“Now I’m what?”

Jake groans and braces his hands on his knees. “You’ve been different since Max died. You try to hide it, but that shit? Your phone blowing up with offers for blowjobs or booty calls or whatever the fuck she was offering, and you drinking too much, then disappearing with random women—”

I fly out of my chair and spin on him. “Like you didn’t have a little fun before you and Ava settled down. Hell, you almost slept with your sister-in-law. I really don’t think you’re in a position to lecture me right now.”

Jake’s nostrils flare. He doesn’t like talking about that night with Molly. It was fucking years ago, and long before he and Ava, or Brayden and Molly got together. I’m a jackass for throwing it in his face like this, but I’m not about to be lectured just because he’s finally settled down.

Jake stares me down. “I don’t give a shit if you want to sleep with every single woman in this town, but Teagan is practically part of this family. If you’re planning to make her one of your new fuck buddies, do us all a favor and make sure she understands it isn’t actually about her, but some half-assed coping mechanism.”

I feel my hands curl into fists at my sides. I haven’t punched one of my brothers in more than a decade, but I’m itching to knock this one out right now.

Jake’s gaze flicks to my fists before meeting mine again. Slowly, he stands. “I see what the rest of them don’t, and I haven’t said shit because I know you’re grieving. I know this is hard for you.”

“You don’t know shit about how this is for me.” I shove him, and he stumbles into the chair but doesn’t fall. I wait for him to shove me back or take a swing—I fucking want him to—but he doesn’t. He looks . . . devastated.

He shakes his head one last time, then turns around and heads inside, stopping only when he has one foot in the door. “You’re my brother. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you. For a while, that meant giving you space to deal with what happened, but right now, it includes calling you on your bullshit.”

Teagan

I scored big when I found a house in my budget within walking distance to downtown Jackson Harbor. I love that I can get almost everywhere I want to go on foot, and when the weather is nice, I usually do. But after talking to my mom this morning, I hesitate outside my front door, fidgeting with my keys. It’s a beautiful October evening. The sun sinks low on the horizon, painting the sky in red and orange and casting a magical glow around the rainbow of autumn colors in the trees. The light breeze is cool and bites at my cheeks, but I know it’ll feel amazing when I start walking. If I can convince myself to walk.