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“Fu—” His gaze darts to Meadow, then back to Archer. “I always stay out of trouble. It just tries to find me.”
Archer chuckles. “Can’t argue with you there.”
“Then you should help him, Uncle Archer,” Meadow says. Archer and Cass aren’t related, but they’re best friends and have been for as long as I can remember. It was Archer who jumped in to help Cass when his wife left. I’ve always wondered if there is more between the two of them, but if there is, they keep it on the down-low. While I know Archer is queer, I don’t know Cass’s sexuality, but they’d make an interesting pair—the ginger, broad-chested Cass, and Archer, who’s long and lean, with dark hair, sharp cheekbones, and a strong jaw.
“Don’t need his help,” East says along with Archer’s, “He’s too damn stubborn. It’s not my fault.” Easton rolls his eyes.
“I heard Morgan is back,” Cass says. Though we didn’t hang out when Morgan lived here, you can’t be a Birchbark resident and not know that Morgan Swift and I used to be inseparable.
“Yeah, he’s back.” I don’t know why his simple statement makes me shift in my seat. What, no one is supposed to talk about Morgan?
“I’m sure that’s nice for you,” Cass says. “And for the family.”
Easton laughs humorlessly. “You clearly don’t know my family.”
“East…” I warn. This is the kind of shit that just makes things worse because Gregory and Rhett are so protective of their family.
Easton holds up his hands in surrender. “I’ll be good.”
Archer pipes up before I can say anything. “I’m sensing a running theme with you.”
“Don’t know what you’re talking about, Officer Thorn.” Easton gives his attention to Meadow. “Your dress is pretty. I like pink.”
My mouth nearly drops open, and Archer’s forehead wrinkles. I’ve never seen Easton interact with a kid before. He vacillates between aloof one moment and angry the next, so the simple compliment he gave the little girl surprises me.
“Thank you. I made it with a new sewing machine Daddy got me last Christmas,” Meadow tells him. “I like to make clothes. Your tattoos are cool.”
“You can’t have any of those until you’re forty,” Cass tells her, making the rest of us laugh. He sets his large hand on her head. “We should let you get back to your meal now. Have a good night.”
They say their goodbyes, and I can’t help but notice that Easton doesn’t reply. He’s back to not paying others any attention, biting into his burger like he doesn’t have the time for them.
“Archer seems to want to look out for you,” I say, risking his frustration.
“Never had anyone look out for me, and don’t need it now.”
“That’s not true. Morgan and Rhett, they might not have always done the best job or been the best at saying it, but they’ve always watched out for you. They love you.”
He sets his burger down and leans back. “Why do you do this? Why do you try to be the fucking savior of the Swifts? You got a brother kink or what? Now it’s my turn?”
Anger boils in my gut. “Fuck off, Easton.”
“Yeah, I forgot. It’s really only Morgan for you. The rest of us are a way to get closer to him.”
He doesn’t believe that. I know he doesn’t, but this is Easton putting his walls up. “You’re being a dick. Stop now before you say something you’ll regret…or something I can’t forgive.”
“Sometimes you act like you’re not afraid of anything, like you have all the fucking answers, but you don’t, and you’re just as scared as us. You want Morgan, but you’re afraid to have him. You’ve spent your whole life believing you can never have him, torturing yourself by staying close but never putting yourself out here. You’ve never told him how you feel.”
My heart jumps into my throat, hand fisting on the top of the table. “That’s enough.” My voice came out louder than intended, and a woman at a neighboring table looks worriedly our way.
“Fuck.” Easton rubs a hand over his short, blond hair, then drops his elbows onto the table, forehead resting on his arms. I can tell by the way his body is moving that his leg is bouncing.
I tug my wallet out of my pocket, grab a few bills, and toss them to the table. He’s sorry. I know he is, but I don’t have it in me to hear it tonight. Hell, knowing East, he might not even say it. “I’m gonna head out. Have a good night.”
My gaze catches Archer’s as I walk away. He shoots a glance between me and East, studying the situation, before Meadow says something to him, and his attention is pulled to the little girl again.
The second I’m in my Jeep, the palms of my hands come down over and over on the steering wheel, until they throb.
Easton can be a dick sometimes, but damned if he isn’t right.
