Page 134 of Love Thy Brother
Juana winced as Decoy placed a mug of fruit-scented tea in front of her. “Did she? Sorry about that. She’s as rude as Mateo minus his limited social skills.”
“She wasn’t rude. Honest, maybe, but that’s not a bad thing.”
“It’s getting her in trouble at school.”
“Fuck school.”
Juana laughed. “Okay. You can stay away from her, though you might find that hard. She loves Rubi.”
I traced the sunshine yellow thread with my fingertip. “So do I.”
“I know.”
“How?”
Juana waved her hand as if it was nothing. “Mateo used to tell me. Don’t be angry with him. I don’t think he ever imagined I would be sitting here with you, throwing him under the bus.”
I wasn’t angry. Just bemused that Mateo had known how I felt way back when, and Rubi still didn’t know for sureright now. Today. Tonight. I mean, he knew I loved him. He had to. But he didn’t know I loved himenough.
Goddamn. My gaze drifted to him. The ends of his hair had dried in waves, long locks escaping the band at the nape of his neck. I could not fathom how Cam could stand that close to him and not curl a lock around his finger. Or brush them back from Rubi’s beautiful face. It made no fucking sense to me.
None at all.
You’re creeping. Stop it.
I shifted my attention back to Juana. Her swollen belly pressed against the bar as she reached for her tea.
“When are you due?”
“Three weeks.” Juana rubbed her bump. “Do I look ready to pop to you? These sweet boys keep telling me I’m not fat enough.”
I held my hands up, surrendering before I’d even started. “You could have six in there for all I know.”
“On that note.” Juana claimed her tea and eased herself from her barstool. “It was nice to meet you properly. Don’t hurt Rubi or I’ll cut your dick off. Goodnight, Decoy.”
She walked away, hips swaying with a grace I found irresistible in most people, but I couldn’t see it in her. Didn’t know her from Eve, but she spoke like a woman who spent way too much time with my sister.
Also, she wasn’t Rubi.
No one was Rubi.
I turned back to the bar and drained my bottle, shaking my head when Decoy silently asked if I wanted another. “She thinks her kid gets her sass from Mateo?”
Decoy chuckled. “Mateo thinks it’s Embry’s big brain.”
“What do you think?”
“I think Ivy and Lili are gonna rule the world. The others are back.”
The subject shift was abrupt. I rotated as the bar doors opened and Saint and Nash strode in, flanked by the brothers they’d fought with. Nash was bleeding, his eyebrow split, nothing serious.
“Damn fool,” Cam muttered. “You know he got that trying to be everywhere at once.”
Rubi pushed his empty glass away. “Leave him alone, Mr Hypocrite.”
Cam grunted.
Rubi poked his tongue out and kicked a stool clear of the bar, gesturing for Nash to come and sit on it. “Deeks, get the kit?”
