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I hitched a shoulder. “I wake up each morning thinking today could be my last twenty-four hours on this planet.”
“Lord, that’s depressing.”
“Nah, it’s my reality. I like it, makes me appreciate the smaller things in life.”
“Like watermelon Jolly Ranchers but not family and friends?” she mocked, obviously scenting the candy on my breath.
“I apologized. Twice. That means I don’t have to say it again and it means you can’t bring it up in future arguments.”
She sniffed. “Where, in the terms and conditions of our friendship, did I ever agree to that?”
“Bitch.”
“Asshole.”
We smirked at each other.
Family—it didn’t have to make sense.
50
CONOR
Finn clappedme on the back when I walked into his man cave and dragged me into a hug. “I didn’t know how much I’d miss you until you left. You’re the only one with any sense, I swear to fuck.”
Brennan punched me in the arm. “What’s going on?”
Grumbling, I rubbed my bicep. “That’s your idea of a greeting?”
“You’re pulling moves without discussing them first with the family.”
With an eye roll, I retorted, “What am I supposed to do? Drop everything and teleconference with you before we make important decisions?”
“You should consult us. Aidan said you want to alter our plans. That’s something we should be discussing together.”
“Brennan, calm down,” Finn clipped. “Since when does Conor do anything that doesn’t take the family’s best interests into consideration?”
My older brother didn’t appear to have an answer for that, but that just made his scowl darken. “We’re in this together. If we start pulling apart, then everything will go to hell.”
“You’re just pouting because I got to leave the country and you didn’t. Trust me, Bren, I haven’t been on a fucking vacation.”
“What has Sullivan gotten you involved in?” Aidan queried, his tone quiet as he stared at his whiskey glass.
“Sullivan,” I mocked, “is going to be your sister-in-law—”
“You asked her to marry you?” Finn inquired.
“You barely know her,” Brennan ground out.
“Fuck off, Brennan. It’s been two goddamn years! Like you knew Camille when you married her. So sit the fuck down.”
“I didn’t have a choice. She forced my hand—”
“And is the best thing that’s ever happened to you,” Eoghan inserted, his tone low. Measured.
I shot him a grateful look, but the shadows under his eyes stole most of my attention. I hated how he suffered. God, I wished I could provide him with relief from the mess the Forces had made of his brain.
“I’m not saying she isn’t,” Brennan spat. “I’m just saying, Conor, if you need help, we’re here.”
