Page 81 of The Truths We Find

THIS IS WHY MOM LIKED ME BEST!

I know, I’m the worst. But hey, the amount of people I see laughing makes it all worth it.

He finally steps onto the escalator bringing people into the area and I hit him with a huge grin.

He just shakes his head and sticks up both middle fingers as he walks my way. “We both know that’s a lie. I was obviously mom’s favorite.”

“Whatever helps you sleep at night, little brother.”

He pulls me into a tight hug. “Missed you.”

“Missed you more. We have a lot to catch up on.”

I haven’t told him yet about Dani and me. We’ve been in this getting to know you phase for nearly two months now, and while it’s going really well, I don’t want to tell Emmett anything until we have things figured out.

He took the original breakup hard, and while I don’t see things not working out, I don’t want to get his hopes up if something doesn’t happen. But he’s visiting for a few weeks, and I have two objectives while he’s here. Convince him to move to town, and tell him about Dani. Why do both make me beyond nervous? Nothing would make me happier than to have both my brother and my girl here with me.

Dani also has no idea Emmett is in town. I made sure he didn’t say anything during their many text chats, so we could surprise her together. She thinks I’m out right now getting supplies for the next house project, and I know Alexa is keeping her busy with a girls’ day. I can’t wait to see the look on her face when I bring him to the bar later.

Somehow, Emmett managed to squeeze everything into a carry-on duffel, so we don’t have to wait for anything at baggage claim, and we’re on the road ten minutes later.

“Still living in the retro house?” He laughs.

“You mean the multimillion-dollar beach house I get to live in basically for free? Yep. And I’ll have you know that it’s only half a retro house now. I’ve gotten a ton of work done on it lately.”

“What about my room?”

“Yeah, that’s still straight out of an episode of The Brady Bunch.”

“How’s the living room?”

“The downstairs is almost completely upgraded. It’s been my main focus for the last couple months.”

“Then that’s where I’ll be sleeping, thanks. I need modern around me. How’d you get it fixed up so fast?”

“Was just motivated to get it done is all.”

Truth is, the real reason is Dani. She basically put the kibosh on having sex down there while it looked like a bad porno set. Her words, not mine. I started working on it the very next day.

Emmett fills me in on how things are going back home. Apparently, he was able to bring on two more guys at the company, and business has never been better. He might even expand and open a few more locations. I’m really proud of him for taking this tiny one-man operation I started and turning it into the success it is. Maybe I’ll get lucky and convince him to switch gears and expand out here instead.

“You still seeing Brad? Or wait, was it Vanessa?” I grill my brother.

“Yes, and yes. I’m seeing a lot of people. You know I don’t do the commitment thing. I date around. Have fun. The beauty of not being tied down.”

“Wow, you and Alexa really are the same person.”

He waggles his eyebrows. “You don’t say.”

I shove my pointer finger in his face without taking my eyes off the road. “Don’t you dare. She’s a good friend, and she’s Dani’s best friend. I don’t want you fucking that up with your dick.”

“Fine. But speaking of my platonic soul mate, what’s going on with Dani? I know she finally ditched the douche, so have you tuned her body’s forbidden radio station yet?”

I turn my head towards him, my eyebrows scrunched. “Have I what?”

He laughs. “I was trying to come up with another way to say bumping uglies that applied to broadcasting. How’d I do?”

“Please don’t ever say that again.”