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"Yeah, you will," Zane answered. "But you'll stop taking them."

"Why would I do that?"

"Because they clog you up worse than your mother's hair in our shower drain."

Mara reached across the bed to whack her husband upside the head. "Do we need to talk about the dead squirrel I have to clean up every time you trim your beard?"

"I clean it up!" Zane protested.

"Keep telling yourself that, big boy,” Mara mocked. "You try. And fail. Miserably. I'll take photos next time."

I looked at Jax, leaned close. “Is it always like this?"

He blinked at me. "Like what?"

I gestured at the three of them. "Like this."

Jax wasn't getting it. "I don't know what you mean, babe. We're just talking."

I swallowed hard. "I just…I dunno. You all seem so…close. Like you like each other."

Jax laughed like I'd told a joke. "Because we do?"

"No, I mean…" I shook my head. "I don't know what I mean. I like my sister. She's my best friend in the whole world. But when it's me and Dad and Granddad, it's…awkward." I looked around, leaned forward to peer out the door. "Speaking of Tania, where'd she get off to?"

"Oh, does she look like you?" Mara asked.

"Yes, most people assume we're twins," I answered.

"I saw her heading for the cafeteria with Jax's cousin Kieran."

"Ah, shit," Jax said, sounding amused. "That's not good."

"Should I be alarmed?" I asked. "Should someone rescue him?"

Jax cackled. "Rescue him? Or her?"

"Him," I said. "My sister is a man-eater."

A beat of silence passed, then all three of them burst into laughter. When he'd calmed enough to talk, Jax explained.

"Kieran…he hasn't had his ego smoothed out yet,” Jax said. “He thinks he's god's gift to women."

Mara shoved at Jax's calf. "Oh, stop. Kieran isn't like that. He does think a little highly of himself at times, but all of you boys can be like that. He's just… high-strung."

Zane laughed. "Kieran makes Baxter seem like a nun on downers. He's a lunatic. And I mean that with all the love in my heart."

"This is making me nervous," I said. "Tania is similar."

We all traded glances.

"Well, either they're gonna kill each other," Jax said, "or…"

"The Badd Family Love Charm will strike the same family twice…again," Zane said.

I looked at Jax. "The what?"

Jax rolled his eyes and sighed. "Mom? You believe in that nonsense. You explain it."