Page 8 of Careless
Sterling nodded, and I was grateful that he had taken my words at face value and not heard any underlining rudeness. Because I believed in all of my siblings. The fact that any of us had lofty dreams to begin with surprised me, considering how we had grown up.
“I have plans. I promise. I’m not going to throw all of my savings into a restaurant and bail right out the gate. I’m going to learn along the way and then come back to town after school and get it done. The town needs it.”
“Well, I run more than two businesses at this point, so I don’t mind helping with whatever you need,” Teagan said with a grin.
I nodded. “You run part of my brewery, Bodhi’s business, and you pretty much do everything for the fucking gift shop, even though the owners treat you like shit. And I know that you help Rune out sometimes.”
“While you’re crushing on him,” Finnian teased and ducked when Teagan threw her chip.
“Seriously?” I snapped.
Teagan glared at each of us. “I’ll clean it up.”
Wincing, I squeezed her shoulder. “No, I’ll clean it up. I started the Rune thing. I’m sorry.”
Teagan raised a brow, and I probably shouldn’t have offered to help clean that up. Because that meant she would wonder why I had pushed the whole Rune thing.
I was going to hell.
Again.
“Either way, if you come up with a business plan, we’ll look at it.”
I still had a shit ton of money because I had friends who knew how to invest, and I wanted my siblings to succeed. Even if I knew they wouldn’t take my money at face value. No, they’d fight to pay me back. And that’s why I was so damn glad I had raised my kids better than my dad had tried to raise us all.
By the time we were finished cleaning up, my phone buzzed, and I looked down at the readout.
Rune: Can you go and check Felicity? She had a hangover all day, despite how much water she had. I need to head to Summit Grill, and I don’t like the fact that she’s alone.
My dick perked up at the idea of seeing Felicity, and I needed to tone it down.
What the hell was wrong with me? I was over a decade older than her. I was a lecher. A crude old man.
Not really. But enough.
Me: Sure. Anything for the kiddo.
Rune: I can’t believe she’s twenty-one now. She’s an old lady.
Me: Don’t let her hear you calling her old.
Rune: Truth.
“Everything okay?” Teagan asked, a frown on her face. “We were going to make dessert and play video games until we decide that we’ve kicked your ass long enough.”
I rolled my eyes. “I need to check something out for Rune real quick, but I’ll be right back.”
“Leave a love letter from Teagan!” Finnian called out, and I threw my head back and laughed as Teagan ran out of the room and jumped on Finnian’s back. They wrestled to the ground, and Sterling threw his elbows in, protecting his twin and his sister at the same time.
My family was full of menaces.
“What’s really going on?” Bodhi asked, his voice low.
I swallowed hard, not wanting to worry my brother for no reason. “Felicity was hungover from her birthday, and Rune wants me to make sure that she’s doing fine. He doesn’t like leaving her alone, and her parents are out of town.”
“She’s staying with Rune, then? Interesting.” Bodhi took another sip of an Ashford brew, and I shook my head.
“Rune’s my best friend.”
