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that he didn’t want what we have.”
    “Do you believe that?”
    James shrugged. “It’s as good of an explanation as anything else,” he said. “Cara was … friendly … when I met her. She didn’t seem interested in me, though. Once she ran into Jake, she kept finding reasons to talk to him.
    “Once Mandy and Ally showed up, her demeanor kind of shifted,” he continued. “I’m not sure she realized Jake was involved until Ally was right in front of her.”
    “Shouldn’t we be offended on Ally’s behalf over that?” Finn asked. “He was flirting with another woman while dating our sister.”
    “He wasn’t flirting,” James argued. “He was just talking to her. That’s not something you volunteer unless you have a reason. If you do it too soon, I’ve noticed that women take offense. They don’t like being accused of flirting with you if they’re not doing it.
    “Besides, do you really think Jake would ever cheat on Ally?” James asked.
    Finn immediately started shaking his head. “No. He’s totally infatuated with her.”
    James stilled, shifting his face so he could eye his younger brother. “Do you think they’re going to get married?”
    “Who? Ally and Jake? Yeah, I think they’re going to get married.”
    “Soon?”
    “Soon-ish,” Finn hedged. “I think they’re still feeling each other out. I think they have to say that they love each other before they can start talking about marriage.”
    “Mandy says they’re it for each other.”
    “Do you see it differently?”
    “I didn’t see it at all until she pointed it out,” James said. “I can’t decide if I’m oblivious or if I just didn’t want to see it.”
    “Listen, your relationship with Ally is different than my relationship with Ally,” Finn said. “We were closer in age. While I feel protective of her, we’re also friends. You’re the one who goes into grizzly bear mode where Ally is concerned.”
    “I just want her to be happy.”
    “She is happy,” Finn said. “Jake makes her happy, and she makes him happy. He’s not our brother, but he’s already our family. They’re going to be together. You just need to accept that and get out of their way.”
    “I thought I was out of their way.”
    “You’re close,” Finn conceded. “You’re not quite there yet. You’re still waiting for everything to fall apart between them. You think you’re going to have to swoop in and pick up the pieces, but he’s not going to leave her in pieces. I don’t believe that.”
    “He’s a good guy,” James said. “He’s … good … for Ally. She flies off the handle and he pulls her back down to the ground. He keeps her safe.”
    “She’s good for him, too,” Finn said. “When he gets lost in his own head – and let’s face it, he has a tendency to do that – she pulls him out. She’s fun, and he smiles when he’s with her. They’re good for each other.”
    “You’re telling me to suck it up and let them live their own lives, aren’t you?” James’ smile was rueful.
    “Yes.”
    “Then that’s what I’m going to do,” James said. “Ally deserves to be happy. Jake deserves to be happy, too. If they’re one-tenth as happy as I am with Mandy, then I want them to have it forever.”
    “And that’s why you’re a good brother.”
     
    “HOW come you’re not blue today?”
    Finn watched Emma from a few feet away, biting the inside of his cheek as he tried to swallow his laugh.
    “I’m not with the Avatar group today,” Emma said, keeping her eyes averted from Finn. She was mortified that he was watching her, and mildly irritated he seemed to be having so much fun doing it. She loved the man with her whole heart, but she’d hoped he’d never see her looking like … this.
    “You’re with the Xena group then?”
    Emma pressed her lips together and adjusted the bodice on her costume primly. “Who else would I be?”
    “An extra from a bad SyFy movie?”
    “You’re so funny,” Emma