Page 10 of Some Kinda Romance

5

DASH

My brothers and I went golfing with Richard the day after my bender with Lance. It was possible my hangover was contributing to my sour mood, but when he suddenly turned to face us from the front of the golf cart, a sad but seemingly sincere smile on his lips, my stomach flipped over on itself.

“Your mother told me how you boys used to love going golfing with your dad, so I thought it would be nice for us to remember him by golfing together as well.”

We drove across the course at the exact same swanky country club my dad used to bring us to as kids. It was only a couple miles away from our home, and for my money, this guy had no right to set foot on this fucking property.

It felt like a betrayal to my father’s memory to even be here again, but as I looked around at my brothers’ faces, even Zachary seemed to be alright with it. I blew out a harsh breath, but Zach was the only one who caught it and he sent me a warning look.

I flipped him off in response. I didn’t know where he got off trying to reprimand me like he was our father now, but I was getting tired of so many people trying to step into the old man’s shoes.

He chuckled, shaking his head at me, then faced the front and scooted forward to murmur something into Finn’s ear. Our brother spun to smirk at me, letting me know Zach had just tattled on me like a kindergartner.

I rolled my eyes, slamming my back into the padded seat behind me and wondering again why I’d even shown up. But I already knew the answer to that question. I’d pieced it together earlier.

I was here because I knew my mother would want me to be. She wasn’t putting any pressure on us to bond with Richard or anything, but we all knew what she wanted. So when she’d mentioned he had the idea to take us golfing, we’d all caved.

Mommy’s boys. Every last one of us.

From my position at the very back of the six-seater cart, I looked at each of my brothers, wondering how we could all resemble my dad so closely yet I was the only one feeling like I was betraying him now. While our hair was lighter than his pitch black and varied in shades of darker brown, with Finn’s having redder streaks shot through it these days and Corbin’s turning almost blond if he got enough sun, we were generally tall and dark.

We stood well over six feet a piece and our facial features were his regal, definite, sharp lines. Eye-wise, I took after my mom with the brown, but mine weren’t nearly as rich a brown as hers. Finn and Asher took after my dad with a hazel brown and Corbin and Zach had somehow come out with greenish eyes, but that set aside, we were pretty much his carbon copies.

Yet here we were, pulling to a stop at the first hole of the course we’d last played together with him—and no one else seemed to be bothered by it. I huffed out a breath, waiting my turn, and they teed off. I became a laughingstock for my ball hardly taking to the air before it dropped like rock back down to the ground.

“Ooooh, something’s finally gotten to him,” Corbin crowed, clearly ecstatic about this ludicrous turn of events. “What was it? Who was it?”

“You were out with Lance last night, weren’t you?” Finn asked. “I saw a pic he posted of you guys.”

My teeth gnashed as annoyance flared through me. “He posted a picture of us? He should know better.”

“More interesting is the fact that Serenity Halverson was there too,” Finn said, smirking as he exchanged a glance with Corbin. “I think big bro might have a crush on the enemy.”

“She’s not the enemy.” I scoffed. “I’m working with her for the wedding, remember?”

“Sure, but that’s just for this one,” Asher said, way too cheerful for my liking. “After this, she’ll be a competitor and we know how much you love winning.”

I rolled my eyes at him. “Unlike you guys, I’ve never considered the alternative an option. I’ve never tried losing, so yes. I like winning. Thank you very much.”

Even Zachary joined in on the razzing, cocking his head at me. “Did you finally let a girl under your skin? Is that why you’ve forgotten how to swing a damn golf club? You’re too obsessed with a girl you just met?”

I scrunched my face up. “Who do you think you’re talking to? She’s not under my skin, and if anyone has messed with my game, it’s you nut bags.”

“Methinks he doth protest too much,” Finn said in a singsong voice, holding up his hand for a high-five from Corbin. He pointed the driver he’d just pulled out of his bag at my chest. “Anyone want to bet that our big bad bro has a crush on his nemesis?”

“She’s not my nemesis,” I repeated emphatically, shaking my head at him. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

He laughed. “Nothing, man. I’ve just seen her, is all. Only from a distance in real life, like across clubs and stuff until a few years ago, but she’s got all the assets you like.”

Zachary smirked. “Everyone knows you’re a tits and ass guy. Hers have to be spectacular if she’s messed up your game this bad after just one day.”

“It’s not that,” I snapped, beyond exasperated. “Things just would’ve been much smoother if I would’ve been dealing with Ethan instead. She knows nothing.”

“Do you know him, though?” Corbin grimaced at me. “Dude, have you heard the rumors about the real reason they got a divorce?”

“Speculation.” I waved him off. “I don’t know him well, but I’ve met him on occasion and we worked in the same industry for long enough that I definitely know a lot about him even if we’re not close personally. There’s no way he abused her.”