After Us (Next Generation #6) - J.M. Walker Page 0,44

lit a cigarette and handed it to Sammy before lighting one for himself.

“All of you know how to do braids?” she asked, running her hand down the length of her hair.

“Yup.” I released her and sat back, satisfied with my handiwork.

“You can actually thank Jaron for that,” Sammy said, puffing on his smoke.

“Why’s that?” Piper hooked an arm across my knee.

My breath caught in my throat, thankful that she didn’t pull away.

“I got in trouble and Uncle Tray made us braid Bee’s hair. She was five, had hair so fucking long, it kept getting in her way. I was being a little shit, so he made us braid it.” I shrugged. “All of us had to learn.”

“At first, I thought it was lame, but it usually ends up impressing the ladies. And…” Sammy sat forward. “It gives us something to pull.”

“Truth.” Cyrus winked.

“Interesting. I can see you guys now, sitting around and braiding her hair, but I can’t picture you as boys. So all I’m seeing are grown men, braiding hair.” She giggled. “Which is super adorable by the way.”

“And hot right?” Sammy wiggled his eyebrows. “It’s definitely hot.” He elbowed Cyrus. “It’s hot. Admit it.”

“It’s impressive.” Piper laughed, shaking her head. Her gaze flicked to mine. “And yeah, it’s definitely hot.”

I grinned, cupped her nape, and pushed my thumb into her shoulder.

She sighed, leaning her cheek against my knee, but kept her eyes locked on mine.

“We should go.” Cyrus butted his smoke out on the bottom of his Shitkicker. “We’re driving up tomorrow to see Bee, so we should have an early night.”

Sammy scoffed. “Right. Not like I’m going to sleep anyway.” The air around him suddenly shifted.

Our cousin, Bee, named after their parents, lived off in the middle of the woods with her husband and their son. I didn’t see them as much as I would have liked, especially since being home, but I knew she would understand. I could almost hear her now, telling me to get my shit together and sort things out with my own family first.

“Did you want to come with us?” Cyrus asked, sticking the smoke between his lips. “I know you have your own shit to work through right now but…”

Piper and I passed a knowing look between us.

“Tell her we’ll come up and see them soon,” Piper suggested.

Cyrus nodded.

“Strip club?” Sammy stood, stretching his arms out above his head.

“No. Let’s go to a regular bar.” Cyrus rose to his full height. “I don’t want to be washing the club off of me for days.”

“Whatever. That’s because you choose the sluttiest—”

“I do not. That’s you, asshole.” Cyrus shoved him.

Sammy scowled. “Nah. Not anymore my man.”

My ears perked up at that. “Are you telling us that you’re finally a one-woman man, Sammy?”

Sammy looked between all of us, puffing on his smoke. “I’m not saying shit,” he finally said. “But there’s…someone.”

“Red.” Cyrus cupped Sammy’s shoulder. “She’s keeping our Sammy boy on his toes.”

“This Red must have made quite an impression on you,” Piper said. “You haven’t told me much about her though.”

“She’s someone I call when I need an itch scratched,” Sammy muttered. “It’s no big fucking deal. She’s just convenient. She’s there.”

“When you need her.” I pointed out. “Sounds serious to me.”

Sammy rolled his eyes. “Whatever. You sort your shit out first and then we can talk.”

Cyrus chuckled, pushing his brother toward the side of the house. “Let’s go. We’ll call you guys tomorrow night.”

Kissing the top of Piper’s head, I slid out from behind her and followed the twins around the side of the house.

“You two will get through this,” Cyrus told me, heading to his SUV.

“I know. But listen, I need you to do something for me. I need you to tell my dad about Price being at the grocery store. I’d call him but we all know how much he hates talking on the phone and would rather it be done in person.” I rubbed the back of my neck. “I just need my girls safe. I don’t know if he showed up because I was there or because he actually needed to get groceries.”

“I’m betting on the former,” Sammy mumbled.

“We’ll tell Greyson,” Cyrus said, clapping my shoulder. “Keep to yourself and if you need groceries or anything, you let us know and we’ll get them for you. Until we can figure out what the hell Price wants, it’s better if you probably just stay home.”

“I’m taking Piper on a date.” Both of us were nervous to be out in