The Last Hard Boy (The Hard Boys 3)

“Not a chance, besides, they know how amazing I think you are. How about this, you come with me Sunday?” he asked.

“Sunday?”

“To dinner, with my folks. They will love to meet you. I know I would love for you to meet them.”

“I don’t know, that seems kind of sudden.”

“Think about it?” he asked.

“I will.”

He noticed the time and finished his cereal before following Andy out to the car. They didn’t speak as he drove her to work. Parked outside, she turned toward him, and he gripped the back of her neck, kissing her. “Think about it.”

“I will. I will. See you later?”

“I’ll be by to pick you up. I’ll also arrange the tow truck. You know Caleb is a mechanic. Do you have your keys?”

“I left them behind the wheel of my car.”

“I’ll handle it.”

“You’re a lifesaver.”

She climbed out of the car, and he watched as she made her way toward the school. The sway of her ass was a temptation.

Pulling away from the school, he headed back to her house just as the tow truck arrived. He made sure they didn’t mess around and negotiated a reasonable price for Andy, seeing as he handled their books.

With that taken care of, he drove back to his apartment. It was only a small place. For the longest time, he’d lived with his parents, and then with Caleb for a short time. Getting his own place just hadn’t seemed right to him, for some odd reason.

After changing into fresh clothes, he put some in a bag so he could leave them at Andy’s, and then per his agreement, he met up with James and Caleb at the diner. They had already ordered breakfast, including his.

He was a Hard boy. There was no way cereal was going to cut it.

“You’re looking like a boy who is dating a teacher,” Caleb said.

“What is with you complimenting the way I look?” He thanked the waitress for the coffee, sipping at it as James finished whatever text he was sending.

“You’re dating her?” James asked.

“Yes, I am dating her. I’ve also invited her to come to our parents this Sunday, as well as for Christmas.”

His brothers froze. They both stared at him.

“What?”

“You never invite a girl to the house,” Caleb said. “It’s like your number one rule.”

Rome eased the tie at his neck, feeling like it was strangling him. “First, I never invited a girl because there was never one who wanted me. Second, you and James are both taken. Let’s face it, no girl ever wanted me. I was the go-between so they could get to you.”

Their breakfast was delivered. He picked up his knife and fork and looked up to see his brothers still staring at him. “What?” he asked. “Do I have something on my face?”

“You do know we’d have never stolen your girlfriend?” James asked.

“Yeah, we’re assholes, but not like that.” James chose that moment to hit Caleb up the back of the head. “What is with you and Mom hitting me?”

“We’re not assholes.” James glared at Caleb. “Is that what you thought? We’d steal your girlfriend?”

Rome sighed. “No, it’s not about that. I know you guys have my back no matter what.”

“Then what is it?” Caleb asked.

“Would you want to be with a woman who is more interested in your brothers than in you?” he asked. He never told them about this because it was so embarrassing.

“I don’t understand,” James said.

He took a breath. “Fine, I’m only going to say this once, and then it doesn’t leave this table. Understood?” Both his brothers nodded. “The few women I took on dates, they would always ask questions about the two of you. At first, I didn’t think much about it, but then, it was all they talked about. Andy has never mentioned you. She talks about the Hard boys, but not you. Just me.” It was nice to be the center of attention for a change.

“Fuck, man, I had no idea,” James said.

“Me, neither. You were right to not bring any of those chicks around.” Caleb shook his head.

“Andy’s the one,” he said.

He expected his brothers to laugh or mock, but instead, they merely nodded. “You’re sure?” both asked at the same time.

“I’ve never been surer of anything else in my life. She’s the one. I love her.” This wasn’t sex or them just dating recently. His love of Andy Evergreen extended back ten years ago, when he first saw her. “I’ve got to make her fall in love with me.”

James and Caleb shared a look and each put a hand on his shoulder.

“She’s going to be a lucky woman,” James said.

“I don’t know how any woman could not fall in love with you.”

It was nice of them to say, but they were also his brothers. They were supposed to cheer him up.

****

Saturday night