Page 87 of Ever With Me

The sun was beginningto rise, the lake taking on a soft pink and gold tone as the sky above it changed. Brooks grabbed a coffee, then slipped out onto the back deck and started toward the dock. Even at home in LA, he often got up for the sunrise, taking his coffee on the beach.

Spending the day before with Maddie had almost been the perfect antidote to the worst hangover Brooks had had in . . . well, five years.

Even though he’d said they’d part as friends, there was a finality when she’d dropped him off that he couldn’t shake. He’d wanted to call her back. Text her. Tell her to stay.

But he’d just let her drive off instead.

There was other damage he’d needed to turn his attention to.

He still didn’t know how he would make it up to Kayla, though. Or Audrey. He’d let them both down, and even though he’d let himself get distracted by Maddie’s company, the problem wouldn’t solve itself.

Even now, he couldn’t stop thinking of Maddie as he made his way onto the dock. She’d texted late last night, apologizing for failing to get the wreckage video from Fred Strickland’s ice cream shop. As though she needed to apologize.

She’d done more for him than most of his so-called friends.

Like the way she’d shown up two nights ago. Put up with him. Stayed with him.Looked after my sweet niece.

He didn’t deserve that sort of kindness from her. From anyone, really.

Because that’s all it was, too. She’d turned down anything more, even while amid a hot and heavy kiss. And before that, she'd maintained a distance when they’d been wandering shops on Main Street. Somehow, it still felt like she kept getting him to spill more of his guts, while keeping her own history tightly under wraps.

The only reason he’d even found out about her ex was because of that run-in at the café.

Prick.

How dare he humiliate Maddie like that? Even if Josh hadn’t known Maddie was going to be ather own step grandmother’s placefor breakfast, once he’d seen her, he shouldn’t have made a show of things.

To his surprise, he wasn’t the only one who’d thought of coming out to the dock. As he neared the Adirondack chairs, he spotted Cormac, sitting low in one, scrolling through his phone.

“I didn’t know you were up,” Brooks said, taking the chair beside him.

Cormac stretched, slipping his phone into his pocket. “Right back at you. Am I in your way here?”

In your way.Because this was “his” place. And Brooks had made that clear by kicking Cormac out.

“Look, man, I really owe you a huge apology.” Steam rose from his coffee cup, and he watched it dissipate in the soft light.

“Nah, you’re fine. I mean it. I just wanted to make sure you and Audrey were okay. Sorry for getting Maddie involved.”

“You don’t have to apologize for anything.” Brooks leaned back in his chair despite the dew there. “You were right to call her. And Kayla.”

Cormac closed his eyes, leaning his head against the back of the chair. “You know I think of Kayla like my own sister. And my own sisters would have killed me if I did nothing in that situation.” He gave a light chuckle. “Family. The best and worst pain in the ass on the planet, right? No matter how many times I think I’m happy I left, they reel me right back in here, too. And now that my dad is sober and Mom’s happy . . . it’s hard to remember why I wanted to leave.”

“You think you could settle someplace like this? Move back here?” Brooks gave Cormac a skeptical look. “It’s so . . . small, don’t you think?”

“I don’t know.” Cormac sighed and stretched his legs out. “It’s not about the size of the place. It’s about who’s there. Nashville makes sense for me, especially as a musician. God knows I couldn’t get the same amount of work here. But I do sometimes wonder if I really want the life I’ve built there for forever.”

Cormac’s eyes reflected the hint of pink in the sky. “When was the last time you bothered to put up a Christmas tree?”

Brooks frowned at him.A Christmas tree?“I don’t know. In my place, or when I’ve gone to spend Christmas with Kayla? I don’t think I’ve ever put one up in my place.”

“Exactly.” Cormac shrugged. “Me neither. Because what’s the point, right?” He turned his face toward Brooks. “But maybe that is the point. Maybe I miss it.”

“Putting up Christmas trees?” Brooks raised a brow. How in the hell was this even a discussion?

“No, numb nuts. Having areasonto put one up.” Cormac stood, then stretched. “Like I said before, we’re not in our twenties anymore. The hangover was bad, wasn’t it?”

Brooks grimaced. “Worst damn hangover of my life.”

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