Page 49 (1/2)

"No," Gray said, his voice low and rough with emotion he rarely allowed to show "You listen tothat, Mom should’ve--"

"Don’t you blame her"

"I don’t" Gray shook his head "It was a seriously ht in And I originally thought he should have to fix this, but now--"

"He can’t coood, she’s happy If he cohtly "If he does, I’ll kill hi to save it He’s not going to win, Gray" He started to ht hi," Gray said "I’d give anything to be able to go back and protect you I’ brother"

"I can out-bench-press you I don’t need protection"

"Too bad," Gray said "I’ at your back and alill be Got it?"

Aidan stared into Gray’s very serious eyes and nodded

"Good," Gray said "So We do this the e’ve done everything Without him"

The relief almost knocked Aidan on his ass "Thanks"

"Don’t thankof that, I know you only stick around here for me"

This ay too deep to handle on utter exhaustion "Well, and also to watch Penny boss you around," Aidan said, trying to lighten the h and dropped his head for a beat before lifting it and looking at Aidan "I don’t want you to stay just because you feel you have to"

"I don’t," Aidan said "I stay for you And Mo tohere Together"

Gray started to step into Aidan, no doubt to hug him, but Aidan slapped a hand on his brother’s chest "What’s with you and Hud and all the chick flick moments?"

"Suck it up," Gray said, and hauled hiood measure he lifted Aidan off his feet and shook hi Gray could at least tie Aidan in a bench-press coht on the side of the road for chrissakes," he gruhtened his arive hiie and they shoved clear of each other

A few minutes later they were back on the road, their silence much more comfortable now Aidan was the first to break it "Howthis ourselves?"