Barrett eyes.
A tall man with dark hair and cut features stood tall, a more cutthroat version of Luke with an entirely different ferocity. It had to be Jason, the eldest brother. There was a beauty at his side, a petite brunette with a smile that could melt even the coldest hearts, even Jason's apparently.
"I'm sorry." I hoped my voice didn't shake, emotions running rampant in my chest.
He was always the big brother I never had, offering words of wisdom in his own gloomy way before heading off to college, leaving broken hearts in his wake with nearly every girl in Briar wishing he'd stay for them.
His smile widened. "Hi, Sorry; I'm Jason."
I groaned inside at his lame dad joke, wondering if he had kids at the same time. Maybe that's why Luke seemed comfortable around Linc. "I know who you are," I replied.
He raised a brow, studying me carefully. "Unfortunately, I'm drawing a blank," he admitted, glancing at his lady friend, who shrugged.
Rather, his fiancée. The huge rock on her hand declared it as it caught the light when she took a sip of beer.
She was revealed as his fiancee when she lifted a beer to her lips, a huge rock catching the light.
"Josie," I declared, bracing for the firing squad. "This is my son, Lincoln."
As expected, he paled, looking not so playful. "Hi. This is my fiancee, Elena. Elena, this is one of Luke's old friends, Josie."
"He invited me," I informed. "I didn't crash the party."
His eyes widened. "He did?"
I nodded, and Linc chirped, "He said I can play with his dog."
Jason laughed, turning his attention to Linc, seeming grateful for the middle man. "She's a good dog. You'll like her."
"It was great seeing you." I felt terrible cutting their little moment short, but I couldn't take the awkwardness any longer.
As much as a part of me dreaded running into his brothers, I'd secretly hoped I would, wanting to reconnect with the men who helped shape my teenage years. I loved them both, and Jason's reaction gutted me. I thought they'd be apologetic for what Luke had done, but somehow I was in the wrong in their eyes.
"Absolutely." He gave me a stiff hug and met Lincoln's handshake without missing a beat, a wave of spiced cologne offering more warmth than the embrace of a long-lost friend.
My heart hurt, but I kept it together, pulling Linc toward the stairs. I wished it was still socially acceptable or even possible to hold him on my hip like a toddler. It'd be a lot easier than tugging him along with his feet shuffling as he looked around the room.
Another face caught my eye to the right — the youngest Barrett, Ethan. Like Luke, he'd taken the wild road, shunning short hair for a tousled style. He was gorgeous as ever, the only brother one could call pretty without being offensive. Sculpted cheekbones made him seem otherworldly, his deep olive skin highlighting his blue eyes.
Unlike Jason, he knew who I was as soon as his eyes met mine, narrowing them harshly. His hand clenched around the bottle in his hand, and he turned from the woman speaking to him to glower my way.
I pulled Linc closer, not stopping for small talk, hurrying down the steps. I knew where I was welcome, and so far, three of Luke's closest confidants seemed to want my head on a spike. I didn't know why, and I didn't care to. He could badmouth me all he wanted, but it didn't change what he'd done.
At the bottom, I knew I made a critical mistake, walking into Pete flanked by two redheads, both wearing lace dresses barely containing silicone mountains.
"Josie!" he boomed, pulling me into a hug before I could escape. "Who is this little fella?"
I pushed against his chest to freedom, his cologne harsh on the nose. "My son, Lincoln."
Unlike the other times, Linc didn't offer a hand, keeping it at his side, bunched in a fist.
Pete crouched down, his gaudy diamond necklace swinging close to Linc's face. "Hey there, buddy. I'm your mommy's best friend, Pete."
Barf.
Linc didn't say a word, and I didn't force him to. He knew stranger danger when he saw it.
"We were just heading out." I was desperate to get away, his presence making my skin crawl more than the awkward air upstairs.
"Hey, Lynette mentioned you work in graphic arts. I might have a project if you're interested." He reached into his pocket, plucking out a business card. "Shoot me an email, and I'll send you the details."
"Thanks," I muttered, having no intention of calling him but slipping it in my bag, anyway. "Have a good night."
I didn't stick around, rushing into the crowds fluttering in the entryway, grateful to see my parents sitting in a booth a few feet away. Mom was dressed to the nines like any good political wife with her pearls, while Dad was casual in comparison in khakis and a button-down. "Grams and Grandpa are here!"
Linc dashed to their booth, sliding in the seat beside Mom to give her a hug.
"Hey, love birds," I greeted once I reached the table.
"What are you doing here?" Dad barked, his lips pulled in a hard scowl.
"Ed!" Mom squawked, smacking the table. "Knock it off!"
"Why wouldn't I come?" I shot him a look, not in the mood for his crap. I still needed to rip him a new one over the angel comment.
"It's not a good idea," he grumbled, stabbing at his coleslaw.
"You're here," I pointed out, setting a hand on my hip.
He hated Luke more than I did, yet he still camped out eating food in his establishment. Was he the only one allowed to move on? Besides, I was grabbing dinner, not a handful of criminal. Not that I wasn't tempted.
"That's different," he snapped, looking at
