At least, that’s what I hoped.
I headed out to my car, grateful there was a paved driveway in the garage area. My truck was older than the rest of the guys’ vehicles, so I tended to park outside of the garage or on the street because I didn’t mind if it got rustier. I knew I should probably replace the damn thing, but that would cost money, and I wasn’t really in the mood to say goodbye to the first thing I’d bought with my own earnings. My siblings had all offered to help me buy a car or even buy this one outright. Brendon had a lot of money. However, I had wanted to put as much down as possible on my own. They each had paid for part of it as a birthday present, but most of the payment had been mine.
And I loved that fact. Just like I had been paying for my own college as much as I could and was now using a scholarship to get through most of this semester. I knew that my siblings would drop everything and help me the moment I asked—and usually without me asking, pushing my need to take care of myself out of the way.
But I wanted to do this on my own. I felt like I earned whatever I worked toward more. I was probably biting off my nose to spite my face, but I couldn’t change that. At least, for now.
Going out on my own wasn’t easy, but I was finding my path. I didn’t want my brothers to feel as if they needed to drop everything and take care of me again. Cameron had done it more than once in his life, and it had irrevocably altered everything about him. He had almost lost Violet because of it, more than once. And I didn’t want that to happen again, even though deep down I knew it wasn’t the same. Still, I needed to find my own way.
I pulled into the parking lot of the café and got out, watching Elise get out of a rideshare vehicle. My brows rose, and she shrugged.
“I honestly didn’t want you to have to wait on me, so I said I would just use a rideshare. Sorry if that makes you feel weird.”
I shook my head, walked up to her, and smiled. “No, I get it. It’s sometimes a good idea to make sure you have your way in and out of a situation. And I get you not wanting me to know where you live.”
She cringed. “Sorry. It’s one of those things that women have to do to keep safe.” She shrugged.
“Anyway, I haven’t been here before,” she said, and my brows lifted. “Really? The guys and I have been here a few times, though mostly to celebrate a good grade or something. It’s not too expensive, so that’s why we like it,” I said and then winced. “Not that you don’t deserve to go someplace nice. But you know…college.”
She smiled. “Oh, I get it. I only have my student loan to pay for food and board and things, so I understand.”
“I have my job.”
“And where do you work again?” she asked as I took her hand. She blinked a bit and then wrapped her fingers around mine as we walked towards the door of the café.
“My brothers own the Connolly Brewery in downtown Denver.”
“Oh, I think I’ve heard of that place.”
I smiled. “I hope so. They’re trying to make a thing of it. Eventually, we’re going to open up an actual restaurant where my brother, who used to work at a Michelin-starred restaurant, can once again cook what he wants to rather than adding unique things to a bar menu.”
“Your brother is that good of a chef and works at a bar?” she asked dubiously.
“It’s a very long story,” I said.
“We’re going to have time with dinner, right?”
“I guess we will.” I wasn’t sure I would tell her everything, but I could mention how my three brothers and I had come together. My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I almost ignored it, but it was a call rather than a text.
I frowned and paused before we walked inside. “I’m sorry, it’s my sister-in-law. I have to take this.”
She nodded. “Of course.”
“Violet? What’s wrong?”
“Everything’s okay. It’s going to be okay.”
“What happened?” I asked, dread filling me. Elise reached out and took my hand, squeezing it. I looked at her then and nodded, my shoulders relaxing marginally. I wasn’t alone. She might not be able to hear the other side of the conversation, but she was here for me. It was weird, but I liked it.
“Cameron had a little accident.”
Ice speared me. “What happened?” I asked again.
“It was more his appendix than an accident. Sorry. I’m a little off.”
“Are you okay?” I paused. “Is Cameron okay?”
“Everything’s going to be fine. It literally just happened, and I was busy making sure I got Cameron to the hospital and then calling your other brothers because of work and everything. And now I’m calling you. I’m sorry I didn’t do a group chat or something. It honestly didn’t occur to me. I’m running on fumes here.”
“A migraine? Is it the baby?”
I could feel Elise’s attention on me, but thankfully, she didn’t
