38. Wes
***Wes***
Ihad a headache behind my right eye from talking about Tyler and he wasn’t even the thing we needed to discuss. I rubbed my eyes and glared down at Hank. He’d grown on me but that didn’t change the fact that I was pretty sure I was slightly allergic to him.
“You don’t have to do it all yourself, Wes.” Flynn came over and sat next to me. “My marina pretty much runs itself. I can help more here. I can be the one who slaps Tyler’s hand the next time he reaches for your money.”
Max must’ve really thought I looked sad because even he came over and sat on my other side. He grabbed my shoulder and squeezed. “If any of us get to slap Tyler, it’s me.”
My body had been so tense for so long that letting some of the pressure go made me feel like one of those dancing inflatable men. Relief. That’s what I felt. Even if I couldn’t pass on any of the duties to them, knowing they wanted to help made me feel like I could handle my shit.
“It seems like you’ve got so much on your plate, bro. I’ll just take Daisy off your hands so you can get a break.” Flynn thought he was funny.
“Not a chance. She’s different. Since Sarah… I just haven’t been able to take a full breath. Every fucking day feels like too much and I fall into bed so Goddamn tired that I can barely take my shoes off. Daisy… She doesn’t even feel real. I can’t stay away.”
We were all quiet for a while after my admission. Then Flynn took a deep breath and started talking. “What if we don’t make her choose? She’s only here for the summer. There’s a chance we’ll never see her again.”
My stomach rejected that idea immediately. “She promised Hazel she’ll see her again.”
Flynn grinned. “Good. Smart, even. We use the kids to keep her coming back to us.”
Max groaned. “Please don’t make us sound like supervillains.”
“Back to the point. Last night was hot. More importantly, she loved it. What if we just turned that into the rest of the summer?” Flynn stood up to pace. “I mean, I know it’s crazy. But it was also crazy when I suggested we share her last night and look how that turned out.”
“She told me she wanted me there, too.” Max’s quiet words left my jaw hanging open.
“You talked to her after everything last night. Did she seem okay?” I needed her to be okay. We’d taken the biggest risk doing what we’d done and if we’d hurt her in any way, I’d never forgive myself.
“She was fine. Just worried that I was hurt because I hadn’t joined. She stayed in the shop and watched me work. Fell asleep on the table I was trying to sand.” He looked away from us and I knew then that we were all screwed.
“She’s gotten under all of our skin. We all look like lovesick puppies.
” Hank lifted his head and farted, which I was starting to understand was his way of joining a conversation.
I fanned the air around me and leaned away from the stench.
“None of us are going to back off. As much as I hate to say it, Flynn may be right.”
“I’m always right. You just don’t admit it usually.” He made a face at Hank. “Your dog stinks, Wes.”
I glared at him. “He’s not my dog.”
Max even got in on the teasing, a sign that we should’ve talked a lot sooner. “Your dog loves you very much, Wes.”
A thought crossed my mind and I stiffened enough for both of my brothers to look at me sideways. My voice was low when I spit the words out. “Neither of you felt anything for Sarah, right?”
Max glared at me. “She was like my big sister. I loved her like one.”
“Same. Sarah meant everything to us but as a sister. She helped you raise us after Mom died.” Flynn hesitated and seemed to consider what he wanted to say next. “Why do you think you can consider sharing Daisy when the idea of us feeling something for Sarah made you look feral?”
I thought about it and rolled my neck from side to side, trying to ease some of the tension that’d come back.
“Sarah was always mine. From the first day I saw her, I knew. She was simple and easy in the most comforting way. It was me for her, just the way it was her for me. Daisy… She was never mine. I watched and wanted for years but I never was foolish enough to wish she was mine.”
“And now she’s here and single and all three of us are basically humping her leg.” Flynn shook his head. “So because she wasn’t yours first, you can share her?”
“I guess. It feels like I’m lucky for any part I can get because I was never supposed to get any part.”
“There’s nothing simple or easy about Daisy. She wears heels to pick up dog shit. Her hair might be patented.” Max caught himself grinning and reined it in. “She’s got enough heart and personality to go around.”
“So, what? We’re doing this? We’re going to share Daisy this summer and give her a summer she’ll never forget?” Flynn smirked. “A summer we’ll never forget, too. Last night was…fuck.”
Max shrugged. “I don’t know how much I can be involved but I think this is the only way it works unless we murder each other.”
I didn’t let myself rethink it. “Yeah, I’m in.”
Famous last words, I was sure.