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kicked a couple days ago, but he still has shit for brains.”
    Cal’s easy grin fell away. “Shut up, Gabe.”
    The tension sucked all the breathable air out of the room. Clearly, Cal had been in a fight. Then he and Gabe were fighting. I stepped aside and put my hands on my hips. “What’s going on here? Why were you two fighting?”
    Gabe said, “We weren’t fighting. I was showing him how to take care of himself.”
    â€œHa. That’s why you needed your girlfriend to run in and save you.” Cal used the back of his hand to wipe the blood from his lip. “By the way, nice job, Sam. My brother’s a lucky guy.”
    Since Gabe nearly burst a blood vessel laughing at me, I decided to change the subject from me and my stupid attack. “Don’t do that to your lip.” I tried not to wince. “Let’s go in the kitchen so I can clean it up.” I turned and hurried out of the office. I’d find out from Gabe later what was going on between him and Cal.
    I turned left into a hallway that opened up to a large family room and kitchen. I went directly to the white side by side and opened the freezer to get out an ice cube. I shut the freezer and tore off two paper towels. After getting one wet, I turned around.
    Both men stood in the kitchen, watching me with the same amused expression. I looked at Cal. “Go sit down at the table.” I pointed to the table at the end of the kitchen by the door to Gabe’s backyard.
    He went. I followed him. Once he was settled, I gently cleaned the blood from his lip. “You almost reopened this whole cut.” The cut was across the left side of his lower lip. It was swelling a little bit.
    â€œIt’s fine. Just a small cut.”
    I felt Gabe move up behind me and sit down, but I kept my gaze on Cal. His dark eyes were amused. I wondered why he wasn’t mad that I hit him. “How’s your head? Do you want some Tylenol?” I really felt bad, and added, “I’m so sorry, Cal. I just panicked.”
    He surprised me by wrapping his arm around my waist and squeezing me. “My head’s fine, Sam. Stop worrying.” He let go of me.
    Gabe came from a touchy-feely family. But I was still surprised by the casual sideways hug. “Umm, okay.” I set the bloody paper towel on the table and held out the towel-wrapped ice cube. “Hold this on your lip.”
    He took it, and I stepped back. Looking at the two of them, I knew this wasn’t a good time to tell Gabe about Grandpa. But I couldn’t stop worrying that Grandpa could be in trouble. I didn’t know what to do. So I started babbling. “Blaine said you didn’t go back to the office, so I came by here to check on you. Obviously you’re moving your desk. I’ll tell Blaine that everything is fine. Umm, do you know when you’ll get back? It doesn’t matter, he probably has enough guys to help him with the wall. And I’ll be there. Not that I’ll help with the wall, but for like, other stuff.”
    Gabe reached out, grasped my hand, and pulled me toward him. “Sam, what’s wrong?”
    My knees were flush against his jeans-covered thighs. I looked down at Gabe. “Probably nothing. And you have your brother here. I have to get back to work.”
    His eyes darkened, going nearly black. “Sam.”
    Cal stood up. “I’m going to go take a shower. Sam, great to meet you. I’m looking forward to seeing more of you while I’m here.”
    I shifted my attention to Cal. “You’re staying for a while?” Gabe hadn’t told me his brother was coming to visit. But from the looks of things, I wasn’t sure Gabe had been expecting him anyway.
    Gabe said, “Cal’s on a time-out from work. He’s going to give us a hand with the construction.”
    â€œOh. Well thanks, Cal. And don’t leave on my account. I need to get going