Page 69 of Until It Was Real

I glare at my brothers. “You’re all assholes.” I turn to Dakota. “You’re the bird whisperer. Can you help me?”

She raises her palms. “I don’t want to cheat. Bets have been placed.”

“You didn’t place one, so what does it matter?”

Her eyes spark with challenge. “How about this? If you manage to keep Captain Cluck on your shoulder all day, I’ll go out on another date with you.”

Kai rubs his hands together. “This is going to be fun. Jaxon, research how to bribe a chicken.”

Jaxon digs his phone out and I snarl at him. “What are you doing?”

He pushes his glasses up his nose. “I believe you would term this ‘having fun’.”

“Children,” Mom begins but Stuart cuts her off.

“Let them have their fun. They’re not hurting anyone.”

Mom sighs – the signal she’s giving in – and Stuart kisses her hair.

I mock glare at him. “And here I defended you when my asshole brothers wanted to prank you to force you to leave Mom.”

“They did prank me. Multiple times.”

“Does anyone have any snacks?” Jaxon asks.

Dakota opens her bag and digs around. “I have peanut butter crackers.”

I shackle her wrist to stop her. “Do you not want to go out on another date with me?”

She looks up at me from beneath her lashes. “Maybe I think you should earn it.”

I straighten my shoulders. “I’ll earn it.” I try petting the chicken. “Good little Captain Cluck.”

Apparently, chickens don’t enjoy being petted because he clucks and flaps his wings. I turn my head before I end up with a black eye from a chicken.

“Here you go, Captain Cluck.” Dakota offers him a bit of cracker and he eats from her hand. She continues to feed him until the cracker is gone.

“Do all animals love you?”

“Not dead snakes.” She shivers.

Damn. I didn’t mean to bring up the loan shark who’s bothering her. If I had more than a first name, I’d pay off those debts. To hell with what Dakota wants. I won’t allow her to be in danger.

“Here, Captain Cluck. Here. Here,” Miles calls. If a chicken could snub its nose, I’d say that was Captain Cluck’s response.

“I’ve got a better idea.” Zane tiptoes behind me. I try to spin around – I know better than to let a brother sneak up behind me – but Kai grasps my hips to stop me.

“BOO!” Zane shouts.

Captain Cluck clucks and flaps his wings. His claws dig into my shoulder as he jumps off.

“You cheated,” I grumble at Zane.

“Someone’s not getting another date with Dakota,” Miles sings.

“Oh no, you’re bleeding.” Dakota pulls the neckline of my t-shirt to the side to reveal two lines of blood.

“There’s a first aid kit near the goat enclosure.” Paisley points to it. “And don’t ask me how I know.”

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