Page 65 of Love is a Game

Brady’s eyes are so wide, I can see the tiny capillaries in the whites.

“Hey, Dad, what’d you need?” Finn cuts in, impatient.

Brady lifts a tray like he just remembered what he’s doing. “Uh—take this in, rest it in the oven, yeah?” His eyes flick back to me, still in shock. “Oh, and Finn, grab more oil while you’re at it.”

“Got it.” Finn snags the tray one-handed. “By the way, any music requests? I’m hitting up Gramps to play—” He scans the phone glued in his other hand. “The Violent Femmes, heard of them?”

Brady recoils like he’s been sucker punchedagain, then quickly nudges my arm, a silent bid toshut up.

“Hmm, maybe rings a bell.” He feigns nonchalance.

Finn disappears inside, and Brady slaps his palm to his forehead.

“Geezus. ThankgodDad’s finally educating these kids on music. Finn always thinks he’s found someone obscure, then he pulls outthat.” He snorts. “Dad’s gonna lose it. I think he has every album they ever made.”

I laugh, finally relaxing now that we’ve moved on.

Nope.

“Have you told Mason?” Brady’s back grilling me with more intensity than the steaks.

I blink. “Told Mason what? There’s nothing to tell! And you can’t say anything.”

He tilts his head. “We always suspected there was more between you and Pen than you let on,” he muses. “But ababytogether—”

“Brady, swear to me you’ll keep this to yourself, okay? It’s all conjecture right now. We haven’t nailed anything down.”

Brady smirks. “Sounds like you’ve been nailing something down, Tuck. You sly prick. Fuck,wait till Mason finds out—”

“Brady, I’m serious! Youcannotsay anything.”

Brady’s hand lands on my shoulder, his grip firm. “Tell you what. How about Idon’tsay anything—”

“Exactly.”

“And you actually spill on what thehellis going on between you two? Because Pen’s going through alot, and you…” His grip tightens. “Well, you don’t have a perfect track record when it comes to a woman’s feelings. I need details, Tuck.”

I exhale, about to argue. Because fuck me, as if Brady has a right to talk considering his dire track record with women.

Except I can’t, because as soon as I glance up, I get an eyeful of Pen’s sexy hips as she heads toward us.

“Fine!” I instantly agree to Brady’s terms. “I’ll tell you everything—if you keep your damn mouth shut right now. Deal?”

Brady takes his sweet time considering it, stretching the silence as Pen steps closer, a curious smile planted on her face.

“Everything?” he bargains. “Truth, whole truth, nothing but?”

“Yeah, yeah, everything—”

Thunk.

A gallon of cooking oil lands hard on the BBQ rack. Then, Pen slowly lifts a beer to her lips, her gaze flicking between us as she savors a sip.

She angles her head. “Wanna tell me what you’re talking about, boys?”

Chapter 20

Penelope

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