Free Kept by Sally Bradley

God.”
    “So you think she’s too much for God.”
    “No—”
    “That’s what you’re saying.”
    Dillan glanced at Garrett who held up his hands. “I’m not here.”
    Tracy made a face. “I’m serious, Dillan. I don’t think avoiding her is the way to go. Be smart, yes, but don’t avoid her. She needs what we have.”
    So he’d smartly avoid her? That would work.
    “Garrett.” Tracy tapped the DVD case. “You’ve been around her type. How does someone like her think?”
    Dillan stilled, waiting for a reaction. Been around her type… yeah, that was one way of putting it.
    But Garrett only shrugged. “Sometimes they don’t have much of a personal life. They’ve got men and maybe some close friends, but those friends are like them—always on the prowl. She’d have some downtime to think, but my guess is that she’d try to avoid it.” Garrett glanced at Dillan. “I did.”
    Who was this Garrett look-a-like? Dillan couldn’t remember a more honest, open moment from his brother since… well, since they were twelve and eleven and huddled in the basement while tornado sirens went off and trees doubled over.
    Maybe Garrett had changed.
    And maybe Tracy had something to do with it. She was obviously good for him, accepting him despite his past. Brotherly love for her surged through Dillan.
    “I wonder how many girlfriends she has.” Tracy focused on Garrett. “If it’s all about men, all about the next fling, maybe she’s kind of lonely when she has those down times. Maybe…” She tapped the DVD again. “Is there some Rambo or Predator movie on?”
    Garrett’s mouth fell open, and he spread his arms. “I knew it! I converted her! Come here, baby.”
    Dillan laughed.
    Tracy rolled her eyes. “Please. No. I’ve got a girls’ movie. Someone at work gave it to me. I can use you guys as an excuse to see if she wants to hang out. You know, you’re watching Rambo and basketball, and I’m about to pull my hair out.”
    Garrett worked the remote. “ Rocky started fifteen minutes ago.”
    “That’s perfect. I hate that movie.”
    Garrett sent Dillan a confused look.
    “She hates it, Gare. So it’s perfect.”
    Tracy slung the bag’s strap onto her shoulder. “Exactly. You guys enjoy your guy night. I’m going to try to go next door.”
    Interesting plan Tracy had. Hopefully she came out unscathed. “Knock an SOS on the wall if you get into trouble.”
    She flicked his earlobe as she passed.
    Dillan grabbed it. “Ow.”
    “I thought we’d use the whippoorwill call.”
    He exaggerated rubbing his ear. “Is she that loud?”
    Garrett raised an eyebrow. “Scary thought. Go get ’er, tiger.”
    “I will. Pray for me, guys.”
    Right. God, keep Tracy safe. Make Miska be nice to the poor girl.
    The door shut behind them. Garrett leaned forward, eyes on the game. “You want to watch Rocky ?”
    “Not especially. What else is on?”
    Garrett flipped through the listings. “ Pride and Prejudice . Les Mis —”
    “ Rocky sounds awesome.”

Chapter Eight
    Miska peeked at Tracy sitting in the dark beside her, gaze glued to the TV screen where Downton Abbey ’s Matthew Crawley surveyed his future estate. Tracy’s arrival with a plea of escape from what the guys were watching had been a surprise. But she’d had no reason to say no. Adrienne had never shown up to drink their sorrows away, and the last thing Miska wanted was to sit alone and relive her argument with Mark.
    If she and Adrienne weren’t going to get drunk together, watching Downton Abbey was a good second choice.
    And Tracy was all right, after all.
    Someone pounded at her door.
    Tracy jumped. “Wow, that scared me.”
    Miska paused the show. “I’ll see who that is. You want popcorn?”
    “Sounds great.”
    She padded down the hall in her bare feet. “There’s a box in the cabinet above the microwave.”
    Miska released the deadbolt and opened the door.
    Adrienne teetered in the hallway. “Misky.” She grabbed the