Page 2 of The Stone Family Warrior

Hunter clenched a hand into a fist. “Says the babe slayer who’s never had a serious relationship in his life.”

If Trent was going to punch his brother, that would be the comment that would drive him to it. “I hate that nickname.”

“And I hate it when you talk about Amy,” Hunter retorted, getting up in his face.

Trent yearned to pound his brother, but he knew it was hitting below the belt to taunt his brother about his stupid ex girlfriend. He took a step back. “Fine, whatever.”

Hunter clenched a hand into a fist. “Fine. Whatever.”

Trent didn’t want to have a full out fight, but he did want to press this issue. “And, so what if I’ve never met a woman I’ve wanted to be serious with. That doesn’t make me a babe slayer.”

“Like you’ve ever tried to be serious. You just babe slay.”

The statement, though accurate, still twisted the emotional knife a bit. “Whatever. And displaced anger?” Trent sputtered out a laugh. “Don’t use your fancy psychologist terms on me.”

Hunter put a hand up. “Just … stop, Trent. I hurt over Mom, too. But I actually pray to God about my feelings, instead of just … chanting in some field.”

His confession would have taken the edge off of Trent’s anger, if he wouldn’t have been so pious about it. “Just stop.”

Hunter sighed. “Look, do you think finding that letter and picture of Mom and Dad has been easy on any of us?” He sighed. “And not figuring out dad’s code has just added to everyone’s worry about Banks and the treasure and … us missing both of them.”

Fine, Trent let go of his anger. He thought of how Trey and Ava had hosted a Christmas party for the family last night. They’d had an early party because most of the family was heading out on a Christmas cruise while Trent took his turn to watch the inn. But, the thing that troubled Trent had been the look on his sister, Kensi’s face when she’d given a toast about their mother. Tears had fallen down her cheeks and she’d talked about how much she missed her; how much she wished she could ask her parenting questions. No, it hadn’t been easy on anyone. He hated when his twin was right.

Hunter placed a hand on his shoulder. “Look, I get it. We’re all tired of this rat race trying to figure out what the numbers mean. We’re tired of not finding Banks. We all hate failing, but—”

“We have not failed. The Stone family does not fail.” Trent brushed his brother’s hand off his shoulder. “Except at writing songs for stupid women who don’t even deserve them.”

Hunter narrowed his eyes. “You brought Amy up at the party last night, and I want you to know I didn’t appreciate it.”

Trent turned back, suddenly realizing why Hunter had been in a bad mood all day. “It’s not like they don’t know about Amy dumping you, or cheating …”

“Shut up,” Hunter snarled and moved into his space, again.

Trent held up a hand. “So let me get this straight. You can sing about her, but I can’t talk about her.”

“She was my girlfriend, so yeah, I get to write the love ballads about her.”

“Writing a song about cheating and pain and forgiveness just … sounds dumb, dude.” Trent was growing irritated by Hunter’s constant dwelling. “No one wants that song.”

A smug look crossed Hunter’s face. “It’s about relationships and being vulnerable. And yeah, they do want that song. Because life is messy when you allow yourself to care about people.”

“I don’t like messy.”

“No kidding.”

Trent bit back a mean retort and sucked in a long breath. “Let’s put aside the fact Amy cheated. Let’s talk about how she used to just drone on and on and on about … nothing.”

“When you find a woman you care about, you want to listen to her. You don’t care what she’s saying. She is important to you. Do you get that?”

Trent processed his words. “I guess I don’t.”

“Just because Amy didn’t getyourfart humor doesn’t mean what she had to say wasn’t worth anything.”

It was true. Amy hadn’t cared for Trent, and he’d tried. At least for how much he managed to try. “You’re right. Amy never appreciated me.”

“So there it is,” Hunter scoffed. “This is about you. And how you feel. Can you be a bigger narcissist?”

Trent hated seeing the truth in Hunter’s words. “Look dude, fine. Fine. I didn’t care about Amy, but I actually do care about you.” He reached out and pushed Hunter’s shoulder. “And, I hated the way Amy treated you. And I hated the fact she cheated on you.” He shook his head. “Yet you seem not to care. You sit here and write songs about her.”

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