“You don’t get it!” I snapped, shaking his hand off my shoulder so I could pace. “I’m notgoodlike you.”
“Is that what this self-pity shit is about? You think I’m somehow better than you?”
“Don’t play dumb. You know you are! You were always the good twin.”
“Listen, baby brother—"
“Don’t fucking call me that.”
“I’m older, so I have the right.” He grinned at my outrage. “There’s nothing wrong with you, except that you keep messing up your life on purpose. You’re smarter than me, faster than me, and definitely richer. My dick is bigger,” his grin widened, “but you can’t win ‘em all.”
I couldn’t muster the indignation to punch him. My eyes stared open and dazed at him for so long they began to water.
“Don’t cry,baby brother.I’m sure she’ll think your baby dick is plenty big.”
This time, I did punch him, but my heart wasn’t in it.
My ribs flared with a shuddering breath. Somewhere in that hollow, carved out place in my chest, there was a whisper of change. It echoed through me, growing louder as it rang truer and truer.
“You can’t just say that and fix everything.”
“As a bonded man—"
“You’ve been bonded for half a minute.”
“As arecentlybonded man, let me help you avoid the same mistakes that I made.” Eli crossed his arms over his chest, tryingto look serious. The twinkle in his eye gave him away, and a smile broke out as he muttered, “Damn, it’s just so crazy.”
“What’s crazy?”
“That a woman like that wants a redneck like me.”
Not a beast. Not a monster. He was just a man and he thought his least appealing quality was being a country boy.
I stuffed my hand in my pocket, fisting the keys to my brother’s truck.
This was a mistake.
She wasn’t going to stay.
“I’m borrowing your truck.”
I didn’t wait for a response. The sun was rising over the bayou. My time was almost up.
I was going back to ask Tara to stay—even if it meant risking everything.
Chapter 15
Thanks for the Good Time
Tara
Sunlightfinallybrokethroughthe clouds—too bright after a long, dark morning.
I woke to thunder rattling the windows, and for a heartbeat I thought it was the sound of Isaac coming through the bedroom door.
It was too early for visitors. That never stopped him before.
He left when I told him to leave, disappearing into midnight with the roar of his bike. Then, he was back before the sun had time to rise.