Games Untold (The Inheritance Games #5)

The Time with the Heartbroken Cowboy

The Time with the Heartbroken Cowboy

T here was an art to the rooftop tackle. Luckily, the sunrise painting the Texas sky over Hawthorne House in shades of orange and pink was downright inspiring. A muse, of sorts, as Xander moved silently toward his oldest brother, who was leaning up against the House’s tallest stone chimney.

Easy does it…

“Don’t even think about it, Xan.” Nash didn’t turn around. He just kept staring at the sunrise in the distance.

“I’m going to need you to move two inches to your left,” Xander told him.

“Go back inside, Xander.” Nash still didn’t so much as turn his head.

“I have taken your suggestion under advisement, and after serious consideration, I—”

“Wasn’t a suggestion , little brother.”

Well, that was ominous! Xander, being Xander, was not deterred. “I have taken your order and implied promise of brotherly retribution under advisement,” he amended amiably. “And yet…”

Nash finally turned around. In the early morning light, Xander couldn’t quite make out the set of his brother’s features beneath the worn cowboy hat Nash wore tipped down over his brow.

All Hawthornes had their way of hiding.

“You try an’ tackle me, and we’re gonna be havin’ words, Alexander.” Nash’s voice was slow and even, his Texas accent unhurried and pronounced.

Xander was well aware that no one with two brain cells to rub together would want to find themselves having words with Nash Hawthorne. And yet…

“I brought you something.” Xander retrieved the object in question from one of his many pockets and tossed it at Nash’s endearing, shadowed face.

Nash caught the paper booklet with one hand.

“It’s a coupon book,” Xander said helpfully.

Nash flipped through the book. “All of these just say TACKLE . All caps.”

“You never know when you’re going to need one,” Xander told Nash. “I tackle with love, and those bad boys can be cashed in at your discretion. Now, if you could move one inch to your right and take two steps away from the edge of the roof…”

Nash was not persuaded. “Not happening.”

“I really think you’ll feel better if you let me do it,” Xander argued.

“I’m fine.” Nash’s voice was low and smooth. “Promise.”

Xander didn’t trust that smoothness. He didn’t believe it. “You and Alisa broke up. You’re not fine. You’re not even fine-adjacent.”

“Heartbreak doesn’t kill Hawthornes.” Nash sounded certain of that. “And Lee-Lee and me—we’re too different. Always were, I guess.” Nash’s voice wasn’t smooth now. “What she wants, I can’t give her. And Alisa Ortega…” Nash swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbling as he palmed his cowboy hat in a way that made Xander think Nash was desperately trying to hold on to something . “She deserves the world.”

“I know.” Xander understood. He did . They’d all seen this coming, but that didn’t make it any easier. “ I know , Nash, and I really think you’ll feel better if you let me tackle you.”

“Do not tackle me.”

“You need a distraction.”

“I need to get out of here. This place. This house .”

Xander heard what Nash was really saying: He had to get away from their grandfather. Hawthorne House was Tobias Hawthorne, and Nash had never been able to take either for too long.

“So where are we going?” Xander asked cheerfully.

Nash pinned him with a look. “You’re staying here.” When Xander opened his mouth to object, Nash preempted that objection. “Someone has to look after Jamie and Gray. They’re a mess.”

As much as Xander wanted to argue with that, he knew that he couldn’t. Xander Hawthorne was good at taking care of people. He nodded to the coupon book he’d given Nash. “Those are non-transferrable, by the way.”

Despite himself, Nash almost grinned. “Try not to set anything on fire while I’m gone.”

Nash had a bad habit of leaving—and a good habit of coming home. But something told Xander it might be a while before they saw each other again.

A muscle in Xander’s chest tightened. “No promises—at least, none regarding fire.” Xander met Nash’s gaze. “I do promise to take care of Jamie and Gray.”

He always had. He always would.

“Keep an eye on Lee-Lee, too.” Nash looked down at the roof beneath their feet. “Don’t let her work too hard.”

“Gargantuan task,” Xander said, “but it is possible that I also made a coupon book for Alisa.”

Nash put his cowboy hat back on. “Now that I would like to see. I know the woman. She’ll skin you alive at the first sign of tackling.”

“Don’t worry,” Xander said confidently, “I am prepared to deploy Big Innocent Xander Eyes, among other contingencies.”

Nash was still smiling, but his Adam’s apple bobbed again.

Heartbreak doesn’t kill Hawthornes , Xander thought.

Nash made the considerable error of starting back toward the trap door they’d both used to climb out onto the roof. One step… two…

Xander pounced. Wa-bam!

Nash went down. On top of him, Xander pumped a fist into the air. “That one was on the house.”