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Graham
“So, you’ve got the hots for Leona’s daughter,” Corbin states. When I don’t respond, he continues, “Not that I blame you. She’s smoking. Mom told me about her no-good husband. What a dumbass he is. He had that at home, and he still went catting around? That assistant of his must have an enchanted—”
“Don’t finish that sentence,” I bark.
He throws his hands in the air. “Just sayin’.”
I shake my head.
“So, what’s your play?” he asks.
“What do you mean, my play?”
“She’s just here for the summer, right? You planning on having a sexy fling?”
“I don’t know,” I answer honestly.
He grins. “I like this. I haven’t seen you bent about a woman in ages. I bet Mom and Leona are stoked.”
“There is nothing to be stoked about. We’re friends.”
“If you say so, brother.”
“You’re one to talk. I haven’t heard you mention Susanna in a while.”
Susanna is his on-again, off-again girlfriend.
He brings his hand up and rubs his forehead with his index finger and thumb. He’s stressed. It’s his tell.
“We’re on a break right now,” he says.
“Again?” I ask.
“You know she’s crazy as hell.”
Of course I do. The whole town knows that, but he loves her anyway.
“Is there anything I can do?” I ask.
“Don’t tell Mom and Pop. They’ll figure it out when I show up on the Fourth alone.”
“My lips are sealed.”
“Thanks, bro, and, hey, keep me informed on your sexy fling.”
I pull up to Valley Fire and Rescue and let him out.
“See you at the picnic,” he calls before he enters the building.
As soon as he disappears through the door, I grab my phone to text Langford.
Heads up. Corbin and Susanna broke up again.
I don’t even get out of the parking lot before my phone dings with his response.
Fucking great. I’ll go by and check in on him tonight.
We’re all used to dealing with the fallout when Susanna decides to take off, and it’s a pain in the ass, but all four of us are there to keep our brother from losing his shit.
Taeli calls and tells me that she is taking a renter out to show them two of the properties and is running late. I offer to pick Caleb and Leona up, so she can meet us at the Blackbird when she’s done.
She calls her mom and texts me that she and Caleb will be ready by six and that she will meet us as soon as she can.
When I get to Leona’s, she wrangles Caleb into the truck, and the three of us head into town.
