Page 29 of Starry Skies, Stolen Kisses, and My Best Friend's Brother

“Look, I watched all those boys grow up.They’re all like sons to me.Except Seth.He was restless and arrogant from a very young age.He picked fights with Todd, and he never listened to me.He hasn’t changed a bit.”

“That’s a weak argument.Seth isn’t a teenager anymore.There’s more.Something you’re not saying.”

He shouldn’t be that petty.He knows people can change.He did.His temper has softened over the years since Todd brought him into the church.He’s not usually this judgmental either.

Dad sips at his coffee and glowers at me.“Fine.There’s more.When you and Rick were together, you were happy.He’s settled in D.C., which is perfect for you.Even if Seth were to give up his womanizing ways, he’ll end up in one of two places.And I don’t want you stuck here, and I certainly don’t want you in another country halfway around the world.”

I take a second so I don’t shout at him.But I want to.I want to so bad.“Stop trying to control my life.Maybe I don’t want to live in D.C.”

Dad narrows his eyes.I took the internship because Dad was so excited about me working for a big corporation in the city and also because I wanted to be close to Rick.What I really wanted to do was come home and figure out how to help my community.But to Dad, that’s settling.And I didn’t want to disappoint him.

“Of course you do.You don’t want to stay here.You’ll get stuck here.”

“Why is that the worst thing in the world?I love it here.The whole time I was in college, all I wanted to do was come home.”It was a smaller town in Virginia, but it still felt too big for me.

“He’s already gotten into your head.If you two pursue a relationship, I will have no choice but to sell out.”

“I can’t believe you would be that vindictive.That you would hurt so many innocent people.”

“It’s not vindictive if you’re standing up for the ones you love.I’m not doing it to be malicious.I’m doing it to make sure that my only baby girl gets everything she deserves.And you won’t change my mind on this.Stay friends.I would never ask you to give that up.But if I so much as get a whiff of any funny business, I’m going straight to Green Bank with the deed.I mean it, and Seth knows I mean it too.Don’t put his family’s business on the line for a few stolen kisses.”

“Dad.This is ridiculous.”

“Says you.I say it’s protecting my child.”

I stomp my foot like a petulant toddler and storm out of the house.I’m not staying here and listening to his nonsense for a second more.

* * *

The sun sets, casting a warm glow over the family barbecue by the river, and I find myself snugly sandwiched between Mark and Abi.Most of the other brothers are sitting near us, except Jacob.He’s down by the river with Ollie and Terry.The kid’s got a life vest on, and Terry is in the water, but he keeps managing to escape, and Jacob has had to rush downriver more than once.

The sound of laughter and chatter fills the air, but my eyes are drawn to Seth as he arrives.He walks toward his father, who stands by mine, and my heart races.I quickly drop my gaze, not wanting to give away my feelings for him.Deka leaves her spot next to Bisbee and Gilbert, who are eyeing the snack table with longing, to greet Seth with her stub of a tail wagging.

This is mostly just family, but a few of the guests manage to snag invites.A pretty blonde stands closer to Seth than I’d like, but he shrugs her off and gives me a grin.

Abi nudges me.“Looks like your boy toy has arrived.”

Mark snorts into his beer.“That’s my cue to abandon this seat and let him sit here.”

I grab Mark’s arm.“No, you need to stay.Seth can’t sit by me.”

“Why not?”

I don’t know what to say.My dad didn’t make us promise not to tell anyone, but if we told Todd and Terry, he’d be upset.The siblings though—that might be a good place to start.

I glance around.“Let’s wait a few minutes.I don’t want to tell you guys without Seth.But there are issues.”

As if on cue, he appears in front of us.He hands Mark another beer and me and Abi seltzers.He seems to be avoiding my eye, but it’s not working.He keeps looking at me.I try to keep the smile off my face, but I’m probably not succeeding either.

“Seth, we should tell them.”

He raises his eyebrows.“Why?”

“Because we need people to vent to.And Dad never said we couldn’t tell anyone.”

“Tell us what?”Abi eyes us suspiciously.

“It was implied.”Seth completely ignores her, and I look to her but don’t reply yet.

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