Page 25 of That One Night
“Over my dead body,” he replied. “Thank you, but no thank you.” Even if he wanted to online date – which he didn’t – there was no way he was putting his love life in Sabrina’s hands. He loved his cousin fiercely, and he’d fight to the death for her.
But he trusted her about as far as he could throw her.
“Shame about Emery Reed,” Pres murmured. “She looks exactly like Hendrix’s type.”
His mom’s gaze landed on Hendrix.
“Oh honey, she’s engaged. You don’t want to be getting the reputation of being a home wrecker,” his mom said.
“I’m not a home wrecker.” He frowned at being accused of something he hadn’t done. “I barely even know the woman.” And he definitely wouldn’t be admitting that she got drunk on his porch with him the other night. He glanced over at his brother,shooting him a dirty look because Pres knew exactly what he was doing. Shit stirring, mostly.
“Guys don’t get called home wreckers,” Grace said, thankfully pulling the attention away from Hendrix. “The double standards are so annoying when it comes to cheating. They get called studs.”
“True story,” Sabrina said, poking her tongue out at Hendrix. “I hate that so much.”
“Me too,” Kate, Hendrix’s sister-in-law agreed. “And don’t get me started on the way dads get called great when they do the bare minimum of taking care of their own kids.”
Marley choked on his burger bun. Pres hit his back, and a lump of bread flew out of his mouth.
“I hear ya,” Cassie agreed. “Double standards all round.”
Christ, Hendrix was getting a headache. “There you go,” he told his mom. “There’s nothing to worry about. Now, can I enjoy my food in peace?”
“I just want you to be happy,” his mom said, looking hurt. “After everything…”
“I know,” he said quickly. “And thank you. I am happy.” He shot a look at Pres. “And as for you…”
“What?” Pres asked, looking innocent.
“It wasn’t that long ago you were in my position. Or you,” he said to Marley.
“And you gave as good as you got whenever Mom tried to set us up,” Marley pointed out. “I remember you teasing me about Kate.”
“You two fought about it, as I recall,” Pres said, grinning.
“You fought over me?” Kate asked, looking confused.
“He gave me a nuggie trying to get me to admit I was attracted to you.” Marley laughed, and Kate reached out to squeeze his hand.
“I hate the way you boys fight,” their mom said, shaking her head.
“Boys will be boys,” their dad murmured. He was the one who taught them how to fight, after all.
“It’s all a load of macho bullshit if you ask me,” Sabrina said. Grace and the other women nodded. “If you just talked things out you wouldn’t get into so many problems.”
“But where would the fun be in that?” Pres asked.
“Talking of macho bullshit, anybody want a beer?” their dad said, standing up. “Women included, of course.”
The sky was streaked with layers of pink and red with smudges of dark gray that only seemed to be getting worse as the sun slowly slid toward the horizon. Hendrix had spent the last hour moving his uncle’s cattle safely to the barn, and now he was home, checking that his own place was ready for the summer storm the forecasters had promised was coming.
From the corner of his eye, he could see Emery crossing the lane and walking his way. He immediately bristled. He was still salty after Pres teased him at their mom’s place and the accusations of being a home wrecker.
As he’d been leaving his mom had asked him if he was okay, and if he knew dating a taken woman was wrong.
Of course it was wrong. And he wasn’t dating her, anyway. They were barely friends. But the memory of his mom’s worried face still played in his mind.
After the mess last year, and all the mistakes he’d made over the years before, the last thing he wanted was to cause her more pain.
