by Piper Rayne
“A date doesn’t mean it will lead to heartbreak,” Ethan says.
I hold up my hands. “As long as she’s under our roof, I’m not laying a hand on her. How much of a douchebag move would that be?”
“True,” Seth says, which surprises me.
I kinda hoped someone would say it’s cool to offer a girl a free apartment, then take her on a date without her feeling as though she had no choice but to say yes. But because my friends are stand-up guys, they all agree with Seth. And then it’s case closed.
I find that I’m more disappointed than I would have thought. Kamea really does have to stay in the glass box I can’t shatter—just like the fire alarms in our building.
“Let’s go paintballing this afternoon. I need to let out some aggression,” Jax says.
We all have the day off, including him and Dylan. They don’t have to go into Ink Envy until tonight—if they have appointments.
“Let’s call the girls now,” Seth says.
While they handle that I walk out of the kitchen into their expansive family room showcasing floor-to-ceiling windows.
I stare at our apartments across the way. How did I get myself into this situation? Oh right, I put myself in it. I really need to learn to stop trying to give everyone a leg up in life. For some reason, I only end up hurt.
Chapter Thirteen
Kamea
“How well do you know Leilani?” Sierra asks.
All the girls shyly look in different directions. Blanca fixes her napkin. Rian situates her water glass and mimosa glass just so. Evan bites the side of her lip and looks at her phone in her purse.
“We used to be childhood friends. We grew up together. But over the years, we’ve gone our separate ways.”
“But she called you to bail her out?” Sierra asks. I’m getting why she’s a great investigative reporter.
“I did. She’d been staying at my place for two days before that.”
She nods and places her mimosa down. “And now she’s run off, not taking your calls?”
“Seems that way.”
“I never really liked her. I’m sorry if you’re still friends with her, but the way she was with Knox pissed me off,” Sierra says.
Blanca and Rian nod.
“Dylan loathes her,” Rian says. “Like, I think he might actually knock her out if he sees her again.”
“Knox was miserable after she left the last time,” Blanca adds.
My stomach flips. So I was right. Knox loved her.
Sierra glances in my direction, her expression softer than it was a moment ago. “But that’s old news now. He’s over her.”
“Is he?” I find myself asking.
“Definitely.” Evan touches my arm. “I’m newer to the group, but I never hear him talking about her. Seth’s not a huge fan either. Says Knox was a different person when he was with her.”
“Like how?” I ask.
They all groan and look at one another as though they’re trying to figure out which one of them will answer me.
“Knox was always so protective around her. Like we were judging her, which we never were. Even when they came around, he’d barely talk to us, so concerned about her. And she would barely say a word.” Sierra speaks first, which doesn’t surprise me. She seems like she doesn’t care what others think, and since I lack that backbone, I admire it.
Blanca says, “They just kept to themselves a lot. When we got together as a group, it would usually only be Knox. And he’d make up an excuse for her not being there.”
I’m not about to say it, but I can see why Leilani might’ve been intimidated. All these women look as if they came from good homes and loving parents. Their hair is perfectly styled, and all their clothes look as though they came from trendy shops in the city. She most likely judged them—as she usually does—and set herself apart before they had the opportunity to.
“And the sex.” Rian groans and Blanca elbows her. “I mean…”
The table quiets. I sip my mimosa rather than just sit there. My curiosity is piqued. When I was really close to Leilani, we were both virgins.
“Leilani is just comfortable with herself and so is Knox, so they didn’t always find a private spot to… you know.” Sierra waves her perfectly manicured hands as though it’s no big deal.
I’m not surprised to hear that Leilani is comfortable in her body. She’s always been that way. With good reason.
“But it’s over now and here you are. We just wondered if you guys were close because you’re living with Knox now. We don’t really want her coming around and asking for her millionth chance with him,” Sierra says and smiles.
But the vision of Knox and Leilani is still in my head. I give my head a shake, swallowing my mimosa. “Right now, she’s skipped bail. Knox thought we might find her the other night, but we didn’t. I’m just going to move forward and start saving again.”
The waitress comes over and takes our orders, which I’m hoping will let this line of conversation die and we can start with something fresh once the waitress leaves.
“I heard you have a T-shirt business?” Sierra asks.
“I do.” I nod.
“Can I see one?”
I pull out my phone and pass it over. Blanca snatches it from my hand to get the first look. “If anyone can help you sell some of those, Sierra can. She has her own fan base, plus everyone who follows her and Adrian.” Blanca passes my phone to Sierra.
Sierra smiles. “I love these. I’m not a vegetarian, but they’re so funny. Look at these.” She passes my phone to Evan.
Each girl takes an opportunity to scour through my store.
“I’m buying this one,” Blanca says.
“The color mixes are gorgeous,” Rian says.
“Where do you come up with your ideas?” Evan asks.
I tell them how I got started, and they all share their own stories, which somehow surprises me. I’d gotten the impression they all came out of the womb ready to conquer the world and be lady bosses. But even Sierra talks about the challenges of being with Adrian and the expectations that go along with it. Everyone has their individual struggles. There’s something freeing knowing that.
“Don’t feel bad about taking Knox and Jax up on their offer to stay with them. If it wasn’t for Seth, I’d still be in my parents’ garage. These are great and you’re going to make it big one day.” Evan’s soft smile is genuine, and I appreciate it more than I could convey.
By the time we get to the mini desserts we all agreed to share, Sierra taps her glass with her knife. “Okay, brunch is almost over, so I have to ask the one question we all want to know.”
Her gaze zeroes in on me, and I can guess the question before she asks. “Do you like Officer Whelan, Kamea?”
The other three girls turn toward me, waiting for an answer.
I blow out a breath. “I did at one point. And I won’t deny he’s hot, but he pushed me aside for Leilani years ago, so that’s kind of a turn-off. I’m going to say that no, I don’t.”
“Uh…” Rian says.
“What?” Blanca says and looks at me. “Rian always has the gossip. Dylan is a huge sharer.”
Rian giggles and holds up her hands. “He does tell me a lot, but I don’t know much about this situation. But I see it in Knox.”
“See what?” I chuckle.
“The way his eyes follow you. It could be that he’s just worried about you. That would fit Knox. He can be really private, so I don’t know for sure. But personally, I bet he’s kicking himself now because you are perfect for him.”
I shake my head, not wanting to hear it. Even if I like that she thinks that.
“You never know what the future holds. This chick is marrying my ex-boyfriend.” Sierra thumbs to Blanca and laughs.
Blanca covers her face with her napkin. “I thought we were over that.”
“We are.” Sierra lowers the napkin. “But sometimes you find the right person in the worst situation. I mean, Ethan didn’t want to fall in
love with my best friend and Blanca didn’t want to fall in love with my ex, but it happened. Sometimes things like that aren’t in your control.” I say nothing, and Sierra takes it as a cue to continue. “I’m just saying I know when Knox made that decision years ago, it must have hurt you. But I’m sure neither of you are the people you were back then. You probably want different things now. Plus, how do you know it wasn’t Leilani trying her hardest to get Knox that night?”
True. I can’t deny Sierra could be right.
As we finish our mimosas and dessert, the conversation detours to Blanca’s wedding and I relax a little more. I talk a good game, but even I know that if he tried, Knox could win me over faster than he can slap a set of cuffs on a suspect. And that scares the crap out of me.
Chapter Fourteen
Knox
I wake up in the middle of the afternoon, unable to go back to sleep. I’m in the kitchen, getting a drink, when the front door opens and Kamea walks in with arms loaded with colored bags. I walk over to help her as she leans so far forward, I fear she might face-plant on the floor.
I take a few bags from her and she looks up, but she’s eye to eye with my dick. My morning wood, to be exact.
Fuck, I forgot about that. I’m still getting used to having a woman living with us. It’s like a Christmas morning surprise every time I walk out of my room and see Kamea.
“So sorry.” She stands erect and turns her head as far from me as she can.
“No, I should be sorry.” I set the bags I took from her on the counter before heading back into my room to put on a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt rather than stay in my boxers. When I emerge, she’s busy putting away the groceries. “Sorry about that.”
“It’s okay. It’s your apartment. You can walk around however you want.” She puts the organic milk in the fridge, along with her tofu. She’s already replaced the eggs since we ran out yesterday.
“Then feel free to walk around in your bra and underwear,” I joke. If she does that, my morning wood is gonna look more like granite.
She giggles. “Yeah, right.”
I unpack the groceries, checking out what this woman eats. Not much that I would consume, that’s for sure.
“You don’t have to help. I got this.” She takes a cereal box out of my hands.
“It’s okay. I don’t have much else to do. I can’t sleep.”
“I have no idea how you handle that overnight shift. I’d be parking my car in an alley and falling asleep during it.” She folds up her reusable grocery bags and puts them all in the biggest one.
“I’m not really used to it yet. We switch our shifts every quarter, and this is my least favorite.”
Her eyes meet mine for the first time. “I can see that.”
She heads to her room, but I need to tell her something, so I turn around. “I might have one more place we can look for Leilani. Her court date is coming up quick, so if you’re cool with it, we can do it this weekend?”
“You know what, it’s fine. I’m fine. If she comes back, great. If she doesn’t, then I’ll manage.”
I tilt my head, not understanding why she’d be okay losing out on the money.
“But do you think you could come to my old apartment in Peekskil and help me get some of my things from my the building manager’s?”
“Do you want to go now?”
Her eyes light up. “Really?”
“Definitely.” I might not be able to find Leilani for her, but I can help her get some of her stuff here so she’s more comfortable. “I’m starved though. Mind heading to this pizza place I know of first?”
She glances at the clock. “Sure. Yeah, I have to make something for girls’ night, but I have plenty of time.”
“I’ll just shower quick and then we’ll go.”
It might be the quickest shower of my life. When I emerge, she’s sitting in front of our television with her laptop on her legs as usual. She really is a workaholic, and I’d offer to pay for that bulk order of shirts if I thought she’d accept them.
Jax walks in as I step out of the bathroom without a shirt. Have you ever put on a shirt in a steam-filled bathroom? It’s not so I can watch Kamea do a double-take at my torso. But Jax whistles, and I shake my head.
“You two going out on a date?” Jax walks into his room and comes out with a book. “I forgot my sketchbook.”
Kamea swivels around in the chair, her interest piqued.
I disappear into my room and grab a shirt and sweater since the weather is shitty. When I come back, she’s sitting on the couch, her legs tucked under her, and Jax is telling her about some of the tattoo sketches in his book. Bragging about his Instagram following and how he’s well-known in the tattoo world. Kamea eats it up, and I think back to the other day at Adrian’s. I’m not sure Kamea would even entertain dating me if I wanted to date her. Jax might be more her type now.
“Ready?” I ask.
Jax shuts the book and stands. “Where are you two off to?”
“We’re going to pick up my stuff from my old landlord’s,” Kamea says.
“But first we’re stopping at Slices of Heaven.”
Jax digs into his pocket for his wallet, as I knew he would. It’s been a favorite of ours forever. “Two slices of sausage?”
I pocket the money. “It might not be hot by the time we get back.”
“I’ll eat it a week old, I don’t care. You two have fun, but not too much fun.” He winks, then he’s out the door.
“This pizza place is that good, huh?”
I grab her jacket and hold it out for her. “You’ll see.”
We head down the elevator and out to my car, which I’ll drive from now until spring. The weather is turning colder by the day. Kamea climbs into my beat-up Bronco that I bought for fifteen hundred dollars. The hinges whine when I shut the door.
She fastens her seat belt, and if she’s at all fazed about the shit vehicle I just put her in, she doesn’t show it. Usually if I’m dating, I’ll get an Uber or give some excuse for why I can’t drive. Women like the motorcycle, but the Bronco not so much.
“How long did you live in Peekskil?” I ask, pulling out of the parking spot.
“Two years,” she answers.
“And you’ve never been to Slices of Heaven?”
“Nope. I’m curious where it is compared to my apartment. I’m kind of a homebody.” Her voice is shy with a hint of embarrassment.
“What was your go-to takeout?” I ask to let her know I’m not a homebody, but I do enjoy time in.
“Well, there’s this poke bowl place by my house. It was usually that or Chinese. Depends on my mood.”
“Why do you love being home so much?”
She side-glances me. “Are you practicing for that detective position?”
I laugh. “Sorry, just trying to get to know you.”
“I’m not a crowd person. But unfortunately, staying at home so much left me without a lot of friends. Without friends, it just kind of snowballed and I’d stay in more.”
“You had Leilani,” I say.
“Yeah, at one time, but I meant what I said. We haven’t seen one another in a while. The last time I truly hung out with her was in high school.”
“But that night we first met at the bar…”
God, that night has been haunting me lately, and I need to stop obsessing about it. It’s done and over. Kamea obviously doesn’t care or hold it against me. But regardless, it’s about time I apologize for that. When she doesn’t say anything, I figure now’s the best time.
“I’m sorry about that night, by the way.” I pull onto the highway and the wind sounds increase in the old truck.
“You have nothing to apologize for.”
Lowering the volume on the radio, I wait until I think I have her attention—which is hard, since I’m driving. I should’ve waited to have this conversation until after we were done eating. Maybe I should hold off. I should look her in the eye when I apologize. So I turn the radio ba
ck up.
We drive the rest of the way in silence until we pull off the exit in Peekskil and she points out where she’s from. “I live down that way.”
Her former apartment isn’t in the best area of Peekskil, not that there’s a horrible part of the city.
“Yeah, Slices of Heaven is on the other side.”
So we drive away from her apartment and head to the opposite side of Peekskil to the pizza place Jax and I found on a fall motorcycle ride years ago. Back when I was healing a shattered heart.
I park in the lot and she exits the truck before I can get there, which is fine because this isn’t a date. This is just two roommates going to dinner. If only my eyes would stop straying to her ass. Kamea reads the sign on the front of the building.
“Are you telling me it’s set up like a pizza buffet?” she asks, excitement in her tone.
“It is, and they serve beer. It’s like a double win.”
“If you like beer I guess.”
“They have a great beer here from a local brewery. You have to give it a shot and see what you think.”
She shrugs. “Okay. I can’t believe I’ve never been here, and I was living so close.” Her footsteps pick up speed.
I open the door of the small restaurant for her. It’s brightly decorated in red and black and white. This was made for a college town. She reads the directions and grabs a tray, her smile still in place. Her whole aura right now is happiness. It’s nice to see. We walk down the line, her taking two pieces, me taking three, and adding breadsticks and two beers.
A waitress sits us at a table for two in the back, thankfully away from the couple of families. Not that I mind kids, but I want to have a serious conversation with Kamea.
I pour our beers in the mugs they supplied as Kamea unwraps her silverware. I slide one over to her and motion for her to take a sip. “What do you think?”
She swallows and then looks over at me with a smile. “Actually that’s pretty good.”
I grin. “Told you. Anyway, as I was saying in the truck—”
