Keeping the Beat: An Adrenaline Novel

by O'Hara, Morgan

  Garret and I were both breathing heavy as we eyed each other warily. Finally my cousin broke the tense silence. “I’ve never had romantic feelings for Kenzie, Jace. And I can say with extreme confidence that she hasn't thought of me like that either. She’s my family Jace, my little one. If you would open your goddamn eyes for once you’d see that and stop trying to pick a fucking fight with me at every turn.” His face grew hard as he continued to stare me down.

  The front door to the house opened and I turned to see Simon standing in the doorway with Reece’s dog Loki. Both boy and dog cocked their heads to the side staring at Garret and I on the porch.“What are you guys doing?” He asked looking up at us through wide eyes. “You both look pissed!”

  “Simon!” Lucas scolded from the kitchen.

  “They do though, Dad!” Simon complained. Lucas walked up behind him with a frown on his face. He sized up the situation between us and narrowed his eyes briefly before nudging his son towards the kitchen.

  “Go get washed up,” he ordered before looking back at us. “Do you guys need a minute? Simon’s right you both look like you’re seconds away from hitting each other.”

  “My money's on Jace,” Wyatt called out. “Sorry brother but he’s meaner than you. And bigger.” Standing up from the chair he was occupying in the living room, Wyatt crossed over to the front door to stand next to his twin. “What are we fighting about?”

  “We’re not fighting,” Garret explained walking into the house. He looked like he wanted to knock his brothers heads together, which I had seen him do more than once. Taking off his coat, he hung it on the hook before shucking off his boots. Walking into the kitchen Garret pressed a kiss to Reece’s cheek then his mother’s.

  “How was your date?” Declan asked after he had inserted himself between Garret and Reece. His arms came around his fiancé’s waist as he rested his head on her shoulder.

  Garret shrugged but grinned when he gave his answer. “It was good. Better than good actually.” He cleared his throat and grabbed a beer from the fridge. “It's getting pretty serious.”

  “I’ve never heard you say that before.” Wyatt looked genuinely surprised as he gaped at his brother. “When are you going to introduce us?”

  Garret took a long pull of his beer and was saved from having to respond when the front door opened. Kenzie came into the kitchen with a bright smile on her face and for the first time since she had left I felt like I could breath again. “Hello everyone,” she greeted the room before pulling Simon in for a tight hug. “What are we talking about?”

  “Garret’s love life. He’s got a serious fish on the line,” Wyatt said wiggling his eyebrows. “He was just telling us when we get to meet said fish.”

  “You’ve actually already met.” As Garret spoke Kenzie reached out and clasped his hand within hers. I felt all my muscles tense as Garret's eyes locked on mine. He rolled them at me and gave a brief shake of his head looking exasperated.

  The whole room seemed to freeze as everyone’s attention turned to Kenzie and Garret. Garret sighed and ran his free hand down his face before glancing over at his mother who stood leaning against the stove across the room, watching her oldest son carefully.

  “It’s Jared Jamison.”

  Chapter 4

  Kenzie

  "Fucking finally," Wyatt groaned making Garret's jaw drop. "You've been holding that one in for a long time.”

  I looked around the room to gauge everyone’s reactions. Declan looked mildly surprised, while Reece looked absolutely infuriated. I couldn't bring myself to look at Jace yet. When I walked into the house I had made it a point to avoid turning my head in his direction.

  "Seriously," Lucas nodded in sync with his twin. "You guys have been together what four months now?" Simon seemed bored as he picked at his dinner casting longing glances at the dessert plate on the counter. I could just make out Jace in of the corner of my eye and pivoted so he was completely out of view.

  "More like a year," Garret mumbled as his eyes returned to his mom who had yet to make a sound. No matter how hard I tried I’d never been able to read Lorraine Cooper and tonight was no exception. Garret was apparently having the same problem as he anxiously shoved his hands in his back pockets after cracking his knuckles.

  "A year!" This time it was Reece who spoke. She looked livid as she fumbled for her phone. "He kept this from me for a whole fucking year.” I smiled at my soon to be sister in law and saw that my brother looked just as amused.

  "I asked him to," Garret stalked over to where Reece was sitting and placed a calming hand over hers as she started to tap on her phone. "Don't get mad at him for that.”

  "Don't tell me what to do, Garret,” Reece growled giving him a harsh glare. Even if she hadn't been nearly three months pregnant, Reece wasn't a woman I would want to go mess with. The girl was fierce. From the way he dropped his hand Garret thought so too.

  "Why were you keeping it a secret for so long?" Declan wondered as he started to massage Reece’s neck.

  Garret rubbed a hand over his face and shifted uncomfortably. "Just wasn't sure how to go about it."

  Lucas looked troubled as he sat at the kitchen table next to Simon. "What's that mean?"

  Garret met his younger brother’s eye and sighed. "I didn't know how to tell you guys. I was worried what would happen if I did."

  "You know we've known you're gay for years right?" Wyatt asked looking agitated. "Did you think we were going to think less of you for it?"

  "Yes. No. I don't know," Garret looked at the floor almost as if he were willing it to open up and swallow him whole. "I didn't want to change how you guys thought of me." He cast a long look at his mom. "It's not something that ever came up when dad was alive. I didn't know how he would have felt about it."

  With a sharp shake of her head Mrs. Cooper entered the conversation. "Your father loved you Garret. Shame on you for even entertaining the thought he would have felt otherwise. We aren't blind. Your father and I knew you were dating Ben Dwyer in high school."

  "Seriously?" Wyatt’s mouth hung open briefly before he started laughing. He glanced over at his twin with a wry grin. "We thought we were so clever five years ago for figuring it out when he had his boyfriends right under our noses this whole time. I liked Ben, he was a good guy. Whatever happened to him?"

  "We broke up when he left for college." Garret answered absentmindedly still looking slightly shocked. "Dad knew?"

  Mrs. Cooper's face softened. “Yes, Garret he did."

  "He never said anything."

  "Neither did you. Maybe we made a mistake waiting for you to say something, but we didn't want to push you or make you uncomfortable." Crossing the room Mrs. Cooper took Garret’s face lightly between her hands. “We used to worry you’d miss out on so much because you were afraid to be yourself. I know he’d be proud of the man you are today.”

  Garret gave his chin a small jerk and cleared his throat with a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Thanks, mom.”

  Mrs. Cooper released his face, brushing a chaste kiss to his cheek. “So where is the man who’s made my son so happy?”

  “I ah,” Garret glanced at his brothers nervously. “I asked him to sit this one out. Didn't know how it was going to go.”

  Raising her hand Mrs. Cooper lightly swatted the back of Garret’s head. “Well get him here, Garret! He’s going to think we’re rude.” Looking genuinely disappointed in him she reached into his coat pocket and grabbed his phone. Garret gulped, his adam's apple bobbing as his mom scrolled through his contacts. Placing the phone to her ear she waited a beat before smiling. “I think it went pretty well, Jared. This is Lorraine Cooper calling to invite you for Sunday dinner.” She paused for a minute to listen to what Jared was saying. “Oh I haven't seen her in awhile, bring her along with you. Tell her I insist.”

  “Mom, what are you doing?” Wyatt paled as his wide eyes latched onto his mother. I wanted to laugh but knew if Mrs. Cooper was inviting who I though
t she was, Wyatt had good reason to look so worried.

  Mrs. Cooper cut him a look for speaking while she was on the phone before letting out a loud laugh. “Yes those are still my favorites. See you soon, Jared.”

  “I can’t believe you just did that,” Wyatt’s voice had raised several decibels and a crazed look had entered his blue eyes. “Since this one is here,” he pointed at Reece who hit his arm in response. “Jared is bringing exactly who to Sunday dinner Lorraine Maureen Cooper?”

  For the first time since the conversation had started Simon seemed interested in what the adult’s were talking about. It made me wonder if he had known about Jared and Garret before his uncle's announcement. While we were on the road Simon spent a lot of time with Garret. It wouldn't surprise me if my intuitive nephew had known something was up.

  “Is he allowed to do that?” Simon looked at Jace, his blue eyes going round in his head.

  Jace covered a smile with the back of his hand as he glanced over at his nephew. There were only a few people on this earth capable of making Jace smile and Simon was one of them. I used to be too, but we couldn't go back to the way that things had been before. I wouldn't.

  “He most certainly is not Simon.” Mrs. Cooper’s tone frosted over as she slowly approached her son where he sat at the kitchen table. “Wyatt Elliot Cooper I invited a guest into our home for dinner tonight and you will treat her as such or else. Are we clear?”

  Wyatt’s whole body twitched like he was thinking about making a run for it before he forced himself to relax in his seat. He tilted his chin in acknowledgement before he began to pout. “Yes ma’am.”

  Reece gave his hand an encouraging pat as Declan laughed outright. “So Jared and Emma are on their way over here right now?” Both Garret and Wyatt turned narrowed eyes on my brother making his smile grow wider. “This is going to be an awesome Sunday dinner.”

  Jace

  Jared and Emma arrived with Aunt Lorraine’s favorite wine in tow. As soon as Jared walked in the kitchen, my aunt moved forward to hug him and welcome him into her home.

  “Thank you for having me.” Jared glanced at Garret with a knowing smile. My cousin’s lips tilted before he looked at the kitchen floor. I was surprised by Garret’s announcement tonight. When I gave myself time to think about it, I realized my blind jealousy of his relationship with Kenzie had made me overlook a few things in the past.

  Jared looked around the room and met all of our gazes equally. “Nice to see you all again.”

  “Really?” Reece stood slowly from the table and blew her hair out of her face staring her cousin down before something to her right caught her attention. “Emma, hi.”

  Emma smiled and gave a little wave. Before our tour had ended, I hadn't seen Emma for more than ten years. Last I’d heard she’d moved away for awhile, gone to some school overseas for cooking before returning home to take care of her father about a year ago.

  Emma had always been a nice girl, I was glad to know she was doing okay. After she and Wyatt had a falling out, Emma hadn't wanted any reminders of him which included the rest of us. Adrenaline had left on our first tour not long after our high school graduation. As far as I knew, Wyatt and Emma hadn't been in contact since then.

  “Hi everyone. Mrs. Cooper thank you for the invitation,” Emma returned my aunt’s embrace and reached into her oversized purse to pull out a Tupperware container. “Double fudge chocolate chip brownies.”

  “You’re an angel,” Aunt Lorraine clapped her hands in delight. I thought I heard Wyatt mutter something under his breath but couldn't quite make it out. “Emma these look just as delicious as I remember.”

  “Yeah they do,” Kenzie said as she hopped off of the counter to stand at my aunt’s side. She pushed her glasses up her nose before scratching her temple. “How come the one’s I make never look like that even though I use the recipe you gave me?”

  “Maybe we can have you work in the kitchen too and I can teach you some things,” Emma smiled over at Kenzie adjusting her purse on her shoulder. “Speaking of which I was thinking we could start your bartender training tomorrow if that was okay with you. I had to fire Stacey today.”

  “What?” Declan turned an accusatory look on his sister. “You never told me you were getting a job as a bartender.”

  I saw Kenzie straighten her shoulders, holding her head high to meet her brother’s glare. The defiant gleam in her eye as she stood her ground made my heart beat a little faster.

  Emma winced looking guilty. “Sorry, I thought you would have told them.” She pulled her long red hair away from her face, her moss green eyes growing wide and nervous as she cast a look at Declan’s serious face. I could see traces of the girl she had been, but Emma was all woman now. Her expressive face and full lips were enough to tempt any man.

  Any man who wasn't already hook, line and sinker for a blonde brainiac.

  “She should have,” I heard myself growl before grinding my teeth together. Kenzie’s grey eyes fired in my direction and for the first time in months instead of flinching away I met them head on.

  “For the record I don’t have to tell any of you anything.” She swept her hard glare around the room once before settling it back on her brother. “I was going to tell you, I just hadn't gotten the chance. This isn't something that is up for discussion.”

  Declan looked like he was going to say more but Reece placed a hand on his shoulder before he could. I felt the muscle in my jaw tick as I looked at the stubborn set of Kenzie’s face. She wasn't going to budge. I didn't like the idea of her working at a bar but other than locking her spunky ass in a closet I didn't see how I would be able to put a stop to it.

  “Kenzie will be completely fine, I promise you.” Jared gave us all an indulgent smile. “Garret has pretty much already laid down the law where her safety is concerned. Even if he hadn’t, all my employees are well looked after.”

  “Our employees.” Emma rolled her eyes and hit Jared’s shoulder making him laugh.

  “Sorry, yes. Our employees.”

  “How are your folks settling in down south Jared?” Reece asked, attempting to distract Declan’s attention away from his sister. “When we talked to my mom on the phone last week she was ecstatic that they were finally making the move.”

  “Everything went smoothly as far as I can tell.” Jared went on to chat about his parents as conversation filled the kitchen. I tuned them all out as I studied Kenzie from across the table. She was smiling and laughing with everyone while I kept trying to catch her eye. She must have known what I was doing because she kept her face averted from me throughout the entire meal. Before the rift in our relationship she had always been able to read me so well. It wouldn't surprise me if she could sense my thoughts from across the room.

  I felt my phone start to vibrate in my pocket and glanced down in annoyance. I bit back a groan when I saw I had an unread text message from Sydney. I’d been trying to shake the girl since she’d made a scathing comment about Kenzie at the end of May, but the woman didn't take rejection well. Without bothering to read it, I slid my phone back into my pocket.

  Hooking up with Sydney in the first place had been a huge mistake. We’d drunkenly gotten together at Kenzie’s birthday party and she’d been clinging to my side ever since. After I’d committed to pushing Kenzie away, keeping her around had seemed like a good idea. Lately I was regretting every decision I had made in the past year more than I could say.

  Frustrated, I pushed my shaggy hair back from my face. I really needed a haircut but Kenzie usually scheduled those for me. I was sure I could manage it on my own, but that would be like admitting our friendship was officially over. No matter how I was feeling there was no way I could allow that to happen, otherwise all of this would have been for nothing.

  My worst fear would be realized and I would loose Kenzie for good.

  Chapter 5

  Kenzie

  I could feel the weight of Jace’s stare on me the entire night but I refused to g
ive in to the need I felt to meet it. By the time dessert was eaten and dishes were done I was more than ready to get out of there before I cracked.

  Jared seemed to have found an easy rhythm at the dinner table, sliding in seamlessly with the rest of the family. Thankfully there were enough people there that the conversation rolled over the unspoken tension humming between Wyatt and Emma. Those two were going to have to come to some kind of understanding soon. All of our lives were becoming too intertwined for them not to.

  To keep my mind off of my own enmeshed relationship with Jace, I’d watched Garret carefully throughout the night. My heart had warmed to see how happy he looked. When he’d caught me staring at him, he given me a small smile and the trademark Cooper chin tilt. I only wished Mr. Cooper had been there to see the family he’d built. Mrs. Cooper was right, he would have been proud.

  Saying hasty goodbyes, I ignored my brother’s silent ‘come here’ look and slipped out of the back door off of the kitchen. I walked around the driveway where I’d parked my jeep and rooted around in my purse looking for my keys, not noticing another person’s presence until a pair of large black chucks came into view.

  My gaze traveled upward as I took in fitted dark denim and a neat blue button down shirt that was rolled up at the sleeves showcasing muscular forearms and the hint of a tattoo. I knew what that tattoo was, had dreamed about running my fingers over it a thousand times before.

  Jace loomed over me, his hair a mess around his face. His hazel eyes looked tired and a little sad. I watched as he took a deep breath letting all the air in his lungs out in a rush. “How’s your new place?” Jace was the toughest guy I knew, but he looked small and unsure of himself as he waited for my answer.

  Being so close to him was messing with my head. I could smell his fresh soapy scent in the hot night air as he hovered in front of my jeep. I found myself wanting to take a step closer to him and shook my head to rid myself of the notion. I needed to remember my plan.