Sometime around my sixteenth birthday, right around the time my granddad had a fatal heart attack, I’d nearly destroyed my life because I was so angry. Angry at him for dying on me, angry at my granny for wanting to die with him, and angry at myself for buckling under the pressure.
The entire year that followed, I’d made it my mission to find trouble. As a result, I’d been hauled down to the Wellspring Sheriff’s Office a time or two. Strangely enough, though, Sheriff Walker never arrested me, probably because he felt sorry for me.
The few times I’d had to sit in the small interrogation room at the precinct, face-to-face with one of the deputies, I kind of felt like I did at this exact moment.
Three minutes. Two pairs of eyes. One skeptical. One amused.
Ronnie had slammed the door in my face. Literally. Since she’d barricaded herself in the bathroom, I’d been questioned by her brothers—my friends—like I’d committed a crime.
“Someone should probably go get Brooklyn,” I suggested. “Your sister needs that medicine.”
Parker looked at Bryson, then back at me. “Are you going to tell us what happened?”
“I already did.” At least five times. “What the hell is this?”
Bryson smirked. “You trying to get with my sister?”
“So what if I am?”
That kiss earlier had been an appetizer, a prelude of sorts. And I couldn’t wait to sample the main dish. Her. On my dick, in my bed, or anywhere else she wanted to go.
Bryson and I had been best friends since he’d moved to Wellspring years ago. I’d known him long enough to know that he wasn’t really that bothered. But Parker… While I considered him a friend, he was a master at the poker face. Which was why he’d taken plenty of my money during our weekly card games.
“I distinctly remember a conversation we had twenty-something years ago about boundaries.” Parker tilted his head, his eyes hard. “Sister off-limits. Right?”
I snorted. “Yeah, I remember. That was around the time Brooklyn started getting breasts.”
Bryson snickered. “You noticed.”
I shrugged. “I’m a man.”
“Veronica is my sister, too,” Parker said.
“And also a grown ass woman.” I raised a challenging brow. “Correct?”
Parker pointed to the closed bathroom door. “She’s important to us. We just want to make sure you understand… We’re very protective.”
I smiled. “Really? I didn’t know that.”
Bryson broke, barking out a laugh. He shoved Parker, who cracked up, too. “We’re just playin’ around.”
“Maybe,” Parker added.
“No sex in my house, though,” Bryson warned. “Take that shit somewhere else.”
Jordan stepped around the corner and leaned against the wall, sucking in a deep breath. “Why are y’all all the way back here?”
“I texted her to bring the medicine,” Bryson announced.
“Damn, I’m outta breath,” Jordan said. “I should’ve stopped eating when I was full instead of stuffing my face.” She bent over at the waist. “Woo.”
Bryson kissed his wife and took the Benadryl from her. “Thanks, bae.” He glanced at me. “Do you want me to give it to Veronica?”
I snatched the medicine from him. “I’ll handle it.”
Jordan handed me the bottle of water she had in her other hand. “Take care of her, Juke. I have to get these kids in the bed so we can start game night.” She waved and walked off.
I looked at Parker. “You got a problem with this?”
