“First off, I’m nae snitch,” I say.
The three of us head toward the floor to ceiling windows. Bright lights are off in the distance of the ocean, a yacht party.
I divvy up the drinks, saying, “I dinna believe the three of us will ever stop bickering, but I’ll tell yebawbagssomething. We’llfeckin’die for each other, aye?”
“Aye!”
We clap each other’s backs, drinking a couple of rounds. Firth heads over, and Knox too. By the look on my older cousin’s face, I see he’s still holding onto auld grudges. I gesture to the glass of water in Firth’s hand. He chugs the water, then hocks the wedge of lemon onto an empty table. The amber liquid swishes into his glass as I pour him a generous amount. I eye him while filling up his water glass. It takes thenuggeta good five or six shots worth before he mutters, “That’ll do.”
This he tosses back even faster than the water.
I pat his shoulder. “Firth, ye still hate me, co-ogha—cousin?”
My cousin bites his lip. His eyes narrow just so as if mentally calculating some bloody string of numbers. After a few beats, he says, “Aye.”
I cup the back of his neck, look him deid in the eye. “Ifeckin’apologize about the midges. Good now?”
“We’re good now.” He clasps my arm then pulls me into a hug. “Ye need to be warmer and fuzzier, Leith. Like ye are with Mia and Chevelle.”
“Ye a female?” I chuckle.
“Och,” he mutters.
“Whatever thefeckye did to him,” Knox juts his chin to Firth, “gimme the same treatment, then pour me some of that.”
Rolling my eyes, I gesture to his water glass. Knox sets his full glass at the perfectly set table. He then walks over to his brother and takes the empty one from Firth’s hand. Laughing, I fill it with about three shots worth of whiskey.
Knox grabs my face, pecking my cheek. “Did I ever tell ye, I love ye?”
I’m pushing him away when Mam enters the room. Da’s wheeling Erika, who isn’t wearing a weefeckin’t-shirt for the first time in her life, but a vast floral dress that might belong to Mam. I look around. Chevelle’s chatting with Justice, Brody’s next to them.When did he walk away?
Conquest myarse. Had he not scented pussy, he’d be over here with us guzzling down this expensive whiskey. Or priming himself for his next victim in the main bar area. Aye, Justice’s a conquest in that he’s neverfeckedher. But I’d say, the only person who’ll be left defeated between the two of them is Brody—and his guarded heart.
I’m heading over to my parents and Erika when Chevelle makes a beeline for them too. I intercept her. “Ye’re not gonna—”
“Hey!” Chevelle’s hip bounces against mine. I wrap my arms around her, looking her deid in the eye. She adds, “Whatever, Leith, I don’t appreciate your critical tone.”
“I haven’t even spoken, hen.” With my mouth pressed to her ear, I reach around to grip herarse. I’m the type of lad who needs to hold onto something during our arguments, and her booty will do just fine. “So,witis it, girl? Are we all good here?”
Chevelle looks up at me, tiny fists against my chest. “No, you and I aren’t all good because you’re being dramatic. For your information, I was having a moment the last time I saw Erika.”
“Last time? Chevelle, ye always have a moment in Erika’s presence. Can’t be ‘that time of the month’ during each encounter.”
Chevelle holds up a hand to me and communicates with a server that the first course can be served soon. Her dark gaze locks onto mine again. “Pst, Leith, my cycle is my personal business.”
“Yer cycle ismybusiness. Besides, once we get the insurance money from our house, we’re buying a new home with a nursery.”
The smallest indication of a smile appears on Chevelle’s face. “We’re supposed to be discussing the dynamics of my relationship with Erika. You were concerned that I still hate her.”
“Do ye? And sure, ye having another bairn for me is bound to happen soon. Nae, it’simminent. Toss yer birth control, Chevelle.”
“Alright, the ultimatum. Ye consent to pushing out the next bairn,I’ll discard my pills.” Chevelle pats my shoulder, fakes left, but I’ve encircled my arms around her during her attempt to hightail it on my right.
“Not so fast.” Smiling, I hold her close again.
But Chevelle’s still wiggling away from my grip when her tone softens. “Erika, how are you feeling?”
“Pure deid brilliant, now that the codeine kicked in. Also, glad to see the two ofye happy.” Erika grins up at us, folding her arms across herself.