Page 18 of The Score We Never Settled

She chuckles but doesn’t pull away from me. “My washer is makin’ a funny noise, and I need an oil change.”

“Micah Wolfe not at the auto shop anymore?”

“No, he is,” she replies softly. “But it’ll give you somethin’ to do.”

I already have enough to do.

And that’s Layla.

“I’ll start on it tomorrow,” I deadpan because I’m not going to tell her no.

“You doin’ okay?”

“I’m fine.”

“Yeah?” She finally pulls away and looks up at me. “It was about Layla again, wasn’t it?”

Eh.

She’s referencing the fight that got me suspended, and I wouldn’t have if I hadn’t broken Cruz’s arm.

I don’t regret it.

In fact, I’d love to break his other one. I might get that chance if he shows up in Magnolia Ridge.

“Always is,” I answer honestly and leave it at that.

“You see her yet?”

“Yep.”

Her brows fly heavenward. “And?”

And, my sister wants a miracle.

However, that’s going to take a bit more time and ass-kissing to get that to happen and work.

“Same ole shit,” I drone. “Different day.”

My sister’s face wrinkles up. “You do anythin’ to change that, Briggs?”

“Yeah. She isn’t gettin’ what she wants.”

She frowns. “Briggs, you’ve done enough. I know you love her, but?—”

“But, what?”

Her mouth opens, but she promptly closes it. Probably because I’m a lost cause when it comes to Layla. That I’m not going to give her up. No matter the costs to both of us.

“You’re being cruel, Briggs,” she finally says. “Let her move on.”

“To who? Cruz?”

“No,” Adeline quickly quips with a shake of her head. “She hates that guy.”

“Not as much as I would like.”

“Layla isn’t you. She was brought up differently. She may have lost both her parents, but her Uncle Ben has really been good to her, and he’s tried to raise her the best he could?—”