Page 84 of You Found Me
“Dammit.”
She grinned. “That’s a yes.”
“No it’s not.”
“You might as well admit it. We both know it’ll cause too much comment if I don’t do it. Besides, you won’t disappoint your dad.” She stared at the crowded courtyard. “This is nice. People don’t really connect at the parties I go to. Not like this. I like it.” She glanced sideways at him. “You shouldn’t take the real stuff for granted.”
“Who said I was?”
“How long has it been since you’ve been home?”
“Drink your cider.”
Della saluted him with her mug, then took a sip. “This is fantastic. You know, despite…well, everything…I’m glad we came here. Your family is adorable.”
Ward caught sight of his brother glaring at him. Again. “That’s not the word I’d use.”
Della followed his gaze. “Your brother has your face. Same bushy eyebrows. Same ears. Same scowl.”
“I don’t scowl like that.” He looked away before his brother took the stare as some sort of challenge.
“You really do. Your scowly face is obviously genetic.” Della shifted for a better view. “He’s definitely giving you the stink eye. What happened? You fight over a girl or something?”
He didn’t dignify that with a response.
“So not a girl, then. What else. Let’s see. Football? Which car to drive? Did you tell him he couldn’t be in a band? I bet that’s it.”
“One day he woke up with hormones and turned pissy. He’ll grow out of it.” He finished off his beer.
Della looked from Mason to him. “You sure?”
“Let it go.”
“Hmm.” Della drained the last of her cider and set the mug down. “Have you even told your brother happy birthday?”
He sucked in a deep, patience-building breath. “Not yet.”
“Well, then. No time like the present.” Della grabbed his hand and pulled. “I don’t know what’s going on between the two of you, but what Idoknow is stuff like this festers if you leave it alone too long, and it’s better to just get it over with. It’s just two tiny words. Come on. You can say two tiny words to your baby brother.”
“Don’t call him that. It pisses him off.” Ward put his empty glass down and let her pull him across the courtyard to where Mason stood near the hanging herb garden.
Mason’s gaze locked on Ward.
They were the same height now. His little brother wasn’t so little anymore.
Ward stopped far enough away to leave Mason some personal space, but close enough so they didn’t have to shout. “Happy birthday.”
“Thanks.” It sounded less like gratitude and more like “Fuck off.”
“Introduce me,” Della whispered a little too loudly out of the corner of her mouth.
“I know who you are.” Mason held out a hand. “I’m Mason.”
At least his kid brother managed a genuine smile for Della.
Della shook his hand. “I’m Lucy. It’s nice to meet you.”
“Thanks for coming, and for dragging my brother with you.” He shot a cold look at Ward. “I know he wouldn’t be here otherwise.”