Page 147 of Till The Sun Dies (Checkmate 2)

“Yeah?” His eyes come around to meet mine. “What did they want?”

“They wanted to know what the fuck was going on and why I was double dating with Jess and the thug. These guys have been my brothers my whole life, which makes Jess and Laine my little sisters. Now I’m sharing a bed with one of them, and listening to the other fuck against the wall that connects my room to yours.”

His lips twitch at the pain in my voice.

“My whole fucking world shifted this year, Bish, so I can’t even blame them for being a little lost.”

“Okay…” He gives a careless shrug and reaches to the cooler between us. “Fuck them. The girls are grown women, and those assholes don’t get a say.”

“Bish…” I shake my head. “It’s not that easy.”

He scoffs. “When you live my life, when you’ve died and come back again, you realize all those games aren’t worth a second of your time. Fuck them and their‘I’m bigger and badder’bullshit. I’m busy living my life and taking care of my girl. I’ve relieved them of their big brother duties, so they can fuck off and get busy sucking each other’s dicks for all I care.”

“Dude…” I knock my hat back when I brush a hand over my face. “I know you see the world how you see it, and a guy who’s lived the life you have probably isn’t inclined to change, but Jess is a family girl. She’s not gonna let you banish her family just because you wanna keep her to yourself. Graham already tried that, remember? Don’t be naïve enough to think it’ll happen a second time.”

The girls, squealing and rolling in the sand, draw our gazes back to them. “So you’re saying marrying her while on vacation…?”

I laugh. “Not a good idea. Let her brother escort her to you. It’s better that way.”

“Will he?” He turns to me. “Will he approve? That’s important to her, and whatever is important to her is important to me.”

“He will.” I lift my beer and finish the last drops as the giggling girls wander toward us. “He already does. He asked me this morning if you can be trusted. Luc trusts me, I said yes, so now you’ve got a new best friend.” Fifteen feet away, Laine’s shy eyes meet mine from under her lashes. “He told me yes, too.”

“You? No way?”

“Yep. He said I have his blessing… if I ever decide to make a move.”

Before Jess can reach us, Kane bounds to his feet and walks backwards. “The night’s young, Ang, and you got permission. Don’t fuck this up again. Jessie…” Kane snags her around the waist and dips her back. “Come swim with me, beautiful.”

Laine drops down in the seat Kane just left, and dragging in lungfuls of air, she watches her sister and brushes a hand through her hair to dislodge the sand. “Are you having fun?”

I sit my empty beer in the sand and search in the cooler for something for her. “I am. You want a soda? Beer?”

“Neither, but thanks.” She pulls her legs up until she can hug her knees.

She’s wearing nothing more than scraps of bikini, so her legs are bare right up to her ass, and her torso and arms show off toned lines when the fire reflects back onto her.

“You cold?” Frowning, I look around our space, but I didn’t bring a hoodie. We have no blankets. We have nothing but the fire.

She makes a noise of pleasure in the back of her throat and burrows deeper into the chair. “Not cold. It’s getting late, it’s dark and the breeze is nice. The fire’s toasty warm. I’m not cold, but it sure feels like cuddling weather, don’t you think?”

Mmm.

“I don’t remember the last time Graham cuddled me just for the sake of cuddling.”

“Laine…”

“It’s okay.” She reaches across the space between us and pats my arm. “If I never say his name, if I pretend he doesn’t exist, then I give him power. But if I force myself to say it, if I force myself to be brave, then each time I say it, in theory, it hurts less.” She grins. “Like Voldemort.”

“Is it working?”

She gives a contemplative nod. “It is. I don’t feel as scared anymore. He’s just a guy, an asshole. He’s a bully, and in his heart, he must be so miserable, because happy people wouldn’t do what he did. Happy people want those around them to be happy, too.” Turning her head only, her eyes meet mine. “I’ve realized he’s an unhappy coward, and I have a really good life. I have my family, my friends, a beautiful car that I helped rebuild, a beach vacation, and a job I truly love, despite the psycho kids that sometimes drive me to drink. Do you know what I actually feel for Graham?”

Do I want to know?“What?”

“I feel sorry for him, because his life must really suck.” She shrugs. “Anyway, I was only thinking, this seems like cuddling weather. I don’t remember if Graham and I ever hugged just because we wanted to bring each other comfort. At least, not after the first bit of time; the dating phase. And I haven’t let Luc and the others close in a long time. Jess hugs me a lot, but it’s different, ya know? She’s bony and giggly and it’s not like when a big, strong guy does it.”

I frown. “You want a guy to hug you? Like, not a brother, but a real guy?”

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