Page 72 of Just This Once

“How do you know that?” I questioned.

His dark eyes lifted to mine. “Because it was four days before my twelfth birthday.”

“Fuck.” Royal scrubbed a hand against the back of his neck. “I’d forgotten about that.”

“Look, I don’t know what this means, or if it means anything at all, but all I know is that that box has been down there for a long time. And when Bug found it, she was freaking the fuck out. Have you ever seen her lose her cool?” I searched my brothers’ expressions, and they both gave me a solemn shake of their heads.

I didn’t know what else to do. “Do you think maybe it’s time? Maybe we should try to find her?”

My brothers were quiet, until Royal finally asked, “Are you okay with the fact that she may not want to be found?”

My gut twisted, but I answered anyway. “Of course.”

Abel straightened. “I know someone who may be able to help. My former PO has a few contacts. I can reach out and see ifhe wants to take it on. He can start poking around and asking questions.”

I nodded. Abel had a former parole officer who’d become a friend of sorts. There was a chance one of his contacts may be able to help, and it was better than a local doing the digging.

I looked between my brothers. “But we agree this stays here between us. I don’t think we need to drag the girls into this if it’s nothing. And JP...” My thoughts trailed off.

“Yeah, we know,” Abel finished.

I held out my hand to my oldest brother. “All right. Let me know if your guy is up for it, and we’ll go from there.”

I turned to shake Royal’s hand, and he gripped mine. “Go have fun on your date with the chief’s daughter.” I froze as he grinned and raised his eyebrows. Royal always was a shit stirrer. “You’re not as sly as you think, little brother.”

I laughed and shook my head. “Apparently not. Just don’t fuck this up for me.”

“Nah.” Royal laughed and shook his head. “I’ll let you do that.”

TWENTY-SIX

EMILY

Under the velvetycloak of a starry summer night, the carnival unfolded like a fairy-tale dreamland. The air was saturated with the sweet scent of cotton candy, intertwining with the warm, buttery aroma of freshly popped popcorn and fried corn dogs. The distant laughter of children echoed through the air, punctuated by the joyful melodies of a carousel’s calliope.

The warm breeze carried the tang of the nearby lake, infusing the atmosphere with a hint of fresh water and exhilaration. Ahead, colorful lights adorned the simple booths and carnival rides, casting a soft glow on the faces of the townsfolk who reveled in the excitement of the carnival. The Ferris wheel, a majestic sentinel against the twilight sky, provided breathtaking views of the distant shoreline and the sparkling waters of Lake Michigan.

Gravel paths had been laid to guide people from the parking lot to where the games and rides were set up. With every step, the crunch beneath my feet created a rhythm that matched my heartbeat as I grew closer to the fervor of the people. Whip and I had agreed to meet just outside the west entrance. I checked the time, and a giddy thrill zipped through me.

After a few excruciating minutes, I recognized his familiar stride. His long legs ate up the distance between us as he made his way from the parking lot to the entrance. Tamping down a laugh, I pulled the Groucho glasses from my purse and slipped them on.

My stomach bunched. We’d had a few moments that feltoff, and I had more than a few questions—namely, why was there a woman’s jacket hanging in his closet?—but I didn’t want to be that kind of girl. We’d agreed to be casual, and, for the most part, that was working for me. I wanted his actions to prove to me the kind of man he was, and I prayed it was enough.

As soon as Whip spotted me, his thick laughter cut through the air. I stifled a laugh when my nose twitched. The attached mustache tickled, but I set my face into a serious expression.

Whip casually sauntered toward me. “Excuse me, sir?”

I grinned beneath the ridiculous nose and mustache.

“Do you think you can help me? I’m looking for Emily Ward. She’s about yea tall”—Whip held his hand up to my height—“has blondish hair, eyes like the lake after a storm, and a rockin’ pair of tits.”

A laugh burst from me. I slowly removed the fake-nose glasses and gave him a cheesy smile.

Whip’s eyes bugged. “Holy shit. I had no idea.”

My body hummed, called to him. I wanted to melt into him and be swept away in the timeless magic of the carnival’s embrace, without having to worry about who might see us.

Instead, I let my laughter fade and slipped the glasses back into my purse. “Fancy meeting you here.”

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