“What does that mean?”
“Well—um—I’m hanging with Mom.”
Tyler visits in the summertime, but never for more than a couple of weeks.
“Did you lose your job?”I say in a panicked rush.Great.Friggin’ great.Both Morgan kids can’t screw up their futures.It’ll crush Mom.
“Relax.I didn’t lose my job.Just needed a break from Boulder.”
Tyler loves Boulder.“Okaaay.What’s your plan?”
“Well, I was thinking I could come back out there for a bit.I’m bored in Carson.Mom’s new place is nice, but it’s too flat here.Nothing to do.My buddy in the Keys wants to show me new bike trails.I could crash with him, but he’s got a girlfriend, and… you know.”
“Crowded.”
“Right, so what do you think?Can I camp in your loft?I’ll stay out of your hair.Promise.”
“Stay for as long as you like.You don’t have to pretend to be invisible.I like having you around—but don’t tell anyone I said that.”
He laughs.“Your secret is safe with me.But you might change your tune if I see any guys sniffing around your place.I’m still your big brother.”
And he’s friends with Jaeger.That could get complicated.What would Tyler think of us, and whatever it is we’re doing?“I’m twenty-one, Tyler.You can lock the big brother protective crap away.I’m not a virgin.”
He lets out a deep breath.“I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that.And you can tell Gen I’ve got my eye out for her too.Any guys entering the abode will have to pass the Tyler Detector.”
“This should be fun,” I say flatly.
“I knew you’d agree.”
Jaeger picksme up right on time and he cometh bearing gifts.
“How did you know I like lattes?”
He smiles from the driver’s seat.“Green olives I deduced.The latte was a lucky guess.”
“You have good taste.”
This time I get the full effect of his gaze.“Yes, I do.”
My face grows warm and I peer out the window, hiding the flush I know is there.Being strawberry blond doesn’t exempt me from everything that comes with being a redhead.But at least I narrowly missed freckles.
“So what are we doing?”We’ve passed Stateline.Wherever we’re going it isn’t in town.
“I’m taking you to my house.I’d like to show you what I do.”
We talked a little about ourselves last night, but showing is always better.I have a good idea of what he does for a living—I’ve seen the woodcarvings by local artisans littering the side of Highway 89 my entire life—but if he wants to show me, I’m game.
A few minutes later, Jaeger pulls into a long gravel driveway, tall pines towering majestically along the sides.A clearing at the end opens to a house next to a square building with a similar pitched roof.Beyond the two structures, the lake peeks through more pines.Most people with this real estate would have clear-cut and widened the view of the lake, but the owner has kept it fairly natural.
It’s a nice house.Really nice.I didn’t think Jaeger lived with his parents, but I figured he rented an apartment like Mason.How much does a bear carver actually earn?
Jaeger steps out of the truck and walks around the front, closing the passenger door behind me.“Let’s take a look inside first.I’ve got lunch ready.”He moves toward the house.
What is happening?Lattes and green olives, the home-delivered meals—that’s all A-game material.
Is hewooingme?
My memories of early dating rituals are hazy.Eric didn’t make much of an effort in that department.Both Gen and Jaeger have denied there’s anything between them, so that’s no longer a barrier.Jaeger is Tyler’s friend, and I will for sure receive shit for that, but I can deal with my brother.Eric and I are history, and I’ve mostly recovered from being dumped.By all accounts, I should be jumping all over Jaeger with my normal abandon, yet something still holds me back.
