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“I wish I would’ve gotten me a lemonade,” Mom says in an off-handed way.
It’s not her asking for someone else to go get it; it’s her realizing she wanted to do something. However, she knows it gets me every time. This woman has done so much for our family, I’ll go out of my way to do whatever she needs, whenever she needs it.
I’ll go get it, Mom,” I offer, already getting up, ready to get out of the sun.
“I’ll come with you,” Cam says, helping me down from the bleachers.
In my gut, I know anyone that looks at us right now can see the chemistry. It’s hard to turn off when we’re together. It’s growing every day, whether we want it to or not.
It takes everything I have not to reach over and grab his hand as we head for the concession stand. Things I’ve gotten comfortable doing in private aren’t meant to be out in the open yet.
“I almost grabbed your hand,” he whispers as we stand in the back of the line.
“Me too.”
We’re grinning at each other when a hand wraps around Cam’s shoulder and he’s spun around. Staring at us are the angry eyes of my brother.
CHAPTERTWENTY-SIX
Cameron
Natand I are grinning at each other over the concession stand when my shoulder is grabbed and I’m swung around. Now, I’m facing the younger male of the Grimes family. This isn’t what I wanted to do, and most definitely the place I didn’t want to do this.
I’ve gone so long without having my life be a spectacle in this town, and now here I am, inviting them into my personal business.
“Gauge, now isn’t the time.” I try to warn him, to encourage him to think about what he’s doing here.
But he isn’t interested in hearing it.
“You son of a bitch.” He shows his teeth. “This is what you’ve been lying to me about.”
My stomach drops. There’s too much to unpack in this moment, and even if I could, I wouldn’t want it do it right here, right now. “What was I supposed to say?”
“The truth, you motherfucker. The truth. When have we ever lied to each other? When haven’t we been able to be honest with each other? Why would you pick this thing, at this time to lie to me? Now that you’re with her, she means more to you than I do? What happened to bros before…”
I step forward, stopping his words.
“This is Natalie,” I whisper. “How can I be honest with you when you don’t want to let her go?”
“She’s my little sister. My fuckin’ flesh and blood. You’re my best friend.” He stops talking, taking a huge breath.
He rears back, ready to hit me. Pressing my hand against his shoulder, I press him back and try to take a defensive stance in case he decides to let one fly. I can’t let this happen. Can’t fight with him over this. He’s already been hurt so much, hasn’t been able to be the man he was before.
This is a game I can’t play with him.
“You win.” I let go of Gauge’s shoulder.
Natalie gasps. “No, no, what the hell is happening here? How could you, Gauge?”
“You heard him.” Gauge smirks. “I win.”
If steam could come out of Nat’s ears, they would be powering a locomotive right now. “Who the fuck do the two of you think you are?” She grits her teeth. “I’m not a prize someone can win. It’s my business who I wanna be with, Gauge.” Her finger digs deeply into his chest. “And you.” She whirls on me. “I thought you were better than this. Knew enough about me to not pretend like I need some sort of permission in order to know my own mind. How dare you?”
“I know the type of guy he is,” Gauge argues.
“You don’t know shit about me when it comes to relationships. Not anymore. I haven’t shared with you that I’ve been pulling back from everything I said at one time. But I’ve grown, bro. Changed from the hurt guy I was and it’s because of her.” I point to Nat. “The only thing is, I refuse to lose a friendship as old as ours over your sister.”
“So, I’m easy to live without.” She clears her throat, sniffling.
