Page 3 of Until Bax

“Are you sure you wanna do that?” His frown deepens. “I know you two were friends growing up, but you haven’t really spent much time with her since you moved away.”

“She stayed with me for a month when she was working in Chicago over the summer, so I have, in fact, spent time with her. Plus since she travels as a nurse, she’s hardly home.” She returns her brother’s frown with one of her own. “I thought you’d be happy to have me out of your hair.”

“I don’t mind you staying with me.”

Her face and her tone both soften. “There’s barely room foryouat your place.”

She’s not wrong. About five months ago, he bought a couple of acres and has been living in an RV on the land while his house is being built. And even though his RV is nice, it’s small, even for one person. So, I can only imagine how tight it would be for the two of themandhis dog, Lucy.

“Kid—”

“It’s fine, and it’s only temporary. I don’t want to rent an apartment until I know for sure where I want to live.”

“Fine.” He sighs, and she shakes her head before giving him a hug.

“I’ll be home later.”

“Drive safe.”

“Yes,Dad.” She laughs, then looks at me and starts to lean in like she’s going to give me a hug, but second-guesses the move and shifts on her feet. “It was nice seeing you, Bax.”

“Yeah, you too,” I mutter.

After shooting me a bright smile, she knocks Liam in the shoulder with her fist, then turns and wanders back across the room to get her bag and jacket. All while I try—really fucking try—not to check out her ass as she goes. It’s difficult, even after I remind myself that she’s Liam’s little sister.

Fuck.

Swiveling back around on my stool, I pick up my beer and take a healthy swig before I look at my best friend.

“You never mentioned that Oli was moving back here.” Those are the words that come out of my mouth, but what I really want to say is, “You never mentioned that she grew up.”

“I didn’t know she was serious about it when she brought it up.” He glances over his shoulder, then looks at me. “Then she showed up, started looking for a job, and told me all of her shit would be here soon.”

“Why so suddenly?”

“I think she’s worried about Dad. You know he ended up in the hospital a month ago because of his diabetes.”

“I remember.”

He nods. “When that happened, I called to tell her what was going on. She couldn’t catch a flight right away because the storms were so bad, and driving would have taken her just as long as waiting another day for the weather to clear.” He shrugs. “I think that flipped her out.”

“That’s understandable.”

“Whatever the reason, I’m just glad she’s back. And Mom and Dad are happy to have her close since the only time they’ve really gotten to spend with her is when she’s come down for the occasional holiday.”

“Your parents never went to visit her in Chicago?”

“They did, but that drive is hard on Mom, and she hates flying, so the visits were few and far between.”

“Sorry that took so long,” Talon says, breaking into the conversation and slapping Liam on the shoulder in a silent hello before taking back his seat. “Mia wanted to know where I put the pumpkin-carving shit from last year, so I had to walk her through how to use the app I set up for all the storage containers in the garage.”

“Shit, that pumpkin-carving thing istomorrow?” Liam grimaces, and my brother narrows his eyes.

“You forgot?”

“I totally spaced it and made plans to go to Gatlinburg to meet up with a friend.”

“You mean a hookup,” I clarify, and he shrugs one shoulder with a smug smile.

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