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“Happy, even.”
“Unlikely.”
“You’re going to tell her you can’t wait. You’re not going to stare blankly at her the way you are at me, and you’re going to come and have a good fucking time, understand?”
I stare blankly at him. “Are you done?”
He sits back with a warning glare. “No. Drama. Noah. If Pepper’s best friend runs out on her wedding day because you said something stupid, I will hurt you.”
“Got it.”
“There will be blood and it won’t be mine,” he adds.
“I said okay. I won’t utter a word. And what would it matter? She’s going to be paired with Levi. Isn’t he your best man?” As the oldest brother, Levi would be the obvious choice.
“Levi isn’t my best man. You are.”
“Me?” My brows shoot up.
Chase rolls his eyes. “Don’t let it go to your head. You’re my second choice.”
My eyes dip as I realize who he’s referring to.
Elliot.
The youngest of us Reeves brothers died two winters ago in a skiing accident. Chase and Elliot were closer than any of us have ever been. Levi and I were older. Our relationship with Elliot was a mixture of nurturing and teasing. He was only twelve when Mom died. Levi and I were in college. If we weren’t raising him when Dad wasn’t around, we were teasing him because well, he was the baby.
I nod, glancing up at my brother. “I’m touched,” I say dryly. “Truly. And you don’t have to worry. Charlotte and I are adults.”
He narrows his gaze warily. But doesn’t push his hesitation. “Thanks.”
My eyes lift to his again. “How is she?”
Chase shifts uncomfortably, almost like he wants to say she’s doing well but doesn’t believe it.
Charlie’s mother, who’d been ill for the last two years, passed away earlier this month. She was the last person Charlie had left in this town.
Until Pepper came along last fall.
My brother gives me a pointed look that I take as ‘How do you think?’
We’ve been there. We should both know exactly how she’s doing.
But I don’t.
Is she lonely? Scared? Confused?
Does she have a plan to leave town?
I went to her mother’s funeral three weeks ago but didn’t approach her. When I lost the people I loved, I didn’t want chit-chat or condolences. Or people for that matter. I’m quiet by nature and a funeral isn’t exactly the place I liven up.
Besides, Pepper didn’t leave her side all day—and that girl and I didn’t exactly get off on the right foot when she came to town.
“Pepper invited her over tonight. Charlie’s still refusing to have us come help her pack things up, so it might be good to get her out of the house for a bit.”
I shake my head at my ex’s usual stubbornness. “There’s a lot of shi—stuff in that house. She needs help. Can’t you just… show up and insist?”
Chase pins me with his eyes. “Would you want that?”
