“I’ll try.” That was the most honest answer I had to give.
He nodded before shifting his eyes towards Bray and Lanie. “It was nice meeting you, Lanie.”
Her head popped up and she smiled softly, pushing her glasses up further on her nose. “You too.”
Brody gave her a chin lift before they turned and started for their trucks.
Nick and Cam approached me next, Nick’s hand shooting out to shake mine. “Thanks for your help man.”
“No problem.” Nick said. “Any time spent with your family is entertaining.”
I smirked, along with Cam because that was definitely true. Cam’s hand lifted and shoved my shoulder. “I wanna see you tomorrow.”
“Like I said, I’ll do my best.”
“I’m holding you to that.” He said, his eyes locked on mine for a moment before shifting to Bray. He reached down and ruffled his hair. “See ya Bray. Nice meeting you Lanie.”
They looked up at the same time with Bray quickly saying bye and immediately going back to Beasley. Lanie gave a slight wave, earning a grin shot my way from Cam.
I heard Lanie say something to Bray about a ball and turned in time to see him take off to the front porch of the small house and pick up the green tennis ball lying on the step. Lanie stood and watched as Bray tossed the ball as hard as he could. Beasley trotted to retrieve it, which was only about three feet from where Bray stood. He dropped the ball at Bray’s feet and flopped down to sit, his tongue hanging out the side of his mouth. Bray grabbed the ball and took off running, Beasley slowly turned his head to look at Lanie who nodded and shooed him to follow Bray. I swear if a dog could roll his eyes, he would’ve at that moment, but he stood up and trotted after my son.
Ben threw his hand out and gestured towards the giant dog. “How the hell is that dog so slow and gentle with Bray when he threw me to the ground only a few minutes ago?”
I recognized the minute Lanie realized she was standing alone with us and her buffers were gone because her shoulders stiffened and the blush that had all but disappeared, began creeping back up her neck to cover her cheeks. I’d never actually seen someone blush so easily. It made me wonder what other parts of her body were flushed under all those clothes. Shaking my head, I chalked it up to not having been with a woman in a while, because shy women don’t usually hold my interest.
I watched her throat move while she swallowed before she spoke quietly. “Well, it was nice meeting all of you, but I need to, umm, I need to do some things.”
She started towards her house without meeting any of our stares, but I knew Ben wasn’t going to allow that.
“Lanie.” He called out.
She stopped, almost to her front steps and squared her shoulders before turning back to face Ben. “I’m sure I’ll see you soon. We’re a really friendly family.”
She actually looked defeated, like the last thing in the world she wanted was a friendly family to deal with.
“Bray come on. Time to go.” I called out to Braydon who was still running with the ball, but Beasley had given up and was stretched out on his belly, his eyes following Bray around the yard.
Bray ran to Lanie and handed her the ball. “I pay wif Bweasy?”
She smiled and knelt down. “You can play with Beasley whenever your daddy says its okay.”
He flashed her a big smile, running back to me, Ben, and Landon.
“See you later, Lanie.” Landon called out, earning him a small smile.
She waved at Braydon who waved back, smiling huge before he took my hand and walked back to our new house.
CHAPTER FIVE
JAKE
I looked around the table, my eyes falling on each member of my family who had turned up for dinner at my parent’s house. The same table I’d sat at for years, laughing and joking with my brothers and sister, Grace. Watching in the last few years as my oldest brother Jax took the plunge, marrying Kasey after Mia was born, their now three-year-old daughter. My brothers and the twins in our family, Cam and Chris both have women in their lives now, settling them down and making them happier than I’d seen them in a long time.
I felt my brother Brody’s stare before my eyes found his. Strength has always radiated from him and today was no different. I felt him holding me up, supporting me and I knew without a doubt that he would go into battle for me. All of my brothers would if I asked them too, most without me having to ask. Brody’s fiancé, Gia sat quietly beside him, carrying the same strength, her hand resting on her small pregnant belly holding their second child.
The chair beside me moved from the table and I didn’t need to look up to know Ben took the seat beside me, the same seat he’s sat in since we were big enough to pick one. We were together, always, and now work together, but lately his cheerfulness and positive outlook were pissing me off. Sadly, that used to be who I was too, happy, confident, always out for a good time.
“This is what I like to see.” My dad’s voice boomed through the room, his voice loud and deep. “Almost all of my kids here today. All except Luke and Gracie.” My body tightened at Luke’s name being mentioned. Dad frowned and turned to my mom sitting by his side, always by his side. “I think we need to see what’s going on with that girl. She needs to come home more.”
My mom chuckled and shook her head. “She will Jack. She works a lot right now. She’s finding herself.”
Dad grunted. “Finding herself? What the hell does that mean?”
“I’ll talk to her.” Mom said, obviously only to pacify him, which I’m sure he knew, but still nodded his agreement.
Food began its trek up and down the table until all plates were full.
“Your mother and I were at the hospital this morning and Luke got great news.” Dad started.
“What kind of news?” Brody asked.
“He’s being released.”
My head snapped up. “What? Already?”
Jax snorted. “I talked to him last night and I’d say he thinks it’s about two weeks overdue.”
He hadn’t been in the hospital much longer than that. “Isn’t he supposed to go to a rehab place or something?”
Dad nodded. “He was, but he’s been working with a therapist at the hospital and he said Luke could go home, if he had help and agreed to be driven in for outpatient therapy.”
“He can’t go to his place.” Cam said. “His apartment is on the second floor, with no elevator.”
“He can stay with us.” Kasey spoke up immediately, earning her a smile from Jax.
“We’ve already considered everyone and talked with Luke this morning. He knows his place isn’t an option, and our house has too many stairs. Actually, all of your houses have too many stairs, except one.” Dad said.
The silence in the room was overwhelming while everyone thought about the various homes that would be an option for Luke, but I already knew the answer.
Mine.
“No.” I mumbled.
“I’m not asking you Jake. Your brother needs this to heal and we, as a family, will do whatever it takes to make that possible.”
I stared at the table, not lifting my eyes, not needing that to feel the heat of the stares all around me. I gritted my teeth. “I can’t.”
“Jake.” My mom’s soft voiced called my name and offered me no choice but to look at her. I recognized the sympathy in her expression, but also the determination to do what needed to be done for Luke. “Why can’t you?”
My brain scrambled for a believable reason. “I’m never there. He’d be alone most of the time.”
“We considered that.” Dad chimed in. “There are enough of us to stop in and help out.” He gestured towards Ben. “And your brother said you have a neighbor who’s nice and Bray really likes, so maybe you can talk to her, see if she wants to help out.”
I frowned and shook my head. “I don’t even know her Pop and I don’t want to.”
“Why the hell not?” Ben asked. “She’s sweet.”
“Exactly.�
�� I nodded. “She’s sweet. I’m not asking her to get involved in any of this shit.”
“That doesn’t matter right now.”
My eyes left Ben and focused on my dad.
“What matters is getting Luke settled. He’s due to be released this week and already agreed to come stay with you.”
My stomach clenched. How the fuck was I going to face him every day? But I nodded anyway, accepting the choice wasn’t actually mine. I had to do it for Luke and I would, not only because he’s my brother and my dad would skin me alive if I refused, but because I owe him this. I know I could never make up for what I’ve done, but I could do this.
I finished dinner, and grabbed Bray with the excuse that I still had a lot to do at the house to get us settled. I drove home, watching in the rear-view mirror as Bray fought sleep, finally giving in about a mile from the house. I knew he wouldn’t stay asleep once I picked him up, which would only make him grumpy for the afternoon. I contemplated driving around for a while to let him sleep, but knew I was too distracted to drive around aimlessly.
I pulled into my driveway and put the truck in park just in time to watch a beautiful blond get out of her car and walk to my shy neighbor’s door. Shit, what was her name again? The visitor must’ve felt my stare because she stopped and turned, looking around until her eyes landed on mine. I pushed open the door and stepped out, closing the door quietly trying not to wake Bray just yet, and leaned back against the car.
She smiled and turned on her heel, heading my way. She came to stand in front of me, full of confidence and up close she was even prettier than she’d looked from afar, but something was missing. I didn’t feel the pull I thought I would, with her being a woman who in the past I know I would’ve been drawn to, but then again, I hadn’t felt anything for any woman since Luke was shot.
“Hi.” She stuck her hand out between us. “I’m Paige, Lanie’s friend.”
Lanie. That’s my neighbor’s name. I reached out, taking her small hand in mine and shook it. “Jake.”
“The neighbor.” She grinned. “No wonder she’s been distracted.”
I shook my head, obviously off my game since I had no idea what she was talking about. “What?”
She smiled, squinting in the bright afternoon sun. “Nothing.” She started backing away, still smiling. “Nice to meet you, neighbor Jake.”
I grinned, wondering how my shy neighbor was friends with this obviously outgoing and very flirty girl. She turned, heading towards Lanie’s house again, my eyes following her until she disappeared through the front door.
And I felt nothing.
I refused to think about the sensation I’d felt when I wrapped my hand around Lanie’s arm yesterday.
I turned towards the backseat, opened the door and grinned at my tired boy while picking him up. The only good thing to come from knowing Julie pushed his thumb in his mouth and rested his head against my chest.
CHAPTER SIX
LANIE
“Laaanie.” I heard my name being sung out by my best friend and sighed. I’d just watched her talking to Jake from my bedroom window. She’d made him grin, but then again, she’s always had a way with men. She’s flirty by nature and I’d been overlooked a lot of times as soon as she showed up. He watched her too. The entire walk to my house, he watched her. A sadness I hadn’t expected washed over me, knowing I was once again going to lose out to my best friend. I knew I’d never really had a chance with a man like him, but knowing my best friend could hurt me in a place I keep hidden, deep, deep inside, if she wanted to, bothered me. She never would though, I knew that for sure.
“Coming.” I yelled, and made my way into the kitchen to find her pouring a glass of lemonade.
She turned when she heard me and a smile brightened her face. “Guess who I just met?”
I played dumb. Pride has a way of making that happen. “Who?”
“Your ridiculously gorgeous neighbor.” She took a drink from her glass and scrunched her nose. “Holy cow, this is sour.”
I shrugged. “I like it sour.”
Paige turned and rummaged through my cabinet until she found the bag of sugar and spooned three spoons of it into her glass. Wow that was going to be really sweet.
She took another sip and smiled. “That’s better. Anyway, I talked to him, Jake, for a second and he seems nice.”
“I told you he was nice when he and his friends and brothers came over.” I cringed still thinking about that debacle.
She laughed. “I’m still picturing that whole thing.” She set her glass down on the counter. “And I know what you said, but I wanted to make sure. You think everyone’s nice and sometimes they just aren’t, Lanie.”
I shrugged because there was nothing I could say to dispute that. I always tried to see the best in everyone and that had backfired on me quite a few times. “It doesn’t matter anyway, Paige, I’m planning to stay out of his way. After what happened last time, I’m not sure I can face any of them.”
She smirked. “I have a feeling after what you told me Ben said, you may not have a choice in seeing them.”
“I hope you’re wrong.” I admitted.
She sighed and came around the counter, leaning her hip against the side and faced me. “I think it would be good for you if they forced you to socialize. Lord knows I’ve been trying for years and haven’t made much headway.”
“You know I read somewhere that sixty-five percent of people are socially awkward.”
She gave me the look that told me she knew I was full of shit. “First of all, that’s not true and even if it is, that’s probably only some of the time. Everyone feels awkward some of the time in a social situation.”
“What else?”
She shook her head. “What do you mean, what else?”
“You said, first of all.”
“Oh, well then second of all, you’re wrong.”
I laughed. “I think that’s the same as your first of all.”
“Whatever.” She waved her hand around before grabbing her glass and putting it in the sink. “Let’s do something.”
“Like what?”
“I don’t know, but it’s gorgeous out and I don’t have to work, so let’s do something.”
I shrugged. “Okay.” I started towards my sneakers lying by the door.
“Umm no.” She stated.
I stopped and turned to face Paige. “What? I thought you wanted to go out.”
“I do, but you’re not going out dressed like that.”
I hadn’t even thought about what I was wearing. Looking down, I saw she was right. I was wearing my ever-faithful yoga pants and a t-shirt with a green candy M&M on the front winking, because the green one is obviously a girl M&M.
“I should probably shower.” I said.
“Okay, I’ll watch some TV.” She grabbed the remote and plopped down onto my red, super plush sofa, picking up Beasley’s head and positioning it on her lap. There was no way Beasley was getting up, we both knew that.
Jumping in the shower, I decided to do the whole deal, including shampooing my hair and shaving. I knew making any effort in my appearance would make Paige happy and honestly, I’d been thinking lately that I should try a little harder. I’d fallen into the slump of being at home and not really caring what I look like day to day because no one sees me, but even I can admit I need to make more of an effort. Even if I’m the only one who ever sees it. Might as well start today.
I wrapped a towel around myself when I left the steaming shower and moved into my bedroom, putting lavender cream on before moving on to my underwear drawer. I don’t have many indulgences and most I have are far from girly, but I do have lingerie, and the girlier, the better. I chose a light blue set of panties and a matching bra that barely contained my breasts, and made me feel pretty even if no one ever saw them. Well, at least not recently.
Knowing Paige would just send me back to my room if I left in anything frumpy, I grabbed a nicer pair of jeans and a blue sleeveles
s blouse I used to wear when I worked. It was pretty and feminine so I knew Paige would approve. To most people she would probably seem bossy and overbearing, but having been friends for so long, I knew she just wanted me to give myself a chance in the world, and I needed her help to do that most of the time.
After putting in my contacts, I dried my hair and thanked the beauty gods that I at least had simple hair. It was wavy blond and hardly ever frizzy so for someone like me with no sense of style, it was a godsend. I even added a little make-up, smiling into the mirror, pretty impressed with my efforts.
“Wow! You look great.” Paige said, as I walked back into the living room.
“Thanks.” I said, happy with the praise.
“I feel like you’re finally starting to listen to me.” she teased.
I shook my head. “Nope. Just didn’t want to have to change a hundred times so I figured I’d do this the first time.”
“Smart girl.” She laughed.
I grabbed my shoes, while Paige moved Beasley’s head enough so she could get off the couch, which only caused him to open one eye, look at me, before lying his head back down and falling asleep. I rolled my eyes, once again thinking I needed to start getting him some exercise.
I locked up before falling in step beside Paige, walking towards my car, when I heard the roar of trucks. “Shit.” I muttered.
“What?” Paige asked, but I didn’t respond. She’d see in a second because there was only one neighbor who had people visit with loud trucks.
Trying to hurry her along, I grabbed her arm and walked faster, but it was no use. They were already pulling in and Paige’s face lit up like a freaking Christmas tree.
She stopped and stared as the two trucks parked. “Oohhh look! Sexy neighbor has company!”
I looked to the ground trying desperately to think of a way, any way, to get out of this, but I was too late. I knew that when I heard him.
“Hey Lanie.”
Elaina Page 4
