I strolled over, taking a seat beside Elena, giving her and Tally quick noogies. “What’s cracking?”
“Your old bones,” Elena teased, grinning.
“Not more than my fossil of a brother you’re marrying,” I shot back. “Does he have gray pubes yet?”
“Only a few. You had more.” She winked, knowing right where to hit me.
I winced, still mortified that I waved my cock and balls around in front of my future sister-in-law the first time I saw her. “Touché, little sissy. Touché.”
I reached into my pocket, pulling out my cell and the slip of paper, saving the number and tossing the scrap in the flames. I still had to think of what stunt I could pull, so I set my phone down on my knee while I plotted.
“So, any insight on why you let Josie Roberts into your brewery, let alone the fucking VIP section?” Ethan asked, not pulling punches.
“I like her kid,” I admitted, shrugging. I did like the tiny version of her. It wasn’t every day that a kid offered a handshake.
But I also had a soft spot for his mom and her incredible ass.
“Oh yeah?” He took a sip of beer, one from the first case of Barrett’s Signature I brought home. “What’s the kid’s name?”
“Lincoln,” I replied, passing his stupid little test.
Ethan was the first to call everyone on their bullshit but the last to reveal any of his own. All the fucker ever did was work, win, paint, and be right.
I reached into my pocket and pulled out a cigarette, earning a groan from Jason. “Are you ever going to quit?”
I lit one up and took a quick drag, smirking at my older brother. “I did always say I’d quit smoking when you got married again. I guess quittin’ time is coming.”
“The sooner, the better,” Ethan grumbled. “Especially if you’re hanging around a kid. So what’s the real deal with Josie? You were over there for a while last night.”
“We already went over that.” I blew a cloud of smoke in his direction. They’d dragged me through hell, insinuating I fucked her and wasn’t dishing on the details. In truth, I wouldn’t have minded a taste, but I’d never admit it to them. They’d flay me themselves after everything she put me through.
Ethan wasn’t letting me off that easy. “Spill it, Luke.”
“There’s nothing to spill,” I assured, shrugging. “I went over, grabbed Tally, and we argued as usual. She was belligerent. I told you: I don’t have a girl next door; I have a crazy loon.”
“A hot crazy loon,” he added, grinning before throwing back another gulp.
“I did tell her everyone thinks she’s a MILF, so that probably didn’t help.”
Ethan shrugged. “She is a smoke show. I’d hit it if she weren’t toxic.”
“You guys are being jackasses,” Elena grumbled, cuddling against Jason’s chest. “She seemed perfectly nice.”
“There’s a history there, babe,” Jason murmured, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “A messy one.”
“Oh, like ours isn’t?” she huffed.
He laughed, pressing a kiss to her hair. “Messier.”
I looked away, the two lovebirds making me sick. There was too much cute floating in the air for my liking.
I grabbed my cell to have my fun, fueled by the lack of decency from the blonde beauty that proved to be more of a jagged jerk. A little bit of poking never hurt anyone, and Josie deserved a hell of a lot more than poking.
Nice seeing you again, Josephine.
“You texting another fling, manwhore?” Jason asked. “Surprised there wasn’t one here when we arrived. Fuck, I’m surprised there isn’t one here now.”
I flicked ash into the fire, shocked to feel my phone vibrating on my thigh so quickly. “I’ve been celibate for over two weeks, brother.” I wasn’t proud to admit it, but it was noteworthy. I rarely went a day before that without sticking my dick in something.
“Damn, what’s the occasion?” Jason laughed.
“He’s got his sights set on the past,” Ethan observed, fully earning the middle finger I waved his way as I checked my phone.
Josie: Who’s this???
“Don’t be mad because I’m calling you on your crap. It’s amazing how promptly you forget betrayal when pussy is involved.”
“Did you miss the part where I said I’m celibate?” I asked. “Therefore, no pussy is involved.”
A secret admirer.
“But you feel pussy is possible, so you’re waiting it out.”
Any guy in his right mind would fuck Josie if given a chance, and I wouldn’t deny it. I also wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of admitting he was partially right, either.
Jason grinned. “Well, I’m happy with the nookie news. I’m glad we aren’t navigating a cum-crusted house.”
I chucked my cigarette butt into the flames. “I scraped it all up and spread it across the spare bed just for you. Whatever was left got slathered on the couch for Ethan.”
“How sweet!” Ethan cooed, earning a head tilt from Tally.
Josie: Not funny. Who is this?
A part of me wanted to up the ante, but I resisted the urge.
Guess?
Ethan stood, stretching his hands high, his shirt lifting enough to reveal abs that made mine and Jason’s look like pudding. “Just be careful. You’re always impulsive.”
“Am not.” I was full of shit, and we all knew it, everyone exploding with laughter.
Josie: I’m not playing games. Tell me who you are, or you’re getting blocked.
Well, damn, someone was getting testy.
Your parents love me, you know?
“I’m headed to bed,” Ethan announced. “The morning brings more opportunities for day-drinking.”
“And boating,” I added. I was headed into the brewery for the dinner hour rush. Before that, I was dead-set on cruising around the inlet all afternoon. “It’ll be my first time out this year.”
“I guess we’re all boating and day-drinking, except our captain, of course,” Jason chuckled, standing and pulling Elena up alongside him. “We’re heading in, too.”
“I see how
