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He nodded tightly. “I was just trying to help.”
“I know,” I said slowly, “but I think maybe the switching thing isn’t actually helping anyone.”
Danny let out a sigh. “I thought that might be what you wanted to talk about. Yeah, we’re done with that. Eva always gets her way, doesn’t she?”
I didn’t understand the connection, but he wasn’t wrong. Eva always got her way—because she worked her ass off to make things happen. For herself and for all the people she cared about.
Stephen snorted. “I can’t imagine your team would appreciate the switch either. I’ll send you the info for the fundraiser.”
My phone dinged with incoming texts. “Thanks. You’re a good friend, Stephen.”
He snorted. “I’m the best. One more thing. Do you love her?”
“Yes.” Hard stop. Nothing else to say.
He smiled. “Good. See you at seven. Oh, and wear something pretty.” Stephen hung up, and I frowned at Danny.
“What the hell do I wear to crash a political fundraiser?”
He frowned. “What does the invitation say?”
I squinted down at the screenshot Stephen had sent me. “Black tie. Shit. I don’t own a tux.”
Danny crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair. “I do.”
Shock froze my brain for a second. “Really?”
A muscle ticked in his jaw, and some of his irreverent attitude faded. “Dad bought it for me right before…” He shrugged. “I was supposed to go to that girl’s prom with her. Dad said it was a good investment in my future.”
My throat closed at the memory of Dad talking about how important it was to prepare for the future. He’d done that by setting us up with the means to get through college, buy this house, follow our dreams.
Danny’s gaze turned distant, and I’d bet he was remembering the same speech. Dad had it memorized. He’d bring it out any time one of us hit a milestone or had a setback. One of the hardest moments for me had been at their funeral when I didn’t have Dad there to give the speech about looking to the future when things got hard.
I nudged Danny’s leg with my foot. “We’ve both put on thirty pounds of muscle since then. There’s no way the tux still fits.”
He shook his head. “I’ve had it tailored—keeping up with the investment. It’ll fit.”
His generous offer surprised me, but maybe it shouldn’t have. I hadn’t really looked at my brother in years. In my mind,he was still the hurt kid who’d lost his parents, just like me, but I wasn’t that kid anymore and neither was he.
“Danny—”
He cut me off, tucking his chin into his chest. “I’m sorry. I was… messed up after Mom and Dad died. I didn’t know how to deal, and it was easy to take it out on you. I never wanted you to get hurt though. I swear I didn’t know I was going to fail that drug test.”
“I know. The situation was fucked, all the way around.”
Danny nodded. “I missed our life. For a long time, I missed the life we used to have. I felt like I’d lost everything.”
I squeezed his shoulder. “I never gave up on you.”
“I know. You were my constant through all of it. I treated you like utter shit, and you stood by me. Probably don’t deserve you, but I’m glad you’re here.” He heaved out a breath. “Okay, enough sappy bullshit. We need to grab my tux from storage, and you need to tell the team.”
I rubbed my face, fighting the urge to hug my brother. He’d probably punch me if I tried it. “I hope Eva worked her magic on the team or I’m going to have a lot of groveling to do after this.”
Danny grinned. “Either way, you’re fucked.”
“You could be less happy about that.”
“No,” he said with a satisfied sigh. “No, I really couldn’t.”
