She shakes her head. “She stepped out to make a phone call. She’ll be right back. Don’t forget to sign in.” She taps the clipboard on the front desk, and I scrawl my name across it.
“Your dad told me about the party for Chloe.”
“I know it’s short notice, but I was thinking next Saturday. I’ll let a few of the guys know. It’ll just be something small with a few of her friends.”
“Next Saturday is perfect. But you know you don’t have to do this, right?”
Rose smiles and fiddles with a paper on the desk. “Chloe is like family. She helped Dad throw a graduation party for a me last year, so this is the least I can do.”
I open my mouth, but Rose stops me.
“She’s my best friend, Linc. I want to do this.”
“She’s lucky to have you in her life.”
Rose swallows. “I’m here for you too, you know.”
Chloe’s laughter saves me, and I glance toward the front door in time to see her walk through it, followed by my friend Deacon.
Chloe sees me and smiles. Her smile is bright and reminds me so much of our mother’s. Chloe and I share the same eyes—big and round, the color of dark chocolate, and framed by thick black lashes—something we inherited from our father. But everything else she got from Mom. Her high cheek bones, small button nose, and dark straight hair make it nearly impossible to look at her and not see the woman who brought us into this world.
It’s also something she doesn’t like to be reminded of.
“Hey,” she says, taking a step toward me.
“What are you doing here?” I pull her in for a hug, making sure to nudge Deacon back a few steps in the process.
He chuckles. The last thing Chloe needs is to get tied up with one of these assholes.
Deacon is a damn good friend, but the guy can’t keep his dick in his pants to save his life, and Chloe deserves better than that.
Shit. I wonder if that’s how Rhett would feel if he found out about Adley and me.
“It’s Friday. You always come here on Friday, and I wanted to see you. Did you just come from Dad’s house?”
“Yup.” I nod for her to follow me to the locker room.
Chloe turns around. “It was great seeing you again, Deacon. I’ll call you later, Rose,” she waves to them before following me.
I’m not a fan of Chloe coming to The Barn. It isn’t exactly in the best part of town, and some of the men that frequent the place are questionable at best. But we grew up here, and whether I like it or not, she feels safe and comfortable, and I don’t want to take that away from her.
We reach the locker room, and Chloe knows the routine. She covers her eyes until I confirm that it’s empty.
“You’re good.”
She drops her hand, along with her purse, in time to catch the roll of tape I toss at her.
“Are we still on for Sunday?” she asks.
“Sunday?”
“Kid Connection. We volunteered for this Sunday, remember?”
“Right. I forgot.”
“You don’t have to come. They always have plenty of volunteers show up.”
Three years ago, I saw a flier stapled to a pole asking for adults who would be willing to volunteer their time at a local shelter to be a mentor. All of the kids in the shelter are waiting for a foster home or to be adopted, and the majority of them have never had a strong adult presence in their lives. Chloe and I know all too well what’s it like to grow up without stable parents, and we saw it as an opportunity to give back. We volunteer about once a month, sometimes more if they need it.
“I’ll be there.” Not going isn’t an option.
“How was Dad? Still sober?” Chloe asks, wrapping the tape around my wrist.
“Yup. Six weeks. He asked about you.”
Her hands falter for only a second. “Oh yeah?”
“Says he hasn’t seen you in a few days.”
“I’ve been busy.”
“That’s what I told him. How are finals going?”
The smile that touches her lips is genuine, and I don’t see it nearly enough. “Good. Only one more to go.”
“You got any interviews lined up?”
She shakes her head and twists the tape around my left wrist one last time before ripping the end off and moving to the right hand. “After I finish finals, I’ll drop some applications.”
“Don’t forget to order your cap and gown. I saw the form sitting on your kitchen counter the last time I was over there.”
“I’m, uh…” Chloe clears her throat. “I’m not walking at graduation.”
“What do you mean you’re not walking? You worked hard for your teaching degree, and I want to see you up on that stage.”
“If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t have had the chance to go to college. You’ve spent enough on me. I don’t want you to waste your money on a cap and gown that’ll only get worn once. Plus…” She takes a deep breath and blows it out.
“What?”
“I know how tight money has been since you lost your spot with the PBR and—”
“Order the damn cap and gown, and register for graduation.”
She frowns, but doesn’t look up, and I make a mental note to call the college and make sure she follows through.
“I’m going to pay you back,” she says softly. “For everything.”
“I don’t want you to pay me back.”
“I know you don’t, but I want to. You aren’t my parent, Linc. You’re my brother. It’s not your job to take care of me.”
“It is my job. I want you to have all of the things I never had. That’s why I pushed you to follow your dreams. You’re going to get out of this town and make something of yourself.”
Ripping the tape, she tosses the roll on the counter and looks up at me, her eyes hesitant and worried. “I’m not leaving you here to care for Dad by yourself. It’s me and you against the world, remember?”
Hooking an arm around her neck, I pull my baby sister in for a hug the way I’ve done so many times over the years. Although at twenty-four, she’s not so little anymore.
“Always. It’s always me and you against the world, but that doesn’t mean you can’t venture out and see what that world has to offer.”
My phone vibrates in my pocket, and I pull it out, smiling when I see a text from Adley.
I made it.
My fingers fly against the screen. Good.
“Who is that?”
“Adley.” I tuck my phone in my back pocket.
Chloe takes a step back. “Oh yeah? You still seeing her?”
“If that’s what you want to call it.”
“How are Rhett and the rest of the Brady Bunch doing?”
I grin and shake my head.
“What? Come on, that was funny. From what you’ve told me, the Allens are exactly like the Brady Bunch.”
“You don’t even know them. They’re great people.”
“I’ve met Rhett, and if they’re anything like him, I’m sure they are great. When do I get to meet Adley?”
“You don’t need to meet her. We’re short term, remember?”
“Uh-huh.” She doesn’t look convinced. “You’ve been saying that for five months.”
This isn’t exactly the conversation I want to be having with Chloe. “So, if the Allens are the Brady Bunch, what does that make us?” I ask.
Her smile grows. “The Bundys.”
“I like the Bundys.”
“Me too.” Chloe grabs her purse. “But I guarantee you Marsha Brady didn’t marry Bud Bundy.”
Her words are a slap to the face, but I refuse to let her see the effect they have on me.
Chloe takes a breath and looks down. “That came out wrong. I didn’t mean that in a bad way. I just don’t want to see you get hurt.”
Squaring my shoulders, I puff up my chest. “I can’t get hurt.”
“Right.” She nods slowly. “I forgot. You’re invincible.”
“D
amn straight. Now if you’re done annoying me, I need to get to work.”
“Wait. There’s one more thing we need to talk about.”
“What’s that?”
“Where I’m going to live. I have to be out of student housing by the end of this month. Rose offered to let me to come stay with her and Chelsie. Donna moved out, so they have an extra room.”
“No. Absolutely not.”
Chloe parks a hand on her hip. “It’s cute that you think you can tell me what to do.”
“Chloe—” I grit my teeth, and she places a hand on my shoulder.
“I know you don’t like Rose, but it’s only until I get a job and can afford a place of my own. They’re letting me stay for free.”
“It’s not that I don’t like her…”
“You two have history. I get it,” she says. “But she’s one of my closest friends, and I’m sure as hell not moving in with Dad.”
“You can live with me. The house is ours anyway. Grandma left it to the both of us.”
That was another thing that pissed Dad off. My grandparents didn’t protect us from our parents, but they were smart enough not to leave what little they had to them.
She doesn’t look so sure about my offer. “Is that a good idea?”
“Why wouldn’t it be?”
“Oh, I don’t know. How about because of your girlfriend, who isn’t really your girlfriend, who stays with you most nights?”
“She’s not my girlfriend, and she was staying the night because she had clinicals in Houston. It was pointless for her to drive an hour home. Now that clinicals are over, I’m not even sure when I’ll see her again.”
“You’ll see her. Does she have a toothbrush in your bathroom?”
“Yes, but—”
“Clothes in your closet?”
“A few, but—”
“She’s your girlfriend. I’m moving in with Rose, end of discussion. And I’d really like to meet Adley. If you’re going to keep seeing her, bring her around. If she’s important to you, she’s important to me.”
I open my mouth to tell Chloe that Adley isn’t important to me, but I can’t get the words to come out. Chloe grins.
Nothing like getting schooled on relationships by your little sister. Gripping the back of my neck, I look at the door to make sure no one is listening to our conversation.
“It’s okay to be happy, Linc. You deserve it more than anyone else I know. Stop fighting it.”
Is that what I’m doing?
I’ve never considered myself a relationship kind of guy, and my parents sort of ruined the idea of love and marriage. But the thought of another man touching Adley makes me want to murder someone.
“Oh, this is going to be fun to watch.” With a kiss to my cheek, Chloe disappears from the locker room.
I’m left staring at the door, wondering when my best friend’s little sister became my girlfriend.
4
Adley
I breeze through the front door of Elegant Brides fifteen minutes after our scheduled appointment. Rhett is manning Animal Haven so Mo can shop for a wedding dress. There was no way Claire, Tess, and I were going to miss out on this. Claire took a day off, Tess closed up shop for the afternoon, and I’m officially done with college. So here we are.
“You’re late,” Claire says, not looking up from her phone. She’s sitting in a plush, pale pink chair, and the smile on her face tells me she’s probably texting with my brother Trevor.
Or worse yet…sexting. I shudder at the thought.
“Sorry, I hit traffic.”
“Traffic?” Tess furrows her brow. “In Heaven?”
Tossing my purse on the floor, I collapse onto a chair beside Tess and without thinking much of it, reply, “No, Houston.”
“Houston?” Claire tucks her phone in her purse and looks up. “What were you doing in Houston?”
“I—” Dragging the word out, I try to come up with an excuse and then decide to go with the truth. “It’s none of your business.”
Tess lifts an eyebrow.
“You’ve been spending a lot of time in Houston,” Mo says from the dressing room. “And according to your brother, your clinicals have already ended, which can only mean one thing… Adley Allen, are you hiding something from us? A man, perhaps?” she sings, stepping out from behind the curtain.
Her words don’t even process in my brain because all I can concentrate on is the gorgeous white dress my soon-to-be sister-in-law is wearing.
“Mo,” I breathe, standing up, Tess and Claire close behind me. “You look stunning.”
“Really?” she asks, biting her lip. “You don’t think it’s too…”
“Sexy?” Claire offers.
“Yeah, that.”
I shake my head. “Rhett is going to swallow his tongue when he sees you. And have I mentioned that he’s the luckiest man in the entire world?”
“Hey.” Claire pouts. “I’m dating your brother too.”
Laughing, I wrap an arm around her shoulders. “Trevor and Rhett are both the luckiest men in the world. Now if we can only find women for Cooper and Beau.”
Mo, Claire, and I turn toward Tess. Her eyes widen. She throws her hands up and takes a giant step back. “Oh, no. Don’t look at me.”
“Why not? You’d be a perfect addition to our family,” I say.
“She’s right.” Mo nods. “You and Coop would make a great couple. And you’re already friends, so it’s a win-win.”
“Absolutely not.”
Mo shrugs. “Fine. Beau it is. Hey…” She snaps her fingers and looks at me. “I’ve got the perfect idea. I can pair her and Beau up at the wedding.”
“No,” Tess protests. “I don’t need you to set me up. I’m more than capable of getting my own date.”
“I love it,” I say, ignoring Tess.
Claire nods. “They’ll have to walk down the aisle together—”
“And sit together at the reception,” I add.
Mo’s eyes widen with excitement. “And we can have one of those awkward couple dances that everyone hates, and they’ll have to dance together to some sappy love song.”
“Yes!” I hold up my hand, and she delivers an enthusiastic high five, but when I turn around, Tess looks anything but excited. “What?”
“I’m not going to date your brother.”
“I said that once too,” Claire says. “Didn’t work out so well for me.”
“Yeah, well, I have more self-control than you.”
“Mmm-hmm,” Claire hums. “You say that now. Wait until you’re trapped in a tiny bathroom with his humongous erection pressed against your hip. I bet you won’t have self-control then.”
“Well, I won’t have to worry about that because Beau and I will never be trapped in a tiny bathroom together.” Tess takes a breath and continues. “And why are we talking about me when Mo is standing here in the most gorgeous dress I’ve ever seen?”
I point a finger at Tess. “This discussion isn’t over, but you’re totally right.” I turn toward Mo. “I don’t care how many dresses you’ve picked out to try on today, this is my favorite.”
Mo takes a shuddery breath and steps in front of the mirror. With her eyes locked on the dress, she runs her hands over the lace bodice and down the A-line tulle skirt. “But you haven’t even seen the others.”
“Then go try them on, but I’m telling you now, this is the dress you’re going to choose. It’s delicate and elegant, just like the woman wearing it.”
“I don’t know that anyone’s ever used the word delicate to describe me.”
Mo is the owner and operator of a local no-kill shelter. Animal Haven is her life, and on any given day you can find her in a pair of jeans, a flannel shirt, and her favorite pair of Ariats.
“They will when they see you in this dress.” Taking her by the shoulder, I guide her back to the dressing room.
Wrapping her arms around my neck, Mo pulls me in for a hug. “I love you, Adley.”
“Thank you, guys, for coming today. It means the world to me,” Mo says, holding out her hand to Tess without letting me go.
Tess wrinkles her nose. “I’m not much of a hugger.”
“Get used to it. As soon as my mom finds out you’re going to marry Beau, she won’t stop hugging you.”
“She’s right,” Claire says, tightening her hold on Mo and me. “Vivian is a hugger.”
“Come on, Tess,” Mo encourages.
“Fine.” Tess joins the group hug, albeit loosely. “But I’m not going to marry Beau.”
A throat clears behind us, and we all look up at the shop owner. She’s standing at the back of the room, a stack of dresses draped over her arm. “Sorry to interrupt; I was just wondering if you’re ready for the next dress.”
Mo disentangles herself from our arms. “I’m ready.”
“Great.” The chubby older woman scurries into the dressing room to hang up the other dresses and then reaches for the zipper on the back of Mo’s dress. “Let me know if you need help—different sizes, a drink of water, or anything really. I like to give the bride and her friends space to talk and explore, but I’m here if you need anything.”
“Thank you.” Mo smiles graciously. “I appreciate that.”
“All right.” I clap my hands, rubbing them together. “Let’s do this.”
With an excited squeal, Mo turns for the dressing room while Claire, Tess, and I sit down.
“This is going to be a long afternoon,” Tess whispers.
“Just remember that when it’s your turn,” I say, pulling my phone from purse so I can text Lincoln.
“If I ever get married, I’ll probably elope.”
“When, not if. And if you rob me of seeing my oldest brother tie the knot, I may never forgive you.”
Tess tosses a breath mint, smacking me in the head. I fumble, but manage to catch it before it falls to the ground.
“I don’t want to hear another word about Beau,” she says.
I run my fingers across my mouth in a universal zipping it motion and pop the Tic Tac in my mouth. I unlock my cell and type on the screen.
I made it.
Lincoln’s reply is instant. Good.
One word, nothing more.
Crazy, Stupid Love Page 3
