Keeping the Beat: An Adrenaline Novel

by O'Hara, Morgan

  Loki immediately ran past me to lick Simon's face as he laid on the floor flipping through television channels. The boy laughed and pushed the dog away looking over at his father.

  "Can Loki and I go play outside?"

  Lucas gave the dog a wary look before nodding. "I think that would be a good idea. I don't want that dog causing a mess in here after we just cleaned."

  When the door slammed shut behind them Declan gave Lucas an amused look. "Are you going to cave and get the boy his own dog soon?"

  Lucas shrugged watching his son chase the dog around the yard through the window. "Soon enough I expect if he doesn't stop hounding me about it."

  Declan snorted and sat down next to me. “Please, I know you want a puppy just as bad."

  Lucas didn't look nearly as amused as Declan did. "After hearing horror stories about your dog, I'm not so sure."

  Declan gave Lucas a quick wink. "Loki's just special. Reece signed him up for classes that start in two weeks so we'll see how it goes."

  "With the chick Emma was talking about?" Lucas asked. "You'll have to let me know how it goes. If I do end up getting Simon a dog, you better believe that boy will be the one to train it. I'm not going to wake up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom only to step in a pile of puppy shit."

  "I heard that's really good for your skin." Wyatt walked through the front door with a twelve pack of beer and a smug grin. Lucas shot him the finger as his twin moved around him to place the beer in the refrigerator. "So are all the girls tucked in at your house Declan?"

  "Yep," Declan answered shortly, picking up a game controller. He nudged me on the knee and gestured for me to pick up the other one as he turned the gaming system on. Garret was sitting in the corner love seat texting on his phone, bummed because Jared had to work tonight.

  "Who's all over there?" Wyatt asked casually, crossing his feet at the ankles as he stood at the counter next to his brother.

  "The girls," Declan said the words slowly. From the twitch of his lips I knew he was purposely trying to get a reaction from Wyatt. The impatient snap of my cousin's teeth told me he didn't need much more prodding to produce the explosion Declan was looking for.

  "So Reece, Kenzie, and Lane?"

  I saw Garret put his phone down and locked eyes with him, noting his amused stare. It seemed that since we had moved back home Wyatt couldn't get Emma Thompson off of his mind. Since she had been hanging out with us a lot more frequently we all got a front row seat to the almost animalistic way they circled each other. It reminded me of the old days before they'd finally given in and gone at it.

  "Yep," Declan confirmed with a nod.

  "I saw Emma's car in your driveway on my way back."

  "Did I forget to mention her?" Declan answered trying to look innocent. He turned his attention to the game for a moment before cutting his eyes back to Wyatt. "You went out of your way to drive past my house to see if Emma's car was in the driveway?"

  Wyatt blanched for a moment before he narrowed his eyes, pointing an accusatory finger towards Declan. "Shut up." Everyone started to chuckle as Wyatt turned to grab a beer from the fridge. If that boy didn't unwind soon he was going to snap.

  "What did she say to you at Kenzie's party?" I asked as he dropped down on the couch next to Garret. Wyatt looked confused for a moment before his expression cleared and a hardness entered his eye.

  "None of your fucking business."

  "Touchy," Garret commented with a half smile. "Must have been something really good."

  "Stay out of it," Wyatt barked turning on his brother.

  "Yeah, we don't really do that." Declan shook his head once before walking to the kitchen to grab a beer. I nodded when he silently offered me one, accepting it with a grateful smile.

  "I don't even know how this conversation got stuck on me. He's the one we should be badgering." Wyatt jerked his chin in my direction making me frown.

  "Why do I need to be badgered?"

  "Because you're sniffing around our Little One," he shot back indignantly.

  Leaning forward I set my beer aside and rested my elbows on my knees giving Wyatt a serious look. "First of all Wyatt I'm not sniffing around Kenzie. We're together. Second of all, if you're still feeling sour you didn't get a hit in when you heard the news, that's your dumb luck. If you want to take a swing at me go ahead but I'm warning you I won't just stand there and take it this time. Being with Kenzie is the best thing that's ever happened to me and I'm done feeling guilty about it."

  Wyatt looked like he was going to comment but Declan cut him off. "Jace is right, Wyatt." I gave my friend a surprised look but he ignored me. "We're not going to sit here and give Jace a hard time when we've all seen how good he and Kenzie are together. Besides," this time he glanced at me, his lips curving upward in amusement. "You make a much easier target."

  “Oh fuck you,” Wyatt said but his words lacked the appropriate heat. He shot me another look before speaking again. “It sounds like your thing with Kenzie is for keeps.”

  “Kenzie is mine.” Trying not to get too frustrated with him I let out a long breath and made an effort to relax my bunched muscles. “My relationship with her is for keeps.”

  “Are you talking marriage, Jace?” Declan gave me a speculative look at Garret’s question.

  “If that’s what Kenzie wants.”

  “What do you want?” Declan countered arching a brow, his blue eyes piercing into mine.

  I shrugged and took a swig from my beer bottle. “I want Kenzie.” If she wanted to marry me I would get a license and have her down the aisle so fast her head would spin, but there was no way I was going to push her into it. I was content to just be with her for now, though I didn't think I would last too long without putting my ring on her finger.

  “Good answer,” Declan said raising his own bottle to his lips.

  “God it’s like a disease is going around and you're all catching it,” Wyatt commented curling his upper lip. “It’s literally a love bug. First Declan, then Garret, now Jace and Little One.” He turned and gave his twin a narrowed eyed stare. “I’m not going to be next.”

  Lucas’s eyes widened as he took in his twins meaning. “I’m not going to be next either!” His normally calm expression took on a panicked quality as he shifted uncomfortably under the weight of our stares.

  “It has to be one of us.” Wyatt shook his head looking resigned. “I guess since I’m the oldest I’ll have to take one for the team. You’re going to have trouble getting someone to fall in love with your ugly mug anyway.”

  “You’re uglier,” Lucas growled shuffling his feet.

  “Yeah but I’ve got charm and charisma,” Wyatt explained spreading his hands wide. “All you’ve got is your broody looks and surly attitude.” Knowing this argument could go on all night I refocused my attention on the game Declan and I were playing, listening to the twins bicker in the background.

  I slid my eyes towards Declan before clearing my throat to catch his attention. “We good?”

  Without looking away from the screen Declan nodded with a smile on his face. “Yeah, Jace. We’re good.”

  Chapter 18

  Kenzie

  I knew we had consumed enough wine when Emma fell off of her chair, but that didn't stop us from opening another bottle. Rubbing her sore bottom with a giggle Emma pushed her hair back from her face and chose a safer seat on the sofa next to Reece.

  “Whoopsie daisy,” she laughed into her glass taking a look around the room. “My bad. Where were we?”

  Lane stifled her laughter by shoving one of the brownies Emma made into her mouth. “Kenzie was describing Jace’s body in great detail before you rudely interrupted her.”

  I felt heat fill my face hating my loose lips and my friends for pouring the wine in me. “It was a good time to change the subject anyway. Let’s talk about someone else’s love life.” When Reece sat straighter and opened her mouth I pointed a finger at her. “Not yours!” With a laugh she rela
xed back into the couch sipping her juice.

  “Let’s hear from you Emma,” Lane said with an eager look on her face. “Anyone you looking to settle down with?”

  “No, I’m like the wind that way,” Emma answered gravely before bursting into another fit of giggles. “Every guy I’ve gone out with recently is boring. None of them hold my attention for long.”

  “What about that Ted guy?” I asked remembering the handsome man Emma had introduced me to a few nights before. “He seemed nice and really interested in you.”

  “He was more interested in my naughty bits than he was in me,” Emma answered sounding grumpy. “Despite what certain people may think, I don't sleep with every guy who takes me out.” Reaching for a chocolate she popped it into her mouth, washing it down with a gulp of wine.

  “What people?” Lane asked looking at Reece who shrugged in response to her friend’s question.

  “Wyatt fucking Cooper, that’s who!” Emma exclaimed waving her hand. Her wine almost sloshed out of her glass as she moved making Reece wince.

  “I think his middle name is actually Elliot,” Lane corrected looking at me for confirmation. I rolled my eyes at her but nodded, seeing her pleased expression at having known this little piece of trivia.

  “Wyatt fucking Elliot Cooper then.” Emma adjusted herself on the couch settling back with a huff. “He comes into my bar with those baby blue eyes and casts down his nose at me? I have a good mind to walk over to Lucas’ house and shove my foot right up his ass. Self righteous son of a bitch.”

  Now it was my turn to muffle a laugh with the back of my hand. I doubted Emma could find the door in her current state let alone give Wyatt the beating he deserved. “Probably best to save that for another day.” Emma mumbled her agreement but still looked like she was ready to throw down at a moment's notice.

  I looked at my phone as it buzzed and saw Jace’s face light up the screen. Lane peered over my shoulder to see who was calling and grabbed the phone from my hand before I could react.

  “Hi Jason, this is Lane,” as she spoke she moved away from me, climbing onto the couch when I would have jumped on her. “Kenzie can’t come to the phone right now on account of it’s girls night.” She listened for a moment before letting out a little laugh. Covering the mouthpiece she lowered her voice and looked down at me. “He said if I don’t give you the phone he’s coming over to crash our party and get his nails done.”

  “Give her the phone, Lane!” Emma ordered, her green eyes wide. “If he comes the rest of them might follow!”

  “I thought you wanted to kick one of their assess,” Reece commented dryly, examining the manicure I had given her earlier in the night.

  “That was the heat of the moment,” Emma cut a look at Reece who smiled into her scowling face. “Just because you're pregnant doesn't meant I won’t get my revenge, Becker. Don’t forget I’m the one making your wedding cake.”

  Reece set her glass aside and grabbed both of Emma’s hands in her own. “I repent Emma.” Glaring at Lane she pointed towards the phone before looking at me. “Give her the phone. No boys allowed.”

  Laughing Lane put the phone into my grabbing hand. I placed it to my ear and frowned when my friends all started laughing. “What?” I asked looking at Reece. She shook her head with a small smile on her face.

  “Your phone is upside down.”

  I stepped out of earshot hearing the chorus of laughter continue behind me. “Hello?”

  “Having fun over there?” The thickness in his voice clued me in to the fact that he had been drinking as well.

  “Yes. We already did our nails though so Reece said you can’t come over.”

  “What if I sneak over when everyone falls asleep?”

  I laughed as I sat down on one of the kitchen chairs stretching my legs out before me. “We both know I’m probably going to be the first one to fall asleep. How’s your night going?”

  “Fine. We played some games and ate some pizza. Simon passed out mid argument about why he should have a dog. Wyatt’s getting pretty hammered. Declan and Lucas keep having to sit on him to stop him from running over there. He has it in his mind that it would be funny to scare you.”

  “Where’s Garret?”

  “He ditched us for his boyfriend. I wanted to follow suit but you’re not cooperating.”

  “I told Reece I was spending the night.” I smiled imagining the pouty look on Jace’s face.

  “I know,” he murmured. I heard him move and tell someone he’d be right back before the chatter in the background was cut off. “I miss you though. We haven’t spent a night apart since we got together. I don’t like the thought of it much less the reality.”

  I felt myself soften at his words but shook my head resolutely. “It’s only one night, Jace. I think you’re going to make it.”

  He grunted into the phone. “I guess.”

  “Stop moping and go have fun with the guys,” I ordered. “Tell Wyatt I will murder him if he tries to scare us.”

  “I love you, Kenzie.”

  My breathing hitched at his words as they always did. “I love you too, Jace. Sweet dreams.”

  “I know they’ll be sweet because they’ll be about you.”

  “Aw Jace you’re a fucking poet,” I heard Wyatt’s voice come through the line loud and clear.

  “Sugar, I’ll talk to you later,” Jace said briefly. I heard a crash before the phone disconnected. Laughing I stepped back into the living room where Lane and Emma were selecting a movie to put on.

  “How’s lover boy?” Reece asked patting the couch cushion next to her. Sitting down I curled into her side with a smile. “He’s good. I think he’s kicking Wyatt’s ass right now.” Emma’s ears perked up at the sound of that as she shifted to look at me waiting for further explanation. “He overheard something sweet Jace said to me and was teasing him about it. Jace said he’s loaded and wanted to come over here to scare us.”

  “God, he’s so immature,” Emma groaned mulling over the DVDs in her hands.

  “That may be,” Reece said tongue in cheek, “but one thing is for sure. You could never say Wyatt fucking Elliot Cooper is boring.”

  Jace

  I was thanking God I hadn't drank as much as Wyatt the night before. The look on my cousin’s face betrayed the severity of his hangover as we lounged in Lucas’s living room. At the sound of barking he winced and placed his hands on either side of his head.

  “Nephew, if you love me at all you will take that loud mutt outside. Bring him back to his parents.”

  I watched as Simon tip toed past his uncle and out the door tugging Loki behind him. When Declan had bailed last night saying he wanted to sleep in his own bed, he didn't have the heart to wake up Simon who was cuddled up next to his goofy dog.

  “You should know your own limitations by now,” I said clicking my tongue at my cousin’s sorry state.

  Glaring at me Wyatt rubbed his hand over his forehead. “It wasn't too long ago that you were nursing your own hangover right next to me.”

  “Yeah,” I agreed readily with a grin. “But then I found the love of a good woman.”

  Wyatt jerked his chin in my direction then groaned letting his head fall to his hands. “Bully for you.” He scrubbed a hand over his face before looking at me through bleary eyes. “I almost told you this last night, but I do love you and don’t want to see you get killed.” He glanced over his shoulder once before clearing his throat. “Sydney West has been texting me trying to get ahold of you.”

  “Since when?” I felt my fists clench and my teeth start grinding together. This was getting out of hand. I had to change my number and now she was trying to get to me through my cousin. Maybe it was time to start considering more extreme options.

  “Few weeks. It started getting upped recently though after you changed your number. Now I know why you did that. I should probably do the same.” He leaned forward and narrowed his eyes on me. “Does Little One know why you changed your number?”r />
  “Yeah, she knows it all,” I answered. Wyatt nodded satisfied with my reply.

  “Kenzie really hates her you know,” he said in a quiet voice. His eyes cleared somewhat as he cracked his knuckles. “Sydney was her friend before she hooked up with you.”

  “What?” I asked. I hadn't known that before.

  Wyatt leaned back in his chair with a scowl on his face. “Yeah. I knew that Sydney was hanging around Kenzie. After you two hooked up at her party I asked her about it.”

  “And?” I growled, frustrated when Wyatt stopped talking.

  “And she wouldn't tell me anything. She wouldn't talk to me about what happened that night.”

  She was going to talk to me.

  The back door opened and shut with a loud snap causing Wyatt to hiss. Kenzie walked into the house with a beautiful smile on her face. Taking in Wyatt’s obvious discomfort she paused by his side to ruffle his hair before moving into my arms. I tugged her down onto my lap covering her mouth with my own, ignoring Wyatt’s pitiful groans.

  “I’m going to be sick,” he complained watching us with obvious disgust.

  “Don’t do it on my floor,” Lucas’s sharp order rang out through the house. “I’ll put my feet on your pillow if you vomit in my house.”

  “I’m going home,” Wyatt said clamoring to his feet. “There’s better company there.”

  “Your mom said she was going to make us all a big breakfast at the house in a half hour,” Kenzie’s words made Wyatt’s hand freeze on the door knob.

  He gave her a serious look over his shoulder. “Are you pulling my leg right now?”

  “She said it would be ready at nine thirty.”

  “I’ll be there. I have to go jump in a cold shower first.”

  “You smell horrible.” Kenzie wrinkled her nose, laughing when Wyatt gave her the one finger salute. When he left she turned back to me letting her hands rest on my shoulders. “It looks like you guys had a good night.”

  “We did. How about you?”

  “It was fun,” she smiled playing with the ends of my hair. “We had a lot to talk about.”