Page 12 of The Biggest Secret
“No, I should hear Monday on a time and place, but you know they always give a weeks’ notice so I’ve no doubt we’ll be ready to go.”
I nod, taking a sip of the hot coffee, and Billy jumps right in. “So, what’s with Chelsea Jo?”
Jackson punches his arm and Billy looks at him all wide eyed. “What? That’s why we’re here!” He throws an arm towards me. “He knows that’s why we’re here! Everyone knew you were going to win last night so that’s clearly not what we’re here to talk about at the ass crack of dawn.”
Jackson is shaking his head, and I have to grin. “I was expecting you both. It’s fine.” Just then a cruiser pulls up and out steps my brother Tom. He’s a police officer here in town with CPD, and it suits him perfectly. Stoic, protector.
He smiles as he saunters over, still in uniform, hands on his belt, playing up the cop role. “Gentleman.”
“You just get off shift?” I ask. Tom checks in before and after every shift, usually just a text to let me know he’s safe. It’s the one thing I asked of him when he joined the force a few years back. I’m his big brother. I’m supposed to watch out for him, and it scared me to death when he said he wanted to become a cop.
What scared me more, was right out of high school, Tom enlisted in the Marine Corps. I was away at college when he decided to enlist and there was nothing I could do about it. I had to accept that I couldn’t control his time or phone calls while in bootcamp and accept I would go months on end without knowing where he was or what he was doing. It killed me. I always assumed he would follow in mine and dad’s footsteps, like Billy was highly encouraged to do, but Tom is different. He’s got a different mindset and instead of being taken care of, he wants to take care of others. He and I are most alike in that way.
He's the most selfless man I know. He got that from our Gramps.
Doesn’t mean I like it though. However, I’ve been able to rest the last few years knowing he’s sticking close to home. He’s had to do a few tours here and there as a reserve, but it’s been quiet lately and I’m hoping his last one was it.
He nods. “Yeah, and I figured these two clowns would be here,” he says towards Jackson and Billy. “So, I wanted to come see the circus too.”
“It’s that twin telepathy, I can’t get away from this guy,” Billy guffaws.
“No, I think you just attract the law everywhere you go,” Tom laughs, giving our baby brother a quick jibe.
Billy rolls his eyes, flips over a paint tub, and takes a seat.
“Ok, talk. I want to know everything.”
“You’re worse than Chessy,” I bite out, switching hands holding my coffee.
Jackson grins. “Who do you think sent me over here? There are plenty of things I’d rather be doing right now other than standing here with you.” He waggles his brows, and I have to resist reaching out and wrapping my hands around his throat.
“TMI, bro.”
“Anyway, come on, why’s she back in town? What’d you talk about?”
I rub my free hand over my face. “I think I said four words to her. I also think I agreed to meet her. But where and when? I haven’t a clue.”
Fuck. Does she have the same number? Can I call her? Will she answer this time?
Tom is studying me, and it looks like he has something to say but he just stays quiet. That’s him though. The silent observer, giving us time to figure our own shit out. Or try to anyway.
“I heard she’s staying at the Holly Bells Bed and Breakfast. You could go over there and see her,” Jackson suggests.
Just hearing that’s where she is makes my heart race. “I don’t know. I mean, it looked like she came looking for me last night, but what the fuck? She just shows up out of nowhere after two years? Christ, where has she been all this time?”
This woman was my entire world and then she just disappeared. She broke me and left me here alone to try to figure out how to put the pieces back together. I’m still learning, and she just changed the course description again.
“I think you need to ask her that,” Tom says.
Billy whistles, “She looked good though. And she brought her sister with her.” He nudges me. “Make sure you put in a good word for me.”
“No fucking way,” I snap, and he just laughs.
“Don’t worry big bro, I won’t step on your toes.” He stands and throws his arm around Tom’s shoulder. “Come on, tell me some good lock up stories. Arrest any hotties that need bailing out?” Tom just shakes his head and I do the same as they head back to Tom’s cruiser.
“He’ll never grow up,” Jackson says.
“He’s going to break my mom’s heart if he doesn’t settle down soon,” I say as I watch them pull away from the curb and back out of the cul de sac.
