Page 66 of Blue Jeans in Low Beams

“There’s my star protégé!” Mr. Hovland calls out.

Brenna freezes, letting out a little groan. I wrap my free arm around her, pressing my lips to her temple gently, letting her know I’m here. That we can escape this interaction with ease.

“Hi, Mr. Hovland,” she says, turning to greet the older gentleman.

“I’m glad to see you taking a break from studying for the evening.”

“I’ll be right back at it tomorrow morning, don’t worry.”

“Oh, I’m not. I know how diligent you’ve been,” he replied. “Which is how I know you’ll pass with flying colors, and then we can set a plan into motion about the future of Hickory Hills Drugs.”

Brenna swallows hard, but the polite smile she has plastered to her face doesn’t falter. Damn, she’s a pro. The only two people I’ve seen better at that are Miss Belle and Willa—and theirs is all from pageant training.

Discomfort flows off Brenna as she nods, looking for the right response. I know she doesn’t want to hurt his feelings, but I also know she isn’t sure about staying here. We talked about it the other night while cleaning up at Pour Decisions. My stomach flips, just like it did the other night—and then again this morning—when she mentioned it, hating the thought of her moving away. But I also know what it’s like to have a dream and the chance to follow it. I want that for her just as much as I wanted it for Brandt and me.

“Willa!” I shout, catching sight of my sister out of the corner of my eye. She looks over, waving at us and nodding her head in a way that tells me she understands we’re looking for an escape. “Mr. Hovland, if you’ll excuse us, we have to meet up with Willa and Nash.”

Taking the hint, Mr. Hovland excuses himself, making a beeline for Hattie Burch, one of the other loudmouths in this town. No doubt to catch up on the latest “news.”

“You chose your sister as our out?” Brenna mutters, low enough so only I can hear.

Willa sashays our way, a devilish look on her face, and I instantly regret said choice. This could go a lot of ways, and after how I took Nash’s side during their little tiff earlier this year, I’m starting to wonder if it’s payback time.

“First the Fourth of July picnic, and now movie night,” Willa says, leaning in to give Brenna a hug. “You apparently have magic powers the rest of us do not.”

“Wills…” Nash says from behind her. It’s a warning if there ever was one, and I’m glad he beat me to it. Because I know exactly what she’s insinuating there.

“What?”

Brenna laughs it off, her body relaxing and her smile widening. “No more than any other little sister out there.”

“Oh, this isn’t little sister powers,” Willa counters. “This is⁠—”

“Okay, that’s enough, you two,” I cut them off.

Both women turn to look at me, each with an eyebrow raised in mirrored expressions that are freaking me out. Last thing I need is these two ganging up on me.

“What’s the matter, Milo? You can dish it out, but not willing to eat it?”

Yup, this is payback…

Brenna glances back and forth between the two of us, her forehead creasing in confusion. “I missed something…”

“Nope,” I reply, nudging her around my sister and Nash, who has been suspiciously quiet this whole interaction.

Until now.

“Yup,” Nash adds. “Although with these two, staying out of it might be safer.”

“Pssh!” Willa scoffs. “We’ll do lunch. I’ll catch you up.”

I roll my eyes, pushing forward. My truck is in sight, and I know once we’re there, we’ll be safe. Or at least I think so.

“What was all that about?” Brenna asks.

“Little sisters are a pain in the ass, that’s what,” I say. Lowering my tailgate, I take her food from her, placing it on the bed.

“I’m a little sister,” she returns.