Page 129 of Best Kind of Trouble
“Offer stands. If you want, I’ll get the bottom half of your dress back and wear it into dinner like a bandana.”
She pauses, studying me with a half-smile that looks more genuine, and that’s all the motivation I need to set off for the tree. I hear her calling my name through laughter as I stride up to the oak and start climbing.
I’m halfway up, the limbs straining under my weight, when I hear the front door opening. Alicia appears in the doorway, a look of horror written on her face. She’s wearing a light-blue dress covered in tiny stitched snowflakes. It’s probably high fashion, but the pattern is familiar.
I wave to her from my position in the tree. “Good evening. You look lovely, Mrs. Sterling. My nephew has those same pajamas.”
Briar’s nearly bent over with laughter, and I’ll be damned if I wouldn’t climb half a dozen trees to see her like this.
I glance up and, spotting my quarry, climb a little higher before I reach up and wrench the cloth free. After climbing back down a few feet, I jump the rest of the way, landing cleanly in a pile of leaves.
Alicia watches in unconcealed horror as I wrap the green fabric around my head like one of the kerchiefs I sometimes put on before working out. Honestly, I’d rather not wear it, but I’m committed to the bit.
“So, who’s hungry?” I say, joining Briar on the pathway leading to the door. “I could eat a truckload of chicken nuggets.”
Alicia slams the door in our faces, and a second later, I hear her shouting, “Don? Don!Don!”
“Huh.” I turn to Briar, rocking on my heels. “I don’t think she appreciated my help cleaning the tree. Maybe she liked it the way it was. Itwaskind of festive. People also like a little mystery, you know? Maybe your mom enjoyed answering questions about it.”
Briar’s still laughing, tears pooling in her eyes as she looks at me. “You…look…ridiculous.”
“Thank you.” I grin at her. “It looked better on you, though. Would you like to wear it instead?”
“No,” she says through laughter. “Take it off. They’ll?—”
The door opens again, this time revealing both Briar’s parents, overdressed like last time. Don’s wearing a pair of dress pants and a blue button-down that matches the shade of Alicia’s pajamas dress.
“He’s a madman, Don,” Alicia says, pointing a quivering finger at me. “Look at him. He’s wearing a piece of Briar’s dress like some kind of cannibal.”
“Oh.” I tear it off and extend it toward her. “Did you want to keep it? I should have offered.”
She squeals and takes a step back.
“Okay, finders keepers.” I stuff it into my pocket and turn to Don. “Hey, good to see you again, man.”
He regards me impassively before turning to Briar. “You didn’t say you’d be bringing anyone.”
She stops laughing, which is a sin he’ll hopefully have to atone for in the afterlife. “I didn’t need to tell you. It’s in the contract. I’m allowed to invite a guest, and you’re allowed to do the same. Like you did last time.”
“That was generous of you,” I say, wanting very badly topunch him in the face. “Most guys don’t think to add a guest clause when they contractually obligate their kids to attend family dinners every Friday. But not you, Don, you’re a two-steps-ahead kind of guy.”
“You’d do well to remember that,” he warns, making it clear that while I might have been a source of amusement, I am now a pain in his ass.
“Cool. Well, unless we’re waiting for that woman you paid to torment Briar, we might as well go inside and eat. I doubt any of us will enjoy ourselves. I did bring beer, but the only ‘organic’ kind I had was Bubba’s, so that won’t be much of a bonus.”
“Get out of here, you punk,” Don says, his cheeks turning rosy. “You’re not welcome.” He turns to face Briar. “And you’re an even bigger fool than I thought. Didn’t you do enough to embarrass the family name when you were running around with that boy with all the girlfriends?”
Her face loses color. “Liam is here as my friend. He’s also the best brewer in town, and I’m lucky he agreed to work with me.”
Her father laughs humorlessly, resting his hands on his stomach. “You think I don’t know how people work? I knoweverything. The only reason he’d care this much is if he’s getting something out of it.”
I step between them, my blood boiling. “You heard your wife. And I’m guessing you also proofread the story that got retracted.I’m a madman.”
“Are you threatening me, boy?”
“No, sir. Wouldn’t dream of it. All I’m doing is stating facts. I’m a madman, and I think very highly of your daughter. So naturally, I’d be compelled to do whatever it takes to protect her. From anyone.”
He snorts in derision, looking past me. “I’ll give you onemore chance, Briar. Come in to dinner and send your attack dog home.”
