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“Long story.”
“Cliff’s notes version?”
I wipe the back of my hand across my mouth. “He came for my girl and lost.”
“Your girl, huh?”
“Yeah,” I nod with confidence. “Mine.”
“So…”
“We’re not together,” I hold up a hand, “but Ellery isn’t up for grabs.”
“Ah…” He shakes his head. “Well, that’s as clear as mud.”
“Let’s just say I marked my territory.”
“Oh yeah?” he grins.
“Yup. Marked it and owned it.”
“Well alright,” Jake laughs. “Good for you. You and she are still under wraps?”
“Yes.” I nod. “We’re working each other out of our systems and it’s what we both need. Nothing’s changed.”
Just saying it hurts because I want things to change. I want to exist in a world where she can be mine.
“Alright,” he laughs. “Whatever you say.”
“What?” I can’t help but ask.
“Nothing man.”
“No, say it.”
“Well…” He rubs his thumb over his chin and shrugs. “It’s obvious you love her and she, you. I don’t know why you two can’t just say fuck it and well, fuck it.”
I look down in the bottle, wondering the same thing. “I told you—”
“Yeah, yeah,” he waves a hand. “Scandal, society, blah, blah, blah. It doesn’t matter. You’re not related. End of story.”
I lift the bottle and drink the rest of it; not wanting to admit I’d thought the same thing, all the way home.
“What about you?” I change the subject and toss the bottle into the trash. “How did it go the other night with the fliers?”
“It was good.” He nods and looks down, realizing the subject of Ellery and I is closed for now. “Jenica’s brother is cool. Actually, all the folks in Cherry Cove are.”
“They are,” I agree. “Got all the fliers hung up?”
“We did,” he nods. “And, when we were done, I went to the copy store and made fresh batches for the other four girls. May as well canvas the fucking state so we did…then partied all night.”
I nod, knowing the likelihood they’re still alive is small, but loving my brother for caring.
“Anything going on there?” I ask, noting the way he said we partied all night. “And by there, I mean Jenica.”
“We’re not talking about me,” he counters.
“Okay,” I laugh. He’ll talk when he’s ready. “Well then, I’m gonna shower, and then what do you say we head into town and grab a couple of burgers? I was going to nap, but there’s something I want to run by you.”
