"No, that's not what he said." Brandon stepped into the room. "You asked him. You said, Got plans with Kelsi tonight? In your bitchy voice."

"She's not bitchy, she's hurt." Gina shot up, so they stood face to face.

For one moment, her brother seemed to lose his train of thought, as he took in Gina's body in a slow sweep. But when his gaze returned to her face and met with a brow arched in challenge, he shook it off.

"Then she should say that. We're guys. We don't know what you're thinking unless you say what you mean."

Her phone buzzed, and she leaned across the bed to reach it.

Surrounded by people on the plane. Can't talk now.

She quickly shot off a response. Can you ever talk? I mean, with someone other than Kelsi?

"My point is," Brandon said, turning from Gina. "If you attack us, we're going to run. Plain and simple."

"Then you're weak, and we don't want you," Gina said.

"What's weak about not wanting to be around people who bitch at you? That's just all kinds of fucked up and immature. There's no strength in sniping. What do you accomplish with your cutting comments when we have no idea what we've done wrong?"

Nicole looked from one to the other. What was going on between these two?

"It's not possible to hurt someone who doesn't care."

He tipped his head back to look at the ceiling. "It's not that we don't care. But if we don't understand, then we obviously can't care. If we hurt you, then just say, You hurt me. You'll get a better response if we know what we've done."

He was right, and she instantly regretted her text. She stared at her phone, wishing she could take it back. As upset as she was, she couldn't quite get past the fact that she did know Dylan. She knew a lot about his character based on his actions in the short time she'd known him. And no one could pretend to want her the way he did.

She shivered at the thought of how he consumed her. Her phone buzzed with a text. Dylan.

I'll call you later when I'm alone.

But she already knew he wouldn't be alone. He'd be surrounded by his mom, his friends, and his girlfriend.

"You're a pig," she heard Gina say.

"Because I'm not telling you what you want to hear?"

"No, because you're not there for your sister."

Nicole's head snapped up. No one talked to her brothers like that. They were revered in their social circles-in the whole community. Girls would lick the soles of their boots if they thought it'd get a minute of their time.

Brandon's face...God, he looked gutted. She wasn't sure how she felt about Gina's attack. Her brothers cared about her-she didn't doubt that. But, no, they hadn't really been in her life.

"Fine. I'll go to the store myself." He turned and walked out of the room. "If you want anything, text me."

The silence in his aftermath throbbed with electricity.

"Your brothers are so fucking arrogant." Gina flounced back onto the bed and resumed painting her nails. "So, are we done brooding? Should we get our Wild Woman on and go to Bar None?"

The last thing Nicole wanted was to go to her brother's crowded, loud, underage club in the city. She didn't want to dress up, and she didn't want to get groped by drunken guys.

Gina threw a wicked glance over her shoulder. "Or you could stay home and feel sorry for yourself while his ex goes down on him."

Dusk bathed his mountains in a deep orange glow. The scattering of snow on the ground reminded him of Nicole's confectioner's sugar, and he smiled as they passed his cousin's bakery, Hot Cakes. Nicole would love it in there. His cousin had studied and apprenticed in France, so she created incredible desserts. So good, brides from Denver to Aspen had turned her little bakery into a specialty wedding cake shop.

"And Turner knocked up Amy Kessler." Kelsi bounced around in the driver's seat. The girl never stayed still, not for a moment. "Can you believe that shit? She's going to have the kid, too. I swear she's just trying to bag and tag him. But even if she does get him down the aisle, who cares? It's not like he'll ever be faithful to her."

As Kelsi continued to fill him in on everyone, he felt a sharp pang in his chest.

Had he ruined everything with Nicole? It was probably for the best. But he was a selfish prick, and he...he just...fuck...he wasn't ready for it to end. Not even close. It felt too good, too right. And, especially, to end it over Kelsi. He glanced at her. She'd surprised him by picking him up at the airport instead of Sawyer. And, worse, he could tell she was expecting something from him. As soon as she'd gotten in the truck, she'd peeled off her coat, twisting towards him to pull her arms out of the sleeves-a move designed to show off her impressive rack.

It did nothing for him.

She'd blown her dyed blonde hair straight and put on a ton of make-up. But maybe it was for the party tonight and not him. Nicole had put ideas in his head. He and Kelsi weren't like that. Never had been. She'd never even asked to be exclusive.

He jerked his gaze away when he realized he'd replaced her face with Nicole's, imagining his girl driving, turning to him with that soft smile she had for him. A shot of lust grabbed hold of him, and he had to look out the window.

"What about Loughlin?" He caught a glimpse of his Uncle Zach striding out of the Outfitter store. Dylan turned to see where he was going in such a rush and found his cousin Amy struggling with a screaming baby in a carrier strapped around her chest and three-year-old Elle prancing around her. His family kept growing. He'd missed a lot.

"He finished basic and now he's in Infantry School in Fort Benning. He's having the time of his life at the base, if you know what I mean." She shot him a knowing smile. "I'll bet you are, too."

He quickly looked away. No, he shouldn't do that. He should face the issue head-on. In case she did have expectations, he needed to make things clear right off the bat. "I met someone."

"Yeah?" She smiled. "Hopefully, lots of someones."

"No. Just one."

"Come on, tiger. You're at college. You're supposed to join a frat, fuck around. Get shit out of your system."

"I like her." The relief rumbling through him took him by surprise. He actually wanted to talk about Nicole. A girl's perspective would help.

"You've been there three months, and you've already got your fuck buddy? Come on, shake things up. You're not in Gun Powder anymore. You've got the rest of your life when you get back here to be with one girl. Live it up."

He ran a finger over his lips as he watched the streets of Gun Powder roll by. Did that mean she considered herself his fuck buddy? Or the one he'd be with the rest of his life when he got back? He got a sick feeling, hoping to hell it wasn't the latter. Should he address it now? Or leave it be-let time and distance do its thing?

"You seeing anybody?" he asked.

Another sly smile. "Me and Perkins. But it's just for fun, obviously. Doesn't mean anything."

"You always had a thing for him."

"Yeah, now that his girlfriend's in Fort Collins, suddenly I'm all right to hang out with." She shook her head, like she didn't care. But he knew better.

"He and Tammy broke up?"

"Don't know. Don't ask." She squeezed his knee, then ran her hand firmly up his thigh.

His hand shot out, cutting her off before she reached his package. All the humor drained from her expression, and she looked surprised and hurt.

"I'm seeing someone." He held her gaze, his tone dead serious.

"Yeah, in school. Two thousand miles away." But she kept her hands to herself.

The truck pitched, as she turned into the rutted driveway of the sad apartment complex. At least his mom hadn't gotten evicted yet. "Have you seen her with Jeff?" He assumed Kelsi would tell him if she had, but he needed to be sure.

The sky had darkened, making it harder to see the nuances of her expression. She bit her lip, as she jerked the gearshift to park. "I have, yeah." The parking lot lights cast a yellow glow to her features.

He closed his eyes. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because you can't do anything about it. It has to play itself out, you know that."

"Is that how's she paying for this apartment then?"

She worried her bottom lip, one finger stroking the console between them. "Babe, I don't know. You know I can't ask. Neither can you."

Because his mom would just lie. The back of his head hit the headrest. "Fuck." What could he do about it? He could pick up a few days of work with his old boss over the break, but it wouldn't amount to much.

"But she's off the wagon right?" Obviously, if she was seeing Jeff again. Still, he needed confirmation. "I'm guessing she's not going to her AA meetings?"

"Dylan, really?" She looked incredulous. "I'm not her keeper, but I'm pretty sure AA meetings aren't on her to-do list."

"Yeah, I know. I just need to be sure. I can't believe she'd get back with Jeff."

"I'm not sure if they're together or anything."

"What have you seen?"

"We should go in." She motioned to his phone, which his mom had been blowing up since he'd landed. He'd texted to let her know he was on his way home but hadn't fed her obsession since.

"Just tell me what you've seen. I need to know."

"You don't get it, do you? You still think you can control her."

"Kels."

"Okay." Her fingers made a slow, sensual slide around the steering wheel. "Bri and I were driving by the Pit Stop and saw her coming out with him."

"Were they together, as in dating? Or was she buying something?"

"She could barely stand up. He was practically dragging her out."

"Was he hurting her? Did he look pissed?"

"Um..." She looked thoughtful, like she was remembering. "They were laughing. He was wasted, too."

"And? Any other times?"

Her features pulled in, like she'd bit down on a bug.

"Tell me."

"Well, okay, but I didn't see this. Perkins said she came to pick up her truck. I guess her credit card didn't go through, and he wouldn't let her leave without paying."

His stomach pulled into a tight knot.

"And...she made a call." She shot him a worried look. "Jeff came by to pay for her."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"It's all been in the last week or so."

Of course it had. While he'd been with Nicole, his mom had strayed. Of course.

He closed his eyes, the image of Jeff grabbing his mom's arm and shaking her filled the screen of his mind. "Let's get in there." As he got out of the truck, the biting late November air slapped him hard in the face.

"Dyl." Kelsi met him in front of the truck. "She's having a really hard adjustment. She's never been without you. I don't know why you thought you could pay her rent for two months, set her up with a job, and think she'd just start this new life." She stepped in front of him. "You had to know she couldn't handle that job."

"No, I didn't know. We're talking about survival. She has to do it this time."

"She knows you, Dyl. Deep down she knows. You'll never leave her."

His skin went clammy, and he felt sick to his stomach.

"We all know that." She gazed up at him like a bride on her wedding day.

Holy fuck. He'd thought he'd set it all up-got his mom situated in a new life, let Kelsi go in the cleanest way possible, but no one had believed him. They'd humored him, thinking they knew him better than he knew himself.

How could he stay at Wilmington knowing his mom was getting involved with a drug dealer? Kelsi could be with whoever she wanted, he didn't care. But he couldn't have her thinking he'd come back to her. That they had a future together.

"Dyllie." A yellow rectangle of light on the second floor drew his attention to his mom, standing there in worn jeans and an off-the-shoulder sweatshirt. She waved to him. "My boy." She shrieked, jumping up and down. "Get up here."

One woman at a time. First his mom.

He'd deal with Kelsi later.

Surrounded by loud music and a crush of bodies, Dylan leaned against the wall and watched his mom. High as a kite, she partied with his friends. But then she pulled her phone out of her back pocket, read the screen, and quickly headed for the door.

He'd bet his scholarship she was meeting Jeff Blakely.

Fucking drug dealer. She'd hooked up with him years ago. He'd roughed her up-put her in the hospital-and then he'd left town for a while. And now his mom was messing with him again.

Too many years of this shit had taught him not to intervene when she was high. Kels was right. He couldn't control his mom's choices or her behavior. All he could do was manage her world to keep her safe. He'd slipped up a little, allowed that fucker to step in during his absence. But he'd talk to her when she was somewhat sober and get her back on track. She didn't need a damn drug dealer to keep a roof over her head. He'd get another job- Kelsi slammed into him, eyes glazed, beer can in one hand, cigarette in the other.

He pushed her away.

She pouted. "You've been ignoring me all night."