by L A Cotton
“Yeah.” His eyes flicked over to where Lo and Laurie sat on the edge of the pool, dipping their legs in the water. “Except everything’s different now.”
“Yeah, you’re fucking uglier.” I fought a shit-eating grin as he narrowed his eyes on me.
“I might have mellowed, but don’t push your luck.”
It was true. There had been a time when Maverick would have lashed out first and asked questions later. He’d been an angry brooding motherfucker in high school until Lo came along and thawed the layers of ice around his heart.
“Shit, Prince, she’s got you whipped,” I said as he gazed over at her like a lovesick fucking puppy.
“And I’m not ashamed to admit it.” He grinned back. “I never thought I’d say it, but I want it all with her. The wedding, two brats running around, growing old together.”
My chest constricted with his words... and the fact Kiera had just joined Lo and Laurie by the pool wearing denim cut-off shorts and a black halter bikini. Thankfully, I had my sunglasses on so Maverick couldn’t see me running my eyes down her toned body, lingering a little too long on the soft curve of her hips, the perfect swell of her tits.
Shit. I was so fucking screwed.
“You okay?” Rick’s voice broke through my Kiera-haze.
“What? Yeah. Just thinking.”
He inclined his head, assessing me, but then Kyle strolled up to us and threw his arm around Rick’s shoulder. “Dude, how are those steaks looking? I could eat a whole cow.” He rubbed his stomach.
“You’re a fucking pig.” Rick shrugged him off and went back to flipping the steaks.
“I had to escape. Laurie won’t shut up about flowers, wedding venues, and dresses. I love that girl more than life itself, but I’m beginning to think I screwed up asking her.”
“You don’t mean that.” Rick glared at his stepbrother.
Kyle gave him puppy dog eyes and pouted. “At this rate the wedding will be next year because I’m not sure I can take two years of this shit. I’m just relieved Macey isn’t here, or it’d be the two of them ganging up on me.”
“Suck it up, Stone.” I clapped him on the back. “It isn’t the wedding you should be worried about, it’s the marriage. I’ve heard it all goes downhill once you put a ring on it. Saggy tits, sex on a schedule, all the nagging.” I fought a smile, ignoring the way my stomach knotted.
“Fuck you, Berrick. Like you don’t plan on locking Callie down tight one day.”
Thank fuck for sunglasses because I was pretty sure if he could see my eyes right now, he’d see the terror there.
“We’ve been dating for less than eight months. That shit is not on the radar.”
“Who are you trying to kid? When you know, you know. Isn’t that right, Rick?”
Maverick shrugged, fussing over the steaks, and silence fell over us while Kyle stared at his fiancée and I drank in Kiera as she laughed and chatted to the girls. Fuck, she was so unaware of how beautiful she was.
“Kiera seems to be okay, considering...” Rick said, and my ears pricked up.
Kyle made a clicking sound in his throat. “She puts on a good show, but me and that fucker will be having words when I next see him.”
“So, he didn’t come; it’s not the end of—”
“He stood her up to go hang out with his stoner friends. He’s not good enough for her.”
Rick threw him a look. “No one is good enough for her in your eyes.”
“And? Kiera is... complicated. After everything she’s been through, she deserves better. I really don’t know what she sees in Jack-ass,” he grumbled.
“Jack-ass?” I spluttered.
“What? It’s a good name. Besides, the guy is a total dickwad.”
“He’s not that bad,” Rick said.
“You’re telling me you’d be okay with Summer or Macey dating someone like him?”
Rick went rigid, his expression turning to stone.
“Case and point,” Kyle’s brows quirked up.
“Although Macey is dating the guy who tried to stir shit between Lo and me, so...”
“Whatever. You’ll back me up right, bro?” Kyle turned his attention on me. “You saw Jack-ass at the party last night. Would you want your sister dating someone like him? I mean, hypothetically?”
Fuck.
Fuck.
I cleared my throat, running a hand over my head. “Hypothetically? No.”
“See.” He smiled approvingly. “I knew—”
“But...” I cut him off. “On the other hand, you’ve got to let them grow up one day, right?”
And Kiera was all grown up now.
“Like hell I do.”
“She’s almost eighteen.” She wasn’t, not really. Not for another five months. But pretending she was made me feel slightly better about things. Kyle’s eyes narrowed and I balked. Shit. This was too close to the wire.
“She’s still my baby sister,” he said the words slowly, as if hammering home his point. As if I was the threat.
And, at one time, I had been.
Kyle didn’t know about me and Kiera; he couldn’t have. If he did, I was pretty sure I wouldn’t be standing here right now. But in the beginning, he had suspected something. I don’t know if Maverick sensed the tension or just had excellent fucking timing, but he said, “Steaks done.”
Kyle’s hard gaze lingered on me for a second longer before he turned to Rick grinning, as if he didn’t have my cards marked. “Plate me up two.”
I WAS A WEAK MAN.
That was the only explanation for my less than stellar decision-making over the last two days. First the engagement party, and now the party at Kyle and Maverick’s house. I shouldn’t have come; that much was obvious when things turned sour earlier with Kyle. Not to mention the fact I’d spent the last two hours in the worst kind of hell watching Kiera splash around in the water with her family and friends. Jack never showed. I couldn’t decide if that made things easier or more difficult. I couldn’t bear the thought of seeing her with him; Jack touching her, kissing her, and making her laugh. But watching her now, without him, was pure torture. Because every so often her eyes would flick over to where I sat on one of the loungers, and she would hold my gaze almost daring me. I imagined what she was thinking, what she was trying to tell me.
This is what you could have had.
This will never be yours.
You had your chance.
And you blew it.
“You’re being obvious,” a voice said, and before I could stop her, Lo sat down on the lounger beside me.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m merely enjoying the view.” It came out far more asshole than I intended but I didn’t like the way she saw right through me.
“Trey...”
“Shit, yeah. I’m sorry, that was uncalled for.”
“You don’t need to do that. You don’t need to pretend with me.”
I glanced around, worried someone might overhear us, but everyone was either in the pool or over by the table Kyle and Rick had set up to play beer pong. “It doesn’t matter,” I said.
“Doesn’t it?”
“She’s with Jack and I’m... with Callie.”
“And yet, he’s not here and neither is she. Doesn’t that tell you something?”
Yeah, it told me that Jack was a stupid fucker and I wasn’t much better.
I looked right at Lo, keeping my eyes hidden behind my glasses, and gave her a weak smile. “I know you’re not trying to suggest I make a move, here, of all places.”
She sucked in a sharp breath. “I’m not...” she hesitated. “Look, I’m not suggesting anything, but you can’t keep doing this. You can’t keep waltzing back into her life and getting her hopes up. You broke her heart, Trey. Kiera doesn’t let people in. You think what she has with Jack is real? It’s not. She’s with him because he’s safe. Because it will never end up anywhere serious. You need to decide once and for all. Choose her or let her go.”
“If you loved her, it would be.”
“You think—”
“Stealing my girl, Berrick?” Maverick loomed down at us, catapulting my heart into my fucking throat.
“We were just catching up,” I managed to choke out.
He glanced between us, his eyes lingering a little too long in my direction. It occurred to me, he probably knew. Lo and Maverick were solid. I couldn’t imagine them keeping shit from one another. “Well, I’m sure Trey can keep himself company because I need help with something,” he said.
“Help with something?” Lo’s brow arched as she fought a smile.
“Seriously?” I asked Rick who only had eyes for the girl sitting opposite me. “You can’t wait until after the party is finished?
“Jealous?”
I was, but not for the reasons he thought. My eyes found Kiera across the pool. She had climbed out and was laid out on a lounger, catching the last rays of the day. As if she felt me watching her, she looked over, her eyes hidden like mine behind dark glasses.
“Don’t do something you’ll regret.” Rick’s words were like a wrecking ball to my chest, knocking the wind clean out of my lungs. If I wasn’t sure he knew before, I was now.
My eyes slid to his and I searched his expression. He didn’t seem particularly pissed, but he didn’t seem too keen on Team Trey&Kiera either, not like Lo. “Maverick.” She pressed her hand to his chest.
“Come on,” he said, still holding my stare. “If we don’t make it back out here, it was good seeing you again. Don’t leave it so long next time.”
I didn’t know how to take that, so I simply nodded.
They left me and I knew I should leave. Kyle and Laurie were too wrapped up in each other to notice anyone else, and Kiera had moved to sit with Summer and Nick and some other kids I didn’t recognize. All while I sat on the periphery.
My cell phone vibrated, and I dug it out of my pocket.
Callie: How’s it there? I miss you. Sam surprised me with lunch tomorrow before we leave. But I’ll see you tomorrow night? Have you decided about the trip? xo
I didn’t text back, shoving it in my pocket. Being back in Wicked Bay felt worlds away from my life at UCLA, my life with Callie. I’d fallen back into my old self with ease. And I missed it—fuck, did I miss it.
Getting up, I went inside to take a piss. No one noticed me. They were too busy enjoying the party, the free drinks, and good company. When I was done, I lingered in the kitchen watching them all, envy spreading through my veins. It didn’t matter Kyle and Rick were at separate colleges now, they were family. They would always find their way back to one another. Maybe if Kiera hadn’t come along, I’d be right there with them. Getting together in the holidays and at other special occasions. But I wasn’t there anymore, not really. Because an invisible line had been drawn between us and I wasn’t just one of the guys anymore. I was lumped together with the Jack-asses of the world—the guys not good enough to be with Kiera.
And I fucking resented it.
Instead of going back out to the party, I left the house through the front door, slipping into the shadows. Sending Kyle and Rick a quick text to say thanks, I made my way down the long winding drive, but paused when I saw a lone figure sitting on the fancy wall separating the Stone-Princes' house from the neighbor’s property.
“Kiera?” Her eyes remained on the ground as she swung her bare feet softly. “What are you doing out here?”
“Catching my breath.” She finally looked at me and it was like seeing her for the first time all over again. I’d never felt anything like it with any other girl and to be honest, it disarmed me.
She disarmed me.
“You seemed like you were enjoying it?” It came out way creepier than I intended, but I couldn’t take back the words now.
“I... I’m a good actor.” Her eyes were cold as she wrapped her arms around her midriff. “We have that in common.”
Ouch. She might as well have stabbed me in the chest and twisted the knife deep.
“How is Callie by the way?”
I ran a hand over my head, letting out a resigned sigh. “You really want to do this?”
“I didn’t think I was doing anything. It’s a simple question.”
Nothing about this was simple and she knew it.
“Callie is... well, it’s complicated.” I sat on the wall beside her, glancing back at the house.
“What’s the matter? Scared someone might see us?”
“Kiera, come on...”
“Whatever, Trey.” She got up ready to leave, but I snagged her wrist, pulling her back. Her eyes collided with mine, anger burning in their depths. “What do you want from me?”
“Can’t we just talk?” I said. “I’m worried about you.”
“You’re worried about me?” Bitter laughter spilled from her mouth. “I find that very hard to believe.” She yanked her hand from mine and backed away. “You should go, Trey, before Kyle or someone comes looking for me.”
I couldn’t stop looking at her. The fire in her eyes. The curve of her mouth. Soft pink lips I could remember kissing as if it was yesterday.
I needed to walk away.
I needed to get up and leave. She knew it, I knew it.
And yet... I. Couldn’t. Stop. Looking.
Every moment with her, every stolen kiss replayed over and over in my head. I knew then, if she didn’t walk away, I was about to do something very fucking stupid. But I’d walked away from this girl too many times and I wasn’t sure I could do it again.
Chapter 9
Kiera
“Stop looking at me like that,” I breathed, unable to look away. Trey held me captive, his glittering blue eyes searing into mine, silently telling me things. Things he had no right to tell me.
Not anymore.
“How am I looking at you, Kiera?” His voice was soft, barely a whisper. But I felt it all the way down to my soul.
“Like I mean something to you; like you want me.”
He stood up, taking the air with him. Electricity crackled around us, the way it did whenever we were close. As if our proximity caused a physical shift in the air. His hand reached for me, sliding against my neck, and I gasped. A sharp intake of breath at the feel of his skin against mine. My eyes fluttered closed.
“Trey.” My voice quivered as my eyes opened again and I looked up at him.
“I’ve tried to forget you,” he said. “I’ve tried so fucking hard.” His words stung. Plunged into my chest like a blade. “But nothing works. No matter how much I try you’re there, Kiera. In here.” He grabbed my other hand and pressed it against his chest.
“I. Can’t. Get. You. Out. Of. My. Head.”
My heart crashed against my chest so hard I felt like I couldn’t breathe. I’d waited so long for him to be honest with me, to choose me. But not like this. Not when he was going back to UCLA, back to her.
Because I wasn’t foolish enough to think this was anything else but a moment of weakness. Trey wouldn’t choose me; he couldn’t. Because of his loyalty to my brother and Maverick, the circumstances in which we met.
We were older now, age didn’t seem so important anymore. But I knew I’d always be the fifteen-year-old with stars in her eyes and he’d always be the eighteen-year-old who wanted his friend’s baby sister.
I should have pulled away, should have walked away and never looked back. But my head and my heart had never been very good at getting on the same page. My head knew this was a bad idea while my heart, my stupid foolish traitorous heart, wanted to wrap my arms around him and never let go. Because no matter how much he’d hurt me, Trey Berrick had always been my safe place.
“What are we doing?” I asked him, my body vibrating with nervous energy.
“I don’t know but I’m not sure I can stop.” His voice cracked as his other hand came up to my face. Fingers sliding into my hair, he tilted my face toward his.
�
��Trey...” His name fell from my lips. It was supposed to be a warning. Back off. Instead, it came out a plea.
He lips brushed mine. Once. Twice. It was so soft, so tender. I knew he was giving my head time to catch up with my heart. But they were at war.
Trey is kissing me. He’s kissing me.
Don’t let him do this to you. Not again.
“Wait...” the word rushed out in a sigh, and Trey’s eyes shuttered, his body rigid. My fingers twisted into his t-shirt, pushing him away. Pulling him closer. I was a mess. I couldn’t think straight, I couldn’t force the warring voices out of my head.
He wants this. He wants me.
He’ll ruin you. Do this and you know he’ll break your heart again.
“Kiera, it’s okay, we don’t—”
My mouth crashed down on his, all teeth and tongues and sheer desperation. I made the decision, I kissed him back, but Trey quickly took control, angling my face up, sliding his tongue against mine, deep and slow. One of his hands glided around to my shoulder and down my spine. He touched the small of my back, pressing our bodies together, erasing the sliver of space between us. My soft curves against his hard lines, and I gasped when I felt his hardness. He wanted me. He wanted this.
“Fuck,” he ground out, not breaking the kiss.
I was boneless, breathless...
But as quickly as I lost myself, reality slammed into me.
“Trey, wait.” My fingers uncurled from his t-shirt, pressing flat against his chest. And this time, I did push, putting some distance between us. But his body was curled over me.
“Don’t do this,” he pleaded. His voice, his eyes. He really did want this.
Trey wanted me.
Me.
Blind panic flooded my chest and I inhaled a ragged breath. “What are we doing?”
“I... fuck, I don’t know.” He backed up now and the space between us felt more distant than ever.
“I should go.”
“Go?” he sounded incredulous.
“You’re with Callie and I... I have...” I couldn’t get the words out, too consumed by how good—how right—it had felt having his lips on mine again, our bodies pressed close.
