Page 95 of Echoes of You

“Hmm?”

“Look at me,” Nash said quietly.

I couldn’t get my eyes to obey.

Nash shifted so he filled my vision. “He’s not going to hurt you. I won’t let him.”

* * *

The eighties coverband belted outDon’t Stop Believin’,and the crowd sang it right back. I maneuvered through the throng of people to the corner booth. Setting down the three drinks, I slid onto the seat. “I almost lost an eye getting these. You owe me.”

“You’re an angel goddess,” Grae said, placing a smacking kiss on my cheek. She punched something into the insulin pump on her hip and then downed the cocktail in a single chug.

Wren and I gaped at her.

“G,” Wren began. “You better start talking.”

She shrugged. “What? I told you I wanted to blow off some steam.”

“You didn’t say you wanted to get blackout drunk, which is what will happen if you keep doing that.”

Grae was petite. With her white-blond hair and almost elfin features, she was absolutely gorgeous. But her tiny frame would not be able to handle a ton of alcohol.

She scowled at Wren. “You sound like one of my brothers. It was hard enough getting you two away from Holt and Nash. I don’t need them speaking through you, too.”

Hurt flashed in Wren’s eyes.

I shifted in my seat so I was facing Grae. I knew her brothers were overprotective. It was natural given that she was the youngest, and there had been a time when they’d almost lost her. I was sure it hadn’t helped that Nash had insisted on dropping me off tonight, talking to the bouncer, who was an off-duty cop, and showing him my father’s and Adam’s photos, insisting they not be let in. But something else was going on with Grae.

I met her stare. “You gonna tell us what’s really going on, or are you going to keep griping at friends who love and care about you?”

Grae’s eyes flashed for a brief moment, and her shoulders slumped. She glanced at Wren. “Sorry for being a biznatch.”

Wren bumped her shoulder against Grae’s. “Forgiven. As long as you tell us what’s wrong.”

Grae ran her finger along the rim of her glass. “Caden’s back.”

“To visit his family?” I asked. Nash hadn’t mentioned it, which seemed odd, but we’d had a few other things going on lately.

She shook her head. “I guess he moved back for the foreseeable future. Nash said something about him helping out with the resort.”

“I know you’re not his biggest fan, but you can just avoid him, can’t you?” Wren asked.

Grae’s jaw tightened, then sawed back and forth, her back teeth grinding together. “He always talks down to me. Like I can’t handle my own life. He’s not my brother. He’s not even my friend. Not anymore. It pisses me off. And now he’s going to be back on SAR and around all the danged time. I just—it was easier when he was in New York.”

“What happened?” I asked gently. “You two used to be pretty close.”

We’d all run in a big group: Grae, Wren, Caden, Nash, and Holt. We were all only a couple of years apart in age, so it made sense. Caden seemed to look out for Grae the same way Nash and Holt did, but it hadn’t pissed Grae off back then.

She shifted in her seat, staring down at her empty glass. “I honestly don’t know. One day, it was like he just didn’t want to be my friend anymore. He put up this wall. Started acting like he knew what was better for me than I knew myself.”

Wren turned to face Grae. “I’m sorry, G. I didn’t realize things had been that hot and cold with you guys.”

Grae swallowed hard. “He just makes me feel…I don’t know, like he’s assessing every life choice I make. And I fail every time.”

That had my back stiffening. “Tell him to take a long walk off a short pier.”

The corner of her mouth kicked up. “That easy, huh?”

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