by Dace Everan
Jariko looked at him. “What?”
Kendal shrugged. “I said no. Another one will come up, shit, maybe here in the city,” he grumbled, eyes darting to a group of young women down the aisle staring at them. He smirked. Their eyes widened and they huddled in a whirl of hushed whispers.
Jariko clenched his jaw. “You shouldn’t have said no. Shit, this will be on your permanent records. They’ll ask why you declined.” Fuck, the kid was throwing his life away chasing after Magan.
Kendal shook his head. “Man, I will find another way, it’s just a job,” he assured, reclining back, mimicking Jariko. “So what, I get to dance a few more years. I don’t mind, debts paid off, can save my cash and maybe this winter take a little holiday. We should harass Magan and then just go steal her away to a tropical island. Hey, can you drive a boat?”
Jariko couldn’t help but smile. “You want to kidnap Magan and steal her to a tropical island?”
Kendal smirked, sitting up, eyes bright and lit. “Damn right I want to! And I will if you will go along with it!”
Jariko chuckled. He loved when Kendal’s eyes lit up like that and the excitement in his voice at the thought of stealing away Magan to keep all to themselves. Maybe this wasn’t such a bad idea?
“You know Tavis’s girlfriend’s last name? I bet you she would help. She was all over the three of us. You saw the envy in her eyes when she looked at Magan.”
Jariko sat in thought. It was true the future daughter-in-law looked envious. Shit, she looked genuinely happy for Magan. He licked his lips, taking a swig of his beer. “Yeah, Tavis stopped in at my office the other day and was talking about house plans.”
Kendal grinned. “We’ll go talk to them! Surely Klea has filled Tavis in on our situation and talked him into being happy for his mom?”
Jariko shrugged. That was a boy’s mother they were talking about. Shit, if he found out two men were boning his mother at that age he would have beaten the fuckers down and locked his mother in her house.
Kendal reached across the table, grasping his hand. “What do we have to lose? So what, Tavis gets pissy in our faces and takes me down? While he’s doing that you can talk to Klea,” he offered.
Jariko chuckled. Leave it to Kendal to take one for the team. “Fine…maybe you should tell me where I’m getting plane tickets to and when?”
Kendal shook his head. “Thought we were going in the winter?”
Jariko shook his head. “Don’t think either of us can wait that long. Next year’s trip you pay for. I got this one.”
Kendal beamed. They had a plan! They were going to get Magan!
* * * *
Magan sat back and listened to her children bicker, head tilted and studying the defensive look on her son’s face and the right pissed-off look on her daughter’s face.
“To hell you will continue this, Mom! They’re sick!” she yelled.
Magan raised her brows. She hadn’t realized she was a part of this argument. “Pardon?” she replied calmly.
Dane huffed, tucking her hair behind her ears, annoyed. “I can’t believe you were having sex with them! At the same time!” she cried, her face turning bright red.
Tavis snorted. “For one, Dane, it’s none of your business what mom does. Maybe you should let go of your insecurities and take a flying leap into a relationship before you go knocking mom’s!” he bellowed in her face.
Klea stepped back. She was having no part of this argument. When Tavis raised his voice that loud, she knew to back away and just let him go and do his caveman arguing.
Dane’s nostrils flared. She glared at her mother. “I can’t believe you would do this! When I took you out to that dance I thought you would have some civil socializing. Not hop into the lap of a stripper and old man and have a three-way! What would dad think of you?”
Magan stared at her daughter, her mind a total blank. She wasn’t sure where Dane had gotten her information, but she refused to lie to her child. She inhaled a calming breath, and even Tavis had backed away at the mention of their father. No one had mentioned him in a long time. Definitely not in any regards to another man…men.
Magan stood, straightening out her blouse and flicking off invisible lint. She had a dinner date with a business associate and needed to leave shortly. She would make this short and sweet.
She looked Dane in the eyes. “Goodness, Dane. I love you to bits, girl.” She pursed her lips to the side. “You want to have an adult conversation, I get it. Yeah, I had sex with both of them. Yeah, Kendal’s young enough to date you, but lucky me he likes his women mature, not harpy. My sex life is my business. Not yours. Not everyone in this world can be as self-controlling as you think you are. As for your father…” She inhaled a breath, a smile coming to her face as fond memories of Tom fluttered through her mind and heart. “Your father would have patted me on the back and said something along the lines of ‘you go girl!’”
Dane staggered. “No way would my father ever have said that!”
Magan passed her daughter, grabbing her purse. “Your father was the most loving man, Dane. One of the most open-minded men I had ever met. No, he wasn’t into threesomes or kinky sex, but he always believed in people doing things that made them happy.” Her eyes darted to Tavis and Klea. “I don’t like the idea of those two being pilots, but I won’t let my fears stop them from doing what they want.” She turned her gaze back to Dane. “You think I don’t lose sleep when you go out on your weekend benders? That shit scares me. The trouble you can run into out there.” She sighed. “I will never stop you or your brother from doing what makes you happy.” She pulled her keys out of her purse. “I have asked that Jariko and Kendal cease and desist.” Her gaze met Dane’s. “I know you’re not agreeable to it, even if they do make me happy. I won’t tarnish your perfect little existence. I know the consequences of me being with them.”
She slipped her heels on and stared at her children. “Tell me, Dane, how does you going to strip clubs and gambling affect your life? How will school boards look on that? How will they judge you when they see those photos of you floating around on the Internet?”
Dane turned bright red. How the hell did her mother know about those? She was sure she had gotten rid of them! Her heart sank and her stomach churned in angst. Her fingers trembled and real fear of being out there naked and exposed sickened her.
Mag sighed. “Don’t think I don’t know about that. Yeah, I found the fucker who took those pictures and gave him a talking to. Maybe the next time you want to get tied to a bed you should do it with someone you trust,” she replied, holding her arms out. “Tavis, Klea, have a good evening. I have a meeting.”
Klea hugged her, Tavis squishing Klea between them. He kissed his mom on the cheek. “Don’t give up what makes you happy, Mom,” he whispered.
Klea’s heart beamed. Oh goodness she loved Tavis. Pride filled her heart that her man had taken the step to accept something he wasn’t comfortable with. Good for him for accepting his mother’s relationship and her happiness.
Mag cupped his face. “Proud moment,” she whispered. Shit if Kendal wasn’t the cause of that proclamation. She pushed them away and waited for Dane to hug her.
She straightened out when Dane didn’t make a move. “Dane…that day your father went to work I was pissed off at him…He didn’t unload the dishwasher like I asked. Annoyed the shit out of me. I refused to hug him. The first year of his death my only thought was I should have hugged him.”
Dane clenched her jaw and walked away.
Magan sighed. They would have to have a good sit-down and talk. First she needed to have this meeting then the stupid annual checkup.
Chapter Eleven
Mag furrowed her brow in thought. Her heart hammered and her throat clogged. “I thought the tumors were benign?” she uttered after a long, silent moment.
The doctor nodded. “They were in the ones we took…Unfortunately more returned and here we are. But the good news is it’s in the beginning,
so we can nip it in the bud and hope for really good results.”
Mag stared at him. Fucker just told her she had cancer and he was happy? What the hell was she missing? Nip it in the bud? Shit, she would nip it in the bud. If the bud was his balls and nip was her fucking foot! Really good chance! Really, was he a fucking quack? Was she even hearing him right? Her hand clutched her purse. She needed to get out. No wait, breathe.
Her doctor grabbed a little piece of office paper, jotting down notes. “We’ll continue to take action as planned and hopefully all will go well,” he offered.
Mag nodded, numb for the second time in the last few hours. Her doctor slid the paper at her. She picked it up, not seeing what it was he’d written. Her brain wouldn’t register it anyway. She shoved it in her purse.
“I would like you to come in tomorrow, we’ll do a complete physical and go from there.”
Magan nodded. “Sounds good.” She put on her usual have-a-good-day smile and stood.
* * * *
Jariko’s heart leapt. Magan was sitting at a booth in the café he was having lunch in! He pulled out his cell and texted Kendal. He crossed the room, stopping as a portly, balding man dressed in a bright shirt and tan slacks slid in across from her. His heart fell. Who the fuck was that? He swallowed the lump in his throat and slid into the seat nearest to him, his gaze on Magan.
He watched as she and the man talked back and forth, not once either of them smiling. He furrowed his brows. Were those tears in her eyes? He barely acknowledged the waitress as he ordered himself a drink and food for him and Kendal.
His heart stopped when the man stood and slid in next to her, hugging her close. She was crying. Fuck what had happened? He itched to cross the room and demand to know. His fist clenched and he held himself in check.
Kendal plopped down, eyes following Jariko’s. “Who’s that?” He growled, eyes widening at the sight of Magan’s state. Was Magan crying? Why? What had happened?
Jariko swallowed the stupid lump in his throat that refused to leave. “Don’t know,” he croaked.
Kendal looked at Jariko. His usual honey-brown skin was pale and he looked lost. Kendal inhaled a breath. “Well we’ll just have to find out won’t we?” He stood and before Jariko could grab him, he crossed the room.
Mag wiped the tears away, looking at Kendal, her gaze glancing across the room, landing on Jariko. Her heart leapt—they were here!
“Well, Magan, who is he?” Kendal demanded, glaring at the too friendly-looking man who had his arms wrapped around her.
Magan cleared her throat. “Palo, I’m good,” she assured.
Palo released her, looking over the young buck that had approached them like a bat out of hell. “The name’s Palo.” He stuck out his hand.
Kendal took it in a strong grasp. “Kendal. What are you doing with Magan?” he demanded.
Palo raised a thick, greying eyebrow. “Having lunch…You don’t own her do you?” he asked lightly, a smirk on his face.
Kendal cleared his throat. Well shit, he didn’t think this through very well.
Magan finished wiping the mascara stains from below her eyes and looked at Kendal. “He’s a friend of mine, Kendal. Yes, I have guy friends,” she replied.
Kendal harrumphed. “Well me and Jariko, your other guy friends, have been trying to get a hold of you! Maybe you would like to pay us some attention,” he grunted.
Palo chuckled. The boy sounded like a whiny bitch. He glanced around the room, spotting Tall, Dark, and Handsome glaring at them. “I suppose he’s your other friend?” he asked Magan.
Mag nodded. “Yes…” She looked at Kendal. “Would you two like to join Palo and me?” she asked.
Kendal nodded, turning on his heel, crossing, retrieving his drink, and bringing back Jariko. “Jariko, Palo. Magan’s other friend,” he mumbled.
Jariko rolled his eyes in annoyance. He couldn’t believe Kendal had done this. He held a hand out. “Sorry, Palo, apparently young pup still has manners to learn.”
Palo laughed, taking his hand. “I remember being in love,” he hummed, watching the two as they sat. He glanced at Magan. “These the two Tavis told me about?” he asked.
Magan looked at him with surprise. “Tavis told you!” She groaned in embarrassment. Who didn’t know she fucked two guys at one time?
Palo laughed. “Uncle knows everything about anything that happens in your house,” he replied, taking a sip of his coffee.
Jariko frowned. “How are you friends?” he asked. Was this man seriously her dead ex’s brother?
Palo smiled. “Her ex’s big brother,” he informed him. “Tom would have laughed his ass off. Shit, Mags, two of them and holy shit, the age difference.” He chuckled, nudging her with his elbow. “Let me guess, Tall, Dark, and Handsome bosses you and you get to boss the blondie?” he teased.
Mag mustered a short laugh, wiping stray tears. She was trying to get the wretched tears to stop, but for the life of her they would not stop streaming from her eyes. “No…they attack and I’m lost.”
Palo roared out in laughter. “Nice! Tom knew he was doing something wrong, just couldn’t figure out what?”
Mag laughed dryly. “Apparently a friend,” she mumbled. She inhaled a shaky breath in hopes of calming her overwrought nerves.
Kendal furrowed his brows. “He’s your brother-in-law?”
Palo nodded. “Yes, apparently Mag needs to have”—he looked at her—“what did Dane call it?”
Mag snorted. “Old lady and man drink,” she retorted.
Both Jariko and Kendal stared at her. “Dane called you an old lady?” they uttered in unison. Mag laughed, wiping more tears away. “Shit, Magan, why are you crying? What happened?” Jariko demanded.
Mag shook her head. “Bad day,” she mumbled. More like bad week. That appointment had taken her and swept her off her feet. It was a minor situation, totally containable, but it still scared the shit out of her. Cancer spread, and quickly. The treatments would be hard. They had at least been human about that and not sugarcoated it.
The worse part of the whole thing was she still hadn’t told the kids. She had never been the kind of person to keep something like this from them. When the tumors had first been spotted, she had told them and explained every little thing she could to them and assured them she was fine. This…she just couldn’t wrap her mind around it. This was too real, too permanent if it took off, and tears rolled down her face at the real fear that reared through her.
Palo snorted. “That’s putting it lightly!” He laid an assuring hand on her shoulder at the tears streaming down her face, whispering encouragement of strength to her. He quieted when the waitress placed food in front of everyone. Magan picked at her salad. By no means was she hungry. She wasn’t even sure why she had called Palo.
She peeked at him. “You can’t tell the kids,” she whispered.
Jariko and Kendal both looked at her. “Tell them what?” they asked in unison.
Mag looked at them. “You two have been spending way too much time together,” she replied.
Jariko narrowed his eyes. “What’s happening, Magan?” he demanded. She was beating around the bush. He would find out what had her so upset and shit if he wouldn’t make it all better!
Palo sighed, cutting his steak into neat little cubes. “You two, I hear, really like Magan.” Both men nodded. Palo smiled. He wasn’t stupid. He knew what a man looked like in love. Tavis had told him how these two men continually called Mag, continued to hunt her and want her. These two men were in love and loved Mag. There was no denying it from the looks in their eyes. The concern on their faces. “She has cancer. You may want to give her a little space. The next few months could be rough for her,” he offered.
Mag stared at Palo. How dare he say anything? Anger flashed through her eyes.
Palo shook the barbeque sauce and carefully poured it onto the plate, making sure none touched the rest of his food. “You would have had to tell them eventually, Mag. You w
ould have started losing your hair, gotten sickly…turned that icky skinny.” He looked at her. “How would you explain that while one pounded your sweet ass and the other worshipped every other inch of you?”
Mag blushed. “I didn’t say I was seeing them now!” she argued.
Palo laughed. “Oh shit, you would have called them later and fucked like bunnies…Tom told me how lustful you were.” Shit, he had been envious of his little brother having the lustful wife, a wife he couldn’t keep up with. It had been one of many big-brother-little-brother conversations they had had. That and of course, Tom not ever bringing Mag to that mind-blowing, let-her-scream-your-name-from-the-top-of-her-lungs orgasm. Tom had tried, Palo assumed, but Tom was a prude to begin with. He wasn’t sure how they had managed for as long as they had.
Mag snorted. “Thought you were my friend, Palo,” she grumbled, wishing she had just gone home now.
Kendal slumped back in the chair and stared at Magan. Cancer was bad. People died from cancer, women died from it. His eyes darted to her breasts. Shit would she lose those? Would her children stand by her as she went through the stupid treatments? Would she have the support she needed? Was she dying? “You’re not dying, are you?” he uttered in a whisper.
Mag shook her head. “No.” She put her fork down. She didn’t want to talk about this. She wanted to forget about it. Jariko hadn’t said anything and was pale. Her eyes caught his and he blinked. “I love you,” he blurted.
Mag stared. Had she just heard him right?
