Chapter 20

When I walked into the shop on Monday morning my mood was still as sour as it had been the day before. I just wasn’t sure if my anger was toward my family or myself. Both Pop and Eli had reasons to be concerned and it was very possible that I wasn’t looking at the bigger picture.

Possible but not probable.

I spotted the parts I’d ordered for Harper’s car the moment I stepped foot into my office; at least I would have something to keep my mind busy today. Plus, returning her fixed vehicle meant I had a reason to stop by unannounced.

“You don’t look like a man who’s been getting some.”

I looked up from where I was scavenging through the boxes and found Brett leaning against the doorframe.

“What are you talking about?” I pushed to my feet and gestured for him to come inside.

After making himself comfortable on my couch Brett said, “Well, according to Chase you and one of his employees—his only employee - were caught with your tongues down each other’s throat in the clinic’s kitchen.”

My little brother needed to learn to keep his damn mouth shut. At this rate, the whole bloody town was going to know my business. When I didn’t answer, Brett threw his head back and laughed.

“I’ll take your silence as confirmation. Good on ya for going after what you want.”

I hardly managed to contain my snort. “You’re happy about this now?” I asked with raised eyebrows. “Last week you were the one who warned me against her.”

He pulled his shoulders up and shrugged. “I’m still not entirely sure about her motives, but it’s not about me, is it? If she’s the one your heart wants, who am I to tell it differently?”

Leaning my ass against my desk, I folded my arms in front of me. “Yeah, if my family would just see it that way.” In all honesty, I was fairly certain that my momma and Chase felt the same as my friend. After all, my little brother was the one who had been giving me these little ‘ins’ with Harper.

Brett studied me for a moment and I knew he was choosing his words carefully. “We’ve been friends for a very long time, so you know I’ve always got your back?” When I nodded, he continued, “I know your family too, Logan, that’s why I can say that they only ever have your best interests at heart. Even Eli. Hell, especially Eli.”

It wasn’t that I didn’t have any sympathy for my brother’s situation; I was just so damned sick of everyone using it as an excuse for him to treat people like dirt. I’d even used it as the reason he’d been so awful toward Harper when we went to pick up Flynn.

Angry at this realization, I gritted out, “He needs to understand that not every woman is going to do what Melissa did.” Rubbing my hands over my face I let out a sigh. “I’m not stupid, I understand why everyone is so concerned and I know Harper has secrets. It’s just…they don’t matter to me. All that I care about is the way I feel when I’m with her.”

“I hear ya, man,” Brett pushed to his feet and walked over to the door. Nodding his head slightly, he studied me for a long moment before saying, “But just remember, family is important too and no one is worth losing them over.” After tapping the frame twice, he disappeared down the stairs, leaving me alone to mull over his words.

It took me all of five minutes to realize that Brett was right. I didn’t agree with them whole heartily but I also didn’t like fighting with them, I especially hated fighting with Pop. It reminded me of days I’d much rather forget. Days when I’d been too stubborn to realize that he was trying to help me.

I’d been harsh on him and he hadn’t deserved that. Not from me. I was just too pig-headed to understand that Pop was the last person who would pass judgment. This was one wrong I had to make right.

I wasn’t too much of a man to apologize that’s why I didn’t hesitate to pick up the phone and dial my dad’s number. We spent the better part of an hour talking things through and by the time I hung up it felt as if a weight had been lifted.