Craving Rose (The Aces' Sons)

by Nicole Jacquelyn

  * * *

  “Happy Birthday, dear Rebel,” we all sang as the guest of honor bounced in her seat. When she blew out her candles, we cheered.

  “I make the first cut,” she reminded Molly. “Because it’s my birthday.”

  “I remember,” Molly said, handing Reb a long knife. “Cut wherever you want.”

  “Do it across the cake,” Cam and Trix’s son Curtis advised, leaning over the table. “Totally crooked.”

  “But then the pieces won’t be the same size,” Rebel pointed out, staring at Curtis like he was crazy.

  “So?” he said with a shrug.

  “Do you want a smaller piece?” she asked reasonably.

  “I see your point,” he replied, deflated.

  My lips twitched as Rebel cut a precise line two inches from the edge of the cake.

  “I know I’ll be pissed if my piece is smaller,” Mack murmured from behind me, making me laugh quietly.

  “Hungry, are you?” I asked, still watching Reb.

  “Starving,” he murmured, making my cheeks heat again. Dammit.

  “Didn’t you eat?” I turned to look at him and played it cool, hoping the fading light would hide my red face.

  “Yeah,” he replied simply.

  We stood there and watched the kids diving into their cake, and I struggled to find something to say. I hated that he made me so flustered. I’d known him forever. He was at least ten years older than me, and he treated me like his friend’s kid sister—but that didn’t seem to matter. The minute Mack joined whatever group I was in, I acted like a complete weirdo.

  “Rosie,” my dad called. When I turned to see him staring at me grimly, my stomach lurched. Dammit. Someone had spilled the beans.

  “What’s up, Father dear?” I asked as I headed his way.

  “You and Copper are done?” he asked, searching my face.

  “I think Copper is more done than I am,” I said with a humorless laugh. “But yeah. Who told you?”

  “The grapevine,” he muttered, pulling me against his side. “You alright, sweetheart?”

  “I’ve been better,” I confessed, fighting against the tears burning at the backs of my eyes. There was something about my dad’s gruff sympathy that got to me every time. When I was a kid, I’d always been brave as hell until my dad entered the room. His concern always made me act like a big baby.

  “Man’s a dipshit,” he said, kissing the top of my head. “You’re too good for him, anyhow.”

  “You say that now,” I replied drolly.

  “Now that you’re shot of him, I can say it,” he said with a huff. “He’s a good soldier, don’t get me wrong. But the kid is stupid as fuck.”

  I snickered.

  “That’s why we’ve never agreed to his transfer up here,” he said quietly. “Though you didn’t hear that from me.”

  I tipped my head back and grinned at him.

  “I’m real glad you won’t be the one perpetuating those genes,” he said, his lips twitching.

  “You’re terrible,” I said happily.

  “Truth hurts,” he said with a shrug.

  My laugh was cut off as I felt something thump against my back, followed by the sensation of icy water dripping into the back of my shorts.

  “I told you I wasn’t finished!” Tommy yelled maniacally.

  “Boy,” my dad called back as he lifted his arm off my back and shook the water off it. “You better run.”

  “Oh, shit!” Tommy yelped.

  The next few minutes were chaos. Earlier in the day, our water balloon war had been confined to a certain portion of the yard, far away from where all the old timers were congregated. There were no boundaries this time. I ducked and screamed as full water cups, buckets, squirt guns, balloons and the hose were used to full advantage. Even worse than the icy water were the pieces of cake being tossed around. It was a free for all, the entire group, from old Poet to little Gray getting in on the action.

  “Got you!” Cam’s son Draco yelled, tossing a balloon at me as he ran past where I was trying to hide by the porch steps.

  “Where the hell do they keep finding more balloons?” Molly yelled, her eyes wide as she raced toward me. She yelped as Will shot her in the ass with a long spray of water. “William!”

  “I have an idea,” I gasped, laughing. Grabbing her hand, I dragged her inside.

  “You’re a little cheat,” she said, giggling as I closed and locked the door behind us. Better safe than sorry.

  “I think the word you meant was brilliant,” I shot back as I rounded the kitchen table.

  “Oh, no,” she said as I slid open the window over the sink.

  “I’ve never been so glad that you and Will are taking your sweet ass time on this house,” I said with a laugh when I verified there was no screen on the window. “Now, shh.”

  Turning the water on as high it would go, I pointed the sprayer toward the yard and waited. It didn’t take long before someone stopped beneath the window, just like I’d hoped.

  I laughed maniacally as I sprayed the large shadow, assuming it was one of my brothers or cousins. I was obnoxious and loud and feeling very proud of myself until he turned, and blocking the spray with an upraised hand, met my eyes.

  “Shit!” I squeaked, my hand automatically letting go of the trigger.

  “What?” Molly peeked over my shoulder. “Oh, no,” she whispered.

  “Payback’s a bitch,” Mack said calmly, his eyes steady on mine as he slicked his hair back with one hand.

  As he headed toward the back door, I yelped and ran toward the front of the house. “Tell Reb I love her!” I called to Molly. “I’ll see you guys later.”

  “Coward,” she yelled back, laughing her ass off.

  She was right. I was a coward. But I was okay with that.

  I quietly opened the door and peeked outside to make sure the coast was clear, then sprinted over the deck and jumped over the stairs. My car was parked at the end of the driveway, and I fished the key out of my pocket with a grin. I would’ve hotwired it if I had to, but then I’d have to go to the garage Monday morning and ask my dad to fix the dash. I let out a huge breath of relief as I reached for the door handle, then screamed like a banshee as arms wrapped around my waist and lifted me into the air.

  “You actually thought you’d get away?” Mack asked, laughing as I started kicking my legs.

  “It was an accident,” I yelled, twisting and turning. He was soaked, and the few dry patches on my t-shirt were quickly becoming damp from where he pressed against me.

  “You sprayed me with the kitchen sink,” he replied incredulously.

  “I thought you were one of my brothers!” As soon as he set me back on my feet, I twisted and took a few steps back, watching him warily.

  “Well, that’s insulting,” he said, making me laugh.

  “See,” I said, stepping toward my door. “It was all a misunderstanding.”

  He stepped forward and I stepped back again. “Misunderstanding or not,” he murmured, his lips twitching, “I’m still soakin’ wet.”

  “And I’m very sorry for that,” I replied, nodding.

  “It doesn’t feel like you’re sorry,” he said, taking another step toward me.

  “I am.” I lifted my hands in front of me like I was trying to ward him off. “I really am.”

  “See,” he murmured, tilting his head to the side. “I just don’t believe you.”

  I screeched as he rushed me, and laughed hysterically as he threw me over his shoulder.

  “I’m sorry,” I yelled through my laughter as he carried me back toward the house. “I’m really sorry!”

  “Uh huh,” he grunted as I twisted and turned, trying to escape.

  We rounded the corner of the house and I amped up my squirming. He was bringing me right back into the thick of things. At any moment, my brothers and cousins would catch sight of us and I’d be at their mercy.

  “We can talk this out,” I said, pushing against his b
ack as I tried to straighten. “We can be allies.”

  He scoffed and wrapped his arms tighter around my thighs.

  Before I could comprehend what was happening, I was being flipped back over and dropped gently into the plastic kiddie pool filled with cold, dirty water. I gasped as the water covered me from breasts to thighs, staring up at him in disbelief.

  “I think we’re even now,” he said, grinning. “Allies?”

  Ignoring the way his smile made my stomach explode with butterflies, I scowled at him.

  “Oh,” Tommy yelled, laughing like a hyena. “Looks like the little cheater met her match!”

  “You’re supposed to have my back!” I yelled, splashing water ineffectually at him. “Where’s the loyalty?”

  “This is war, Rose,” he said seriously. “Every man for himself.”

  “I don’t think that’s how it works,” Mack muttered with a chuckle.

  I climbed out of the pool, dripping wet and pointed at him. “What did you say to me? Payback’s a bitch?” I smiled as his eyes widened. “Remember that.”

  “You think you’re gonna get me in that pool?” he asked in amusement.

  “I don’t have to,” I replied smugly. “I’ll remember this.”

  “Ah, man,” Will said, coming up behind me with a towel. “You should probably just sit your ass down in the pool and be done with it. She’s not kidding. One time, she waited two months before getting payback. You never know when it’s going to happen, and then BAM!”

  “I’ll take my chances,” Mack replied, his eyes still holding mine.

  “Thanks,” I said to my brother as he handed me the towel.

  “Molly thought you might need it,” he murmured with a chuckle.

  After one last glare at Mack, I wrapped the towel around myself and stomped away, my shoes making a squelching noise with every step.

  * * *

  Later that night, I was curled up on the couch, the reality of my breakup hitting me with the force of a sledgehammer. I was alone. Again.

  I wasn’t a person that needed people around me all the time, and I liked my space, but coming home to my empty apartment had felt lonely. And I didn’t handle lonely very well.

  I’d gone from living with my parents to sharing a room with Lily in Connecticut while she went to Yale, so when I’d rented my apartment all by myself, the freedom had seemed pretty fucking fantastic at first. I’d stayed up all night and left lights on whenever I felt like it, and stunk up the place with takeout. But it hadn’t taken long before I realized that I didn’t like living alone.

  I actually liked cooking for more than one person. I liked letting someone know when I’d be home at night, or if I wouldn’t be home at all. I liked having someone to watch a movie with and eat dinner with and bitch about my day to.

  Pulling my blanket tighter around my shoulders, I stared blankly at the TV. Maybe I’d jumped in to a relationship with Copper too quickly because I hated living alone. We’d gone from dating to practically living together within a few weeks, and I hadn’t listened to anyone when they’d warned me that I was headed for disaster. I’d liked having him to come home to. Sure, he talked over me sometimes, and I could never be mad about anything without him spinning it around until suddenly I was on the defensive side. And maybe he got mad when I wasn’t in the mood for sex, which drove me crazy, and he never put my needs before his own. But knowing rationally that he wasn’t good for me didn’t seem to matter, because now that he was gone, I was heartbroken, anyway.

  “I need a cat,” I mumbled, using the remote to shut off the movie I was barely paying attention to. A cat would be great. So much less work than a dog, but still someone I could come home to after a long night at work.

  I sniffled and closed my eyes, trying not to cry again. I’d done enough of that in the shower earlier. God, why had I been so trusting? Why had I put so much time and energy and love into someone that clearly didn’t even like me?

  I swallowed back a sob and startled when someone started knocking on my front door. Who the hell would be knocking at ten-thirty at night? My heart started thundering as I walked toward the door, grabbing the baseball bat I kept in the entryway just in case. Maybe it was Copper. I hated that, even after all the things he’d said that morning, I still hoped it was him.

  “I had a feeling you could use some company,” Lily said as I swung open the door. She strode inside, pushing me gently out of the way.

  “You didn’t have to come over,” I argued, closing and locking the door. I shook my head as I took in her flannel pajamas and the ratty old blanket in her arms. “Leo took one look and kicked you out, didn’t he?” I joked drolly.

  “Leo doesn’t give a shit what I wear,” she replied loftily, pointing her nose dramatically toward the ceiling. Then she crossed her eyes and stuck her tongue out at me. “Just kidding. He hates these pajamas.”

  “I wonder why,” I said dryly. “You look like an old lady.”

  “You always steal the covers,” she replied, turning off lights as she led the way to my room. “I wore fuzzy socks, too.”

  “How can you wear socks to bed?” I mumbled. “Feet should be able to breathe at night.”

  “Feet should be warm,” she argued, climbing onto my bed as I unwrapped the blanket around my shoulders and tossed it toward her.

  “You really didn’t have to come over,” I said, taking off my rings and earrings and putting them on my nightstand. “I’m fine.”

  “You’re not fine,” she replied.

  “I’m disappointed,” I admitted as I climbed in beside her and turned off the lamp. “But I’m fine.”

  “You said you loved him,” she said quietly as we turned to face each other. “That doesn’t just go away because he took off.”

  “No, it doesn’t.”

  We were quiet for a while, and the relief of having her there almost made me cry again. Lily was my best friend. My soul sister. We’d been best friends since the first time our moms had put us in the same crib to sleep.

  “He wasn’t the one,” she whispered, reaching out to brush my hair away from my face. “He didn’t treat you like you deserve.”

  “Maybe that was my fault,” I whispered back. “Maybe I pushed him away. I’m just not good at this.”

  “Beep,” she said obnoxiously loud before lowering her voice again. “Wrong. There is absolutely nothing wrong with you. Nothing. He was a man-child who made you feel like shit.”

  I snorted at her apt description.

  “There’s a guy out there,” she said, tucking her hands under her cheek. “And he’s going to love all the different parts of you. The surly part that you show the people at work, and the sweet part you show us, and everything in between. He’s going to think it’s hilarious when you curse, and smack your ass when you’re giving him attitude, and he’s going to have a comeback for every smartass thing you say.”

  “Maybe I should’ve toned it down a little,” I murmured. “But I’m just not good at the lovey dovey stuff, you know? I have three brothers who show love by smacking each other on the back and putting me into a headlock.”

  “Don’t do that,” she said, shaking her head a little. “No man worth anything will make you believe that you have to make yourself smaller so he can feel bigger.”

  “He did that,” I admitted, my voice nearly inaudible.

  “I know he did,” she replied, her eyes sad. “I saw it. And I wanted to say something, but you were so dedicated to making things work with him that I didn’t want to make it harder for you.”

  “Why do I keep finding these guys? Why am I such a magnet for men that don’t know how to stick it out?”

  “None of those guys were right for you,” she said. “Maybe you should stop looking.”

  I scoffed.

  “Maybe you should let the next one come to you,” she said, ignoring the noise I’d made. “I swear, it always happens when you’re not looking for it.”

  “Oh, what do you know?” I
teased huskily. “You’ve been in love with Leo since you hit puberty.”

  “Probably before that,” she said, rolling her eyes. “But we didn’t get together until I’d stopped pursuing him. It had to happen at the right time.”

  “It feels like I’m never going to meet him, that one perfect guy made just for me,” I confessed. “Everyone else has paired off, and I’m always just in the corner standing by myself because whatever loser I’d been dating had dumped me.”

  “We’re twenty-three,” she said with a chuckle. “You have so much time to find the right guy. The one who will give you babies and treat you like you’re the center of his universe.”

  “What if I never find him?”

  “Then I guess you’ll just have to move in with me and Leo and we can be sister-wives.” She smiled as I laughed. “But you don’t get to bang him. We’ll just get you a really good vibrator.”

  Our laughter shook the bed and I wheezed, trying to catch my breath.

  “Oh, my God,” she said, still laughing. “I forgot to tell you.”

  “What?”

  “I found a grey pubic hair.”

  “What?” I practically shouted.

  “Yep. Just hanging out down there, like, what’s up, old lady?”

  I choked and laughed harder.

  “I’m going to have to wax,” she gasped through her giggles. “But I’m afraid I’ll have more when the hair grows back in.”

  “Sixty year old carpet and twenty-three year old drapes,” I said, barely able to talk through my chuckles.

  “Oh, God,” she rasped, slapping the bed. “Why the fuck didn’t anyone warn us?”

  “Because no one else discusses their pubes with us?”

  “Well, they should!”

  It took a while for our laughter to die down, but by the time it did, I felt a million times better. There was something to be said about quiet conversations in the dark with your best friend—they had the power to heal even the worst days.

  “Thanks for coming,” I said as we settled back down.

  “Of course.”

  “Was Leo pissed that you were spending the night here?”

  “Nah,” she said, shaking her head. “They can get by without me for one night. Gray was already asleep, and Leo said he was going to watch his stupid car shows and eat pickled asparagus in bed.”