“Wrong,” he shot back, blue eyes blazing. “It was part of my financial-aid package that I work. And I never left home because I didn’t want my father to be alone. So Brenner was right. I was kissing boys long before my high school prom.”
Since Lauren was first with the wrong answer, she went next, and I grew more and more uncomfortable, knowing my turn would come soon. Thunder rumbled, and through the large picture window, a bright flash of lightning lit up the sky. At a particularly loudboom, we all jumped, and the lights flickered.
“Maybe we’d better call it a night.” Grady put an arm around Lauren’s shoulders. “I’ll put the food away, and we’ll see everyone in the morning for breakfast. There are some apple orchards up here and country stores in the surrounding towns we thought might be fun to visit.”
“I’ll help you,” I was quick to offer and started collecting plates from the tables.
“We’ll all do it so it’ll go faster,” Manny said, picking up his glass, but Lauren snatched it out of his hands.
“No, you’re guests.” Lauren shooed everyone away.
“And you’re the bride-to-be,” I pointed out. “So go upstairs and get ready for Grady.” I snickered as they both turned red. She kissed my cheek, a mysterious smile hovering on her lips.
“I put your bag in the bedroom at the end of the hall. For privacy.”
Grady and I worked side by side. “Thanks for being here. I know it’s not your kind of thing, but I appreciate you showing up for me.”
“Yeah, of course. You’re my family. That’s what we do for each other.”
He put a hand on my arm. “I miss Carlos too. I owe him more than I could ever repay. He gave me back my brother.”
The first time Grady had contacted me with the shocking news that he was my brother, I’d ignored him for several months. Angry and hurt, I’d invented a whole scenario in my head that I’d been the unwanted one and he’d lived a charmed life. From the start, I’d told Carlos that someone had contacted me, claiming to be my brother, and he’d urged me to see Grady, but I’d been a stubborn ass with a chip on my shoulder. It’d come to a head one day when Grady had shown up at the tattoo shop and demanded we talk it out. Carlos had taken me aside and insisted I listen to Grady. Pretty sure without Carlos’s intervention, I would’ve continued to push Grady away.
Shocking tears burned my eyes, and I couldn’t trust my voice to answer. Grady, though, wasn’t finished.
“But it’s been almost five years.”
“Yeah? And?” I finished loading the dishwasher and started putting the trays of food in the refrigerator.
“And there’s nothing wrong with finding someone. Falling in love again.”
A harsh laugh burst from me. “Love? Where the hell is that coming from?” I shoved the last tray of pasta onto the shelf and slammed the door.
Grady stepped into my path of escape. “I told you this before—from the way you look at Bailey.”
I so did not want to have this conversation, considering I was more than a little confused myself about my feelings.
I shrugged. “All I know is, the guy annoys the shit out of me half the time.”
Grady’s eyes twinkled. “And what about the other fifty percent?”
I could feel my face turn red. “Has anyone ever told you how much of a pain in the ass you are?”
“Yeah. You. All the time. Give yourself a chance to get to know him. You might be surprised at what you find.”
Only with Grady could I talk so openly. “I-I did. Last weekend I showed up at his place, but he had someone else in his apartment. So did you ever think I might’ve been willing, but he was the one who wasn’t?” I scanned the cleared kitchen island. “I think we’re finished. I’m gonna head up to bed.”
“I’m right behind you.”
We separated at the top of the stairs. “Try not to be too loud.” I smirked, and Grady punched me in the shoulder.
“Ass.” He laughed, and I walked away with a smile on my face.
I opened the last door at the end of the hallway, and my good mood vanished seeing Bailey standing there, stark naked. “What the fuck?” I snapped as he turned away, which didn’t help, as I got an eyeful of his firm ass.
“What’re you doing in my room?” he snapped, jumping into the king-sized bed.
“Lauren said this was my room. Forget it. I’ll sleep on the couch downstairs.”
