Page 45 of Worth the Fall

“So, big brother . . .”

Nothing good ever comes from Grayson starting off the conversation with those three words.

“It’s been a long day, let’s not start whatever it is you’re trying to start,” I warn.

“Why do we come here? It’s nothing but abuse with him,” Grady says as he takes another sip of his beer.

“Exactly. If I’m so abusive to you little shits, don’t let the door hit you on the asses on the way out.” I know they’re not going anywhere, but I do our typical song and dance anyway.

“Not until we hear the scoop.” Gray sits forward and rests his elbows on his knees. “Rumor is you were at McGregor’s the other night with Emerson.”

“And?”

I can still taste her kiss.

“Well, obviously, you tracked her down, so what gives? You bumping uglies yet?”

I can still see that panicked look in her eyes.

“What is it with you guys? Can’t I go out with a woman for a few drinks and just be friends?” I ask.

I can still see the determination in her scowl when I walked away.

“No,” they both say in unison, and it prompts me to sip my own beer because I have a feeling it’s going to be a long-ass night.

* * *

The wood porch creaks as I sit on its steps and breathe in the fresh night air. It’s the first time I’ve had a chance to think all day, and considering Mutt and Jeff are inside catching up on the Giants game, I’m taking the liberty.

It’s fucking ridiculous that I have to go outside of my own house to relax, but it isn’t like they’ve listened to me the thirty other times I’ve kicked them out in the past three hours.

“Needing a break?” My father’s voice startles me.

“Dad?”

I look up to find him walking up my driveway. I was so lost in thought I didn’t even notice when he pulled up across the street.

“I figured you might need help kicking your brothers out. They were quite the pair earlier.” He steps closer, and his silver hair looks pale yellow under the porch light.

“I heard mom wasn’t too thrilled with them.”

He shrugs, as if to say boys will be boys. “You know your mom. She’ll take any excuse to get Luke alone for a few hours so she can spoil him rotten.”

“Thank God for him because that means she lays off me.”

“True,” he muses before taking a seat beside me on the steps. “What’s troubling you, Grant?”

I glance over at him, and even though his face is etched with perpetual lines of worry every retired cop seems to have, he still has the impenetrable stare. A proud and defiant angle to his chin and jaw. “Who says something is wrong?”

He raises his eyebrows, as if to ask me if he’s misinterpreted my demeanor, which prompts me to blow out a sigh, lean my head against the railing behind me, and close my eyes. He gives me a few minutes to gather my thoughts without pressing me.

“I saw Emerson the other night.” It isn’t much, but it’s a start.

“So I heard.” He nods but doesn’t look my way. Damn nosy people already talking. “What seems to be the problem? Did you have a bad time?”

I chuckle. “Just the opposite, actually.” His silence tells me he isn’t following me. “It’s complicated.”

“Most things are. If they were easy, they wouldn’t be worth figuring out.”