“Everything all right out here?” Jed growls.
Yes. Growls. It takes everything in me not to say,down boy. A little warmth seeps through my dulled senses. These three stalking over, their protective hackles raised, ready to step in if I need them—sparks some life back in me.
“Um,” Graham squeaks. “I-I was just leaving.”
“No,” I say firmly. “He was just about to come over for a drink.” I meet his wide eyes. “A non-alcoholic one.”
“Coming over?” His high-pitched voice echoes around us. “W-will they be there?”
A chuckle slips from me. “Yeah. But don’t worry, they don’t bite.”
My stare finds Jed’s, and my smile hooks up.Unless you ask nicely.He rolls his eyes at me. Because he can read my mind at this point.
I slap a hand down on Graham’s shoulder. “Come on. Stone will give you a ride to your car, then you can follow us to our place. I’m guessing you didn’t make the drive up from New Canaan for no reason.”
He watches me for a beat. “You know where I live?”
My smile turns self-deprecating. “You might have just learned about me, but I’ve always known about you.”
The image flashes. My father, a perfectly put-together wife, a girl a few years younger than my twelve years at the time, and a little boy with wild dark hair. The same wild hair as the teenage version standing in front of me. That was the first time I’d searched my father and discovered the truth. He hadn’t just left. He’d found something better.
I gently nudge him toward Jed’s car. “Plus, your New Canaan High sweatshirt is a bit of a giveaway.”
He nods. “Right. Yeah. Um. This sounds good.” He side-eyes Jed.
“He’s harmless, I swear,” I say. “His face is just stuck like that.”
That earns me a huff from my stoic sentinel. Kinda sexy, not gonna lie. All German Shepherd attack dog on my behalf.Woof.
We slide into Jed’s Range Rover, and Graham directs him to where he’s parked. We stop next to a…fucking Porsche. Of course.
“Nice car,” Jed grits out.
My gaze flicks to his, and I give a small shake of my head.Don’t scare him off.
I turn to the back. “Follow us, all right? It’s like ten minutes tops to my place.”
He nods jerkily and hops out of the car.
I shift toward Jed. “Be nice, Storm Cloud. I don’t knowwhy he came here, but I’d like to at least take this chance to get to know him a little.”
Jed lets out a slow breath. “A fucking Porsche Cayenne, Sunshine. Guarantee it’s got all the bells and whistles too. He gets a car worth over a hundred grand, and what did that asshole give you?”
My chest swells at his indignation. The strength with which he cares—for me, of all people—I can’t wrap my head around it. It’s mind blowing.
I settle a hand on his thigh and squeeze. “Thank you.”
He studies me, those dark brows smashed together, nostrils flaring. He’s a storm brewing. “It’s not fucking fair.”
It’s not. It’s so far from fair. A fraction of my father’s money would have made a world of difference to me and my mom. But that’s not my brother’s doing. I have no idea if Graham is anything like my father. Maybe he’s just as horrible, but I really don’t think so. I’m…vibing. I always trust my gut, and right now my gut’s telling me that I might like this kid.
“Let’s go, JJ.”
He nods, and we head home, the lights of Graham’s Porsche trailing behind us.
THIRTY-SEVEN
SHANE
