“It wouldn’t kill you to have a little grace,” Rusty said. “Everyone’s busting their arse for you today and all you’ve done since we got here is complain.”
Somehow, that was enough to make Megan fall silent.
It had never worked for Blake, but then, Blake was just her little brother. Rusty was a stranger.
He wasn’t exactly intimidating, but he was probably a littlemoreintimidating than Blake was.
“Now, I’ll be out in a minute to help your useless lump of a fiancé with the archway. Andyouwill leave Blake alone, or I’ll start telling people how you treat him. Got it?”
Blake heard Megan shift her weight. “Got it,” she said, sighing heavily.
Rusty stood where he was until she left, then sat down on the coffee table in front of Blake.
“How much trouble am I in?” he asked, glancing at the door.
Blake opened his mouth to say thank you, but burst into tears instead.
Rusty’s face fell, going pale as Blake sobbed, wiping tears away from his still-swollen eyes.
“I’m sorry,” Rusty said softly. “Shit, I’ll go and apologize, she was just-”
Blake shook his head, cutting Rusty off. “No one’s ever stood up to her like that,” he said. “She’s gotten away with it my whole life. I left because I couldn’t take it anymore, because I was a failure and stuck living at home and she was just… there, all the time, waiting to pounce on everything I ever did.”
Rusty’s jaw clenched.
“We had good times!” Blake rushed to add. “She’s my sister, and I love her. But she was the oldest, and I just… I guess she was mad at me for taking attention away from her when I was born. Maybe she never got over that. I dunno. It’s not her fault.”
“It’s her fault that she’s showing her arse,” Rusty said. “I know she’s stressed, but…”
“It’s okay,” Blake said. “I’m… used to this. She never did it in front of my parents until last night, at dinner. I guess she wasreallymad about you.”
“It’s really not okay,” Rusty said. “You shouldn’t be used to being treated like that.”
Blake bit his lip.
That was the first time he’d heard that, too.
Because it was the first time anyone had reallylistened. He’d never been comfortable telling his friends how his life was—except for Jude, who’d come to know all his secrets. He’d tried to hide it from everyone so they wouldn’t pity him, but…
He trusted Rusty. And his trust was proving to be well-placed.
“Just… don’t make a big deal out of it in front of my mom and dad?” Blake said. “It’s not their fault, and I don’t want them to feel guilty.”
“They were in charge of looking after you,” Rusty said. “But okay.”
Blake breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you.”
“You should have a nap,” Rusty continued. “I’ll handle your sister, and you’ll have an easier time if you sleep for a bit.”
“I don’t want to leave everything on you,” Blake said.
“I’ll wake you if I need you,” Rusty promised. “Besides, now Ireallyneed to stick it to her about what a good husband I am.”
Blake laughed at that. Rusty was obviously enjoying his good husband act.
He’d make someone very happy one day.
Blake was starting to wish it could be him. Rusty already made him happy.
“Motivations aside, you’ve been awesome. Thank you.”
“Anytime.” Rusty winked at him, standing and then heading for the yard again, where Blake could hear Chris swearing in the distance.
He stretched himself out on the couch again, turning his face to the back cushions, and closed his eyes.
