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“I thought the party was for Gabe and Adam,” Lindsey said.
“It is,” Caitlyn said, “but we thought Owen wouldn’t be able to avoid Kellen if we hold the party here.”
“The house is much too small for a party,” Lindsey said. With three, sometimes four, adults living there, it was already overcrowded.
“But the yard is perfect,” Dawn said.
If the weather cooperated.
“We’ll rent tables and set up out there,” Caitlyn said.
“I’m happy to help,” Lindsey said. “What do you want me to do?”
They hashed out tasks for each of them. Lindsey was charged with the guest list, and Caitlyn suggested that she get Jordan, one of the band’s roadies, to help her.
“He’s our best bet for not forgetting to invite those who should get invitations.”
“But why do you think Jordan will help me?” Lindsey asked.
“Oh, please,” Caitlyn said. “Haven’t you noticed the way he hovers around you? He’s completely smitten.”
Smitten? Jordan was just nice. And because he was nice, he probably would help her, but he wasn’t interested in her. How could he be? She was pregnant with the child of one of his bosses.
“I’d better get going,” Dawn said. “Best if Owen doesn’t catch me here. He’ll think we’re plotting something.”
“We are plotting something.” Caitlyn laughed, her dark eyes crinkling at the corners.
“Keep me updated.” Dawn brushed back her long deep red hair as she rose from the table.
She was so tall and graceful. Lindsey felt like a bloated hippo beside her.
Dawn offered them both a wave. “Be seeing you, Lindsey.”
Lindsey waved back a little too eagerly. She was so uncool, but the ice between them had melted since Kellen had been cleared of fatherhood, and she was so glad for that. Even Caitlyn had warmed a bit. At least enough to include her in party preparations.
“See you, Dawn,” Lindsey said, and the thought didn’t fill her with dread.
Life was definitely starting to look up.
Chapter Ten
Chad and Owen stopped outside the dilapidated fence of the worst-looking house in the neighborhood and exchanged smiles. It was located about halfway between Owen’s house and their parents’ house—close to family, but not on top of them. It was also only blocks from the gym he and Owen had just left. Perfect location. Less than perfect house.
“Maybe I can afford it, “Chad said. He’d be getting his loss of limb settlement soon, and though it wouldn’t make him rich, it would give him the means to put a down payment on his own place. And he’d been squirreling away money for a wedding that now wouldn’t be happening, so he had some extra funds. Normally, even the smallest house in the neighborhood would be out of his reach, but the eyesore in front of him might be doable.
“We’ll have to check it out and make sure most of the problems are cosmetic,” Owen said. “You don’t want to have to sink too much money into it.”
“I can do most of the work myself.” Or he could have before . . . He craned his neck to look up at his little brother, who’d always been a few inches shorter than him. He hated his fucking chair. “You’ll help me, won’t you? I helped you fix up your dump.”
“My dump was never as bad off as this hovel.”
It didn’t look like a hovel to Chad. It looked like possibility.
Owen clamped a hand on Chad’s shoulder. “But of course I’ll help you.”
Dependable Owen. So dependable that pregnant groupies sought him out to be their baby daddy. Chad could be dependable for Lindsey too. Even more so if he had a place of his own and a bigger bed.
“It’s not like I have anything better to do right now,” Owen added. He was still looking at the house, but no longer seemed to see it.
“Besides fuck your new girlfriend, you mean?”
“Yeah, besides that. I was supposed to be touring all summer.”
Chad wished there was something he could do to help his brother get his band back together. Or maybe there was more bothering him than that. Chad hadn’t seen Kellen around since that one rather terse visit in the hospital, and that was plain odd. Owen and Kellen had spent every day together since fifth grade, for fuck’s sake. And Chad considered Kellen a close friend as well, so it was a bit hurtful that he didn’t come around more often.
Chad hated to pry—it wasn’t his style—but . . . “So, what’s Kellen been up to since the band split?”
Owen shrugged. He licked his lips. Was he finally going to confide what was bothering him, what had happened between him and Kellen? Chad didn’t move, didn’t push any harder, but Owen only blinked, his gaze refocusing on the house. “This house looks pretty small. Are you sure there’s enough room?”
Chad didn’t like to share his feelings either, so he let Owen change the subject without forcing the issue.
“I bet it’s bigger than your place. And look at the size of that backyard. I’m surprised someone hasn’t bought it yet.”
The local schools were fantastic. Families wanted in the neighborhood and were willing to purchase less than desirable real estate for the opportunity. Much of the time they demolished these little shitholes and built something new, but Chad liked the charm of older houses, and even though he griped to Owen about helping him fix up his house, it had been one of the most rewarding experiences of his life.
“How long has the place been on the market?” he asked.
“A couple of weeks at least. I saw the For Sale sign the day we got the news of your accident, but it slipped my mind.”
Weeks? Chad cringed. Even for a tear-down, that was a long time to sit on the market. They must have too high an asking price. Or it was built over a haunted burial ground or someone had been murdered in it or something. None of those thoughts deterred Chad, though.
“I’d better get on this quick. Jot down the phone number.”
“It’s best not to go through the listing agent. I’ll call my realtor,” Owen said. “Are you sure you want to do this right now? Maybe it would be better to wait until you’ve healed.”
Why did everyone think he needed to put his life on hold while he healed? He knew people were concerned for him, but he couldn’t move forward by standing still. “This place will be long gone by then.”
“It’s just . . . To be honest . . . I kind of like having you around, you know.” Owen chuckled softly. “And Lindsey definitely likes having you around.”
Chad laughed. “Not as much as I like having her around.” He pulled his attention from what would soon be his new home to find Owen frowning.
“Caitlyn sure was happy when I told her I’m not going to be a father,” Owen said.
“Are you happy about it?”
Owen shrugged. “I was used to the idea, I guess. I like babies.”
Had Owen been hoping that Lindsey’s baby was his? Maybe he was ready to settle down. Chad always figured Owen would end up a family man despite his rock ‘n’ roll profession.
“Does Caitlyn want kids?”
“She has a corporation to run.” He smiled. “But yeah, I think she does. Her ex-husband didn’t want kids. It’s one of the reasons they split.”
“Are you planning to do the whole married-with-children thing with Caitlyn?” Chad asked.
“I’m not sure we’re ready for that step yet. I haven’t known her for long, but yeah, I think we’re headed that way. I’ve always wanted a family.”
Chad smiled, glad his brother seemed so happy with his new, older, and uncommonly sexy woman.
“Any chance you’ll be getting back together with Josie?” Owen asked.
