“And I remembered to get the non-latex kind too.” Remy sounded way too proud of himself, so I squinted an incredulous glance his way.
He sighed as if disgusted that I wasn’t happier. “This is me proving to you that I’m perfectly okay with you going out and having sex with...whomever.”
“Just not your cousin,” I had to add, trying not to sound bitter and hoping I hadn’t just stuck my foot into my mouth and made things worse between us. But I was sort of hoping he’d say he was okay with me pursuing Elisa after all.
He didn’t. Of course.
He scowled a second before shrugging. “Yeah. Just not her.”
I wanted to mope and scowl and argue, but...this was Sticks extending an olive branch. Strange method, but he wanted to make amends, so I accepted it.
“Well...thank you, I think,” I said, tossing the box onto my bed. “So you want to kill shit now?”
His shoulders eased and a relieved smile slid across his face. “Sure.”
“So...Dugger Murphy, huh? Yeah, I can’t see Pick being named that either.”
As I gave my controls a rest to snatch my bottle of Angry Orchard and take a couple gulps, Remy finished off the small invasion of enemies closing in on us.
Damn, he really was good at this game.
“I know, right?” I set the drink back down to back him up as he entered a nearby building, guns drawn.
With a snort, he grinned my way, “God, your mom had sucky taste in names.”
I shot a guy in the head that was about to take him out.
“Shit, I didn’t see him.” Remy gritted his teeth in frustration. “Gracias.”
His gratitude came begrudgingly. It cracked me up how competitive he was and how he hated missing something or getting help.
I acted blasé about it. “Mmm hmm.” But he still flipped me the bird for my answer, and I had to laugh.
“So, this guy who owns the garage and who Pick actually used to work for ended up being his paternal grandfather? That’s some crazy shit.”
“Yeah, about as crazy as me finding out my boss was my brother.” I didn’t mention that I was a little jealous Pick had ended up discovering a new family member who didn’t outright hate him, resent him, or just not give a shit about his life. But then I reminded myself, I’d gotten a new family member out of Pick, hadn’t I? So I was technically no longer batting zero in that regard.
“Hey, I keep forgetting to ask. Will you deejay his wedding reception? It’s going to be at Forbidden next Sunday.”
“Next Sunday? You mean, like in eight days, next Sunday?”
“Yep. I would’ve thought Eva would’ve been more into the big, drawn-out grandiose planning thing too, but apparently they’re ready now and don’t want to dawdle. So, what do you say about deejaying? You’re really the only other person I trust with the sound system.”
“I am?” The crack in Remy’s voice told me he was honored by my announcement. After clearing his throat, he sounded much less emotional and more nonchalant. “Okay, sure. No prob. How’s Pick handling it, anyway?”
“The wedding plans?” I sent him a short frown. “Like I know.” Or care.
“No.” He snorted and waved a hand. “How’s he, you know, dealing with the shock of learning so much in one day. Met his uncle, then his grandfather. How’s he doing with that?”
I sent him another strange glance. “No idea. He seemed okay to me. Why?”
“Oh, Jesus.” Remy rolled his eyes. “You hetero men. I swear. Always too afraid to talk to each other about your feelings.”
Now I was really stumped. “What the hell was I supposed to ask him?”
“No sé.” Sticks sighed as if I was impossible. “Ask if he was bien, maybe. If he wanted to talk about it. If—”
“I’m sure Eva will take care of all that. He doesn’t need me to give him a hug or pat on the head.”
From the corner of my eye, I saw Remy glance my way. “And what about you?”
Huh? “What about me?”
“You don’t have an Eva to talk to or hug.”
I sent him an incredulous glance. “Yeah, and I’m not the one who met my grandfather for the first time today, either.” I’d just gotten confirmation how much my mother had truly despised me.
“Yeah, but you had to face your uncle again after not seeing him for…how long now? And you spent the entire morning with Pick, when a month ago, the idea scared the shit out of you.”
“Christ,” I groaned. “I tell you way too much.” When he just smirked, I rolled my eyes. “My uncle’s still completely impartial about anything to do with my life, and Pick...I don’t know, I’m growing on the idea of him being my brother.”
“Really?” That seemed to please Remy. “That’s great.”
“Yeah, ever since he told me he’d already researched Polly online and knew what had happened to her and my dad, I haven’t been so freaked.”
“Speaking of your dad—”
“Don’t.” Holding up a hand in his direction to cut him off, I sighed. “I haven’t seen him again since the run-in at the bar.”