Keeping Him

by Kennedy Fox

  “Please, Jackson,” she begs, tugging on my bicep, and it’s his only saving grace.

  Heaving as I stand, I look at her to see if she’s okay. I place my finger under her chin and get a better look at the eye that’s already starting to turn. Kiera lowers her eyes, unable to even look me in the face.

  “I ought to kill his sorry ass,” I growl, trying to catch my breath.

  “It’s not worth it. It’s just a big misunderstanding.”

  Kiera tries to help Trent up, but he gives her the cold shoulder and nudges her away.

  “Don’t you ever fucking step foot on my property again acting like that, Trent. Next time, you won’t be so lucky,” I threaten, my jaw clenching in anger.

  “Stop, Jackson,” Kiera says, just as Trent gets up off the ground and comes after me again.

  That’s the point when I lose my resolve. I hear screaming in the background as we’re rolling around on the ground, and moments later, I’m being pulled off by someone who’s much stronger than me. When I look up and see Deputy Pettigrew, I instantly know I’m fucked. Out of all the men they could’ve sent out here, it had to be him. Next, I see John standing next to Trent.

  “What the hell are you doing, son?” Pettigrew asks, looking me up and down, then glancing over at Trent who’s in the worst shape. Though I want to smile and rub his face in his own shit, I don’t.

  “He hit me first,” Trent says, spitting out blood. “I wanna press charges.”

  My mouth drops open, ticking with anger. “You’re a goddamn liar, Laken. You threw the first punch.”

  Trent wipes the blood from his lip with the back of his hand. “Who’s he gonna believe? Someone who’s educated and respected within the community or a fucking troublemaker who gets in fights all the time?”

  Pettigrew looks at me, and instead of running my mouth this time, I bite my tongue even though I’m ready to beat Trent’s face in for that comment.

  “Can someone here tell me what the hell happened—someone who isn’t either one of them?” Pettigrew asks loudly. Guests from the B&B step out onto the back porch to rubberneck the situation, and I know that if this doesn’t dissipate soon, Mama will be down here to solve it herself. Trent and I are separated and both placed in handcuffs, and all I can think is how this time, I haven’t even had a drink, and I’m going to jail.

  “Kiera, you’re gonna have to tell me what happened here,” Pettigrew says, pulling her off to the side. I hate that he’s asking her, putting her word between the both of us, but I hope to hell she tells him the truth. None of this was my fault this time.

  I overhear another officer getting a statement from Trent and most of what he says is bullshit, except for the part of why he’s here in the first place. Then again, that could be a lie too. I make a mental note to check the stall where the horse is that he saw earlier because apparently, he forgot something in there. If I didn’t know better, I’d say he caught wind of our lunch today and allowed his jealousy to lead him back to the barn.

  I don’t know why he’s making a big fucking deal over her being around me. We’ve known each other much longer than they’ve been together, and we have a history together that no one, not even him, could replace. After all, Kiera is marrying him, but it’s as if he won’t be happy until she agrees to never talk to me again. I hope it doesn’t come to that, but I have a feeling that’s where it’s heading.

  Pettigrew walks over and grabs me by the arm, just when I see Mama pulling up in her Cadillac.

  “Oh, fuck,” I whisper, but Pettigrew doesn’t say a word. I’m sure he’s thinking the same thing.

  Mama parks and slams the car door, and it’s as if everyone feels her wrath because all chatter stops. She glances over at the guests standing on the back porch and nicely tells them to go inside. I notice her fists are in tight balls as she walks up to us. What’s even more frightening is she doesn’t say a word to me, just gives me the evil eye, and walks straight up to Trent.

  “You’re fired, Dr. Laken. Coming onto my property, making a scene like that, and disrespecting my family. I outta call your mama right now and tell her what you’ve done.”

  I let out a snort, wanting to give Mama a standing ovation. Mama then turns to me with a scowl. “And don’t think you’re clear of any of this, Jackson. So keep your damn mouth shut.” She hardly ever curses, so I know she’s at a dangerous level of pissed off, and that’s a force I don’t want to reckon with.

  Trent doesn’t make eye contact with Mama when she turns back around and glares at him. After a moment, she looks at Pettigrew and thanks him for calling her.

  “You’re a sellout,” I whisper. He lifts an eyebrow at me, tempting me to keep running my mouth, but I shake my head instead.

  Mama walks past me without saying another word and goes straight to Kiera. She grabs her hand and leads her to the car, and they drive off. My heart is racing. I want to ask Kiera if she’s okay and make sure Trent didn’t hurt her too badly, but I already know her eye is going to have a shiner.

  “Well, son,” Pettigrew says, removing the handcuffs from my wrists and looking me up and down. I’m filthy from rolling around on the ground, and there’s blood from my busted knuckles. Other than that, I’m fine.

  “Kiera told me what happened, and you better be damn glad because I would’ve booked you so fast your mama’s head woulda spun,” he informs. “But I realize Laken lied, and you weren’t responsible for this. Now, I need to know what you’d like to do.”

  I let out a deep breath, relieved Kiera told the truth. “I wanna press charges for assault.”

  “You sure about that?” I hear John ask from behind as he walks toward me. He’s always trying to be the voice of reason, but I’m not going to change my mind about this. Trent needs to learn not to fuck with me.

  “Absolutely.” I look at John and confirm with Pettigrew. This bastard isn’t going to get away with hitting Kiera and trying to kick my ass. He earned every fine he’ll get, and I don’t feel a tad guilty about it. Fuck him.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Kiera

  Mama Bishop picks me up from the B&B, and I’m so fucking mad I can’t speak. My eye has already swollen shut, and the way I feel inside doesn’t compare to the pain of being punched in the face by my fiancé.

  “What happened, child?” Mama Bishop looks over at me and searches my face once she parks the car.

  My lip quivers. “Trent punched me,” I tell her, cringing at how it sounds aloud. Her brows shoot up, looking ready to drive back there to give him another piece of her mind. “On accident,” I add quickly. “He drove up and saw Jackson and me, then lost control. I tried to break it up but happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and got hit in the crossfire.”

  She places her hand on my shoulder, her eyes softening. “So he attacked Jackson first?” she asks, and I know if it were the other way around, he might not live to see another day.

  I nod. “I told Pettigrew as much too. I’m not going to lie for Trent. Not now, not ever.” My voice cracks at the end, and she notices. I hate to be put in a position to have to choose between them, but being honest is ingrained in me. Too bad it’s not ingrained into him.

  “It’s gonna be okay. Men talk with their fists. I’ve learned that firsthand.” She sighs as if she’s been through this more times than she can count. “Let’s go inside and get some ice on that eye. Then I’ll get you a cup of coffee and a piece of cake.” She smiles.

  I follow Mama inside, and once she gets me an ice pack to stop the swelling, I willingly eat a piece of chocolate cake as she brews a pot of coffee. Though I’ve been trying to stay away from sweets and carbs so I can easily fit into my wedding dress, I figure today’s an exception.

  Once the coffee’s brewed, Mama sets the mug down in front of me along with a bottle of hazelnut creamer. I thank her and pour some into my cup before stirring it.

  The house is quiet, but it’s exactly the same as it was when I was a kid running through the hall
ways chasing Jackson or playing with Courtney. It’s always felt like home here, and I hope it always does.

  “Anything you want to talk about?” she asks as she sits down. I’m too embarrassed to make eye contact and feel as if my whole world is crumbling. I’ve never seen Trent lose complete control before, and considering we’ve talked about Jackson and our friendship, I thought it was an issue we already worked through. He promised me he’d be on his best behavior and would play nice. He went against his word. It worries me how much I don’t know the man I’m marrying, but I don’t dare speak my doubts into the universe or even hint them to Mama Bishop. Instead, I shake my head and force a smile.

  “You know what’s best for you, honey. That’s all I’m gonna say.”

  I’m thankful for the silence as I eat my cake and drink the coffee. It helps settle my nerves just enough. Once there’s nothing but crumbs left, Mama takes the empty plate and sets it in the sink, then hands me two ibuprofen. “You’re gonna need these.”

  I laugh, keeping the ice pack to my face. “Yeah, with a shot of whiskey and a bottle of courage. Because this is going to get dealt with today when I get home.”

  Mama looks at me with an arched brow. “If he lays a hand on you, Kiera, or if you’re unsafe—”

  “I’m not,” I snap but don’t mean to. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean for that to sound so rude. I’ve never seen that side of Trent before, so I’m just a little rattled.”

  “Honey, it’s fine.” She covers my hand with hers. “If you ever want to talk, though, I’m always here. No judgments.”

  I appreciate that more than she realizes. “Thank you, Mama. You’ve always been sweet to me.”

  She flashes me a wink and smiles. “It’s because you’re my second daughter. Want me to take you back to your truck? I think enough time has passed that everyone has probably left.”

  I glance at the clock on the stove and give her a smile. “Yeah, that’d be great.”

  We head to the car, and the ride over to the B&B is filled with silence as I hold the ice pack on my face. It’s giving me slight relief at least, and I can only hope it keeps the bruising down too. She grabs the steering wheel with white knuckles when she sees Jackson, and I know he’s in trouble. Mama shakes her head at him.

  “I can’t talk to him right now. I might actually whip him like he’s a kid again for not keeping a level head. I always taught him to fight back if someone threw the punch first, but it’s his ego and attitude that gets me every time.” She laughs, but I know she’s not joking. “Take care, Kiera.” She squeezes my arm with a sympathetic smile. “If you need anything, don’t hesitate to call, okay, dear?”

  “Yes ma’am, I will.”

  She turns and gives me a hug, and it makes me smile. After we break our embrace, I get out of the car. Jackson walks across the pasture toward me. His button-up shirt is open, showing off his muscular body again, and I swallow hard. I look at his face and notice his lip is busted, but other than that, he doesn’t have a scratch, which doesn’t surprise me.

  “I’m sorry.” It’s the only thing I can say.

  “For what? You didn’t do this, Kiera. The only thing I’m sorry about is not kicking his ass the way he deserves.” Jackson reaches out and removes the ice from my eye. I cringe slightly, hating all the thoughts that must be running through his mind right now. He gently places his finger under my chin so he can get a better look. “He got you good.”

  I sigh and look into his eyes. “He didn’t mean to.”

  “But he did,” he whispers.

  I shake my head. “I’ve got to go. I’ll see you later.”

  Jackson grabs my arm and pulls me back to him. “If you need a place to stay. If you feel unsafe, my couch is always available.”

  I jerk my arm from his grasp. “Why does everyone keep saying that to me? It’s really starting to piss me off.”

  His mouth falls open, and he closes it. His sad eyes bore into me, but I push it away. “I’ve gotta go.”

  I don’t look back at him. I can’t. Instead, I keep walking to my truck. I get in, crank it, and drive down the B&B driveway without taking a glance in the rearview mirror.

  As the silence draws on, the tears begin to fall. My eye hurts so damn bad. I can’t help but think how Trent and I had finally gotten to a good place after our last blowout. Finding out he had a daughter who he gave up and hid from me from the beginning hasn’t settled well with me. Watching him lose control today and have him push me, then hit me, regardless of it being an accident, is too much.

  Eventually, the road leads me home, and I pull up to the house and stare at it. Trent isn’t around, and I’m unsure of where he is. I double-check my phone to see if he’s texted or called, and there’s nothing. It’s as if all communication has been cut off completely between us. I hate when he gets like this, which has been happening a lot lately.

  Sucking in a deep breath, I go inside and walk straight to the bathroom to look in the mirror. I’m a fucking mess, and my eye has already started to bruise. I’m sure by tomorrow everyone in Eldorado will have heard about what happened, and unfortunately, there’s no way I can hide my face from the world. Basically, I’m going to have to live with what happened and hope I don’t get too many side glances or comments when I’m in public. The reality is Trent lost his shit over nothing, and now I have to deal with it. It’s only a matter of time before the rumors start flying.

  I walk through the house and feel as if I’m suffocating inside. Not able to take it any longer, I walk outside and sit on the steps of the porch. Moments later, I see Trent’s truck pull around the corner, and it causes my heart to race. He parks and gets out, slamming the door. He doesn’t look at me as he walks past me. All I can do is stare up at the cloudy sky. The way he’s acting is breaking me down. I place my face in my hands and let it all out. Every emotion streams through me from sadness to anger, and that’s when I fucking lose it.

  I stand, pull up my big girl panties, and walk inside. Trent stands in the kitchen with a beer in his hand. Both his eyes are blackened, and his nose looks broken, not to mention his busted lip. Jackson really beat the shit out of him, and I’m taken aback by how bad he looks. I stop walking. Everything I was going to say slips my mind.

  He chugs his beer and sets the empty bottle on the counter. “What?”

  “We need to talk about this,” I tell him, not even knowing where to start.

  “Yeah, we do.” He’s being short, and his anger isn’t lost on me.

  Trent grabs another beer and pops the top. “So, are you fucking him or what?”

  My mouth falls open. “Are you kidding me right now?”

  “Just wondering if I’m marrying a lying, cheating whore or not.”

  My nostrils flare, and he pushes me to a level of angry I’ve never felt before. My hand trembles, and I feel like I’m going to explode. “The only person who has secrets around here is you. Don’t you fucking forget that, Trent. Jackson and I are just friends. We’ve never crossed the line, and I have nothing to lie about or hide. You owe me an apology for blacking my damn eye too. You did this, Trent. Remember that. You did this because you’re so goddamn insecure with yourself.” I stare at him, and my words don’t even affect him. “It’s like I don’t even know you anymore.” I grab my keys off the counter and walk toward the front door.

  I can’t stand to look at him.

  I can’t stand to be around him when he's like this.

  I hear his footsteps behind me, and then he grabs my arm, stopping me. His fingers dig into my skin, and he’s holding me so tight pain shoots down to my fingers. Trent forces me to turn around and look at him. “Do you still want to marry me, Kiera?”

  “Let. Go,” I demand. “You’re hurting me.”

  “No. You’re going to answer me right now.”

  With everything I have, I jerk my arm from his grasp. “I’m not doing this. Not with you so mad.”

  He crosses his arms over his chest. “If you leave, the
wedding is off.”

  “Don’t threaten me.”

  “I’m not. But I’ll tell you this much. That son of a bitch pressed assault charges against me, and based on the statement you gave the police, there’s nothing I can do. So thank you for that, Kiera. Thanks for choosing him over me.”

  “It wasn’t about choosing sides; it’s never been about that. I’m not going to lie for you, Trent. I’m not going to compromise my integrity because you can’t control your anger and jealousy.” I feel sick. I didn’t realize Jackson did that. Pressing charges is a serious allegation, and I wish I could take it all back. I wish I wouldn’t have followed Jackson back to the B&B or asked him truth or dare, so then when Trent drove up, I wouldn’t have been there, and none of this would’ve happened.

  Trent clears his throat, bringing me back to reality but doesn’t say a word, and that’s when I turn and grab the doorknob and walk out. He doesn’t chase after me. He doesn’t beg me to stay. Somehow, I didn’t expect him to either. I text Addie, needing to speak to someone, to talk about what’s going on, because I can’t keep it all inside.

  Kiera: I need to chat. It’s important.

  Addie: Why don’t you come over? Baby is taking a nap. I was trying to catch up on Netflix.

  Kiera: I’ll be there in five minutes.

  I’m so grateful for my cousin and how she’s always been there for me. I’d call Emily, but I know she’s working a long shift today, and I don’t want her to worry about me. I’m sure she’ll hear all about it when she gets home anyway. I drive over to Addie’s, and as soon as I park, relief sweeps over me. She meets me at the door with a smile on her face, but I watch it fade away when her eyes meet mine.

  “Oh my God, Kiera! What happened?” She searches my face. “Are you okay?”