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“As much as I’d love to give you shit, I want to get this done,” Archer says, picking up his tools and getting back to work.
Thankfully, they leave it alone and get their nosey asses back to work.
* * *
“I love it!” Mom hugs Archer, then makes her way to do the same with each one of us. She doesn’t give a single fuck that we’re covered in sweat. She’s used to sweaty hugs from this brood. “Next Sunday, homemade pizza,” she announces, just as she did with me earlier.
“You’re making me hungry,” Rushton complains.
“Well, you’re in luck. Lunch is ready. I called in for a couple of subs, and Ramsey picked them up for me.” Mom turns to look at Orrin. “I was supposed to tell you Jade was here.” Mom chuckles when Orrin grins and jogs off toward the house.
“What about you?” Sterling asks me.
“What about me? Am I starving? Yes.”
“You going to go kiss your girl?” Declan goads me.
“I gave Blakely a kiss before she left earlier.” They don’t need to know that I kissed Ramsey and Palmer too.
“Oh, Dec, it was so cute.” Mom goes on to tell Declan and the rest of my brothers the story, spilling the beans.
“Ah, the plot thickens.” Ryder rubs his hands together.
“She’s not my girl.”
“You sure about that?” Maverick asks.
“Yeah, I mean she let you kiss her,” Merrick chimes in.
“Oh, it was just a little peck on the cheek,” Mom explains. “Come on in and eat.”
Mom walks away, leaving us all standing on the back porch. “Can we not?” I plead with my brothers.
“Admit you like her, and we’ll drop it,” Rushton states.
“Of course I like her. She’s Ramsey’s best friend and Deacon’s little sister.”
“Try again, brother.” Sterling gives a look that tells me he can read through my bullshit. They all can.
We promised we would keep this a secret, and I’m a man of my word. No matter how badly I want to tell them all about her. Hell, I could use some advice on how I’ve been feeling, but I won’t break a promise to Palmer. “Fine. There might be a little something, but it’s all on me.” I’m quick to keep her out of this. I can take their teasing. I don’t want them harassing her. “Can we please just keep this between us?”
“We have to tell Orrin,” Archer tells me. “We can’t keep this from him.”
“It’s not like I’m dying. It’s a crush. She’s beautiful.” I shrug.
“And we’re your brothers,” Declan reminds me.
“Fine. We can tell Orrin when Jade’s not around, and not while Ramsey and Palmer are here. Can you keep your big mouths shut?”
“Bro.” Maverick slings his arm around Merrick’s shoulders and points at each of them. “Wingmen.”
“I’m all set,” I say, not able to hide my humor with my little brothers.
“We’re not going to say anything,” Sterling speaks up. “Right, fellas?” My brothers nod, and I feel my shoulders relax. “But that doesn’t mean we won’t encourage you to make your move.”
“She’s not just a hookup.” I can hear the strain in my voice.
Declan holds up his hands. “No one said that she was.”
