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“Thanks a lot,” she says.
“For what?” Rory asks.
“For making me stay here with my sisters when I could be having a drink with Dragon Locke.”
“I don’t recall either of us forcing you to stay,” I say.
“How would it look? You two staying but me going alone?”
“I’m in a relationship,” Rory says, “and Callie is…”
Maddie’s eyes widen. “Callie is what?”
“Callie’s not interested in hanging out with her brother and his bandmates, one of whom is her cousin,” I say. “Besides, Jesse won’t let Dragon near you. I thought you were after a Steel man, anyway.”
“They all seemed otherwise occupied,” Maddie says. “Not fair that you, dear sister, had three of them salivating over you.”
I ignore that last comment. “It’s late. I’m exhausted.”
“I am too.” Rory polishes off her Diet Coke. “It’s too late to give Raine a call. I’m going to head to bed and wake up early to call her. Night, girls.”
Maddie pounces on me then. “Please? Come with me to Murphy’s?”
“It’s midnight, Mads.”
“So? I’m not even slightly tired.”
“I am. Call Bree. Or Angie and Sage. Or Gina. I’m sure one of them will be up for it.”
“I’m kind of a third wheel with them.” She scoffs. “Make that a fifth wheel. They’re all Steels.”
“You five have been inseparable since fifth grade,” I tell her.
“True. But they don’t have to worry about the things I have to worry about. It’s a drag after a while. They’re all the same age.”
“You’re the same age as they are,” I remind her.
“You just don’t get it.”
“Actually, I do. So does Jesse. The Steels… Well, something shined on them long ago. But they do work hard too.”
“I know. I have nothing against them. I love all the Steels. It’s just…”
I give her a smile. “It’s just you’re feeling a little sorry for yourself.”
“So what if I am?”
I open my mouth to tell my sister to stop having a pity party, but I can’t bring myself to. I should be looking for an apartment in Denver right about now. Getting ready to move there for law school.
I should have started the fall semester, but no. I decided to stay and help with the grape harvest.
If I’d gone, no way would Mom and Dad pull me out now.
Of course, I’d have come home anyway to help.
Because that’s what Callie Pike does.
She takes care of her family first.
Not a bad thing, but damn, can’t I catch a break? Even my big date with Donny tomorrow evening doesn’t put me in a better mood when my little sis is pouting. I’m looking forward to it, but it doesn’t mean I get to go to law school.
Maddie sighs. “I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“For being a brat. I’m so thankful we’re all here. No lives were lost in that fire. Things can be replaced. People can’t.”
I nod. She’s right, of course. Except the things that were lost are the things that the people need to make a living.
“You know what?” I rise. “I changed my mind. Let’s go into town.”
“Really?” Maddie squeals.
“Yeah, why not? We can drown our sorrows together.”
Murphy’s is hopping. It’s Friday night, after all, and it’s the only bar in town if you don’t count the quieter bars that are attached to restaurants.
Jesse and his bandmates are playing pool, and—
Uh-oh.
Hanging around them are the awesome foursome themselves. Brianna and Gina Steel and Angie and Sage Simpson.
“Let’s sit at the bar, Mads,” I say.
“No, I want to—”
Well, there’s no protecting her. Her four best friends are already here, and they didn’t invite her.
Maddie is twenty-one—way too old for high school drama. Still, I feel for her. She wanted to be included.
“Maddie!” Angie waves. “Hey! Come on over.”
My sister meets my gaze with a hopeful look.
I get it. She dragged me down here, and now she really wants to hang with her friends and the band.
“Go ahead.” I plunk onto one of the only two available bar stools.
Brendan Murphy is tending bar. “Hey, Callie. What’ll it be?”
“Screwdriver. A double.” What the heck? Maddie can drive home. Or I’ll hitch a ride with Jesse or Cage.
“Coming up.”
“I didn’t realize you were working tonight.”
“I got back here an hour ago after the Steel party started dying down. I’m wired, so I told Laney and Maryanne to go on home. I’d tend bar and close up.”
I nod as he slides my screwdriver to me. I take a sip.
“Wow! That one’s stronger than the one I had at the party.”
“You said double.”
“I did. You’re right. I guess I just didn’t realize a double was so…double.”
Brendan laughs. I’ve never been overly attracted to redheads, but Brendan Murphy is in a class by himself. Slap a kilt on him, and I swear he’d be Jamie Fraser with a ponytail.
Yeah, a hottie.
“What are you two doing out so late?” he asks.
“Blame Maddie. She twisted my arm.”
“I’m glad she did. You and I haven’t talked in a while.”
