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“I talked to Mom and Dad,” Maddie says, “and they said as long as the university’s good with me finishing online, I have their blessing.”
“We’re going to have the most fun.” Brianna sips what appears to be bourbon. “Just you and me—a couple of women seeing Europe for the first time.”
“Along with Brock,” I say dryly.
Brianna twists her full lips into a frown. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
I squeeze the lemon wedge from my glass into my water and take a sip. “Your good cousin Brock offered to chaperone you while the rest of us are doing band stuff.”
Brianna’s jaw drops. “Maddie and I are twenty-two years old. We don’t need a chaperone around Europe.”
“All right,” I say. “Then don’t think of him as a chaperone. Think of him as your cousin who’s going to Europe with you.”
“But Maddie and I—”
“If Maddie’s going, someone’s going to keep an eye on her. End of story.”
“Oh, for God’s sake, Jess”—this from Maddie—“will I always be a baby to you?”
“Yes,” I say succinctly, turning to Brianna. “And I’m sure Dale and Donny feel the same way about you.”
Brianna rolls her eyes.
Her very beautiful dark-brown and long-lashed eyes.
Damn.
What am I thinking?
She’s ten years younger than I am.
Shit. Now she’s going to Europe with us.
I didn’t really need these feelings to sprout now.
Hell, I’ve spent the last ten years consciously ignoring her. No reason to stop, no matter what my dick thinks of the situation. It’s stiffening in my jeans.
“Not only that, but Brianna’s going to—”
Brianna nudges Maddie.
“Oh.” From Maddie.
“What the hell is that about?” I ask.
“Nothing,” Maddie says. “Just something between Bree and me. I misspoke.”
I stifle my eye roll. “Good enough.” I take a long drink of my water. “I guess I’ll go back and play the winner of the next game. Man, I suck tonight.”
“You?” Brianna asks. “The king of pool? The guy who can even beat Donny? Which he hates, by the way.”
“Don and I are good.”
It’s not a lie. At least it’s not supposed to be. Callie made us kiss and make up when she and Don got engaged.
Brianna smiles. “I’m glad to hear that. The two of you are more alike than different.”
I look to the doorway. “You all know what my beef is.”
