Page 65 of My Brother's Enemy
He stopped short, frowning at me before he burst out laughing. “Jesus.” He chuckled. “The joys of having celebrity brothers, huh? You and my sister could probably vent over a whole box of wine.”
“I’d rather not.” I gave him a pointed look.
He cursed softly. “Shit. I forgot that Ski and Daniel dated. I mean, I didn’t forget. I hate that fucking asshole. He’s part of the reason she got hurt, but I keep forgetting the details. Does that make sense?”
Ski. I’d heard him use the nickname before, but my mind had been caught up with other worries. Now, more memories flooded in.
I must’ve made some sort of face because he asked, “What?”
I shrugged. “It’s nothing. Just…Daniel used to tease her about being called Ski. I heard him sometimes in the house, bitching about it. He didn’t understand it, and she wouldn’t let him use it. Said it was just for you.” I laughed, but it was bitter. “He hated that, being told he couldn’t do something. Sad part is that he didn’t even really care. Not about your sister. Not about the nickname. He just didn’t like being told no.”
“Oh.”
“Can we go to one of your sister’s jobs?”
He nodded. “Let’s try the bar first. She works in the kitchen at the nursing home, and she’s adamant about not letting people know she’s related to me, said her co-workers wouldn’t handle it well. She’s more likely to make friends with co-workers at the bar.”
I nodded as he looked up the address, and once he typed in the name, I knew where it was. I pulled out and swung my car around in the right direction.
“You know the place?” he asked.
“I’m assuming there’s only one Hank’s Tulip in Oakes, Minnesota, so yeah. I know where it is.”
I pulled out onto the street. I didn’t tell him it was the bar a couple friends and I had tried to sneak into in high school. That was when I was still trying to make friends, have friends, keep friends. That was before I learned friends were not worth it.
My phone rang. The dashboard announced that Mal Benoit was calling.
I reached for the ignore button, but Tyler got there first and hit accept.
I cursed under my breath and hit him anywhere I could reach.
He tried to dodge my hands, but he was too busy laughing.
“Hello?” Mal said when no one said anything.
“You little fuck,” I mouthed at Tyler.
He laughed silently and pointed to the dashboard.
“Rain? Are you there?”
I cleared my throat. “Yes. Hey. Hi, Mal. How’s it going? I’m in the car.”
“Hi. I wanted to check in. You know, see how you’re doing. And if you wanted to grab that glass of wine sometime?”
My hands tightened on the steering wheel, and for a moment, I was transported back to that bathroom, back to that moment I’d seen Dane. I pulled in a ragged breath. “I’m, uh…”
Tyler’s eyes narrowed.
I ignored him. “I’m okay, Mr. Benoit.”
“Mal. Please. After—please call me Mal, Rain.”
“Of course.” I smiled. “Mal.”
Tyler rolled his eyes. “Mal?”
I gave him a look as I straightened in my seat. “Anyway, I’m doing fine. After what we talked about.”
