Page 17 of Just Say Yes

“Damn straight I did,” she replied with a proud sniff. “And I’d do it again.”

In that moment, as the laughter and warmth spread through the room, the weight of our father’s death didn’t feel quite so suffocating.

Abel was the first to leave, creating a ripple of disjointed goodbyes and awkward hugs. I sat, staring at the urn.

Why had I offered to see them?

“You okay?” I looked up to find my older brother JP frowning at me.

I wiped my hands across the tops of my jeans. We had been only five and three when our mother disappeared. Our other siblings had memories of our mother, and in many ways that had brought JP and me together. We’d bonded over thelackof her.

I looked at the urn again, taking a small, sick pleasure in knowing Dad would have hated how simple and unobtrusive it was.

“You think having him as a father was as horrible for them as it was for us?” I asked.

JP leaned on the back of a dining chair. “I don’t see how it could have been much better. He was around a lot, which means he probably wasn’t around much forthem, you know?”

My lips twisted. “I guess.”

“You know”—he leaned in—“you don’t have to do it. I’ll toss that urn in the garbage right now, and we’ll never speak of it again.”

A wry laugh burst out of me. “You’re unhinged.” I shook my head. “No, I think the guilt alone would eat me alive. I’ll just hand it over and walk away with a clear conscience.”

JP’s hands spread. “Don’t say I didn’t offer.” He flicked my ponytail. “I heard there’s been someone giving you trouble at work. Any of that true?”

I groaned and rested my forehead in my hands. “Not you too.”

I tilted my head to see JP smirking. He shrugged. “Hazel wasveryexcited to tell me about it. I can’t help that I’m a good listener.”

I shook my head. “Logan Brown is a man-size child with an overinflated ego.”

Who is also best friends with the worst human on the planet.

“Huh.” I narrowed my eyes at my brother as he continued with a shrug: “Thought you were a better judge of character than that.”

“Okay, you findonesoulmate and you’re giving dating advice now?” I teased as I stood.

JP grinned. “What can I say? I’m a changed man.”

I returned the smile. “I always knew you were in there.”

“Take it from me.” JP gestured at his chest. “It’s a lot easier when you stop fighting it.”

With a quick hug, I said goodbye to JP and hoisted my father’s urn onto my hip.

With no one around, I shoved it into a box in the broom closet, locking it up along with every noisy, complicated feeling I didn’t want to have.

SIX

LOGAN

Despite my grandfather’sincessant matchmaking efforts, it had been two weeks and MJ still hadn’t called. Hell, it was probably for the best. We’d lost another game, and my performance had been lackluster, to say the least.

I’d been in a piss-poor mood ever since getting back from a match in West Virginia.

While my ego could handle a little rejection, it still stung that the most gorgeous woman I’d ever set eyes on wanted nothing to do with me.

It had been far too long since I’d had to work for a woman’s attention, and a sick part of me kind of liked it. I glanced over my grandfather’s shoulder, hoping to catch a peek of MJ at the nurses’ station.

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