Page 35 of Take Two

I let one of my hands travel down, and I grab his ass.

“Oh, Jesus,” he says. “Here he comes.”

“Charlie, you better not come in your pants right now,” I say with a laugh. “All I did was grab your ass.”

“Not that. Helicopter brother.” I sigh and plant my forehead in the middle of his chest. When I look up again, Colt is standing next to us with his arms crossed.

“You should get Violet some food. You two can sit with me and Vickie,” he says. He sounds friendly, but part of me thinks this is so he can study me. Since I have nothing to hide, I don’t care.

“You hungry yet, Lettie?” I find myself melting at the nickname. “I am. I was waiting for you to get here so we could eattogether.”

“Let’s eat.” I finally move away from him. He tucks my arm in his, and the three of us walk to the buffet.

Chapter 18

Charlie

Colt hasn’t stopped watching me and Violet since she got here, and I hope she doesn’t notice. If she does, she doesn’t seem bothered by it. She smiles and makes small talk while we get our food from the buffet. After getting settled at a table on the deck, I go to the bar to get water for everyone. By the time Ireturn, Vickie is sitting at the table next to Colt, who fixed her a plate while she was inside.

“Thanks, champion,” she says before she kisses his cheek. “Anyway, Charlie, I can’t believe you tortured us and it was Violet this whole time.”

“It was fun to torture you, especially at that dinner.” It was really me who was tortured when Violet put her foot on my crotch. I slide my hand onto her thigh and give it a good squeeze. She rests her hand on top of mine.

“So, how is this going to work when you go back to Alabama?” Colt asks. I can feel Violet stiffen next to me, and I don’t know if it’s the idea of me leaving or my brother’s tone.

“We’ll figure it out,” is all I say. I look in his face and narrow my eyes at him, imploring him to drop it.

“That just means we’ll see him more often,” Vickie says. “And maybe he’ll eventually move here.”

“Unless Lettie wants to move to Birmingham,” I say.

“Um, no. That’s not gonna happen,” Vickie says. “She’s New York for life.” The women high-five.

“Violet has a business here, and you have one back home,” Colt says, stating the obvious.

“And?” I ask. “You have a job that keeps you on the road half the year from your wife and kids. What’s your point?” He looks into my eyes, and I know he’s fighting with himself. In the end, he swallows his words, but I know my brother. I know this is only for now. He’s going to corner me to express his concern.

“Anyway,” Violet says. I don’t miss the side-eye she gives Colt. “This is a beautiful house. Did you decorate it, Vickie?”

While the women talk about the house, furniture, and designers I’ve never heard of, I catch my brother’s eye. I take it a step further and kick him underneath the table. He doesn’t flinch, but he kicks me back.

Violet squeezes my hand. It’s as if she knows I’m irritated and she’s trying to calm me down. It works.

“Queen Vee, I’m going to get you some more food,” Colt says even though Vickie’s plate is still full. “I’m sure Violet wants something too.” He stands and gestures for me to follow.

“Um, I’m good,” Violet says. “If I want something else, I can go get it myself.” She pats my lap and resumes her conversation with Vickie. Colt stands there and stares at me. I sigh, kiss Violet’s cheek, and stand.

“You are gettin’ on my last nerve,” I say to him when we get a few feet away. “What the heck is your problem?”

He takes my elbow and pulls me to the side of the house, away from everyone. “I don’t have a problem. I’m happy about you and Violet,” he says.

“Really? Well, why aren’t you actin’ like it?”

“I just want you to be careful. Don’t rush into things headfirst. That’s all.”

I cross my arms and stare at him. I wonder if he is aware of what a hypocrite he’s being right now, and since he decided to pull me away to have this conversation, I decide not to bite my tongue. “Headfirst? You mean like you did with Vickie? Weren’t you two married within just months of meeting each other, and that’s including the time when she dumped you.”

If I thought that would knock some sense into him, I was wrong. He doesn’t even react to my rebuke.

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