Page 33 of Slash & Burn

“Exactly,” my dad agreed, his eyes slipping past us to the TV show that was playing on mute. “You’ve given them more press than they’ve had in years. No way they can bear to lose you now. You’re the star of the show.”

I cringed, because I was far from the star and everyone knew it. Grady was the only reason this program was going so well, and he was also the only reason this photo even existed. Him and his stupid song.

Dropping the clipping on the table, I took the brownies back from my mother and went into the kitchen. “I’m just doing my job,” I grumbled as I passed them, even though that photo was well outside what I considered part of my normal job description.

I took a series of deep breaths as I set the brownies on the counter. The smell of my mother’s pot roast filled my lungs and I tried to remember that it was just one summer. I could go back to my quiet little life once all this was over. It just couldn’t be over fast enough.

“Was that Grady’s car I saw pulling out last night?”

I closed my eyes, sighing at the sound of my brother’s voice. His cop voice.

“Didn’t you run the plates?”

He set his glass on the counter beside me, reaching into the fridge for another beer. “If I’d had a better view, I would have. Was it him?”

Glancing over my shoulder, I smirked. “I don’t remember hiring private security. And I wouldn’t want to abuse a county resource. So, maybe stay out of my business.” Based on Joey’s scowl, Grady’s unease from the other night was well founded.

“You are my business. And he knows it.”

I spun to face him, already keyed up about the article in the paper. “We’re working together all summer, Joe. Get over it.”

“Pretty sure you weren’t reading to kids in your living room at ten o’clock last night.”

“It wasn’t that late.” I rolled my eyes.

“Why was he there?”

There was no way I was going to tell Joey about what was going on with Grady. If he didn’t already know, it wasn’t my place to fill him in. It would probably be helpful for Grady to confide in his friends, but that wasn’t for me to decide.

“The shoot went late and we needed to go over some logistics for this weekend’s event, so we did it over dinner. Do you want to know what I cooked, or is that enough detail for your report?” I loved my brother, and knew he just wanted to protect me, but this was crossing a line.

He eyed me for a second, his mouth popping open to respond when LeAnn walked in. She took one look at us and shook her head. “Come on, big guy, let’s go help your mother. She’s trying to get something down from the attic and I’m fairly certain it’s your baby clothes.”

Joey held my gaze for a second longer before he turned to his wife and dropped a kiss on her head. “No way those things haven’t been shredded by moths by now.”

“Well, she’s convinced there are some gems we’ll want. Something about a sailor outfit.” LeAnn laughed, shooting me a wink as she wrapped an arm around his waist and tugged him through the door.

I sagged back against the counter, listening to the muffled sounds of voices and furniture scraping the wide wood floorboards above me. This farmhouse was old and creaky and could probably use some upgraded insulation. But it was beautiful and full of charm. It was as much a character in my growing up as any member of my family, and looking around a sense of peace and safety washed over me. I’d meant it when I told Grady I didn’t want to live anyplace else. And I guess I was more than a little surprised to hear him say the same thing.

When Grady had walked in that first day I’d expected a torturous summer of endless reminders of how great he was and how untouchable. And yeah, he was still great, but he wasn’t the persona I’d built him up to be. Seeing him struggle broke my heart, but it also set me free. Free from seeing him through the eyes of a teenager. Grady was more real to me than he’d ever been, and now the way I felt about him wasn’t flimsy, like that paper clipping in the other room. It was solid, rooted in a hell of a lot more than whatever fairytales I’d concocted as a kid.

“You gonna hide in here till dinner?” my dad asked, poking his head around the corner. “I put the clipping away, for now.” He chuckled under his breath. “But as soon as your mom finds it, you know it’s going in a frame on the wall.”

Ugh. I dropped my head, resigned to the fact that that was exactly what she was going to do. “I’m coming.” I pushed off the counter and grabbed a seltzer from the fridge.

“No wine?”

“I have to run into town after dinner to pick up some books I forgot,” I lied. Even before Joey’s interrogation I knew my departure wouldn’t go unnoticed, so I’d cooked up my story on the walk over. My bathing suit and towel were already in my car, as if I was some sort of bank robber needing to make a hasty getaway. With a brother like Joey, I did what I had to.

“Gotcha. You’ll miss the end of the game.”

“I’m heartbroken.”

“Hey, I thought you were all into sports now.” He smirked over his shoulder as we went back to the living room. “That jersey looked good on you.”

“Ugh. Dad,” I grumbled, but I laughed a little too.

CHAPTER 15

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