be left defeated between the two of them is Brody—and his guarded heart.
I’m heading over to my parents and Erika when Chevelle makes a beeline for them too. I intercept her. “Ye’re not gonna—”
“Hey!” Chevelle’s hip bounces against mine. I wrap my arms around her, looking her deid in the eye. She adds, “Whatever, Leith, I don’t appreciate your critical tone.”
“I haven’t even spoken, hen.” With my mouth pressed to her ear, I reach around to grip her arse. I’m the type of lad who needs to hold onto something during our arguments, and her booty will do just fine. “So, wit is it, girl? Are we all good here?”
Chevelle looks up at me, tiny fists against my chest. “No, you and I aren’t all good because you’re being dramatic. For your information, I was having a moment the last time I saw Erika.”
“Last time? Chevelle, ye always have a moment in Erika’s presence. Can’t be ‘that time of the month’ during each encounter.”
Chevelle holds up a hand to me and communicates with a server that the first course can be served soon. Her dark gaze locks onto mine again. “Pst, Leith, my cycle is my personal business.”
“Yer cycle is my business. Besides, once we get the insurance money from our house, we’re buying a new home with a nursery.”
The smallest indication of a smile appears on Chevelle’s face. “We’re supposed to be discussing the dynamics of my relationship with Erika. You were concerned that I still hate her.”
“Do ye? And sure, ye having another bairn for me is bound to happen soon. Nae, it’s imminent. Toss yer birth control, Chevelle.”
“Alright, the ultimatum. Ye consent to pushing out the next bairn, I’ll discard my pills.” Chevelle pats my shoulder, fakes left, but I’ve encircled my arms around her during her attempt to hightail it on my right.
“Not so fast.” Smiling, I hold her close again.
But Chevelle’s still wiggling away from my grip when her tone softens. “Erika, how are you feeling?”
“Pure deid brilliant, now that the codeine kicked in. Also, glad to see the two of ye happy.” Erika grins up at us, folding her arms across herself.
Da cuts in, reaching for Chevelle. “Hello, sweetheart, just one smooch on the cheek, then I’ll be nursing a bottle of whiskey.”
“Nae, Brody,” Mam cuts in. “Ye dinna even need one glass.”
“That’s while I’ll be nursing a bottle and not a glass.”
“Da, if Mam tells ye nae drinking,” I start, but the nugget salutes in my direction and heads over to the rest of the guys. Now that my auld da has walked away, we’re back to square one, and Chevelle is free of my grip.
“You saved my life,” Chevelle declares. Tears gloss her eyes as she reaches down to hug Erika.
“Was nothing, really,” Erika says. Her face softens in a familiar way for a moment. Then a mischievous smile takes its place. “Ya know, we never finished the drinking game. Let’s get it all out in the open.”
I’m tensing as Mam hugs me.
“Yer a long time deid, Leith,” Mam quietly says to me.
“Okay,” Chevelle says, tentatively. She’s still leaning into Erika.
“I was once in love with this ned. By age sixteen, I learned my affections would never be returned,” Erika shares. “We had another friend who helped me through that. Now, she ran off and got married because I took her affections for granted, too long.”
“I see,” Chevelle murmurs. She gives Erika a sad smile.
“Yeah, I’m still stunned that the love of my life married and had a baby through surrogacy. Shite hurts more than the bullet wound in my stomach.” Erika declares. With one last squeeze, she releases Chevelle. “Now, I’m the female personification of Brody—talk shit, flirt, bed who I want. So, if ye hate me, it’ll be for those reasons. I’m nae home-wrecker.”
“Well,” Chevelle begins, “I don’t necessarily hate Brody.”
After Erika blinks a few times, my wife shrugs. “Alright, my tolerance of him has increased a little.”
My codeine-high mate fist-pumps the air. “If I weren’t hopped up on pain meds, I’d grab a drink with ya, Chevelle. Yer honesty is as refreshing as a crisp lager. Speaking of which, my uncle tells me he wants to get into business with ya.”
“Your uncle?” Chevelle asks.
“Which one?” Mam inquires, and I do too.
“Nae worries.” Erika holds her palms up. “My good uncle. The one with nae affiliation to the clan way. Edward was in town on business the night Cam begged anyone to check on ye. While I was held up,