Page 58 of Just Business

About that time my aunt’s dog comes running up and jumps in the swimming pool, splashing both of us. Cassie and I both laugh, and it feels great to be sitting here laughing with her.

“Wanna know something?” Cassie’s voice has traces of amusement lacing her words now. “I have the password for his social media and website. He’s an idiot and never knew how to do a damn thing with technology.” She flips her phone over and pulls up the website to his gym. “Look what I did.”

I burst out laughing when I spot it. On the homepage of the website she’s changed the picture of Alan. She’s edited it to have a speech bubble beside his picture that says, “Take as many steroids as I do, and you too can have erectile dysfunction.”

I throw my head back, laughing. God, this sister of mine.

“Remind me to never piss you off again.”

We’re both still laughing when Penny steps out. I motion for her to join us and she slips off her shoes and sits beside me. I turn Cassie’s phone for her to see it and she joins us, laughing at the caption.

“Why—” I start, at the same time Penny speaks. “You go first, Penn.”

“I came out here to tell y’all I have an idea. Cassie, why don’t you come back with us?”

“I swear to you that’s what I was about to say.” I grin, and we turn to face Cassie, expectantly. “What do you think? I’m telling you, I thought Ty was blowing smoke up my ass when he told me it would be good for me there, but he was right. That town is special.”

“It’s not a terrible idea,” Cassie says, thinking over our offer. “Where would I stay?”

“I have an apartment over my garage,” Penny offers.

I turn to face her.Is she saying what I think she’s saying?

“The apartment Austin is in?” She shakes her head. “I’m not sharing a bed with my brother. That’s weird.”

Penny snorts a laugh, cutting her eyes over to me. “He can stay with me.”

Yep, she’s saying what I thought she was saying.

Hot damn.

Cassie’s lips curl up into a knowing grin, and she looks back and forth between us. “I like you, Penny. Yes, I’ll come back with y'all. My patients are all telehealth, so it doesn’t really matter where I am.”

“You can even take my G-wagon,” I offer.

Penny looks at me, eyebrows scrunched. “You say that like we won’t be riding with her.” At that, Cassie laughs and Penny looks back and forth between us. “What am I missing here?”

“He hashis preciousin his garage. He’s basically Smeagol and it’s his ring. I’m sure he plans on driving that,” Cassie explains.

Penny snorts a laugh as she starts to stand. “Okay, I need to see what she’s talking about.”

“Wait—” Cassie starts, and Penny lowers back down. “I need my stuff moved out. I can’t hire movers because they won’t know what’s mine, but I could go with you guys and show y'all what to get.”

“I’ll see if Ty and Uncle Brad can go with me tomorrow. We can rent a U-Haul and between the four of us it should go quickly.”

“Okay,” Cassie says slowly. “Alan’s out of town for a bodybuilding competition. He won’t be there to get in our way.”

I scoff. “Narcissistic prick. All right, I’ll tell Ty what’s going on. Now let’s go see my precious.”

* * *

Ten minutes later, we’re in my detached garage. Cassie stayed back, claiming there’s only so many times she can watch me gush over a truck. My pristine G-Wagon is parked in one bay with my red ATV in the next one. And in the third bay sits my truck. It’s covered to keep it from getting scratches or dings.

Carefully, I remove the cover, exposing the shiny black exterior of my 1987 Chevy Silverado, with tinted windows and shiny chrome wheels. I mowed every grass in Warbler the summer of my junior year to afford these wheels. Stepping back, I stand next to Penny to admire my truck.

“She’s my pride and joy.” I mime wiping a tear from one eye. “But seriously, I love this thing. I got it when I turned sixteen, and when I started making money I decided to restore it like new.”

I open the passenger door, gesturing for her to get in. She does and I walk around, climbing behind the wheel. “I upgraded the leather and stereo, but I tried to keep as much of the original as possible.”

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