Page 44 of Mended Hearts

“Fine. You like hospitality? We own a dozen restaurants in the city.”

“That feels an awful lot like a handout.”

“I’ve worked in kitchens, Leighton. Dad made us all get jobs in high school to understand what work actually meant. The people in food service are some of the hardest-working people I know.”

“Still—”

“Don’t want to work for us?Fine. I know half the restaurant owners in this city. I can make a call, see who’s hiring. But you’ve got to tell me you’re looking. I had no idea. Did you even tell Alice? Paxton?”

Her nose wrinkled. Eyes hardened.

“Jesus Christ. You’re so fucking stubborn.”

“And this is, frankly, none of your business.”

“You’remy business.” The words came out before I could stop them. “Harts take care of their own.”

“I’m not a fucking Hart.”

“You’refamily.” My voice lowered. “If it matters to you, it matters to us.”

Her mouth parted slightly, eyes widening like I’d slapped her. But before either of us could speak again, there were footsteps—and the door flew open.

In one panicked motion, I yanked Leighton away from the frame, catching the door with my opposite hand just before it cracked her shoulder.

“Oh fuck—I’m so sorry! You okay?”

My eyes snapped shut at the sound of her brother’s voice.

And in walked... a giant inflatable turkey.

Leighton burst out laughing, full-blown jovial now, like our argument hadn’t just happened. She wiped every trace of tension from her face in a heartbeat as I stepped aside to let the walking mascot in.

“Oh. Hey, Ollie. Didn’t expect to bump into you here,” Paxton said from behind the stupid little mesh face window.

“Hey, Rhodes. Just came to drag Leighton’s ass to the fundraiser.”

“Beat me to it,” he laughed, ducking under the threshold. The more I got to know the guy off the field, the more I liked him. He had the same flair for chaos I did. Or used to.

“If it’s all the same, I think I’ll ride with Pax.” She looped her arm through the turkey’s and shot me a glare that dared me to challenge her. “We haven’t had a lot of time to chat about his season.”

“That’s fine,” I said through a tight smile, trying not to take the bait. “We’ll catch up later.”

“I’m sure.” She squeezed her brother’s arm as his face dimmed behind the costume.

“Did I interrupt something?” he asked, voice sharpening with concern.

“Nope. Just our brother-in-law behaving very... brotherly,” Leighton chirped.

Brotherly?Oh, absolutely not.

“We’re not in-laws,” I said, narrowing my eyes.

“Yes, but ‘our sister’s brother-in-law’ is just too wordy, isn’t it?” She grinned, twisting the knife. “After all. We’re allfamily. Right?”

Should’ve known that line would bite me in the ass.

Swallowing my irritation, I forced a tight smile. “Right.”

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