Chapter Seven #2
She adjusted her bag over her shoulder as she made her way to the front porch.
At the same time, she noticed headlights from a large truck as the vehicle got closer to the house.
It must’ve been a neighbor. Good luck finding a spot, buddy.
T’s street was short, and not everybody had a driveway.
Street parking was an absolute nightmare.
On a Friday night, it was especially difficult to get a spot.
She knocked twice and then flung open the door. “I’m here.”
Cassie rushed forward, taking the food from her hands. “Thanks for picking this up. I hope it wasn’t too much trouble.”
Roxanne closed the door behind her, waving to Sadie on the couch. “Not as much trouble as our newest client.”
Cassie’s face paled. “Melody Rollins?”
Roxanne forced a smile and raised her brows. “She wants pink doves at the wedding.”
Cassie’s eyes widened to the size of saucers. “What?”
“Yeah, and at the last dress fitting? I overheard one of the bridesmaids talking about jumping off the boat and swimming to shore if Melody didn’t rein in her bullshit by the wedding.
Another one said they should have a charter boat on standby to rescue them after the dinner.
Personally, I don’t think it’s a bad idea. ”
Cassie gasped and covered her mouth, failing to conceal her giggle. They were at the point where if they didn’t laugh, they’d all be crying.
“I’m so glad I didn’t take that call when it came in. Does that make me a bitch?”
“Yes.” Roxanne teased. “So to be fair, you get the next psycho bride.”
“Deal.”
“Thought you’d never get here.” Emory approached, giving her best “forgive me” puppy-dog eyes. “Still mad at me?”
“For standing me up? Yes.”
Emory rolled her eyes and cocked her head. “I was running late.”
Roxanne narrowed her gaze. “Fifteen minutes is running late. I waited over an hour. By myself.”
That wasn’t entirely true. She had company for a short while.
Her cheeks heated, and she ground her teeth.
Thinking of that night, having to watch Jonah on his date didn’t help matters.
Or her forgiveness of her best friend. Her only saving grace was that there was zero chance she’d run into Jonah anytime soon.
Emory pouted. “I’m sorry. I’ll make it up to you.”
“Oh yes, you will. And bring Ethan’s credit card because my forgiveness is going to cost a lot.”
Emory and Cassie laughed. Roxanne was only half joking. She and Emory had been best friends since they were kids. They’d survived countless disagreements, fights and all-out brawls. A simple apology was always sufficient. But it didn’t mean she was opposed to a free meal and drinks.
Roxanne spent the next five minutes greeting Sadie and loving on the newest member of the family, T and Cassie’s daughter, Darla.
“I’m going to have everyone over at my place next weekend for a girls’ night. Are you available?” Sadie asked.
Before she could answer, Emory chimed in. “She’s always available.”
Roxanne shoved her away when Emory attempted to hug her. “Shut up or I’ll tell my brother you’re being mean to me.” She smiled down at Sadie. “I’m available.”
“Great.” Sadie sat up on the couch and turned slightly. “I want you all to sleepover. Kind of like old school. T, Stone and Bogs are out of town on a job, so it’ll be perfect.”
Bogs. Where is that asshole brother of mine? She may have gotten side-tracked, but she hadn’t forgotten his obvious setup sending her to Jonah’s house unknowingly.
“Is Bogs around?”
Cassie hooked her thumb over her shoulder. “Yeah, in the kitchen with the guys.”
Roxanne glanced around the room. “Where’s Kenzie?”
She shrugged. “Not sure. Bogs said something about a table. But she’ll come later.”
Hmmm … what table? Kenzie hadn’t mentioned furniture shopping. In the last year, they’d become particularly close. She had a tight relationship with all her brothers’ women, but she felt a special connection with Kenzie.
She directed her attention to the laughter coming from the kitchen, and her brows dipped, forming two deep lines. She marched into the kitchen to find Stone and T leaning against the counter laughing and Bogs across from them at the center island.
She cleared her throat, gaining their attention, but kept her scowl pinned on Bogs.
“Hey, Rox. You’re late.” T’s gruff tone did nothing to distract her. She ignored him and Stone too when he asked where she’d been. She was on a mission, and the enemy was standing five feet away.
Bogs lifted his chin. “How’s it going?”
She stalked up to the island, pressed her palms on the granite and tightened her shoulders, glaring at him. She’d hoped he’d have a little decency and show at least some remorse. The corners of his mouth curled into a proud grin. Her blood raced through her veins.
“You knew.”
Bogs clamped his lips in a line, obviously fighting his amusement. If he laughed at this very second, she might jump across the counter and punch him.
“Knew what?” T asked, moving closer to the counter. “What the fuck is going on?”
Roxanne ignored T and kept glaring at Bogs, squinting her eyes. “That’s why you gave Stone that bullshit speech about me being an adult. I should handle it myself, right, Bogs? You knew exactly where you were sending me,” she shouted, unable to control her frustration.
“Send you where? Somebody better fucking clue me in,” T said.
She turned, about to explain what happened when she caught Bogs’ snicker. She whipped her head, scowling in full force.
“How is Jonah?” Bogs’ taunting tone had her anger coming to the surface. She balled her hands, imagining the pure satisfaction of landing her fist directly on his nose.
“You’re such an asshole!”
Bogs widened his eyes and scoffed. “I’m an asshole? C’mon, it’s not my fault you didn’t put two and two together, Ms. College Degree.”
Dick!
“I hate you.” She sighed and rolled her eyes.
“You’ll get over it.” Bogs laughed, shaking his head. “Rox, did you really think I’d let you go to some stranger’s house by yourself?”
“Yeah, I did, Bogs. ‘Cause newsflash, jerkface, I’m an adult.”
Bogs burst out laughing. “Yeah, ‘cause most adults use the word jerkface.”
That’s it! Roxanne had officially lost her patience with him. She skirted around the island, but he shifted to the right with the table separating them. This was reminiscent of their childhood. No one could push her buttons like him.
T slammed his hand on the counter. “Either tell me what’s going on or get the fuck outta my house.” Bogs started to speak, but T immediately shut him down. “Not you.”
The last thing she wanted was to rehash the story. But there was no way T would let it go without getting all the information.
She drew in a breath. “So, last week I got into a little fender bender, and when …”
“Wait, back the fuck up, what happened?” T snapped.
Roxanne closed her eyes. Brothers. Four of them. All older. Ridiculously overprotective.
T didn’t even wait for a response.
“Did you get hurt? Where did he hit you? What did the doctor say?” He moved closer, but she backed up. She appreciated the concern, but it was completely unnecessary and, at the moment, extremely annoying.
She waved her hands, shooing him away. “T, I’m fine.
I was at a stop sign down at the marina.
A car hit me from behind. I’m not hurt, so I didn’t go to the hospital, okay?
” She flipped her hair and clenched her fists.
She was just going to blurt out the rest. Otherwise, her explanation would include further interruptions.
She spread out her hands. “Look, I’m fine, but my car was damaged.
When I talked to the guy who hit me, he begged me not to go through insurance and said he’d pay for the repairs.
I agreed, which, before you say anything, I know, was stupid, but I felt bad for the kid, and well, I had no idea he’d totally dodge my calls for the next week. ”
T’s jaw tightened, and his temple pulsed.
When his face turned a darker shade of red, she wrapped the story up before he blew up.
“Bogs looked up his name and number. I had a picture of his license plate, so he ran it and gave me the address.” She slowly craned her neck, and her lips pursed.
“What the asshole didn’t tell me was that it was Jonah’s house. ”
T’s eyes hardened. “Jonah hit you?”
“No,” Roxanne snapped, shaking her head. “His brother did. But I didn’t know they were related until I went to confront Cord. And imagine my surprise when Jonah walked through the door.”
Stone snorted, and she glanced up. He was holding back a smile.
“You knew too?”
Stone folded his arms and jerked his chin toward Bogs. “He told me when you left. Did you really think I’d let you go if I didn’t know?”
Roxanne let out an exasperated sigh and tossed her hands over her head, darting her gaze between Stone and Bogs.
“I hate you both.” That earned her a roar of laughter from everyone, including T.
She grasped her hips and stared down at the floor, trying to regain control.
She still desperately wanted to smack Bogs, and if she got the opportunity tonight, she was taking it.
“So what, Rox?” T asked and waited for her to look up before he continued, a small smile playing on his lips. “What’s the big deal, anyway? I mean, it’s just Jonah. He’s solid, what’s the fucking problem?”
Oh God. She folded her arms, avoiding eye contact, trying to combat how awkward the question was.
There was no stopping the rise of tension and heat from her neck, eagerly spreading across her cheeks.
She swallowed the lump in her throat and shrank under the curious and slightly amused stares from her brothers.
“It’s not a problem or a big deal,” she stammered at the end, which had Stone smiling.
“Ah, fuck me.” T was never one to mince words, so she shouldn’t have been shocked. “You into him?”
She choked back a gasp, and her jaw dropped. “No.”