Page 77 of Golden Rule

“I uh… I have a tattoo. Of Lexi’s name,” he admits clumsily, but that’s only half the story. So, being the good brother that I am, I help things along a bit.

“Now, tell themwhereyou have a tattoo. Of Lexi’s name,” I add, mocking him.

He shoots me a look that could kill, but I don’t care.

“It’s just on my torso,” he says.

“Bullshit.”

He aims another glare my way, and I’m eating this shit up.

“Well, it’s torsoadjacent,” he clarifies, and then finally just stands, lifts the hem of his shirt, then lowers the waistband of his sweats dangerously low.

“The fuck are you doing?” Ricky laughs. “We’re close, man, but we won’teverbethatclose.”

“You know you like it,” Sterling says back, winking at him to make the moment more uncomfortable.

He reveals his tatt the next second, and there it is. Lexi’s name inked down his pelvic bone, implying that, at one time, she owned everything in that… general region.

Let’s just say it wasn’t a subtle gesturethen,and certainly isn’t one now.

Just ask Tiffany.

Dusty’s shocked, probably by the sheer stupidity of my brother thinking thatwouldn’tbe an issue for any woman who isn’t Lexi.

“Wow, that’s… that’s something,” is all he can say, and I lose my shit, laughing out loud.

Maybe hearing it from someone other than me or Dane, someone with a little more life experience, Sterling will finally get his head out of his ass. I mean, if he’s truly done with Lex, ifhe’s truly trying to make things work with Tiffany, something’s gotta give.

“So, yeah, that’s been the latest bone of contention,” he shares, lowering his shirt again, and the rest of us have nothing to say.

Nothing he’ll want to hear, anyway.

Chase glances down at his phone. “Shit, it’s later than I thought. I should get home.”

“Best not to anger the old lady, right?” Dusty teases, but the smile Chase flashes is dim.

“No old lady,” he says. “Just a feisty five-year-old who keeps her daddy on a short leash.”

“Bianca?” I ask, flashing a look toward his tattoo.

He glances down at it, then nods. “Yep. Got it the week she was born. She’s the best thing that ever happened to me.”

Despite me believing he means that from the bottom of his heart, there’s an air of sadness. Almost like he gained something in Bianca, but lost something, too.

He takes a breath, then stands, and I suppose I know why he always seems tired. While I can’t wait to be a dad myself, I’m not ignorant to the costs—lack of sleep, living in a state of near-constant worry.

He reaches out to shake my hand. “Thanks for inviting me, man. I don’t get out all that much.”

“No problem. I’ll hit you up next time we hang out to see if you’re free.”

“Please do. See you at practice.”

He sees himself out, and I’m still thinking about his situation when he heads upstairs. Does he have Bianca for the weekend? Or is shealwayswith him?

“Chase has the right idea. I should get going,” Dusty announces, groaning a little when he rises from the recliner.“I’ve gotta be at the diner to prep at an ungodly hour, but thanks for the invite. Good food, good company. I’d take that any day.”

“I’m taking off too,” Hunter says. “I have to make another stop.”

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