Page 154 of Unforgettable

“That was one semester, alright. And who goes through college without streaking at least once?” Everyone besides Devon raised their hands, and we all dissolved into laughter.

“It might have been one semester, but I think you streaked or wanted to go streaking every time you got drunk. Never in my life did I think I’d have to see my only brother’s junk that many damn times.” Luke clapped me on the shoulder before crossing the kitchen to help Hazel, who was pulling containers out of the fridge and a dish out of the oven.

“Anyway, enough about my dick. Devon, you got some new ink?”

He twisted his arm, the one not wrapped around Amanda’s waist, and showed off the dark butterfly right above his elbow. Its wings curved over his bicep like it had landed there and was settled against his arm.

“Yeah, for my mom. Butterflies are her favorite.”

Reed stepped up next to him and eyed the new, dark ink closely. “Your own work, right?”

“Yeah, sketched it out last time I was in Houston with her for a doctor’s appointment and got it a few days ago.”

“You’re going to catch up to Luke here soon,” Amanda commented, stealing a glance at my brother across the kitchen, who acted offended. Devon was covered in ink, but he had a ways to go. Luke barely had an inch of skin left unless he suddenly decided to tattoo his face.

Most of Devon’s ink was by his own design as well. But between the both of them, they had enough ink for all of us.

“This one might be one of my favorites you’ve done, though,” James said, then glanced down at his phone with a shake of his head. Whatever it was he’d read or seen was enough to make him turn his phone over on the counter and down the rest of his drink.

“I don’t know,” Hazel said. Her hands were braced on the island, and Luke bracketed her against the counter with his own large arms. She fondly stroked the skin of his inner forearm, where the tattoo Devon designed for him was placed, and smiled. “I may be biased, but I like this one the best.” It was an angel and was representative of his nickname for her.

“Yes, you’re absolutely biased,” Amanda agreed.

“Thanks. Anyway, dinner’s ready! It’s all on the table, so come on.”

FIFTY

Reed

“No,Reed, why don’t you sit between Josh and Amanda? Yeah, right there.” Luke pointed to the chair that was, sure enough, between Amanda and Josh.

I gave him an incredulous look but pulled the chair out all the same. His creepy-ass smile widened as I lowered myself into the seat, and when I scooted closer to the table, I thought he was going to break out into hysterical laughter. But Hazel slapped his forearm and motioned for him to sit down himself.

Conversations picked up around us as bowls and trays were passed. We discussed the end of their lake trip at my parents’ house and anything else new in our lives.

Hazel was still hard at work on her second book, and Luke was planning on opening his own veterinary practice. James was, as always, focused on work while Devon was still commuting back and forth from Houston every other week to take care of his Mom while she underwent experimental cancer treatment.

Josh narrowly evaded the topic of Murphy’s, and I knew by the way he readjusted in his seat, clenched his jaw, and darted his attention to Amanda and me that there was something else he wasn’t telling us.

“So your brother’s okay?” Hazel asked Amanda in a small voice, like she was hesitant to bring up the topic.

Amanda cleared her throat and set down her fork softly against her plate. Similar to Josh, she shifted on her seat, uncomfortable under the attention of everyone at the table. What I wouldn’t have done to reach out and comfort her. My hand balled into a fist on the tabletop as I resisted the urge to thread my fingers through hers or grip her thigh under the table.

“Yeah, he’s okay. Will, his attorney, is amazing. From what we know, they offered him a deal—he’s going to lead the cops to his boss for a lesser punishment. They’ve been looking for this guy for a while, so he has that on his side. The only problem is that he has to do it—if they don’t get his boss, he’s going to… he’s going to go down for all of it.”

No one spoke for several long moments. Everyone simultaneously mulled over the consequences if the plan didn’t pan out.

“But you’re letting him do it on his own,” Hazel supplied, and slowly Amanda nodded.

“Good for you,” James said, and everyone else agreed.

“And you’re staying with your boys until your apartment is put back together?”

A forkful of vegetables hovered above my plate as my hand stopped midair. Carefully, I watched Luke and the hint of a smile appeared.

Hefuckingknew. Or at least he thought he knew something, buthowwas the question. I thought we’d been so careful. And suddenly, I couldn’t help but reassess every second we’d been around them. We’d barely touched and been careful about looking at each other for too long. Every action that had become innate—touching, teasing, kissing—had all ceased while in public or around anyone else for the past two months.

It didn’t make sense, but it also didn’t matter. We’d planned to tell them all that night anyway. But that didn’t mean that the unknown didn’t gnaw relentlessly at my gut.

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