Walker: Yeah. And we can’t both be your favorite.
Briar: Guess I have to pick one, huh?
Walker: Yup. Who’s the front-runner?
Briar: Right now? You.
Heath: I don’t recall him bringing you lunch the other day when Caleb was sick and Jensen was out of town.
Briar: No, but I’ve never seen Birdie this happy, and that’s because of Walker, so by default, he wins.
I can’t decide whether I should be flattered or insulted by her backhanded compliment. Either way, it leaves me questioning whether Birdie’s putting on a show for her friends or if being with me genuinely makes her happy. It’s probably wishful thinking on my part, but the way her eyes locked on me as she climaxed for the first time last night proves our electric chemistry is mutual—and has me convinced a part of her is drawn to me beyond our agreed-upon arrangement.
Heath: Are you saying I’d have to date one of your friends to be the favorite?
Walker: I hear Charlie’s on the market if you’re looking for a fix.
Heath: Only if hell freezes over first.
Charlie and Heath have never gotten along, and the tension between them has only escalated over the years. Whenever they’re in the room together their silent stares speak volume, each glance loaded with barely concealed irritation.
Walker: Sounds like you’re in denial.
Briar: Don’t think I haven’t seen the way you look at her when you think I’m not paying attention.
*Walker added Jensen Harding to the chat.
Jensen: Why do I have a feeling being added to this thread is a setup?
Walker: Couldn’t let you miss the opportunity to give Heath a hard time for pretending he wouldn’t go out with Charlie if her disdain for him wasn’t so obvious.
Jensen: He’d totally jump at the chance if he could.
Heath: Please. I’d rather break in a wild mustang before agreeing to that.
Briar: Stop being a cranky sourpuss. You’d be lucky to have Charlie.
Walker: I thought you didn’t want your friends dating your brothers.
Briar: That ship sailed once you and Birdie made your relationship official.
Jensen: As entertaining as this is, I’m still not sure why I’m here.
Walker: Because you’re one of us now.
Briar: Not legally. We’re not married yet.
Jensen: And whose fault is that? I’d marry you today if you’d let me, sugar.
Walker: He has a point, sis.
Briar: We all know Mama Julie and Charlie would have a fit if we didn’t throw a big wedding, and I want to wait to have it in the community center once it’s finished.
On top of building their dream house, they’re constructing a nonprofit where Briar can provide a safe, healing space for kids, including those with emotional scars. She’s hosted a few pop-up events at Silver Saddle Ranch but is planning to offer seasonal camps and year-round therapeutic horseback riding. As someone who suffered trauma when she was younger, she’s always wanted to create a place where every child could experience the kind of unconditional acceptance and healing she longed for growing up.
Briar was adopted by Ma and Pops when she was fifteen. Her biological mom was a bartender at Blue Moon Tavern and was always chasing her next high—whether it came from pills or the fleeting attention of whichever man happened to be around—and she never met her biological dad.
Ma had been her elementary school teacher and took Briar under her wing when she realized her home life wasn’t stable. She spent her evenings at our place, and even before she wasofficially adopted, Heath and I saw her as the sister we’d always wanted.
