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I fought a yawn. I was tired, but I strongly suspected my sister could do with some company. As a troubled sleeper myself, I knew just how boring those hours of non-sleep were, or how dark, depending on the type of thoughts fighting for headspace. But somehow, positive thoughts never struck in the dead of the night.
So even though I knew this was one of those occasions in which I’d fall asleep right away, I dropped in the armchair next to Lori. My sister put the e-reader down and watched me. No, scrutinized was the word I was looking for. I felt as if my sister was holding a magnifying glass over me, looking for clues.
“I was with Maddie.”
Lori narrowed her eyes and her lips became so thin, I was instantly reminded of our mother, even though she looked nothing like Mom.
“And you what, had your way with her and then left her in the dead of the night? I love you, brother, but that’s a dick move.”
I winced. “Jesus.”
Lori wasn’t smiling anymore. “I’m serious.”
I shook my head. I’d always been close to my siblings, but talking about what constituted a dick move with my sister in the dead of the night was a first.
“You don’t have anything to worry about, Lori. I was at the Lucky Bar with Maddie. She was covering a shift for her sister. She had to stay until closing—”
“And you waited so you could walk her home.” Lori sighed with relief. “So glad Momma made sure you boys carry on Dad’s chivalry.”
I was surprised at her remark because I didn’t remember such details about our father. He’d been a good husband and father, that much I knew. But certain details hadn’t registered, or I’d forgotten them—which was even more frustrating. Lori was five years younger than me, but I always did think women were more perceptive than men. Mom had taken manners very seriously.
“I never liked the idea of Val closing the bar,” I said.
“Yeah, I remember.”
“Didn’t think it was safe back then, and I don’t think it’s safe now.”
“You did the right thing. But now that I know you haven’t pulled a dick move on Maddie, I can bring up the subject of your dating life.”
“Lori, it’s been six years since that ass left you and Milo, and you’re still single. Don’t lecture me about dating.”
She stiffened and I regretted my words, but then I also didn’t. We rarely touched the subject of her personal life. “You know nothing about my dating life.”
She had a point, but her defensive reaction spoke volumes. Also, I would have known if she’d been dating seriously. One of my brothers w
ould have told me.
“It’s been six years, Lori,” I tried again. “Don’t you get lonely?”
“Of course I do. And you think I wouldn’t want to go out, try to chase that white-picket-fence dream again? I plan weddings for a living. But I can’t parade men in and out of my son’s life. The dating world is a lot like seeing a fin in the water and thinking it’s a dolphin, only to later discover it’s a shark. It takes trial and error to get to the good ones. I don’t want to give Milo whiplash, having him think he’ll finally have a father figure in his life only to pull the rug from under him.”
“I understand.”
“Will is going to have your ass for this. You should see the stern looks he gives any guy who so much as comes in sniffing distance. Like I’m sixteen or something.”
I hid a smile. I knew for a fact that Will thought he was being so smart about it that Lori couldn’t tell.
“I can deal with Will.”
Lori laughed. “You’re out of practice, Landon.”
“High time to get back in the saddle, I’d say.”
“I couldn’t agree more. It’s so good to have you here. Who else would stay up and talk to me even if he was dead tired?”
“Charming. You’re making me feel really special right now.”
She leaned back on the headrest, yawning. “Thanks for pampering Milo like this, training him. It means a lot to him.”
