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Fuck it.
He wrapped his arms around her, tugged her close. “Hugs equal good.”
“I—”
He held her tighter, whispered, “Shut up and get in here.”
Sniffing quietly, she hugged him back. “Damn you and yourlearning.”
Laughter in his chest. He smoothed his hand over her hair. “Old dog, new tricks.”
“Exactly,” she grumbled, burrowing closer. “Not fair to pull those new tricks on me.”
The hug lasted for long enough that she stopped sniffing, that she began to lean less heavily against him. “You’re responsible for those new tricks,” he murmured. “You helped me get my head on straight.”
“I’m glad.”
“Which means that I know you can help Asher sort his shit.”
A sigh. “Not wanting me isn’t shit,” she said softly. “It’s just…” Another long, slow exhale. “He doesn’t want me.”
Hell.
She was killing him.
“Mel.”
“Uh-uh. No soft in your voice. I just got myself together.”
He tugged her ponytail. “I think that you’re always together, honey.”
Laughter bubbling up in her chest, off her tongue. “It’s funny you think that.”
“And Asher—”
“Enough aboutAsher.” She was fierce. Intense. Beautiful.
“Asher’s an idiot.”
“That we can agree on.”
Sad again. Shit. “Okay, honey. You’re going to go home, you’re going to have a nice, warm bath, and you’re going to forget about my idiot brother.”
Now she smiled.
Better.
“And then we’re going to have lunch sometime soon. You’re going to complain about my brother. Or better yet, you’ll tell me about the awesome new guy you’re dating.”
“Learning,” she whispered, touching his jaw.
“Trying,” he whispered back.
Another smile, and then he was linking his arm with hers, walking her to her car, and tucking her inside.
A wave and she shut her door.
And as he turned back to the house, he saw his brother standing in the doorway.
