Page 64 of Follow Me Down

“I’m not even going to comment.” I shake my head, trying to keep my smile at bay.

“Yeah, cause you know it too.”

He lets out a puff of air when I playfully elbow him in the stomach. He inches in closer, reaching for the Carrot Cake Oreos I couldn’t help but buy. They are hands down my favorite.

“Hands off.” I smack at his hand.

“And here I thought we were tight.” He pouts out his bottom lip and gives me the most pathetic look I’ve ever seen. For a hairy, tattooed man, who smokes, drinks, and curses like it’s his job, Link really is a teddy bear.

“We are. Until you made a play for my Oreos.” I wave my finger at him.

“Don’t touch the woman’s Oreos. Got it.” He nods. “Must be that time of the month.”

“Hasn’t anyone ever told you that is quite possibly one of the worst things you can say to a woman?”

“Bet it’s true though,” he says on a smirk.

He’s not wrong, but still.

“Men,” I grumble, peeling open my Oreo pack before taking one out. I make a show of eating it right in front of Link, moaning around the carrot cakey goodness.

“Now that’s just wrong.” Link steps around me and manages to nab a cookie on his way out of the kitchen.

“Hey,” I holler after him, ready to jump on his back and tackle him when Titus comes strolling into the cabin.

He stops in the doorway, his gaze going to where Link is darting to the far end of the living room, to me, preparing to jump over the couch in order to catch him.

“Um...” He scratches his stubbly jaw. “Do I even want to know what’s going on in here?” he asks, humor in his voice.

“Your best friend is about to lose a testicle for stealing one of my cookies,” I tell him, moving one way when Link tries to go that way, only to move the other way when he switches directions.

“Link, she seems pretty serious, man. You may want to give her that cookie back.”

“Oh, I’ll give it back alright.” He holds it up, taunting me with it. “Like tomorrow morning when I shit it out.” With that, he stuffs it into his mouth.

I instantly double over in laughter, Link following suit. When I finally regain my composure, I look over to see Titus standing in the kitchen chewing, a half-eaten cookie in his hand.

“Not you too!” I exclaim.

“Babe, what do you expect? You bring fucking Oreos into a house with two guys, they’re going to get eaten.” I try not to let myself get too distracted with the fact that he called me babe, though I can’t deny the whoosh of excitement that runs through my chest.

“That’s it. I’m moving out.” I laugh, throwing my arms up as I head toward the hallway.

“Oh no you don’t.” Titus chases after me, catching me with ease.

“Titus!” I squeal when he spins me around and tosses me over his shoulder, smacking my backside.

I’m laughing so hard that I barely catch the sound of a female voice seconds before the screen door snaps closed. “Should I maybe come back later?”

Titus swivels toward the door, allowing me to catch sight of the beautiful brunette standing right inside the cabin door. My heart instantly sinks. That is, until he says her name.

“Ellen.” The smile in Titus’ voice is unmistakable. “What are you doing here?”

“I missed my big brother.” Her gaze goes to my face, which I’m sure is red from the blood rushing to my head as I hang upside down. First my father and now his sister. Damn, we really are two for two. Difference is, he seems happy to see her. “Now why don’t you put that poor girl down and come give me a hug.”

With that, Titus lowers me to my feet, his arms going around his sister moments later.

---