Life as We Know It: A Treasure Key Novel

by Sarah Bates

  “My relationship with Wes is none of your business,” she said, folding her arms at her chest.

  “For once we finally agree on something,” he said, mirroring her stance. “So do us all a favor and stop broadcasting every detail of your ridiculous tug-of-war to God and country.”

  “All righty,” Scott said as he came in with a three litter of soda tucked under each arm. “Let’s not start anything tonight, please.” He set the massive bottles of soda on the island counter, and gave Delaney, Margo, and Jamie each a very pointed look. “You guys keep that up, and Coco and Aunt Alice are going to cut their losses and hightail it back to the tundra.”

  Though, as always, the mention of Minnesota caused an instant tug of homesickness, I couldn’t help but smirk over the way the family always referred to it simply as the tundra, as though, for them, it was basically in the Arctic Circle.

  Jamie and Margo both rolled their eyes, while Delaney grimaced.

  “Sorry, Coco,” he said, lowering his arms and sliding his hands into the pockets of his board shorts.

  “It’s okay,” I told him, lifting the massive bowl of pasta salad in front of me. “We Griffins are made of tougher stuff than that.” I grinned when Scott, Jamie, and Margo each gave me a look of interest. “And we’re a stubborn lot, too. Once we make our minds up about something, we don’t usually let it go. Which is why my mom and I are looking for a house to buy. We’re not going anywhere,” I added as I headed for the door, and my grin widened when I looked over my shoulder and saw all four of them gaping at me.

  We were all just settling in at the tables when I saw Uncle Jim frown, and a second later someone nudged me with their elbow. I glanced at Esme, who had joined us, along with Leo and Aly, and when she grinned and nodded behind me, shifted to see what she and several of the others were looking at.

  As usual, when my gaze landed on Hayden, my heart skipped giddily, even as my lips spread into a bright smile. How was it that I could be this happy to see him when it had only been a few hours since we’d seen each other?

  “Hayden.” Uncle Jim stood from his place at the head table.

  “Chief.” Hayden, a bakery box in one hand and a bouquet of flowers in the other, nodded to my uncle as he came to a stop behind me. “Sorry I’m late. We had a last-minute call come in for a jump start while we were closing up.” He shifted and held the box out to my mom when she stood to greet him. “I heard from a reliable source that the key lime sugar cookies were a particular favorite,” he told her.

  She smiled warmly and accepted the box. “They are, thank you.” She patted the back of the chair beside mine. “We saved you a seat. Just help yourself,” she added, nodding over toward the tables set up buffet style with all the food.

  “Thanks. These are for you,” he added, looking at me as he held the bouquet out.

  I blushed softly as my smile widened, and I accepted it. “Thank you. They’re beautiful.” My heart, admittedly, went a little mushy as I sniffed at the pretty mix of flowers. Though my mom had always bought me roses for my competitions, this was the first time I had received flowers from anyone but her. I had to admit, I liked the way they made me feel.

  “Why don’t I put those in some water for you,” my mom said.

  “Thank you.” I let her take them, and blushed a little more when she winked at me, then turned to go into the kitchen. A second later both Aunt Nora and Aunt Connie followed her.

  “Hungry?” I asked, turning my gaze up to Hayden.

  “I could eat,” he said, and he hooked an arm around my shoulders when I stood to go with him to the food tables. “You know, I don’t think that your uncles are particularly happy to see me,” he added in a low voice when we were alone.

  I frowned and glanced over to the head table, and sure enough, both of my uncles, and my grandpa, too, were frowning as they watched us, and spoke to each other in low tones.

  Beside my grandpa, Lucy shook her head at them, an exasperated look on her face.

  When I looked back to Hayden, he silently lifted his eyebrows.

  “I don’t think it’s you, per se, but more the fact that they feel responsible for me, now that my dad has decided he doesn’t want anything to do with me,” I told him. “It’s more of a generalized, protective, a boy is sniffing around their girl, type of situation.” I hoped. But I didn’t add this, as I didn’t want him to worry.

  He glanced covertly over to them, then grimaced and looked back to me, and accepted the plate I held out to him. “I think it’s more a former juvenile delinquent is sniffing too close to their girl for their comfort,” he said.

  I opened my mouth, then closed it and hummed. “Let me guess, that’s all part of the long version of your story,” I said.

  He hesitated, then nodded. “Yeah. Look, I know I owe you the details of that, but I,”

  “Actually, you don’t,” I interrupted him. When he blinked in surprise, I shrugged. “It’s all in the past, right?”

  “Yes.”

  “A past where we didn’t know each other,” I added, nodding when he did. “Are you the same person you were back then?”

  “God, I hope not. It’s the truth I’m trying not to be. You wouldn’t have liked me back then,” he said when I frowned. “I was seriously messed up.”

  “But you’re different now,” I said.

  “I’m trying to be,” he said again. “Some days are easier than others.”

  “I think that’s true for everyone,” I said, reaching for a small bowl. “And with that being said, all we can be are the people we are today. So long as it’s better than who we were yesterday, I think we’re on the right track.”

  He cocked his head as he studied me, then his lips curved into that lopsided grin of his. “Wow. That’s a profoundly optimistic philosophy.”

  I shrugged and scooped some fruit salad into my bowl. “It comes and goes. Like me, it’s a daily work in progress.”

  He studied me for a moment, then hummed and shifted to look over all the options spread out on the table before him. And as he set his plate down and reached for a cheeseburger, he took my hand with his free one, and laced our fingers together.

  Eight

  After dinner, we all helped clean up – even Leo, Aly, and Esme chipped in, along with the Butler boys, doing so as though it was perfectly natural for them; Hayden, after a moment, even found his place in the assembly line of dish wipers, while I helped put the clean dishes away – then, as the adults all gathered around the fire pit, and the others all headed out to go to Neal’s party, Hayden led me out front to his truck.

  “Are you sure you don’t want to come?” Jamie asked as he slid the back passenger side door to his mom’s van open. “Neal’s an ass, yes, and Ava’s a first-rate bitch, but it should still be fun.”

  I’d never gone to an actual high school party before. From the stories I’d heard about them, though, I didn’t think I was particularly missing out on much. “No, I’m good,” I replied, shaking my head. I’d already had my fill of Neal at school, and had been told from a reliable source – Kat, of course – that I could count my lucky stars that I’d managed to go a whole week without encountering his sister, Ava.

  Apparently, the younger Humphrey sibling didn’t care to have new girls at the school, as she automatically considered them competition for attention, and normally went out of her way to make their lives miserable. Since this was the case, I didn’t think showing up at her brother’s party would be the greatest idea, even if I had been inclined to go. Still, I hadn’t thought to ask Hayden if maybe he wanted to go.

  Thinking this, I tilted my head back and looked up at him. “Do you want to go?” I asked.

  “Ah, no.” He shook his head, even as he flexed his fingers around mine, and gently tugged me closer against his side. “It’s always best to keep Neal and me as far away from each other as possible. Me going to his party would not be a great idea, or end well for anyone.”

  “I’d just as soon not have to de
al with him, either,” I said, and I glanced at my cousins and the others as they all loaded up into various vehicles. “See you guys later. Have fun.”

  Margo and Esme both waved absently as they settled into the van, and Kat ignored me completely as she watched Leo open the passenger door of his car for Aly.

  He seemed to sense her watching him and glanced up and over to her. The look in his dark brown eyes suggested more than a little bit of frustration, and that only seemed to magnify when he glanced at her twin, and those dark eyes narrowed with annoyance as well.

  Someone wasn’t happy.

  As Jamie and Leo had disappeared just after clean-up duty for a short moment, I wondered if Jamie had said something to him again about keeping his distance from Kat.

  When Jamie held his gaze evenly across the yard, Leo’s gaze heated, and he shoved Aly’s door shut. I saw her jolt in surprise and glance in confusion out the window at him, but he was already going around the front of his car to get in behind the wheel.

  Hayden let out a low whistle as he also watched the exchange and glanced from Leo’s car to the van.

  Jamie ignored him, and the rest of us, and simply went to get in behind the wheel, cranking the engine before he’d even closed his door.

  “Troubles brewing there,” Hayden said as he led me over to where he had parked his truck behind Leo’s car, along the side of the road.

  “Yeah,” I agreed, casting a worried glance over to where I could just make out Kat’s profile in the very back of the van. “That’s not going to end well for anyone, either,” I added, and I shook my head, concerned.

  “Well, it’s at least not going to end well for James,” Hayden said as he opened the passenger door for me.

  Hoping things ended better than I had a feeling they were going to, I refrained from commenting, and simply climbed into the truck.

  Because we’d already had dessert – neither of us had wanted to be rude and pass on Aunt Connie’s homemade brownie sundaes – when we reached the Courtyard, we got iced coffees at Cooke’s, then settled down at one of the small bistro tables by the fountain.

  Though it was hotter out than I was used to, I found that I was beginning to enjoy the warmth and all the sunshine. Especially on a night like this, when the bright, azure sky was splashed with slashes of bright oranges and pinks as the sun began to set, and the breeze carried the scent of the ocean as it blew in off the water.

  And, of course, the company was second to none.

  “So, how was work?” I asked, lifting my drink for a sip.

  “Things stayed steady,” Hayden replied, stretching his long legs out. “And other than the call for the jump start, there weren’t any other calls for a tow or pick-up, which was nice. You’d be surprised how many tourists think it’ll be fun to go off-roading on the beach and then end up stuck in the surf,” he added, shaking his head. “It’s because of people like that I always have a change of clothes in my locker at work. I learned early on that having to spend the afternoon doing oil changes in wet clothes is miserable.”

  I grimaced at the thought, and then blushed, smiling shyly, when he hooked one of his feet around one of the legs of my chair and pulled it closer to him.

  “So, how was your afternoon?” he asked, setting his drink on the table before he reached out and rested his hands on the curves of my knees.

  My skin tingled warmly where his hands touched me, and I had to admit, I kind of liked the sensation.

  Enjoying the feel of his rough palms on my skin, I set my drink aside as well. “I had a good time hanging out with Kat and the others,” I replied, shifting closer to him. “But the highlight of it was definitely lunch.”

  “Yeah?” He grinned and leaned forward. “Why is that?”

  “Well, this really great guy took me out.” I leaned forward as well, meeting him halfway for a kiss.

  This one was deeper than the others, though Hayden kept it light and gentle.

  “Must have been some lunch,” he said as he eased back a moment later, his lips brushing mine.

  I grinned when he did and sat back. “It was pretty good, but the company was the best part.”

  “Yeah?” When I nodded, his grin spread wider into that sexy, lopsided smile, and he took my hand, lacing our fingers as he sat back as well, and reached for his iced coffee. “Funny, I was just thinking the same thing. I like spending time with you, Coco.” He took a sip of his drink as he studied me, then brought our joined hands up to press a kiss to the back of my hand. “The truth is, the more time I spend with you, the more time I want to spend with you,” he said as he lowered our hands back down. “I have to admit, it’s a first for me.”

  “Me, too,” I said, my heart skipping giddily at the admission.

  His smile brightened and he opened his mouth, but whatever it was he was going to say, I’d never know, because in that very moment his expression changed, morphing from easy-going happiness to concern as his gaze moved over my shoulder.

  I blinked in surprise and shifted to follow his gaze, and frowned when I saw Levi crossing the courtyard, moving in our direction, with Jason Kanakaris right behind him. Both of them were clearly not happy about something.

  “What is it?” Hayden asked, letting go of my hand and standing up as they reached us.

  “Kade just texted me an S.O.S,” Levi said. “He needs help with Logan.”

  “Fuck.” Hayden’s eyes darkened with temper. “Don’t tell me they were stupid enough to go to Humphrey’s party.” When Levi arched a dark eyebrow, Hayden hissed out a breath. “Damn-it. What the hell were they thinking?” He shook his head and looked back to me. “I’m sorry, Coco, but,”

  “It’s okay,” I said before he could continue, and I stood as well, even as I reached for my purse and coffee. “Let’s go get your brother.”

  “Ah…no.” He shook his head, and he sighed when I frowned. “I appreciate you wanting to help, but it’s bound to go badly, and I don’t want you to be there when it does,” he said when I opened my mouth to protest.

  “My cousins and the others are there,” I reminded him. “I won’t get in the way, but I’m going.” I lifted my eyebrows when the three of them didn’t look particularly happy, then simply turned to head for the parking lot.

  A moment later Hayden fell into step beside me.

  “I’d really rather you let Jason take you home,” he said, his keys already in his hand. “I meant it when I said that it’s not likely to go well,” he added when I looked at him. “If he’s been drinking, or has taken anything, he’s liable to take a few swings. Add Neal to that, it’s going to be a mess.”

  I hesitated for a moment, then, when we reached his truck, shook my head. “I’ll stay out of the way,” I told him, and he sighed but nodded as I reached out to open my door.

  “Fine. But the first sign of trouble, you find Kat and the others and get out of there,” he said as he helped me up into the passenger seat. “I mean it, Coco. Logan’s a lousy drunk, and Neal’s even worse.”

  “I promise.” I touched his cheek, and he lifted his hand and wrapped his fingers around my wrist. “Everything’s going to be fine,” I assured him, and I leaned forward to press a quick kiss to his lips.

  While he didn’t look overly convinced of this, he refrained from responding, and simply stepped back, closing the door as he did.

  I watched as he exchanged a few words with Levi and Jason, then he came around to the driver’s side and climbed in behind the wheel, even as Levi and Jason got into an old, faded blue Jeep Wrangler.

  Not saying anything, deciding it was best to leave him with his thoughts, I simply reached out and took his hand and held it close, our fingers laced, as he pulled out of our parking space and headed toward the entrance of the lot. A moment later Levi pulled up behind us at the stoplight, then, once the light turned green, they both pulled out an onto the road, crossing the intersection heading east.

  Behind us, the sky flared in a bright kaleidoscope of colors along the
horizon, where the sun seemed to pause for a handful of heartbeats, burning bright and hot, before at last the ocean seemed to swallow it whole, and in front of us the sky became a blanket of black velvet studded with the diamond sparkle of stars.

  ☼

  It took fifteen minutes to drive across the island, and another ten once we reached the community where Neal’s mother lived, before we finally reached the house. In that time neither of us had said a word; I wasn’t sure what I could say, as I felt the tension coming off him in waves, each one stronger than the last, the closer we got. Now that we were here, he simply sat for a moment, scowling out the windshield at the brightly lit house. Even with the windows rolled up, the music that was playing in the house was loud enough that I could make out some of the lyrics.

  Neal, apparently, was a fan of hardcore rap.

  When Hayden let out a loud, wary sigh, I looked back to him. He looked distinctly unhappy; not just angry, but miserable, as though he was facing a deeply personal regret.

  “Here we go,” he muttered, and he released his seatbelt. He cast a quick glance at me as he opened his door. “I’m going to try to make this as fast as possible, but remember your promise. If things don’t go well – and they’re bound to not go well – you find Kat and whoever else you can as quickly as you can, and leave.”

  “I remember,” I said, and I released my seatbelt then quickly climbed out.

  We hadn’t even gone five feet from the truck, and I was already wondering what the appeal was, but since the balconies and decks were all packed with – by my guesstimation – at least half the school population, I was, apparently, the only one who felt this way.

  As we wound our way around cars on our way toward the front door I wondered if this made me defective in some way.

  I decided, quickly, not to dwell on it, as, as soon as we stepped into the house – the music was so loud at this point I was already beginning to get a headache – Neal staggered out of a room, laughing, a red plastic cup in one hand, two girls I vaguely recognized from school draped around him. One of the girls said something, and he laughed again, lifting his cup for a drink. But he paused as soon as he’d gotten it to his mouth, his gaze locked on me.