My best friend shrugs and takes the seat next to me. Our legs touch and a shiver flows through my body. It takes everything in me to shove aside any, and all, attraction I feel toward him.
“My boss said we could take off if we had any damage. Y’all are basically family, and I figured you may need the help.”
“Thank God,” Philip sighs. “Any chance I can talk you into getting on the roof to see if there was any damage?”
“Hell no.” He catches my mom’s eyes and immediately slaps his hand over his mouth. A few seconds later he mumbles, “Sorry, Mrs. Summers.”
“Please.” She waves the apology away. “It’s not like I haven’t heard worse from my own children. At least you try to remember your audience.”
“It’s not like we go around throwing F bombs, Mom.” I roll my eyes and take another bite.
“Maybe not you, but your brothers are a different story.”
The brothers in question have the decency to look ashamed. Serves them right. Looks like I’m Mom’s favorite for the moment. Although truth be told me and Paula have always beenbecause we’re the only girls in a house full of boys. We gave her just as much hell, though.
“Do we have to talk about bad habits right now?” Peter groans. “I promise I won’t cuss in front of you again.”
“Yeah, right.” Mom rolls her eyes as she digs through what’s left of the tacos.
Shockingly it’s not super hot out here. I guess the rain brought down the temperature. Too bad it didn’t take the humidity with it.
“You could always make it interesting.” I wait to see if anyone will bite.
“What do you mean?” Peter leans forward in his chair.
“A swear jar.” I shrug and watch the horror on my brother’s face. “Then when it’s full we can put that toward our next family vacation, or Mom can use it for a spa day.”
“Absolutely not.” Peter and Philip yell at the same time.
“I would be fine with that.” Mom grins. “A day at the spa sounds lovely.”
“You realize you’d probably be going weekly, right?” Philip laughs. At least he has a sense of humor about it.
“Our older brother said he wouldn’t cuss in front of mom just moments ago. Why would you fill it up?”
“I think we all know us better than that baby sister.”
Ugh, I hate when he throws that term around. I mean, it’s what I am, but the way he says it makes it feel so demeaning. Like I’m less than because I’m the youngest.
“Time to get back to work.” Pierce claps his hands together. “You two,” he points at me and Parker. “At least pretend like you’re doing something.”
He knows the both of us well enough to know we’re going to goof off while we work.
“I’m pretty sure I should take offense to that.” Parker crumbles the foil in his hand. “For your information we work just as hard as the rest of you. But…we work smarter.”
If that statement would have come from me, Pierce would have something to say. Since it’s coming from the youngest brother, he brushes it aside. Figures. One day this family will realize my worth. Maybe it’ll be too late when they do, and I’ll move on to greener pastures like Paula.
I gather everyone’s trash and put it in the closest trash bag. Mine is still up front and I turn to head back around the house. If Pierce can’t see me, he can’t ride my ass about how fast I’m working.
After a few steps, I realize my friend isn’t following me. “You coming, Beau?”
He waves my question away. “I’ll be up there in a bit. I need to grab a trash bag and see where Pierce wants me.”
Weird. He never willingly talks to my eldest brother. Add the fact he brought breakfast for everyone and things aren’t making sense. What is he up to?
ten
. . .
