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Tycomes up next to me with paper plates, handing one over before pressing a kiss to my bare shoulder.
Myeyes dart around, looking to make sure nobody saw beforeIallow myself to relish the spark lighting up my flesh.Somethinginnocent and sweet instead of dirty and forced.
Idon’t know which oneIlike more.
Tymoans loudly, eyes fluttering.Hemade himself a double and, likeRobbie, loaded up his plate with potato salad. “Gah, these are some good-ass burgers.”
Dadsnorts, smirking. “Ha, thanks, kiddo.”
“Hopey’all don’t mind me askin’,”Tystarts as he sets his dripping burger down to wipe his hands, “butSteph’sfriend at the store mentioned that there’s aDevil’sBridgeout here?”
Myspine stiffens.
“Oh, you mean the one onAshleyRoad?”Dadsays.
“No, the one here on y’all’s property.”
There’sa slight pause. “Thereusedto be a tiny bridge so people could get across the creek,”Momexplains, “but that thing was so old and dilapidated that we tore it down when we moved here beforeStephorRobgot hurt.TheDevil’sBridgepart is a rumor leftover from people sneaking onto property and finding abandoned stuff in the woods.”
“That’sstill pretty cool, though,”Tysays. “Thaty’all have a local legend right in your backyard.”
“Ah, not really.Createscuriosity in people that makes them disrespect people’s privacy,”Dadmentions.
Tynods thoughtfully before smiling. “Sohow ‘bout themBraves, huh?”
Funnyhow time during the summer with the right company works: just when you think it’s unbearably bright and hot, suddenly, it’s dark and muggy and mosquitoes whine, searching for a tasty piece of flesh to feast upon.
Robbieappears in front of me.Apink sunburst forms around his eyes where his sunglasses were all day. “We’retakin’ off.”
Tybro-hugs him, and the second he’s stepped far away enough,Robbiegrabs my arm and pulls me back until the others have disappeared around the corner.
“Hekeeps asking questions or gets too curious, you let me know,” he says lowly. “Wedon’t need anyone else involved in this bullshit.”
Inod. “Agreed.”
Robbiestudies me closely. “Don’tget him tangled up in any of this.”
Iglare at my brother. “ThelessTyknows about anything going on here, the better.Soyou keep your mouth shut, too.”
Heoffers his pinky, andIquickly wrap it with mine.Hemoves to pull away, butIgrip his finger tighter. “Cometo practice tomorrow.”
Hisbrows furrow. “ButI’mout of the band.”
Shufflingmy weight around and letting his pinky go,Isay, “Yeah, well,Ididn’t agree to that, andIthinkShannonandAdriancould use the help keepingZin line.”
Mybrother’s nostrils flare. “Didhe attack you again?”
Ihesitate before admitting, “He’stried, but hasn’t gotten to me.”
Hislips pucker thoughtfully, a decent attempt at containing his simmering rage. “I’llbe there.”
MaybeShannonandZakwill be pissed, butIdon’t care—if they think they can make band decisions without me, they can think again.
“‘Night, everybody!”Dadhollers, waving over his shoulder as he disappears into his bedroom.
MomasksTy, “Yougot everything you need, hon?”
“Yes, ma’am.Don’tworry about me.”
