“We’ve always had a connection,” I said. “I think those old feelings are there.”
He snorted. “Bullshit, she wanted to rip your heart out.”
“She used to,” I said, grinning. “She almost kissed me the other night.”
He swung, slicing the ball, and whipped his head around to look at me. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“I’m serious,” I said.
“Look, Thea doesn’t always make the best choices,” he said. “You can’t mess with her. You guys had your chance and you pretty much fucked her over, if we’re being honest. I let it go the first time because it ended up working out well for her. But that was your one pass. You had your chance with her, and you totally blew it. You don’t get the chance to do it again. She might be caught up in the moment right now, but it can’t happen again. No way.”
I wasn’t surprised that was how he felt. “Relax.”
“I’m serious, Reese. She’s off limits. I’m glad the two of you are having fun, but it’s not going to last. You can’t do what you did to her again. I will kick your ass this time.”
“Alright, alright,” I said. “We can be friends without taking it too far.”
He snorted and went back to driving balls. “I don’t know about that. Neither of you has any self-control when it comes to the other. You guys are dangerous together. Fire and gasoline. Just think of what happens when those two things mix together. Someone is going to get hurt. I’m telling you, that someone will not be my sister.”
“I got it,” I said. “Let’s get a beer.”
The tension was high. I needed to defuse it. I couldn’t afford to lose my best friend and my dad in the same month. It was understandable he would be against the idea of me being with his sister. It wasn’t a good idea. I knew it and I was sure Thea did as well. We could be friends but that was where it stopped.
“Works for me,” he said.
We packed up and went to the attached lounge to enjoy some nachos and beer. It was our usual habit. After beating out some frustration, we always kicked back with a cold beer and did a little bullshitting.
“So, your dad,” I said and steered the conversation back to something a little safer.
He groaned and shook his head. “I don’t even know. I thought I was going to be the one that lost my shit. Turns out, Thea is pretty damn scrappy.”
That made me laugh. “Explains why she’s not afraid to work in that area.”
“Yeah, I think it’s the crackheads and gangbangers that should look out for her,” he said. “I thought for sure she was going to tackle Stacey. I had to drag her out of that house.”
I couldn’t stop smiling, thinking about Thea getting down and dirty. That made me want to shake her hand. Hell, I wanted to give her a high-five. “Maybe you should let her pull some hair and slap her around a little. Stacey might move on to another victim.”
“You know, it’s crazy,” he said. “I would expect this to happen to your dad, not mine. My dad’s not wealthy. He’s got enough money in retirement to live frugally for the rest of his days. His house isn’t a mansion.”
“I say this with love, but your dad was easy picking,” I said. “He’s retired and alone. I would bet you money this is not her first time doing this. She’s younger than him and knows your dad wouldn’t see her coming. My dad is used to women trying to do this to him.”
“Good point,” he muttered. “If we get him away from her, we are going to have him talk to your dad and have him get a lesson in avoiding gold diggers.”
That was a kick to the gut. “That’s assuming my dad comes home.”
“Shit,” he said. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think.”
“It’s fine,” I assured him. “I still forget he’s not here. Just this morning I was thinking about going over to his house to talk about some property.”
“Don’t give up on him yet,” he said. “Armand is probably on some tropical island with nothing but bikini-clad women serving him fruity drinks and waving palm fronds over him.”
I wished that were true. “Let’s hope,” I said. “Let’s hope.”