“He was your best friend once,” I interrupted. “Remember that? Now you’re talking about him like he’s some random creep. Grayden is a good man.”
The line went quiet for a moment.
When Teller spoke again, his voice was softer. “Grayden and I were friends a long time ago. It’s clear I never really knew him that well.”
Yet I remembered the two of them laughing quietly about some inside joke. Or talking late into the night. They’d both been so serious, but they’d opened up around each other. Best friends.Brothers.
“There’s a lot more to the story than you know,” I said.
“Usually that’s the case.”
“If you ask Grayden, he’ll tell you.”
“Piper, I haven’t spoken to Grayden since we were in our twenties. I have nothing to say to him, and I figure he feels the same about me.”
“Which you couldn’t know. Unless youask.”
Teller sighed. “Look, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. I’m just concerned, that’s all. You’re my little sister. I want to make sure you’re okay.”
The fight drained out of me. “I know. I’m sorry for getting testy with you.”
“I’m also missing Ollie. Maybe I’m just feeling guilty about not seeing him since I’ve been gone from Silver Ridge so much.”
Look at my brother, so in touch with his feelings these days.
I sat back down in my chair. Even when I was annoyed with Teller, even when he was being overprotective, I knew it came from a place of love.
Exactly why I couldn’t tell him about my latest issues with Danny.
Teller knew all about Danny’s failings as a father. If I told my brother about Danny’s latest affront, the way my ex had put his hands on me, Teller would drop everything and fly out here to Hart County.
But Teller had already given up things he wanted in the past because he thought he had to protect his little sister. He’d put his own life on hold. I wasn’t going to let him do it again.
“Ollie’s doing well,” I said.
“Still can’t believe Danny flaked on him for Thanksgiving.”
I could. “Actually, Cal is taking Ollie to Denver this weekend to see a Broncos game. Just the two of them. Ollie’s really excited. I’m surprised Callum didn’t tell you, since you two have been gossiping so much.”
Callum had wanted to do something special for Ollie to help make up for the failed Thanksgiving trip with Danny. Because Callum was a sweetheart.
Teller made a happy sound. “That’s fantastic. I’m jealous.”
We talked for a few more minutes about nothing important. When we finally hung up, I sat in my office for a long moment, staring at my phone.
I hoped that whatever scheme Danny had been up to, he was finished with it now. He rarely stuck with anything too long, so he was probably already back home and out of Hart County.
Out of my life again, at least for a while.
But I’d been over and over it in my head, tryingto figure out what possible item of value my mom might’ve had that Danny would want. And every time, my mind drew a blank.
Just one of those mysteries about Danny Carmichael that I’d never figure out. Like what I’d ever seen in him in the first place.
Rina looked up from her phone as I walked toward the counter. The shop was still quiet, no sign of any new customers. Maybe because the weather was beautiful outside, much warmer than the typical January day, and the snow had melted.
Kinda made me want to get out in nature too. Maybe I would take Ollie to the park after this. Let him skateboard to his heart’s content.
“How’s big bro?” Rina asked. “Everything good with him and the pop princess?”
