She pointed to the neighbor’s RV parked on the street. “I’m on the other side of this monster. The Binghams just got home from their trip to Durango.”
“Good for them. I’ll see you later.” I got into my truck, but she climbed up on the running board before I could shut the door.
She had to stop invading my space like this. I could see every little freckle across her cheeks, the flecks of gold in her brown eyes, the little blonde hairs at the top of her forehead that danced, refusing to be smooth and sleek. And I noticed her lips. I always noticed her lips. She’d recently applied lip gloss. Strawberry scented if I wasn’t mistaken.
“What do you want?” I crossed my arms and glanced behind her to make sure no one was watching us through the front window.
“I’m confronting my dad about Denver and every other guy I’ve dated or will date, and I need you there to witness it.”
“I’m sorry about Denver.” The words slipped out before I had a chance to rethink them.
Her eyes flashed. “No you’re not. Mission accomplished, right? He’s thoroughly scared off. He’s not even sort of my boyfriend anymore.”
That did make me just a little bit happy, and she must have seen it in my face. “You’re the worst, Clay. Never mind. You’re free to go.”
It took everything in me to let her stalk off, believing I enjoyed ruining her life. Not that I thought it was ruined. Denver was not the guy for her. He was a placeholder. A dot in her history she’d barely remember years from now. I’d vowed long ago to concede my game the day she found a guy worthy of her. Today was not that day.
I let her go inside before getting out and locking up my truck. The Clay she knew wouldn’t listen when she said I was free to go.
12
___________
Lauren
I breathed deeply before going inside my parents’ house. Despite what I’d just told Clay, I wasn’t planning on yelling at anyone. That was the fastest way to make sure my dad didn’t listen to me. But it was time to confront him about how he’d blackmailed me into bringing Denver, and why.
Everyone was in the front room to witness the mighty event of Parker getting a haircut. Perfect. I wouldn’t even have to round them all up.
I cleared my throat. “So, we need to talk about what just happened. Dad told Clay to come check out my boyfriend and cause trouble today.”
Everyone turned to look at me, except for Raelyn, who was mesmerized by a computer tablet, and Parker, who was having the back of his neck shaved.
Dad’s face turned red. “That’s an exaggeration, and you know it.”
“Is it?”
Parker scoffed. “Cause trouble? If I recall, Clay didn’t take you to the ground and sit on you.” I could hear the smile in his voice. He loved when I acted impulsively. Especially since I often accused him of doing the same thing.
“I forgot Denver might not see it as a brother-sister sort of interaction. Half the time, I don’t remember Clay’s not blood.”
I was getting nods. Yes! I could do this.
The door behind me creaked open, and I took a deep breath. Clay. My annoying almost-brother. He couldn’t be anything else to me. My happiness depended on it. I allowed myself a quick glance before moving out of the way so he could go sit on the couch.
Mom put the clippers down and folded her arms. “John, did you tell Clay to come cause trouble today? And what made you think he could cause trouble? This is our Clay.” She smiled down at him like he was her sweet little boy who could do no wrong. I swear she loved him more than me, but unlike Parker, I wasn’t bitter about it. My mom had enough love for us, the rainforests, all the orphans in the world, and every neighbor kid who had ever hit her up for extortion in the name of school fundraisers.
Clay cleared his throat. “He asked me to come and form an opinion about Denver. Sorry, Lauren.”
“Whatever. Apology accepted. This is about my dad, not you.” With that dismissal, I turned to Dad. “Did you tell Parker you made me choose between going to Idaho and bringing Denver here today?”
Parker looked up at me in surprise, and for the first time in a long time, I saw admiration there. I’d chosen his happiness over mine and hadn’t even rubbed it in his face. But that I’d had to do it at all was what we needed to talk about.
“Dad, you have to let me grow up. There’s no need for a boyfriend intervention, not now, not ever. If I need help, I will ask. I promise. But I can’t learn from my mistakes if you’re constantly trying to prevent them.”
There was a long thoughtful silence before Dad nodded, clapping his hands down at his sides. “I didn’t realize I was doing that. I’m sorry. I actually think Denver’s not a bad guy.”
“Me either. But he just wants to be friends now, so you can take the tracker off his car and stop bugging his house.”
