Page 134 of Pinch of Love

“Don’t sit on my dog.”

“Where is it?” Hunter asked, glancing around. “Is that what smells? Did you forget to feed it?

“It doesn’t stink in here,” I grumbled.

“Well, you do.”

“I showered this morning.”

“In a bottle of whisky?”

I chuckled, tossing a pillow right at the sound of my brother.

“Ouch. Damn. What was that for?”

I sat up, glaring at my younger sibling.

Maybe he and my older brother had it all figured out.

Just keep it casual.

“Looks like things went as expected with Maya Bailey.” My brother twisted his lips into frustration. “But at least you didn’t let it get too far.”

My brows rose, and I reached for the flat Dr. Pepper to sip. I’d left it overnight, but it would do the trick.

“Dude, how old is this pizza?” My brother held up a slice of pepperoni.

“Last night. Not so big of a deal that it didn’t make it to the trash last night. I’m on vacation.”

“This is your idea of a vacation?”

I stretched my arms toward the ceiling and looked around for Chewie. I knew what would get her going.

“Here, Chew-Chew.” I opened a bag of almonds.

The sound made her come running down the stairs, nearly crashing into my ankles. As I fed Chewie half an almond, my stomach tightened.

This was Maya’s trick to get Chewie to listen, and it was magical.

Everything about Maya was magical. I shook my head when her words rushed through me from that conversation. She thought I had the perfect family and was out of her league.

Which was absolutely crazy.

Asinine.

I froze and thought back to all the times she’d told me she was a mess and implied that she didn’t deserve love. She didn’t necessarily come right out and say it, but her eyes said it. Her actions said it. It was like she wore the shackles of her parents’ choices as her own.

“I need to fly out to North Carolina,” I told Hunter.

His eyes widened. “I don’t think that’s really the way to go at this point. We’ve headed down this path, and look where it’s gotten you.”

I scrubbed my face with my shirt. “I’m fine. I’ve been self-reflecting.”

“You haven’t answered any of our calls.” My brother shook his head. “You don’t need to get into this any deeper. She’s gone.”

“I’m already deep, man. Maya deserves to be loved by someone who knows how amazing she is.”

“I don’t disagree.” Hunter nodded. “But that doesn’t have to be you.”