Page 22 of If You Were Mine
At least I hoped I did.
Hudson tilted his head as he studied me. “You might have the skills, but I still want to know why.”
“There’s no reason. It’s just what I’m doing right now.” Lies. Lies. Lies.
“Well, doing something is good,” Weston said as he met Hudson’s gaze.
I ignored them both, gritting my teeth “Please don’t send Isabella over here. I don’t need a nanny.”
“I’m pretty sure my Bella would hate even hearing that phrase.”
“Well, I don’t need her to take care of me. And technically, she’s my younger sister.” My shoulders sagged as I let out a breath.
“So?”
I shrugged. “She has the older sibling mentality. You’re going to have to deal with it, middle child.”
“Our family tree confuses me,” Hudson said with a sigh. “I didn’t used to be a middle child. Not really. Why aren’t you staying at your house? I keep up with it for a reason.”
“I have things to do here.”
I didn’t elaborate, and when I didn’t lean into their conversation, they finally let me be. But not without a stern look, a glare, and a promise they would be back with tools and their sweat.
I didn’t want their help. I just needed to get this done and out of my hair.
And I needed to fix what I had already broken.
With a sigh, I closed up the house and got into my truck.
I needed to fix the driveway, not only clear it, but repave some of it, but for that I would have to hire someone. While I knew how to fix the house, I had no idea what to do with that part. The trees needed to be trimmed, and there were probably a dozen other things that needed to be done with the land.
I knew I was in over my head, but it was better to deal with this than go back to one of my clubs and deal with the stares. Of course, as I drove through downtown and parked in front of Harper’s bakery, the stares followed me there too.
I didn’t look that much different. Yes, my beard was longer, so I could try to cover my scar, and they couldn’t see the scars on my side. And as long as I practiced, I didn’t limp.
They couldn’t see the evidence of me surviving a plane crash.
But they also saw the lack. I did.
Joshua had died. And I had survived. Only I had no idea what to do with that.
With a sigh, I got out of my truck gingerly and made my way into the bakery. I did not understand why she had named the place Rising Cage, but it had made her laugh, and I had shaken my head when she signed the lease with Aston.
I had been so damn proud of her for going for her dreams. Not everybody at her age or position would have even thought to get where she was. The place was bustling. She was damn good at her job, and Joshua had always been so proud of her.
I was proud of her too.
She had grown into this person that surprised me every day. And I had ignored her for too long. I hadn’t truly known her when she had been younger. She had always been in the periphery when I visited. It wasn’t like I had grown up in Cage Lake. So it wasn’t until she was out of high school and living with Joshua that I had fully gotten to know her.
Maybe that was why every time I saw her, I had to remind myself that she was Joshua’s kid sister.
And not a full-fledged adult in her early twenties with a career, an apartment, and a dog she loved.
Sometimes I felt like I was failing in that though.
“Dorian, so good to see you.” I looked up at the older woman behind the counter and frowned.
“Melody, right?”
