“Respect is earned, not given.” I crossed my arms.
“Then let the poor lad earn it, Marilyn,” Al growled, thunking his beer can on the table. “Not everyone has been surrounded by people who love them for their whole lives. It’s not up to you to decide who deserves it and who doesn’t.”
I opened my mouth to protest but he held a hand up at me.
“You don’t have tolovehim, but you need to find a way to get along with him because he’s sure as hell been trying to find a way to get along with everyone—including you.”
A knock rattled the door as Al finished.
My face flushed when I remembered exactly how he’d proven Al right with what he’d said just a few hours ago.
“Don’t think I haven’t noticed the little rat.”
Al sipped down the last of his beer and put it on top of the pyramid of cans he’d started. “I mean this in the most loving way possible, Mari. Pull your head in and step up to be the leader I know you are.” With a pat on my cheek, he headed for the door.
I huffed, turning to find Nan smiling over her delicious-smelling pot.
“Did you and Al scheme against me again?”
“Of course not, dear,” she laughed and her eyes softened. “But sometimes I need a little help getting through to you.”
“Getting through to her about what?” JJ bounced into the room, crossing straight towards Nan. “Getting a sauna in the gym?”
He planted a kiss on Nan’s cheek, to which she patted his in return, before heading straight to the fridge.
“For the last fucking time, JJ—”
“Definitely not, Jaxon,” Nan politely interrupted. “We can’t trust your history with public nudity.”
“Exactly and—” My eyes narrowed. “What the fuck are you wearing?” I gestured to the casual white button up he had on and the jeans that followed.
“Language, Marilyn,” Nan scolded.
I held my hands up in surrender and quirked a brow at JJ, question still unanswered.
“Ask that little shit out there—”
“Ask me about what?” A deep, rasped voice came from over my shoulder. I turned, finding those blue eyes already on me.
“Ask him about why I’m wearing this dumb shit to family dinner!” JJ whined, though I could barely hear him in the face of what was in front of me. A forest green linen button up hung off Chance’sdivineframe. The arm cuffs hugged his strong biceps, and the top three buttons were undone, revealing a smooth column of his upper chest. Light-wash denim fell from his waist, loose but tight in all the right spots.
“I think you both look lovely,” Nan crooned.
Chance’s eyes were still on me when the corners of his mouth tipped upwards slightly. “Back at you, Marilyn,” he replied, though he wasn’t looking at Nan.
With heat starting to creep up my neck, I returned to the conversation.
“I’m just surprised you got him to wear actual clothes.” Al patted Chance on the shoulder before moving past us.
“Hey! I wear actual clothes!” JJ cried.
“When was the last time?” Al asked.
JJ drew breath to speak when Nan spoke first.
“When youweren’ttrying to bed some poor girl.” She raised her eyebrows for emphasis.
A burning sensation tickled my neck and I turned to find Chance’s eyes still on me.
