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“Don’t worry.” Tanner chuckled. “Cell service can be spotty, but the internet is all right.”
Surrounded by evergreen forests and jagged ridge lines, they followed a stream to a clear alpine lake. Mountain peaks, reminding her of medieval castle turrets, mirrored its smooth surface. Arien wished she’d had the foresight to bring her camera along.
Kellan dismounted at the water’s edge and took a seat on a log. “The Sheepeaters called this home long before we were ever here.”
“The Shoshone,” Tanner explained, joining his brother. “This is Brooks Lake. Most of the time, we have it all to ourselves—lots of trout. There’s a cascade falls downstream, closer to town. And see that three-headed mountain?”
Gazing up, she nodded.
“That’s Brooks Mountain.”
Her eyes flicked between the brothers. “It’s named after you?”
“Not officially, but yeah.” The corner of his mouth ticking up, Tanner’s arm came around her.
“You must be pretty important around here then—the big shits.”
His dark eyes narrowing, Kellan turned his head from the water to look at her. “Ain’t like that. There’s no bullshit hierarchy in Brookside. Our family was one of the founding families to settle on this land, same as the other families here. We built the ranch, is all.”
‘Okay,’ she silently mouthed, pursing her lips.
Tanner drew her closer. “Come August we can watch the Perseid meteor showers—it’s better than the Fourth of July, I promise you.”
I’ll be gone by then. But she didn’t say it.
Kellan moved his hand to rest beside hers on the log. “Where’s your dad, Arien?”
“Well now, that’s a good question.” And usually, it was a question she didn’t care to answer whenever the subject of her sperm donor was brought up. Considering they were family now, for better or worse, it didn’t seem rude that he asked. “Couldn’t tell you, but then I don’t even know who he is.”
“What?” His hand sliding over hers, their fingers entwined.
“My mom and her friends went on a ski trip to Aspen their senior year of high school. It was spring break and they ended up at a party some college guys were throwing in their hotel room. Mom got drunk. Frat boy knocked her up.” Arien shrugged, her voice trailing off. “She can’t even remember his name.”
“Damn.” Squeezing her waist, Tanner laid his head on her shoulder. “What about your grandparents?”
“Mom’s dad kicked her out when she wouldn’t get an abortion.”
“No other family?”
She shook her head.
“You have us. We’re your family now,” Kellan reminded her. “When’s your birthday?”
“January twenty-first.” Arien looked up at him, and noticing tiny slivers of green in his chocolate-brown eyes, she smiled. “When’s yours?”
“August…” He smirked. “…thirty-first.”
“You’re a Virgo. That explains it.” She sniggered. “You never did tell me how old you are.”
“Twenty-two.”
Tanner lifted his head.
“Oh…wait a minute.” What the fuck? That can’t be right. “You’re only three months apart?”
“Yeah.”
“And your mothers were sisters?”
