Vintage (Adrenaline Series Book 2)

by Xavier Neal

  “I can't propose without a ring Knox.”

  “And that's my fault that you're being picky as fuck?” She snaps shoving the key in the ignition. “Just pick something already.”

  “I can't just pick anything. It's gotta be special.”

  Knox whines, “Ugh. You sound like such a fucking girl.”

  Don't back her up please.

  “All I'm saying is it's like being stuck with the same paint job for the rest of your life. How would you feel if your jeep was painted hot pink and it was the only color it had to be for the rest of your life?”

  “I'd probably murder whoever touched my jeep.” Realizing what I'm trying to communicate she sighs, “Fine. I get it. I have one more place I can take you.” Knox turns sharply and points a harsh finger at me. “But I swear to the transmission titans if you ever so much as utter a word that relates to this, I will make your nightmares look like Satan's happy thoughts. Got it?”

  “You're terrifying Knoxie.”

  She winks and lowers her sunglasses to her eyes. “I know.”

  Before I have the chance to buckle up she's peeled out of the parking space.

  You know that nervous feeling you get moments before a roller coaster takes off? Yeah. That's the state you're permanently in when she drives this fucking thing. Don't understand her refusal to part with it after all these years, but would never suggest it. Drew did once and she gut checked him.

  On our way out of the city, her phone starts ringing through the speakers cutting off the rap song Knox was rapping along too. Annoyed, she rolls up the windows and answers. “Fucking Speak.”

  “Can't you fucking say hello?” Madden grumps back.

  “I can hang up on you. Watch.” And she does.

  Growing up when they acted like this I figured it was just 'cause of the weird brotherly sisterly vibe. It took a bit before it hit that it was unresolved feelings and a power struggle. Remind me to thank my lucky stars, Jovi and I got a long easier and faster than this.

  When the phone rings back she answers, “See.”

  “I fucking hate when you do that shit.”

  “I hate a lot of things you do too. I just cope with it better.”

  “Really?” Madden grunts into the phone. “You call staining my white t-shirts pink coping?”

  “Accidents happen.”

  “Letting the air out of a girl's tires?”

  “You can't prove that was me...” Flustered she snaps, “What the fuck are you calling for?”

  “Where are you?”

  “Why?”

  “Because I asked.”

  “And?”

  I cover my chuckle so he can't hear me.

  It would just make everything so much worse.

  “And I wanna fuckin' know, Knox.”

  “Why?”

  “I wanna grab a burger-”

  “Grab a burger or want me to grab you a burger.”

  “I didn't hear a difference.”

  “Ugh. Busy. That's where I am Madden. I can only do one favor a day for the McCoy brothers and today is not your day. Now that I think about it...tomorrow's not looking good either.”

  Chuckling again I simply shake my head.

  “Where are you going with Merrick?”

  “How do you know it's that brother?”

  “I saw you fucking leave with him.”

  “Then you know where I am!” She shouts as I notice we're heading to the next major city. “Don't pretend to be as dumb as the bitches you fuck!”

  “Don't fucking yell at me!”

  “Then get off my fucking phone!”

  In a hard tone he demands, “Tell me where you're going with him?”

  “To get a fucking burger.” Knox hits the end button and grumbles something incoherently.

  After a moment I question, “You're gonna bring him home a burger aren't you?”

  Irritated she leans an arm against the window resting the side of her face on her hand. Clearly still irate she answers, “I'm gonna spit on it first.”

  And I don't doubt that for a sec. Do you?

  In a small town about two hours from home and probably about 45 minutes from the beach, Knox drives us to a small shop that has clearly tried to bring the beach closer to the main part of the state. Following her inside, I'm surprised the floor is covered completely in sand while the rest of the building has the feeling of a beach hut with the decorations and the fake palm tree ceiling.

  Confused I open my mouth, which is when a dude in a pair of board shorts, and a white tank top comes from the back. “Knox the Fox....”

  In disbelief at what I heard, I shake my head surely I misheard him.

  He didn't actually say that did he?

  “Ax,” she coos.

  She's actually flirting back? Did we fall down the rabbit hole while I wasn't paying attention?

  “What can I do for you sexy?” He wiggles his eyebrows at her. “You know I always call you when I get something in I think you need.”

  “I know.”

  His arms rest on the glass counter he's behind. “Personal visit then?”

  “No,” she hums out. “I actually need to check out the rings you've got.”

  “Kind?” He pulls keys out of his pocket. “Costume?”

  “Vintage.”

  Under my breath I ask, “What is this place?”

  “It's whatever you want it to be,” Ax answers unlocking one of the cases on the wall and pulling out a tool box. “We sell random shit. Everything from nerd painted surf boards to old cowboy boots.”

  I ask as he opens the box. “So you buy this shit from people?”

  “Nah. They donate it. Other peoples’ junk is another person's treasure. That's the way of life.” His eyes land on the woman who has helped raise me. “Right Knox?”

  “I am not another man's junk,” she fights.

  Ax counters, “But he won't let you be his treasure either.”

  Holy shit! There's another dude after Knox? Fucking really?

  With a flick of the wrist she demands, “Just show us the goods before I pull your pretty blond hair.”

  “Is that a promise?”

  Fuck this. I gotta find a way to let Madden know...what do you mean that's not my place? Come on. He's my brother. This...this is his girl.

  Pulling out a select section from the bottom of the box he lays them out. “These are all I've got in that department.” He points to a band and engagement ring with bright emeralds. “These two came from someone passing through from up north. She was going through a divorce.” Pointing to the next one that has a tiny sapphire and diamonds on each side he says, “This one I found in an old jewelry box that was made to look like one of those London Double Decker buses.”

  Knoxie giggles, “I love those.”

  “Stop flirting,” I mutter.

  She gives me a sharp look before using the heel of her wedge to stomp on my toe.

  Ou! I didn't deserve that. I really didn't.

  Ax gets ready to return to his ring tour when one catches my eye. Picking up the rose gold colored ring that has a bloomed rose covered in tiny diamonds sitting in the middle of the band, I ask, “What about this one?”

  “Crazy story.” He leans back on the counter. “This old dude has a home nurse right? He's widowed. Misses his wife dearly. Spends all his time telling her these wild and crazy stories of their time together. How he went to war and fought harder to come home to her. How when he was in the trenches the only thing he prayed for besides the safety of his fellow men was to return home to her. How years after the war they moved to this little place down by the beach where they spent every morning having breakfast on it. They were together for 70 years. When he died...he died clutching that ring. The nurse said their son told her to keep it for all the time she had put in with him. She brought it in to me insisting that a ring this blessed with passion deserves to bless another marriage with the same love.”

  Twirling the ring around in my possession I
look over at Knoxie who is trying hard not to smile. “That's the fucking ring isn't it?”

  I simply smile and stare back at the piece of forever that's going to look great on Jovi's finger.

  This union is gonna need all the blessings we can get. Might as well start with the ring.

  Jovi

  “But you don't know what your final grades are?” Dad complains from the seat beside Nadie. “How long do we have to wait?”

  “A couple weeks and they'll post them. It's no big deal,” I reply putting my napkin in my lap.

  “The teachers say it's because they have 'so many' students to grade, but really, they're just as lazy as most of their students,” Hayli inserts flopping her face in her hand. “Maybe that's why I can't get motivated?”

  Giggling, I sarcastically nod. “Yeah Hayli, that's why.” She shoots me a look. “Nothing to do with the fact it's more fun to party than it is to study.”

  “Nope,” she insists grabbing her water.

  Nadie lightly laughs and Dad grunts.

  It's going to be a long dinner.

  “So you leave next Thursday?” Hayli asks.

  “After my last shift at the library,” I sigh slightly sad.

  I've worked there for the last couple of years. It's hard to think that I'm going to have to start over. Honestly? I'm dreading having to hit the redo button more and more every day. At least in a new town, I can walk around holding Merrick's hand without immediate fear a cop recognizes me and is gonna report to my father.

  “And you come back when again?”

  “Sunday night. It's just a few days.”

  Nadie softly asks, “You gonna be okay without her when she moves?”

  “Eh,” Hayli tries to play it off. “Survived a whole four years of my life without her. I'll be fine.” She shoots me a crooked smile before elbowing me in the side.

  Dad grumbles across the table, but when I look over I notice it's at his phone not us.

  Surprised?

  Nadie reaches for a bread stick. “You gonna transfer too?”

  Hayli ruffles her red hair. “I don't know. I kind of like my life here. Easy job. Easy classes. Hot guys. Hard to leave this paradise.”

  My father joins the conversation, eyes still on the phone screen. “Jovi tell you to stay away from the McCoy kid?”

  She flashes me a look, but I tap her under the table before nodding.

  We're supposed to be one mind at this point. She better get what I'm trying to say.

  “She did,” Hayli innocently answers. “He's all trouble. I'm so glad I've stayed away from him.”

  The over sell is what's gonna kill it.

  Dad looks up and gives her a long stare. Given the amount of lies she's told in her life, she doesn't flinch. Convinced she's telling the truth he continues, “He is more than just trouble. And his beef with Tyler is escalating. Don't get me wrong. I don't like Tyler, but I hate to see him end up going down with trash like that.”

  Hayli's face screws tight and I can see the wheels turning to snap, which would blow up in both our faces.

  Nudging her with my foot to cool down, I stand up for Ben. “How do you know he's trash, Dad? Not every person that street races is trash. Or comes from a bad part of town. Look at Tyler.”

  “He's trash because he's junking up my streets with drugs,” the news surprises me severely.

  Like our Ben? He sells drugs now? Did you know?

  “He was caught trying to deal RC-”

  “Was he arrested?” Hayli croaks out.

  “He should've been.” Dad shakes his head. “Paperwork was misfiled or misplaced and then the evidence disappeared into thin air. Every time that kid is in my grasp he slithers his way out. He's almost as bad as The Devil, which reminds me, more of the paperwork from his case file is missing.”

  “How does paperwork just go missing?” Nadie questions as our food is finally delivered.

  “Beats the hell out of me,” he sighs, leaning out of the way of the waiter. “What I do know is every time I make strong headway, something goes wrong. I know someone in the team is dirty, but I can't figure out who.”

  “Cop woes,” I sarcastically mutter under my breath and get a smirk from Hayli.

  Dad snaps, “It's not a joke Jo'.”

  “And dinner isn't a courtroom,” Nadie defends me. “Yet here you are talking about work, interrogating the girls, and turning what should be a celebration that your only daughter has finished her classes and is about to embark on the biggest journey of her life. Live in the moment, Nick. Live for right now.”

  Taken off guard by her speech he clears his throat and turns his attention back at me. “I'm sorry, Jo'. Nadie's right.”

  Bet you that tastes like vinegar.

  With a wave of his hand he insists, “Tell us some of the things you did this semester. I know art is one of your favorite classes. What was this semester’s project?”

  “Yeah Jo',” Hayli teases. “Tell us all about this project...”

  Worst. Best friend. Ever.

  Jovi

  Hayli poses in her bathroom door way, her red one shoulder dress short enough the world doesn't have to guess the color of the underwear she's not wearing. Instead of asking my opinion she twists her foot to the side. “Check out my shoes!”

  Her leopard print heels are as loud as she is. They're fun. And definitely an attention grabber.

  How am I gonna not socially die without her? Look at her. People flock to things this brave and bold. I swear, I feel like I'm making the wrong choice going away to school.

  “So hot right now!” She admires them. “Believe it or not, Ben helped me pick them out.”

  “That's weird.”

  “He's actually got really good taste in heels. I think he has a foot fetish.” Hayli shuts the lights off in her bathroom. “I'd question his sexuality if he didn't hump everything like an un-neutered mutt.” I snicker, which is when she informs me, “But...in his defense he's really good at it.”

  “Hayli!” I shout flying off her bed, bare feet scooting quickly across her carpet.

  My high heels by the door. You know I hate to wear them longer than I have to.

  “You slept with Ben?!”

  Sauntering out of the room she scoffs, “Absolutely not.” She glances over her shoulder at me seeing my bafflement. “I didn't sleep with Ben. I watched him sleep with someone else.”

  Taken off guard, I grab her by the arm to halt all further movements until we're on the same page.

  Don't you wanna be too?

  “What?”

  She waits for a moment, obviously seeing if I'm going to give up on the subject, but when I don't she rolls her eyes. “It's not that big of a deal. We were at a party, crashed in the same room. He didn't want anybody trying anything so he thought if he crashed in the same room they'd leave me alone. Well, I woke up to the sounds of moaning and it turns out he was getting lucky. He noticed I was awake and raised his eyebrows in question if I wanted him to stop.”

  “But you didn't want him to?”

  “I may have had a fantasy to watch two people get it on in real life.”

  A small tingle shoots through me, remembering how hot I thought it was when Vinnie's two girlfriends were going at it. I nibble my bottom lip before folding my arms across my chest. “And?”

  “It was really fucking hot.” Her head dips backwards briefly. “The whole thing. And he kept looking over at me at certain points and it almost felt like he was fucking me from across the room. That was as close to fucking Ben as I'm ever going to get.”

  “You sure?”

  “Positive.”

  My hands try to help me describe the jumbled sentence. “But you guys have this abnormal-”

  “Why are you pantomiming at me?” Hayli looks less interested in the rest of my sentence now. I drop my hands and she shrugs. “Seriously Jo'. We're just friends. It works. Don't question it. We don't.”

  Surrendering my hands I cave, “Okay.”

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