Across the Vanishing Sky (Starlight Grove, #1)(67)

I couldn’t imagine having the weight of raising a human being on your shoulders. Making sure they were safe, cared for. That they were growing up healthy in mind and body. Every choice you made had to feel like it weighed a million pounds. But Kol was doing it. And amazingly well. So was Brae.

Kol finally forced his gaze away from the back doors. “Who’s going to tell me what the hell is really going on?”

Wylder’s lips twitched. “It all started because Dex was cleaning.”

Surprise lit Kol’s features. “This Dex?”

“You guys are all assholes. You make it sound like I’m a pig.”

The room went silent. And then they all laughed.

Waylon slapped me on the back. “Only when you get in the zone. That computer fries your brain, and nothing else exists.”

“I think the hot, little badass breaks through that hacking haze,” Mav chimed in.

I scowled in his direction. “Stop calling her that.”

Mav’s grin only widened. “Awwww, our Little Dex has a crush.”

“Shut up.”

“What are you, eight?” Mav shot back.

“No, but you are,” I clipped.

Kol went stock-still. “You told me you two were friends.”

“We are.”

That familiar muscle began fluttering in his jaw. “Tell me you’re not getting involved with someone whose case we’re working.”

Maverick and Wylder groaned, knowing a familiar lecture was about to commence.

“It’s against every rule in the book,” Kol ground out.

“For law enforcement. Which none of us is.”

Kol’s jaw ground back and forth. “I am.”

“Then you can keep whatever boundaries you want to.”

“You do like her,” Kol surmised.

I shifted uncomfortably, tendrils of panic wrapping around me. “I told you, she’s a good person.”

Wylder let out a low whistle. “For Dex, that might as well be an engagement ring.”

“Oh, fuck off.”

Maverick rubbed his hands together like a kid on Christmas morning or some cartoon villain. “I can’t wait to watch this go down.”

“I am going to set the photo of you running from the pond, screaming as you shucked your shorts because you had a leech on your ass, as your lock screen. Hell, I’ll put it on all the computers at the fire station, too.”

Mav’s eyes narrowed. “You’re lucky I’m very secure with my body and have no problem with that.”

“I dunno,” Wylder muttered. “You were pretty gangly back then.”

“And his ass was as white as snow,” I said with a chuckle.

Mav didn’t wait; he lunged, pulling me into a headlock and attempting to give me the world’s worst noogie. I retaliated by punching at his kidney.

“Ow, shit. I hit my side on a landing the other day,” Mav bit out.

I sent another blow. “Then let me go, you foot-licking asswipe.”

A throat cleared. “Are we interrupting something?” Brae asked, amusement wrapping around each word. “The front door was open.”

“Duuuuude, are you guys wrestling? I wanna tap in. Who’s your favorite wrestler? Mine’s Wild Side. He’s the freaking dopest.” Owen bounced up and down as the words tumbled out of his mouth.

At the sight of a kid, Mav released me. “You must be Owen. Heard a lot about you.”

Owen just grinned. “Which brother are you?”

Mav chuckled. “I’m Maverick, the youngest.” He sent Brae a smirk. “And the most handsome.”

I smacked him upside the head as I straightened. “Stop pulling that sh—shinola.”

Owen rolled his eyes. “I’ve heard the s-word before.”

Brae wrapped an arm around his shoulders while she balanced a platter with the other. “And we know not to repeat it, right?”

“Bro, I’m not dumb. I don’t want you to take my Switch.”

Wylder chuckled. “Smart man. I’m Wylder.”

“My mom works for you, right?” Owen asked.

“She does, and she fixed all my records for my accountant.”

Owen beamed. “She’s real good with that math stuff. Just don’t ask her to do any computer stuff.”

“Hey,” Brae cut in, affronted.

Owen giggled as he tipped his head back to look at his mom. “You’re good at other stuff. Like comic cookies.” He glanced at me. “They’re not boobie cookies, but they’re bussin’.”

Kol frowned. “What are boobie cookies?”





27





BRAEDYN





Heat hit my cheeks hard and fast, and I wanted to crawl into a hole just a little bit. It didn’t take a genius to figure out that Kol was the second brother unsure about me. And I had a feeling boobie cookies wouldn’t win him over.

“Yeah. And how do I get some?” Maverick cut in.

“Sorry,” Owen said easily. “Boobie cookies are only for Mr. Dex.”

Maverick turned to Dex, a mischievous grin on his face. “Only for you, huh? Lucky dog.”

Dex sent his brother a glare that would’ve had me peeing my pants. Maverick just grinned wider.