AllFreeNovel
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“Oh come on. Seriously? You’ve got to work?”
“I already told you I’m working a double today and tomorrow, then leaving to spend a week in Maine with my mom,” she scolds me.
“Listen... My head is loud enough to be the drummer during a Lilah Ryan concert right now. Cut me a break if I’m processing a little slow,” I sulk.
“You’d be a sexy-as-fuck drummer,” she smiles.
Always my ride or die.
“I would, wouldn’t I?” I agree.
She laughs at me. “Uh-huh. And I’m thinking Callen’s out right now. The dogs were both snoring on the couches, but there was no sign of him. So you’ve got some time to figure out your move.”
“You mean my apology.”
Bellamy rolls away and does something on her phone. Probably setting an alarm so she can take a nap before going to the hospital. I wish I could fall asleep as easily as she does.
“I mean your next move. You’ve had a thing for Callen Sinclair for as long as I’ve known you, Cait. You’ll have the house to yourself and a big fat apology to make. See where it goes.” She pulls the blanket up under her chin and closes her eyes. “Now, watch the movie so I can catch a few hours of sleep before work.”
How come when she says it, it sounds easy, but when I try to do it, I mess it all up?
CALLEN
Cooper
What time are you heading over to Dad’s today? I’ll meet you there.
—Text from Cooper to Callen.
Cooper stands, leaning against his big ass SUV—his thick arms shoved into the pockets of a pair of cargo shorts, and aviators pulled low, hiding his eyes—when I pull into Dad’s driveway a few hours later. He looks fucking exhausted. I guess that’s what happens when you have three eighteen-year-olds at home. You probably never stop worrying long enough to sleep.
“What the hell, man?” I ask as I walk up to him. “Worried I was gonna ignore Dad’s summons?” Coop smiles and pulls his glasses down to wink at me. Fucker. “Dude, I don’t need another Declan, okay?”
Cooper and I have always had an easier relationship than what I have with Murphy, Declan, or Brady. I think it’s because football isn’t the god Coop bows down to the same way my other brothers and brother-in-law do. He probably could have gone pro if he wanted to, but he only ever wanted to be a Navy SEAL. Well, that and to marry Carys.Yeah. Family is so fucked up.
Being good at football and football being your life are two completely different things.
Some guys live to play. Some play to live. I play to play.
“Nah, kid.” He throws an arm around my shoulder and rubs his knuckles over my head until I shove him off me. “Not my style. Just wanted to spend time with my baby brother.”
I eye him warily. “I just spent a week with all of you at the beach last month.”
We knock three times and call out as we walk in, just to be safe. It’s an unwritten rule you never walk into Mom and Dad’s house unannounced. Not since Murphy walked in on Mom and Dad half-naked on the kitchen table. The one they’ve refused to replace. My asshole siblings like to say that’s where I was conceived. Isn’t family fun?
“Hi, boys,” Mom calls out from the kitchen. She moves around the island in the center of the room and cups my cheeks in her hand. “You look thin, Callen. Are you hungry?”
I’m six feet six and two hundred and fifty pounds.
No one hasevertold me I look thin.
“I’m good.” I drop a kiss on her cheek, and my stomach growls from the delicious scent of rosemary sourdough bread sitting on cooling racks stacked on the counter. Mom took up bread baking during the pandemic and is very proud of her sourdough starter.
This room has always been the heart of the entire house, but today, it’s quiet. “Where’s everyone else?”
“I think Dad’s in his office. Declan and Murphy are coming over later tonight. Nattie and Brady were already here,” she tells us with a sad smile.
“Come on, kid brother.” Coop slaps my back.
