Page 79 of Only for Love
“Cally ishis daughter!”
“I don’t care.” She throws her arms out. “You are so close to doing everything on your own. Look at you. You don’t need him!”
“My God, Cherry, give the feminist theatrics a rest.”Tummy breath. “I don’t needanyone. I could do this without you and Mom, but I don’twantto.”Tummy breath. “Iwanthim here. Just like I want, appreciate, and need you all.”
Ryan still hasn’t said anything, and that says a lot. Adequately done snooping, he sits on the couch and pats the cushion. “Sit down with me.”
I’m at a loss. I'd rather unpack every box in this place, get a million cardboard cuts, and tear up my hands than get a big-brother lecture from him. Seriously, he’s acting as if he’s a wise old man, when I know that the entire time he was in the police academy he partied like a frat boy. His job is responsible, but he’s no old man. “Cut it out, Ry.”
“Come on. Sit.” He nudges his head. “Cherry, go get a water or something.”
She scowls but slowly wanders from the living room toward the kitchen. Very slowly.
Grayson and Ryan were close. When Grayson left me, he left Ryan, too. When Ryan found out I was pregnant, and no one could find Grayson, my brother was homicidal. I can’t remember how long that took to pass. Maybe it didn’t. Right now, he’s silent, his face unreadable—not ready for premeditated homicide but potentially still as deadly. That’s not good, considering a rookie cop can’t make a mistake like murdering an old buddy. The county police frown upon that, and I need Ryan to remember there’s no need to defend his baby sister’s honor.
“Can’t believe she has you caught up in this,” I murmur, settling on the couch next to him.
Ryan’s jaw is set. His eyes are hard. A vibrating animosity that could rival an arctic freeze emanates from him. Shit, shoot, shit. Not the greatest vibe to deal with when trying to talk sense to him.
“Where is he?” Ryan finally asks, not looking at me. He leans forward, his elbows on his knees, fingers locked. One by one, he cracks his knuckles. “Or did he get what he wanted?”
Jesus Jones on a cracker—my family is all about the dramatics today. “Don’t be an ass. He’s out.”
“And he’s coming back this time?”
“Seriously, stop the jerk routine.” So, Cherry told Ryan about Gray showing up on the couch—and that she saw him without a shirt. Now she and I are really going to have it out. What happened to my wild, carefree older sister who actually suggested I become a stripper—at the place where she used to strip?God!Where’s the girl who knows I’m not a moron and who cried alongside me when we thought Grayson had died? When all this calms down, I’m going to have words with her about sisterly loyalty. “If you two are going to interrogate me, Cherry can stop hovering in the corner. She’s going to break her neck trying to listen.”
A heartbeat later, she’s back in the room, playing like she wasn’t climbing the wall to listen. “Hey.”
“I’m not a crying teenager knocked up and left alone.”
Ryan growls. “Not anymore.”
“Cut the attitude, Ry.”
His gaze slices through me. It’s frigid and meant to change my mind about… who knows what, exactly? The entire idea of a relationship? Giving Grayson a chance and having too much fun with him once I finally have alone time? It doesn’t matter. None of this is their business.
Ryan cracks another knuckle. “He shows up, and you erase the past.”
“Maybe.”
“Shit.” Disappointment rolls off of him. “And where the fuck is he anyway?”
She nods as if Grayson not being here is breaking some rule.Once back, he can never leave?I consciously donottummy breathe—I hold on to my aggravation. “Like you’re the shining symbol of modesty and appropriate behavior.”
“I’m not the—”
I shake my head. “Don’t say whatever you're about to. Really. I’m done with this, and that goes for both of you. I might be the youngest, but I’ve got years on you both.”
Silence.
“You know it, too. Slumber parties with pancakes and a shiny rookie badge have nothing on being a single mom.Nothing.”
Ryan’s jaw works back and forth. The tendons in his neck pop as though he’s physically restraining himself. Cherry jumps up and paces, wearing a hole in my hardwood floor. We’re all silent, and the energy in the room is toxic.
“Now that we’ve crossed that awkward moment, what else you guys got?” I’m done with their judgment. “Anything? No? Then let’s start over.”
“No one wants to see you get hurt,” Ryan says. “He shows up after leaving for no good—”
