Jesse hopped to his feet, dropping his cuddle bunny on the ground in his haste.
“Hey, watch it,” she complained.
He grinned and tweaked her nose. “Sorry, darling. I’ll be back in a minute with a surprise.”
Jesse jogged off.
Allison was ready to suggest they leave as well when loud voices sounded behind them—familiar voices. Angry and sharp, but far enough away to be undecipherable.
“Great. Come on, let’s see what’s happening now.” Gabe hoisted her up and took her hand.
Gabe to the rescue again. Allison went willingly, if only because she figured they could head home after dealing with the situation. She’d had enough, and spending time with the clan wasn’t what she needed tonight.
They were still a ways out when she recognized the newcomer as Joel. The twins seemed to have finished shouting at each other and moved to the scuffling part of the program. Joel grabbed his brother by the front of the shirt and laid into him.
“Crap. Stay here.”
Gabe pushed her behind him and shot forward. He couldn’t move fast enough, though, not before Joel had time to land a snapping hard crack to his brother’s chin. Jesse jerked backward and fell to the ground. Joel had him by the collar and was leaning in for more when Gabe stepped between them, catching hold of Joel’s fist before it could descend again.
“Fuck off. This is none of your business,” Joel ground out.
“Beating the crap out of someone in public is my business.” Allison cringed as Gabe shoved himself even farther between the twins.
“It’s not someone, it’s an asshole who needs a pounding. Now move.”
Joel attempted to drag Jesse closer. His brother scrambled to back out of the way. A loud rip sounded as Jesse’s shirt tore. He escaped, rushing to his feet, hands at the ready to defend himself.
“Jesus, Joel. What the hell’s got your panties in such a twist?” Jesse wiped a hand over his bloody mouth, spitting to the side without taking his gaze off his twin.
Joel stood, feet planted wide. The only thing that moved was his chest as he sucked in huge breaths, obviously fighting the urge to take another swing or two. Allison moved in closer to Gabe’s side, the sound of the guitar in the distance eerie. Its light-hearted tune didn’t make any sense while looking at Joel’s expression.
“You really want me to tell you what I’m so pissed about? Maybe if you look over there you’ll get a clue.”
Joel pointed toward the fire. Jesse didn’t bother to look, just twisted his face into a sheepish smile.
“You’re taking this the wrong way,” Jesse complained.
“How am I supposed to take it, asshole? I went to pick up my date for the night and she was already gone.”
Ouch. Allison glanced at Gabe, who shook his head slightly. He squeezed her fingers and tugged her to the side, farther away from where Jesse and Joel faced off.
Jesse held out his hands like a negotiator. “Come on. So I’ve met Sue. Sorry I didn’t tell you, but isn’t this really what you’ve been wanting? For both of us to be around?”
When Joel would have stepped in, fists rising, Gabe grabbed him and held him back. “Punching his lights out won’t get this solved. Talk to him.”
Joel snarled, “Talk? He doesn’t listen. I’ve told him what I wanted, and the jackass ignores me.”
“Because you’re being stupid,” Jesse said.
“Says you.”
Jesse snorted.
“Enough.” Gabe stepped between them and glared at them both. “You guys twenty-two or twelve? Grow up.”
“I’m trying.” Joel dragged a hand through his hair, pacing away before turning back and growling in frustration. “Jesse. I know we’ve got this reputation. But when I tell you I want to date a girl by myself that isn’t some fucked-up code for you to go and try to convince her otherwise.”
“Shit.” Gabe turned his glare on Jesse, and suddenly all three of them were staring his direction.
Jesse shrugged. “Fine. I thought you were goofing off. She’s a nice-enough girl, but nothing special. I thought—”
“Goddammit, Jesse, it doesn’t matter what you think. It matters what I said. Listen to me next time, you bloody idiot, or I’ll fucking bury you, got it?”
Allison covered her mouth. Even as he shouted at his twin, Joel had evidently decided to let the matter drop. He stepped back, body relaxing. Hands falling to his sides.
“And you.” Joel turned his disapproval on Gabe. “Stop getting in the middle of everyone’s business.”
Gabe laughed. “What? It’s not okay I stopped you from breaking your knuckles on Jesse’s head?”
Joel cursed. “Okay, that part is fine, but it’s not okay you helped him get involved with Sue in the first place.”
What? Allison froze in horror.
So did Gabe. “What the hell are you talking about?”
Joel pointed at Jesse again. “Jackass used your truck to go see her when I was out of town in Calgary. At least he didn’t pull some stupid fuck-upped business of pretending to be me, but still.”
“I had nothing to do with this,” Gabe insisted.
“He didn’t. Totally my fault.” Jesse grabbed his twin by the shoulder. Joel shook him off. “Come on, he was oblivious. You know Gabe always does what he can and never asks questions. I took advantage of his saintly good nature. Just—I’m sorry, okay?”
Gabe’s grip on her had gone tight. Allison glanced into his face to see him pulling back. Closing off. She couldn’t read anything anymore. He’d turned cold.
His expression was similar to what she was used to seeing on his father Ben’s face, and it scared her a little.
Joel shook his head. “Whatever. I’m going home. Tell Sue I said goodbye.”
He turned without another word, feet hitting the ground hard as he stomped away.
Silence. Loud silence.
Jesse cleared his throat. “Thanks for saving my butt.”
“No problem. It’s what we saintly, good-natured type do.” Gabe stepped toward the parking lot as well. Allison let her fingers slip from his, and surprisingly, he let her go. He just walked away, shoulders slumped. She wanted to hang on. To reassure him.
But first she wanted to pick up where Joel had left off and wipe the smirk from Jesse’s face.
She moved in close, forcing him to tilt his head. He looked her over, gaze lingering where he had no right, and sheer willpower stopped her from slugging him. That, and the need to get back to Gabe as quickly as possible.
“You got something to say?” Jesse drawled.
Her hands shook, she was so pissed. “Joel was right. You need to grow the hell up. Gabe’s got the biggest damn heart out of any of you, and you choose to use him because of it? Jackass isn’t strong enough.”
“Now wait—”
“No, you shut up and listen.” Allison poked him in the chest with a finger. If she used her fist she would be tempted to take a real swing. “You listen a damn sight harder from now on. To me, to your brother. I’ve heard about the games you boys play, but this isn’t about you anymore, this is about messing with someone who didn’t deserve your shit. If you want to goof off, find people who appreciate your screwed-up sense of humour. Gabe will probably forgive you, but I’m not going to, not for a damn long time.”
Jesse’s lips were pressed together, his usual cocky grin faded from his face.
Allison planted her hand on his chest and pushed. He was too solid to shove over, but the move let her propel herself away from him.
“Allison. Allison, wait. Shit, I’m sorry.”
She ignored his calls, eager to get back to the truck. She needed to see Gabe.
He was leaning against the driver’s door staring off into the darkening sky. Somehow he still spotted her coming, shifting to vertical as she approached. He pulled the door open, and she crawled in without a word, scooting to the middle and buckling up.