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“Ugh.”Dropping my keys into the hand-painted pottery bowl Wren’s daughters made for me, I kicked off my shoes and bee-lined for my kitchen. What a long day. I couldn’t wait to pour a glass of wine, take my scrubs off and get into the bath for a long soak—so long, the neighbors might think I drowned.
Yup. That sounds perfect.
I flicked on the kitchen light as I walked in and headed right for the fridge, pulling it open and leaning against the old door as I peered inside at the options. There was a half-drank bottle of white or a growler Forrest had given me a couple of weeks ago from his latest batch.
I contemplated which one would have the most sedating effect when my front door opened behind me, and I shoved the door shut, turning quickly as Forrest tugged his boots off before marching down the hall to me.
“Wow, you look like shit.”
“Thank you, I haven’t looked in a mirror lately, so this is helpful.” I flipped him off before turning back to the fridge. Decision made. Forrest was not a wine drinker, so I started to grab the growler when he stepped closer and nudged the door shut, nearly catching my hand.
“Hey, what the hell!”
“I have a better idea.” Straightening up, I crossed my arms over my chest as I turned to face him.
“Alright, what’s that?”
He grinned and reached into his back pocket before pulling a piece of paper out of his back pocket and holding it out to me. I gave him my best-unimpressed look as I slid the paper out of his fingers and looked at it.
A block of cement landed in my stomach as I stared at the heading.
SAGE RIVER’S ANNUAL FIREFIGHTER AUCTION.
Yeah, I knew about it. I also knew it was today, which was exactly why I’d worked the shift I had. I was hoping to miss it, and if I hadn’t, my blissfully drunk and drowning plan was also the backup plan to help me avoid going or knowing anything about this.
“Okay?” I looked at him cocking an eyebrow.
“We’re going.”
“We’re not.”
“We are.”
“I really don’t want to.”
“C’mon, we can go and make fun of Deacon. He goes up there every year and sells himself off to the highest bidder, and it always goes high because the women want to get in his pants, hoping this year will be the year he meets the love of his life. It’s hilarious.”
Mine and Forrest’s definition of hilarious was very different. I took no enjoyment in Deacon being sold off to other girls because I wasn’t allowed to bid on him. It was stupid, sure, but Forrest had made it plenty clear our relationship was hinged on the fact we were like ‘brother and sister,’ which meant his brothers were supposed to be my brothers.
Not fuck buddies, which was what Deacon had somehow become.
Not that the title worked anymore, I liked him. Ireallyliked him, and I wanted to be more than someone who hooked up with him between the chaos of our shift work as essential workers. I wanted more and had no idea how to tell him. So, I drowned myself in alcohol on days that reminded me I didn’t have more and probably would never have more.
So, no, going to the auction and seeing Deacon being sold to all the women in the county who wanted what I got every couple of days was not hilarious. It was downright depressing.
“I had a long day, Fore. I don’t want to go and sit at a stupid fundraiser and laugh at your brother.”
“C’mon, I have no one else to go and laugh with. Everyone else takes it seriously, and Ma said she wanted everyone to go.”
Ugh, he had to play his mama as a card, didn’t he? Since her diagnosis, she wanted everyone to do everything to have memories. And look, I got it, and most things I was happy to go along with. I loved being an unofficial member of the Butler clan.
But this? I had to draw a line.
“No, Forrest.”
“Do it for Ma.” He stared at me long and hard until he couldn’t hold the serious expression anymore, and he cracked a wide grin. “Pretty please?”
