Page 52 of Small Town, Big Storm

But—

“I think my arteries need a break from red meat.”

Aside from the pasta I made with Holly the other day, I feel like it’s all I’ve eaten since I came back to Cedar Hollow.

He shrugs.“The diner then?”

“The diner doesn’t exactly scream good for my heart health, man.I’ve got to play hockey in a couple of months.I need to eat something that’s not made of butter.”

Another shrug.“Butter’s delicious.”His lips twitch as he sets the drill down then brushes his hands on his jeans.“But Molly’s it is.”That twitch grows into a full-blown smirk.“You can get something green and with plenty of fiber.And I can get my fill of butter.”

“And your premature heart attack.”

“Nah, Harrisons grow old mostly just to be ornery.I’m no different.”

I snort.“We’re going to Molly’s.Andwe’regetting salads,” I say, mostly just to be ornery myself.

Of course, with all that orneriness, I’ve now somehow invited my brother to lunch with me.

Fuck.

Not that me telling him to fuck off and leave me alone would have kept him away from Molly’s in the first place.

He’d just let me stomp off.Then show up at the restaurant and sit down across from me, knowing I don’t want any more gossip so I would glare at him but wouldn’t put up a fuss.

Fucking brothers.

“Works for me,” he says with another shrug.“Let me just change my shirt.”

I glance down at myself as he walks away, realize that’s a good idea and head to my bedroom to do the same.

Something that’s made safer because of the beam we just replaced.

A.K.A.we’re no longer at risk of falling through the floor just by walking upstairs.

The walls up here are still covered in stained drywall, the carpet musty and marred with years of unclean shoes and feet.There are dents from fists and feet—mostly my father’s—and a single picture of the four of us.

Right before Mom died.

In an instant, the tension is back, the memories threatening to lurch forward and nip at my heels.

“Move it, kid,” Rain shouts.“I’m hungry.”

“You’re all of five years older than me,” I shout back, getting myself moving and turning for my room.

“Five years is a lot of years.”He steps into the hall, pulling a clean shirt over his head.“As you used to tell me all the time.”

Ididtell him that.

Too many fucking times.

Before he left.

That tension between my shoulder blades ratchets even tighter and I grind my teeth together, pain shooting through my jaw, down my neck, making that spot at the top of my back ache.The one that’s been in a near-constant state of strain since Joey decided that she wanted Damon and not?—

No.

Being back in Cedar Hollow.In this house.The fucking memories…