Page 46 of Chains
Chapter Eleven
Two weeks later
Chains cursed underhis breath and ignored the ringing phone as he tried to figure out why the code on his client’s website wasn’t working. Pushing back from the desk, he stared at the screen as if the answer would jump out at him. His eyes were dry and achy, and he rubbed them with the heel of his hand.
The phone rang again and again andagain.
“What the fuck,” he muttered, frowning at the cell. He picked it up and glanced at the number on the screen. With pursed lips, he slowly brought it to his ear.
“I’m in the middle of something.” Irritation laced Chains’s voice.
“Sorry, but I had to talk to you,” Bret replied.
For a nanosecond his chest tightened. “Is Mom okay?”
“Yeah, everyone’s fine.”
“What is it then? I’m trying to finish up something for a client, so I don’t have a lot of time.”
“Okay. We haven’t spoken since the brunch, right?”
Chains leaned forward and typed on the keyboard. “Uh-huh.”
“I don’t even know why the hell we were mad.” Bret let out a dry chuckle.
“’Cause that’s the way we roll—we’re always pissed at each other.” He shook his head and closed the laptop. “Cut the bullshit. Why did you call?”
“Autumn told me that she knew you from the clinic she owns.”
“So?”
“Nothing. I just picked up that you two seemed comfortable with each other.”
Chains stiffened against the chair. “What the fuck does that mean? I brought my dog in because he was sicker than hell. She fixed him up. End of fuckin’ story.”
“Hang on there… I’m not saying anything bad about it, so don’t get so defensive,” Bret said.
“You got five seconds to tell me why the hell you’re calling before I hang up. I don’t have time for this bullshit.” Chains massaged the back of his neck with his free hand.
“I’ve changed my mind,” Bret said in a low voice.
“About what?”
“Getting married. I’m not ready to settle down just yet.” A long sigh came through the phone.
Chains jerked his head back. “What the hell? You just figured that outnow?” He laughed dryly.
“I’ve been feeling it for a while, but Mom was so happy and she loved planning everything that I just didn’t know how…” his voice trailed off.
“Why the fuck are you telling me this? I’d think you should be talking to your fiancée about it, not me.” Chains stretched his legs out in front of him, and Thor raised his head and looked up.
“Yeah, so that’s the thing. I’m not real good at doing this type of stuff. Chicks get all teary-eyed before breaking down in sobs and causing a real scene. I’d prefer to bypass that.”
“I’m sure you would, but you need to tell her.” Anger shot up Chains’s spine; he was getting more pissed as the minutes ticked by. He didn’t want to be dragged into his brother’s drama.
“I want you to tell Autumn for me.”
Chains jumped to his feet. “Are you fuckin’ serious? Why the hell would I dothat? For once in your pathetic life, be a man and take responsibility. I’m not getting involved in this.”
