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Hale. Hale probably talked his way out of this, which was weird because of the two of them, he was the charming one. Hale didn’t usually bother to talk unless he truly liked someone.
It was a mystery he wasn’t going to solve in here. He stood as the guy with five hundred tattoos all involving murder of some kind turned and started to yawn.
He moved a bit faster and was happy when the door shut behind him and the officer led him to a small room.
The officer opened the door and nodded to whoever was in there. “Mr. Dean, he’s here. Let me know if he gives you any trouble.”
Van stopped before he could see in the room.
Mr. Dean? None of his brothers would go by Mr. Dean. Except for one.
Hale wouldn’t…
Maybe jail wasn’t so bad. A lot could be learned in jail, and there were guaranteed meals.
“Sylvan, you might as well come in.”
Yep. That was his big brother. That was Jake Dean.
He wouldn’t have been afraid of facing his father. Or his mom. Or anyone else in his family.
Of course, the truth was no one else in his family would have bothered to show up. They would have sent out thoughts and prayers that the universe would show him the way. They might have told him which commune to go to in order to reset his chakras.
They wouldn’t have come to suburban Oklahoma City to get his ass out of jail.
He stepped into the room, and sure enough there was his brother in all his authoritative glory. He wore a dark button-down shirt and slacks that had been pressed to perfection. His brown hair was still in the same military-style cut he’d had the last time they’d seen each other a few years before. Van had been going through Dallas and gave his brother a call. The couple of days he’d spent with Jake and his best friend, Adam, had been amazing, and then he’d moved on and they’d only talked a few times since.
Jake had gotten married, and Van had been surfing in Baja at the time. He hadn’t gotten the invitation until it had been forwarded to him two months late. His cell had changed numerous times, but Jake’s number had apparently remained the same.
Hale stood behind the small table where Jake’s best friend and…partner…sat. Adam Miles had been Jake’s best friend since they’d met in the Army, and they’d worked together for years. Now they lived together, worked together, and shared a wife.
He didn’t think they were bi. Not that it would have bothered him. He wasn’t sure how the whole thing worked, but it was a relationship that made his brother happy and that was all that mattered.
“Hey, Van.” Adam was the only one smiling. “How was jail? Did you make any friends?”
“Adam.” Jake frowned his partner’s way. Kind of like Hale was frowning his.
Hale looked tired, like he’d been up all night, which he probably had. His T-shirt was wrinkled and his jeans had paint on them from his last odd job.
Those odd jobs would be their only job because Van had also gotten fired the night before.
It was definitely time to move on. Time to find the next good time until it wasn’t fun anymore and they started all over again.
None of which was his brother’s problem. “Jake, I’m sorry Hale called you.”
Jake’s jaw was pretty stone-like as he stared. “Who else was he supposed to call? Our parents? Do they even have phones right now or has Mom decided they give the world bad vibes or something? Hale was alone and knew damn well you wouldn’t be able to make bail because you’re broke.”
“Jake.” Adam was the one staring now.
Jake and Adam seemed to have a whole conversation through a series of looks and light growls—all those came from Jake.
Meanwhile Hale was leaning back against the wall, a sullen look on his face. Like he was sure Van was about to lose his shit, and he would be the one who took the brunt of it.
Or like he was just tired of all the fucking drama.
Since they’d headed out on their own it had been adventures broken up with time spent making enough money to have some more adventures. The thing was the adventures had started to wear thin a long time ago.
“Adam, Hale, can I have a moment alone with my brother?” Jake asked, the silent argument seemingly over.
Adam stood, straightening his stylish shirt. “Of course, but remember why I came.”
“You came because you’re nosy,” Jake accused.
“I came because I understand where you are, and I hope you handle this situation so you come out as well as I did.” Adam walked out, glancing Van’s way. “And you remember that he’s here because he cares about what happens to you. He’s solid, and while he can come off as an arrogant asshole, he’s the best man I know.”
