Rory tries to wriggle out of my grip, but I hold her tight. Her mama doesn’t scare me.
“Your mom and I went to school together. Did she tell you that?”
“Yeah, she mentioned it once.” A long time ago when I first showed interest in Rory, Mom asked me if it was Sheila Carlson’s girl. I’d said yes, and that was the end of the conversation.
“We used to be friends. She and I would get our hair done at Bannon’s Barbershop. I always got mine lightened, and Cherie would get red highlights put in because your daddy liked those.”
“That sounds like my mom,” I admit.
“We drifted apart after high school. She married your dad, and that put her in a whole different crowd than mine.” Sheila looks around the small living room with the worn-out carpet and the sagging, cracked leather sofas. “It’s nice that you’ve made friends with my Rory. She’s a good girl, aren’t you?”
“Not really,” Rory replies stiffly.
Sheila’s soft face hardens for a split second before a fake smile appears. “My Rory has a lot of spirit, but I bet that’s why you like her.” Sheila winks at me. “I’m going to go get changed. Rory, why don’t you get dinner started? I want to hear all about your romance. You’re staying to eat with us, aren’t you, Tyson?”
“Yup,” I reply.
“No,” Rory says. She glowers at me. “No,” she repeats.
“Yes. I’m not leaving you.” I squeeze her hand. “Let me help you in the kitchen.”
Sheila’s smile turns very real as she disappears down the hall with a son attached to each arm.
“You sure you want part of this world?” Rory tosses down a Styrofoam ball on the ground.
I do, but I’m not sure how to convince Rory of this other than staying by her side, no matter what.
CHAPTER 10
RORY
“She wants me to make dinner, but I didn’t see her toting any groceries,” I mumble more to myself as I pull open the refrigerator door. I pause when I see it stocked full of more food than has ever been inside it before.
“About that. I tend to eat a lot, and I wasn't sure how long I might be staying.” He gives me one of his normal shrugs to play it off. I realize he’s expecting me to be pissed about it.
“Thanks.” His brows lift in surprise at me not getting mad at him for overstepping. The truth is I’m not sure if I should or not. Tyson is getting hard for me to keep at a distance. I’m starting to see that he truly does care about my brothers. I hadn’t gotten a chance to go to the store this week. I can deliver loads of groceries to other people, but it can be almost impossible to get my own at times.
“You’re welcome.” He smiles, but it drops when he hears my mother’s laughter coming from the other side of the house. He clenches his jaw so tight a tick forms in it.
I can tell he doesn't care for her, and I can’t even be upset. Once upon a time when I was little, I used to rush to her the same as my brothers did. Hanging on to a hope that she might change one day. But I soon realized that day would never come.
Even when she can stay away from the drugs and booze, she’s still a narcissist that is always seeking out the next man in her life. She feeds on male attention more than anything else in life. It makes me sad not for myself anymore but for Dean and Logan.
Not one of us has the same father. She thinks getting knocked up is a way of getting a man to stay around. Sometimes they did for a little while, but in the end, they always went running for the door.
“Do spaghetti. It’s Dean and Logan’s favorite,” Tyson suggests. That has me smiling. I love how much he has gotten to know my brothers.
“All right.” I start grabbing everything we need while Tyson grabs the pots and starts boiling the water for the pasta. “I had fun tonight,” I admit, leaning up against the counter.
“I did too.”
“Really?” I slice some bread to put into the oven. Tyson opens it for me to slide it in.
“Yeah, really.” He pours the sauce over the meat before putting a lid over it and giving the pasta a stir. “Rory, I enjoy doing anything with you. The boys are an added bonus.” He steps into me, backing me up against the counter. “I’m in this for the long game. I want to be a part of your life, Rory.”
“Why?” I drop my head to stare up at him. Tyson has the world at his fingertips, but all his attention has always been on me. I’ve never understood it.
“You really don’t feel this?” He leans down, his mouth brushing against mine. God, it feels damn good when he’s close. I want to pull him closer and keep him there forever, but fear always wins out for me when it comes to Tyson. My mother hasn’t taught me much in life, but she has taught me that men run. Even some of the good ones. They try to stick around, but it becomes too much for them. In the end, they all leave.
“I feel it,” I admit, not wanting to lie to him. “What happens when you win, Tyson? If you win this game and you get me? Then what?” Would the thrill be gone? I bet I’m the only girl to ever turn Tyson away. Not that I’ve ever seen him give a girl the chance to do so. Except me.
He lifts his palm to my cheek, his face growing serious, but before he can say a word my mother ruins the moment.
“You’re not going to take Rory from us, are you? We’re a package deal.” Her words rake against my skin. I know when she sees Tyson all she is thinking about is money and how she can use him to her benefit.
I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from saying anything rude. I won’t do that when the boys are so close and could hear. She tries to use them against me. The reality is she could kick me out of this house right now, and there isn’t a thing I could do about it. The thought of her keeping me from Logan and Dean is too much to bear, so I push it to the back of my mind. I always have to skirt a fine line when it comes to my mother.
“Nah, how could anyone not want a package that includes Dean and Logan?” He turns to the side, dropping in next to me. Sheila’s eyes bounce between the two of us before they linger on Tyson.
“How serious are you two? Rory can be a bit of a prude.” My mouth falls open. Tyson’s whole body goes stiff beside me. She did not say that. The hell? Is she seriously going to try and hit on Tyson? Why is this even shocking me?
“What’s a prude?” Logan asks, walking into the kitchen. “Spaghetti!” Thankfully, the food distracts him. I step away from Tyson to see to it.
“You know, someone was looking for you,” Tyson says, keeping it vague as he puts the heat back on Sheila.
“He's a liar. I didn’t take anything from him.” She puffs her bottom lip out. Even with the drugs and drinks, she’s managed to stay pretty.
“Let me, babe. It’s hot.” He grabs my hips, pulling me away from the stove to dump the pasta into the strainer. “Set the table, Dean,” he calls out.
“So you got my text?” I fold my arms over my chest.
“I’ve been busy, Rory. You’re not the only one who works around here.”
“Good, rent's due.” She narrows her eyes on me.