Comeback (The Holland Brothers Book 3)

“Cheers.” Tripp holds his shot glass up. I lift mine and then toss back the liquor. The fact that I can’t feel the burn of it anymore is a good sign that I’m drunk.

I set my shot glass down on the kitchen counter at the same time as Tripp.

“Damn. That shit doesn’t get any better the more you drink it.” He grimaces and then chases it with a drink of beer.

My gaze is snatched up by commotion in the living room. London and Sabrina are singing karaoke. I can’t hear them over the heavy thump of the bass and the noise surrounding us, but Sabrina’s smiling and tossing all that red hair around as she leans from side to side as she sings.

Everyone is watching them. Several of my teammates are gathered around her. Slade has a lighter out and holds it over his head like he’s her personal fanboy. I grind my teeth tighter.

Brogan joins in, wrapping his arms around London’s waist from behind and leaning over her shoulder to croon along with them. I can see it. The resemblance. It’s when Brogan and Sabrina are both smiling that they look alike, something about the way their eyes light up. They both look so effortlessly carefree and happy. Most people are guarded even in their happiness, but not Brogan, and I guess not Sabrina either.

A pang hits my chest. Brogan is so damn happy right now and that makes me feel like a bigger asshole, but also somehow more protective.

Fuck. So happy. Happier than I’ve ever seen him, and I’m so scared Sabrina’s going to pull the rug out from underneath him. Again.

She popped into Brogan’s life last year unexpectedly. The sister he never knew he had. My best friend was thrilled. His parents are as shitty as they come, and he dove headfirst into this new relationship, so excited to get to know family that didn’t suck.

I was skeptical of Sabrina’s intentions in the beginning. A sister he never knew existed shows up just as he was having a dynamite rookie season? It wasn’t long before she appeared that his parents had reached out, pretending to want a relationship with him, after ten years without a word, but really what they wanted was money. So yeah, I’m protective. But he’s needed protecting.

Regardless of everything he’d been through, Brogan was ecstatic to find out about Sabrina and, even before the DNA test confirmed they were brother and sister, he threw himself into getting to know her. That’s just who Brogan is. He leads with his heart.

Then about a month after Sabrina arrived, she disappeared. No warning, no goodbye. She texted to tell him she was going only after she left. They’ve kept in touch, but it hurt him. I saw it, even if he didn’t say it outright.

And for all he’s done for me over the years, I’m just as protective of him. He doesn’t need another person walking into his life and then bailing on him.

I’m still staring when Cody is pulled into their sing-along by London. She’s probably the only person who our broody teammate would let do that and not get punched in the face.

Everyone loves Brogan’s fiancée. Including me. She’s the best. London looks out for him the same way my brothers and I always have. Which is why it confuses me that she’s so willing to let Sabrina back into their lives. She seems as happy as Brogan that she’s here.

Cody looks uncomfortable, but he plays along, and Sabrina moves her microphone between them so he can sing with her.

“That’s an interesting pairing,” Tripp says. I forgot he was standing here. I reach for the bottle of Jager. No use in pouring it in a tiny glass when what I want is a long drink.

I don’t know why I feel such a need to get drunk tonight, but I don’t bother trying to decipher it.

“Surprised you’re not over there fighting for her attention.” I slide my gaze to him. Tripp has made no effort to conceal that he thinks Brogan’s sister is hot.

He’s not wrong. She is hot. Something I’ve tried very hard not to notice but can’t deny.

Long red hair, big, brown eyes, and a mouth that perpetually looks like she’s just been kissed. She has these long legs and a grace about her, but she’s feisty and stubborn too. A combination that I have learned I like very much. I like it and I hate myself for it.

I still can’t believe Brogan didn’t tell me she was back or that he invited her tonight. When I opened the door, and she was standing there, I was shocked. And then pissed. Which is why I was so short with her. Okay, fine, I was a jerk. But leaving like she did was shitty.

“Too young for me. Also, Six told me I wasn’t good enough,” Tripp says.

I chuckle, a little of the tension lodged in my chest loosening. “He says that to everyone.”

“Has he said it to you?”

I hadn’t really thought about it, but I guess not. “He knows I’m not interested.”

“Why the hell not?” Tripp seems personally offended by my disinterest in Sabrina. I’ve tried to keep my dislike to myself, but I’m not sure how well I’ve succeeded.

“She’s his sister,” I say, which should be reasoning enough, but Tripp just shrugs it off.

I take another drink straight from the bottle, trying to erase all thoughts of my best friend’s hot sister. I’ve always thought of Brogan as a brother. We’ve been friends for so long, I barely remember a time when he wasn’t around. He’s the most loyal, trusting guy I know. He won’t protect himself, so I will do it for him.

Wait, if he’s my brother, does that make her my sister? My head spins trying to work logic in my current state.

When Brogan’s parents kicked him out at fourteen, he moved in with my family. And he never left. Fuck that was more than ten years ago. He’s not my brother by blood, but in all the ways that matter.

Liquor spills out of my mouth, down my throat and to the front of my shirt. Fuck. That might be my cue to stop for the night. Leaving Tripp to stare at everyone’s favorite newcomer, I head to my room.

I pull my shirt over my head and toss it toward the laundry basket, then do a little fist pump when it lands perfectly in the basket.

Movement draws my attention back to the door. Sabrina stands there, laughing I assume by the way her lips curve up and her body shakes, but I can’t hear it.

The large speakers in my room blast the music for the party, making the floor vibrate along with the bass.

Slowly her gaze drops from my face to my bare upper body.

“Are you lost?” I ask as I move over to my closet and pull out another clean shirt. Except I don’t watch her mouth so I’m not sure if she answers.

Sabrina invades my space, walking over to my desk and scanning the open laptop screen. I hang back, watching her unabashedly. She’s taller than any girl I’ve dated, five-nine or so, but I still have a few inches on her. Her long, red hair hangs down her back in a thick curtain. She’s lean and toned and graceful in her every move.

She turns her head to meet my gaze. “This is a good playlist.”

This time I’m ready to read her lips, but she must realize it’s nearly impossible to actually hear her right now because she says it again, this time signing. Her fingers move a little slow, like she’s out of practice or does it so infrequently that she has to think through how to sign each word.

After our earlier interaction, I did not expect her to waltz in here and compliment my music selection. Her niceness is unnerving. I don’t want her to be nice. I want her to make a choice to be in Brogan’s life or not and then act accordingly.

“Thanks,” I say, not signing back. I take a step back to the party, but Sabrina doesn’t move. Her gaze moves around the room, taking in the space. There isn’t a lot in here besides the bed, desk, and stereo equipment. The only time I really spend in here is to sleep.

Her stare comes back to me, and she smiles, cheeks flushed from the alcohol.

“I want us to get along,” she says finally. She takes a few steps toward me. “For Brogan.”

I shove both hands in my pockets.

“I know that you don’t trust me, but I’m not going anywhere. I mean not emotionally. I don’t know where life will take me physically, but I want him in my life. You’re protective of him and I get that. I’m even grateful for it. Knowing he’s had you all these years makes me thankful. I don’t want to come between you or anything like that. I just want to know him. And nothing you do is going to scare me off, so you can stop acting like an asshole. It doesn’t suit you.” She signs the words as she speaks, then pauses and adds, “I’m sorry if I didn’t sign all that correctly. It’s been a while since I signed with anyone.”

My gut twists with the sincerity splashed on her face and the words that are nearly perfect – her signing of it and what she said. I’m even impressed that she called me out for being an asshole.

The thing is people can promise a lot, but their actions are so much more meaningful. And so far, her actions haven’t convinced me that she’s going to stick around. I hope for Brogan’s benefit, she does.

“You signed it perfectly,” I say. Her face lights up before I push past her, fleeing from my own bedroom.

As the night winds down and people leave, it ends up that me, Brogan, London, Cody, Tripp, Merrick, and Sabrina are the last ones standing. We’ve moved into the living room, sitting around on the couches. Music still plays from my room, but I turned it down so I can hear the conversation better.

Not that I’m following a lot of it. I seem to have a singular focus on Sabrina, which means I keep missing what other people say. It’s pretty standard for me to stop trying as hard to keep up with things by the end of the night. At some point, my brain gets tired from the constant work of listening to the person speaking and reading their lips.

The guys are used to it, especially Brogan. Sabrina catches me staring, not for the first time.

“I should go,” she says, standing. She seems to be the glue holding the party together because everyone else stands in agreement that it’s time to go too.

“Are you sure you don’t want to crash here tonight?” Brogan asks her before wrapping her into a hug.

“Thank you, but I’m fine. I’m always out at this time of night.”

“Right.” Brogan smiles at her. “Let’s hang soon. Text me when you get a night off.”

“Okay.” She nods, then London hugs her as well. I stay seated on the couch.

“Wanna share a ride?” Merrick asks her.

Brogan clears his throat loudly.

“Relax.” Merrick laughs. “I just want to make sure she gets home safe.”

Sabrina smiles, laughing so quietly I can’t hear it. I think she likes how protective Brogan is of her. She glances over at me. I’m the only one that hasn’t said goodbye to her.

“It was good to see you again,” she says.

“Yeah.” I tip my head slightly in agreement. I can feel the tension as everyone watches us, but I ignore it.

A few minutes later, the party is officially over. London heads to her and Brogan’s room to get ready for bed, but my buddy plops down on the couch next to me.

He lets his head fall back as he lets out a tired sigh then glances at me. “You good?”

“Yeah. Too much Jäger.”

One side of his mouth pulls up in a grin, then it falls, and his brows knit. “Do you think she’s staying at some shady place? She wouldn’t give me a lot of details.”

“I’m sure it’s fine.” Though now that he’s mentioned it, I’m picturing her sleeping on some ratty couch in a shitty part of town.

“You don’t mind that I invited her to live with us, do you?” His brown eyes search mine. I’ve never lied to Brogan. We’ve been through too much. It always seemed pointless. He can read me better than anyone anyway.

Still, I consider it before finally admitting, “It might be a little weird. I don’t really know her.”

“That’s even more of a reason for her to be here. I want you to get to know her. You’re two of the most important people in my life.”

Telling him I have no desire to get to know her feels crummy, so I stay silent.

“If you’re cool with it, I’m going to ask her again. The two of you will be friends. I just know it.”

“Why would we be friends?” I ask, struggling to imagine what he thinks he can see so clearly.

“Because I think both of you are awesome, you both think I’m awesome…so it only makes sense that you’d think she was awesome and vice versa.”

“That’s a lot of awesome in one sentence.”

He chuckles then asks, “You’re okay with it? If not, say the word and we’ll keep using that room for Tripp when he drinks too much and needs a place to crash.”

My body heats as I imagine Sabrina sleeping down the hall, running into her first thing in the morning or late at night, or fuck, what if she brings guys over and I have to listen to them having sex. It’s bad enough I’ve got Brogan and London banging their headboard against my wall every night.

But Brogan looks so hopeful, and I know how much it means to him. I can’t very well tell him I don’t want her moving in because I think there’s a chance she’ll drop out of his life again. So I nod. “It’s okay by me.”

It’s only for a little while until she finds her own place and she might not even say yes. I mean, I wouldn’t want to live with us considering how I’ve treated her. I’m sure it won’t come to anything. But the way my pulse races, I go to bed wondering if I’ve just made an epically bad decision.

The next morning when I wake up and walk out to the kitchen, Brogan and London are already up. London sits at the kitchen island while Brogan paces, phone in hand.

“How’s this for a text,” Brogan says, staring down at the small screen. He’s in shorts, no shirt, hair sticking up all over the place, but his eyes are wide, and his movements animated. He’s far more awake than I feel.

“Hey, good to see you last night. Glad you’re back in town!” He looks up. “Exclamation mark or no exclamation mark?”

My brows inch higher and I run a hand through my hair. My brain is foggy, and he is way too amped up for my hungover state.

“You’re overthinking it.” London smiles lovingly at him. “Just get to the point. You don’t need to ease into it with a paragraph of niceties.”

I slide onto a barstool next to London and work on keeping my head upright.

“Morning.” Brogan tips his head toward me. “How are you feeling?”

“Shitty, but nothing brunch won’t cure.” I slide my gaze to London. She loves brunch, and I don’t think I’ll have to work that hard to convince her to go out and have some greasy food and boozy drinks.

“I have to meet with a potential client this morning. Sorry.” She gives me a sympathetic frown.

Well, damn.

“What about you?” I ask Brogan.

“Sure. Yeah. I just need to finish this text.” He looks back to his phone. “Okay, how about: So glad we got to hang last night. Wanted to offer up the room again. It’s no big deal. Would love to have you around more.”

When he finishes, he looks to London for approval.

“Not bad,” she says.

“Not bad isn’t good.” His face is crestfallen.

“What is happening?” I ask, rubbing at my temples to ease the throbbing headache.

“He’s asking Sabrina to move in.” London gets up from her stool. She walks over to Brogan and lifts on her toes to place a kiss on his lips. When she drops back down, she says, “Send it. She’ll either say yes or no, but it’s not because you aren’t amazing.”

My stomach drops. I completely forgot about my conversation with Brogan last night. Dammit. Drunk me should not be allowed to agree to things.

He nods, but as soon as she leaves, Brogan looks like he has the weight of the world on his shoulders again. I must not look much better because he grabs a banana and places it in front of me and then fills a glass with water and does the same.

“Thank you.”

“I can smell the booze screaming from your pores,” he says with a smirk.

I take two large bites of banana, swallow, and drink half the glass of water before replying. “I went a little too hard. Did you already eat?”

I have my heart set on brunch. Nothing cures a hangover like pancakes and mimosas.

“Yes, but I’ll go with you as soon as I figure out how to convince Sabrina to move in.”

I guess he’s not going with London’s advice of just sending it.

“Why are you sweating it so much?” I ask. “She’s back in town. Either way you’ll get to see her more.”

“I know,” he says, but he sounds as glum as a kid who just found out he can’t keep the stray puppy he found. Not that Sabrina is a stray puppy. She’s more like a cat. “I like the idea of her being here, seeing her every day, having low-key casual time just to get to know her like I would if we’d grown up together.”

Understanding dawns on me. He wants what he didn’t have with her. A second chance. Growing up with a house full of siblings wasn’t as dreamy as he makes it out to be, but I can understand wanting to create a sense of it by living together now.

I still hate the idea of her being here, but that’s just because I’m afraid the more she’s around, the more attached Brogan is going to get. And the worse it’ll hurt when she leaves again.

“I think I’ll wait and ask her in person.”

“Good idea.” Before she left, they only saw each other once every couple of weeks. That’s plenty of time for her to find an apartment and then I won’t even need to worry about it.

“Brunch?” I ask hopefully. I need to manage this hangover before I make any more bad decisions.

He laughs. “Go get ready, princess. We leave in five.”