Beard Science (Winston Brothers, #3)

by Penny Reid

“We all have Darrell in us, Cletus. I look just like him, so does Ashley. You think I like what I see when I look in the mirror? I hate it. But I’m not cutting off my face because I share it with our father. Your decision to not have a family, because you’re afraid of losing your temper like he did when we were kids—it’s admirable, but it’s also stupid.” “And if I—” “No.” Billy brought his palm down on the table, hitting it with a forceful whack. “Stop making excuses for being a coward. You want Jennifer in your life?” “Yes,” I responded with more than my voice, the answer shaking my very foundation, coming from deep within me, from the same place I’d buried the rage along with my passion. “Then you reevaluate your priorities, including your fears. You be better and braver. Don’t make the same mistakes I did.” “So what do I do?” My brother studied me for a long moment, his brow pulled together as he stewed in my situation. Finally, he sighed and suggested, “How about you lay it all out? Tell her everything.” I blinked once, slowly, then glared at my brother. “I don’t like that advice. That’s seriously shitty advice.” He lifted an eyebrow at me. “It’s your advice. It’s what you’ve been telling me to do with,” his eyes dropped and he took a breath before continuing, “with Scarlet.”