Page 82 of Second Chance

33

Brotherly Love

[Mati]

I go to work the next day around eleven, and immediately, I’m accosted by Billy.

“So, what’s going on with you two?” I want to say I don’t know who he means, but the teasing gleam in my brother’s eyes tells me everything. Not to mention, Denton called him after calling Jax.

I shrug.

I don’t know what to say. Can I tell my brother I feel more alive than I have in a whole year? Can I tell him the guilt I feel at such a sensation? Can I admit I don’t want it to end?

“Don’t give me that shrug, little missy. I see the glow of…” He pauses, his eyes widening and his mouth freezing in place.

“Sex?” I finish for him, teasing him with the word, although I haven’t done such a thing.

“These are things I shouldn’t know,” he says, straightening and pinking at the same time.

“Oh, and we should know each time you get laid?”

His arms defiantly cross his chest. “That’s different. You’re my little sister.”

I match his stance and glare back at him. “Don’t even think of using a double standard on me, William Forrest Harrington.” Billy gasps as I use his full name. Our mother was obsessed with Roald Dahl books and all her children match the name of a prominent character in his stories. William is named for the short story “The Minpins.”

“Matilda Brookes Harrington Rathstone, don’t be middle-naming me.”

I got my mother’s maiden name as a middle name, and at least we are distracted from talking about sex.

“Did you stop by the house and leave Jax’s number for Denton to call yesterday?”

Billy’s head pulls back, the expression on his face morphing to confusion.

“Why the fuck would I do that?”

“I don’t know.” But obviously, Billy is aware of Jax’s strong feelings against Denton. “What do you know?”

“Jax doesn’t seem too fond of the ex-best friend hitting on his widowed mother, but who cares what he thinks, right?” Billy raises a brow, reminding me of our give-yourself-permission talk. “Now, Mother, on the other hand, she might be a problem.”

My mouth falls open. “No,” I question.

“Yes.”

“How the hell does she know?”

Both Billy’s brows rise. “Mati, Mother knows everything even though we’re all in our forties. Plus, she met her ladies at the diner this morning.”

I shiver. If Elaina Harrington knows anything about Denton and me, I’m in for a major grilling for information. Ignoring this probability, I return to my earlier question. “Denton found the letter from Chris and a crumbled note with Jax’s phone number on it. I didn’t leave either of them for him, and I don’t know how he got them.”

“Chris left Denton a letter?”

“Focus, Billy,” I demand.

“Maybe he was snooping.”

He could have been. “I don’t think so.” I pause a second. “But someone was.” I eye the empty restaurant, wondering who’s been in my house lately.

“Can we discuss the Oktoberfest for a second? It looks like Locals Only, the band we booked, bailed on us.” The young band—a growing country music sensation and local favorite—would have been perfect for our night.