiya isn’t a bitch.Look, I care about Quinn and her sisters.If you can’t talk about them with respect, will you just leave?I told Quinn I’d pick her up at six-thirty.I’ll be over at Dad’s this weekend.We’ll look at your budget then, but to be honest, I don’t know how you’re going to fix this.There aren’t enough businesses in town for you to pick up enough replacements for the Talleys.Unless you can grab Chandler’s now?Maybe up a few of the trash removal clients?”
Hell, Jacob had tried.But word had apparently gotten around about what had happened with him and that bitch at the diner.He’d lost four customers this week because of it.He was afraid there would be more.His business couldn’t support that.“Don’t think that will happen.I lost some more customers.Might even lose more.Don’t know yet.Gonna have to raise the prices.Unless you help me.”
“I can be there this weekend.But tonight is kind of big for me.”
“Going to finally get laid?Lose the big cherry?”
Kameron’s face tightened.Jacob just hated when he looked at him like that.Like everything was going great in Kameron’s world.And it sucked ass in Jacob’s.
“Look, like I said last weekend, I’m not going to fight with you again.Nor am I going to let you constantly insult a woman I care a great deal about.Why should I give up my time to help you when you don’t appreciate it?When you barely even say thanks?”
“That how you feel?”Jacob shifted to meet his brother head on.“I’m going to lose my fucking business and all you care about is that stupid girl?She’s not even all that hot.Can’t Perfect Kameron do better?Since you got all that money now?”
Kameron grabbed him by the shirt.And yanked him.There was actual anger in Kameron’s eyes.“Out.And don’t bother coming back.Figure out how to solve your own problems.I’m done trying to help you clean up your mess.You’re disgusting.Because you choose to be.Just go.”
Jacob shoved his brother so hard Kameron almost went down.But then he came back up.
Swinging.
Jacob took one to the face before he could get away.
“Get out.”
Hell, Jacob didn’t need this tonight.
52
Six little girlTyler sisters in pretty dresses purchased from the thrift store now ran almost exclusively by one Em Tyler—even Maeya had frills and lace and was too adorable for words—and three big girl Tyler sisters were all lined up and ready to go when six o’clock rolled around on Friday night.
