From That Moment

by Carrie Ann Ryan

  He shook his head. “No, it’s not about germs. Just the sharing.” He winked. “I share some things, but not others.”

  I held back another frown, wondering where exactly he was going with this. “Oh?”

  “You didn’t laugh, was my joke not good enough?”

  “A joke?” I asked, uneasy all of a sudden. “I’m sorry, I don’t get it.”

  “About the sharing. I mean, that’s why we’re here tonight. My wife would be here too, but I figured it’d be good for the two of us to get to know each other before you come and meet June. She’s excited to get to know you. Like I am. I mean, the fact that she’s going to share me with you is going to be kind of fun, isn’t it? That is what this is, right? Dakota was setting us up so you could join us for an evening or three.”

  I just blinked at him and swallowed hard. I wondered how the hell I had gotten into this situation.

  “You’re…married?” I looked down at his left hand and didn’t see a ring.

  “Oh, well, of course, I am. Didn’t Dakota tell you that?”

  I tried to be calm, to use my words gently. “I don’t think Dakota is aware you’re married. You probably never mentioned it. Nor are you wearing a wedding ring.” See? I was not hurting anyone. Wasn’t screaming. Wasn’t running out of the building so quickly there was a Paris-shaped hole in the door.

  “Oh, we didn’t do wedding rings. We got matching tattoos. And June’s nipple rings match my cock ring.”

  He was saying the words pretty low, but a family of four glared at us from the other table. I sank into my chair, trying to become invisible.

  “Oh?”

  “Don’t tell me you don’t like body jewelry. Are you going to judge?” He narrowed his blue eyes behind those wire-framed glasses.

  “No, not at all.” I shook my head. “I mean, you do you. I like body jewelry and tattoos and everything. And I don’t mind people being in polyamorous relationships or triads or anything that makes them happy. Only, I wasn’t aware that this was happening.”

  “Well, shit,” Kansas said, shaking his head. “I knew this was too good to be true. June said I should have just brought you over to the house rather than trying to take you somewhere fancy.”

  “Oh.”

  There were other words I should probably say, but I didn’t have any of them at the moment.

  Apparently, blind date number six was an invitation to join an already married couple for a night or three of sex.

  I was going to throttle Dakota when next I had a chance.

  I took back that word as shivers ran down my back. No, I wasn’t going to use violence against her. It wouldn’t be good for either of us, but I was going to yell. Or get her back somehow. Maybe steal a pastry. Yes, I would steal a pastry. One with tons of sugar and cream cheese and lots of flaky goodness.

  “This is embarrassing.”

  “We only ordered water, so why don’t you go? I’ll handle the waiter.”

  He gave me a pleading look, and I shook my head.

  “Not going to happen, Kansas.”

  “You have my number in case you ever want to join June and me. We play Yahtzee on Thursday night, too. And that’s not a euphemism. We like to yell out ‘Yahtzee’ while even playing the game.”

  He winked, and I still didn’t know if that was an actual euphemism or not. And then he left.

  And there I was, sitting at my table, looking at his empty seat and my now-cold naan, wondering exactly what I was supposed to do now. Did I leave a tip? Did I pay for the naan even though we hadn’t ordered? Did I crawl and hide?

  Thankfully, the family of four left before I had a chance to say anything, but then a shadow covered my table, and I had a horrible feeling.

  I looked up and swallowed hard.

  “Why are you here?” I asked.

  Prior shrugged. “My neighborhood is right behind this place. I come here often. I noticed a man walking away from your table, so I figured I’d see what was up.”

  “Is there like a candid camera here to watch me have these bad dates? Are you orchestrating it or something?” I asked, rubbing my temples.

  “No, but it sounds like you could use a drink.”

  “I did not BYOB.”

  He held up a thermal case. “I brought wine.”

  “You brought wine to sit by yourself?” I asked and then could’ve slapped myself. “Wait, where’s Allison?”

  “Allison is at work.” He rolled his eyes. “I was stood up. Which is fine. She said she might have to work late, but I figured I’d show up anyway since I’m starving. So, mind if I join you?”

  “I’m not having dinner with you while you should be with a girlfriend,” I said. There were rules about that sort of thing.

  “We’re coworkers. Friends. Well…practically.”

  “Thanks,” I said, putting as much sarcasm as I could into my tone.

  “Come on. We’ll eat. You’ll tell me exactly what made you blush so hard, and I’ll make sure I tell Allison what we’re doing.”

  I sighed. Frankly, I was starving and wanted to eat my naan. Even if it was cold, it was delicious anyway.

  “Fine, but this is embarrassing.”

  Prior just shook his head, smiled at me, and then went over to talk to the waiter.

  They switched out his water glass, popped open the bottle of wine, and we both ordered our meals quickly. It was as if Kansas had never been there, and I hadn’t been utterly embarrassed.

  I was sure the waitstaff would be talking about this for a while because it wasn’t precisely like Kansas had been quiet. But still, I was exhausted, utterly tired of dating.

  Prior frowned as the waiter put fresh naan on the table, but I held up my hand when he tried to take the old naan.

  “I’ll eat that, too. Please, don’t waste food.”

  He smiled and then walked away, and I dug into the naan, wanting its yummy goodness to make everything better.

  I sighed. “I’m done,” I mumbled before I even realized I’d said the words.

  “Excuse me? You’re done with what? Because I’m pretty sure you’re not done with that naan,” he said, and I resisted the urge to flip him off. I’d already had a bad enough night. I didn’t want to get kicked out for vulgarity on top of it all.

  “I’m done dating,” I said after I swallowed hard. Damn, that naan was good.

  “How could it be that bad?”

  “First, you’re in a stable relationship, so…fuck you.” I whispered the last part. “Second, this was not a date. Tonight was an invitation to join his marital bed with his wife. Kansas and June, the cutest polyamorous couple ever.” I dug into the naan again, while Prior just sat there, blinking at me. It was good that he didn’t laugh, because I was not in the mood.

  “Well, that’s a new one. I mean, I was standing right there, they could have invited me.”

  I looked at him and burst out laughing. “Wow, full of yourself, aren’t you?”

  “I could make a joke that someone should be full of me, but that’s weird,” he said, and I closed my eyes, trying not to laugh.

  “Please, no sex jokes. We’re coworkers.”

  “That is true. By the way, while you were digging into that naan, I texted Allison, and she said this was fine. I explained about the bad date, though I want to go into detail just so she understands why I’m eating dinner with you.”

  I waved my hand in the air. “Go ahead. Tell the world. I don’t care. As long as you don’t get in trouble for making me feel good.” I paused. “I mean…helping me have a better night, not making me feel good. Sexually. And I haven’t even had any wine yet.”

  He held up his glass, and I held up mine, we clinked them before I took a big gulp of the liquid.

  “Slow down there, slugger.”

  “Oh, shush. This is the only glass I’ll have. But between this and the food I’m about to indulge in, this is the only good thing to come out of the evening.”

  “Ouch. I’m sitting right here.”
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  “I’m not taking back my statement,” I said, grinning.

  “Anyway, thank you,” I said after a while. The waiter set our food in front of us, and I groaned, saying my thanks.

  Prior leaned forward. “You’re welcome. And dear God, this is so much food, but I’m going to eat it all.”

  “Is it okay if I steal some of yours? The waiter brought an extra plate like we asked.”

  “Thank God that’s why you ordered the extra plate because I wanted to try yours.”

  “See? I guess we are friends.”

  He winked at me, and I rolled my eyes.

  “Took you long enough, but here we are, best friends forever.”

  “Don’t push your luck.”

  We ate, talked about work, and our friends, and I did my best to push thoughts of Kansas and June out of my head. The waiter picked up our empty plates, and we were looking over the dessert menu when my phone rang.

  I had it on Do Not Disturb except for a few people, and I recognized that ring.

  Cold sweat covered my body, and Prior stiffened in front of me.

  “What is it?”

  “Nothing. But I need to answer this.”

  “Okay. I’m here.” I picked up the phone and prayed that everything was okay, but I knew it wasn’t going to be.

  “Hello?” I asked as I stood up from the table and made my way out the door so no one could overhear me.

  “Hello, Paris, it’s Detective Buker. I have some news for you.”

  As he began to speak, my body sagged as I leaned against the post in front of the door. I wondered how in the hell this had happened. It couldn’t be happening.

  Screams and burns and shouts. Hard slaps and slices. Little voices and cries. It all came back to me, but I didn’t tear up. I stood there, shocked, sweat almost pouring down my body.

  And when I hung up the phone, I wondered what the hell I was going to do.

  And then Prior was there, his hands on my shoulders. I knew he was saying my name over and over again, even though I couldn’t really hear him. It took me a minute, and then I looked up at him and swallowed hard.

  “Paris? What is it? Is it one of the girls? Is it Joshua?” he asked, speaking about Dakota’s son.

  I pulled away, needing space, needing something. I didn’t know what exactly that was. “No, they’re okay. I...I need to go home, though.”

  “I’m going to drive you.”

  “No, you can’t. Your car is here.”

  “Let me text my brothers and see what they can do to help me out. You’re not driving in this condition.”

  I nodded, hating that I felt so small, hating the way I didn’t have control.

  I heard him talking to Macon and Nate. Apparently, they said they would come and get my car and take it to my place. They had the address from Hazel. It was just another way I knew that, somehow, we were all becoming one large group, all the connections so close.

  There were things they didn’t know about me, things I never wanted them to know. But now it was all coming back.

  “Come on, let me get my car. I’ll take you home.”

  “They need the keys,” I whispered.

  “Macon is pulling in right now. I’ll get them to him.”

  I hadn’t even realized that any time had passed. I hadn’t even paid my half of the bill.

  What was wrong with me?

  I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think, couldn’t do anything.

  More time passed, and then Nate was there, and the guys gave me concerned looks. I couldn’t focus on them right now, so I ignored them.

  And then I was in Prior’s car, somehow buckled in and on my way home with Prior. He had such worry on his face that I turned away.

  I needed to breathe, needed to think.

  Because the man who had killed my sister was out of prison.

  The asshole who had tortured me, who still gave me nightmares, who had ruined everything in my life was out.

  And I knew it was only a matter of time before I saw my father again.

  Chapter 5

  Prior

  * * *

  I frowned at all of the food I’d bought for the day and wondered if I had too much of it.

  “Hey, are the eggs ready for the best part of the meal? The deviled eggs?” Nate asked from my side.

  I looked over at him and realized that no, I hadn’t made enough food.

  When we were younger, the Brady brothers had eaten everything in sight. I had no idea how my parents were able to keep a roof over our heads given how much food we consumed. Arden hadn’t eaten as much, and not only because she was a girl, because she had been sick—and we hadn’t figured it out until it was almost too late.

  And that was enough of that train of thought.

  “Yes, only I haven’t finished making them yet,” I said, my hands on my hips as I stared at the vast array of food I had set out on the counter. “As in, I boiled the eggs, but that’s about it.”

  “At least we have a plan,” Nate said, and then I was stuffing things back into the fridge while Nate took other things out, and we continued cooking.

  “I’m glad that you decided to have us over today instead of us waiting for Arden and Liam to get back into the country.”

  “They’re on a book tour, and Arden likes to be the one to organize these things. I don’t mind stepping up, though.”

  “You’re right. And then Cross is the one who does after. We don’t contribute much, do we?” Nate asked, winking.

  I rolled my eyes. “I’ve been working hard over a stove for hours, don’t even.”

  “So when are the rest of them getting here?” Nate asked, his focus on filling the eggs.

  “Soonish. I know Hazel invited the rest of the girls. And Dakota will probably bring her son.”

  I hadn’t seen Paris since whatever had happened to her that night outside the Mediterranean place. After I got her home, I’d made sure that she had water as she sat on her couch. Then, she’d pretty much forced me out. I’d called Hazel, and she’d said that she and the girls would take care of it. I didn’t know what any of that meant, though.

  All I knew was that Paris had been hurting. She’d looked as if she had been shocked, leveled a blow that she hadn’t been expecting.

  And it wasn’t any of my business.

  I hated to see her in pain like that, but there was nothing I could do.

  She was going to be at my house soon, so I would have to think about exactly how to deal with the fact that something was wrong, and I couldn’t fix it.

  “Is Allison coming, too?” Nate asked, his voice deceptively casual.

  I raised a brow. “Yes, she should be on her way soon. Is that a problem?” I asked.

  “No, not at all. She just doesn’t hang out with us much. Or like…ever. And I don’t even think she’s met all the girls.”

  “You need to stop calling them the girls,” I said.

  “True. They call us the boys though, because calling us the Brady brothers got a little weird after a while,” Nate said.

  “True.” I paused. “I don’t even want to call them the ladies. And saying ‘Hazel’s friends’ sounds rude because they’re our friends, too. And I don’t want to say pact sisters because that sounds really weird.”

  “We’ll just ask them what they want to be called. And you kind of sidestepped the rest of that statement.”

  I shook my head. “Allison’s met Paris.”

  “She has?”

  “You know, at the bar.”

  Nate raised his brows. “Oh, right. I remember. And Allison got all pissy about it.”

  I sighed. “We talked about it. We’re fine. Don’t freak out. Okay?”

  “I’m not freaking out. I only want you to be careful. You and Allison seem to have a good thing going, even though it’s taking you guys forever to make any headway into being serious.”

  “You should look in the mirror.”

  “What? Just because I don’t want a serious
relationship doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have one. And you’ve been with her for what, six months now? I assumed you guys had already been talking about marriage.”

  I held back a shudder and wondered what the hell that was about.

  “Not everyone has to work as fast as Arden and Cross.” Our siblings had fallen in love quite quickly with their prospective partners. I wasn’t going to fall into that trap. Not that I thought love was a trap, but I was going to take my time. I liked to date. I liked figuring out what I wanted. And I liked the fact that Allison and I were still figuring that out and thinking about it.

  Great. Now I was worrying because of Nate. No, if I was honest with myself, it wasn’t only Nate. But I honestly didn’t want to be too honest with myself right then. As if we had conjured her by just talking about her, my phone buzzed. I looked down at the readout.

  “Hey there, my lovely,” I said, and Nate rolled his eyes before going back to helping me set up our dinner.

  “Hey, I have some bad news.”

  I wasn’t surprised. Allison rarely came to family meals, and I didn’t know how to take that. She didn’t have any siblings, so she didn’t get the whole hanging-out-as-a-group thing. I got that in a way, but this was the fourth time she had canceled in a row. I didn’t know how to feel about that.

  “Oh?”

  “Don’t get that tone with me.”

  “I didn’t know I was getting any kind of tone with you, Allison.” I started to leave the room when Nate glared at me. I flipped him off, and he grinned before leaving the room.

  I took a breath. “I didn’t have a tone, Allison.”

  “I have to work.”

  “Now?”

  “You know, not all of us have a beautiful nine-to-five job.”

  I was not going to touch that with a ten-foot pole. I didn’t want to fight, mainly because the others would be here at any minute, but also, frankly, I was too tired for this crap.

  “I’m sorry,” Alison said after a moment. “I’ll make it up to you,” she purred.

  I held back a sigh because while the sex between us was great, nothing else seemed to be good. Maybe I was overthinking things, or perhaps everybody telling me I should be in a serious relationship by now was seeping into the rest of my thoughts. I let out a sigh and tried to figure out exactly what I was thinking.