Page 134 of The Billion Heirs Boxed Set
I don’t offer any explanation to Chance or Austin about where I was, and they don’t ask, which surprises me. After a day of muscle-grinding work—loading hay bales into a loft is hard as fuck—I shower and meet my brothers out on the deck for a well-earned cold one.
I want to go for a ride and clear my head, but a storm’s coming in, the clouds moving fast from the west.
Carly joins us and Austin tugs her onto his lap. She’s drinking diet soda instead of beer.
“Don’t like beer, Carly?” I ask.
She shrugs and settles into Austin’s hold. “It’s okay. I just don’t feel like one.”
“So…do you live here now?”
Sure, I’m being blunt, but that’s me.
“You got a problem with that?” Austin eyes me.
I take a long drink of the cold brew and then I shake my head. “Nope. Sorry. I didn’t mean that the way it sounded. Of course you’re welcome here.”
She smiles. “I know that. Are you okay?”
I draw in a breath. What a fucking loaded question. I take another sip. Then, “Yeah. Fine.”
“Don’t pull that shit,” Austin says, after a swallow. “We haven’t been brothers for long, but I can tell when something’s bothering you.”
“I’m guessing it has something to do with where he spent the night.” From Chance.
“Leave him alone,” Carly says. “It’s none of your business. You both sound like my dad.”
That gets a laugh out of Austin and a chuckle out of Chance.
“I will be moving in,” Carly continues. “Austin and I have discussed it, and though my parents aren’t thrilled, they finally accept that I’m an adult and it’s my decision.”
“I’ll be putting a ring on that finger before long.” Austin takes her hand and rubs his fingers into her palm. “Soon as I get my billions.”
“Billion,” Chance says. “You get a billion. Singular.”
“Only a billion?” I roll my eyes and take another drink of beer. “How will we survive?” I hold up my empty bottle. “Chance, bring out that MacAllan. I need something a little stronger.”
“After dinner,” Chance says.
“No.” I’m in no mood to be told no tonight, especially not by my tank of a little brother. “I want some now.”
“That means something’s wrong. What’s up?” Austin demands. “This isn’t you talking, Miles. Chance is the grump.”
“Hey!” Chance counters.
Austin ignores him and keeps going. “I’m the guy who goes off halfcocked and you’re the brooder. And you’re brooding a hell of a lot more than usual.”
I look at him and glare. Brooding. “How the fuck would you know? You don’t know anything about me.”
Except I am a fucking brooder.
“No biggie.” Chance rises. “I’ll get the scotch. But Louisa’ll have dinner ready in half an hour or so.”
Half an hour? In a half hour I’m planning to be drunk off my ass.
Damn. I thought a day of grinding work would ease the tension out of my bones, but it didn’t. I’m still just as pissed off.
And I still fucking miss her.
