* * *
Liam
Pulling in behind his brother’s car, Liam considered going somewhere else. He’d hoped—but not really expected—his brother would have left already. There was no reason to stick around; Beckett’s grand party weekend plans had imploded the moment he arrived.
But he was still here.
Fine.Liam wasn’t going to hide anymore.
Slider came tearing for the door, a bundle of barks and paws. Pop cursed as the rugs went flying. They really needed to get better pads for those rugs.
“Hey, little buddy.” Liam reached down and scratched his head. “We better find a way to keep you from messing up the rugs.”
“I swear I’m going to chain that dog to the back door.” Pop followed the terrier into the hall and straightened the rug. “And don’t say it. I know.”
Liam smiled and hung up his coat.
“It’s what they do,” Beckett said from the kitchen.
That quickly, Liam’s tiny bit of joy burned away. He frowned. If he went upstairs, he could avoid his brother. He might even take the hint and leave without delivering a lecture. Pop killed that plan by pointing to Liam and then to the kitchen.
Beckett had waited for him.How delightful.
Liam ignored his brother and went for the coffee machine. Pretending there was no one there, he got a mug, selected a pod, and hit the button.
“Where’d you go?”
“Out.” Demanding to know where Liam had gone didn’t deserve courtesy. Not after how Beckett had acted the night before.
“Where?”
“None of your business.” The machine seemed to be taking twice as long as normal.
“What if I’m making it my business?”
That pushed one button too many. Liam faced him. “Then you’re going to be a very disappointed Beckett when you leave without an answer.”
“What crawled up your ass?”
Liam snorted and turned back to the machine, which mercifully had finished.
“And that’s enough from both of you.” Pop swept into his kitchen and pinned them both with a look. “Beckett, he doesn’t have to tell you where he goes.”
“I know where he went.”
“Then why did you ask?” Liam said with an extra side of snark.
“Liam.” Pop’s warning did nothing to cool Liam’s anger.
“Sorry, not sorry, Pop. He drops in, creates chaos, and then thinks he’s entitled to answers that don’t concern him.”
“Like hell they don’t. He’s my best friend.”
“Really? Was that someone else who told him to get the fuck out? Cause I’m pretty sure that ended your friendship.”
“Whatever. Me and C-man have been through worse.”
Liam swallowed his hurt. “Gotcha. You and Coury. Nothing changes, does it?”
