Buzz (The Riley Brothers Book 1) by E. Davies Read Free Book Online Page B

back...”
    “We'll sit down with him,” Thomas promised.
    “I've told him before, but he never listens. Exes should stay exes. You broke up for a reason, fuckin' stay broken up.” Jackson pushed back the living room curtains to check for Cam.
    Thomas didn't say anything.
    Jackson hesitated, then shook his head. It's probably nothing. “Anyway, you comin' over or what? I can put on lunch for us all and we'll head out to the house tour.”
    “Sounds good. I'll be there in half an hour,” Thomas promised.
    “Soon as you get out of bed?”
    “Bye,” Thomas groaned and Jackson laughed when the line cut off with that. He sent a quick text to Cam to let him know the news, then headed to the kitchen.
    ***
    “Hey, I'm back! Holy crap, that smells good.”
    Jackson laughed at the early feedback from his brother. “Thanks,” he answered, glancing around the kitchen corner. Cam was kicking off his shoes. “It's just sautéed onions, but it always smells like supper. My home ec teacher taught me that before I switched out for workshop class.”
    “I'll keep that in mind. So, we got the house tour!”
    “Yep,” Jackson smiled, and his heart lifted at the smile on Cam's face. His brother looked his age again, his nose and smile a little crooked. He hadn't been moping about his diagnosis, then. Good.
    “Thomas's on his way. We'll have lunch and then he just has to drop off something to Mom and Dad and escape again before the tour.”
    “Cool. Need a hand with anything?”
    “Nah, I've got it. Grab a couple beers for us, we can eat outside.”
    “Before he's back, though, I wanted a word.” One-on-one, Cam wouldn't feel cornered.
    “'bout what?” Cam cracked open two beers, putting one beside Jackson and leaning on the counter nearby. His sideways gaze was sharp and perceptive as he watched Jackson. No wonder he'd been considered for captain: he was a lot smarter than he gave himself credit for.
    “Are you gonna be... okay moving back here?” Jackson asked. It was the most hands-off way to ask the news.
    “Oh, yeah,” Cam assured him, his chest swelling as he lightly punched Jackson's shoulder. “Getting cold feet already?”
    “No,” Jackson laughed. “I just worry. I'm a big brother, it's my job.”
    He'd said it for years, but for the first time, Cam looked at him – really looked – when he said it. Cam's face was set in a light frown, his eyes roving across Jackson's face while he fidgeted with his beer can.
    “Are you okay?” Cam echoed. “I mean, man, I've hardly heard about your life lately. I was... pretty absent for a while.”
    “No, man, we all knew that was gonna happen.” Was Cam feeling guilty now? Bullshit. He'd been training for one of the highest-paid and most demanding careers in the country.
    “I mean, you're not dating or anything.”
    Jackson grunted. That was down to a couple bad relationships, a lack of eligible guys, and his focus on learning new work skills. He wanted to be the go-to blacksmith for everyone in the area from house builders to art galleries.
    Didn't mean he didn't want to date, but Cam was one to talk.
    Oh. Wait.
    This was his way of trying to broach it, wasn't it?
    “Neither are you now,” Jackson pointed out, watching him. Cam looked away first, peering out through the small kitchen window to the picnic table. He had something to hide, then. “Or is Nate back?”
    “No.” That was far more vehement an answer than Jackson had expected, but it set him at ease. Cam didn't lie like this. “No, it's not Nathan. He can fuckin' stay gone. I'm just saying, I'm not not dating. I'm open to it.”
    Has he already met someone? “Oh. Good.”
    “Yeah.” Cam was done with the conversation. A purr shutting off in the driveway announced Thomas's arrival. Talking about boyfriends was awkward one-on-one, let alone around their presumed-straight brother. Jackson let it go.
    The doorknob jiggled. “You locking him out until he gives the password?”
    “Oh, shit, I