by R. Linda
Harper inserted herself between me and Kenzie with a blank expression on her face before pulling Kenzie away. Nate came over and handed me a beer. I just about groaned in appreciation. I could already tell it was going to be a long night.
“Have you spoken to Johnny about the diner yet?” he asked.
“Nah, been a little…preoccupied.” I took a mouthful of my beer and watched as Kenzie and Harper fell into the pool chairs with Indie and the young girl who lived here. The one the Kellermans were fostering. Dressed head to toe in black, with a hood pulled down over her face, she was trying to hide, but it only made her stand out more. Kenzie pulled a small package from her bag, wrapped in black paper and tied with a silver ribbon, and handed it to Indie.
“I can see that.” Nate chuckled.
“It’s not like that.” I tore my gaze away and focused on the deck below my feet.
“It’s exactly like that.” Nate shrugged. “Go for it. Kenzie could use some good in her life.”
“Not sure I can be classed as good.” I looked at him.
He pressed his lips together and shook his head once. “Gotta give yourself more credit than that, man. You’re probably the best out of all of us. You just got dealt a shitty hand.”
I thought about his words. Maybe he was right. Maybe he was wrong. I wasn’t a bad guy. Did I deserve to go to prison? Yes and no. I killed someone, plain and simple. But it wasn’t as black and white as that. I chuckled to myself. Wasn’t that what everyone claimed? It’s not that simple. I’m innocent. It was an accident. Only, in my case, that was true. I never intended to hurt anyone. To take away a kid’s life. All I ever wanted to do was protect my sister. Actions had consequences, and that one ill-fated night my actions had the worst consequences. I wasn’t bad. I was a kid, and I made a bad decision, one that changed my life completely.
The back doors opened again, and Cole came bounding out. He ran straight at me and wrapped his arms around my legs. “Jeremy! Look what I got,” he said excitedly, pulling a car out of his pocket. “It’s new. Uncle Ryder brought it for me because I ate all my peas.” He screwed his face up in disgust.
“Peas are gross, aren’t they?” I ruffled his hair. “But they’re good for you, so you have to eat them.”
“Do you get rewards for eating your peas? ’Cause Aunty Bailey promised Uncle Ryder he’d get a reward too, but she hasn’t given him anything yet. I think she just said that so he would eat them too.”
I watched the kid with amusement as he prattled on about rewards and peas, until Ryder put a hand over his mouth to shut him up and told him, “Go and see your Mumma.”
“And what sort of rewards do you get for eating all your vegetables?” Nate sniggered beside me and wiggled his eyebrows.
“That’s for me to know.” Ryder punched him in the arm and walked over to the cooler to grab a beer.
Glancing at Kenzie, I watched her listening to Cole, her eyes alight and a huge smile on her face as she expressed interest in everything he said. She appeared to be asking him questions all about his new car and…
“Quit looking at my sister, man. It’s creepy.”
“I’m not.” I turned to the side in an attempt to avert my gaze, but my eyes were automatically drawn back to Kenzie, regardless of where either of us was standing.
“You’re not? Then you’re either staring at Indie, which is bound to get you tied to a tree upside down by Linc—”
“What?” I frowned in confusion and looked at Ryder.
“Long story. Or you’re staring at your sister, which is creepier than staring at mine.”
Nate laughed and clapped me on the back. “I said go for it, but I didn’t say it would be easy,” he said then walked off, leaving me to face Ryder alone.
“Look…” I said, but Ryder cut me off.
“No, you look. She’s my sister, and I want her to be happy. She and Cole need that, but they’re my biggest concern. If you like her and can see things going somewhere with her, fine, but if there’s a chance you’re not ready for a relationship or a kid—because don’t forget, Cole and Kenzie are a package deal—then walk away now. I can already see how much Cole likes you after this week. So, you need to remember it’s not just Kenzie’s heart you’re working your way into, it’s that little boy’s as well.”
The doors opened behind me, and Ryder looked over my shoulder with a smile. “It’s about time. She’s been busting my balls wanting to know where you disappeared to,” he said.
I turned to see who he was talking to and noticed Linc standing in the door and a figure hovering behind him. “Don’t make me regret this,” Linc said over his shoulder to the guy, who was bouncing on the balls of his feet.
“Wouldn’t dream of it,” the guy mocked.
Linc set his jaw and clenched his fists. Ryder chuckled. And I had no idea what was going on.
“Deep breath, man, and remember who you’re talking to.” Ryder turned and began walking over to his girlfriend.
The guy behind Linc called, “I’ve missed that ass, handsome.”
Ryder raised his hand over his shoulder and flipped the guy off, causing him to cackle with glee. He sounded like a child.
“Why did I pick you up, again?” Linc squeezed his eyes shut and ran a hand over his face.
“Because you want your fiancée to have the best birthday ever. Now, move. Let me at my woman.” The guy shoved Linc to the side and walked out onto the deck.
He stood on the edge of the deck, feet shoulder width apart, and hands on hips, like a freaking superhero or something, and waited.
Chapter Fifteen
Kenzie
Watching the way Cole was with Jeremy when he arrived filled me with hope and dread. He seemed to be completely taken with the man who lived next door, and while it was wonderful, because there was no denying I was too, it scared the hell out of me. The last thing I needed was for Jeremy to back away, to realise it wasn’t what he wanted. Or that I didn’t live up to his expectations. It wasn’t my heart I was worried about. It was Cole’s.
Cole climbed off my lap and asked for a drink. “Sure. Let’s go.” I stood and grabbed his hand, and looking over at the deck, I smiled at Jack. He shot me a wink and waved at Cole. I didn’t know how long he’d been standing there, but it looked as though he was waiting for Indie to notice him.
As we approached, he crouched down on his knees and opened his arms for Cole, who ran straight into them and gave him a hug.
“You’ve grown, my man.” Jack gave Cole a high five then rose to his feet and pulled me in for a hug with a whistle. “You look smokin’.” He slapped my ass as he released me from his arms.
I didn’t miss the glare Jeremy was giving him behind his back and had to hide my smile.
“Good to see you.” I reached up, and my fingers combed through his hair. “I like the blond. It suits you.”
“That’s what all the boys say.” He laughed.
“Come on, Mumma. I’m thirsty.” Cole tugged on my hand, and I smiled apologetically at Jack before walking over to the cooler at Jeremy’s feet.
“What was that about?” He glared at Jack, who was still waiting for Indie to notice him, but she was too wrapped up in her conversation with Bailey and trying to make Audrey feel comfortable to notice.
“What?” I stared at him with wide eyes.
“Don’t play dumb. I saw him grab your ass.” He reached out and pulled me closer.
I smiled and placed a hand on his chest—his very firm chest. “Jealousy looks good on you,” I said then went and helped Cole get a drink.
“Hey, baby cakes!” Jack called across the back yard, obviously sick of waiting.
Indie immediately stopped talking and looked across the pool. She jumped to her feet. “Oh, my god.” She squealed and ran around the pool and in the direction of Jack.
And ever the theatre major, Jack ran toward her with his arms spread wide, in slow exaggerated steps, like in those romantic scenes in the movies when the hero saw the love of his
life, and everything became slow motion as they ran across the beach and jumped into each other’s arms.
Yeah, just like that.
“Umm…” Jeremy rubbed a hand over his neck, his eyes bugging out of his head as Jack dipped Indie and kissed her.
“Dammit, Jack!” Linc growled and shouldered past me and Jeremy, taking long, purposeful strides toward Jack, who still had Indie wrapped in his arms. Nate and Harper tried to hide their smiles. Bailey giggled into her glass, and Ryder cursed and shook his head.
“Idiot,” he muttered from across the deck.
“That’s Jack?” Jeremy raised an eyebrow.
“The one and only.” I laughed as Linc pulled Jack away from Indie, who was trying not to laugh because she knew how harmless it was but how much it drove Linc crazy.
“And this is normal behaviour for him?”
“To kiss another guy’s fiancée after groping your best mate’s sister?”
Jeremy nodded with a frown.
“Pretty normal.”
Jeremy’s eyes widened, and he gulped down the rest of his beer before reaching into the cooler and grabbing another one. “What the hell?”
How did I explain Jack to someone? There just weren’t the right words for it. “He’s all kinds of inappropriate, but he’s harmless.”
“He just kissed another guy’s chick. If I was Linc, I’d be furious.”
“I saw the daggers you glared into his back when he grabbed my ass.”
“Yeah, and that wasn’t even a kiss. He’d be a dead man if he kissed you in front of me.”
“You never have to worry about that.”
“You sure? Linc seems to need to take it more seriously.”
“No, it’s fine. It’s a running joke, but it means nothing to Indie or Jack. They’re best friends, and Jack is gay,” I said.
“That doesn’t make any sense.”
“It does. Seven months ago, we all flew to Fiji because the Kellermans wanted to renew their wedding vows. Indie had been hopelessly in love with Lincoln her entire life, and Jack, being the best friend he is, decided to have fun with it and help Indie get her man. Long story short, Jack kissed Indie every chance he got to make Linc jealous and step up.”
“Right? So, obviously, it worked. But he still kisses her now?”
“Because he’s an idiot and thinks it’s funny,” Ryder called out.
“There’s plenty to go around,” Jack called back.
“Besides, Bailey is the one who needs to watch out.”
“Why?”
“Because Jack is love with my brother,” I said, knowing Ryder was still listening.
“He is?” Jeremy smirked.
“He. Is. Not,” Ryder grounded out through clenched teeth.
“Nah, I don’t know. I just like annoying Ryder with it. And so does Jack.”
“That explains the nice ass comment earlier.”
“Oh, yeah, he loves Ryder’s ass.” I laughed.
Jeremy shook his head in shock. Jack was a lot to take in and took a while to get used to, but he was a great guy. He’d do anything for anyone.
We spent the rest of the night hanging around outside. Mr. K cooked a barbeque, and Ryder, being Ryder, took over the grill for him. Audrey was silent and kept to herself. Not even Jack was able to get her to smile. I felt terrible for the girl. She was incredibly shy, and there was absolutely no judgment from any of us.
Brody didn’t show up until much later because he had to work. The tension between him and Nate was as strong as ever. It was only when Brody sat at the other end of the yard with Audrey that I saw her smile and talk a little.
“What’s new, doll face?” Jack sidled up to me later in the evening.
“Like you don’t already know?”
“True. Now, tell me all about that.” He pointed at Jeremy, who was deep in conversation with Ryder.
“We’re just hanging out.” I shrugged, trying to play it cool. I wasn’t ready to admit that as crazy as it sounded, after just a couple of weeks, I was falling for the guy, and it seemed my son was too.
“Yeah,” Jack scoffed, “and Chace is just misunderstood.”
“Speaking of, I want to ask you something.”
“I know nothing.” Jack held his hands up in front of him.
“What happened that night Ryder got arrested?”
Jack paled and snapped his mouth shut. That was saying something. The dude never stopped talking.
“Please, Jack.”
He sighed, grabbed my hand, and pulled me inside. I glanced at Jeremy, whose eyes narrowed on Jack’s hand, and shook my head. Jack dragged me into the living room and instantly began pacing.
“Don’t make me talk about it.” He shook his head over and over.
“I don’t want details, I just need to know more. Chace won’t back off. He’s watching me. I need to know how much I should fear the guy.”
“Fear him. Sleep with a baseball bat. Or better yet, that Adonis out there. I bet he’d be a real weapon.” Jack fanned his face and swooned.
“Jack?”
“Sorry. Okay.” He took a deep breath and sat beside me. “Short story. Chace became obsessed with trying to get Bailey back. Practically stalked her too.”
My stomach dropped, and my heart thudded in my chest.
“Changed classes to be near her, hung around her work, outside her building. Anyway, Ryder was working one night, and I went to see if Bailey wanted to get some dinner. Knocked on her door but didn’t get an answer, but I heard a crash and something break, so I unlocked the door and let myself in.”
“How?”
“I had a key cut,” he said, like it was the most normal thing in the world to have a key cut to your roommate’s girlfriend’s room. I raised an eyebrow. “Indie gave it to me for when Ryder kicked me out of my room so he and Bailey could have sexy time without me interrupting.” Jack pouted. “And good thing I had a key. I opened the door and…and—” He paused, swallowing hard and taking a minute to gather his thoughts.
I reached my hand across and grabbed his.
“He had her pinned down, his hand trying to…to…she was thrashing around and trying to kick him off, couldn’t scream because he had a hand over her mouth. I saw red. I don’t really know what happened next. I pulled the pig away. Hit him a few times too. Scooped Bailey into my arms and carried her back to my and Ryder’s room. Called him and Indie and cried with Bailey until they showed up. And the rest, I guess you can figure out for yourself.”
Yeah, it didn’t take a scientist to work out what happened next. My brother took one look at Bailey, realised she was okay and safe with Jack and Indie, then he hunted Chace down and tried to beat him to death.
“Who stopped Ryder from killing Chace?”
“Me,” he whispered, his voice catching at the end. “It took me a while to track them down, and I got there in time. Got a pretty nasty black eye and busted lip from it too. Campus security showed up, police were called. And, yeah, that’s basically it.”
“Thank god you were there.” It was all I could say.
Jack nodded, and we sat there, holding hands, not saying a word as I let it all sink in. Jack was right. I needed to fear Chace. I needed to sleep with a baseball bat, or a knife under my pillow, and I couldn’t bring Cole home until it was safe.
“Right. I need a drink. And you could use one too, sweet cheeks.” Jack jumped up and pulled me with him.
As the night wore on and Cole got more tired, I took him back to Ryder’s place with Jeremy. I wanted to give it a couple more days until I knew uni had well and truly started back before I brought Cole home, just in case Chace showed up again. Though I was hopeful he got the picture and finally skipped town after Jeremy had threatened him. But after what Jack had told me, I was just kidding myself.
Cole fell asleep in the car on the way home, and Jeremy carried him inside for me and placed him in his bed before shutting the door quietly behind him and tiptoeing back down the hall.
“He likes you,” I said softly.
“Well, you can tell him the feeling’s mutual.”
We sat on the sofa in the living room and switched on the TV, putting it on low while we waited for Ryder and Bailey to get home. I didn’t want them to miss Indie’s birthday because they were looking after Cole for me, so I made them stay and told them to take their time. It was kind of nice to just relax there without worrying whether Chace would knock on the door and harass me again, or worse. Because now the fear had well and truly set in.
Jeremy put a movie on, and I kicked off my heels, flexing my toes after them being cramped into the narrow shoes. Jeremy lifted my feet into his lap, and I tried to pull them away, but he was stronger than I was and began kneading the balls of my feet. I moaned, and he pressed harder, relieving the tension and helping me relax further.
“You keep making those noises, we’re gonna have a problem.” He cursed, sliding his hand up my ankle and around my calf, massaging my tired muscles. I was tense all over. Whether that was from stress or a reaction to Jeremy’s hands on my body, I wasn’t sure, but I knew I didn’t want him to stop.
Headlights shone through the front windows, and I groaned as I heard two car doors shut and footsteps on the path outside. Kicking my legs off Jeremy, I had just straightened and made myself look presentable on the opposite side of the sofa when Bailey and Ryder walked through the door.
“Oh, look, Jones, they’re trying to pretend nothing is going on by leaving a ridiculous amount of space between them.” Bailey laughed.
“The space isn’t that big,” I argued.
“Nate and Brody sat closer together tonight, and they had an entire pool between them, Kenz.” Ryder kicked off his shoes and threw himself down on the sofa between me and Jeremy.
I shoved him in the shoulder and stood with a yawn. “Yeah, I bet you’re tired.”
“Tell Cole I love him, and I’ll see him tomorrow afternoon.” I picked up my shoes and spoke to Jeremy. “Ready?”
“Ah, yeah.” He said goodbye to Ryder and Bailey and followed me out.
“Don’t forget what I said, man,” Ryder called to Jeremy through the open door.
