Page 44 of Definitely (Maybe) Dating
“I have people counting on me to be there.”
Rhett had a private jet full of people counting on him. From roadies to band members and everyone in between, he was responsible for families being able to pay the bills and put food on the table. It was a responsibility that was hard to shoulder, and Josh felt for his middle brother.
Josh too shouldered a large burden. If he got it wrong, innocent people’s lives were ruined. He’d seen the devastation an unjustified lawsuit had on his own family, which was why he was so diligent in doing his homework. When he filed, it was because he was certain it was the right thing to do.
Josh found his thoughts moving back to Piper and the fact that he’d known for three days there was a problem with the permit. She’d made it clear that a lot of people were counting on her, which meant she was counting on him—and he wasn’t about to let her down. Not after he’d gained so much ground last week.
Especially not after learning about how much disappointment she’d suffered at the hands of others. He worked hard to school his emotions as she shared a little glimpse into her childhood, but it broke his chest. His niece had been without a dad until recently, but Darcy had loved her enough for ten parents.
It sounded as if Piper didn’t even really have one, and that lit a fire inside him.
“This whole situation isn’t all on me.” Rhett pushed through the gym doors like a grown adult throwing a tantrum. “I invited Steph to come on the road with me, but she hates the road.”
Josh thought back to that day in his office with Piper. She’d been slow to agree to a date, but he’d made it crystal clear where he stood on wanting to spend more time with her. “Make her a deal,” he heard himself advising. “A ‘You come on the road with me and I’ll fly out to see you’ kind of deal.”
“Relationships aren’t aboutdeals,”Gage said as if Josh were completely female deficient. “They’re about showing up.”
“Steph won’t even consider going on the road. She hates the roadies and isn’t so hot on spending time with the band.”
“Do you blame her?” Owen asked. “You’ve become that chick on the cover of US Magazine. Between the band and Mom, I’m surprised she hasn’t dumped your ass.”
Josh unraveled the tape on his hands, quietly taking in everything his brothers were saying.
“Mom can be . . . invasive,” Gage said. “You need to set her straight, and now. Trust me, the longer you wait, the harder it will be. Mom knows that if she wants to spend time with my family, she needs to meet us on our terms. Steph should be number one, the one who you please, not anyone else. If you give Mom a hint of control, she’ll take over your entire life.”
“Mom’s over-involved because she’s still mourning Dad and Kyle,” Josh pointed out. “So if being in control brings her sense of peace, I don’t see what’s the big deal.”
“Says the guy who chauffeured her to her lady doctor’s appointment last week.”
Instead of jabbing back, Josh reflected on how much time he spent, even on a weekly basis, driving her to appointments, doing handy work around the house, being guilted into staying for dinner—and now handling peacock statues and decorations. And that was in addition to his eighty-hour week. He might not make it to family dinners regularly, but he broke bread with his mom at least three times a week—and usually during his work hours.
Rhett opened his locker and sat down on the bench. “So pretty much, you’re saying I need to grow up and grow a pair?”
A seed of interest began to form in Josh’s chest. He thought about what Gage had said as he showered and got dressed. Relationships didn’t seem as hard as Rhett was making them out to be. Show up. Make her feel important and . . . What was the third thing?
Transparency will get you laid.
Josh had been thinking nonstop about getting laid. It had become his number one priority. But from where he was sitting, with a huge permit problem—that he’d kept from her—things didn’t look like they’d swing in his favor.
His intentions were in the right place, but his timing had been off. He looked up to find his brothers looking at him. “What?”
“You coming to watch the game this week or you going to break your mom’s heart?”
The Seahawks played, so everyone would gather at Stout to watch Clay kick ass and spend time as a family. Josh had never missed game night until he’d decided to run for DA. Now he was lucky if he made it once a month. He didn’t want to miss another night.
“I’ll be there.” He wasn’t sure how he was going to make it—he had piles of work on his desk— but he wasn’t about to miss his baby brother play the former Super Bowl champs and smear their asses all over the field.
He was checking out his eye, which was already starting to purple, when, before he could stop it, he heard himself asking, “What happens if it’s too late for transparency?”
His brothers stopped what they were doing to stare at Josh, then burst out laughing.
“You actually screwed something up,” Rhett said. “And by that look, Mom’s perfect prosecutor screwed up something bad.”
Owen grinned. “Please tell me you blew it with Pretty Photographer. I’ve been dying to give her a call and ask her if she wants to come to my place for a little Netflix and Chill.”
“For the last time, her name is Piper, and don’t bother. She’s not interested,” Josh said, which only made his brothers grin harder.
They were all looking at him with unholy glee. “You’ve got it bad,” Gage said, and Rhett nodded in agreement. “Tell us, what did you do that’s going to make Piper rip you a new one?”
