“Text me next time you’re there to see them play. I’ll make sure you get a chance to meet them. Dale tries to make time to meet everyone, but it can be hard sometimes.”
“That would be so awesome. I’ll make sure you have my number by the end of the weekend.”
I glance over my shoulder at Pierce and see a scowl across his face. He doesn’t seem happy his little brother likes me. Well, he likes my job, but still. I’ll take a win however I get it.
“So, I hear you do actually use your phone.” Pierce says to someone behind me.
It’s Paula, I know it is. As wild as it sounds, I could feel her presence as soon as she came into the room.
“I don’t know who told you that. I despise that thing.” She’s grinning when I turn toward her. Making jokes is how she tries to change the subject, and I hate she has do it with her own family.
“Tristan said he saved it after knocking it out of your hands at the bar.” He glances between us to see if I lied. “I didn’t think it worked seeing as how you never answer when I call.”
“That’s because I don’t answer people I don’t want to talk to.”
“Well, thanks for that.”
Phillip looks between the three of us. “You answer me.”
“Not helping,” she mutters.
“Are you kidding me?” Pierce stands. “Am I the only sibling you won’t respond to?”
She shrugs. “I don’t answer for Peter most of the time either.”
“That’s just great.” He throws his hands in the airand comes around the couch. “You need to grow up and take on your family responsibilities.”
“And that right there is why I don’t answer your calls.” She points her finger at him. “It’s never a call to see how I’m doing or what I’ve been up to. It’s always when are you going to stop fucking around and work at the winery.”
“It’s your du?—”
Before he has a chance to finish, she rushes past me and her brothers. The door opens and slams behind her.
My first instinct is to follow after her. Instead, I turn toward Pierce. “I don’t know what your problem is, and I clearly don’t know your family dynamic, but that doesn’t give you the right to order her around or tell her what to do. She is your sister, and a whole ass human being. You won’t speak to her like that again.”
Without giving him a chance to respond, I rush to the room and grab a jacket before hauling ass out the front door. Paula and I may not be a real couple, but I’ll be damned if her family goes out of her way to make her feel like shit.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
paula
It didn’t even takea full twenty-four hours for my brother to lay into me. How did an innocent conversation take such a hard left turn?
Pierce didn’t say anything after Tristan said how we met, which he did perfectly. I was listening from the hallway. Creepy? Maybe. Do I care? No.
I thought all crappy comments from my older brother would be held back after Phillip geeked out over Tristan working for Crooked Halo. But no. He waited until I came into the room to lay into me. The only thing I did was walk into the room.
The sand shifts beneath my feet, and slips into my shoes as I stomp across the beach. It’s not giving me the angry satisfaction I so desperately want. The sand is too soft to get that frustrated sound I’m looking for.
I’m not sure how far I am from the house. I didn’t think when I stormed out. The only thing fueling me was the need to get out of there and away from Pierce.Loathing bubbles up to the surface. He always has to do something other than make my life hell. Even growing up, he would do whatever he could to catch me doing something I wasn’t supposed to all to get me in trouble. Never the other siblings. Just me.
Honestly, it feels like he’s had it out for me since day one. Siblings are supposed to get along, not make each other feel like shit. I’ve watched the relationship between Kai and Kate. While they bicker, it’s all in good fun. They don’t go out of their way to intentionally make the other feel like crap. I have that with most of brothers and sister. The only ones I’ve never meshed well with are Pierce and Peter. As much as I’d like to change that, I’m not sure it ever will.
If I don’t focus on something else, I’ll end up packing my bags and leaving. Even though I didn’t want to be here to begin with, I don’t want to leave in anger.
The beach is secluded. Not a single person as far as I can see. Probably because they are smart. It’s cooler by the water than I thought it would be. That’s what I get for acting out of frustration, but being cold out here is better than fighting with my brother.
Breathe, Paula. Breathe.
