“Let’s get some things clear. We are aware this news wasn’t handled well, but that is the last time you talk shit. You’re hurting Pen. Yourfriend.”
“August.” Pen tugs my hand. “It’s okay.”
I keep my glare on my sisters. “No, Pen. It isn’t.”
June has the grace to look away, her cheeks coloring with guilt. May, however, grits her teeth and attempts to take control. “Listen, buddy, you—”
“No, you listen. Who paid your way to LA?”
She blinks in confused surprise. “Jan did. Because he—”
“Your brother paid your way. Not you.”
“Because he’s ourbrother.”
“Yeah, and Pen’s family. She’s been with us our whole lives, so if I offer to help her out with whatever I choose, don’t you dare suggest she’s taking advantage.”
Pen groans and thumps her head against my arm. “They didn’t really suggest that.”
“Oh, yes they did. I could see it in your face. And it hurt you.”
She lifts her head then and gives me the beady eye. “When I texted to get your butt here, it was to figure out what to tell them, not for you to go charging in and yell at them on my behalf.”
My ire bursts like a stuck balloon. Shit. I’ve been managing her. The dark look she sends me makes it clear she knows I’ve just realized this. “I made it worse, didn’t I?”
A glint lights her eyes. “I wouldn’t go that far. They were being kind of snide.”
“Hey!”
Pen ignores May. “Just don’t go all QB mode on me and start barking out commands like you’re the only one in charge.” Her smile becomes sly but somehow brilliant like she’s turned on a light inside her. “We can tell them off together.”
For a second, I swear my knees go a little weak. May andJune are scoffing, and we’ll get to them in a second. Right now, it’s all I can do not to pull her close and kiss the hell out of that smiling mouth. She solidified us as a team. I’ll follow her anywhere she wants to go. She has to know that.
“I told you before, I don’t like when someone hurts you. Even though I know you can handle it yourself, I’ll probably blunder in without thinking.”
“I know.” Pink flushes across her nose. “It’s sweet. ‘A bull trampling through a daisy field’ sweet. But still.”
Her smile is all cheek now.
Unable to help myself, I step closer. “Again with the sweet...”
“Pen,” June says starkly, cutting through our moment. “I’m so sorry it came off so insulting. Honestly.”
May hugs her knees and looks at Pen earnestly. “Me too. I was just upset and hurt that you hadn’t told us anything.”
“I know.” Our linked hands are sweaty now, nerves and temper making us both overheated. But she hasn’t tried to pull away. I ease a shade closer, using my body to steady her.
“Look,” June says, in the tense silence. “I don’t care about the money! That’s your business. But something is going on. And don’t you dare try to sell us on it being private or whatever. You two got engaged out of the blue! We deserve an answer!”
May nods as if to punctuate the demand.
With a sigh, I let go of Pen’s hand in favor of wrapping an arm around her shoulders and giving her a slight squeeze of solidarity. “All right. It’s like this.”
I tell the truth, not sparing myself for adding how I begged Pen to help me. At this, she attempts to protest. But I shake my head. “I begged,” I say with a wry smile, then look at my gaping sisters. “And I all but pushed the money on her.”
“It’s just a temporary thing,” Pen says tightly. “I’m going to find a way to pay for this house on my own.”
“You totally will,” June says with feeling. “You’re very smart.”
