Page 6 of Don't Leave Me Behind
“Yeah.” I squeeze the back of my neck. “I’m good.”
“Good.”
He heads down the small deck, snatching up the reins where his palomino gelding, Whiskey, is ground-tied. With a grace I envy, he swings into the saddle. At thirty-one, most days I feel like a grandpa moving through my various aches and pains. Brooks is thirty-five, and after working every day of his adult life on the ranch, he moves like a well-oiled machine. Taking one last look at his phone, he smirks at me and rides off toward the main house.
By the time I make it back up the stairs, Leni’s sitting on the bed, my phone in her hands, squinting down at it with a Brooks-worthy scowl. Notifications are pinging nonstop, which can only mean the group chat is going off.
“Is he gone?” She gets out of bed, stretching her hands over her head. My shirt is riding up higher on her thighs.
“Did you expect him to stay and chat?” I drop my head back, looking at the ceiling so I don't stare as the shirt rides up over her hips. She snorts. We both know Brooks isn’t the type to stick around for small talk. Another notification pings on my phone, Leni’s nose wrinkling with annoyance.
“Take it before I kill it.” She tosses the phone at me and disappears down the stairs, the globes of her ass peeking out from under the hem of my t-shirt.
She’s always been a knockout, but I never would have guessed she could get more attractive. Yet here we are, my dick twitching in my pants while I think about my best friend’s little sister. I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to erase the image of Leniin my t-shirt, but trembling hands and tear-filled eyes flash in my head. My gut churns at the memory, a timely reminder of why Leni Kane and I canneverhappen.
When I glance down at my phone, the guys’ group chat is still blowing up. These assholes are supposed to have real jobs, the kind that shouldn’t leave time for gossiping like a bunch of old hens.
Kane Bros Group Chat
Merc D
He’s alive!
E-Man
I told you he was fine
Tobes
Yea bro we told you to chill out
Addy
You need a woman. Leave the rest of us alone dude.
To no one’s surprise, Mercer ignores everyone else in favor of interrogating Brooks.
Merc D
How’d he look Brooky?
Brooky
I told you asshats not to call me that anymore.
Addy
Yea that’s not going anywhere
Tobes
Absolutely not
E-Man
Agreed. It’s here to stay man. Unless Leni ever comes home and gives you a new nickname.
Merc D
