Page 78 of This Moment

“Good point,” Macy stated. “Will Cadie be there?”

“Yes, why wouldn’t she?”

“I was just wondering, Kian. No need to bite my head off. I told you, if you and Opal trust her,then so do I.”

“Good, because we both do.”

“I should hope. She’s Opal’s second in command and you’re sleeping with her.”

“Macy,” I warned.

“I’m just saying…I find it odd you’re living with her.”

My hand pushed through my hair. “How do you even know that?”

“Betty Lou.”

“What?”

“She called to let me know that you moved into the cabin with, and I quote, ‘The new mysterious woman in town.’.”

“When did you and Betty Lou become phone buddies?”

“We’re not. She was worried and wanted to call me.”

I stood and started to pace. “Fucking hell. Can people just not mind their own fucking business. It’s not like I met Cadie last week. This is the one thing I didn’t miss about Moose Village. Let me just set you—and Betty Lou—straight. I know Cadie. I know her past and heart, her intentions, and yes, I know her body very well.”

“Gross, Kian! I did not need that visual.”

“Then stay the fuck out of my business, Macy. I don’t meddle in yours, so don’t meddle in mine.”

Unlike my mom, I could hang up on my sister. Hitting the End button, I tossed my phone onto the table and headed to the bedroom. I needed to change and go run for a bit to clear my head.

After changing, I grabbed my phone and headphones and headed to the door. I opened it and let out a girlish scream. My long-lost baby brother stood before me, a huge smile on his face.

“Jesus, Mark, you scared the living fuck out of me.”

“Great seeing you too, Kian.”

Laughing, I pulled him into a hug and held him a bit longer than normal. When we stepped back from one another, he smiled. Then started for inside the cabin. He slapped the side of my arm and walked in.

“Sorry about showing up unannounced, big brother. I was about to knock when you opened the door.”

I watched as he walked in, dropped his bag, and headed straight to the refrigerator. “Got anything to eat? I’m starving.”

Staring at him, I blinked a few times. He was acting like I had just seen him last week instead of a few years ago. “Um,” I said, “why don’t you make yourself at home.”

He glanced over his shoulder. “Your casa is mi casa, right?”

“This isn’t my casa. I mean, yes, I own the cabin, but Cadie rents it out.”

That caused him to pause. “Cadie?”

“My girlfriend.”

Confused, he shut the door and folded his arms over his chest. “Wait. Your girlfriend lives here, but you’re what…just here?”

“She lives here, yes, and I’m staying with her. I was staying at the guest house, but when she moved in here…”