But he’d agreed to meet again, though he might be accompanied by a posse, one with badges and guns and handcuffs.
My panther insisted I make this right. But how?
I was out of ideas and went inside and made more coffee. Caffeine would get the creative juices flowing and I’d come up with a plan.
How many cups have you drunk since you woke up?
I’d lost count, but there was a thunk from the spare room, and I snapped my fingers. The plan was to ask for advice, and the only person I could talk to was my younger brother.
Really? Dale?
My beast wasn’t impressed, but he and I hadn’t come up with a solution, so Dale it was.
Tearing into the room, I ripped the bedding off my little brother as he lay splayed on the mattress. He grunted and fumbled for the quilt, but I opened the curtains and flipped the window open, letting in the sunshine and a cool breeze.
“What… what the what?” He opened one bloodshot eye. “I remember you. You’re the guy who ruined what I had with Mike. Go away and let me sleep.” He rolled over and faced the wall. “And turn off the light.” He pulled a pillow over his head.
“Can’t. Do. That.” I plonked myself on the mattress and jumped up and down, something Dale used to do when he was nine and I was nineteen and had a similar hangover.
“Go away, Linc.”
“I met my mate.”
He shot out of bed, wearing only his boxers, and stood in the middle of the room with his eyes wide open. “That’s huge. Congratulations. We should celebrate.”
I shoved him back on the mattress, and his panther appeared at the forefront of his gaze. “There’s a huge problem.” Heading out of the room, I said over my shoulder, “I’ll get coffee and we can talk. I need your help.”
Dale staggered into the living room with the quilt wrapped around his shoulders and lay on the sofa. But immediately sat up again. “Please tell me the universe doesn’t have an F-ed up sense of humor and it’s Mike.”
I side-eyed him, and my beast snarled. Dale plopped on his back again.
“Okay, great, because he’s a dipshit.”
At least I’d accomplished something good last night.
After handing him a coffee, I sat on the coffee table, the warm mug clasped in both hands.
“Do you remember my dare from last night?” I was easing into the situation rather than dumping it on him because he was still hungover.
He screwed up his nose. “The thing with Lenny?” He shot up again and the coffee slopped out, but I grabbed the mug, and as gravity forced the liquid down, I caught it. “No. But you were together for ages. How did you not pick up on his scent? Maybe you need to see a healer.”
“No, not freaking Lenny.”
Dale downed half his coffee and squinted at me. “Talk to me like I’m five.”
I sighed and gave him a brief rundown. He sat with the information, put the mug on the table, and burst out laughing. “You? A wildlife photographer?”
He held his belly and rolled around on the couch. His cheeks were laced with tears when he sat up and wiped them with the back of his hand.
“How are you going to get out of that?”
“That’s why I got you up, so you could offer advice.” I was beginning to regret my decision.
“He thinks you’re a criminal and you could be arrested at any second?” He scrunched over and scooted to the window,before peering between the curtains. “If they’re here, they’re well camouflaged.”
“Stop it.” I stormed into the kitchen and put bread in the toaster. “If you’re not going to help, leave.”
Dale grabbed one piece of bread from the toaster before it was done, and I slapped his hand.
