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Story: Hitting the Jackpot

“It’s fine,” Justice said.

Lake wasn’t sure what was going on. It was only a few minutes before the three of them were left alone in the office.

“Can they do that?” Justice asked. “Just leave the office. Don’t they have to be watching monitors or something?”

“That happens on another level of the casino,” Jesse said. He remained across the room, but his words were accusatory. “This is just a place to keep security close but out of the way in case someone causes problems.”

“I’m sorry about that,” Justice said. “But look at it from my point of view. My brother cancels at the last minute on the family camping trip, which he’s never done before. We got back and he’s just gone. Left a fucking note that he was moving in with friends and was fine. He doesn’t answer calls or text messages. I was scared. I was so goddamn scared that he’d gotten mixed up with people who would take advantage of him. I’m sure I don’t have to point out how damn kind and sweet Lake is.”

“We do know that about him. That’s why security and everyone around here acted so quickly when you were yelling for Lake. We protect our own here,” Jesse said.

Lake had gone about this all wrong. He had his reasons, but he had taken the coward’s way out. “I—”

“Please don’t say you’re sorry,” Justice said. “I’m the one apologizing here.”

“I don’t understand.”

“I failed you,” Justice said quietly.

“What? Why?” Lake asked.

“I know how Mom and Dad are,” Justice told him. “I am fully aware what assholes our brothers are. I should have checked on you more. Been there for you.”

“No,” Lake said. “Justice. You might be my big brother but I’m an adult.”

“You were always the best of us.” Justice grabbed Lake’s hand. “Even when we were little you had the kindest heart. You were always trying to rescue stray or injured animals. First to take the blame if something got broken. And a lot of things got broke.”

Lake laughed. “Five boys. That had to be hard.”

“It was no excuse for how Mom and Dad treated you. Or for me abandoning you.”

“I don’t feel abandoned by you. You were always there to talk to me when I needed you. I appreciate you more than you know,” Lake said.

“It wasn’t enough,” Justice said. “I hardly came home. I hate coming home.”

“You do?” Lake squeezed Justice’s hand. “I didn’t know that.”

“I’m not as brave as you,” Justice replied.

“Brave?” Lake scoffed. “I literally ran away, and you had to come look for me.”

Justice glanced at Jesse. “How long have you two been together?”

Lake didn’t follow what that had to do with anything. “Not long?”

“It took awhile to get Lake to agree to a date,” Jesse said as he crossed the room. “I’ve known for months that he was it for me.”

“I can just imagine how difficult it was to get him to agree to anything,” Justice said to Jesse.

“He pretended he didn’t know but I eventually wore him down.”

Justice grinned at Lake. “I’m glad.”

“How could I resist? Have you seen how sexy my man is?” Lake whispered.

“Yeah. It seems like you hit the jackpot.”

“That was me,” Jesse said. “I hit the jackpot with this one.”