Page 126 of Sheltering You

The little white ball started its pinging and ponging.

Derrick sank another shot, and all that was left was the eight ball.

He was lining it up when the slider at the back of the room opened, letting in cold, moist air, along with Michael and Dad, who shook out of giant yellow slickers dripping with rainwater, then shrugged out of their parkas. They hung the outerwear on the hooks by the door.

The others stopped what they were doing to greet the second-oldest brother and ask about the ride from shore.

Choppy, Derrick gathered. Wet. In other words, winter in the North Atlantic.

Derrick sank the eight ball.

“Good game.” Daniel returned from giving Michael a back-slapping hug and leaned his pool cue against the wall.

Derrick walked around the table, gathering the balls from the pockets.

“I’m glad you’re okay.” Michael plopped a hand on his shoulder, keeping his voice low. “How’s the wound?”

It hurt, but he was ignoring it. Derrick shook his brother off. “It’s fine.”

Michael stepped back, hands raised in surrender as if Derrick had attacked. Which…whatever.

He was being a jerk. Couldn’t seem to stop, though. He racked the balls. “Who’s up?”

The room was too quiet. Even Levi had stopped his constant stream of chatter.

Derrick straightened. They were all looking at him—his brothers, his dad, his nephews. “What?”

“What’s your problem?” Sam glanced from Michael to Bryan and back to Derrick. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing.” He shoved the pool stick on the stand. “I’m going up. I need some sleep.”

Confused, Daniel checked his watch.

Bryan said, “It’s eight fifteen.”

Derrick glared at his brother. “It’s been a long day.”

His father moved across the room toward him. Dad, with his white hair and gentle smile, and that concern in his eyes. He reached out and gripped Derrick’s forearm. “What’s going on, son?”

“Nothing.”

But Dad wasn’t taking that answer. And they were all watching him. And he was tired, and angry, and…

Jealous.

It was stupid.

Bryan stepped toward him. “It’s my fault. I’ll go.”

“It’s my fault.” Michael said the words to Bryan, then turned to Derrick. “I shouldn’t have told him, and I shouldn’t have expected him not to tell you. If you’re gonna be mad at anyone, be mad at me.”

“It wasn’t your story or his.” Derrick ground out the words.

Jasmine should have told him. He’d managed to forgive her. He needed to forgive his brothers too.

His problem wasn’t that nobody had told him.

The problem was that she was married and having a kid. And it couldn’t be undone.