Chapter 31

LYNN

The day after my dad's funeral seven years ago, Denny packed up his car and drove out of town. He didn't set foot back in Asheville for another four years. Cart and Miller were spitting mad at him, saying abandoning his family at such a difficult time was selfish. Cash was convinced he could make Denny come back if he tried hard enough. It didn't work. Miller eventually stopped caring, and Carter left Asheville again to continue pursuing his political aspirations in DC and Raleigh. Mama and I, on the other hand, were just sad. It was impossible to be angry with Denny because we knew he was doing whatever he needed to in order to deal with the pain of loss. We all do what we have to.

For Miller, it was getting in trouble any way he could find. Cash threw himself into replacing Dad and being the rock for everyone to lean on. Cart focused on making something out of himself and the Brooks name. Mama vowed to make the most out of each day the Lord gave her on this earth. And me? I tried my best to follow in Mama's footsteps. But there was one thing I refused to make the most of and embrace in this life, and that was letting anyone else in close enough that the loss of them could break me apart like it did our family when Dad died.

It broke us all, including our mama. Sure, she tried to hide it, but I knew. My bedroom is right above hers and Dad's, and I slept with a pillow over my head for a year after Dad's death so I wouldn't have to listen to her crying herself to sleep. Mama's acting job might have been impeccable, but even the best actor in the world has to break character at some point.

So, two days after my mama busted Joey and me making out in the den, I'm entirely unprepared for Joey asking out of the blue, "Have you ever had your heart broken?"

First, what guy asks you that when you've only been dating for like two days? And second, we're cuddling on his sofa at his condo right in the middle of watching Field of Dreams. I mean, come on! I don't want to talk about love right now—especially when I've been doing my damn best not to think about any feelings I might be catching for Joey.

But since I can't exactly pretend I didn't hear him or, say, fake an injury, I go with a classic evasive maneuver. "Have you?"

His answer is direct. Of course it is. "I maybe thought so at the time, but looking back, not really. She dumped me when I got traded to the Arrows, and I realized later that I never actually knew her." He shrugs, shifting his arm so his hand cups my belly over my shirt. I secretly love it when he does that. At first, I was a little self-conscious, like any woman I know would be, but after his declaration that bony women do nothing for him, I got over it real quick.

Joey's answer about heartbreak doesn't surprise me all that much, apart from the baffling concept that any woman would dump him. He's always been so upfront with his thoughts, I can tell he's never been burned by putting himself out there. Hell, I have to assume any previous relationship of his has garnered accolades and international awards for its levels of healthy communication.

"What about you?" he asks again.

Hmm. I've not received a single award for vulnerability, and that's probably not changing anytime soon. "Nope." I hurry to change the subject. "Do you think James Earl Jones's character is only pretending not to hear the voices?"

Joey ignores the second part of my response, pausing the movie and staring at me until I can't stand it any longer and have to look up at him. The skin around his eyes is crinkled with amusement. "I knew it. You're a stone-cold heartbreaker, for sure."

"No, I'm not," I scoff. "I've slightly bruised maybe one heart, and it healed itself as soon as the next girl came along."

"I doubt that."

"You don't even know who I'm talking about." Why can't I sit still?

"No, but I know you could break my heart. And I also know it would be worth it."

Who is this guy?

I snort and force a laugh to cover my discomfort. "Please. I've seen the way women look at you." It's true, too. I thought a woman on the sidewalk yesterday was going to concuss herself on a lamppost.

"But have you seen the way I look at you?"

I have seen the way he looks at me, and it's enough to poke holes in that bulletproof vest surrounding my heart.

Joey won't break eye contact, and I feel flames rising from my chest, lighting my skin and organs on fire as they cover me. I've never met anyone as open and unafraid to be vulnerable. Before I know it, the words tumble out, "Aren't you afraid of anything?"

All traces of amusement fade as Joey takes my hand and brings it to his chest. "I'm fucking terrified. But I'm a big believer in giving the important things in life everything I've got."

I realize then that I've been holding my breath. All the air in my lungs releases at once, and I draw in a deep lungful of oxygen. Joey dips his head to give me a light kiss on the lips before turning the movie back on and settling us back the way we were, this time with my hand still tightly clasped in his.

I pretend not to cry when Ray plays catch with his dad at the end, but my red eyes give me away, and Joey hands me a tissue. "I think it took about twenty viewings for me not to cry at the end too." At his words, I decide not to lie and say a rogue eyelash caused my tears.

My phone vibrates when the credits are rolling, and I bring it to my lap to see who's texting. I haven't parted with my phone for a minute in the last couple days, as we've all processed the new information about The Diamond Group and Winston. Everything is so up in the air, we're all waiting for something to happen. I've been unable to find a link between Guy Taylor and any real estate developers, so I've hit a dead end on that. There's nothing more I can do until Mr. Taylor returns from his overseas travel on Tuesday.

Mama played her part like freaking Dame Helen Mirren with a southern drawl, luring Winston out to his porch with the promise of homemade muffins and iced tea. We all almost simultaneously passed out when she shared that Maude E. Christopher is actually Winston's estranged daughter! She supposedly came to town wanting to reconcile, and Winston doesn't even know who she works for. Mama was cool, though, making it all sound like small talk so as not to raise any suspicions.

Denny thinks we should tell Winston his daughter is up to no good, but Mama insists on leaving it alone for the time being. No sense in breaking an old man's heart—if he has one, that is—by suggesting his daughter might have ulterior motives for mending fences. The bottom line is that we need some proof.

But it turns out not to be any of my siblings on my messaging app tonight, in fact. It's Jeremy. And it's just my luck that my phone is positioned in a way that makes it impossible for Joey not to see what he texted.

Jeremy:

Hey, beautiful.

I know the second Joey clocks the text because he lets out a very manly grunt. I chance a glance in his direction to see him scowling at my phone.

"Don't pay any attention to him," I say, but Joey doesn't respond. And knowing it will only make things worse if I try to hide my screen, I decide to take control of this situation by texting back within full view of my new boyfriend.

Me:

What's up, bro?

Yeah, Jeremy still texts me, even though he and Carter are tight again and nobody's balls have been threatened in the last year. Sometimes he reaches out for advice on women—the dude must have no other female friends if he's asking a college student about women in their mid-thirties. What do I know, though? Maybe he prefers women half his age, and I'm the target demographic.

If it's not about women, it's silly things like sharing a funny social media post or seeing if I know why Cart isn't answering his phone. And sometimes it's just to make sure the family is doing well. But the few times he's visited in the last year, he hasn't made any more awkward declarations about "caring," for which I'm thankful.

But, since he's incapable of not flirting, the "Hey, beautiful" greeting isn't unexpected.

Jeremy:

Bro? Ouch.

"Okay!" Joey declares. "You want to tell me who this guy is?"

I throw a hand out. "You met him last summer. Jeremy Rossi. Carter's friend? They used to work for one of the senators I told you about—Grace Hopkins—although she's no longer a senator, so I don't know who Jeremy is working for these days. I just know he's in Raleigh." When I realize I've gone off on a tangent, I add, "He's flirty with every single female on Earth—my mama included. It's just the way he is. Besides, he's almost old enough to be my father."

"Wait, that guy you were meeting the night I ran into you at Blue Bigfoot?" When I nod, the tension in his shoulders relaxes. "Oh. He's not your type at all." His expression is the same one he probably wears when he tastes something rotten, and I can't help my laugh because Joey isn't my usual type either. Yet here I am.

"See. Now, can I get back to finding out what he needs?"

Joey has the grace to look the tiniest bit chagrined as he nods and flips channels, probably looking for sports.

Me:

You always say you want to be part of the Brooks family.

Jeremy:

True.

Jeremy:

Anyway, I need your help convincing Carter and Sunny to come to Raleigh for a visit. He claims he can't leave the brewhouse, but I know that's bullshit.

I imagine it has more to do with Carter spending every minute of his free time banging Sunny than anything else—well, I take that back. Sunny doesn't like leaving her grandfather, Duke, alone for too long. But we can always bring him to Mama's like we've done before.

In fact, that gives me an idea, and I make a mental note to see if I can arrange an introduction between Duke and Winston. They're both cranky SOBs, so they'll likely either kill each other or get on like a house on fire, no pun intended. Maybe Duke can get some more dirt for us. That old man loves a good caper.

I tell Jeremy I'll do my best, and then, behaving entirely on impulse, I add something else.

Me:

Gotta run. Watching TV with my boyfriend.

There. I said it out loud. Well, sort of.

Before he can reply, I shove my phone under a throw pillow and nestle back into the crook of Joey's arm. I'm really getting this whole girlfriend thing down pat.