Page 54 of The Curveball
“Stop whatever you’re doing. Both of you!” Wren stomps over to the table and glares at her two brothers.
Carter holds up his hands. “We’re not doing anything.”
“Liar.” She pokes him in the chest with her finger. “You’re giving Griffin some stupid man-threat of ‘hurt her and you die’.”
“If we don’t, then what are we good for?” Darren says, grinning.
“Fixing my flat tires,” Wren says. She glances at me. “I apologize for anything they said that can be used to blackmail me.”
I chuckle. “Birdie, no worries. We’re bonding. To be honest, I’d think they were pretty crappy brothers if they didn’t give thehurt her and you diespeech.”
“Exactly,” says Carter.
“No.” Wren glares at him, then wheels on brother number two. “Darren, I did not give Emma the same speech when you brought her around.”
“How could you? She’s sweeter than any of us.”
“You guys shouldn’t be here.”
Carter does a quick recap of a phone call with their mom? His mom? I don’t know. Someone’s mom. Then he explains how they found out about the video, and they quickly developed a plan on confronting the guy who must’ve killed their sister.
“So, everyone in our family knows, and not one of you lunatics thought to call me, or hey, send me a text before storming to Griffin’s house?” She turns her gaze to me. “Sorry, I took your car because my mother and my Aunt Cleo about lost their minds and were ready to sue you.”
“Sue me?”
“Back when they thought you tried to commit vehicular manslaughter. I did what I could to bring them to a simmer, but now I need to warn you, they’re basically planning our wedding after I told them how you took over concussion care.”
I flick my brows, fold my arms over my chest, and lean back in my chair. “Name the time and place, Birdie, and I’m there.”
Darren scoffs, but at least he’s smiling. “We would’ve seen your videos if you’d let us in your author groups.”
“Yeah,” Carter says. “Can you blame Aunt Lucy for freaking out when all she got was a random phone call from Grant, then all those rumors filling up the Kings page?”
They’re neck deep in a sibling standoff, and it’s entertaining.
Wren’s mouth puckers. “I’ll once more direct your attention to the fact that someone,anyone, should’ve called me. You two are the worst drama queens.”
“We’re your older brothers,” Carter says, feigning offense. “It is our job.”
“Older by months, Carter.Months.”
Yep. Definitely step or half-siblings. Questions for later.
“And those months give us the duty to look after you.”
“What century am I in? Sisters don’t need older brothers to chaperone their virtue anymore.”
“Pity,” Darren and Carter say at the same time.
“We wouldn’t have to be overbearing if you’d tell us every little thing about your life,” Carter says.
I snort a laugh, but stifle it when Wren holds up a finger, silencing me.
“This is really your fault,” Darren tacks on.
“Keep going, D. Let’s see what happens.” Wren narrows her eyes at her brothers. “You can both chill since Griffin . . .” She hesitates and gives me a quick look. “I’m sure, told you about us, and I don’t need brothers to look after me when my . . . boyfriend is right here.”
I cough on nothing but air. Chest tight, I slam a fist into my sternum until the scratch fades. Yeah, we’ll need to do better with our relationship status once we’re alone.