Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 81518 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 408(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 272(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81518 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 408(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 272(@300wpm)
“Once a week, you’re going to write a short journal entry about something you’ve done for your brothers since your parents and sister passed away.”
Shay’s expression faltered, and he swallowed uneasily.
“For two years, you’ve felt like you’ve deserved punishment for not saving your family,” I murmured. “We believe it’s made you blind to the shoes you’ve filled as a new parent to your brothers.”
He made a sound of protest at that. “I’m just their brother. Aunt Mel has filled those shoes, if anything. She gave us a home.”
I tilted my head. “And you’re a cage fighter to, what, make rent?”
River and I weren’t stupid. We knew how much money could be earned at those fights.
Shay withdrew his hand from River’s and folded his arms over his chest. “Since when is it bad to save for your brothers’ college funds?”
Well, that was the point. “It’s not,” I replied. “That’s what we’re getting at, sweetheart. What you’re doing for TJ and Levi is wonderful, and we want you to see it too. And you can’t say it’s something brothers normally do for one another.”
As Shay dropped his gaze to his lap and started biting at his thumbnail, I became convinced this homework was necessary for him. Breaking bad habits was difficult, and he wasn’t going to stop warring against guilt overnight.
“Do we have an agreement, boy?” I asked.
He sighed heavily and muttered a quiet, “Sure.”
River cupped his ear. “What was that?”
Shay lost the attitude, though anyone could still see his annoyance. “Yes, Sir. We have an agreement.”
Better.
“Good boy. You’re excused for now,” I said. “Get some downtime with Ivy and Tate while I prepare a meal before you get on the road.”
That made him hesitate for some reason. “Ivy and I bought fixings for Greek salad and garlic bread.”
That explained the garlic smell. Ivy must be in the kitchen.
“I can help with that.” River stood up from his seat. “We generally don’t let Ivy cook alone, because then we just get rabbit food.”
He wasn’t wrong.
Shay’s mouth twitched with humor, but I supposed he wasn’t ready to let go of his mood quite yet. That was fine with me.
River walked out first, visibly eager to do damage control in the kitchen and find some meat we could throw on the grill.
Shay paused in the doorway. “I know what you’re doing, by the way. You can be the meanest drill sergeant when we run together or we’re in the pool, but you won’t fight me.”
I smirked. “Hard to fight when we don’t have the cages ready.”
He scoffed. “We can fight on the damn lawn, Daddy.”
“Oh, you’re right. How come I hadn’t thought of that before?”
He scowled. “You’re not fooling me. You just don’t wanna fight me until Saturday, admit it.”
“I assure you, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You assure me,” he mocked. Then he stuck out his tongue at me and closed the door.
I grinned to myself.
This weekend was going to be fun.
“Fucking hell, I’m getting old.” I gritted my teeth and gripped the bars as tightly as I could while Colt jammed the platform under the fighting cage. The utility gloves I wore were uncomfortable too, considering I was filling them with sweat. But I wouldn’t be able to hold on to the bars without the rubber lining of the gloves.
I preferred vampire gloves, to be frank.
“You and me both,” Colt grunted. “Okay, I think you can let go.”
I looked down to make sure the corners of the platform and cage lined up, then slowly let go. Jesus Christ. The triple-digit heat wasn’t helping. I drew my arm over my forehead and squinted up the lawn. River was heading our way with two electric screwdrivers. One more cage to go, and then we were planting our asses in the pool.
Colt sat back on his heels and removed his gloves. “I won’t say no to a dip in the pool after this.”
“Count on it,” I replied. “You stayin’ the night? We got a case of beer in the fridge.”
He inclined his head, reaching for his water bottle in the grass. “Yeah, Luke and Kit are comin’ down first thing in the mornin’ anyway. No use in drivin’ back.”
Perfect. We could go over some of the plans for Saturday.
It was going to be a busy event. Fourteen couples had signed up to participate in the Game, and a total of sixty-eight people would be here. Around the same number of people had shown up for the last Game, though only nine couples had participated. Seven of them would compete this Saturday too.
It took us another hour to get the second platform in place, and then River and I attached the screws as Colt took measurements for the rubber strips we were putting into place tomorrow. The floor of each cage already consisted of a thick rubber mat, but this wouldn’t be the kind of cage fight Shay was used to. The bars needed some padding too.