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Spencer frowned, arms crossed over his chest. “Is this because I didn’t tell you she was here?”
“Yes! I’m yourbrotherand you know how fucked up I was after that summer. And you still kept it from me.”
Spencer started to protest, but then grunted and nodded, brushing a hand over his close cropped hair. Of the five of them, he was the only one with dark blonde hair and despite what people said, Gavin didn’t think any of them looked alike. Spencer was the tallest of the brothers, broader too. He hunched a lot, knowing that his height and size intimidated people, so it was rare to see him standing up straight. Even then, sitting down, his shoulders were curved in and he leaned forward to distract people from his size.
“You’re right. I’m sorry. I convinced her to move here and then realized that it was a big mistake not talking to you about it first. By then I didn’t know how to explain what I’d done.”
Patty brought their sandwiches over—Cheesesteak Grilled Cheese for Spencer and Chicken Parm Grilled Cheese for Gavin—along with their drinks, then made herself scarce. Clearly she could see how tense things were between the brothers. Gavin stared at his brother, who in turn stared at his food guiltily.
“I was struggling and having a really hard time at work, so I thought it would be good to have my best friend close by,” Spencer explained, popping open the cans of their sodas. “I wasn’t thinkingandquite honestly, for as small as Wildes is, you two wouldn’t have ever crossed paths.”
“Until Frankie started dating Milo.”
Spencer winced and shook his head. “I really am sorry, Gav. But,” he said and Gavin growled, but Spencer wasn’t deterred. “In my defense,youbanned us from ever saying her name.”
Well, he’s got me there.“You should’ve still told me,” he mumbled, feeling much like the child that he was trying not to emulate.
“I know,” Spencer said, heaving a loud and heavy sigh. “But you guys talked things out, right?”
An unplanned guffaw escaped his mouth and Gavin grimaced as he looked at Spencer. Shrugging, he bit into his sandwich to keep himself occupied. Clearly Ginny hadn’t told Spencer about theirinteractioneither, but it would only make Gavin look bad. Ginny didn’t come out of that conversation smelling like roses, but at least she didn’t smell like yesterday’s garbage.
“What did you do?” Spencer asked, using the same tone as before.
Swallowing the food in his mouth, Gavin lifted one shoulder in an awkward shrug. “We might have yelled at each other.Imight have said some really mean shit.”
“For fuck’s sake, are you kidding me?”
“She makes me do stupid things, Spence. I had no control over my words and then I didn’t have control over my actions. Because I pinned her to my desk andalmostkissed her.” He groaned at the exasperated look on his brother’s face. “We didn’t kiss, we didn’t do anything. But being around her makes me want to do it all.”
Spencer made a gagging sound and shook his head. “Nope, it was hard enough processing that you and my best friend were fucking back then, can’t process it now.”
“I’m not mad with her about what happened anymore, I don’t think.” He shook his head, trying to believe those words himself. “But, she infuriates me.”
“You need serious help, brother.”
“Trust me, I amveryaware.”
They ate their sandwiches in silence for a long moment and it was only when Spencer kicked him under the table that Gavin realized he was ripping his paper plate to shreds.
“I need you to know that Iamsorry for not telling you about Ginny moving to Wildes. You know I didn’t do it to hurt you, right?” Gavin nodded, offering his brother a small smile. “I just needed her close by and she showed up.”
“What’s going on with you, Spence?”
“Nothing,” Spencer said way too quickly and Gavin frowned. “I’m okay now, I promise.”
“I’m here for you. The others too, you know that right?”
“Yeah. But some things are easier with your best friend.”
Gavin nodded, understanding that completely. He told Graham almost everything, but even his brother didn’t know all the things Milo and Jackson did. But this conversation made Gavin sit up and take notice of the fact that something more was going on with Spencer.
* * *
It was closing in on five p.m. when Spencer dropped Gavin off at the shelter. They hugged and bumped fists, promising to catch up properly over drinks one day and then Spencer left. Gavin rolled back his shoulders as he braced himself to deal with Ginny. She wasn’t evil or terrifying, she was just…Ginny. Which, in so many ways, was worse than her being evil. At least if she was evil he’d be able to explain this tension that tightened his muscles.
Except, when he walked into the shelter and found the front desk empty, he was ready to fire everyone. Then laughter filtered from the back, Ginny’s cackle was the loudest and he clenched his fists to stop from saying or doing something stupid. Dropping his things off in his office, Gavin forced himself to breathe through his irritation as he pushed up the sleeves of his Henley and stepped outside.
He’d been so ready to yell, cause a little havoc and tell Ginny off. However, the sight of her rendered him speechless. Bronte and Ginny were washing two of the horses, both of them were soaked to the bone and there was more soap on them than on the horses. But they were laughing and having such a good time that he didn’t have the heart to tell them they were doing it wrong. Instead, his eyes were drawn to Ginny. She was wearing denim cutoffs that clung to her thick thighs and a black t-shirt that stuck to her torso, flaunting the curve of her waist and the shape of her breasts. He vaguely recalled what that body felt like under his hands, but seeing it encased in wet clothes did something to him.
