Page 16 of Between the Lines

Rolling my eyes, I follow my sister through the screened-in porch. The sun shines across the collected sea glass and driftwood lining the little shelves, and Nan’s copper wind chime sounds as we walk into the house.

“Sit down,” Penny instructs, kicking out a chair at the kitchen table. As I do, the aroma of strong black coffee hits me—only my sister would still have a fresh pot brewing at four in the afternoon.

Daisy happily swings around with her as she pours me a cup. She makes everything look effortless. A spotless house and her own business, and to top it off, Daisy never cries when she’s with her aunt.

Penny hands me a steaming pink mug, full to the brim.

“Where are the boys?” I ask, noticing that the house is abnormally quiet.

“Jesse and Danny took Tank with them to pick up some tequila.” Penny smiles at me. “Can’t have a family dinner without margaritas,” she adds with a wink.

Dread pools in my stomach.

“Of course,” I say, sipping my coffee.

I kind of pushed it from my head all day long, kept myself busy with laundry and picking up Daisy’s toys. But now my entire family is going to be under one roof for dinner, and I’ve never, not once, had a good poker face. They’re going to know something is wrong.

“You sure you’re okay?” Penny eyes me up and down.

“I haven’t slept much, Daisy’s been extra fussy. I think another tooth is about to break through.”

Penny tickles Daisy, who looks just fine. “Well why don’t you go lay down, take a nap in the hammock out back until everyone gets here—it’s shaded this time of day.”

My sister nearly shoves me from the chair.

I laugh. “I just got here!”

“And I’ve got Daisy. When’s the last time you napped? Just go.” She shoos me out the door into the yard.

The last time I napped was yesterday in Caden’s office. And look how that ended.

But with large palm fronds draped over the sandy grass, and a luxurious hammock swinging in the corner, Penny’s backyard calls to me like an oasis. I’d be stupid to say no to some peace and quiet.

I tuck my hair behind my ears and place my phone on the side table.

Then I lie down, swaying gently. If I listen close enough, I can hear the ocean waves.

I haven’t been able to fall asleep without thinking about the damn roof for days now, but my eyelids give in, and I allow myself just a moment to rest . . .

Only to be woken up way too soon by slobbery kisses and whiskers tickling my chin. “Tank, your breath smells like hot garbage.” My eyes flutter open, and I’m face-to-face with a gray-and-white dog, a line of drool running down his jowls.

“I missed you, pup.” I sit up, cradling Tank’s big block head between my hands. He wags his tail so hard that his hips shimmy.

“What time is it?” I whisper to myself, patting my empty pockets, not sure where I even left my phone.

“Stealing my dog again, kid?” Jesse comes stalking out of the back door, tall and tan under all those tattoos, smirking at me.

“He’s my baby, I just let him live with you.” I narrow my eyes at my sister’s boyfriend, who is like my second big brother.

“When you going to get your girl her own dog?” Jesse squats down to pet Tank as I stand from the hammock.

“When my life isn’t falling apart,” I murmur, then look away when Jesse peers up, frowning at me.

Shit, I shouldn’t have said that—especially not to him. If he even gets the hint of something, Penny will know in minutes. Those two are connected by a million invisible strings.

“What’s going on?” His shoulders tense as he asks.

“Oh nothing, just a crazy workweek.” I brush his curiosity off with a shrug and dust the dog hair off my jean shorts. “And of course, dealing with the fact that Daisy is now walking, and nothing is safe anymore.” I laugh but Jesse barely cracks a smile. “Plus, we don’t need a dog. Daisy’s got Hamburger,” I add, trying to ease the tension.