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“Emmy!” Forrest calls out for me. “Get your ass down here!” He’s laughing, and I can’t help but smile too. I’ve missed him.
Roman’s hand drops from my body, and he takes several steps back. I watch as he runs his tattooed hand through his unruly jet-black hair. He moves back to the opposite side of the island while on shaking legs, I manage to perch my ass on a bar stool.
“Close your shirt,” Roman grits out.
I look down and see my hard nipples poking through. “Your fault,” I sass before grabbing both sides of the flannel and wrapping it around me.
“You better answer him,” Roman reminds me.
I swallow, licking my lips. “In here, Forty!”
My brother’s heavy footfalls echo throughout the house. “There she is.” Forrest grins as he stalks toward me and wraps his arms around me in a crushing hug.
Hot tears prick my eyes. I owe my big brother so much. He’s always been my protector and my biggest cheerleader. “I missed you, Forty,” I murmur softly.
“I miss you too, Emmy.” He pulls back and nods at Roman. “Thanks for greeting her, man. That last client was a pain in my ass.”
“It’s always the new ones.” Roman chuckles.
“Don’t I know it,” Forrest fires back before he turns his attention back to me. “Are you hungry? I can order something.”
“No, just tired from the drive.”
“Any troubles?”
“Nope. We did a mini-caravan, stopping at the same times, following each other closely.”
“There’s something I want to ask you. I was waiting to do it in person. We’ve been meaning to hire someone to work the desk, take appointments, cash out customers, that sort of thing.”
“Then you’d just be up shit creek again once I go back to school.”
“I know.” He sighs. “But that gives us time to hire someone while you’re there helping out, taking some of those tasks so we can interview. You can help too. I feel like I never get to see you anymore. Working with us all summer will be great.”
“I live here,” I remind him with a soft laugh.
“I know, but I work long-ass hours, and it would be nice for us to work together. Next summer, you’ll be graduated and off to do great things in the operating room.”
“I’m going to be a surgical tech, not a surgeon.” I shake my head at my brother, always my biggest cheerleader. I spent my first year of college doing my prerequisites and this past year, and next is my concentrated curriculum.
He shrugs. “You’re doing big things, little sister. I just worry, and I know once you graduate, I’ll get to see you even less.”
“I’m a big girl now, Forty.” I hold my arms open, and he leans in for another hug. “You don’t have to worry so much, big bro. You’ve done your job. I know how to throw a punch, and I know how to adult because of you.”
He gives me a sympathetic look. It’s hard to believe that we turned out the way that we did with the parents we were blessed with.
“Well, we’re having a party for your birthday at the end of the summer before you head back to college. No arguments.” He points his index finger at me. “I don’t care how old you are. You will always be my little sister. I want to do this for you, Emmy.”
“I don’t need a party.” I tell him the same thing every single year. However, every single year he insists on throwing me one.
“You’re turning twenty. We have to celebrate that.”
“It’s just another day, Forrest.” I chuckle.
“You’re no longer a teenager,” he reminds me.
My face heats. Embarrassment washes over me. My brothers and his friends are all the same age. They’re ten years older than me. The last thing I want is to remind Roman of our age difference.
“Just another day,” I say again.
