Lowesy claims he’s a dog dad. I beg to differ. He just lives here. These dogs would let him burn in a fire if that meant Penny got out unscathed. I literally think they would sacrifice him if it meant not a single strand of hair got burnt on Penny’s head.
The brown one lifts his head, sizing me up like I’m a threat. Then, the big, fluffy one that looks like a teddy bear joins him. I can’t see the little one, but I know she’s in her mama’s lap. Ihear her giving a warning growl, alerting me that the most terrifying beast is the one that remains unseen.
“Hey, Sweets!” I call.
I can only see her eyes above the cushion, but I can tell she’s smiling. “How are you doing, Forker?”
“All sunshine and rainbows over here.”
“So, what’s up?” Declan asks, leaning against the large, sage-green island. “Want a beer?”
“Sure.” I nod, and he turns to the fridge. “I just stopped by because I’ve got to ask you something, and I don’t want it to be weird, but I feel like it will be if I don’t bring it up.”
Lowesy slowly closes the door to the fridge, his expression seeping into one of concern. He pops open both lids off the beer and takes a few, hesitant steps toward me. I don’t wait for him to say anything, and I don’t offer a word either; I just take the drink from him without further explanation.
“Let’s go to the balcony.”
I nod, following him out. He gently massages Penny’s head as he passes, and as a joke, I do the same. Her big, cackling laughter is worth it, even when that little chihuahua mix goes apeshit because I touched her mom.
Declan closes the balcony door behind us. He’s got a new patio furniture set out here, and that alone makes me want to sell my own condo and get a house. They’ve made this balcony a damn resort. It’s lush as hell and impeccably cozy. There’s a small bar in the corner, fairy lights hanging from every surface, and a giant fire pit table tucked right in the heart of it all.
It’s sick. This is so much more of a home than his penthouse had been.
“What’s going on?” he asks, dropping onto the patio sofa.
I sigh, running a hand over my face. I take a seat on the opposite side of the couch and meet his eyes. He looks worried.I might not have really led the conversation on the right foot, but I’m hoping he’ll be relieved the second I start talking.
I’ve been losing sleep over this for days now.
“Remember that chick?”
Declan’s brows skyrocket. “Oh,thatchick? Yeah, shewas great. Loved her stance on climate change.”
He shoots me a look the second he’s done talking.
Awful start and an even worse follow-up, Forker.
“Right,” I grumble. “The redhead. You and Sweets were going through all of that shit. She came back here with us. Her and her friends. Boston was here, too.”
Declan’s face flashes with recollection. “Oh, you’re talking about Arden?”
“Yeah,” I say, wondering why I didn’t just ask for her name. Maybe subconsciously, I was hoping he didn’t remember it. “Arden.”
Pretty name. Pretty girl.
“What about her?” he asks carefully.
To break the icy awkwardness I feel in my chest, I do what I do best and start cracking jokes. I’m treading through real weird, brother-husband territory right now, and nobody wants to tune into that reality show.
“I met her in a bar the other night. Some idiot was giving her a hard time. We got to talking. I punched that idiot’s face in because he grabbed her ass.”
I say it flippantly to lighten the mood. Like he wasn’t already completely aware of the story. Didn’t pick my ass up from jail, or anything.
Why am I so uncomfortable? I feel like I’m asking someone’s dad for permission to marry them. This shouldn’t be a big deal. They didn’t even sleep together, did they? I’m fucking thirty-two, I shouldn’t have to worry about hurting friends over a chick. Shit, why would I even entertain the idea ofspending time with someone who has a history with one of my boys? My best buddy?
Even for something likethis.What the hell am I doing?
“Oh, wow,” Declan says, face falling. “That was Arden?”
