Ian and Abby’s dad used to own the Druids with Ian’s mom, but after it came out that he had a secret love child who he’d been keeping quiet for years—Abby—the marriage fell apart and he fucked off to California somewhere after leaving behind plenty of baggage for his kids to sort through.
“I’m not a complete ass,” I remind him. “Just a partial ass.” I consider for a moment. “With a completely great ass.”
Ian shakes his head, a little chuckle escaping him. “Yeah, I don’t think I have anything to worry about.”
“Worry about what?” Dee says as she steps into the room, Abby in tow.
“Nothing,” Ian tells her. He eyes the box in Dee’s hand. “That’s the last of it?”
“I think so,” Abby tells him. “Nothing else in the car.”
“And you’resurethis is what you want,” Ian prods her.
“Hey,” I say. “Youroomed with me for months before you ran off to play live-in boyfriend with my sister. I didn’t hear any complaints from you.”
“I can’t just take up your living room for two more months,” Abby says. “And it’s silly to do so when there’s an empty roomright here.” She cuts her eyes to me. “Besides, Jack and I are…friends.”
I almost laugh at her tone, like it pains her to say it. I have a feeling this is going to be a lot of fun.
“Best friends, practically,” I tell Ian. “I’m thinking of swapping you out for her.”
Abby snorts. “Let’s not get carried away.”
“I just don’t want you to think that we didn’t love having you,” Dee says with a pout.
Abby smiles at her, but it doesn’t meet her eyes. “It’s not that. I just need a little more space to work, that’s all. I feel like I’m in the way over there, anyway.”
“Hey.” Ian takes a step closer, clasping her shoulder. “You’renotin the way. You’re never in the way, okay?”
“Yeah, yeah, okay,” Abby answers quietly.
Dee tugs on my arm, tilting her head toward the door, no doubt wanting to give the siblings a moment of privacy to make sure they’re okay.
“Get me a drink, Jack,” Dee says.
I huff. “You’ve got hands.”
“Come on,” she says with another tug of my arm. “I want you to get it.”
I frown as I let her tug me out of the room, noticing she’s being careful to avoid my bad arm. I follow her through the living room and into the kitchen, moving around her to the fridge to grab two beers, handing her one.
She smacks my shoulder before she takes it.
“What were you thinking? Offering her a room? I swear to God, Jack, if you’reactuallytrying to get Ian back for him and me, I will stomp you so far into the ground—”
“Easy, tiger,” I say with a laugh. “It isn’t like that. I just ran into her about a week ago, and she mentioned there wasn’t a lot of space, that’s all. You know me.” I grin. “Always trying to do the right thing.”
I don’t mention the other stuff, how suffocated they made her feel; I know it would only serve to make Dee and Ian feel bad, and I know that isn’t what Abby wants. I may not know much about her, but I know that much at least.
Dee’s eyes narrow. “You’re impossible, that’s what you are.”
“How rude,” I say, pressing a hand to my chest in mock outrage. “I’m the picture of goodwill.”
“Stupid,” she snorts, taking a sip of her beer. “You better know what you’re doing.”
I wince at her mostly playful insult. It isn’t like I think Dee believes that I’mactuallystupid, but she sure acts like it sometimes.
“I’m just trying to help,” I tell her, meaning it. “Seriously.”
