Breaking Bro Code (The Line Up #4) - Misti Murphy Page 0,64

new security guy or two.

“Muah.” My phone blows me a kiss. Yes, I finally found a spare hour last night to update the stupid wolf whistle.

Violet Queen: You were right by the way. He likes me. He really likes me.

Cap’N Crunch: That’s awesome.

Violet Queen: Except I’m worried I’m going to scare him off.

Cap’N Crunch: I doubt that. He’s probably just as nervous as you are. Plus there’s the whole brother aspect.

Yeah, there’s the whole Hud might kill me aspect. Still, I wouldn’t change what’s happening between me and Lily.

Violet Queen: You’re right. Of course.

Cap’N Crunch: Well, we’re in a surprisingly similar situation. I might have an insight into what he’s going through.

Lily hurries out with her bag flapping against her hip and a huge smile on her face. Maybe Violet Queen just needs to take a leaf out of Lily’s book. She’s not worried about anything. She’s patient and understanding and so damn impulsive. Which I know is completely contradictory but with her it’s perfect.

“There’s a coffee shop at the end of the block.” She takes my hand in her smaller one and hurries me along. “I’m dreaming of a tall macchiato with caramel and chocolate drizzle. You want black? No sugar? Dollop of cream? Or are you feeling adventurous?”

“You are one big adventure, pretty girl. I don’t need to muck with my coffee,” I tell her as we line up to order.

It takes a few minutes for the server to put together our order and then we head to the park. We find a spot on the lawn near the water. The palm trees overhead break up the sun with their shadows. She kicks off her shoes and sits cross legged in the grass. Tearing into the bag containing our sandwiches, she bites into a toasted triangle. “Mmm. So good.”

I dig into my own lunch. Three bacon, cheese, and egg sandwiches with jalapeños on the side. She steals one.

“Glad I bought extra,” I joke. She always steals them. Has been doing so since the day I met her. I think she only does it to give me hell.

She bites into it and her eyes start to water. Picking up her sugary coffee she guzzles it. “That’s so hot.”

I adore her. She has no idea how much. “So why keep eating them?”

“Why do you like redheads so much?” Lily asks.

I frown. I have no clue how the topic drifted from spicy jalapeños to hair color. “What would make you ask that?”

She shrugs. “Other than the one that just ran past, I’m curious. There must be a story.”

I catch a glimpse of the jogger on the path behind us. She’s wearing bike shorts with a teensy sports bra and hot pink headphones. A tiny Pomeranian in the same red shade as her hair runs at her heels. She looks familiar. A blast from the past.

My blood turns cold.

The woman comes closer. Not close enough to be certain. And it’s been over a decade. I blink her away. Focus on Lily. “Sorry?”

Lily plucks at the ends of her violet strands self-consciously. “There’s an origin story, isn’t there?”

“You think I like redheads because I have super powers?” I joke.

“Don’t be daft.” She wrinkles her nose. “I think you like redheads because before I met you, someone broke your heart.”

“Always knew you were observant.” Or maybe I’m just not as good at hiding my shit as I hoped.

“So are you going to tell me the story?”

“That’s the question, isn’t it?” I wad up the wrapping from our sandwiches and get to my feet. There’s a bin near enough that I jog over and dispose of our trash. Give myself a chance to catch my breath and steady the buzz in my nerves.

She watches me patiently as I come back to sit beside her. “That bad, huh?”

Maybe it’s time. If I just ease into it… Only where does one start on the most complicated story ever?

“It’s hard to explain.” Trying to sets me on edge. It’s like I’m seventeen all over again. My hands balled up in fists. My blood boiling. My knuckles bruised. The taste of copper on my tongue. “Can we walk?”

“Um, sure.” She climbs to her feet.

The movement is better. It helps with the agitation. My mind steadies with the rhythm of my gait.

She reaches between us and takes my hand. Pumps it in a display of support. “Would it help if I asked questions, or no?”

“Hud told you anything about my family?”

“Not really,” she says. “He mentioned you have a sister.