“Hey, turn this up.” I reached for the radio and cranked the volume up on Tennessee Whiskey and belted out the words along with Chris Stapleton.
Drew smiled at me as I put on my performance and even mouthed the words as I sang. “You are really good,” he said, turning the radio down. “You sure you don’t want to major in music or try your hand at a professional singing career?”
I laughed. “Yeah right. At my weight, a singing career isn’t in the cards.”
“Hey.” Drew looked irritated, and I knew why. “Don’t talk about yourself like that, Nora.”
“I know. I know.” I held up my hand to stave off another big brother lecture. He conceded, and we drove the rest of the way, chatting and listening to music. When we got to the airport, he parked and pulled his phone out to send off a text. His phone chimed almost immediately, and he grinned.
“Let’s go. We’ll meet him at the baggage claim. He said his plane landed five minutes ago, but they are waiting to taxi to the gate.”
“Cool.” I grabbed my purse and hopped down from Drew’s truck and followed behind him through the throng of people.
I tugged on his arm to slow him down. He was walking quickly like a kid about to meet up with his best friend. “My legs aren’t as long as yours, and people don’t move out of my way to let me pass like they do you.”
“Sorry.” He slowed down and pulled me in front of him, matching his speed to mine and making sure I didn’t get knocked around in the throng of people.
“Thanks. You’re the best.” I grinned up at him and let him guide me toward the baggage claim. It was crowded with people holding clever signs as they greeted their friends and loved ones with tears and smiles of joy. Others were just in a hurry as they grabbed their bags off the conveyer belt and headed to pick up their rentals or to find a cab.
“When did you find out he was coming home?”
“About ten minutes before we left home.”
“Strange he didn’t tell anyone, or tell his family.” I muttered. “Is he staying long?”
“No. He’ll go back pretty quick.” Drew was scanning the crowd as a flood of people were heading toward us. I watched as a grin broke out across his face.
I turned to look, expecting to see Liam walking toward us, but to my utter shock, it was Dean.
CHAPTER6
DEAN
Three years. I’ve been gone three fucking years, and seeing her standing next to my brother, wearing my favorite jersey no less, hit me like a ton of bricks. Over the past couple of years, I’d seen her here or there in the background of my video chats with Drew and Dad.
Drew’s grin was huge as he left Nora’s side and headed toward me. “You stayed away too long, asshole.” He pulled me into a tight hug, and I would be lying if I said I didn’t get choked up, seeing and hugging my brother after so long.
“It’s good to see you too, brother,” I said, my voice thick and gruff with emotion as I slapped him hard on the back.
He laughed. “Don’t do that shit again, Dean.” He pulled back, grinning. His eyes were suspiciously clouded with tears, but I ignored them and looked over toward Nora, who was staying back as we said hello.
“I told you not to tell anyone,” I grumbled, picking up the bag I’d dropped when I’d embraced my brother.
“I didn’t tell her. I brought her with me. She thought we were coming to pick up Liam.”
Drew took my bag from me. “I got this. Go say hi.” He notched his chin toward Nora, and I wondered if after all this time my brother had figured out the reason I’d stayed away. He didn’t give anything away, so I just nodded and played the part of the stepbrother.
“Hey, Nora.” I gave her a small smile and reached to pull her compact, curvy body against mine. I breathed in her scent, and I felt her body shudder against mine as her arms circled my waist. The cloth of my shirt was suspiciously damp when she finally pulled back from my embrace.
She laughed, brushing off the magnitude of the moment, and wiped at her tear-filled eyes. “Damn, you could have given me a warning, Drew.”
“I was told not to tell anyone. He didn’t say I couldn’t bring anyone with me, though.”
“Leave it to you to find a loophole.” I half shoved Drew as we laughed.
“It’s good to see you, Dean. We’ve missed you.” Her voice was thick with emotion and shaky.
“I missed you guys, too. It’s good to be home.” I meant it. Being here told me exactly how homesick I was, and just hugging Drew and Nora made me feel a little more complete. My brother was my best friend, and my relationship with Nora was too complex to define because I wanted with her what I could never have. I needed to stay away from her as much as possible for the two weeks that I was here.
