I have a hunch that here comes the interrogation.
April narrowed her eyes and looked him over. “So. You’re festival security? Can you tell me what happened today? Rumor is my cousin was almost flattened.”
How best to handle this. “Flattened is a bit of an exaggeration. I wasn’t there, so I’ll leave the details up to whatever Brianna wishes to share. But I will tell you this. From what I heard, she acted quickly and bravely and she has the admiration of Rachael Collins.”
April gave him an accessing nod that was almost identical to Brianna’s. Brock recognized a tactic shift when he saw one and braced. “She didn’t mention that when I texted. Bri’s pretty private. She hasn’t mentioned you, either. How long have you known my little cousin?”
“We had the pleasure of meeting on Sunday.”
“And she’s introducing you to the family today.”
“Yes, and I’m happy to meet you all.” He lifted his chin toward Kevin, who was now getting a talking-to from Brianna. “Your son is a funny kid.”
Her expression softened a little. “Thanks. I love the snot out of him, but I should’ve named him Dennis the Menace.” She shook her head slightly as she blew out a breath. “It’s a family trait on the other branch but it jumped to this one, I guess.”
Brock tilted his head. “Family trait?”
April’s eyes widened slightly. “Have you met…anyof us?”
Uh-oh. “No, I haven’t met her parents, if that’s what you’re asking. Brianna wanted to start with the coffee shop.”
“Justher parents?” There was that little nod again, then April smiled. “Okay, well, good. Nice talking to you.”
She turned but Brock wasn’t done. “April, what are you saying exactly?”
Her shoulders slumped as she turned back. She opened her mouth but all that came out was a breathyaahhhas her eyes shifted back and forth. She snapped her mouth shut. “I…” she shook her head. “I shouldn’t talk. I talk too much.”
“April, please. You started to say something for a reason. What is it?”
April pursed her lips. “You don’t give up, do you?”
Brock grinned. “It’s why they call me Badger.”
She crossed her arms and clucked her tongue. “Of course they do. No wonder Bri…” She glanced back at her cousin. “Okay, here’s the deal.” She shook her head again and lowered her voice. “Can’t believe I’m telling you this.”
“It’s my winning personality.”
April snorted but fought back a grin and stepped closer to him. “I’m telling you this for Bri’s sake because apparently, she hasn’t.” She huffed out a breath. “Brianna is a twin.”
Wait, what?Brock’s heart stuttered. Maybe he’d misread her and they weren’t as close as he thought if she’d failed to tell him somethingthatimportant.
“Mmm-hmm. I can see she hasn’t told you.” April held up a hand. “Before you go getting your man-panties in a twist, don’t be mad at her for not saying anything. They’re estranged. She and Brian don’t have that typical twin bond everyone is so fond of talking about. They couldn’t be more opposite.”
So, Brianna has a twin brother she doesn’t get along with.“Opposite how?”
“Well, Brian didn’t fall far from the family tree, while Brianna rolled away as fast as she could, right to our branch.” April shifted her crossed arms into more of a self-protective stance than an angry one. “I love her like a precious little sister. And don’t get me wrong, I’m fond of my aunt and uncle too. They’re sweet people at heart and Brianna gets that directly from them. They just haven’t always been on the right side of the law and Brian getsthatpart from them.” They both glanced up at Brianna, who was now gesturing and shaking her head at Kevin, engrossed in correcting him.
Brock lowered his voice anyway. “Well, what kind of wrong side of the law are we talking about?” he asked, hoping to get April’s take on Brianna’s parents. “I mean, there’s a broad spectrum between jaywalking and murdering someone.”
“Oh, God, no, they’ve never killed anyone.” April blinked rapidly. “Okay, well, at least my aunt and uncle haven’t.” She raised her hand again. “Joking. Exaggerating. Brian’s never killed anyone. Gotten into plenty of fights, mostly because of his big mouth, but never seriously hurt or killed anyone. Though if he keeps it up, he might break my peace-loving aunt and uncle’s hearts.”
“Peace-loving?”
“Oh, yeah. So, my dad and Bri’s mom were raised on an honest-to-God hippie commune,notjoking. My grandparents were totally into that scene and had no problem raising their kids with peace, love, and happiness…and drugs. Lots of pot smoking and acid dropping there on the compound from what Dad’s told me.”
“Wow, so Brianna’s mom was a hippie chick.”
“Still is.Mydad, not so much.” She gestured around at the shop. “He traded weed for caffeine a long time ago and bought this place from the original owners about twenty years back. But my Aunt Luna’s a grower and my Uncle Brian—also raised in the commune—was a dealer. Small-time, and mostly under the radar, though my dad had to bail them both out of jail more than a few times for that and other things. Brianna and Brian ended up living with us off and on growing up.”
