Page 11 of Stealing Sunshine

“You’re going to talk like that right beside me? Really?” Darren cries, twisting his face in disgust.

Bryce stares at him and bluntly says, “Shouldn’t have stolen my seat.”

“Shouldn’t have stolen my seat,” he echoes in a high-pitched voice.

“Mature.”

Darren flips her off and takes a long drink from his glass. Their dynamic is interesting. I’ve noticed it a few times in thepast, but mostly in passing. Getting a chance to watch it up close makes it easier to see that they share a similar brother-sister relationship to the one he has with Poppy and I have with Johnny.

“Anyway, back to why I called you here,” Johnny says, guiding everyone back. “Anyone have an open room for Daisy?”

My stomach swirls with nerves and a bit of embarrassment when he drops the question. Everyone besides Bryce turns to look at me, and I keep a brave face despite feeling like a child who needs to be taken care of.

“I’m capable of finding my own place. I don’t want anyone to feel forced into housing me,” I add, tucking a piece of hair behind my ear.

“Nonsense!” Johnny declares.

I meet his eyes and subtly shake my head. “Johnny.”

He looks a bit scolded when he nods. “If anyone would beopento letting my sister stay with you for a few weeks, we’d both appreciate it.”

“Did you kick her out?” Darren asks him.

“No. But she hasn’t . . . been sleeping well at our place.”

Poppy tries to hide her laugh but fails when it escapes her sealed lips in a cough-like sound. “So, you two have been keeping her up all night with your fucking.”

“Don’t laugh, Poppy,” Aurora mutters, cheeks still that deep red hue.

Poppy pulls her hair behind her shoulders and leans forward over the table. “Oh, I’m going to laugh. For all the shit y’all give me and Garrison, this is just too good.”

“It’s a blessing he isn’t here to hear this,” Brody notes.

Johnny huffs. “I’m sure Poppy will give him the rundown the minute she gets home.”

“Of course I will.”

They continue to pick on my brother for the next few minutes, and I let them, sitting back in silence. They’re all really nice people. The best Alberta has to offer. But they’re not reallymypeople. Not the way they are my brother’s.

Darting my eyes from the table, they land on the crossed, bare legs of the woman beside me. She bounces the one she has beneath the other, and I focus on the black cowboy boots that cup her from foot to calf. A dark denim skirt has risen to midway up her thigh, and even with her sitting position, her black band tee is cropped short enough to expose an inch of her toned stomach.

Her attractiveness is obvious, but as I lift my eyes higher and higher, so is the way she’s looking at me right now, all cool irritation and a sharp bite of curiosity.

An apology gets stuck in my throat when she tenses and looks away. I release a long, quiet exhale and glance back at the table.

“I’d love to help you, Daisy, but unless you’re willing to commute from Calgary again, me and Garrison are out,” Poppy says.

Darren speaks next. “I’ve got a pull-out couch in my office, but it’s pretty shit.”

“We have two extra rooms,” Anna pipes in.

Hope swells in my chest. “Really?”

Brody finishes his beer and reaches for the tray of nachos on the table. “We’re up through the ranch. Past the main and guest houses. Down from the shop.”

Living on Steele Ranch . . . My hope deflates.

“I appreciate the offer, but living on the ranch isn’t reallyme,” I say, shoving the guilt away that follows my statement.

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