Expect the Unexpected

by L. M. Heidle

  He squeezed my hand as he shook it. “Thanks for letting me stay here, but don’t think for one second I’ll hesitate in beating the shit out of you if you hurt her.”

  “Trip!” Alex yelled.

  I grabbed her hand and softly squeezed. “No worries, angel. He’s only protecting you.” I figured a longer discussion with more threats was in my future regarding our relationship. He could threaten me all he wanted, but they’d be in vain.

  “Yeah, angel.” She rolled her eyes. “Dude, seriously thanks for this, but watch the hands.” I hadn’t even realized I’d put my hand on her hip, tucking her into my side. It was second nature now.

  I chuckled, “I’ll try.”

  “Ah, no he won’t. I like his hands on me.” Her face turned bright red as she realized what she said. “Not that. I mean we haven’t.” I tipped my head back, concentrating on the ceiling as I tried not to laugh. My head dropped when she elbowed me in the gut. “A little help here,” she hissed. When my eyes met her brother’s, we both busted out laughing. She threw her hands up and stomped down the hall, the entire way muttering, “I can’t believe this.”

  I chuckled as I watched her walk away. Once she slammed the door, I turned toward her brother, who was glaring at me. “Watch your eyes.”

  “Noted. Let me show you to your room.” I put him in the room furthest from the rest of the house. I had a feeling he’d need a lot of privacy to ‘entertain’ guests, because besides no privacy, prison also didn’t have women.

  Alex swung the door open as we walked by and grabbed Trip’s arm. “You two will not ruin this day for me. I’m going to be the one to show my brother his room.”

  She dragged him into the room like a woman on a mission. “I picked out the bedding, so if you don’t like it get over it.” Her voice was nervous as she described everything she got him. She wanted everything to be perfect, but the only thing that mattered to him was he had her.

  He played along, though, making her smile bigger with each comment. “If you need anything else, your half of the life insurance money is in your account. The new card is in your wallet on the dresser.” He stared at his sister for a minute before grabbing her and pulling her into his arms. He leaned down and whispered something in her ear that made her tear up.

  He let her go smiling. “Alright, get out of here so I can shower. We’re going out tonight. Sis, can you call Lucas and let him know.” I tensed but remembered my promise.

  She kissed him on the cheek. “Sure, bro.”

  ALEX

  Three hours later, because someone had to take an hour long shower, we arrived at Riley’s. As soon as we walked through the door of the club, my brother started acting like a dog in heat. “There are so many choices, how’s a man supposed to choose?” I get he’s been in prison, but still. That’s not something a little sister wants to even think about.

  “Alright, Romeo, let’s get me a drink first. I have a feeling I’m going to have to be buzzed to make it through tonight.”

  Grossed out didn’t even begin to describe how I felt about my brother by the end of the night. I’d seen him take not one, not two, but three different women into the bathroom at different times. In my mind, they were having stimulating conversations about the diseases one could find in a club bathroom. After he practically had sex with a girl on the dance floor, I’d had enough.

  I turned to Tray. “Please tell me you’re ready to leave.”

  He laughed, “I was wondering how much longer you could handle it. I’ll go grab him so you can say goodbye.” Normally I’d watch Tray walk away, but I caught another glimpse of my brother with his tongue down some girl’s throat. Pretty sure my stomach couldn’t handle anymore, so I turned my eyes toward the exit and found Lucas walking toward me.

  He wrapped an arm around my shoulder. “Hey, Lex, grossed out yet?”

  “Thoroughly.” I frowned at Lucas. “You just getting here?”

  “Sorry. I had some things to take care of.”

  “Diablos things?” I asked with disdain.

  “Come on, Lex, don’t be like that. I’m still the same Luc.”

  I sighed. He wasn’t, but he was, which made no sense whatsoever except in my head. Just another oddity in my life I had to accept. “Can you keep an eye on him? Make sure he doesn’t drink anything. His parole officer said he’d probably swing by tomorrow.” I hesitated in bringing him to a club because he wasn’t allowed to drink. But Trip was determined and promised he’d be good.

  “Yeah, am I dropping him off at your apartment?”

  I turned away from him, avoiding eye contact because I knew he’d be pissed with my answer. “No, he’s actually staying with Tray.”

  I saw Lucas go still in my peripheral before spinning me around to face him. He gritted out, “He’s staying with Russo? He’s not allowed to stay with me, but his parole officer is okay with Russo?” I slightly nodded. “Or does the parole officer know who Russo is?”

  “I don’t know. I didn’t go bragging about his family history when I talked to him.”

  “Alex,” he practically yelled. The vein in his forehead throbbed as he took a deep breath, trying to lighten his tone. “Trip can’t be living with a criminal.”

  “He isn’t.”

  “Whether you want to believe it or not, Russo has strong ties to the mafia.”

  “Strong ties? Yes. A member? No.”

  “You’re being completely naïve, Alex, and risking your brother in the process.”

  “I’m not risking anything,” I snapped. “I gave all his information to the parole officer, and he okayed it. End of story, so back off, Lucas.” My head had started to throb between the flashing lights, loud music, and fighting. I was more than ready to get out of here. Thankfully Tray appeared, dragging Trip with him.

  Trip wrapped an arm around me, and I about gagged from the smell of perfumes on his clothes. “Lollypop, you aren’t leaving are you?”

  “Unless you want to see me vomit from the nastiness that is you, yes I’m leaving.”

  He smiled a huge dopey smile. “Isn’t it great?”

  “Ah no, not really. Knowing you’re a horn dog is bad enough, but having to witness it,” I shuddered, “is too much. Tray and I are going to head to the apartment. Luc said he’d bring you home later.”

  He gave me a kiss on the forehead, and I almost puked again from the perfume. “Alright.” He turned to Tray, informing, “Hope you don’t mind, but I might be bringing some guests home with me.” Yea! The torture continues!

  “They better not be there for breakfast.”

  He wrapped an arm around me. “Ah, sis, they won’t be there all night.” The taste of vomit slowly started to fill my mouth. I prayed to God this was only a ‘just got out of prison’ phase.

  “As much as you’re disgusting me right now, it’s good to have you home.”

  His smile lit his face, “Night, sis.” Then he turned to Tray. “Touch her inappropriately and I’ll cut your hands off.” Tray nodded. Can we say hypocrite? With that, he turned around and headed back to his ‘friends’.

  Lucas was trying to hold his laughter in when I turned to him. “Don’t worry, Lex, I’ll take care of him.”

  I kissed him on the cheek. “Thanks, Luc. I’ll talk to you later.”

  As we were walking out Trayton leaned over and whispered in my ear, “I wonder how far I can push your brother’s inappropriate line.”

  “Nothing’s happening tonight, buddy, I’m exhausted.” I had to laugh at the crestfallen look he shot me.

  ALEX

  “Isn’t it funny how day by day nothing changes, but when you look back, everything is different . . .”

  C.S. Lewis

  A pair of arms wrapped around my waist from behind, followed by Trayton's gravelly voice. “I’m so proud of you,” he whispered. I turned in his arms, intending on kissing him when my brother butted in between us. I had to laugh at the pout that crossed Tray's face. Something was up with him lately, he'd been more
affectionate than usual, and that was saying something. It started when I'd agreed to move to New York with him. I thought he'd be happy about that, but it seemed to add stress to his life.

  “No, not happening. She’s my baby sister. I get the first hug." Trip pulled me into his arms continuing with complete revulsion. "I also shouldn’t have to be subjected to any more of your guys’ nauseating displays of affection.” Trip still lived with Trayton, which I sorta loved. I loved getting to see my brother daily, and my boyfriend. What I didn't love was the constant swinging door of 'friends' my brother had. After the twentieth one I had to kick out, I hatched a plan to give him a little taste of his own medicine.

  Tray and I may not have gone all the way, but we were becoming pros at finding other ways to be intimate. Much to my enjoyment, it drove my brother nuts. Really it was like killing two birds with one stone. I got to spend lip-on-lip time with Tray while annoying my brother to death. See? Total win.

  “Lolly, I’m so proud of you.” His voice choked up as he continued. “Dad and Mom would be too.” A single tear slid down my face as I saw the pain that was still so prevalent. It killed me to know there was nothing I could do to take that pain away, but every time I tried to help he shut down.

  Tray had told me a million times this was a battle Trip had to fight on his own, and the only thing I could do was be there to lean on for support if needed. That was incredibly hard for me to accept no matter what Tray or any of the hundred books I’d read said, especially at night. Every time I sat outside his room listening to his screams and broken sobs my heart broke a little more. I’d give anything to take his pain away, but Tray was right, and I hated that he was. It went against everything I thought a sister should do, but I’d continue suffering in silence with him until he needed me.

  The only hope I had that it’d be sooner rather than later was that he was moving with us to New York. I hoped a change of scenery would help him. I’d miss being able to visit my parent’s graves whenever I wanted, but in truth, I didn’t have to be at the cemetery to feel close to them. I was close to them with every memory I had.

  The last couple of years taught me a lot, but one of the biggest things was acceptance. I had to truly accept my parents were gone and there’s nothing I could do to change that. Instead, I needed to focus on my relationship with my brother, Trayton, Lucas, and Kass. I made a promise to myself the day Trip was released that neither he, Trayton, nor any loved one in my life would question how much I loved them, because once you’re gone memories are all that’s left.

  My brother took a couple steps back and nodded his head to the right, and that’s when I heard the oohs and ahhs. I turned to see what was going on. I saw my boyfriend…on his knee…holding a diamond ring, my mother’s diamond ring. My head whipped up. There’s only one person Tray could have gotten that ring from. It was meant for Trip to give to his future wife, not for me. I had tears streaming down my face as I stared into his misty eyes. I bypassed Trayton and ran straight into Trip’s arms. No one but Trip would truly understand how much this meant to me. I’d been in love with Mom’s ring since the first time I saw it. She always told me every time I was in her arms I would play with it. Then there was the time I tried it on in junior high when she was in the shower and went to school wearing it. After the accident my uncle asked me if I wanted it, and even though I desperately did, I told him no. That ring had been passed down generation after generation to the oldest boy, and that was Trip.

  He squeezed me tighter as he whispered, “It belongs with you.”

  I spoke into his chest, “Are you sure? What about the tradition?”

  He chuckled, “You know I’m a rule breaker, so why not make it something worth breaking?” I leaned back to see a few tears slide down his face. “It should go to someone who’ll treasure it as much as Mom did.” I squeezed him as hard as I possibly could as more tears streamed down my face. “Now go, you’ve got a pretty good guy waiting on you.” A smile lit my face, because yeah I did. “I may have given my approval, but if he steps out of line, he’s got me to answer to.” I laughed as I stood on my tiptoes to kiss his cheek.

  “I love you, Trip.”

  “I love you too, Lolly.”

  I turned around to face Trayton with a smile on my face, not only because of the symbolism of the ring but also because he was still on his knee. It’d rained last night, so I knew it couldn’t be comfortable. I loved him even more at that moment because he knew I needed that time with my brother, even though he was uncomfortable and in front of hundreds of people. “My mom always told me I’d fall in love with an angel someday and nothing would be the same. I’d always thought it was one of her fairy tales…until I met you. The second you walked into my life I realized I was living in varying shades of black and gray and that I never wanted to live like that again. She also told me I’d do anything to make my angel smile, and again she was right. Alex, I’ll make it my life mission to keep a smile on your face and only happy tears in your eyes.” He paused as he grabbed my hand, rubbing my ring finger. “Alexandria Rose Parker, will you marry me?”

  I never saw my future turning out this way, but then again can we really predict the future? We can plan until our last breath, but in the end, you should always . . .

  Expect the Unexpected

  L.M. Heidle is a Missouri native, but has lived in Texas, Georgia, and Kansas as well. She and her husband, Richard, live with their two children in Central Kansas, with four snakes (not her choice) and a spoiled Rat Terrier named Georgia.

  To learn more about L.M. Heidle, visit her at:

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  Other books by LM Heidle

  Taming the Whirlwind