Page 84 of Winter's End

He reluctantly turned to us. “I’m in.”

What an impassioned, heart-wrenching speech.

I couldn’t take my eyes off of Winter’s relieved smile. Of course, we were all in. We had fallen for her and gained a band of brothers—and, in my case, a boyfriend—in return. There was no turning away from the life we were building, one small plan at a time.

The rest of the afternoon was reminiscent of lazy summer afternoons as a teenager, with few cares to speak of. More contests, more bets. Logan even surprised us all with a catered picnic basket of some of the tastiest cheeses I had ever eaten. He warmed up as the day progressed; he almost seemed like he was enjoying himself.

In late afternoon, it was time to leave. Travis, Cam, and Winter all had Bourbon & Blues shifts to get to, and it was family dinner at the Johnsons’ tonight.

“Loggie-bear,” Shane said seriously before we took to the water one last time. “Take off your shirt, man.”

“Fuck off, Quicksilver.” Logan retorted, making no move to do so. “It’s none of your business.”

“Okay, but hear me out.” Shane’s voice was actually kind as he continued his train of thought. “We’re in this, right?A fucked-up family, yeah? We’re going to get a house with a pool one day, and swim and play and have naked fucking orgies every Sunday?”

His face morphed into a salacious grin, and he winked at me before turning back to Logan. His tone softened and his eyes held an earnest sincerity.

“If we’re brothers, don’t be afraid to show us your shit. We all have shit. I-I’m on antidepressants and can’t go a day without them. That’s my shit. Oh yeah, and my father’s a lying, cheating bastard.”

Birds chirped in the background, but no other sound was heard as Shane’s announcement filled the air between us. It was news to me; it didn’t change how I felt about him, but it seemed like a significant secret he’d held tight to his chest.

Travis spoke up beside me. “I’m going to have to cut my little brother out of my life,” he declared sadly. “He’s damaged, but he’s toxic, and I can’t throw my life away for him anymore. That’s my shit.”

Wow. Heavy. I hadn’t known that either.

“I’m the long-lost brother to mobsters, and if they find out, I’ll have to go into hiding or take on the family business.” Cam’s words were dark and bitter. “That’s my shit.”

My turn for a confession.

“I don’t know who I am,” I admitted, for probably the first time. “My whole life has been living for others, and I don’t have a sweet fucking clue who I am without that expectation. But I know I’d like to figure it out with you guys along for the ride.”

Logan stared at us. His mask conveying nothing, he took us all in for what we were. Broken men with baggage in spades, but with hope for something beyond our shit.

Winter came up beside him and gripped his hand in solidarity, offering silent support.

Finally, he nodded his head in some sort of acknowledgment before wrenching the soaked t-shirt over his head. He turned around, exposing a gnarled webbing of red, battered flesh. The imprints of belt buckles were actually visible in the mottled, raised skin. I couldn’t imagine the agony he’d gone through to survive the beatings that had caused them.

Winter stroked the scars with gentle hands and said nothing. Clearly, she had seen them before.

“Shit,” Travis muttered. Cam was his usually soundless self, but he clenched his fists.

Shane placed his hands on Logan’s shoulders and turned him back around.

“We’re going to bury that fucker,” he swore, a true promise of retribution.

Cam came up to stand in front of him too. “Don’t hide them anymore,” he commanded with the true authority of a Carlos son. “He doesn’t deserve that power over you. Only little men beat their children. Show him what a pathetic little man he is.”

Logan was uncharacteristically speechless; he swallowed hard at Cam’s words, but he didn’t move to put the shirt back on.

“Last contest.” Shane’s declaration cut through the somber air that had settled over us. “Who has the best jackknife? Annnnnnnnnd go!”

He and Travis raced up the cliff, with Cam following close behind.

“Come on,” I wiggled my eyebrows at Logan. “Let’s see if we can cut that cocky fucker down to size.”

I didn’t wait for his response, but a snort sounded behind me. As I raced up the rocks to make a name for myself, I had a new bet in mind …

One I was going to win.

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