Denver stuffed his free hand in one of his front pockets. “She banged her tooth hard enough they had to pull it. Good thing it was a baby tooth, but the dentist isn’t sure if it’s caused any damage for when her real tooth grows in.”
I smiled softly. “She seems to like you.”
He shrugged and turned his head to the side. “I look after her. Kids should be protected from the lowlifes in this world. Her dad’s not around, and Austin’s not in a position where he can devote that kind of time.”
“That’s sweet of you to do. I’m sure Lexi’s mom appreciates a little help.”
Denver inhaled sharply and the conversation shifted gears. “One of my brothers is missing. I dropped by to see if Lexi would watch Maizy for about an hour while I look for him. I had to take her to the dentist, but I don’t want to drive her home and have to come all the way back into town. I know you’ve met the twins, have you ever met Reno?”
I chewed my lip. “Guy with the short brown hair who wears sunglasses all the time? Muscular arms and…”
Then I blushed and looked down so fast that my bangs covered my face. My inner monologue started up again. Yeah, tell him just how hot his brother is. Then he might go for you because that’s what every guy wants to hear.
Denver lifted his cupped hand to his mouth and slid all the candy in, talking with a mouthful. He wiped his hand across his T-shirt. “That’s probably him. He’s not a man who falls out of touch, and we’re a tight family who keeps tabs on one another. Seen him?”
“He was at Walgreens yesterday on his bike. Maybe he was at a party or left his phone off the hook. Sometimes I turn mine off when I just want to sleep in.”
Denver sniffed out a laugh. “We all live together and his bed is made up so tight you could crack an egg on it.”
“You all live in the same house?” Lexi had talked about Austin’s brothers, but I’d assumed only one or two lived there, not the entire family.
He slowly ran a hand through his unkempt hair. “Yep. Don’t you live with anyone?”
“My fish.”
“Ah, is that so? Well, I hope he’s a fintastic roommate.”
“Here, April,” Lexi said, tossing me a pair of sandals. “They might be too big for your feet, but that’ll get you through the day. Did you walk all the way up here? I thought you took the bus?”
“I just stepped in some mud is all.”
Maizy ambled in, chewing on a wad of red gum.
“Maze, do you feel like treasure hunting today?” Lexi asked.
Maizy ignored her and Denver shot Lexi a private glare. “You need to give that shit up,” he said with a pop of his brow.
Lexi sighed and began tapping her fingernails against the doorjamb.
“Did Reno say anything to you?” Denver continued.
“No. I just saw him park his bike and go into the store.”
“The fuck?” Denver exclaimed in frustration, throwing up his arms. Lexi covered her little sister’s ear and had one of those pissed-off smiles that told me she’d tried a dozen times to get him to curb his language around Maizy. “He wants tabs on every single one of us, but he thinks he can just cut loose and…” Denver thinned his lips and made a sharp noise with them that made Maizy giggle.
Lexi didn’t seem as worried about Reno as Denver was.
“I’ll keep an eye out for him,” I promised.
Denver stared privately at Lexi. “Did you invite her?”
“Oh!” she exclaimed. “We’re having a house party on Friday. It took some time to settle in, but we wanted to have a big barbecue and throw on some music. You have to come. I know you don’t normally do these, but you’ve been such a big help to me these past few months, April. If we’re going to be running this shop together, then I think we need to hang out. What do you say?”
“Um, I don’t know.” I hesitated. I really wanted to go more than anything, but the transportation conundrum was a real party killer. “Where?”
She fed me the location and I knew I couldn’t go. Buses didn’t run out there and no way could I walk that far. Trevor might not be back by then and who knew if he’d want to go?
“I think I have something planned, but I’ll let you know.”
“I smell bullshit,” Denver sang in a low voice. “If you don’t have a ride, I’ll come get you, but you’re coming,” he said, wagging a finger at me. “Let me know if you see Reno. He’s always forgetting his damn phone, but it’s just not like him to vanish.”
“Sure thing.”
Chapter 4