Page 29 of Dove
“Thanks,” I replied, throat constricting around the word.
Josh interrupted, breaking the tension of sadness permeating the space by reaching for the food in Eddie’s hands. “Let me put this in the kitchen, I’ll get your cash.”
“And tip!” Eddie crooned, winking at me.
A smile broke onto my face despite the sadness still tugging at me. Eddie had an amazing talent of doing that. He was the loudest in the room, the biggest jokester, but he also had the hugest heart.
Eddie followed Josh into the kitchen. The open concept of the downstairs made it easy for me to listen in on their conversation, regardless of their lowered voices.
Plus, Eddie’s lowered voice was everyone else’sregularvoice.
“You stickin’ around till your birthday, J-man?”
“Don’t call me that,” Josh grumbled, and I heard the rustle of him setting the food down on the counter.
“I only ask because we can throw anotherspectacularbash, like we did your twenty first!”
I heard Josh’s throaty chuckle. “I don’t evenrememberthat, Eddie.”
The smirk was evident in Eddie’s tone as he replied, “I know, that’s what made it so great.”
“For you, maybe.” Josh shook his head ruefully. “Youdidn’t spend the day after yourbirthday puking up Fireball and chocolate cake.”
My heart sped up at the mention of that night. When Josh had stumbled his way into my bedroom accidently, falling into my bed so heavily it’d woke me from sleep. I’d guided him back to his bed but right before I could leave, he’d grabbed my wrist and stared at me so intensely; I’d thought he might?—
Eddie’s bray of laughter followed, and I jumped, cheeks heating, thrown from the memory back into reality.
“If you’re not down for a party, at least come out to the bar with us one night before you leave, will ya?” Eddie near pleaded. “We all miss you.” His voice turned teasing, knowing, as he continued shrewdly, “Stellamisses you.”
Ugh.Stella.
I soured instantly at the mention of her name.
She’d been Josh’s on-again, off-again high school girlfriend, and a thorn in my side. She’d hung around the farm, getting in our way and sticking to Josh like glue. She always sent me sideways glares full of venom and urged Josh to ditch me so they could be alone in private.
It’d hurt because that wasmytime with Josh. It hurt even more when he gave into her pleading doe eyes and actually did it. It wasn’t all the time, but it was enough that he’d cast meapologetic glances, her manicured hand in his as she dragged him away.
Hearing Stella’s name had that jealously flaring up within me, a feeling I had no right to feel, an emotion that was totally unfounded. Stella and Josh hadn’t been together since before he left, and as far as I knew, he’d had no contact with her after. I had nothing to worry about.
Not that I even had the right tobeworried.
I had no claim to Josh—other than him being my stepbrother.
The thought had me glancing away from the two of them in the kitchen awkwardly, as if they could somehow hear my thoughts, know what I was thinking.
Josh grunted noncommittally. “I’ll think about it.” My stomach dropped, and I glanced over to them, hoping the expression on my face didn’t look as stricken as I felt.
“You better.” Eddie slapped Josh on the back, his hand clasping over his shoulder in a friendly squeeze. “She’s really grown up in the time you’ve left.” His hand slipped from Josh’s shoulder to maim cupping imaginary breasts in front of his chest. “If you know what I mean.”
I couldn’t hold in my disgusted scoff.
Eddie through me a roguish grin over his shoulder. Josh looked uncomfortable.
“You still drinking at Harv’s?” Josh asked in an obvious attempt to change the topic.
“Where else? It’s either drink there or in a cornfield,” Eddie quipped.
“What about The Den?” I piped up, remembering Reverie’s uncle’s bar just a town over. We’d snuck in a time or two growing up, but Reverie left,Joshleft, and I haven’t been much for going out since.
