Faith

by Lisa Helen Gray

  “We were out with Max and Lake when we got the call. They had to, um, do something.”

  And Max will tell every family member and close friend. I groan, silently cursing Beau. “I need to go, but I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

  “We aren’t going anywhere,” Dad tells Beau. “And thank you—for calling us.”

  Beau glances at me, his expression softening from the determined and angry one he had been wearing, before looking back at my dad and shrugging. “She loves you. You love her. And from what she’s told me about you guys, you’re all close.”

  “Yeah,” Dad replies gruffly, looking at Beau differently. It’s a look I’ve never seen him give a male that isn’t family. It’s weird and something I’m totally going to question when we’re alone.

  CHAPTER SIX

  Since getting the letter from Noah four days ago, I’ve not been left alone. The first day, my parents didn’t leave until Beau came back from handing the letter in to Collings. The second, my brothers and cousins, Landon, Ciara, and Charlotte came over. The third, I worked late, but when I got back, Beau was waiting for me.

  He’d made me go inside and run a bath while he cooked us dinner. We then sat down for the rest of the night and chatted, our gazes only going to the TV once or twice the whole night.

  He’s an only child and has two cousins he never sees, since they live in Scotland with his dad’s brother and wife. He has another aunt and uncle nearby, but they couldn’t have kids. They doted on their niece and nephews.

  His parents live an hour away and are very much involved in his life. He’d even added to the conversation about meeting them when they next visit.

  It was nice to get to know another side of him. A side that wasn’t my neighbour or the officer working on finding the person who’d stolen my belongings. He was different. He could be charming, funny, gentle and demanding, and if his choice of movies is anything to go by, a total badass.

  He took control of life, of everything in front of him, and he did it in a way that wasn’t arrogant or big-headed. He just did it.

  And I really like that about him.

  Okay, more than like it.

  “What has you thinking so hard?” Lily asks, flopping down on my sofa, next to me.

  “Huh?” I ask, glancing her way.

  She giggles and throws a pillow in my face. “You are so lost in your own head. I’ve been talking to you for ten minutes about a little girl in my class and you’ve completely ignored me.”

  I’m mortified. “You were?”

  She nods. “So, what were you thinking about? Or should I say who?”

  My cheeks heat when I tell her. “Beau.”

  Her smile grows. “Ah, the hot neighbour. Do I want to know what you were thinking about?”

  I throw the pillow back at her, laughing. “Lily! And he’s just… I don’t know. I like him, okay.”

  “Well duh! You go gooey-eyed when he’s mentioned, narrowed-eyed when the boys threaten him, and gush when the mums ask about him. Does he like you the same way?”

  That’s a loaded question.

  I just don’t know.

  “Lily, I wouldn’t even know how to find out. He does all this stuff for me; cooks me dinners and hangs out with me. The other night, he ran me a bath and told me to relax. He’s amazing. However, it could be just who he is. He could be a nice person in general; a generous, caring, seriously hot person.”

  “He’s lived here a few weeks now. Has he brought any girls home?”

  My heart twists at the suggestion. Most of the time I fall asleep before he even leaves to go home. On the times that I’m awake, we say goodnight and I end up in bed watching my soaps.

  “It’s not like I stalk his front door or anything, but no. If he isn’t here, he’s at work. What do you think?”

  “I’m not really sure, since I don’t have any more experience than you, but from what I’ve seen with our cousins, men don’t do something that nice for just anybody. Not with the stuff he’s doing for you. Look at our family; Maddox doesn’t treat girls like crap, but he doesn’t sit with them most nights or run them baths either. And Ashton; he’s never cooked himself a meal, let alone someone else. And they’re good men. The best.”

  I think it over. She’s right. Our cousins, dads and uncles are the best men we know, the best we’ve ever known. They stick together through thick and thin. They’ve only ever treated our mums with the utmost respect. They love them unconditionally.

  They’ve groomed the boys in our family to be the best they can be, made sure they always treated women with respect and care. They may act like total dawgs, but none of them would intentionally hurt a girl, physically or emotionally.

  “What if I make a fool out of myself by saying something to him?”

  “You’ll never know unless you do something. This has been the first male to ever capture your attention for more than five minutes. He must be special.”

  At that I smile. “He really is. Actually, he should be here soon. He always pops in after work.”

  She pales a little. Lily hates being around strangers. It’s why she got a job teaching five-year olds; they’re not threatening or intimidating. Personally, I’d be more scared of the five-year olds.

  She picks at her fingernails, and I know she’s struggling with something. I’m unsure whether she’s going to say whatever is on her mind, but she surprises me, saying, “I heard Mum and Dad talking about the note and DVD.”

  “Yeah?” I ask quietly.

  I hate worrying my parents. We all do. Even my brothers, who often run them through the wringer. We love them. And anything hurting them, no matter how big or small, hurts us.

  She picks imaginary lint off her leggings before her gaze meets mine. “Are you scared?”

  I haven’t admitted how I truly feel to anyone, knowing it will only make them worry more. However, this is Lily, my sister, my best friend. She’s the one person I tell everything to. Maybe it’s because of how we became sisters or because of our close upbringing, but she’s the only one out of the family I can easily confide in, despite how close we all are.

  “It’s terrifying knowing he’s still out there. Beau said he usually moves on, so knowing he’s still here, possibly because of me, is scary as hell. I’m struggling to stay asleep most nights. Little noises keep waking me up. I don’t even know if it’s him that scares me or the thought of him and what he did,” I admit, feeling my chest tighten.

  It’s been hard to come to terms with.

  “Faith, why didn’t you say anything? Are you sure staying here is safe?” She worries at her lip, cupping her mug of tea closer to her, like she’s warding off the cold.

  “Because I knew you’d all worry and I didn’t want that. I didn’t want Mum and Dad to talk me into moving back home. You know it was hard saying goodbye to them the first time. And I have Beau across the way now. It’s not like I’m alone here with no neighbours.”

  Lily slowly nods her head. “And I suppose they have put extra security in. I’m just worried for you. You never think something like this could happen to you or someone you love.”

  “Agreed. I didn’t think anything like this would happen to me. It was a topic you’d read about in the papers or on the internet. It was never real.” I sigh. “It’s been a lot to deal with, especially since he hasn’t been caught. The picture he had on his profile is clearly fake, so we’re not sure what he looks like. The only thing we do know is that he has done it before and his real name is most likely Noah.”

  She nods, stroking Roxy’s fur. “Just be safe. If it gets too much for you, come stay with me, or swallow your pride and go back to Mum and Dad. It won’t be forever, but for now. They’ll understand that, and Mum won’t be a wreck like she was before. We were the first to move out and she found it hard.”

  Yeah, she did.

  I’ve never seen her cry like she did on the days we both left home. I’d been seconds away from saying ‘fuck it’ and moving back in. Fo
rtunately, Dad intervened by whispering something in Mum’s ear that made her blush. It was gross.

  Mark and Aiden both live at home still, but most of the time they sleep at friends’ houses or crash at one of ours, to give Mum and Dad space. Mark has been looking for a place for a while though. We’re all hoping Mum takes it better than she did with us girls.

  “I will. Anyway, are we all set for the weekend?”

  Every once in a while, we all plan to go away somewhere together. Sometimes it’s for two weeks in the sun, others it’s just a weekend away somewhere remote.

  “Ah, about that, Kayla and Myles said Jacob can’t come this year since he got drunk the last time he was with us. Josh isn’t coming, but Imogen is. Ashton, Aiden, and Trent have also said they can’t make it. Because of their new jobs, they haven’t managed to get the time off.”

  “But we always go together.” There’s a knock on my door, and my complaint is cut short. I eye Lily with a grin. “Be right back.”

  I’m not even embarrassed to admit I skip to the door like a teenager, or that my heart beats wildly inside my chest.

  It’s Beau.

  “Hey,” I greet, smiling wide.

  He grins at me. “Hey.”

  “Come in, there’s someone I want you to meet.” I take his hand and drag him inside.

  He looks at me warily. “It’s not another uncle or male cousin, is it?”

  I laugh, knowing Landon really put him through the wringer when they met. You’d never think he was my uncle Max’s son. They’re nothing alike. In fact, if anything, I’d say he was more like my uncle Malik; broody, serious, and burly.

  “No, it’s my sister, Lily,” I assure him, closing the door behind him. “Lily, this is Beau. Beau, this is my sister, Lily.”

  He pastes on his charming smile, giving her a chin lift. “Nice to meet you.”

  “They’re right, you’re hot,” she blurts out, her cheeks turning pink. She groans as I laugh. “I just said that out loud, didn’t I?”

  Both Beau and I laugh at her remark, and her expression. Lily may be quiet, shy, and a little bit of a recluse, but she has no problems blurting stuff out.

  She thinks it, she says it. Without even meaning to.

  It’s hilarious.

  “Yeah, you did.”

  “Sorry,” she says, wringing her hands together.

  He smirks. “It’s fine. It’s good for my ego to hear it once in a while, especially from a pretty woman.” I giggle at the reddening of her cheeks as she eyes him. “And it’s my lucky day. I was going to take your sister out for dinner, since it’s my turn to cook, but I’m not in the mood. Would you like to join us?”

  Lily’s flustered for a second, looking a little panicked. I smile, giving her a nod that it’s okay. Now that she knows I like him, she’ll probably feel uncomfortable, like the third wheel.

  “Um, I can’t. I promised my cousin Maddox I’d make him dinner tonight.”

  “Oh, that’s a shame. I was looking forward to getting to know you. Faith speaks very fondly of you.”

  Lily smiles at that, knowing how much I love her. “If you’d like, we’re going camping Friday till Monday. A few members of our family can’t make it and we’re at an odd number. Some of the activities require pairs.”

  “Camping?” he asks, looking at me doubtfully.

  In the time we’ve got to know one another, he knows I’m not an outdoorsy person. I hate rain—it’s miserable and wet—and since we live in England, ninety-five percent of the weather we have is rain. I’d rather sit and listen to it from inside my warm flat, preferably curled under a blanket.

  “Don’t get me started. It was Maddox’s turn to choose where we went. Hayden, my other cousin, took us on an All-Star Retreat the last time we went away. She’d thought it was a club crawl weekend.”

  “What was it?” he asks, grinning.

  Lily giggles. “An OAP venture retreat. They had knitting circles, bingo nights, singles nights, dance nights, back to the forties, and some other stuff.”

  “No!” He throws his head back, laughing. “And all your cousins I met did this?” he asks, looking at me now.

  “Yeah. They didn’t have a choice. It was actually a pretty good weekend, but poor Maddox and Jacob, who were sixteen at the time, kept getting hit on. The others stayed clear, bless them. In the end, Jacob got so drunk from sneaking their drinks, he had a hangover for a week. And Maddox…” I end up laughing too hard to carry on.

  Lily continues for me, “Ended up in one of their rooms. He walked a group of ladies back to their apartments, but was so drunk he ended up crashing. His face the next day was priceless. We even have pictures. The old lady took selfies to show her friends in the home she lives in. She had breakfast with us the next day and told us all about him passing out, and the photos. Once Maddox stormed off, we got her to send them to us.”

  Beau can’t stop laughing either. As bad as the trip started off—and being nothing like we had expected—it turned out to be one of the best holidays we’ve had.

  “Oh, God, I’m definitely coming. What time are you leaving on Friday?”

  I look at Lily, since she’s helped Maddox organise this one. “In the morning, around seven. We want to get there early. It’s a three-hour drive.”

  “I’m supposed to work till four, but Collings owes me a favour. I’ll see if he can get someone to swap my shift. If not, I’ll meet you there after work.”

  I grin, giddy with excitement. “What about the weekend? Don’t you have to work?”

  He shakes his head. “Nah, I have every other weekend off, remember.”

  “I’m so glad you’re coming. No one likes sharing a room with Faith, or in this case, tent. She snores,” Lily teases.

  “I do not snore,” I snap.

  And I don’t. I may breathe a little heavy, but I don’t snore. And no one likes sharing with me because I move around a lot in my sleep.

  Beau grins. “You do.”

  Lily’s eyes widen at his words, putting two and two together and getting five. “Not what you think, Lily.”

  Beau turns his grin to her, winking. “It is.”

  I smack his arm lightly and he grabs my hand. He pulls me closer to him and wraps his arm around my shoulder. “She can’t resist me. Her head hits my body and she’s out like a light.”

  Okay, that may be a little true.

  “It’s ’cause you bore me.”

  “You’re the one who wanted me to watch One Tree Hill. I can’t help that I’m now invested.”

  Giggling, I look up at him, watching his face relax and soften.

  Lily clears her throat, her smile wide and knowing. “I’ve got to go, but I’ll message Faith with everything you’ll need. I’ll let you go out for your dinner.”

  I walk out from under Beau’s shoulder and hug her. “Speak to you later. Text me when you get in.”

  “Will do. Bye, Beau. It was really nice to meet you.”

  “You too, Lily.”

  I say another goodbye before walking her out and turning to Beau.

  “So, dinner… Where are you taking me?”

  He grins at my excitement. “KFC.”

  “You wouldn’t,” I gasp in mock horror. Although, I do love KFC.

  “Nah, I’ve got us a table at Paradise.”

  “Yummy. Give me fifteen minutes and I’ll be ready.” I rush over to my bedroom before stopping suddenly. “Wait, are we going now?”

  He chuckles. “Yeah, babe. Get ready. I’ll be back over in ten. Just need to change out of these.”

  “Okay, good.” I nod for good measure, causing him to laugh. He walks over and kisses my forehead before heading to the door.

  I’ll never get tired of him doing that.

  I just wish it was on my lips.

  I’m always left wondering whether his kisses are just a friendly gesture or something more. With Beau, you can never tell.

  I watch his fine, perky arse as he leaves, shutting the door behin
d him. The click of the lock makes me jump. I turn and rush into my room, wondering why the hell I offered up fifteen minutes.

  I’m never going to find an outfit in fifteen minutes.

  Holy fuck!

  With that, I begin my frantic rush, hoping like hell I’m ready and looking half descent before my fifteen minutes are up.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  When Lily tried to get us all to carpool together in a mini bus, I’m glad Maddox talked her out of it. With the storage space needed for pillows and the other shit we’ve all lugged together, it wasn’t hard to talk her out of it without hurting her feelings.

  I’m pretty sure Charlotte brought the most. At nineteen, she still has that childlike character about her. She’s gentle, caring and puts others above all else. She’s a gem.

  When she’d informed us she brought some bird seeds and some feeders to place around the camp, it wasn’t the least bit surprising. Neither was the amount of first-aid, spare clothes, and food she’d brought with her.

  She doesn’t go anywhere unprepared.

  “She’s not really going to make me eat veggie food, is she?”

  When Maddox talked Lily down from the mini bus, he forgot to inform me we’d have to drive three hours with Aiden and Ashton, who’d decided to tag along at the last minute. Apparently, they managed to get time away from their schedules.

  It’s sucks.

  For me.

  Definitely for Beau.

  For the first hour they’d filled Beau in on what to expect from the weekend. With all the shit they’d tried to scare him with, it was Charlotte and her need to sway people to the other side and become a vegetarian that had scared him the most.

  “No―” I start, but I’m interrupted by Aiden.

  “Yeah, as long as she has enough for herself. She hates it when we eat her burgers.”

  “You willingly eat that crap? My aunt is a vegetarian and I once ate one of her burgers. I puked and felt sick for days.”

  I feel rather than see Ashton shudder. “I puked my first time too.”

  “I bet,” Beau mutters, looking a little green.