Instantly protective, I had to ask. “Does Grady know?”
“Of course. It took more than ten years to find a man who set my heart on fire, and I pushed away a lot of people. I’m happy Grady pushed back.”
I looked at Grady, who sat with his friends, his face light and filled with joy. So different from when we first met. “He is persistent, I’ll give him that.”
“I know. Because when he wants something, nothing and no one will stop him.”
I grinned. “And he wanted you.”
Her gaze found me, and there was nothing but tenderness and compassion. “You as well. He’ll never give up loving you.”
I ducked my head. “I know I make it hard. Sometimes I can’t help the anger.”
She put her arm around me. “Jack was an important part of my life. My past. Grady is my future, and I know everything about him, the ugly and the beautiful. Like he knows about me. And it only makes me love him more.”
I shouldn’t have been surprised, yet I was. Maybe because I still believed if people knew my truth, they’d walk away.
She gave me a comforting squeeze. “Sometimes we don’t take people’s inherent goodness into account. We’re busy looking for the negative instead of concentrating on the positive.” I remained silent, and she shocked me by pressing a kiss to my cheek. “Try it.”
I watched her walk away and join Grady, who whispered something in her ear and kissed her. I was genuinely happy for my brother. He deserved love. I’d had mine and didn’t expect another. I could live my life, content with memories.
Another burst of laughter rose from the group of Grady’s friends. Deciding I’d had enough of the cutesy coupledom, I grabbed another beer and took off down a path toward the woods. I didn’t mind being alone. I’d spent my whole childhood living in my head.
The clear night sky spread out above me, a velvet tapestry for the sparkle of stars not often visible in the city. I picked out Orion’s Belt and snapped a few pictures. It would make a cool tattoo. I leaned against the rough bark of a towering tree and breathed deeply of the cool night air infused with the scent of pine and fresh earth.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?”
Bailey stood off to the side, eyes watchful and wary.
“Yeah. Not something we see every day in the city, for damn sure.” I took a hit from my beer bottle.
“Grady called for dinner. I thought you might want to come inside.”
“Thanks.”
He stared at me and opened his mouth, then shut it, shook his head, and walked away. I caught up to him and blocked his path.
“What? You act like you have something you want to say to me.”
His eyes flashed. “Why would I?”
Dammit, he was the most frustrating, annoying man I’d ever met. “Stop lawyer-speaking me.”
“What the hell does that even mean?”
Bailey stomped through the crackling leaves, and I strode after him. Everyone had left the backyard area, and through the windows I saw them gathering in the kitchen. I brushed past Bailey and mounted the steps, entering the kitchen to some delicious smells.
“There you are,” Grady called out. “Grab a plate and serve yourself. Lauren made lasagna, meatballs, and eggplant cutlets. There’s salad over there and garlic bread.”
“Beauty, brains, and she cooks? Damn, bro, you hit the jackpot.”
“Keston, that’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.” Lauren kissed my cheek.
“Probably the nicest thing he’s ever said to anyone,” Bailey muttered under his breath.
“Screw you,” I mumbled.
“You had your chance and blew it,” he sniped back.
