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Also, the fewer questions he asked, the fewer he hoped would be directed his way.
To his surprise, Harper didn’t spring during the food prep. He helped her wash and chop veggies and put together the green bean casserole, and they talked about easy, natural subjects. Her catering business, Oblivion going on tour and what that would mean for her and Lex since she was the band’s chef on the road, and even a bit about their parents’ latest tour with the Raging Eleanors. All pleasant, casual conversation.
Meanwhile, he sensed all she hadn’t asked yet.
Harper waited to attack until they were stuffed with a delicious turkey with all the fixings and a sleepy Lex was encouraged to take a nap in the other room. She’d already “colored” one of the pages in the book he’d bought her with her brand new markers. She even stayed inside the lines now and then.
“So,” Harper began, once she’d dished out huge slabs of pumpkin and cherry pie. Randy had taken both, because his sister’s baking was to die for and hell, Tha
nksgiving only came once a year. “What’s the real story with you and Juliet?”
He forked up more pie and said nothing. In a way, he was playing devil’s advocate in the way that would bug his sister the most. She hated when he got silent, so he’d used that tactic since childhood to drive her nuts.
Guess he’d never grow out of some sibling games.
“Harper, maybe just give him some space.”
“I’m giving him space. I’m asking politely. I don’t think it’s wrong to try to find out the scoop from my baby brother.”
“The scoop?” Randy asked mildly, finally glancing up from his pie. “You working for The Tattler now, sis? Or better yet, do you plan to run back to Mom and Dad and fill them in so they can be relieved I’m not gay?”
Harper let out a long sigh and set down her fork. “They wouldn’t be relieved about it, Rand. You know better than that. They honestly wouldn’t give a shit. We just worry about you, that’s all.”
“Why? Do I look like I’m struggling or something?”
“No. But you’ve been alone for a while, and you’re not that guy. Some are fine being the eternal bachelor. That isn’t you. You’re the traditional type meant to settle down with a wife—partner,” she amended quickly, “and probably a couple of kids and a dog.”
“I’m more of a cat guy, actually.”
“Whatever. I’m just saying. I’ve heard some stuff about Juliet from Margo, and while I’m happy for both of you, I’m just—”
“Like what?” Yeah, he was clearly done eating for the moment. He set down his fork. “What have you heard from Juliet’s sister? Which is, by the way, pretty fucking shady for her own family to be talking crap about her.”
“There was nothing like that,” Deacon said. “Unless it was when I wasn’t around. Margo loves her sister, man. She’s not trying to cut her down.”
“Then what?” Randy asked, trying to keep his voice even. He knew he was jumping the gun, but when it came to Juliet, there wasn’t much room inside him to be sensible. “What have you heard about her?”
“Nothing bad. Just that she’s impulsive and a bit flighty and well, she’s not one to stay with any one man for long. It’s just not her thing. Nothing wrong with that, unless the man is you.” Harper braced her cheek on her fist. “I just don’t want you to get hurt, Rand. That’s all, I swear.”
“What about two men?” He held Harper’s gaze as she angled her head. “I mean, Juliet with two men. Me and…”
“And who? What do you mean?”
“Don’t make me spell it out, for fuck’s sake.” He couldn’t help ducking his head. Damn that tendency to flush. He might as well be perennially sixteen.
Deacon cleared his throat. “A threesome. Am I right?”
“A what?” Harper’s shriek mirrored Lex’s from earlier at being turned upside down, though there was no laughter behind it.
“You know what a threesome is, Harp. If you didn’t have one with this guy, I can bet he can’t say the same.” Randy jerked a thumb at Deacon.
He knew it was cowardly to try to divert the spotlight, but right then, he didn’t care. He’d needed to come clean about the truth to someone, and his sister and her husband were a good choice. But that didn’t mean it was easy.
For a threesome that was supposed to be all fun and games, so far not a lot of it was, at least when they were outside the bedroom. The intrusion of the real world changed the playing field.
Hell, it was changing them.
“I certainly did not have a threesome with Deak or anyone else. What, are they standard operating procedure now or something?”
