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Harper straightened up with the chicken in his arms just as I opened the nightstand, found a big box of condoms, and tossed it into the duffle. He grinned at me and joked, “Are you sure that’ll be enough for two nights in New York?”
I tossed a second box in with the first one as I shot him a look and said, “Probably not.”
“You totally think I’m a himbo.”
“A what?”
“A himbo. You know, like him plus bimbo.”
“You said it, not me,” I muttered. “Also, pants. Find some. Put them on.”
Eventually, he got dressed in a dark blue designer track suit, white T-shirt, and sneakers, and I herded him and his chicken downstairs and toward the front door. But he veered off when he saw Kel and gave him a very long and totally unnecessary lecture on how to take care of his pet, including naming everything Loco didn’t like. The other hens were at the top of the list. That was followed by an overwrought and emotional goodbye with the chicken. To be clear, Harper was the emotional one. Loco was as befuddled as ever and tried to eat the logo on his jacket.
While Harper and the poultry were having a moment, Hudson Royce came into the living room on a pair of crutches. He was an absolutely beautiful blue-eyed blond who was built like a tank and towered over his six-foot-two older brother. Even though he tended to be pretty sullen around most people, Hud and I had always just clicked for some reason. I gave him a hug and asked, “Are you okay?”
“Not really. I tore up my ankle and had to have surgery. Now I have no idea if I’m going to be ready for the pre-season.” He played pro football, and this was just the latest in a long series of setbacks.
We spoke for a few more seconds before Harper interrupted with, “Are we going or what? I thought we were in a hurry.” I told Hudson when we’d be back, and I couldn’t help but notice the way he snuck a glance at Kel before leaving the room.
I turned to Harper and said, “Okay, so let’s go already.” I failed to hold back an eye roll as he gave the chicken a final cuddle, then spouted off in baby talk as he handed her over to Kel, who promised to check in with frequent updates.
Once we were out the door with his luggage, I asked, “What’s with you and that skinny little chicken?”
“She needs me, and I love her.” He shot me a look and asked, “What’s with you and my brother?” Did I detect a note of jealousy?
“I’ve always liked Hud. You know that.”
“I didn’t recall you two being quite so touchy-feely.”
I shrugged and told him, “It was just a hug.”
“A lingering one.” Yup, definitely some jealousy there. Was it because he couldn’t stand anyone getting more attention than he did, including his own brother?
We reached my SUV with its open doors. When the smell of lavender hit us, he took a step back and asked, “What the hell happened in there?”
“Kel spilled some air freshener on the carpet. It might not be so bad if we drive with the windows rolled down.”
“Nope. We’ll take one of my cars. No fucking way am I flying to New York smelling like a little old lady’s underwear drawer.”
“What kind of reference is that?”
“You know. They always have those weird little sachets of dried flowers in their dressers.”
I asked, “And you know this because you’ve spent time rummaging around in old ladies’ underwear drawers?”
“Don’t make it sound all pervy. I used to look in my gran’s dresser when I was a kid, because that was where she hid her stash of those rock-hard butterscotch candies.” I was still staring at him, and after a beat he slung his bag over his shoulder and headed to the garage.
I retrieved my messenger bag from the back of the Bronco, and once I closed all the doors and locked up, I hurried after him. He was sitting in his convertible, and I said, “You don’t want to leave the Tesla at LAX.”
He thought about that, then said, “Yeah, I guess not,” and started to switch out to a vintage Jaguar.
“That’s much worse.”
He pointed at a cream-colored Cadillac Escalade and asked, “How about that one?”
I glanced at my phone and said, “I wish I had time to call a car service. All of these are just begging to be stolen.”
Harper clicked his tongue and threw the duffle in the back of the SUV. “This thing has a killer anti-theft system. If someone’s smart enough to thwart it, they’re welcome to the damn thing.”
I put my bag in the backseat, then walked around to the driver’s side and said, “Give me the keys.”
