Brody

by Cheryl Douglas

  Ryker looked moved, but he grinned before kicking my chair away from the table. “I’m pretty sure Riley can take all the credit for that.”

  “I’m not talking about that,” I said, knowing Ryker was referring to what happened between Riley and me behind closed doors. “I’m talking about the fact you led by example.”

  “Not in the beginning,” Ryker said, looking out the window. “I did a lot of stupid shit that year after Mom died. It wasn’t until I met Mac and had her to remind me how much you guys all counted on me and looked up to me that I started to get it together.”

  I’d been too wrapped up in my own grief after our mom died to pay much attention to what Ryker was doing. All I knew was we were still living in the same apartment and there was food in the fridge. I didn’t ask how it got there or what he’d had to do to support us. But Ryker was just a little older than his sons now were when Mom died, and looking at Cole and Zane, who were just normal, carefree teens, had made me realize how much Ryker had to sacrifice to be there for us.

  “A lot of brothers would have just walked away, said screw it, it was too much responsibility for a teenager. You gave up your life to give us a shot at a better one, and I’ve never thanked you for that.”

  Ryker shook his head, looking at the burled walnut table. “I didn’t give up anything, man. I did exactly what I wanted to do, no regrets.”

  That was so typical of him. He never wanted to take credit for anything, but he was the first one to take the fall if something went wrong.

  “So any advice on how to make this marriage thing work?” When he looked up, I said, “I can’t screw this up, Ryk. I can’t lose her again.”

  “You want my advice?” Ryker asked, rubbing his eyes. “Be there for her. Listen to her. Ask her what she wants, then try to give it to her. Compromise when you need to. Hold your ground when you feel you should. I’d say don’t be a doormat”—he smirked—“but we both know there’s zero chance of that happening and Riley wouldn’t want you if you were.”

  “You’re right about that.”

  “Don’t try to change too much, Brody,” he said, looking me in the eye. “She fell in love with you just the way you are. The only thing she ever wanted was to know you would be around a year from now, that you wouldn’t bail on her. Now that you’ve given her that, that’s all she needs.”

  “I guess you’re right.” I stood, offering him my hand. “Thanks, man. Seriously. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

  Pulling me into a half-hug, he said, “I love you, man. I’m glad you finally found your way back home… to stay.”

  ***

  After my trip to Ryker’s, I passed by Kane’s, hoping to catch him at home. Thankfully, his truck was in the drive and he didn’t appear to have company this time. Which was good, since the company he’d been keeping was the reason for my visit.

  Kane answered after I rang the doorbell, and he grinned when he saw me. “Hey, man. I thought you’d be too busy with your gorgeous fiancée to pass by here. Aren’t you guys moving into the house tomorrow?”

  “Macy told you that?” I asked, following him into the kitchen.

  I watched him reach into the fridge and hold up a beer and a ginger ale to give me the choice. I pointed at the soft drink.

  “Yeah, she said she’s over at the condo today, helping Riley pack. You must be stoked, huh?”

  “Yeah, I am.” I took a drink while Kane reached into the cupboard for a bag of tortilla chips.

  “I’m hungry as hell,” he said, glancing at his watch. “Even though I just had lunch a couple of hours ago.” He reached into the fridge for a jar of salsa, dumped it in a small glass bowl, and slid it across the island while I sat on a stool and dug in.

  “So listen,” I said, thinking of the most diplomatic way to get the lowdown on his new friendship with my future sister-in-law. “Ri mentioned Macy was here the other night when she passed by.”

  “Yeah, so?” Kane asked, looking wary. “What about it?”

  “You guys seem to be getting pretty friendly. I know I don’t have to remind you she has a boyfriend.”

  He reached into the cabinet below the island and pulled out a stainless steel bowl, then dumped the chips into it. “They’re not getting along. She’s thinking about breaking up with him.”

  “And you think that’ll leave the door open for you?” I asked, shooting him a dirty look. Even though Macy had an older brother, he’d lived out of state since he graduated high school, so it was my job to look out for her. Especially now that we were going to be family.

  “We’re just friends, man. Nothing more.” Kane scooped up a handful of chips before leaning against the counter behind him, popping the chips into his mouth one after another. “I don’t mess with girls who have boyfriends. You know that.”

  “Has she asked you what she should do about Brendan?”

  Kane shrugged. “She might have.”

  “And what did you tell her?”

  He leaned forward and grabbed another handful of chips. “I told her if she’s not feeling it anymore, she should ditch the guy.”

  “You ever think of advising her to try to work it out? I know this dude, Kane. He’s a decent guy, and he loves her. She could do a lot worse.”

  Kane scowled before popping the top on his soda. “Macy shouldn’t have to settle. She’s too good for that.”

  It was time to stop pussy-footing around the real issue. “What the hell are you doing with her? You got a thing for her, or what?”

  “That’s none of your business,” he said, setting the can down carefully before crossing his arms.

  “The hell it’s not. She’s going to be my sister-in-law. You’re my brother. Can’t you see how that would be a disaster for me and Ri if things went south for you two? We’d be stuck in the middle, and that’s the last place we wanna be.”

  “Understood.”

  That should have made me feel better, but it didn’t. “Besides, she’s too young for you.” Not that I expected that to make any difference. Kane rarely dated women his own age. He said most were divorced with kids and he wasn’t into drama.

  “She’s eight years younger than I am, not twenty.”

  “Then you have thought about hooking up with her?”

  He reached into the fridge and grabbed a platter of sliced cheese and grapes. Something told me Kane hadn’t done that, which left Macy as its creator. Unless he was seeing someone I didn’t know about, which I doubted.

  “She’s a beautiful woman,” he said before popping a grape in his mouth. “I’d have to be blind not to notice.”

  “It’d be crazy to start anything with her.” I tried to think of all the logical reasons this union would never work. “She’s going back to Nashville soon. She loves it there. Music is her life, you know.”

  “I know.” He popped a square of cheese into his mouth. “I asked her to bring her guitar over last night. I wanted to hear some of the songs she’s been working on. She’s really talented.”

  “She was here again last night?” I asked, swiping a hand over my hair. “What the hell? Have you guys been seeing each other every day, or what?”

  “Again, none of your business.”

  I knew my fiancée was as concerned about this as I was, and the only thing I wanted her thinking about right now was her business, settling into our new home, and planning our wedding. But Riley’s family would always be a priority for her, just like mine would be a priority for me.

  “Would it do a damn bit of good if I asked you to back off… for me?” I rarely asked Kane for a favor, so when I did, he took it seriously.

  “I don’t know where this thing with Macy is going—maybe nowhere. But you know I don’t make promises I can’t keep.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  Riley

  “So have you heard from Stephan since he checked into that treatment facility?” Macy asked as she packed the last of my crystal glasses.

  “Yeah, he called me this
morning as a matter of fact. He wanted to let me know he was doing well and he thinks this place is going to help him get back on track.”

  “Good,” Macy said, adding my juicer to the box containing the rest of my small kitchen appliances. “Maybe now he’ll leave you alone.”

  “Oh, I’m pretty sure he will. I told him Brody and I were getting married, and moving in together tomorrow.”

  “How did he take it?” Macy asked, scooping a handful of tea towels and dishcloths out of a drawer and tossing them into a half-empty box. She wasn’t as meticulous about packing as I was, but since I needed the help, I didn’t complain or offer direction—she wouldn’t take it anyway.

  “He congratulated me,” I said, rolling my eyes when she took a cookie out of the canister before dumping the rest into a Ziploc bag. “Said he was happy for me.”

  “And you believed him?”

  “I don’t know. I think he’s still getting used to the idea of me being back with Brody, but he’ll be fine with it eventually. What choice does he have, right?”

  “Right.” She looked around my galley kitchen. “You’ve lived here a long time. Are you going to miss it?”

  “It’s the first place I bought all on my own. Of course I’m going to miss it.”

  “You’re planning to sell then, not rent it out?” Macy asked, wrapping utensils in packing paper.

  “Why?” I hadn’t considered renting to Macy, but that would be the perfect solution if she decided to stay here for a while instead of going back to Nashville. “You interested?”

  She laughed, shaking her head. “Me? No. Nashville’s home for me, you know that.”

  “But what about Brendan? Won’t going back to Nashville mean going back to him?” Since they were living together, I didn’t see how it could be avoided.

  “Not necessarily,” she said, packing the plastic cutlery tray on top of the stacked rolls of cutlery. “I was talking to Kane about it and—”

  “You were talking to Kane about it?” I asked in the midst of packing one of my favorite vintage teapots my grandmother had given me. “Why not talk to me if you need advice?”

  Brody and I were both uneasy about the relationship developing between my sister and his brother. I loved Kane, but he didn’t do relationships, and Macy was a free spirit who loved to travel and make music. No way could they make that work, which meant awkward holiday dinners and children’s birthday parties in our future.

  “Kane is objective.” She bit her lip as though she was waiting for me to unleash on her.

  “And I’m not?” I asked, holding the teapot against my chest. “Thanks a lot, sis.”

  “Please don’t take this the wrong way,” she said, looking pained, “but you can get way too overprotective sometimes. If I’d told you some of the shit that’s gone down with Brendan, you’d go all crazy on me, or worse, on him.”

  “Macy,” I said, lowering my voice, “I swear to God, if he’s hurt you in any way—”

  “He hasn’t. It’s not like that, trust me. It’s just… he’s really intense. And every time I talk to him about taking a break, he goes off the deep end.”

  My heart pounded as I thought about my little sister feeling trapped by a man who intimidated her. “What does that mean? He goes off the deep end?”

  “He just throws these temper tantrums and storms out. Then he comes back all apologetic, usually with flowers.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me any of this?” I asked, taking a serving tray from her and setting it on top of a box so I could grab her hands. “I thought you knew you could always come to me. You’re not just my sister, Mace. You’re my best friend.”

  She reached over the box between our feet to hug me. “I love you too. But there’s no way I’m going to bring you down with my problems. You’re finally happy, planning to marry the man of your dreams, and there’s no way I’m going to ruin that for you.”

  “But—”

  “Hey, babe,” Brody said, slamming the door. “I brought a pizza home for dinner. I figured we’d be busy packing most of the night and…” He smiled when he saw Macy. “Hey, girl. Glad you’re still here. You can join us.”

  “I’d like to,” she said, sniffing appreciatively, “but I have plans.”

  “With?” I asked, fearing I already knew.

  Without answering, she gave me a kiss on the cheek and promised to pass by the new house tomorrow afternoon so she could help me unpack. She grabbed Brody’s jaw as she looked up at him. “Hey, you be good to her, okay?”

  “You know I will,” he said and kissed her forehead.

  We watched her grab her purse and walk out the door.

  I sighed, sinking against the wall. “I’m really worried about her. This thing with Brendan may be more than she can handle.”

  He drew me into his arms and kissed my temple. “Your little sister is one of the toughest chicks I know. She’s gonna be just fine. You don’t have to worry about her.”

  Of course I did. It was my job to worry about her. I’d been doing it since the day she was born. I was in the first grade when we welcomed her home from the hospital, and I vowed to my mom I would always look out for her. Ever since, I’d been protecting her from bullies on the playground, trying to be a good role model, and making sure she didn’t stray too far off course. She may be a grown woman with a life of her own, but that didn’t mean I’d stopped caring or worrying about her.

  “Did you talk to Kane?” I asked, tipping my head back to look him in the eye.

  “I did.” He sighed before reaching for the pizza box he’d set down and leading me into the living room. “He said Macy was off-limits as far as he was concerned.”

  “Good,” I said, releasing the breath I’d been holding. “I’m glad he feels that way.”

  “Yeah…” Brody offered me a piece of pizza before he took one for himself. “But not for the reasons you’re hoping. She’s not off-limits because she’s your sister. She’s off-limits because she still has a boyfriend.”

  “Ugh, so if she breaks up with Brendan, you think he might pursue her?” I knew firsthand how hard it was to resist a Steele brother, and if I hadn’t been able to, how could I expect my sister to?

  “He didn’t come right out and say that, but I got the impression he was seriously considering it.” Brody took a bite of his pizza, chewed, and swallowed. “The age thing didn’t seem to bother him, not that I thought it would.”

  I didn’t think that would be a deterrent either. He wasn’t a cradle robber or anything, but he’d always believed age was just a number. “So what are we going to do?” I picked a pepperoni off my pizza and popped it in my mouth.

  “Nothing.”

  “Nothing? Are you serious? I can’t do nothing, Brody. This is my sister we’re talking about!”

  “And my brother,” he said, shaking his head. “I know it sucks, but we’ve told them how we feel. Bottom line, there’s not a damn thing we can do if they decide to hook up, Ri.”

  Hook up? I didn’t want my sister to be another one of Kane’s random hook-ups. “Maybe if I try talking to him? We’ve always had a good relationship. Maybe he’ll listen to me.”

  “You’re welcome to try, but I don’t think you’ll get anywhere with him. You know how hard-headed Kane can be.”

  “And you think he’s made up his mind that he wants my sister?” I asked, reaching for the bottled water I’d left on the table earlier.

  “That’s the impression I got.” He kissed me when I grimaced. “Sorry, babe. I know that’s not what you want to hear, but I’m afraid we’re just gonna have to watch this one play out.”

  ***

  I was working on my second cup of coffee by the time the movers arrived with the truck containing all of my worldly possessions. Brody had a bunch of stuff in storage, so another truck was following with his stuff. I’d been so excited last night, I’d barely slept, hence the second cup of coffee. When the doorbell rang, I assumed it was the movers. Instead it was Mackenzie, Jaci, a
nd Skylar.

  “Hey, what’re you guys doing here?” I asked, smiling from ear to ear.

  All three ladies were already my friends, and I was so excited that in just a few short months, they would officially be my family. Skylar was the exception, but I knew it was only a matter of time before Seb put a ring on her finger. I’d never seen him happier or more in love.

  “What do you think we’re doing here?” Mac asked, pushing up the sleeves on her long-sleeved T-shirt. “We came to help you get settled. I know Macy’s probably going to help too, but we figured you could use all hands on deck today.”

  “You are so right,” I said, hugging each of them as they passed. “Thanks for coming.”

  “And we come bearing gifts,” Jaci said as she waved a box from their bakery under my nose.

  “Oh my God, are those Mary’s cinnamon rolls? I love those things!” Brody had teased that I could eat a whole box by myself, and while I’d never put his theory to the test, I suspected he was right.

  “Don’t we all?” Skylar said, walking into the kitchen so she could set the take-out tray of coffees from the bakery on the island. “I swear I’ve gained ten pounds since I met these girls.”

  “You’ve gained weight?” Jaci snorted. “I’m the one who’s gained weight.” Her eyes traveled over all of us before she bit her lip. “But at least I have an excuse.”

  I could have sworn our jaws dropped in unison before I blurted, “Oh my God, are you pregnant?”

  Jaci squealed before clamping a hand over her mouth. “I shouldn’t have said anything. This is your day, yours and Brody’s. I didn’t mean to steal your thunder.”

  I rolled my eyes before pulling her into a tight embrace. “Please, we’re moving, not getting married. And I couldn’t be happier for you guys. Congratulations, sweetie.”

  “Thanks.” Jaci laughed through her tears as she took turns hugging Mac and Skylar. “Damn pregnancy hormones. I swear I’m such a mess these days.”