by Toni Aleo
She was right. Even with everything he had been through, the molestation, the death of his friend, and even fighting to get into the NHL—because it wasn’t as easy as everyone thought it was to be as good as he was—he never gave up. He fought to be normal, to not hurt, to win. And when it became too much and he failed, he picked himself back up. That’s why for so long he didn’t believe he had a problem. When he needed to stop, he did, but this last time, he was in far too deep. Everything was drowning him, his career was hanging in the balance, Kacey was gone, and he had no one because he’d pushed them all away.
But again, he did it. He picked himself back up.
“So whenever that fear creeps back into your mind, just remember that you don’t back down, that you fight for what you want,” she said, leaning her head against his. “I believe in you, Jordie, or I wouldn’t be sitting in your lap right now, feeling so damn perfect. Only you can make me feel like this, so please don’t ever stop.”
“I won’t,” he promised, his eyes meeting hers.
“Good,” she said with a wink. “Now come on, I’m hungry. I’m gonna eat while you get interrogated by the family.”
She pressed her mouth to his, and his eyes drifted shut as her lips warmed his. Pulling away, she kissed his cheek before climbing off his lap. Smiling, he stood up and followed after her, his phone held loosely in his hand. He hadn’t forgotten what he was doing before their little talk, but before he could do what he wanted, she stopped at the door and turned to him.
“Should I go out my door and you go out yours?”
He gave her a perplexed look. “What for?”
“I don’t know, doesn’t it say we’ve been doing it if we go out the same door?”
“We have been doing it.”
“I know that, and you know that, but I don’t want my daddy knowing it!” she complained.
“He’s probably outside by the fire eating something, and I’d like to join him. Now go,” he said, reaching around her to open the door. She shot him an exasperated look but went out with only a sigh. Smiling, he followed behind her, opening his Facebook app again to ask her to be friends. Before he could complete the request though, Karl’s booming voice stopped him right as Kacey halted in front of him, causing him to run into her.
“So I guess you two are together. And if not, I need you to explain why you’ve spent the last two hours moaning each other’s names.”
“Oh my God,” Kacey gasped, letting her head fall back. “Please tell me my father did not just say that to me.”
“No, he did. But were we that loud?” Jordie asked innocently, and Lacey laughed as Kacey glared.
“You guys gave me and Karson a run for our money, that’s for sure,” she decided, rocking Mena back and forth.
“At one point we had to go outside,” Regina said, shaking her head. “I mean, goodness me, Kacey.”
“This is my life,” Kacey said with her eyes shut, and it took everything for Jordie not to laugh.
“I should kick your ass for defiling my sister…again,” Karson said, meeting Jordie’s gaze, his eyes dancing with laughter.
“And I should kick your ass for making me look like I’m lacking in the bedroom,” Karl said, and on cue, everyone except for Regina heaved.
“Gross!” Kacey cried.
“Come on, Dad! Really?” Karson complained as Lacey just laughed.
“Wow, I’m not sure if I should be proud or disgusted,” Jordie said, his face scrunched up.
“Maybe you should give him some pointers,” Regina sang, trying not to laugh.
“Yup, I’m disgusted,” Jordie said to Kacey. “I think your mom just asked me to tell your dad how to screw her.”
Kacey gagged. “Please, don’t repeat it,” she said, holding her stomach.
“Sorry, I can’t get the vision out of my head,” he said, trying to shake the image away.
It wasn’t working though.
“Hey, I know how to do you just fine!” Karl yelled and Regina waved him off.
“Please make them stop,” Karson cried out, leaning his head against Lacey’s, but she was no help, she couldn’t stop laughing.
“Lord knows I’ve never screamed the way she did,” Regina said, pointing to Kacey.
“I think I just died of embarrassment,” Kacey mumbled to Jordie and he nodded.
“I’m right there with ya,” he agreed just as Karl scoffed.
“Because obviously you don’t know how to enjoy good sex!”
“Oh God, Karson, make them stop,” Lacey said, covering Mena’s ears.
But Karson shook his head, his hands over his ears. “Sorry, can’t hear you.”
“You guys are ridiculous,” Regina said, shaking her head as Karl wrapped his arms around her waist. “Everyone does it. We all know they do.”
Jordie’s head hung as he shook it. Chancing a look at Kacey, he saw that her whole face was red, and soon he couldn’t help it, he started laughing. She looked over at him in horror, but even she couldn’t hold it in. Then they were all laughing. Holding his stomach, he decided he had never laughed that hard in his life. Kacey leaned against him, her perfume clouding his senses as she dissolved into giggles. This could only happen to them. Only the King family would do this. Anyone else would have been embarrassed and tried to hide their uncomfortable feelings, but not the Kings. No, they let their crazy flags fly.
He wasn’t sure how, but soon he recovered, wiping the tears away from his face. “This is great,” he chuckled, laughter still bubbling in his chest.
“That’s one word for it.” Kacey scoffed, shaking her head.
“So,” Karl said, squeezing Regina in his arms. “You two together now?”
Jordie looked over at Kacey just as she looked at him. Smiling, he laced his fingers with hers and nodded. “Yeah, she’s giving me a second chance.”
Regina aww’d while Lacey cried out in delight, almost bouncing on her heels. “I knew it!”
Karson nodded. “Cool.”
“Cool?” Kacey gasped. “You hit him this morning for being with me before.”
Karson pointed at her. “No, I hit him before because he broke your heart and lied to me. He told me earlier that he was gonna get you back. I’m cool with it. You two are good for each other.”
Kacey looked up at Jordie, shocked, and he shrugged. “Told ya.”
She shook her head then as Karl yelled, “Now, boy, I gave you a pass before ’cause you were messed up. But you hurt my baby again, I’ll hang you by your toes on a clothes hanger and skin you alive.”
“How very country of you,” Lacey commented. “I think I’ve heard Elli say that before.”
“You have,” Karson agreed. “That’s where he heard it.”
“What can I say, I am adapting to the South,” Karl said, but then his gaze cut to Jordie. “I’m not kidding either.”
“10-4, won’t happen,” Jordie said, holding up his hands. “Promise.”
“Holding you to that,” Karl warned.
“I think we all are,” Regina commented and soon everyone was nodding as Kacey looked up at him. Wrapping his arm around her, he kissed her forehead and she smiled. He’d lay down and die before he hurt her. He just couldn’t. It would be catastrophic if he did. He would not only lose Kacey, he’d lose them all. They all believed in him, supported him, and he couldn’t let them down.
He couldn’t let himself down.
“There is dinner in the kitchen. Might need to feed the appetite you built up,” Lacey teased.
“Might want to drink some hot tea after all that screaming, sweetheart,” Regina added, and Kacey’s face burned once more, while Jordie sputtered with laughter. She shot him a dirty look and he shrugged.
“Well, we are hungry,” he said and she shook her head. “And you do scream really loud.”
“We are never gonna live this down,” she groaned as the rest of the family laughed.
“Probably not, but I’m okay with it,” he said, pulling her to t
he kitchen.
“Why? It’s embarrassing!”
He looked back at her, his lips curved. “But it was fun.”
Her lips pursed as she shrugged. “Very true.”
“Hey, keep it down tonight though. Mena needs her sleep,” Karson called at them and Kacey let her head fall back.
“I need a place of my own,” she groaned as she plopped down on a stool. Jordie glanced over at her as he grabbed the two plates that had been left out and put them in the microwave. Turning, he leaned against the counter, eyeing her. “What?” she asked and he shrugged, not sure how she was gonna take his next suggestion. Figuring that it was now or never, he smiled.
“We could get a place,” he offered and her eyes widened.
“I mean, shit, Jordie, can you take me on a date first?” she joked and he chuckled.
“Just saying,” he said and she grinned. “But what are you doing tomorrow night?”
“Whatever you are,” she decided and he grinned back.
“Dinner and movie? Maybe some surfing on the realty site before I make you scream all night. Which, in return, would lead to more teasing by your family, which would lead to you wanting your own place.”
“You’re insufferable!” she said, throwing an empty cup at him. He caught it, laughing as she said, “I don’t know. That seems a little crazy.”
“No, crazy is getting married.”
She gave him a deadpan look. “Well, duh.”
“But I’m down for that too.”
“Oh my God, please tell me that’s not how you are proposing to me,” she groaned, shaking her head.
“Nah, but just saying.”
“I can’t handle you right now, you’re giving me whiplash,” she said, shaking her head. “But yes to the date, and maybe to the screaming sex if it goes well.”
“Oh, it will, and I don’t think we’ll make it home,” he said, his eyes dancing with desire.
“I like the way you think,” she said, licking her lips. “But we’ll have to take your truck, my car won’t give us enough room.”
“Good thinking,” he agreed before getting their plates out of the microwave just as a knock came at the back door.
Setting them down, he looked at the door as she got up, a bewildered look on her face. “I wonder who that is,” she said as she went to the door. She opened it and he watched as her face twisted in confusion as she said, “Liam?”
“What the fuck is he doing here?” Jordie called out, and Kacey waved him off as Liam rolled his eyes. He looked a mess, not his usual, put together self. Though what surprised her most was not that he was there, but that he was holding flowers. What could he possibly want?
“I know it’s late and I’m sorry I came by unannounced, but I need to see you,” he said, holding out the flowers. She took them, confused, as he said, “I wanted to talk to you. I feel like earlier I didn’t really get to express how much it would mean to me for you to go with me. You didn’t give me much of a chance to talk.”
“I thought it was pretty cut-and-dried, Liam. I’m sorry, but I don’t know what to say right now.”
He nodded. “I know. Can I come in?”
She knew she should say no, but before she could say anything, Jordie yelled out, “No.”
Turning to glare at him, she said, “Hush, you.”
“What?” he asked innocently. “Why does he need to come in?”
To her surprise, Liam barreled in, glaring at Jordie. “Why does it matter to you?”
Letting out a sigh, she knew this was going to get ugly if she didn’t control the situation, but unfortunately—and, of course—Karson and her dad had come into the kitchen.
“What’s going on?” Karl asked. “What the hell is he doing here?”
Karson looked at Kacey. “No, really, what’s going on?”
“Nothing, it’s fine. Everyone just chill out,” Kacey said, holding her hands up before placing a hand on Liam, but he shook it off. “He’s leaving.”
“I’m talking to you, Thomas!” Liam yelled.
“Or not,” she groaned as Jordie came out from behind the counter, but thankfully Karson stopped him.
“Oh, you’re talking to me?” Jordie scoffed, looking down at where Karson’s hand lay. “What?”
“Just precautions. This looks like it could get violent,” Karson said before looking over at Liam. “I suggest you leave.”
“No, I want to know why it’s any of his business why Kacey and I talk. We had something special. She should be going with me to New York—”
“See, that would make sense. But she doesn’t love you, she loves me,” Jordie said, cutting him off, and Kacey covered her face.
Why was this happening?
“Oh, so you did break up with me for him,” Liam accused and she shook her head.
“No,” she said, but Jordie thought differently.
“Of course, she did. You can’t make her feel an ounce of what I make her feel.”
“Jordie, stop,” Kacey warned. “That’s enough. And Liam, I didn’t break up with you for him. It just kinda happened that I got back with him the same day I broke up with you. I never planned it, and I know that sounds bad, but really, that’s how it happened.”
“Sure, it did,” he seethed and she shook her head.
“I’m telling you the truth,” she stressed, but she could tell he didn’t believe her.
“I put time into you, I love you, and I thought I was doing right by you. But you’re gonna pick some drunk asshole who’s more than likely gonna cheat on you left and right? Why? Explain that to me?”
“Liam—”
“It’s pretty simple. I can make her come, you can’t,” Jordie said and Liam glared.
“Really, Jordie?” she yelled and he shrugged.
“Yeah, because you practice on every woman in the world. Shut up, I’m not speaking to you anymore,” he snapped back.
“Yeah, maybe you should try it because you obviously can’t keep a girl.”
“You’re a disgusting drunk, and you won’t keep her either.”
Jordie pushed past Karson, and Kacey decided he wasn’t trying very hard to keep Jordie contained as he went toe-to-toe with Liam. But Liam was looking at Kacey, his eyes intent on her as Jordie stared him down.
“You’re halfway right. I am a drunk, recovering though, but I am not disgusting, nor will I lose her. She is mine. Not yours.”
“Oh my God, stop it. I’m not something to own, for one, and for two, this is insane,” she said to Liam and he gave her a look.
“Tell this dude to leave—before I remove him,” he demanded, and Kacey rolled her eyes.
“Why are you acting like this? You got me, we’re good. Let me explain this to him because I do care about his feelings. He is a nice guy.”
“He’s a pussy,” Jordie sneered.
“Screw you,” Liam said, glaring at him, and Jordie laughed.
“See!”
“Karson!” she yelled and he shrugged.
“I’m trying,” he said, pulling Jordie by his shirt, but of course, he wasn’t moving.
“What did I do wrong?” Liam asked. “Why don’t you want me?”
“Dude, do you know how pathetic you sound right now?” Jordie asked, but they both ignored him while Liam’s eyes searched hers.
“We have history, Liam. I love him,” she said, but Liam shook his head. “When he’s not being a jealous, pigheaded jerk, he’s a good guy.”
“He won’t treat you like I do.”
“Yeah, I’ll do better and I’ll make her come,” Jordie reminded him and she was going to kill him.
Smacking him, she asked, “Will you go eat or something? Let me handle this.”
“No,” he said simply, not moving at all.
“Daddy?”
“What?” Karl asked, crossing his arms.
“Remove him!” she yelled, but he shook his head.
“I’m on his side.”
Looking at Jordie, Liam bi
t out, “You’re just mad that I had her because you couldn’t keep her. She wanted to have sex with me, she wanted me so damn bad, just to get over your punk ass.”
“Is that right?” Jordie asked, his chest puffing out. “Did you know I know every detail about your relationship with her? Wanna know why? Because she loved me enough to tell me. What do you know about us? That I hurt her, right? That’s it, because you meant nothing to her.”
“But I was with her and that kills you inside,” he yelled back. “I can see it all over your face. You hate me because I was good enough for her to try.”
“You know nothing, fuckface,” Jordie bellowed and that was enough.
“Okay, that’s it,” she said as Liam looked back at her. “Look, there is really nothing else to say. I’m sorry for how this went down and how this may look. But I promise, I never meant to hurt you.”
“No, you just strung me along, made me think you could love me—”
“Nope, never did that,” she reminded him. “I always told you that I wasn’t there yet.”
“But you never were going to be there ’cause you were obsessed with this asshole!”
She hadn’t realized how upset he was until that moment. He never cussed, and the fact that his hands were in fists worried her. She really didn’t want this to come to blows, but both of them were just itching for it.
Stupid male egos.
Making a face, she said, “I mean, ‘obsessed’ is a little over the top. I did love him and I wasn’t over him.”
“You told me you were!” he yelled and Jordie stepped between them.
“Don’t yell at her,” he warned, and with all her might, she pushed him to the side before staring at him
“I can take care of myself!” she yelled at him, but Jordie wasn’t listening. His eyes were trained on Liam, just waiting for a reason to hit him. She really needed to get him out of there. “I wanted to be over him and figured if I said I was, it would be true. But I never was and I’m sorry, but you—”
“So you used me?”
She had asked herself that many times and she knew the answer. She just didn’t want to own up to it. She wasn’t that kind of person, but in her quest to lose her feelings for Jordie, she lost a bit of her humility. Something she was not proud of. And if she could, she’d make it up to Liam. But she was unsure how to do that or if he even wanted her to. But she didn’t owe him the whole truth. “I guess so. I didn’t mean to though, if that makes it any better. And I am very, very sorry.”
