Slide(Boosted Hearts Book 3)(57)

Somehow he’d have to look Hugh and Joe in the eye and not feel like the lowest piece of shit on the planet.

And somehow he’d have to watch Lucy get on with her life without him.





Chapter Sixteen





Adam stood staring at Lucy’s apartment door. No one had arrived at the garage for work yet, which was how he’d planned it. He’d gotten back the day before, and though he’d wanted to come to her immediately and apologize for the way he’d acted—God, shake her for leaving him like that, for depriving him of their last night together—he’d gone to his own place and forced himself to stay away. He shouldn’t be there now, but he couldn’t bear another hour to pass and not tell her how sorry he was for behaving like a jackass.

Before he lost his nerve, he knocked—and waited.

Nothing.

He tried again.

“You looking for Luce?” Joe asked behind him, scaring the shit out of him.

He turned around and fought not to wince when he stared his friend in the eye. It wasn’t easy. “Ah…yeah. I promised her I’d ask a guy I know about a job for her.” The lie slid past his lips, making him feel like an even bigger asshole.

“Yeah? Any luck?”

Adam shook his head, throat suddenly too damn tight.

Joe shrugged. “She got a job in a bar, so at least she’s got money coming in.” He rubbed the back of his head. “Wish she’d stop this stubborn bullshit and go back to school.”

She got a job? He wanted to ask where, but bit his tongue.

Adam came down the stairs. Lucy either wasn’t home, or had seen it was him and refused to answer. He didn’t blame her if it was the latter. “You and Hugh need to back off, seriously. You ever think she has a good reason for leaving? She was close to finishing, then she just leaves? Instead of giving her shit, maybe you two boneheads should’ve tried actually talking to her instead of at her.” He should keep his mouth shut, but he was worried about her, and the words were out before he could stop them.

Joe’s eyes went wide. “Now hang on—”

“Besides, she’s old enough to make her own damn decisions, whether you and your thick-headed brother like it or not.” Why am I still talking?

“Who’s thick headed?” Hugh rumbled from behind him.

“You are,” Joe and Adam said at the same time.

Hugh crossed his arms over his monster chest. “What did I do?”

Joe scowled at Adam then glanced at his brother. “He thinks we’ve been too hard on Lucy.”

“Yeah?” Hugh growled. “How many sisters do you have again, Grady? Oh, that’s right. None.”

“What if there’s something really wrong? There’s more to why she left school, I’m sure of it.” One thought had been plaguing him since she got back. “What about that guy she was seeing?” Surely her brothers had been wondering the same thing.

Hugh shook his head. “I asked, she said it wasn’t him. She’d tell me if it was.”

“You sure about that?” Adam fired back.

“I practically raised Lucy. You think I don’t know my own damn sister?”

Adam stared him down. “I think you’re delusional, that’s what I think. I don’t think you know her as well as you think you do.” Jesus. Seriously? Stop fucking talking.

Hugh’s eyes narrowed. “You seem to be taking an awfully big interest in Lucy all of a sudden.”

“I’ve known her nearly her whole life.” He was growling now. Hugh’s suspicion pissed him off; the fact that he didn’t seem to be happy over Adam’s interest more so. Which was messed up when it was more than founded. And it wasn’t like Adam would expect anything but displeasure from Hugh and Joe if he they ever thought he was getting too close to Lucy. He was showing his cards here, big time. He needed to pull back.

“Good thing your opinion doesn’t mean shit when it comes to my sister, then, huh?”

“Jesus, let’s all take a breather and break this up,” Joe said beside them. “It’s too early for this drama.” He unlocked the main garage door and rolled it up. “I think Adam’s right about one thing, though.”

“You do?” Hugh said.

“Maybe we should back off a bit. If we keep pushing, she’s just going to push back harder. Let’s step back for a bit. I’m sure she’ll get sick of serving drinks soon enough and go back on her own.”

Hugh rubbed his beard. “You might be right, I guess.”

Adam wanted to simultaneously smack them both upside the head and ask where she was working. Also, why the hell she wasn’t home this early in the morning. But Hugh was already suspicious. The guy was like a vicious guard dog when it came to his family, his baby sister especially. If he thought his player of a friend was sniffing around her, the guy would lose his mind.