Page 48 of Five Brothers

He trusts me. His brothers wouldn’t. They’d be pissed if they found out that he divulged that information.

But I’ll never tell anyone. Mariette’s worked hard, and she’s lived here longer than anywhere else. This is her home.

“When I come back,” he says, “I need this place to still be here, okay?”

I nod, a lump wedging in my throat at the reminder. “I really hate that you’re going there. How are you not depressed all the time? I would be.”

He laughs quietly, relaxed again, and I look up at him. “Are you going to be okay?” I ask.

But he ignores me, instead asking, “You coming to the party tomorrow night?”

“Who will be there?”

“Me.”

I snort, and we both smile at each other, but then he comes in close again, and I know what he’s going to want if I come tomorrow. I inhale through my nose, taking in his scent and seeing if I remember it from that night. He smelled like grease and wood and tasted like heat with a whisper of bourbon, but all I smell now is water and sunscreen.

Leaning down, his forehead nearly brushes mine. “Would you mind it?” he whispers.

The front of his jeans brushes mine, and everything feels alive.

“Doyou mind it?” he teases.

I hear a bell ring outside, and I blink, remembering I have tables. Shit.

I push him away and start to leave. “Y’all are trouble.”

“And so are you,” he calls back.

I leave the cooler, hurrying back to the front.

I’m not going to go tomorrow night. The last thing I need is another party. Even if it’s Iron’s last for a while.

Whatever happens there won’t make my life better, and I have alcohol at home.

And I really don’t want to risk Aracely slashing my tires again. I can’t afford it.

At five thirty, I leave, carrying Macon’s reheated dinner down the road, but the garage is closed.

I knock on the front door, Aracely answering after a minute as screams go off in the background and Dex peals with laughter.

I hold up the bag. “Dinner for Macon,” I say.

I start to take a step in, but she moves in front of me, grabs the bag, and dumps it in the trash can outside, on the side of the porch. “They’re barbecuing tonight. You can go. Thank you.” Her face lights up with a self-satisfied expression. “Or … are you working the ‘night shift’ tonight?”

I back up, her meaning not lost on me.

I drop my eyes, seeing her long smooth legs in a beautiful line right down to the black ankle boots with silver buckles and a three-inch heel. “Cute shoes.”

She arches a brow and walks away, leaving the door open. I smile after her.

We’re going to be friends. She just doesn’t know it yet.

Trace swoops up, pulling me inside. I spot Army and Dallas, busy in the kitchen, and Iron on the floor, playing with Dex. My smile spreads at how cute they are, but then it falls. He’s spending time with his nephew while he can.

“Stay,” Trace tells me.

I shake my head. “No. You’re having a family thing. Besides, I’ve got to get home to my brother and sister anyway.”