Page 6 of Stay for Me
“Wait,youmade the meme?”
She grins. “It doesn’t matter who made the meme, the point is that you’re not staying here.”
I should’ve known it was her repaying me for putting a rubber snake in her bed or when I convinced her a bear ate Declan. That was a fun one.
It was also when I realized that acting might just be something I was good at.
Right now, all I want is a normal house to sleep in. So, I play nice. “You’re seriously going to turn me, your favorite brother-in-law, out?”
Not like I’m really homeless, I just don’t want to stay in that tiny house.
Sydney doesn’t look apologetic. “I really am, but for the record, you’re not my favorite, Sean is.”
My mouth drops at that. “Sean? Why the hell is he everyone’s favorite?”
“He’s the nice one.”
Okay, that’s true, but who cares about that? Nice is overrated. “I’m the attractive one,” I counter.
“True.” Sydney looks back at her husband and shrugs. “But it doesn’t change the fact that your ass isn’t staying here.”
Declan shakes his head. “Wait. You think he’s the attractive one? What the hell does that make me?”
Sydney’s fingers slide against his face. “The perfect one.”
Well, this is a bust and making me nauseated. “It’s not a great idea to start a marriage off on lies,” I shout as I stalk off to the car.
“And this is another reason you’re not staying here,” Syd yells back.
“Some welcome home I get!” I say.
“Welcome home, idiot!” Declan calls back.
If I didn’t have a box in my arms, he’d get a fist to the face.
I’m clearly going to have to stay in that damn thing or with Connor. The tiny house is a more appealing option. I love my brother, and he’s great and all, but we’ve always been the ones who bicker. It doesn’t matter how old we get, when we are around each other, my inner ten-year-old comes out. God only knows what the hell living together would be like.
Also, I love my nieces, but I’m not ready to have that twenty-four seven. Hadley is a handful—a loving, beautiful, adorable handful who never stops talking. I need to study my lines and prepare for my movie that begins shooting as soon as I get back.
“Come for dinner tomorrow, Jacob,” Syd says as she wraps her arms around the jackass she married.
“Oh, I will. If I have to sleep in that damn thing, you’re all feeding me!”
She laughs while Declan shakes his head. They might think I’m kidding, but I’m not. I’ve lived in Hollywood for the last nine years without having to cook. I am a pro at takeout and delivery, but this is Sugarloaf, and there’s none of that here.
I’m not sure how I’m going to survive without help. Hopefully, Mrs. Maxwell is still on the welcoming committee and will bring over a casserole or some shit. I make a mental note to stop by and visit with as many neighbors as I can.
Mom was always part of that crew. If someone came by, she fed them. If that’s still part of the town’s MO, I’m all for it.
I get the box back into the car and stand with the door open, leaning against the frame. “I really expected more from you, Syd. You could’ve offered the barn at least!”
“Where would I sneak off to have hot, crazy sex with your brother if I did that?”
I gag. “God that mental picture is now burned in my brain.”
“You’re welcome!”
I get in the car before anyone can say anything else. Now, I’ll have nightmares of them as well as what Sean and Devney will be like after they return from their honeymoon. I take the scenic route as I make the drive back to the Arrowood farm.
