I nod.
She catches herself smiling. Shakes it off.
The woman still despises me.
And I still love it.
I shift back to discussing work. "Ryan paying you?"
"You're a co-owner."
"And?"
"You don't keep track of that?"
I shake my head. I trust Ryan. Why take on extra work when he's got it covered?
"Yeah," she says. "Not much, but enough."
"You have a second job?"
She shakes her head. "I have a cheap place to stay."
"Nearby?"
"You're not invited."
"I wasn't asking."
"Not yet."
I can't help but smile.
Even after all this time, she knows me too fucking well.
Chapter Four
Dean
"What's with the fuck me eyes?" Ryan asks.
I feign ignorance. Ryan can chew me out if he wants, but I'm not going to make it easy for him.
"She's a good kid."
"Are you her dad?"
"You scare her off, I make you hurt."
"You won't hurt me."
"Try me."
I mime pushing my sleeves up my arms. Make fists. "Let's go. I'll snap you like a twig."
"You want pain, say it again." His voice perks to that tone he used when we were kids. It's a challenge, not a threat.
It's tempting. I've always wanted to fight Ryan. Must be some primal thing, needing to prove I can take my older brother. I've always been bigger. Stronger.