Maverick tucked his hands behind his head and laid back on the floor. “You guys are better than me. I resent the crud out of him.”
“Can you blame him for wanting to be with his wife in his final years?” Emmitt asked. “After being separated from her for over twelve, no less?”
Maverick let out atsk.“Yes, I can blame him. It made us lose everything we had clear down to our identity.”
“We didn’t lose our money and we didn’t lose each other,” Memphis pointed out.
“Life’s not perfect here or anything,” Emmitt admitted, “but we’re finally acting like a family for once. Andie and Richard are glad about it too.”
“Ofcoursethey are,” Maverick quipped. “Andie’s a newlywed and Richard’s about to marry the womanIwanted.”
Memphis couldn’t help but feel for the guy. He’d definitely taken the brunt of things since they arrived. “Do you still have feelings for Ava?” he asked, a dart of pain for his brother sinking into his heart.
But Maverick only shook his head. “I’m over her. But if her scumbag abusive ex ever comes looking for her, I’ll wring his neck until he takes his last breath.”
The heat in his glare sent a chill up the back of Memphis’s neck. “I think we can all say we feel the same way.” It wasn’t often that Memphis entertained that idea, and for good reason too. If Wren ever showed up at The Homestead Inn, the results could be catastrophic. Not one of the Duran men would give Ava up without risking his own life to save her. And hadn’t their family endured enough loss and heartache over the years? The last thing they needed was another family tragedy.
“Shiz got heavy in here,” Emmitt said, resuming his game of toss with the tool in his hand.
“Yeah,” Memphis said, the list of intense topics leaving their mark on his emotions. He forced it back to his altered plans for the night, realizing he should probably get showered up before he headed out.
“Well, guys,” he said as he came to a stand. “Thanks for helping me put the bed together. I’ve got a hot date tonight.” It was then he remembered what he planned to do during dinner. Memphis would finally get to tell Ty about the details from his past. Luckily, the family’s secrets hadn’t gotten in the way of their relationship. But it had kept Memphis from feeling like his one hundred percent self.
It was crazy to think back on the day he first met Ty. The frustration he’d had about living in his brother’s shadow. Memphis had been convinced that he’d play second fiddle to Maverick and Emmitt both until they’d found women of their own. And who knew how long that would take with as reluctant as they were to commit.
“Have fun tonight,” Maverick said as he grunted to a stand beside him.
“Yeah, and if you two ever want to double,” Emmitt said as they moved to exit the suite, “maybe you can set me up with Ty’s friend, Margo. The one who came to the Halloween party.”
Maverick threw his hands in the air. “Iwas going to say that.”
Memphis lifted his brows at Emmitt, dismissing Maverick’s absurd claim altogether. “Okay,” he said. “I’ll mention it to Ty. First, I’ll be watching Lucas for a few hours before our date.”
“Ick,” Maverick said. “Good luck. I mean, he’s a cute kid and all, but…”
Memphis gave his shoulder a shove. “I feel sorry for you, you know that?”
“You should,” Maverick said.
“Don’t worry, Mav,” Emmitt added. “I feel sorry for you too. We all do.”
And as Memphis raced through the open doorway, leaving his brothers in his wake, Maverick’s reply came echoing down the hall. “What doesthatmean?”
