Game (Gentry Boys, #3)(19)

I shrugged. “I should. I’m out of Marshmallow Mates cereal. But I’m still getting pizza.”

“Fine. Get pizza.” Creed had faced forward again when suddenly he swiveled around. He clamped a meaty hand on my shoulder. “You all right, Chasyn?”

I shrugged. “Peachy keen, brother.” Really, I was a little bummed that I didn’t get a chance to make things right with Stephanie before leaving Vegas, but there would be other chances. We were still in the same psychology class twice a week and she was Truly’s roommate. Girl wouldn’t be able to avoid me if she tried.

Creed didn’t seem satisfied with my answer but he let it go for now. Five minutes after the flight took off Creed fell asleep, Truly resting against his shoulder. I took the sports betting book out of my pocket and read avidly for the next forty minutes as the plane traveled between Vegas and Phoenix. It got my mind going in directions I hadn’t considered before.

When we got back to the apartment I walked through the front door, struck by how different the place seemed. It still had the same crappy mismatched furniture, although Saylor had tried to liven things up with accent pieces here and there. No, it was something more immaterial than stuff. The three of us had moved in here about a year and a half ago, proud as kings. It was the nicest place we’d ever lived. In three days Saylor and Cordero would be returning here as a married couple anticipating the birth of their twins.

“Cord talk to you about his plans for renting a house?” I asked Creed as he tossed his bag into his bedroom. He still limped slightly from the damage done to his knee when he’d been in the vicious fight last month. Truly had headed straight for the kitchen and was whipping up some grilled cheese sandwiches.

“A little,” he shrugged. “Not surprising since his wife will be dropping a litter in the spring.”

I was thrilled for Cordero. Honestly I was. I meant it when I told him there was nothing better he could have done than marry Saylor. But I couldn’t help but feel a little melancholy at the same time. This was the end of an era. The three of us had lived as a matched set for so long. I couldn’t fathom the idea of not seeing my brothers every day.

Creed was saying something. “Mail came for you before you left. It’s on the table.”

I picked up the mail in question. “Shit,” I muttered, opening it and letting out a low whistle. “That’s a hell of a number.”

Creed looked over my shoulder. “Thought you were gonna call them and see about working out a payment plan?”

The hospital bill from my unfortunate June stay was three pages long. I stared at the number at the end, wondering how in the hell anyone was supposed to be able to pay a thing like that. It looked like it belonged on the national debt marquee in Times Square. I folded up the paper and stuck it back in the envelope. I’d deal with it another time.

Truly set several grilled cheese sandwiches on the table for us and Creedence gave her an appreciative smile. Truly Lee was really the whole fantastic package; gorgeous, smart, sexy, and possessed of a genuinely thoughtful nature. I wondered what the chances were of Stephanie Bransky fixing me a sandwich. More than likely she would throw a loaf of bread at my head and order me to go shit twice and die.

It’s no good; I can’t talk myself out of wanting her.

Creed smacked my hand when I tried to start eating before Truly sat down at the table. I made an obscene gesture but still waited because it was the polite thing to do.

“So Chase,” Truly said brightly, “what are your plans for today?”

I looked at the clock. “Working parking lot security tonight for a show at Gammage.” I poked Creedence. “You working too?”

He shook his head. “Not there. I’ve got a quick set at a new place in Scottsdale. If it goes well it could turn into a regular gig.”

“It’ll go well,” Truly said confidently. “Baby, every time you get up in front of a crowd you’re that much more amazing.”

Creed stared at her for a second, then pulled her out of her chair. “Come here,” he said gruffly, hauling her into his lap. They sucked face for a little while and I chewed my sandwich. I watched them. Truly and Creed weren’t like Saylor and Cord, but they were still the real thing.

Truly backed off when Creed started to get too frisky. She laughed as he nuzzled her neck and groaned.

“Finish your sandwich,” she told him.

I took my plate to the sink and called back to Creed. “Hey, I’m taking the Chevy for a few hours, okay?” All three of us used to share the rickety pickup, but a few weeks back Cord had found a deal on a used minivan, trading in Saylor’s crappy car. For now Creed and I were still using the old pickup.

“Sure,” he shrugged. “Where are you off to?”

I hesitated. “Meeting,” I said quietly. “There’s one at the library this afternoon.”

“Good,” my brother nodded. “That’s good.”

He meant well. I knew he was relieved that I was keeping up with the program. For a while I’d thought he might benefit from the Twelve Steps as well. Creed drank often and hard for years. This past summer it got bad, real bad. But in the two months since he’d gotten together with Truly he’d kept off the bottle all on his own. If the relapse nightmares ever tormented him the way they did me then he never let it show.