The hard truth that Liam wasn’t endgame material hit me, and I sighed.
As though he’d heard me thinking of him, his voice permeated my mind. All of our minds since his message was clearly addressed to the entire pack.The run will begin in front of the bunker in one hour. I hope to see many of you there.
“Hey, Nik?” Niall called out through my closed door. “Ready to go?”
I frowned as I wrapped myself in a towel and pulled open my door. “Um. I thought the run was in an hour?”
Niall wasn’t the calmest person, but at the moment, he was so jittery his fingers kept drumming the wall. “It is. But Lori’s heading out there now. And well, Mom and Dad thought we should go. In case—for Nate—” Niall chewed up his poor bottom lip, fingers still going nuts on the wood. “Fuck, if this doesn’t work—”
“Let’s not think like that.”
“You’re right.” He rammed his fingers through his spiky hair, which was the exact same shade of brown as mine, dark as walnut sapwood. “It’s going to work.”
I swallowed, worried my optimism was a house of cards.
Niall peered over my shoulder, and for a horrible moment, I thought I’d forgotten to stash away my teetering supply of condoms, but a quick glance confirmed I’d had the foresight to put them away. “Had fun this morning?”
I looked back at my brother, who seemed to have gone through yet another growth spurt during the night. He’d already passed the twins. Soon, he’d overtake Nate. “I did.”
“Nik, I know I’m the last person who should be offering you advice, but are you sure it’s a good idea? I mean, from what I hear—”
“Don’t tell me, because I’m sure I’ve either heard it too or if I haven’t, it’ll just annoy me. As for whether it’s a good idea, I’m a hundred percent sure it’s a rotten one, but I know where I stand with him. We’re just having fun. Nothing more.”
“Mom doesn’t seem to think you guys are just having fun.” He crossed his arms, his jitteriness calming.
“Mom wants to see what she wants to see. Besides, can you imagine me trying to explain to her that I’m just with Liam for the sex?”
His dimples made an appearance. “I’d reallyloveto be around if you decide to have that talk.”
“I bet you would.”
“Please include me?”
“Never.”
“I’m your favorite brother.”
I snorted. “Since when?”
“Who buys you bags of sour candy every time he goes to the supermarket? Who took you to the movies with his buddies when you were still a kid? Who—”
“Fine. You’re awesome.” I shook my head and smiled. “Although . . .” I scratched my chin. “I haven’t spotted any sour candy around the cabin in a while.”
“That’ll be remedied on the morrow.”
I cocked an eyebrow. “On the morrow? Since when do you speak like a nineteenth-century lord?”
“Since Farrah—” His complexion tinged pink, and he grabbed the nape of his neck.
“Farrah?” My smile strengthened by the second. “Is my favorite womanizer finally settling down?”
“Geez. No. Nothing like that.” He kneaded the back of his neck, which had turned a satisfying shade of candy red now. “We’re just friends, and she’s really into these body-rippers, or whatever they’re called.”
“Are they gory or romantic?”
“Cheesy as hell.”
I laughed. “Bodice-rippers then.”
