More Than Friends (Kingsley #4)

by Brandi Kennedy

  Doctor Marsh cleared his throat, pretending not to notice the ripple of humor that had gone through the room. “Well, I’ll let you all get back to your dinner then.” He glanced at his watch, and then back at Adam. “You all know that visiting hours are over at eleven, right?”

  Chapter Nine

  After dinner was finished and all the garbage had been stowed away, the family settled in – as best they could, while rotating around the room and taking turns with the three provided chairs – to watch that night’s live broadcast from AWG. American Wrestling Group was the company Xander and Harmony worked for, and they had twice-weekly live broadcasts of their wrestling performances.

  Michael laughed when Renee flinched, watching as Harmony was knocked off the side apron of the wrestling ring. “She'll be fine,” he murmured. “She always is. Remember, she loves this.”

  "I can't imagine how anyone can love that," Renee answered back, still cringing as Harmony's rival pulled her back into the ring by her hair. According to AWG's creative storylines, Harmony had unfortunately attracted the angry attention of Minx, who had been Xander's on-air escort until just before Harmony was hired. Behind the scenes, it was common knowledge that Harmony had been hired because Minx had wanted to begin a solo wrestling career. But on TV, the rivalry between Harmony and Minx was all about which girl could win – and keep – Xander's affections. Harmony was winning the televised contest, of course, but she was definitely taking a beating along the way.

  When Harmony finally rolled Minx into a brutal submission move, Adam and Evan exchanged enthusiastic high fives, but ultimately, Minx fought her way out of the hold, crashed through Harmony with the violent force of a steam engine, and won the match. Finally released from the distraction of the TV, Eva smiled over at Cass. “She’s so tough on TV, it’s hard to remember that she’s the same girl we were zipping into a wedding gown this morning, isn’t it?” Adam grinned amusedly as Eva's blue eyes sparkled with moisture, but Cass reached out to pat her hand in understanding.

  “She was beautiful though, and she’ll be a spectacular bride. And oh – that dress!” Cass turned to face Drew, who rolled his eyes. Clearly, he had already heard his wife’s description of Harmony's wedding dress, but he listened – almost patiently – as the splendor of the gown was described again.

  Michael listened intently though, trying to imagine his baby sister in her wedding finery. He still so clearly remembered childhood, the five Kingsley kids growing up together – how could they all be so grown up now? Even Evan was grown, and would be escorting Harmony’s best friend, Whitney, down the aisle at the wedding – only a week before, Evan had quietly asked Michael to describe what would be expected of him, and Michael, surprised, had said, “Just walk with her. You escorted guests when Drew married Cass; it’s like that. Just walk her up, hand her off to me, and then just take a seat.”

  “I know, but it’s – well, never mind,” Evan had answered. “I got it.”

  Now, watching Evan as he took the seat Cass had just vacated, Michael tipped his head in understanding. It was true, Evan had escorted wedding guests to their seats at the last big family wedding. And when Cameron and Mac had married, there had been no need for formal escorts; the wedding party had been virtually non-existent and the audience had been nothing more than a small informal group of family members and close friends. Still, Evan had walked the aisle before. There could only be one reason for him to be so nervous now. Whitney.

  Before Michael could get too lost in his contemplation of those possibilities, though, Drew stood too, nudging Renee to get her attention before offering her his seat. “You guys leaving?” Michael asked.

  Cass nodded quietly, turning to lift her purse from the windowsill, but it was Drew who answered. “Yeah, we have to,” he sighed. “I’m on patrol again tonight so I need to get home and get some sleep while I can. And Cass has a doctor’s appointment before work tomorrow, so …” His voice trailed off as he looked at his wife. She met his eyes briefly, smiling as she opened her purse and reached inside to retrieve her keys.

  “Well,” Eva said, looking quickly from Cass to Drew and back again. “Don’t let us keep you two from your rest. Sounds like a long day for both of you tomorrow.” She adjusted her pillows, shrugging her shoulders to find a comfortable position before lifting her cheek to Drew’s kiss. “Call me tomorrow,” she said, catching his forearm before he turned away. Drew nodded quietly, patting Eva’s hand, and then he and Cass were gone.

  It was like an unintentional signal for the end of the evening; Cameron glanced down at the screen of her cell phone, checking the time. Sighing, she stood too, and stretched her arms over her head. “Well, I guess I’d better get going too,” she said to Eva. “I don’t want to keep you up late playing hostess, and I need to get home to check on Logan.” She reached for the mass of curls falling in a tangle down her back, and twisted the curls into a knot around her hand as she leaned down over Eva’s bed. “I’ll see you in the morning though,” she murmured, dropping a quick peck on Eva’s forehead. “And if they send you home, I can bring Logan and stay over for a few days at the house. You know, be there to help with things.”

  Eva shook her head, waving her uncasted arm dismissively. “Help with things,” she scoffed. “Goodness, you’re all acting like I’m an eighty-year-old invalid with a broken hip and orders to bed rest. I’m fine, really. They’ll give me crutches or something, and I’ll be just fine.”

  “Well, the stairs will be a challenge though, for sure,” Evan said. “Maybe it’ll be good to have everyone around for a while. And I’m glad I’m home from school for now. Football practice isn’t starting up for another few months either, so I can help maybe get things brought downstairs for you – and then back up before I go back to school. The casts will come off in a month or two, right?”

  Adam nodded, ignoring Eva’s flustered laugh. “I think it’s a good idea,” he said gently. “And we can do the engagement party at the house; Harmony had mentioned possibly doing it there anyway. Should we plan the rehearsal dinner there, too?”

  Eva rolled her eyes and took a breath, preparing to protest further, but Michael met her gaze and said, “Come on, Mom. Let us do this for you. There’s no need to go home and struggle with things unnecessarily if we can all get together to make this a little easier on you.”

  “And it’s only fair,” Cameron added. “After all you’ve done for all of us over the years.” She waited for the Kingsley matriarch to nod reluctant approval before she stepped away from the side of the bed. “Alright. Well, if that’s settled, I’m off to get home. Evan, do you want a ride back to the house? Or you could just crash at my place if you’d rather. Didn’t you come with Drew this morning?”

  “No, I rode in with Dad,” Evan sighed. “I just went with Drew to hunt down Michael. But no, my car’s at the house.” He waited a moment, his eyes on his hands, fidgeting in his lap as he thought. Cameron waited patiently, gathering her hair into a loose braid. Finally, Evan glanced over at Adam. “You guys are alright here?” he asked.

  Adam smiled. “Of course. It’s a hospital, Ev. What could happen?”

  Now decided, Evan stood, stuffing his hands into the pockets of his jeans. He turned to Cameron and nodded. “Well, I guess you and I are off, then. But I’ll just stay at your house, if you’re sure it’s okay. Then you don’t have anywhere extra to stop.”

  “Of course it’s okay,” Cameron laughed. Tossing the end of her braid over her shoulders, she tucked her cell phone into her pocket and grabbed her keys from the table at Eva’s bedside.

  “You two heading out, too?” Adam asked, meeting Michael’s eyes as Cameron and Evan left the room.

  Michael stiffened, looking at his mother. She had been her usual self throughout the evening, but he could see the lines of exhaustion around her eyes, could see the tension in her mouth that told him she was in pain. She nodded to him, smiling softly, giving her silent permission for him to go home – absolving him of the guil
t she knew he would feel if he left. “No,” he said, shaking his head. “I think I’ll hang out here tonight. There’s a foldout chair in the lounge that has my name on it.” He watched his father open his mouth to protest, but he plunged ahead. “I’m off tomorrow anyway; I called the shop manager on the way here and told him to cancel appointments and close things down today and tomorrow.”

  Renee jerked, looking up at him in surprise. So did Eva, her eyebrows drawn together. “Now Michael,” she started, but Michael held his hands up to quiet her.

  “It’s already been done,” he said. “Family emergency. I’m staying.”

  “But your customers?”

  Michael shrugged. “They’ll be alright – regulars have got fifty percent discounts for their trouble. And the corporates won’t care about one day difference – or even two. And before you two start worrying, don’t. I’ll be alright, too. Look, let me be here, okay?” He shrugged again, stuffing his hands into his pockets as he leaned back against the wall. “It’s what I can offer.”

  "Michael.” Eva tipped her head, a warning in her voice.

  But Michael was not to be swayed. “I’m staying.”

  “You’ll take Renee home though,” Adam argued. "She's been here all day – she’ll want her rest.”

  "Actually," Renee said quietly, "I was thinking I'd stay, too. You know, to keep Michael company.'' Glancing over at Michael, she offered a smile and a shrug.

  “You don’t need to stay … “ Michael started, his voice trailing away as he turned to Renee. He pulled his keys from his pocket and jingled them softly. “I don’t mind to take you home,” he said quietly. “Mom and Dad will be alright here for a few minutes.” But she shook her head, her eyes soft as she watched him, and his heart jerked in his chest.

  Holding her cell phone up, she waggled it at him, her slight smile growing slowly wider. “I can’t go home, anyway,” she said, shrugging. “If I’m not here, who will Chelsea deliver our milkshakes to? I already texted her to ask.”

  Chapter Ten

  When he woke up, Michael felt like someone had shoved a hot poker down the column of his spine. His mouth was dry, his jeans had ridden up into a most uncomfortable place, and his right arm had fallen asleep. Groaning slightly against the pain shooting up into his neck, he attempted to roll over and realized he was pinned by his dead right arm. Experimentally, he flexed his hand, testing, and was reassured to feel his fingers moving.

  It wasn’t until she moved, her hair still smelling of a warm summer breeze, that his eyes popped open completely. Renee was lying there, propped in the chair next to his, her head resting on his shoulder. Sometime during the night, she had crept beneath his arm, which was dead because it had been draped over her shoulders for, apparently, quite some time. Despite himself, Michael took advantage of the chance to really look at her, to appreciate the inherent beauty that he usually made a point to ignore.

  Renee Keaton was a truly beautiful woman, with dark hair the color of lightly creamed coffee, streaked with molten caramel. Her eyes, now closed softly, mascara coated lashes resting against her cheek, would be the most beautiful mix of colors when they opened, bright blue mingling with warm green and a calmer, more soothing grey, sparkling in spite of the darker brown flecks ringing the edges. She was slender but not too thin, narrow shouldered and narrow hipped; she was lithe and strong and graceful.

  Harvey was a lucky man. The bastard.

  “Stop staring at me like that,” Renee whispered, her eyes still closed. “I can feel it. Did I drool?”

  “Yeah,” Michael answered softly, teasing. “It’s kind of gross. Better not let Harvey spend the night – he’ll never ask you for a second date if you do. Probably be too disgusted to even tell you good morning.”

  “You think it depends on where I’m drooling?” She popped one eye open, sparkling with amusement. “Will he be less disgusted if it isn’t his shoulder? Or more?”

  “Probably less,” Michael answered stiffly, suddenly not at all entertained. “I doubt he’ll care if you’re drooling, if you mean what I think you mean.” He didn’t say the rest of what he was thinking, which was, “I really hope you don’t mean what I think you mean.”

  Where the hell did that come from?

  His arm tightened slightly, involuntarily hugging her closer; he forced the muscles to loosen and she sat up, rubbing her eyes with the tips of her fingers; she turned to look at him, smiling sleepily. “Well, at least I have you to tell me like it is. Even though you’re a total liar and I was so not drooling. Still like me enough to sit across the breakfast table from me?”

  He brought his hand up, flexing it to work the blood back into his fingers, and scratched his chin. Renee narrowed her eyes at him as he pretended to think things over, and he laughed when she reached out to slap his arm. “Alright, I guess I can tolerate your face, if I try hard. I should check on my parents though, first.”

  “Well, come on.” She stood up slowly, raising one arm above her head and bending it at the elbow. She slipped her other arm behind her back and locked her hands together, one elbow above her head, the other down behind her back, small breasts jutting forward as she stretched. Michael turned away, clearing his throat as she switched arms, shoving her firmly back into the mental box that was marked, “Friend.” There was no way he was letting her slip into the box that was marked, “Women,” no way he was willing to cross that line and end up losing her.

  In Eva’s room, Michael and Renee found his parents still sleeping. Adam had moved his pull-out chair close to the side of Eva’s bed before extending the footrest. They were holding hands as they slept, her arm dangling over the side of her bed, the weight of her cast resting on Adam’s stomach. As they watched, the monitor screens blinked an updated pulse rate; beside the pulse rate was Eva’s last recorded blood pressure, one-twenty over seventy-four. Michael frowned worriedly, trying to remember what a normal reading for blood pressure should be, but Renee elbowed him gently in the ribs to capture his attention. She looked pointedly at the monitor, raised one hand in a “thumbs-up” gesture, and smiled. In response, Michael took her hand and tugged, spinning her silently around to face the hallway; stepping behind her, he dropped both hands onto her shoulders and steered her from the room.

  In the hallway, they stopped and stood together, leaning quietly against the wall beside the now-closed bedroom door. “Should we wake them up?” Renee asked. “We could ask if they want us to bring them some breakfast.

  Sighing, Michael pulled his cell phone from his pocket. “Give me just a second,” he said, unlocking the screen and opening his contacts list. He shrugged, glancing over at Renee before his attention returned to his phone, and she watched as he scrolled over to the contact group marked, “Family.” He tapped the list, scrolling through to de-select Renee’s name. “I don’t guess you need a text, since you’re here.”

  Renee didn’t answer, but he felt her eyes on his face. He felt, too, a flush of heat moving up his neck; it rose all the way to the tips of his ears. Swallowing, he chanced a quick look in her direction, and found her watching him curiously, one eyebrow raised, her lips pursed to hold back a teasing grin. “Mmhmm,” she said. “I guess what we need to get for breakfast depends on who’s going to be here. Good thinking.”

  Michael nodded silently, grateful that she had needed no explanation. He couldn’t have told her exactly what had made him add her to his family contact group, or which specific moment had made her transition from just being a pal to being something far more valuable. He didn’t even think of her as family in any true sense of the word – he definitely didn’t see her as one of his siblings! But … she mattered. When he texted or interacted with his family as a whole, it just felt natural to have her name on the list. But to explain that distinction, simply but meaningfully? How could he? There wasn’t a way.

  Remembering that Drew would be signing off of another night patrol, and Cass had mentioned having an appointment, Michael deselected their names as wel
l, and typed out a quick text to Cameron, Evan, and Harmony. “You guys coming up for breakfast, or just planning to meet at the house when Mom leaves the hospital?” he asked.

  “Well, come on,” Renee said, touching his arm. “We can at least go get some coffee.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Later that morning, Michael and Renee, Cameron and Logan, Evan and Harmony, and Adam and Eva were just finishing breakfast when a light tap sounded on the door. At Eva’s call, the door opened and the doctor came in, smiling, the crisp clean scent of his cologne mingling with the sterile stench of disinfectant. “Good morning, Mrs. Kingsley,” he said, his voice a little too loud in the sudden quiet.

  Affecting not to notice, Eva inclined her chin gracefully, dusting donut sugar from her fingertips. “Good morning. Doctor Marsh, right?” At his answering nod, she went on. “So many doctors here, and a new one with each shift. It’s hard to keep all the right names attached to the right faces.”