Rough Love (Tannen Boys 1)

“Fuck yeah,” Luke cheers, giving a slow clap. I can’t help but glare at him a little. He might be on my side but he’s still with my baby sister. Mark and James nod along with him. Of course they do. They’ve got wives of their own. It’s just Brody and Bobby who’re looking like we’ve all lost our minds.

Fuck. I’m becoming a Bennett.

Brody relents, though, flashing an actual teeth-baring smile and reassuring me. “Well, okay then. Why didn’t you just say so?”

I whirl on him. “What?”

He holds up his hands. “I’m just glad to see you growing up or whatever big brother shit I’m supposed to say here. Help me out,” he says, looking at Mark. They’ve gotten to be better friends working the cows every day. It’s weird and grunty, but they seem to understand each other somehow.

Mark makes one of those typical grunts and then adds, “I’m the last one to give relationship advice, so don’t ask. But if she’s the one, don’t fuck it up.”

He acts like that’s some groundbreaking suggestion, and Luke and James nod along agreeably.

Brody shrugs. “Sounds about right to me.”

Bobby shakes his head, not convinced. “Fine. Whatever. Just . . . good luck, I guess.”

With that, he walks off. But at least he heads in the direction of the other logs, so while he’s mad at me, he’s still helping us get ready for the kids who’ll be here any minute.

I sigh as he leaves. We’ve always been close, but I don’t know how to fix this. I have to take this shot with Allyson. Hell, I’m already deep in it with her, so Bobby’s just going to have to trust me on this one.

“If you don’t mind finishing up the log circle, I think I’m going to go check on Allyson. See if she got the same interrogation I did.”

They don’t look the least bit upset at the dig, and I swear I see a couple of middle fingers fly out of the corner of my eye. I ignore them, too ready to lay eyes on Allyson.

At the house, I see Mama Louise and Allyson on the back porch peeling a huge pile of potatoes. I’m about to holler out a greeting when I hear something that stops me.

“Bruce told me a bit about the two of you.” Mama Louise makes it sound casual, but it’s anything but.

Allyson pauses her potato peeling. “He did?”

Mama Louise hums. “Seems like a second chance is something you both need. You planning on taking advantage of it?”

“Wow, that’s very . . . direct.” Allyson’s resumed her potato peeling with a manic energy that belies her nerves at the question. Mama Louise is the queen of patience, so she waits Allyson out, silent and expectant. Like a newbie, Allyson speaks, giving Mama Louise exactly what she wants. “If you’d told me a few weeks ago that I’d be doing any of this—football, camping, Bruce . . . I mean, not that I’m doing Bruce. Oh, God.”

I can’t help but grin at the blush creeping up Al’s neck.

“I know quite what you mean, dear,” Mama Louise says easily. “I’m old, not dead. And John and I had a very happy marriage.”

Allyson’s laugh is small and uncomfortable, but she tries again. “This whole thing with Bruce, I never expected it. I think it was something I wanted but I’d given up on a long time ago. Maybe that’s why I was so scared?” She bites her lip, her voice quieter, and I have to strain to hear her. “But I like it. He’s good with the boys, especially Cooper. And he’s good with me, to me.”

I hear the tiny hitch in her voice and remember how she’d said her ex ‘wasn’t nice’ to her. It makes me want to spoil her, treat her so well that she never wants for anything.

It makes me want to show her what love is supposed to be like.

This is going to be the best damn campout these kids and Allyson have ever had.

Chapter 24

Allyson

I mentally check off that everyone’s here, all the food contributions are in Mama Louise’s kitchen, and with a look around, I can tell the fun has already started.

The boys are running wild like they’ve never had this much space and fresh air, their joyful shouts echoing across the land. “Look at all the trees!” Johnathan says, spinning in a circle so fast I’m surprised he stays vertical.

Oops, spoke too soon, I think as he tumbles to the ground. He doesn’t seem any worse for wear, though, as he laughs it off before hopping up.

“All right, gather up,” Bruce says, clapping his hands loudly.

The boys scramble to pile in around him, but the parents come over too, naturally drawn to Bruce’s charisma. I can’t blame them. I’m just as pulled into him, the fight I initially put up all but useless and utterly forgotten at this point.