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“No.” Plowing his fingers through the mop on his head, Dillon heaved a sigh. “Nothing is okay.”
“Can I do anything?” Kodiak asked, even though he knew he probably couldn’t. His sister and Dillon had to find their own way through this. “Just name it.”
“Linn…I need you to look out for her and Charlotte for me.” He rubbed his bloodshot eyes. The poor guy looked like he hadn’t slept in a week, and knowing him, Kodiak would bet that he hadn’t. “I’m going to Dublin for a while. Got a flight out this afternoon. That’s why I came by here so early.”
“I don’t understand…”
But he did.
“When will you be back?”
“I don’t know.” With a shake of his head, Dillon took a ragged breath.
Kodiak placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “It’s all going to work out.”
And he wasn’t just saying that. Linnea loved Dillon, of that he was sure, but she’d loved his brother too. That had to be fucking with her head. She just needed time to sort through all those feelings.
“Sure doesn’t feel like it.”
“Trust me, it will.” And he hugged him. “Have a little faith, brother.”
Dillon promised to check in from time to time while he was away. Kodiak promised he would look after his sister and the baby. Not that Linnea needed him to. She was the strongest person he’d ever known. But as her brother, he’d always be there in any way she wanted him to be.
Sipping on his now lukewarm tea, he skimmed through his inbox. “Jesus, fucking enough already.”
Another email. They’d been arriving more frequently in the past few months. When was this going to stop? What in the hell could Jarrid possibly want? Curiosity getting the better of him, his finger hovered. Then he came to his senses and hit delete.
Friday night, and he and Kelly were doing what they loved to do most. Absolutely nothing. Chilling with a beer on the patio, Kodiak had some ribs cooking on the grill, Cubs game playing on the TV. More than anything else, they enjoyed a relaxing evening at home together.
Opening the foil to check on the ribs, he glanced over his shoulder. Knees bent, Kelly held a Kindle on her lap, engrossed in whatever it was she was reading. One of them dirty books with a naked dude on the cover, no doubt. He smirked to himself. “Read me the first line of that book you got there, Snicks.”
“I’m going to fuck you.”
Oh, yeah. Keep reading, baby.
He chuckled. “Ribs should be ready in about thirty minutes.”
“Cole slaw’s in the fridge, beans are on the stove,” she replied without looking up. “I’ll get the corn as soon as I’m done with this chapter.”
“I got it.” Kodiak bent over to kiss her. “Read your book.”
Husking corn is a bitch. Damn silks. No matter how he unzipped the leaves from the cob, some of them always remained. He was still trying to get them off when Kelly came in, looking guilty as all get out, with his phone.
“I’m sorry, but the caller ID said Decatur Memorial Hospital.” She bit her lip. “I figured it was important, so I answered it.”
“Thanks, babe. It’s okay.” Kodiak took the phone from her palm. “Hello.”
She squeezed his forearm and took the corn out to the patio.
Ten minutes later, he cracked open another beer and joined her.
Sitting down beside her, elbows on his knees, he brought the bottle to his lips. The summer ale, bitter and sweet, seemed to stick in his gullet. Taking another pull, he forced himself to swallow.
Kelly rubbed his thigh. “You okay?”
“Yeah.” Though he wasn’t quite sure that was true. “My father is dying. Cancer. They want to transfer him to a hospice.”
Her lips parted like she wasn’t sure what she was supposed to say. Sorry? Good riddance?
