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Naughton nudged Brodie’s shoulder with his. “Peyton got you all twisted up?”
“How’d you know?”
His brother shrugged but didn’t respond. That was Naught’s way, though. If you ever wanted to keep a secret, he was your guy.
Once he had food in his stomach, Brodie asked Jimmy to give him what Naughton was drinking as long as there wasn’t any alcohol in it. Maddox raised his hand. “I’m done too.”
“Damn wine-drinkin’ lightweights,” Jimmy sputtered and slid their tab over to Naughton. “You’re the only one sober enough to give me a decent tip.”
Maddox stood behind them. “You gotta follow your heart, Brode. Kade isn’t here anymore, and whatever happened between them stopped mattering the night he died.”
Brodie looked at Naughton. “How do you feel about it?”
“I don’t know, to be honest. Sometimes, I think it’s really f’d up. And then I think about Peyton and her boys, and I find myself hoping you mean the things you’re saying about her.”
“I mean every word, Naught. I’m afraid I’m scaring the shit outta her. By the way, what did I say?”
“Nothin’. It’s more a feeling I get.”
Brodie’s head was spinning. “You better get me home.”
“Good idea,” said Mad. “Where’s your vehicle, Naught?”
“Over by the park.”
“The park? What the hell?”
“Figured you both could use a long walk in the fresh night air. Might sober you up.”
Maddox pulled his cell phone out of his pocket when they were halfway to where Naughton had parked.
“Yeah?” Maddox answered. “Hell if I know,” they heard him say, but didn’t hear the rest of the conversation.
Brodie and Naughton kept walking while Maddox argued with whoever had called him. He caught up with them after he hung up.
“Who was that?” Brodie asked.
“Alex Avila.”
“What did she want?”
“Wanted to know what I knew about what was goin’ on with you and Peyton.”
“What else?”
Maddox put his hand on Brodie’s shoulder. “You think you’re the only one who’s got a pretty girl wrappin’ you around her finger?”
“Really? You and Alex? When did that start up?”
Maddox hung his head, but then raised his eyes and grinned. “Where you been, little brother?”
Brodie looked at Naughton. “What’s he talkin’ about?”
“High school. Pretty sure that’s when he started chasin’ her around like some ol’ bull after a heifer.”
“You watch it, Naught. Alex will kick the shit out of you if she hears you call her a heifer.”
Brodie felt as though he ate a thousand cotton balls the night before and there was a marching band practicing inside his head. After checking his phone for the twentieth time, he rolled over and covered his eyes with his arm. There was still no message from Peyton, not that he’d expected there to be.
