I shrugged and smiled. “Maybe I never want you to!” The truth was, I might not. Maddy was in Vegas, as was Pops. Millie and Wes were here. Max and his clan were in Texas. The rest of the people I loved the most in the world were all spread out. Having Gin here would lighten that heartache a little more. “How’s Pops doing?”
Ginelle hummed. “Well, his vitals are back to being good, and the doctors are hopeful he’ll wake up. It’s just a matter of time. According to the scan, his brain function is normal. The virus and the allergic reactions didn’t hurt him as much as they anticipated since he made it through.”
Closing my eyes, I sent up a major thank you to the big man upstairs. He’d spared my father and been merciful. Now it was a waiting game.
“And Maddy?”
“Oh, she’s totally fine. Back to school, living her life with Matt, being a normal overachieving twenty-year-old.”
“Good, that’s just what I want to hear.”
“You know, last time I talked to her she said she’d talked to Max a lot about Cunningham Oil & Gas and their research and science department. Apparently, she’s switching some of her classes to focus more on the earth and mineral sciences. Says she’s really considering going there after graduation and working under him. Even Matt said it was a good idea.”
“Yeah, but what about his family? They seem pretty tight,” I said.
“Apparently, no shit, his parents said they’d move to Texas. He’s an only child, and they’re getting closer to retirement. Max told Matt that he’d hire his dad on, his mom even. Something about family staying together or some bullshit.”
Of course he did. Max the fucking saint. He’d saved me, welcomed Maddy and me and everyone around us into the fold. I loved my brother, but this took the cake. Maybe that’s why he was so happy. He was the perfect example of do unto others as you would have them do unto you. He treated everyone with respect, loved his family more than anything else, and wanted everyone to be happy. In turn, he’d be happy the rest of his days. I got it. Made me wonder when the pressure to move to Texas would start on my end. I had a feeling sooner rather than later. That man liked being surrounded by family, and he was building his base. I wouldn’t put it past him to find some nugget that would get Wes and me to move to the Lone Star State. The beef alone was worth it. The heat, the nasty humidity, and what that shit did to my hair…blech. It would have to be something amazing for me to make that change. Having my baby sister there was a draw, and he knew it. Get the little sister, and the big one will follow.
“Yeah, Max is something else.”
Ginelle sighed dreamily. “Girl, he’s all that and a bag of Wavy Lays potato chips, and you know how much I love those. You can never eat just one.”
“Are you hitting on my brother?” I pretended to be affronted.
“Does the sun rise in the East and set in the West? Have you seen your fucking brother? He’s a God in cowboy boots and a Henley!”
“Oh, brother,” I said not wanting to hear this about Max of all people.
“Damn right, oh brother. Only if it were me, I’d be screaming, ‘fuck yeah, Max. Harder, Max. Give it to me, Max!’” She howled and groaned for mass affect, making a little bit of vomit rise up and clog my throat.
“You’re sick.” I gagged.
“But you love me.”
“I need my head checked,” I said.
“While you’re doing that, I’ll be packing my shit. See you in two weeks. Love your ugly face, hobag!” Ginelle spouted and then hung up.
Damn. She’d won that round. I’d win the next.
Chapter Six
The blood-curdling scream tore me from the sweetest dream. As this was the new norm, I hopped out of bed, hit the light switch, and watched as the man I loved tossed, turned, and cried out, lost to the demons lurking within the deepest places in his mind. It broke my heart. His body arched, his bare chest glistening in sweat curved towards the heavens, as if his whole being were reaching for salvation. The thick ridge of his cock tented his boxer briefs in a vulgar display of his virility. Before I woke him, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, allowing his screams to put me in the state I needed to be. Commanding, strong, the tool to bring him back from the depths of despair, over and over. I’d be that and more, until eventually, he’d find peace. There was no other option. Wes would find serenity again.
Slipping the nighty over my head I let it drop in a silken puddle to the floor. I checked my emotions at the door and pushed down my underwear.
Standing strong, I roared. “Wes!”
I stood naked, bare for him as his eyes opened in a flash. The pupils were almost entirely black, I couldn’t even discern a hint of green. He was an animal. Lost to his fears, he zeroed his eyes in on me.