“What’s up?” Hunter asked.
“You got some time to talk?” I asked.
“Sure. I’m off today, so I got all the damn time in the world. You hungry?”
“Nah. I’m good.”
“What brings you ‘round? You guys don’t come up here much anymore.”
“I don’t know how you can stand to be up here,” I said.
“Only home I’ve known, and I don’t intend to stop livin’ here now.”
“You’re a stronger man than me,” I said.
“So, what’s got you all bent outta shape?” he asked.
“Have ya heard from Katie lately?” I asked.
He narrowed his eyes at me as he leaned against the staircase.
“No. Why?” Hunter asked. “Somethin’ happen at work?”
“So, you really haven’t talked to her?”
“The fuck does that mean?” he asked.
“Somethin’s wrong with her. That much I know. She quit out o
f the blue and now her attack dog’s at her apartment fieldin’ everyone who comes over. We can’t get a read on what’s goin’ on, and Lizzie won’t let us talk to Katie.”
“That’s some bullshit. Katie fuckin’ quit? She needed those jobs. Why the hell would she do somethin’ like that?” he asked.
“I don’t know. I was hopin’ you could tell us that.”
“What aren’t you tellin’ me, Caleb?”
“I’m not sure what you mean?” I asked, trying to play dumb. I really didn’t want to get into a fistfight with one of my best friends right now.
“I know you. There’s a part of this story you ain’t tellin’ me. I know my sister. She don’t quit nothin’ out of the blue. Hell, she hung onto a guy that wasn’t right for her until her damn rehearsal dinner. Quittin’ ain’t in Katie’s blood.”
I clenched my jaw, knowin’ exactly what would come of this conversation.
“This is my fuckin’ sister we’re talkin’ about. Now you clue me in, or we’re gonna have a problem,” Hunter said.
“Okay, look. I know you’re gonna be mad, but you gotta understand, we love Katie.”
“We? Who the fuck is ‘we’?” he asked.
“Me. And my brothers. We—we’ve been courtin’ your sister.”
“What?” he asked, incredulous.
“It sort of just happened. First with Wyatt, then with Dylan. We all sort of fell into things, and we had a long talk ‘bout it. Katie’s apparently loved us for a long time, and she was wantin’ to be with all of us.”
“That’s not Katie,” Hunter said. “That’s your sorry asses wantin’ one woman like you always fuckin’ do. Hotshot Lee brothers sharin’ women and breakin’ hearts.”
“Hunter, it ain’t like that. Not with Katie,” I said.