Page 44 of Someone You Deserve

I pat my brother on his shoulder. “By someone other than your hand? Good for you.” I know it’s ironic that I’m giving him shit for the same circumstance I’m in—a dry spell by choice—but this is just what we do to each other.

He pushes my hand away. “Fuck you. It was at the conference I went to last month. I met this girl on the plane and she was gorgeous. One night, no names.” He blows out a breath. “It was hot.”

“Nice to see someone is breaking their dry spell,” Dallas says, eyeing me from the side. “But I gotta say, having the same woman in your bed every night is so much better.”

Even though it’s been years since I’ve been with a woman, I have to agree. Knowing someone under the surface and learning their body makes that physical connection so much more intense.

I can only imagine how mind-blowing it would be with Astrid.

Fuck. She just might ruin me if that’s the case.

Like she hasn’t already owned you for the past three years?

“Well, I had the same woman every night and we all know how that ended,” Parker says, reminding us of his bad luck in love. But the fact that he’s even bringing it up is surprising. “So a hot night with no strings attached was exactly what I needed, and it delivered.” He pushes his glasses up his nose.

“Then I’m happy for you.” Dallas clinks his beer with Parker’s.

“Boys, it’s time to eat!” Our little sister, Hazel, peeks her head out of the back door.

“Hey, look who decided to show up finally!” Dallas teases her. “You’ll be late to your own funeral, won’t you, Hazelnut?”

She flips him off this time, further solidifying just how bizarre sibling relationships can be.

We settle in around the table, and Willow lets out an audible moan when she gets her first taste of the food. “Oh my god. How have I never had this before?”

“Chicken bog is a Southern staple, Willow,” my mother replies. “And any Paula Deen recipe is bound to be good just based on the amount of butter used in it.”

Willow nods her head with her mouth full and then replies once she’s finished chewing. “I don’t even care.”

“You will when you have to unbutton your pants afterward,” Hazel replies.

“I’ve already had that issue from Astrid’s blueberry muffins.” Willow reaches for her glass of water. “I had to put myself on a limit because the addiction was real.”

“It’s just so amazing that the bakery is now hers,” my mother chimes in.

“I’m so proud of her. And I got her to agree to a huge event next month that will bring her even more business,” Willow says.

Curious, I ask, “What event?”

“It’s for Morgan Hotels. She’s going to cater the desserts for their charity event at their newest location in Raleigh. There will be over five hundred guests. Wesley Morgan is a client of mine, so I couldn’t pass up offering her the opportunity to advertise to that many people.”

“Sounds great. She didn’t mention it this morning, though,” I say, trying to hide the surprise in my voice.

Willow shrugs, but her eyes flit around nervously. “She probably just hasn’t wrapped her head around it yet. I only spoke to her about it Friday night.”

Seems a lot of things went down Friday.

I went to the bakery this morning to install the new display cases, but our conversation was very surface level. We talked about thechampionship soccer game coming up next week since we won our final season game. She asked me more about the flooring and painting I’m doing this week.

But that was it.

Granted there were people all around us, so it wasn’t the best time. But even I could sense that the tension was high.

“Besides, she kept telling me that once the soccer season is over, she’ll have more time to focus on the bakery. I think she’s secretly looking forward to it even though she loves watching Bentley play.”

Dallas chimes in. “As much as I love the season too, I’m ready for the break.”

“Yeah, same,” I say, moving my newfound knowledge to the back of my mind for the moment. But the extra time will be necessary as I focus on my rental property.

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