3. Ian
My eyes pop open on a memory, the flicker of Sage's smile burning through the haze of sleep. The first dim light of Saturday barely creeps through my window, but I’m already swinging out of bed, ready to face the day. The room's chilly, air humming with the low rumble of a late spring storm moving in, but the real buzz comes from my racing mind.
I haven't moved this fast before six a.m. since the time I was on-call and Beckett forgot to take his phone to the gym. I snag my phone off the nightstand and scroll for River’s number. By the second ring, I've already got his name halfway growled. "I need a favor."
His voice is a grumble on the other end. "Do you own a goddamn clock? It's too early for favors. "
I'm practically bouncing on my feet, though they’re freezing against the hardwood floor. "Yeah, about that. This couldn't wait."
"What can’t wait?" His tone flips from irritation to curiosity, but I can tell he's still got his eyes closed.
"I met a girl," I drop my little bombshell, pacing the room and trying to stay warm.
River’s finally awake. "No fucking way. Who is she?"
"Sage Higgins."
He goes quiet for a second, and I picture his wheels turning. "I don’t know much about her," he groans, “but I know she’s way too goddamn young for you. She’s around Echo’s age.”
I let out a sharp laugh, shivering as I head to the thermostat to turn down the air conditioner. "She isn’t that much younger than me." Echo, his little sister, is only six or seven years younger than us.
"Whatever you say." He yawns, the sound dragging out over the line. "I’ll ask my sister what she knows once the sun comes up."
"Fine, fine. Just call me back once you find out what she knows."
River’s halfway snoring as he promises to do just that, and I click off, tossing the phone onto the bed. I rub my hands together and look around the room, too keyed up to just stand around.
I walk over to the window, dragging open the dusty blinds. Early morning gray clouds are muscling in over Riverbend Ridge, the quiet just a placeholder for the usual spring weather chaos. But I don't mind.
The phone buzzes, jerking me back to the present, and I nearly knock over the lamp trying to answer. "That was fast."
"Echo says she’s twenty-three, new grad out of UT Austin, first-year teacher," River reels off. I can hear him gloating all the way from his house. "Lives with her best friend and there’s no man anywhere in the picture."
I punch the air and start doing mental jumping jacks. "Wow. What else?"
"Dad’s a retired postal worker. Mom’s got that flower shop downtown, Petals and Pearls."
I’m grinning like an idiot, finger drumming on the countertop. "Did you get her shoe size, too?"
"Size eight,” he teases. At least, I hope he’s teasing. “She’s way too sweet and beautiful for your ugly old ass." River's trying to get under my skin, but he's got nothing on me today.
"Real cute. Thanks for the intel. I owe you. "
"Damn right you do," he chuckles, and I hang up, flicking the phone back on the bed. It's not even seven a.m. and I've got more energy than the day I made lieutenant.
A shower. That's what I need. And a plan.
I’m dressed and ready to hit the grocery store like a man with an actual plan when Beckett’s name pops up on my phone. He's got all the subtlety of a five-alarm fire. I answer, and his voice is booming in my ear. "You busy tonight?" I’m halfway to saying yes when he jumps back in, no hesitation. “‘Cause I need you to watch Pork and Beans."
His dachshund and pot-bellied pig are practically nephews, but I’m in too good a mood to let him off easy. "Hate to disappoint you, but I’ve got plans."
Beckett snorts like I just told him the tooth fairy still owes me a buck. "You never have plans."
I let him stew, my grin growing so wide it could cover half the state. "Things change," I tease. "Guess you’ll have to cancel your plans."
"I scored tickets to the Stars’ playoff game tonight. C'mon, you gotta help me out." I hear the urgency coursing through his voice. Those tickets are like gold dust.
“Ask Atlas or Dawson.” I lean back lazily against the doorframe, arms crossed, relishing the rare opportunity to give my oldest brother a hard time.
“They’re busy.” He lets out a dramatic sigh. “I’m not above begging.”
And I’m not above making him squirm a little. "What’s in it for me?" I ask, a mischievous grin spreading across my face.
"Pizza and my eternal gratitude. I’ll even throw in a six-pack," he pleads.
The man's really laying it on thick, and it’s like sweet music to my ears. I finally crack, knowing deep down I won’t let my brother down. "Alright, fine. But only because Pork and Beans are my favorite family members. And I want a goddamn twelve-pack.”
Beckett lets out a victory whoop, the sound echoing so loud it nearly sets off my smoke alarm. "You’re the best. I’ll bring them by after lunch."
"Yeah, yeah," I say and hang up, still smiling to myself.
Beckett walks in like he owns the place. Pork and Beans scramble in behind him, skittering into my kitchen like it's their second home, which it is .
"Here’s the pizza and beer," Beckett says, handing me my “animal sitting” payment. Pork zooms past in a blur of brown, and Beans trots after him with a grunt, already heading for the doggie door that leads to my large, fenced backyard. “Enjoy it.”
“Don’t worry. I will,” I shoot back as I stick the pizza in my oven to keep it warm before sliding the beer into my nearly empty refrigerator. Fuck. I really need to go grocery shopping.
He nods toward the open door where his ridiculous animals have already disappeared. "Don’t give them sugar this time."
"I didn’t give them Twizzlers last time. They fucking broke into my pantry and stole them.”
He flops onto the couch, stretching out like he owns the place. "I told you to baby-proof your house."
Beans pokes his snout through the door, snorts, and then heads back out with a wiggle of his curly tail. "If you would train them to listen, I wouldn’t have to lock up my sweets," I say, shaking my head. "Totally spoiled ass animals."
Beckett just grins and scratches his tattooed arm. "Whatever." He crosses his legs and pretends to get comfortable. “We both know you love your nephews. So, how did the career day go?” He has to go there. Fuck .
I pause, turning the bottle in my hand. "Uhh… yeah. That went great."
His eyes narrow as he stares at me silently. "Spill, little brother." Fucking hell. When did I start stuttering? Oh yeah. The moment I laid eyes on Sage Higgins.
I pop the cap off a beer and take a swig, stalling. "Nothing to spill."
Beckett glares at me, unconvinced, and automatically going into work mode. "What the fuck happened? Am I going to get a call from the school next week?"
I rub my jaw, thinking of Sage Higgins with her huge blue eyes and artfully messy, blonde hair. "Everything went great with career day. The kids loved me."
He cocks an eyebrow knowing I’m not spilling everything. "You're holding out on me."
There's no dodging him, so I crack. "Alright. I met a woman." That’s an understatement. I met the woman who knocked my entire world off its axis with one look.
The words are barely out of my mouth before he nearly chokes on his beer. "A woman?" he splutters, blinking furiously. "You’re fucking serious?"
"Why's that so shocking?" I shoot back, a little defensive. I’m quite a catch.
"You're like the goddamn monk of Riverbend Ridge. Sworn to the brotherhood of bachelorhood."
I try not to let his ribbing get to me. "I’ve been waiting for the right woman to come along."
Beckett leans forward, interest blazing in his eyes. "And she’s the one?" Damn it. My mouth really dug a deep whole this time. “Wait until Mom hears that her baby boy is growing up.”
In my family, nothing stays a secret for long. "You say one word to anyone and I'm denying everything. And I’ll stop babysitting your animals." We both know that’s one threat I’ll never carry out.
He stands up, pretending to dust himself off. "Okay, Romeo. I’ll keep your secret. For now."
Pork dashes past us, already reclaiming his spot in my living room as Beans waddles in and attempts to hop up on the sofa. Beckett leans down and gives them each a good ear scratch before helping the pot belly pig up. "Be good, you two."
I watch him drive off, the weight of his teasing still clinging to me. As Pork and Beans snuffle around my feet, I can't help but let my mind drift back to Sage. No one has ever thrown me this off balance.
“We need to get out of the house.” Yes. I talk to them. We head out to the park, the pig and dog leading the way. It’s turning into a beautiful day, and the park is filled with loud kids and parents half-heartedly trying to keep a lid on the chaos. The smell of fresh-cut grass and hot dogs from the street vendor hits my nose, and I realize I haven’t eaten since breakfast. I’m going to waste away if I don’t get ahold of myself.