Page 67 of Forever Golden

“On it.”

“And don’t dilly dally when you get done, either. Duke’s dropping off a few sacks of crawfish for tonight’s boil. That man’s back’s about twenty years older than he is, so I told him you boys would be here to help,” Boone explains.

“Of course, you did,” Dane grumbles.

“Damn right, I did! What’s the point in running that football up and down the field if it ain’t earned you some muscles! Not only will you help him, you’ll do it with a smile on your face. Now, get flip with me again and I’ll knock your ass into next Tuesday. Understood?”

“Yes, sir.”

Despite Boone’s harsh tone, it’s clear he isn’t serious, which is why Dane takes the threat in stride, laughing as he grabs Joss’s things. He leads the way, ascending the staircase. I reach for myownluggage, but West intervenes, using his solid arm as a barrier between me and my things.

“Sterling, mind taking Southside’s and Scar’s bags up for me?”

“No problem.” Sterling doesn’t question why West seems to be hanging back, but I’m curious.

“Southside? What the hell kind of pet name is that for a woman?” Boone mumbles to himself, slipping into another room through a set of French doors.

Now that it’s just the two of us, I grip West’s hand and meet his gaze. “Not coming up yet?”

He nods once toward where his grandfather just disappeared. “In a few. Figured I’d bring him up to speed first, see what he thinks should happen next.”

For a little while, I’d forgotten the trouble we left back home, but West clearly hasn’t. Being a protector by nature, I shouldn’t be surprised he decided to take immediate action sooner rather than later.

It’s hard not to feel like my heart’s in a vice when I stare at him, knowing he’s carrying the same weight I am.

When I squeeze his hand once before heading upstairs, he knows what it means.

Even when I’m not at his side, I’m with him. Because come hell or high water, we’re in this together.

* * *

@QweenPandora:What have we here? It looks to me as if TheGoldenBoys and their entire crew—whom I hereby dub TheGoldenCrew—are boarding a plane to beat the winter blues.

Where on earth are you six off to?

I’m certain you took special care to keep your destination under wraps, but CP won’t be the same without you. Who else will we gossip about while you’re gone?

Later, Peeps.

—P

Chapter 24

BLUE

I’ve only ever seen the inside of a house like this on TV. And when Boone said the white room was the best, he wasn’t lying.

With enough space for three queen-size canopy beds, Joss, Scar, and I certainly have zero complaints about sharing a room. Our linen is pure white, as are the wool rugs beside our beds, and the sheer curtains covering both sets of French doors leading out to the balcony. And at the room’s center, another extravagant chandelier.

Scar whirls around with her phone, video chatting Shane to show off where we’re staying, while Joss and I unpack. She’s been quiet, other than the few times she’s tried to force herself to talk, but it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see she’s struggling.

“I’ve been told I’m a pretty good listener.” I peek up at her after sliding a small stack of t-shirts in the dresser between my bed and hers.

Joss meets my gaze and offers a weak smile. “I won’t ruin your trip by dragging you into my family’s shit,” she says wearily.

“Trust me. With the things I’ve seen and lived through, it’d take a bomb falling on me to ruin anything.”

She laughs, and so do I.

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