I need to get my life in order before I bring anyone else into it.”
Brad nods. “Alright. Just say the word when you’re ready. I can have them lined up outside the door.”
I stand up. “Think I’m going to call it a night. Gotta open the store tomorrow.” I dispose of my trash in the kitchen before heading for the bathroom to shower. Now that the guest bedroom is going to be occupied, I’ll have to sleep on the couch. I hope that they clear out of the living room soon. I really do need some sleep. I haven’t had to get up early since I lived back at Mama’s. I have a feeling my life is about to change in more ways than one.
3
Hudson
Fuck. She’s beautiful. I knew she was beautiful last night when I took her out to my truck, but seeing her with sober eyes, she’s even more beautiful than I remembered. Her long, dark hair, rich chocolate eyes, and olive skin is enough to make any woman jealous. It’s enough to bring any man to his knees, even men like me who like to do the right thing by women. Last night, I did not do the right thing. I took her out to my truck and bent her pretty ass over the seat while I fucked her like a porn star. I guess this is what I get for making that terrible decision. Karma is paying me back. Now I have to look at her every day, but I’m not allowed to touch her.
Brad has always been the overprotective brother. Hell, when we were teenagers, he scared off little boys that didn’t do anything but chase her on the playground. I can’t imagine how he is now that’s she’s old enough to date and have guys sniffing around her. And I don’t want to find out. I’m going to keep my distance. I’ll ignore her. It can’t be that hard.
“I’m sorry about my sister, man. I really needed a roommate and she won’t be here long. She can crash on the couch while she saves up and finds her own place.”
I wish I hadn’t already agreed to move in. When I did, I didn’t realize the girl from last night was his sister and that she was living here. “Don’t worry about it,” I tell him, tipping back my beer and taking another swig.
He shakes his head. “I couldn’t turn her away, you know? She was kicked out of my mom’s and didn’t have anywhere else to go.”
“Your mom kicked her out?” I ask, surprised. From what I remember of Mrs. Olsen, she was always a good mom who loved her kids. Hell, she couldn’t even ground them without it breaking her own heart.
He nods. “Yeah, things really changed after our dad died. We’d only been living in Denver for about a year before he passed. It was up to me to help support the two of them. Mom was working three part-time jobs to try and stay afloat, but it wasn’t enough. I dropped out of school and started working at a tire factory. Then a few years later, Mom started dating the guy she’s with now. He’s a total asshole, but he got hurt on the job and got a huge settlement. He was at least able to provide money, a home, and put food on the table. But he and I, we clashed big time. I was used to being the man of the house. He didn’t like the way I did things and I didn’t like the way he was doing things, so I left the day I turned eighteen.”
“And what lead to Deven being kicked out?”
He shrugs. “Who really knows. Deven”—he shakes his head disapprovingly—“I guess she really went off the rails after I left. She turned thirteen and without any real supervision, she started getting into a lot of trouble: going to parties, drinking, doing drugs, getting arrested for stealing. Mom said she was sneaking out her window and running around with local drug dealers and gang members. She’s a bit wild, but I think she’s starting to settle down now that she’s here. Just be patient with her. She’s had a rough life. I was pretty much the only real parent she had after Dad. And after I left, I think she was left to fend for herself in every aspect of the word. It’s hard to do right when there’s nobody there to show you, you know?”
I