Braydon(32)

For the better part of the evening, he had wanted to ask Kylie where Jessie was, but he hadn’t found the opportunity. Yet. That was going to change in the near future, he hoped.

“Glad you’re back,” Ethan said, slapping him on the back when Braydon joined the others in the living room. Ethan and Beau were standing behind one of the couches, talking to Gage and Kylie, who were relaxing against one another while halfway twisted around to face them.

“Thanks. Good to be back,” he said. He was cognizant of the fact that it sounded as though the choice to leave hadn’t been his own. Since he was well aware of his own shortcomings, he was tempted to say as much, but Beau interrupted before he could continue.

“We’re havin’ a get-together at the house next weekend. Think you can make it?”

Braydon didn’t miss the sidelong glance that both Beau and Ethan shot at Kylie. He got the sense that something was up because Kylie’s gaze darted away and Gage wrapped one arm around her, holding her tightly.

He would’ve been more inquisitive if it weren’t for his shock. So Ethan and Beau were having house parties now? That was new. And interesting.

“I’m sure I can make time to stop by,” Braydon said, grinning at Ethan. Yep, definitely a new development for a man who’d spent years hiding out from the rest of the world as often as possible.

“Good,” Beau tacked on, turning his attention to Ethan. “I’ll be back. I need to talk to Zane.”

“Sure.”

Braydon noted the way Ethan reached for Beau’s hand. Neither of them were into a lot of public displays of affection, but it was nice to see that they were opening up a little more around family. Beau gently squeezed Ethan’s hand and offered him a quick smile before he disappeared. Braydon had to look away because he felt as though he had violated a private moment between the pair.

He glanced down to see Kylie studying him.

“Hey,” he greeted her directly. Now was the chance to ask her about Jessie, but he just couldn’t bring himself to do it. He wanted to, but he feared it would make him look desperate. Considering all the emotional turmoil he’d buried himself under these last few months . . . that was the last thing he wanted.

“How’re you?” Kylie asked, her voice soft and sweet, just like he was used to. He was a little surprised that there wasn’t any accusation or vehemence in her tone. After all, he had ditched her sister.

“Better now that I’m home,” he admitted truthfully, trying not to let his own guilt reflect in his words. He had needed the time away, but being home felt right to him. He had never been away from his family for that long. Hell, he hardly remembered spending even one night away from Brendon. They lived in the same house, for chrissakes, and had for all of their lives.

“Have you talked to Jessie yet?” Gage asked in a none-too-friendly tone.

Well, at least he knew where all the animosity was pooled.

Braydon glanced at Kylie, noticing the recognition in her eyes. He might not have talked to Jessie, but she had.

“Not yet,” Braydon told Gage.

“Get your ass over there and talk to her.”

Braydon fought the urge to tell Gage to go to hell. It wasn’t that he disagreed with the man, but the last time Braydon checked, his brother-in-law hadn’t been appointed as his guardian. He understood that Gage was just protecting his wife’s sister, but why the f*ck did everyone insist on treating him like a f*cking kid? He was thirty years old. With the exception of Zane and Ethan, who were both younger, the rest of them acted as though Braydon was still a punk-ass kid who didn’t know right from wrong.

“Stop,” Kylie said softly, putting her hand on Gage’s arm. “He’s quite capable of doing what he needs to do without you telling him.”

Gage didn’t say anything, thankfully.

Not interested in getting into an argument, Braydon moved on after telling Kylie he’d talk to her later. He was too pissed at Gage to say anything to him.

He purposely avoided Brendon, who was talking to Kaleb and Zoey. He noticed Travis was in a heated discussion with their father, so he bypassed that direction too. His gaze landed on his mother, who was standing in the kitchen talking to V. Figuring that was the best option at the moment, he moved toward her but was intercepted by Sawyer.

“Hey, Bubba,” Braydon greeted him, wondering whether he was going to get a sage piece of advice from him as well, the way he had from everyone else.

“Glad you’re back,” Sawyer said, a huge grin on his face.

“Why’s that?” Braydon asked before thinking.

“Can’t I just be glad you’re here?”

“Well, thanks,” Braydon said, meeting Sawyer’s gaze. “I’m glad to be back.”

“So you were workin’ on a farm, huh? How’d that go for ya?”

“It wasn’t bad.” In fact, Braydon had actually enjoyed taking care of and working with the horses that Tessa and Cooper owned.

Sawyer reached for his arm, squeezing his bicep firmly, and said, “Looks like you got a little muscle on you there. I’ve always wondered when you were gonna finally pack some meat on those bones.”

“Fuck off,” Braydon snorted. It was true. The grueling manual labor had put a little extra weight on his already bulky frame. To hear Sawyer tell it, Braydon had been skinny at one point. Maybe he wasn’t as big as Beau or as defined as Gage, but Braydon definitely wasn’t a lightweight.