“You want to be my brother now?”
Brad nodded. “Sure, but don’t try beating up on me, that shit doesn’t work anymore.”
Ethan flashed his teeth in a smile.
“Can I ask what the deal with you and Macy is now that we're okay?”
“No deal.”
Ethan snorted.
“Come on, the sparks between you two are epic.”
They were, Brad realized, but like Macy had said when they were sitting in the trunk of that tree, both of them were too messed up to even think about turning those sparks into something more.
“Macy’s a lovely woman, Ethan, but we both have way too much emotional baggage to be anything but friends.”
“Maybe you could heal each other?”
He gave his brother a look that he hoped shriveled his balls, but he simply smiled. It was very hard to threaten a Texan with just a look.
“Men don’t say shit like that. You should be ashamed of yourself.”
“It’s love, it’s got me thinking in flowers and hearts.”
“Oh now I really am going to puke. Let me out, I need food. All that adrenaline and running for my life has given me an appetite. Plus, I can’t stomach any more of your BS.”
The brothers climbed down, and then Ethan hugged him, holding him tight, and Brad did something he hadn't done in years, if ever. He hugged him back.
“Love you, bro.”
“Oh God, are we doing that already?” Brad said the words around the lump in his throat.
“It's only right.”
“Okay, ditto then.”
“That’ll do.”
They walked together, shoulders bumping, and he saw the look in Macy's eyes as they approached. She was happy, and for that look alone, he was pleased he had taken the step.
“I need to hug you too.”
“Really?” Brad dug his toes in as Willow came at him.
“Inevitable, bud,” Buster said.
They all hugged him, the women, that was. The men slapped his shoulder and pumped his hand or bumped a fist.
“Thanks for looking after our girl here,” Cubby said.
He shot Macy a look. She was tucked under Declan's arm.
“She's strong enough to handle herself.”
He saw her little smile. Maybe now she'd start believing in herself. These people loved her, but they needed to let her be strong too, and he needed to leave soon. Leave and not look back, because Macy Reynolds tapped into something deep inside him. He wanted to protect her, hold her, and take her to bed and never let her leave. If he felt anything else, he wasn't acknowledging it… ever.
Chapter 12
