“It’s nearing midnight. We’ve got an afternoon game tomorrow.”
Which means an early start tomorrow.
I push back from the table. “Stay tonight,” I say to Graham. “I’ll get the couch set up with blankets and stuff. I don’t want you driving back to New Canaan this late and not after this conversation.”
“It’s already ready for him,” Jed murmurs. “Nebs saw to it.”
I glance over Jed’s shoulder and find Paulie tidying up the kitchen. I lift my hand and shoot him a small smile. I have the best fucking friends.
“I don’t want to go back at all.”
Graham’s devastated whisper hangs in the air between us.
His gaze darts between Jed’s and mine before settling on mine. “I can’t look at him. I can’t be around him.Not now that I know.”
“You’re welcome to stay here as long as you want,” I say.
Paulie walks up to me. “Yeah. Always room for Shane’s little bro.”
My gaze slides to Jed’s. It does cause some…complications. We have two couples who aren’t out in this house.
“I should head back to my place,” Jed says. Once again, on the same wavelength as me. But there’s one glaring difference this time.
“Stay.”
His eyes widen briefly. Then he dips his chin and backs away toward my room.
I turn back to Graham. “I’ve got a new toothbrush and can grab you some sweats to borrow. Let’s get you set up, yeah?”
I get him what he’ll need for the night, show him the downstairs bathroom, and let him know if he wants toshower, he’s sharing a messy-as-fuck bathroom that’s already shared by three athletes, but he’s welcome to brave the chaos if he wants. We exchange numbers so he can text or call me if he needs anything. I’m a little out of my element. I have no idea what a kid his age needs.
“Just to warn you, we’ll all be up early to get back to the clubhouse for our afternoon game. We’ll be as quiet as we can, but we’ll probably wake you.”
He sends me a closed-lipped smile that isalmostreal. “No problem. I appreciate you letting me stay here more than you know.”
“Don’t mention it.” I shoot him what I hope is an encouraging grin. “Might not like the circumstances, but still kinda stoked to have a brother. Maybe next talk we have can be a little less heavy, yeah?”
He chuckles. “I like the sound of that.”
I back away. “Night, Graham.”
“Night, Shane.”
I spin on my heel and make for my room. I barely step inside before a massive, familiar body folds around me, holding tight. I sink into him, wishing I could literally melt and just be a part of him.
He pulls back, a hand coming up to cradle my jaw. “What do you need?”
“You. And sleep.” I can’t word anymore. I can’t emotion. I’m drained.
He studies me for a beat. “He’s going to figure it out. With me staying here.In here.”
I shrug a shoulder. “Maybe. Who’s to say we don’t have two beds in here?” I lace our fingers and lead us to bed. “But even if he does. I have a feeling he’d be an okay person to know. One of those trust-your-instinct moments.” I slip into bed and scoot over to create space for him. Hefollows me, and I settle in the crook of his arm. “As long as you’re okay with that. It’s not just how I feel about it.”
“I got the same vibe. And I have the feeling, even though it was purely your father’s doing, that kid out there somehow feels responsible. Guilt was written all over his face. The last thing he’s going to do is cause more trouble for you.”
Yeah. My dad did enough of that.
“We won’t be obvious out there. And obviously no boning while he’s here.” Oh my God. I think I’d die if my little brother heard my sex noises. No wonder Paulie and Frankie are always crying about needing industrial earplugs. “He can assume what he wants, but it’s not like he’ll have any solid proof.” I wrap my arm around Jed’s middle and hold tight. “I don’t want to have to sleep without you.”
