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“Dinner was perfect,” he says.
“Right, so what’s eating you?”
I know damned well what’s eating him, and Maddie probably does as well. Why she’s playing dumb is beyond me. But what can Jesse say? It’s not like Dave said he came here to be with Maddie. He came because he needed a vacation—a well-earned one.
“Dragon,” Jesse finally says.
Okay. Maybe I’m on the wrong track. He did just find out yesterday that Dragon’s not coming back. Even though he has a replacement drummer who’s more technically accurate than Dragon, Derek doesn’t have that unnamed thing that makes Dragon’s percussion shine.
If Dave’s appearance were bothering Jesse, he’d say so. He’s never one to mince words.
He downs his bourbon quickly and rises. “I’m hitting the sack.”
I rise as well.
“No, Brianna. Stay here and talk with your cousin. I’m sure you have a lot of catching up to do.”
“A lot of catching up?” I shake my head. “We’ve only been gone a week.”
But Jesse doesn’t reply. He simply throws a few five-pound notes on the table and leaves.
I take the money. “I’ll return this to him.”
“I see what’s bothering him,” Dave says. “Two of his sisters are engaged to Rake-a-teers, and he thinks I’ve come after the third one. Go with him. Tell him that’s not what this is about.”
“I will.” I rise and glance at Maddie.
And that beaming smile that filled her whole face with beautiful light?
It’s gone.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Jesse
Jesus fuck.
David Simpson? And Maddie? Seriously?
I breathe in deeply, trying to ease the tension that’s turned my body into stone.
I made my peace with Brock and Rory.
I even made my peace with Donny and Callie, and I’ve gotten to the point where I’m glad I did. Holding on to a high school rivalry is ridiculous and immature.
I’ve made my peace—sort of—with Brianna’s age, with the fact that she may not be able to commit to what I want to ask of her.
But Maddie? Really?
I have to let her go to a Steel too?
I laugh at the absurdity of my own thoughts. I don’t want my littlest sister with a Steel, but I’m with a Steel.
Good going, Jess. You’ve become a hypocrite as well as an idiot.
I return to my room and close the door. Five minutes later, a loud knock.
I don’t have to wonder who it is. I already know. I open the door to Brianna standing in the hallway. She doesn’t look happy.
