She’s ducking her head, her hand over her mouth to stifle her giggles. “I had to see if I could bounce a quarter off it.”
“Where did you find . . .”
She jerks her head toward the couch. “Between the cushions. I took it as a sign.”
I yank my pants back up and drop my shirt before turning and rushing her. Tackling Greer to the couch, I cover her with my body and silence her laughter with my lips. When I finally pull away, I stare into her dark gaze, sparkling with humor.
“I fucking love this, Greer.”
Her eyes go wide and a small smile curves her lips. Both hands slap down on my ass, and she squeezes.
“I do too.”
I’ve been dreading this call, but I know I can’t keep putting it off. Creighton has to be losing his mind. I’m surprised there aren’t already milk cartons with my picture on them, actually.
Do they even still do that? Who drinks milk from a carton anyway? Parents in Manhattan probably don’t allow dairy in schools these days.
And once again, I’m trying to put off calling my brother. He’s going to yell. I hate it when he yells. Especially when I know he’s well within his rights to yell. Although, to be fair, I didn’t kidnap myself. But it’s not like I can use that as an excuse. He’d kill Cav. But then he couldn’t use Dom to bury the body.
Stop.
I woman up and pick up Cav’s house phone. I have very few numbers memorized, but Creighton’s is one of them.
I’m shocked when Creighton answers on the first ring, especially when he shouldn’t recognize the number. Unless he does . . . because Cannon seems to know everything about everyone.
“Greer, is that you? Because if it’s Westman, you better put my sister on the phone right the f—”
“It’s me,” I force out.
“Thank Christ. I’ve been losing my goddamned mind—and trying to keep this from Holly. She doesn’t need this kind of stress right now.”
Guilt doesn’t trickle into me like it usually does at Creighton’s comments. No, this time it’s a flash flood.
“I’m sorry. I—”
Why didn’t I come up with a plausible excuse before I dialed? Oh, that’s right. I was worried about milk cartons. Brilliant, Greer.
Instead, I do what comes naturally when all little sisters deal with overbearing big brothers. I get defensive and a little bratty.
“You can’t keep me locked up in some Podunk town with a security guard for a babysitter. That’s not cool.”
“I can do whatever the hell I want if it means keeping you safe.”
“From Cav? Because he’s the last person you need to protect me from.” Even when he was keeping his identity from me, Cav’s first priority was keeping me safe.
“He’s a manipulative liar, Greer. You’re too blind to see it. This isn’t like the time you loaned two thousand dollars to the temp doorman because his mother needed surgery, and then he disappeared. It’s not even like the time you offered up your credit card to cover your friends’ bar tab that ended up costing me ten grand.”
“Stop. That’s enough.” My voice is hard when I interrupt Creighton’s warm-up of the litany of stupid or naive things I’ve done. “I get that I don’t always make the best choices. I’ve done a lot of stupid things. But at some point, you’ve got to let me live my own life, Crey. I’m staying out of the press. I’m safe. And most importantly, I’m exactly where I want to be.”
My brother is quiet on the other end, and I can imagine his eyes narrowed and jaw clenching so hard, his teeth grind together. I’m not afraid to stand up to him, and this time, it matters more than it ever has before.
I swallow, my grip on the phone turning sweaty as I wait.
“Are you staying in California?”
I release the breath I was holding. He’s relenting. Well, at least as much as Creighton ever relents.
“For a little while, at least.”
“Say the word and I’ll have a jet waiting on the tarmac for you—day or night.”
“I’m not going to need it.”
A long sigh comes through the phone, but the tail end sounds more like a growl. “You better not, because I don’t care if I share blood with him. I will kill him if he hurts you.”
His death threat brings a smile to my face. This is the brother who wants the best for me, even when he doesn’t agree with what that is.
“No one’s going down for murder in this family, Crey.”
“I wouldn’t get caught.”
“I know you wouldn’t.”
And with that, we say our good-byes and hang up. I nod my head and speak to the empty office.
“That went better than expected.”
Next, I lift the phone to dial Banner. She answers on the first ring.
“This better be my best bitch telling me what the hell happened to you!”
“It’s me.”
Banner sounds like she doesn’t even take a breath. “I’ve been freaking out since you sent me that text. And the person who answered my reply was not you.”
“Crap. Sorry about that. I . . . after I got back to Holly’s grandma’s house, things sorta took an unexpected turn.”
“Tell me everything. Now.”
“Cav kidnapped me.”
“Damn, that sounds hot. Was it hot?”
“Once I realized I wasn’t going to be spending the rest of my reproductive life in a harem wearing a Princess Jasmine costume? And after I got over wanting to murder Cav?” I pause to consider. “Maybe a little.”