Page 85 of Bad For Me (Rock Canyon, Idaho 5)

But he was still boiling from Justin’s assumption—actually from telling him that Callie wasn’t worth anything, and he was just settling for her. Fucker. He should have made Justin walk.

“There will be plenty of time to kick his ass when he gets back.” Everett hooked one of the hay bales and carried it closer to the barn door.

Justin and Val had barely disappeared into the airport before Everett had called his dad to vent his frustrations. But while he’d been looking for vindication, his dad had tried playing devil’s advocate.

“Justin is protective of you, and he had it rough too. Try to cut him some slack.”

Everett had hung up on Fred and turned up the music, switching to an old Toby Keith CD. A little “The Angry American” made him feel a hell of a lot better.

Only his brother’s condescending tone still stuck in his craw five days later.

Fred stuck a piece of hay between his teeth and talked around it like a cartoon farmer. “I’m not saying your brother doesn’t get too big for his britches. Hell, there are still times I’d like to turn him over my knee and give his rear a good smack, but he is who he is, and we just got to accept him, faults and all.”

“And I do, but that doesn’t mean I’m just going to take him sticking his nose in my business and shooting his mouth off about things he doesn’t understand.”

“Fine, I’ll let you two work it out then.” Fred sat back in his chair and folded his hands across his chest. “How is Callie, huh? You know, it would be nice to have her over for dinner after they get back. Maybe give your brother a chance to eat his words.”

“Excuse me if I’m not eager to subject her to Justin’s judgmental ass just yet.”

“Just think about it. No matter what your brother has to say, I love that little girl and wouldn’t mind if you two made a real go of it.”

Everett tried not to be jealous of his dad, knowing it wasn’t a romantic love, but Fred could understand Callie in a way Everett couldn’t. It was hard to swallow. “If Callie wants to, then fine.”

“Good. What are you kids up to tonight, anyway?” Fred asked.

“Well, Callie just wants to stay in. Watch a couple movies and eat some salty snacks,” Everett said, shrugging. “She isn’t big on Ha

lloween. Not sure why.”

“Have you asked her?” Fred said.

“No. I’m giving her a chance to trust me. I just want to focus on getting her to believe me when I say that I accept her past, no matter what other skeletons might be hiding.”

“But that isn’t true, is it? Everett, since you were a kid, you were never one for mysteries. You’ve wanted to know every detail, every surprise waiting for you, and you’ve wanted things at face value. How do you know she won’t tell you everything if you just sit her down and ask her?”

Because she’s been holding back from me since I met her.

His phone rang in his back pocket, and he pulled it out to see Callie’s smiling face flashing on the screen. He answered it immediately.

“Were your ears burning?” Everett asked.

“Huh? No, I was just calling to tell you that I can’t hang out tonight.”

“What’s up?” Everett said, disappointed.

“Harold from the station was supposed to DJ the Ghoulish Halloween Ball tonight, but he’s got the flu, and no one else can cover.”

“Well, that sucks. What about after?”

“The party doesn’t end until two, so unless you want to have another slumber party—”

“Are you kidding?” He lowered his voice so his dad couldn’t hear. “There is nothing better than holding you all night and waking up next to you in the morning.”

“Oh yeah, with my crazy Medusa hair and dragon breath, I’m super-sexy.”

“You are.” Everett leaned against a stack of hay as he added, “And tonight I’ll show you exactly how sexy I think you are in a million, tiny little ways.”

“Are you trying to talk dirty to me in the middle of the day?” He could hear her soft laughter, and it warmed him to the core. It was amazing that just four weeks ago she had barely smiled in his presence.