“Earth to Graham,” Murphy said as he threw a carrot piece at him.
Graham clenched his jaw and picked up the carrot from the floor, setting it on the coffee table in front of him. “Don’t throw food, dipshit. You’re how old now?”
“Not as old as you,” Murphy said with a grin before stuffing his mouth full of another bite.
“Jesus, Murph,” Owen groaned. “Who taught you manners?”
“Mom did, but they didn’t stick.” Murphy smiled, though there was sadness in his eyes at the comment.
After spending so many years keeping her youngest son alive, their mother had died from a brain aneurysm soon after Murphy’s clear diagnosis. Their father had died soon after from complications of the flu. Graham always figured they’d just wrung themselves out after taking care of Murphy for so long. Cynthia had died right after that, and Graham had lost himself in his work and grief. If he hadn’t had his brothers with him, he wasn’t sure what he would have done.
“Use a napkin,” Graham said as he tossed a few at him. “I’m not going to clean up after you.”
“You will, but it’s because you love me.” Murphy wiped himself up and took another big bite. “Tell us why you’re all surly.”
Graham clenched his jaw. “I’m fine.”
“You’re lying,” Owen said as he took a bite himself. His brother chewed and swallowed before speaking again, unlike dear old Murphy. “Is it Blake? Because I think it’s Blake. If it were the other thing, we’d have seen you go into your cave like you usually do. Instead, you’re mean. So it’s got to be Blake.”
“I’m with Owen on this one,” Jake said.
“Yeah,” Murphy added.
Graham sighed. Now he remembered why he didn’t have his brothers over as much anymore. They saw too damn much. “Just drop it.”
“So there’s something to drop,” Murphy said.
“Of course, there is,” Owen added. “He slept with her, I can tell that much. But why he’s acting like a bear with a thorn in his paw, I don’t know.”
“Will you stop fucking comparing me to a bear?”
“What, you don’t like Goldilocks in your bed?” Jake asked with a laugh.
“Blake’s not blonde, and fuck you three.”
“No, thanks. I’ve got Border and Maya for that,” Jake teased.
“Anyway, if you want to talk about Blake, we’re here,” Owen said softly.
“If not, turn on the damn movie so we don’t talk about it,” Murphy added. “That’s how these things work, you know.”
Graham groaned and turned on the movie. “Fine. Just no more questions okay.” A pause. “Let me figure out what I’m doing.”
“If you knew what you were doing, you wouldn’t need us,” Owen whispered.
Graham closed his eyes. “I’ll remember you said that when you find a woman.”
Owen was quiet for so long, Graham was afraid he’d stepped in it. Only he didn’t know what he could have stepped in since Owen didn’t have a woman. That he knew of anyway. Instead of talking about it like he should, Graham went quiet when the title came on the screen. They’d focus on this and not on what was important. Because he and Blake were too important to talk about just yet.
He’d figure it out…soon.
At least, he hoped he would.
And if he didn’t, well, the Gallagher brothers would be there for him when he fucked it up.
Again.
When the doorbell rang, Graham cursed. He hadn’t set an alarm that morning because he was allowed to sleep in. It was the damn weekend, and he was off. But hell, it seemed there would be no sleep for him. Whoever had woken him up would just have to pay the price of his general grumpiness due to lack of caffeine.
“What?” he growled when he opened the door.
“Good morning,” Blake said and handed him a cup of coffee in a paper to-go cup. “I’m sorry for waking you up. I forgot people don’t work weekends like I do.” She cursed. “Hell, I need to head into the shop soon since Austin is opening by himself, but I wanted to say good morning, and I’m sorry for leaving like I did. I was silly and overwhelmed and trying not to think about how good it was. And in the end, I ended up being a dork about it and hurting you in the process.”
“Blake.”
“And,” she continued as if he hadn’t said anything, “now I’m thinking I might not have hurt you at all because, hello, self-centered for even thinking that. Hell. Okay. Well, there is coffee, and I need to get to work. But before I do…” She closed her eyes, took a deep breath. “There’s something I need to tell you.”
Her eyes were so intent, he knew it had to be important to her, but right then, he could only feel the relief that she’d shown up. She might have run, but she’d come back. He’d worry about what that meant later. Without a word, he took her by the wrist and dragged her inside and off his porch.
“Graham…it’s important.”
“Okay. You can tell me after.”
“After what?” she asked, her eyes wide.
“After this.” He crushed his lips to hers, needing her taste. When he pulled back, breathless, he took both coffees and put them on the table next to him.