Crave (The Gibson Boys 3)

“Had, look, I know this sucks, and I know you’re hurting right now. I just … I don’t know what to do about it.”

I relax against the pillows. “The fact you would do something is enough. You’re a good brother.”

“I will always be there for you. And I can’t kick Mach’s ass, but I’ll sure give it a shot if you want me to.”

Giggling, I snuggle under the blankets. “Not yet. Maybe tomorrow. We’ll see how the day goes.”

“I’ll get limbered up.” He laughs. “I’m gonna go check on Kallie. I think she got Mariah’s virus. She was up puking all night.”

“Gross. Go. I’ll be fine. Sorry I didn’t call last night.”

“I’m just glad you had Emily with you. Now go eat or watch television or whatever it is you do. Call me if you need me. I can be there fast.”

“Love you, Cross.”

“You too. Bye.”

“Bye.”

I drop my phone on the blankets and pull a pillow over my head. I still miss him. And that’s pathetic.

* * *

Machlan

“Can you fix it or not?” I ask my brother.

“Can I fix it? Yeah. But it’ll cost you more than if you just buy another one.” Walker goes back to the tractor parked in Crank’s lot. “What the fuck did you even do to it? You completely fucked that tire up.”

“Hard to say.”

He whacks a screwdriver against a bearing. “That good, huh?”

“Yeah. I’ll leave it here until you get it fixed if Peck can give me a ride home.”

Peck comes out of one of the shop bays. He sees me and slows his steps. “Hey, Mach.”

I lift my chin in acknowledgment of his presence.

My cousin has seen me act like a fool more than both my brothers combined. We were closer in age and both had an interest in things that went fast or were stupid. I never care what he thinks about the things I do. I am curious what he thinks about last night, and that bothers me.

“I grabbed that ratchet off the wall, but it’s too small,” Peck says to Walker. “Where’s the one you had last week for that dozer?”

“Fuck, I don’t know,” Walker says. He wipes his brow with the back of his hand. “Let’s put that on hold for a minute.”

“Yeah …” Peck looks over my shoulder. “Let’s do that.”

I spin around to see Cross turning into the parking lot. He kills the engine before the truck is even in park. His feet are on the ground before the dome light comes on.

I face him. There’s nothing worse than letting a pissed off Cross think you’re submissive. It gives him power. I can kick his ass, but it’s close. Too close to let him get a head start.

“Hey, Walk,” Cross says. “What’s up, Peck?” He doesn’t wait for their response before setting his sights on me. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”

“Sure.”

He lets his fingertips trail the hood of my car as he walks around it. The squeal of the metal cuts through any hope I had that this conversation could be civil.

“Just got off the phone with Hadley,” he says.

“How is she?”

The question comes out before I can think about it; my inherent need to check on her taking precedence over logic or etiquette. Of course, I shouldn’t ask about her. Not when Cross has that look in his eye.

“Let me tell you something,” Cross says. “I’ve put up with the two of you for years. Practically my entire fucking life. You’re on. You’re off. You love her. You hate her.”

“I’ve never hated her.”

He’s not thrilled with my interruption. “I stay out of it all I can because I love her and I like you. But by God, Mach, when I have to hear her cry, it cuts through me.”

It’s a gamble, a big one, to run my hands over my face. It takes my sight off Cross for more than a half a second. He could fire a punch and, if it hits just right, could knock me on my ass. But it’s a gamble I take because I can’t stand the look in his eye.

“Why do you do it?” he asks. “Why do you fucking humor every fucking whim she has? If you don’t fucking want her, let her fucking be.”

“I do fucking want her,” I tell him.

“Then what the fuck is this?” He holds his hands to his sides. “Because I’m not following you. And God knows she’s not.”

My pulse pounds in my temple, my neck screaming with tension.

“I got in two fights yesterday,” I tell him. “Did you know that?”

“I heard.”

Not what I was expecting. I try again. “I lost the building on Ash.”

“I heard.”

“So … why are you here?” I shout.

He looks at me like I’m not making sense. “Are you fucking stupid?” he bellows.

“No, but I’m starting to think you are.”