Page 12 of Unveiled Wishes

JR was crying, and her kindness was too much in this moment. I cried, the tears running down my cheeks. “What would I do without you?” I asked her, not really expecting an answer.

She laughed as she made her way around the bags in the doorway. Sitting on the bed next to me, Kelly wrapped her arms around us. “You went a little overboard.” She pinched her thumb and forefinger and showed me.

I looked at her and smiled. There was a pause before we laughed like hyenas. JR didn’t like the noise and cried even louder, which only made us laugh harder.

Chapter 6

The Ayes Had It

Sabre

“Remind me again what the fuck we’re doing here?” Pretty asked.

I didn’t want to be here, and dragging my brother around was making it worse. He’d offered to ride with me, and when I had agreed, I hadn’t thought it through.

“I need stocking stuffers and presents from JR and me for Grace. I will not be one of those deadbeats that forgets,” I answered him as I browsed the jewelry cases.

“Ah, so you saw those videos too, huh?”

“You sent them to me, fucker.” I looked over at Pretty, and he was sitting on one of the display couches with his feet on the coffee table in front of it. His hands were clasped behind his head, and as I watched, he wiggled his ass further into the seat.

“Don’t you need something for Wreck?” They weren’t hiding whatever their relationship was, but I didn’t want to open Pandora’s box for fear that I was wrong.

He shot me a nasty look. “No. Why would I?”

“You know I don’t care. You’re my brother, and I just want to see you happy.” I stood, feet shoulder width apart and hands on my hips.

“Yeah, well. We’re just friends.” He rolled his eyes. I wasn’t sure what he was doing, but he shifted to one side of the couch cushion, wiggled his ass into it, and then moved to the next spot.

“Friends still exchange gifts.” I was safe here. If he tried to hit me in the middle of the department store, they would call security, and neither one of us would want to tell that story.

“Not this friend.” He pointed his thumb into his chest. “Not when he’s busy fucking the club girls,” Pretty said, effectively shutting down the conversation.

Shaking my head, I turned back to look at the jewelry. As Grace had felt more comfortable at the clubhouse, the fancy clothes and pearls had disappeared to the back of the closet. She wore t-shirts and shorts most days unless we went out. Buying an engagement ring was out. When I proposed, it would be because it felt right, not because it was a holiday, and I didn’t have any other options.

An older woman approached me from the other side of the counter. She was too old to still be working, but probably needed the cash.

“May I help you, sir?” she said, standing in front of me.

Before I could respond, my brother spouted off from the couch. “He’s screwed.”

I shook my head at the situation. “We’re not related,” I told her as I pointed to me and then over my shoulder. “Never met him in my life.”

She smiled and smoothed a piece of hair that had escaped her bun. “I understand. I have two boys who are the same way.”

“Unfortunately, he skipped puberty and never grew up.”

Pretty took that exact moment to pop back up from the couch. “He needs presents for his wife.”

She wasn’t officially my wife, but it was easier than trying to explain. The saleswoman led me around the counters, pointing out baubles and trinkets, but nothing really looked like Grace. This was our first Christmas together, and I wanted her to always remember it fondly.

***

Pretty

This was painful to watch, and if I didn’t jump in and help him, it would be excruciating. It wasn’t like I had anything better to do. Reaching for my phone, I opened up the group chat and sent a picture of Sabre being led around the jewelry cases.

Cyph

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