Page 21 of Always Mine

“I don’t know how that’s possible. It’s terrible.”

“We can’t all be vocally talented, you know?” Hunter chimes in, sitting beside him. “I put more paper towels in the bathroom by the way. I was going to tell Miles, but he was busy running food.”

“Thank you for your service,” Ember throws in, appearing out of nowhere and sliding him a beer. “This one’s on me.” Then she winks and sashays off, causing all of us to stare after her.

Wait…

My eyes widen in shock, gaze immediately flying to Hunter with his pink-stained cheeks. He refuses to look at me before guzzling down some of his beer. “Oh, God. No,” I groan, head falling forward on the bar top dramatically. Then I look back up just as fast, narrowing my gaze on him. “Please tell me you’re not sleeping with my sister?”

“Well, I— We— And—” He tries and fails to come up with what to say.

Turning to Cooper, I cock a brow, giving him my best what-the-fuck look. “Did you know about this?”

His cheeks flush, giving him away, and I groan again, waving him off before he can answer. If I’m being honest, I really don’t care. Hunter’s a good guy and my sister could do a lot worse. I only worry about the possible fallout. I don’t want to be put in the position of having to choose between them.

“Are you into her?” I ask a moment later.

He reaches up, rubbing the back of his neck before nodding his head. Finally, after the longest minute in the world, he looks at me with so much determination. “I like her a lot. Don’t think I was trying to keep it from you. It happened one night and—”

“Spare me the details.” I cringe, not wanting to know about my sister sleeping with anyone. She’s a nun in my mind, and I’d like to keep it that way.

“We’ve gone out a few times, and yeah, I like her.” He looks at me with hopeful eyes, and I sigh before leaning over and thumping his shoulder with my fist.

“Idiot. You should have told me.” I pause, eyes going to where Em is pouring a row of shots, then glancing at Hunter once more. “Don’t hurt her, though. Then we’ll be having a different conversation.” I try to give him my best don’t-mess-with-me stare, but when he and Cooper burst out laughing I realize how big of a failure that was. “Assholes.”

“What’s so funny?” Ember asks, coming over as their laughter dies off.

“Your brother was trying to defend your honor,” Cooper tells her before tipping back his bottle.

She smirks, nudging me. “Were you scary?”

“Terrifying,” Hunter answers for me. “Had me shaking in my boots.” I grab the menu lying on the bar and smack him on the head. “Ouch,” he groans, rubbing the spot.

I point it at Cooper a second later. “You’re next if you keep it up. You’re supposed to be on my side.” Holding his hands up, he mimes zipping his lips and tosses the invisible key over his shoulder. “I’m done with y’all,” I say, leaving them to their laughter, and heading to the back to help run food.

Well, try to, but I’m stopped several times on the way by people asking me if I’m okay after the ‘Paxton thing.’ There goes my earlier thought of everyone being too drunk to remember. I can’t believe it. Can’t they forget about one little fainting spell? I figured we’d be over and done with this by now. It wasn’t a big deal. I give everyone my best smile of reassurance, and while I’m not one-hundred-percent sure it’s convincing, they didn’t pry much after that.

Good grief though. It’s been three weeks now. There has to be more interesting things to talk about than this. Small town or not, any gossip is gossip, and surely there are more pressing things happening.

I’m so lost in my head that it takes me a moment to register that my name’s being called over the speaker. I smirk, looking at a buzzed Cooper as he stands on the makeshift karaoke stage with Hunter beside him, microphones in their hand.

“Oh no. Are you guys singing? Should I grab my earplugs?” I yell out, causing the whole room to chuckle.

Cooper scoffs. “Firstly, I take offense to that, I’m not that bad. Secondly, get up here becausewe’resinging.” He motions between the three of us, then to the screen where the song “Find Out Who Your Friends Are”is waiting to be played.

I can’t hold back my laughter even if I want to. “You’re kidding?”

“Hell no. Get up here. You’re singing all the Tim parts.”

“Yeah, what he said,” Hunter, not so helpfully, adds.

Waving my hands, I take a step back, dread filling me. “I don’t think so.” No way in hell am I getting up there.

“Ah, don’t be a party pooper. Everyone here wants to hear you sing. Isn’t that right?”

The room suddenly breaks into a fit of cheers and everyone is calling my name. God, why is it so busy in here? I didn’t realize that so many people liked karaoke. This has never, and will never be my kind of thing.

I shoot Cooper a glare, trying to think of all the ways I can make him die a slow and painful death. Then hands are grabbing me, pulling me toward the stage, and I try to fight my sister’s death grip. When the hell did she become the Incredible Hulk?

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