Page 120 of Five Brothers

I’m not taking them to my relatives tomorrow. My father can send a cop if he wants to deal with me about his windshield, and my mother can send one, too, if she wants the kids back.

The next morning, I open my eyes, feeling a body next to me. Fog clouds my brain, and I roll over the other way to get room, so I can go back to sleep. It’s too damn hot in here.

But as soon as I move away, I land on another body.

“What the hell?” I breathe out.

Blinking my eyes open, I lift up off the bed and look down, seeing Clay half-underneath me.

She bats her eyelashes. “You were so good.”

The person on my other side laughs, and I turn my head over my shoulder, seeing Liv, smiling wide.

“Y’all …” I climb off Clay, and they both crack up.

I crashed in Liv’s room with Paisleigh, but I don’t see her. I grab my phone, checking the time. It’s only seven. I wipe my eyes. “Shit.”

They’d been staying at Clay’s house. I didn’t expect them here.

Liv kicks me. “Get out of our bed.”

I climb over her. “Well, I’m not taking Iron’s.”

“Why not?” She links her hands behind her head as Clay lays hers on Liv’s chest. “Dallas really is the softest guy. He just needs love.”

I shake out the wrinkles in my hoodie. “He needs a punch in the stomach.”

“God, yes,” Clay chuckles.

He still hasn’t warmed up to her, either.

I pull on the sweatshirt and sweep my hair up into a ponytail. Paisleigh better be in the house. How the hell did she get out without me hearing? Stealthy little shit.

I head for the door, doing a quick sweep of my notifications. Nothing from my father about his broken window.

Good.

“We cleaned up down there when we got in last night,” Clay tells me. “Don’t let them destroy it.”

“Yet, anyway,” Liv adds.

It’s everyone’s day off. Her brothers are definitely going to have some fun.

But I nod anyway, leaving the room.

As soon as I close the door and turn, I smell turkey. I stop, close my eyes, and inhale. Goose bumps spread up my arms.Ah, yes.

I didn’t think they’d actually cook. Not that they don’t know how. Macon and Army, especially, have taken care of their siblings for nearly a decade, but I don’t know … No one in this house seems in the mood for anything other than alcohol lately.

I check the bathroom and see that the sink has been replaced, no evidence that anything had been wrong. I pull out a new toothbrush from my toiletry bag and swipe toothpaste across the bristles.

I clean my teeth, rinse, and drop my toothbrush in the cup with the others, even though I probably shouldn’t keep my toothbrush in here. Dallas will clean the toilet with it.

I open the window before I leave to let in the sweet fall breeze and practically hop down the stairs, feeling delighted with energy. I don’t know why, and I’m not going to ask. We deserve some fun.

I look around for my sister, finally finding her in the pool with Army and Dex. She doggy-paddles, her little head bobbing side to side as she smiles.

I squint. She’s wearing her swimsuit.