The subtle hints were there. He was still living with her five months after the shooting. It’s not like I didn’t notice the touches in public, the way they looked at each other. But she was mine, or so I thought. I hadn’t made a public declaration, but I thought all my brothers knew how I felt. Yet, Hank still pursued her. It pissed me off, but then the more I saw them together it didn’t bother me. He made her happy, and that’s all that I wanted.
I drop a tin to the floor, spilling packets of alcohol pads on the floor.
“Fuckin’ hell!” I grumble as I squat down and pick them up.
“Hope you’re not that clumsy with the needle.” Stone’s voice rumbles behind me.
“Your ass knows I’m not,” I snap back. “Shouldn’t you be doing a tattoo? Not worrying about me and my clumsy ass.”
“I’m done. Just need to clean up but I’ve got Lisa doin’ it. She can’t flirt if she’s working.”
“Sorry, man, I didn’t mean to snap at you. Just got shit on my mind.”
“Does it happen to be a redhead that tore out of here? She didn’t look sick to me. More upset.”
I stand up, placing the tin of alcohol pads on the counter, then I drop down on my stool, stretching my legs out in front of me.
What do I say? Stone has become a close friend. A best friend, even. Can I talk to him about it, or would it place him in a difficult position with Hank? I let out a frustrated sigh, rubbing my hands along my thigh, using the roughness of my jeans to calm me.
“Yeah. It has to do with her.” Then my voice lowers some. “And someone else.”
“Look, brother, I'm here if you need to talk. No one’s here but me, you and Lisa. She’s workin’ and Kaleb came in and went straight to his office. No clients are due just yet.”
“Kaleb’s here?” When did he come in?
“Yeah, came in while you were in here with Vee.”
Well, hell. His stealth never stuns me. Hopefully he didn’t see the way she ran out of here. I’d hate to explain to him why the best friend to his ol’ lady is upset.
“Come on man, spill it. Maybe I got some insight for you.”
I can’t help but laugh. “Look at you with the big word. Do you know what insight means?”
“Fuck you. I might be a con, but I do have a brain.” He grunts.
“Still doesn’t say you know what it means.” I laugh, for the first time since Vee spilled her feelings to me.
“Deep understanding. Now stop being a pussy and tell me why your girl’s mad, before the news gets back to Kaleb and the guys. Call it practice for having to explain to them.”
I take a deep breath, running my hand through my hair. “That’s the thing, Stone. She’s not my girl. I never claimed her, Ijust thought we were on the same page. But she and Hank grew close while she was takin’ care of him.”
“Oh, shit.” He drops down on the table Vee was on, and shakes his head.
“Yeah, he told her he loved her today. Can you believe that?”
“She didn’t answer him, but she told me she loves him too. Vee said she couldn’t tell him because she also loves me. The problem was she didn’t know how I felt about her. I screwed up and never told her. I just assumed she knew.”
Stone sits there a minute, lips pressed firmly together as he swallows hard. “Okay, so that’s not bad. You can have somethin’ like Kaleb and the guys do. Simple fix.”
If only. But it’s not.
“Hank already told her he doesn’t want that. He can’t share.” If he could, then maybe this wouldn’t be so bad. I know we could make it work.
“Damn, I get it now. What are you gonna do?”
“I don’t know,” I answer softly.
There’s a knock on the door and Lisa pops her head in. She makes sure to wink, her shirt lower than it was the last time I saw her, causing her breasts to barely be contained.
