The Last Hard Boy (The Hard Boys 3)

She didn’t believe she was either of those things, but she was too scared to let herself hope. With Rome, it was different, and she was already nervous about exploring this with him.

Chapter Three

“You’re late,” James said.

Rome glared at his oldest brother. Just because he was happy and married, with children, didn’t mean he could parent him. “You’re not my dad, and I’m fine.”

Caleb whistled. “Look at him, big bro, our boy here has gotten himself laid.” His other brother gripped the back of his neck and gave it a squeeze.

He swatted at them and moved back. “Stop it.”

“Who is the lucky lady?” James asked.

Looking between them, he knew there was no getting away from this. He glanced around to make sure no one was watching.

“It’s Andy Evergreen,” he said. “We’re dating.”

“Holy shit, you did it?” Caleb asked.

“Your teacher. You’re banging your teacher?”

“Don’t call it that.” He didn’t want Andy talked about like that. “Andy and I are dating, and you don’t need to know anything other than that.”

“Did you two sleep together?” Caleb asked.

He turned to the recently married, and very happy, settled, rebellious brother. “It’s none of your business.”

“None of our business. If this shit goes south, we’re going to be the ones to have to clear it up,” James said.

“What the hell does that mean?”

Caleb put his arm around his shoulders. “You’re our baby bro. We’re the ones who take care of you. Keep the bullies at bay.”

“If I seem to recall, it was you that gave me that wedgie during high school. No one else touched me,” he said. No one had bullied him, even though he’d been the oddball Hard boy. Neither sexy nor muscular, nor sporty.

His brothers, on the other hand, had all made women’s panties melt for them.

He’d been nothing.

Running fingers through his hair, he pulled away from them and went to the coffee. Their mother always had the coffee pot on to boil. She was always ready for a meltdown, or some disaster with her sons with cake and cookies in abundance.

“What are you boys doing in here?” she asked.

The scent of dinner was already heavy in the air.

Rome checked the time. It was just after twelve. He’d spent the morning with Andy, making love and fucking her twice more. They shared a quick breakfast, he promised to call her, and then he left, running home to get changed.

He was pretty sure he’d be the talk of the town come Monday, but at the same time, he had his doubts. No one cared about what the last Hard boy was doing, or who he was with. Unlike his brothers, he’d been able to swim underneath the radar for a long time. The townsfolk weren’t interested in the nerdy Hard boy.

Sipping at his coffee, he watched as Caleb got a swat around the back of the head as he stole a freshly baked cookie.

James, as always, got away without a telling off, but their mother did glare at his back.

She turned to him with a smile. “Well, if it’s not one of my favorite boys.”

He raised a brow. “What did I do?”

“You didn’t do anything.”

“Mom, I know you, and I know that you never claim to have a favorite.”

“Do not be ridiculous. You have done nothing wrong.”

He stared at her, and she looked back at him as if she was waiting for him to explode or something.

“One of your friends called you.”

She laughed. “Can a mother not be concerned about her son?”

“You can, but I know you.”

Jane pushed some hair off her face and rolled her eyes. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” She let out a pout. “I may have received a call that told me my son was seen leaving a certain teacher’s premises. The same teacher he’s had a crush on for years.”

“Mom, you know not to listen to gossip.”

“I also know to worry about my son.”

He sipped at his coffee. “Why do you need to worry?”

“Son, when you were a boy—”

“A fifteen-year-old teenager.”

“A boy. You would put your name and Miss Evergreen’s name around a love heart.”

“I had a crush.”

Now she put her hands on her hips. “Rome Hard, do not take that tone with me, and do not for a second think you can fool me. I know my son, and I know him now. You were in love with her back then, and you’re in love with her now.”

He sighed. “Your point?”

“I’m worried about you getting hurt. We all are. You don’t think it hasn’t escaped anyone’s notice how Miss Evergreen hasn’t been in a relationship the whole time she’s been here?”

“Don’t be worried.”

“I cannot stand the thought of you being upset.”

“Mom, please, do not worry, okay?”

“Is it just sex?”

“Mom.” He wanted the ground to open up and swallow him whole.

“Jane, you’re going to scar him for life. You nearly did that as a child.” Fortunately, his father had entered the room. Hopefully, he’d make more sense.