Forever and Ever (Complete #1-7)

by E. L. Todd

  “I don’t want to watch you guys make out for the whole drive.” Slade took the spot next to Trinity and faced forward.

  Trinity looked at him then stared out the window.

  That was not the choice I expected him to make.

  Roland left the city then got onto the highway. He turned on the radio but kept it low. He and Conrad talked about sports and a few girls they met at a bar.

  Cayson put his arm around my shoulder and moved closer to me, his leg touching mine. With his other hand, he grabbed mine and caressed my knuckles. “What should we do on the drive?”

  I gave him a knowing look.

  “Okay, not that,” he blurted.

  I smirked. “What do you want to do?”

  “I brought a deck of cards.”

  “We can play that.”

  “Okay.” Cayson dug into his bag and pulled out the deck.

  I stared at the back of Slade’s head, noticing his gaze pointed toward his lap. Trinity was doing the same, clearly reading something. I sat forward and looked over the seat. They were both reading books.

  What the hell? “Slade, you read?”

  He flinched at my words. “What’s it to you?” Aggression was in his voice.

  “You don’t strike me as the reading type,” I said.

  “Well, I am.” He turned his gaze back to his book. “Now mind your own business.”

  “You’re one to talk. You lied to me and told me Cayson was going to leave me.”

  “You’re welcome, by the way,” Slade snapped. “I just saved you a month of fighting over something so stupid. If you ask me, Cayson should leave you. He’s the best damn boyfriend on the planet. Maybe you should appreciate him once in a while.”

  “Word,” Roland said from the driver’s seat.

  “Ditto,” Trinity added.

  “Yep,” Conrad said.

  I sighed in annoyance. “Don’t gang up on me, alright?”

  “You fuck with one of us, you fuck with all of us,” Conrad said.

  “I’m your cousin,” I argued.

  “Well, Cayson is my brother.” Conrad looked out the window.

  I hated being singled out. “Whatever…”

  Slade read his book again.

  I looked at the title. “The Odyssey?” I didn’t expect Slade to read at all, let alone an epic Greek novel.

  “What?” he snapped. “I’m a history major. It makes sense for me to read this.” He sounded defensive.

  “That’s Greek mythology,” I argued.

  “Based on historical events,” he snapped.

  I turned to Trinity. “Isn’t that your favorite book?”

  She flipped a page in her book. “It’s an odd coincidence…”

  “Can you leave us the fuck alone now?” Slade snapped. “Give your boyfriend a handy in the backseat.”

  Roland swerved slightly. “Please don’t.”

  I leaned back against the seat and ignored Slade.

  Cayson passed out the cards. “Ready to lose?”

  “How about we just make out instead?”

  His eyes darkened at the idea.

  Roland swerved again. “Please don’t.”

  Cayson returned to the cards. “Let’s just play instead.”

  I sighed then gathered my cards. “I’m going to beat you this time.”

  “I’ll let you win a few times.” He gave me a smirk then played the game.

  “Is this it?” Conrad stared at the wooden cottage. Lights were bright in every window. Snow was piled on the roof and the road. The lawn was completely white, covered with powder.

  “It’s a fucking mansion,” Roland said.

  “Well, there will be twenty people staying there,” Trinity said.

  “Check the address again,” Roland said.

  Conrad looked at his phone. “They match.”

  I looked through the window. “I see my mom’s car.”

  “Alright.” Roland drove over the snow then found a spot to park.

  Trinity stared out the window. “It’s beautiful.”

  Slade stared out the window too but held his comment. No smartass words came out.

  “How’s this going to work?” I asked Cayson.

  “What do you mean?” he asked.

  “How are we going to sleep together?” I asked. “Are you going to sneak into my room?”

  He stared at me like I was crazy. “Is that a joke?” he blurted. “I’m not sleeping with you when your dad is around. I don’t need a pistol blowing my brains out.”

  I rolled my eyes. “My dad loves you, Cayson.”

  “A father’s love for his daughter makes him blind to everything else.”

  “He’s not stupid. He must know we sleep together.”

  “But I doubt he wants to think about that when he’s staying in the same house.”

  “He’ll still have sex with my mom,” I argued.

  “Who he’s married to…” Cayson gave me an incredulous look. “Forget it, Skye. I’m not sleeping with you.”

  “But I can’t sleep without you,” I argued.

  “Neither can I but I’ll deal with it.”

  “Is this an episode of The Young and The Restless?” Slade snapped.

  Cayson ignored his comment. “Forget it, okay?”

  I gave him my best pout. “Please…”

  “No.” He gave me a firm look. “We have the rest of our lives. Your dad likes me and I want to keep it that way.”

  “He’ll always like you no matter what happens between us,” I said. “He’s your godfather.”

  “When it comes to you, anything can change. Believe me.” He got out of the SUV and helped me out.

  I always got my way with Cayson but I knew it wasn’t happening this time.

  We grabbed our bags out of the back. Cayson carried my bags and his own inside. He refused to let me touch anything. He always carried my stuff but I knew he was insistent because my father was there.

  We walked inside and saw our parents sitting in the expansive living room in front of an enormous fireplace. A fire burned inside, crackling and licking the wood.

  “About time.” Uncle Ryan got up first then went to Slade and hugged him. “I’m glad you made it here in one piece.”

  “Me too.” Slade eyed Roland. “Daredevil over there managed to not drive over a cliff.”

  “Where did I get this reputation as a bad driver?” Roland said.

  “You didn’t,” Slade said. “I just know you’re stupid like your sister.”

  Roland shrugged. “My sister is stupid…”

  Uncle Ryan came to me next and hugged me. He was my godfather so I knew he saw me as his own daughter. “Beautiful like always.”

  “Thanks, Uncle Ryan.”

  He pulled away and patted me on the shoulder. “Are you ready for that tramp stamp? My door is open anytime.”

  “Just because you’re my brother-in-law, doesn’t mean I won’t break your neck,” my dad threatened.

  “My baby will avenge my death,” Uncle Ryan said. “You know my wife. That girl is a fucking ninja.”

  The parents greeted their kids with long-winded conversations and hugs. When my dad looked at me, affection was in his eyes like it usually was. “You look more like your mother every time I see you.”

  “Thank you.” To me, that was a compliment. My mom still turned heads whenever she went to the grocery store. She took care of herself over the years and worked out every morning. She was curvy but still in great shape.

  He hugged me for a long time. “Every time I say good bye to you, my heart breaks a little. But when I see you again, I’m so happy.”

  I wanted to yell at him for interfering with my personal life and Zack but I didn’t have the heart to do it then. He seemed so thrilled just to hold me. “I missed you too.”

  He pulled away then kissed my forehead. Then he looked down at my wrist, noticing the white gold bracelet I wore. He examined the moon and the stars. “Where did you get this?”
<
br />   “Cayson gave it to me.”

  “It’s nice.” He nodded his head in approval.

  I flipped it over and showed him the engraving.

  He nodded again. “Very nice.” He swallowed the lump in his throat like he was moved.

  “What’s wrong?”

  His face immediately returned to normal. “I’m just happy my daughter is taken care of even when I’m not around. It’s every father’s dream come true.” He stepped away so my mother could embrace me. Then he headed to Roland.

  “I’m so happy you’re here.” My mom gave me a big smile then hugged me.

  My mom was my favorite person in the world. She had a warmth about her that couldn’t match anyone else. I loved my father just as much, but we were so similar that we butted heads constantly. I always wanted to be more like my mother, with the grace to forgive anyone for anything. To love and never hate. Like my father, I was headstrong and aggressive. My mom was the only person I knew who never let her emotions dictate her actions. “I missed you.”

  “I always miss you, honey.” She pulled away then gave me an affectionate look. “You didn’t kill each other on the drive?”

  I shook my head. “We survived somehow. But Cayson beat me at every round of poker.”

  “Well, Uncle Mike taught him how to play. You never stood a chance, honey.”

  I laughed. “I guess not.”

  “I’ll show you to your room.”

  “Am I sharing with Trinity?”

  “No. You guys can have your own room.”

  “Cool,” I said.

  My dad grabbed my bags and carried them to my bedroom. Roland carried his own things.

  It was small with just a twin bed. A window overlooked the back of the house. Tall trees were covered with patches of snow. Several blankets covered the bed. There was a closet and a single dresser.

  “There’s a bathroom down the hall,” my dad said.

  I made a face. “I have to share it with the boys?”

  My mom laughed. “I’m sorry, dear.”

  “Ugh. I have a feeling I’m going to throw up at some point on this trip,” I said.

  “We’re having dinner in an hour,” my dad said.

  “Ooooh…what are we having?” I asked.

  “Pizza.” My dad gave me a fond look. “Your favorite.”

  “Yes!” I rubbed my hands together greedily.

  My dad chuckled. “My girls are so much alike.”

  My mom shrugged. “She has good taste.”

  “I know she does.” My dad put his arm around her. “Let’s let her get settled. We’ll be downstairs.”

  “Okay.”

  They closed the door and disappeared.

  I stared at my tiny bed and the hardwood floor. Sleeping alone would be lonely and cold. I wished Cayson was more of a daredevil like Slade and would just sneak in during the night. But he was too good for that.

  My door opened and Cayson appeared. He stared at the small bed then at me. “My room is pretty small too.”

  “At least we don’t have to share.”

  Cayson sat beside me on the bed. “I heard we’re having pizza.”

  “Me too.” I patted my stomach. “I’m starving.”

  “Like always,” he teased.

  “Where’s your room?”

  He stared at me suspiciously. “I don’t think I should tell you…”

  I hit his arm playfully. “Just tell me.”

  “Last door on the left.”

  “Where are the old people staying?” I asked.

  “The third floor.”

  My eyes widened. “This place has three stories?”

  He laughed. “Apparently.”

  I snuggled close to him. “Then they’ll never know…”

  He scooted away. “Don’t even think about it, Skye.”

  “Come on. We’ve barely had any sex this week.”

  “Whose fault is that?” he asked.

  I gave him my best puppy eyes.

  “Forget it, Skye.”

  “Well, I’ll just sneak into your room…”

  “Don’t even think about it. I’ll throw you out on your ass so fast.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Why can’t you be more like Slade?”

  “I can’t believe you just said that,” he said with a laugh.

  “I guess my hormones are doing all the talking.”

  “I can tell.” A smirk was on his lips.

  “Let’s go down to dinner. I’m about to eat your lips if I don’t get something in my stomach.”

  “Then let’s go. I need these bad boys to kiss you.”

  38

  Slade

  Dinner was served at the long table. Ten boxes of pizza were ordered to feed everyone. Skye probably ate half of that herself because she’s a fatty. My aunt Scarlet came in second place. I wasn’t sure where they put all those calories because it didn’t show.

  Trinity and I didn’t speak to one another. It was easier just to avoid each other. Just reading at the same time in the car sent out red flags. People were constantly watching us, finding any interaction between us to be abnormal. I never knew sleeping around with someone would be so difficult. If she weren’t the best lay I ever had, I wouldn’t bother.

  At the end of the night, people drifted to their bedrooms. I was a night owl so I preferred staying up until the distant rays of the sun crested the horizon. My dad was the same way. He usually went to bed when my mom did, but I knew it was only to get laid. When she fell asleep, he got up and watched TV and drank beer. He’d been that way all through my childhood. Sometimes I wondered if he was an insomniac.

  I poured myself a brandy then sat in the comfy armchair by the fire. My dad sat on the other couch, his glass in his hand.

  “You excited for tomorrow?” he asked.

  “Hell yeah. It’s been too long since I’ve hit the slopes.”

  “Me too. Are you going to try to ski for once?”

  “Duh. Only annoying, pretentious people ski.”

  He smirked. “I couldn’t agree more.” He drank his glass then refilled it. He rested his legs on the table, something he would never do if my mom were around.

  “How’s the shop?” I asked.

  “Good. I’m thinking about opening another one in Times Square.”

  “Seriously?” I knew my dad was doing well, but damn.

  “Tourists get crazy when they come to New York. They want it to be thrilling and exciting. It’s a tourist trap.”

  “How are you going to work at two places at once?”

  He gave me a serious look. “I figured I’d have my son run one of them.”

  My heart hammered in my chest. “Are you shitting me?”

  “You’re graduating soon. If it’s still what you want to do, it’s yours.”

  I sat up, my glass still in my hand. “That would be fucking awesome.” My dad didn’t care if I cursed. Actually, he was worse than I was.

  “Are you sure it’s what you want to do? You could pursue something with your degree, even continue your education.”

  I shook my head vigorously. “Inking is what I was meant to do. Why are you trying so hard to dissuade me from it?”

  My dad drank from his glass then rested it on his knee. “It’s not as glamorous as you think. There isn’t a lot of respect for the institution. I love what I do but I’ve always felt like I wasn’t good enough for your mom, an educated woman who works for a huge publishing house.”

  “Well, I don’t care what people think. I never have.”

  Affection was in his eyes. “You have more wisdom than I give you credit for.”

  “I’m a genius but no one ever recognizes it.” I rolled my eyes and put my feet on the table.

  “You are a genius. But you get that from your mom.”

  “You’re smart too.”

  He shrugged. “I have street smarts. Your mom is a bit of an airhead about that stuff.”

  “I’m going to tell her you said that.” I s
mirked.

  “Go ahead,” he said. “I’ll say it to her face.”

  My parents fought a lot but I never feared they would break up. It was obvious how much they loved each other even though it grossed me out most of the time.

  “I’m thinking about getting another tat.” I pulled up my shirt and pointed to the area over my ribs.

  “What are you thinking?” he asked.

  “I don’t know. Something green. I think it would look cool.”

  “What about a tree?” My dad started talking with his hands. “Like, going up and curving around your side. A few leaves could be falling.”

  I nodded my head. “That sounds sick.”

  He shrugged.

  “Why don’t you have any tats, Dad?”

  “I have this one.” He held up his left hand. Around his ring finger was a tattoo of a black ring.

  “Yeah, but that one is lame.”

  “Lame?” he asked with a laugh. “The fact I’m so committed to your mother that I permanently marked my skin so I can never remove it—even when death takes me? I think it’s romantic as hell. So does your mother.”

  “I guess I don’t do romance so it’s not impressive to me.”

  “Still having fun I take it?”

  “I told you, Dad. I’m a terminal bachelor.”

  “I said the same thing until I turned twenty-nine.”

  I raised an eyebrow. “What happened when you turned twenty-nine?”

  “Your mother walked into my apartment.” He finished his glass then poured another. He held his alcohol well, another reason why I looked up to him so much. He was a badass.

  “And you just knew she was the one?” I asked incredulously. “I think that whole love at first sight thing is bullshit.”

  “I didn’t say it was love at first sight,” he said immediately. “The only things I noticed were her long legs and awesome rack. Don’t get me wrong, all I wanted to do was fuck her.”

  I cringed. “I don’t mind talking about my sex life, but I don’t want to hear about yours…well, at least when it’s about Mom. The others are okay.”

  He ignored my comment. “As soon as I got to know her, I was smitten. She was the best lay I ever had and I didn’t want to have sex with anyone else. That’s how I knew.”