by Ali Parker
“It’s a big job. A scary one, I bet.” He reached out and grabbed my hand, gripping it tightly and holding it as he backed out of the parking lot. “You know Abigail Hammond by chance?”
“Yeah. She’s on the softball team with us. She’s one of three freshmen that made it. She’s pretty impressive.” I carefully pulled my hand from his. My heart was racing so fast I was starting to sweat. Passing out because he was so close would likely give my secrets away—if he didn’t know them already.
“Her older brother Thomas is a good friend of mine. He plays on the baseball team with me. We’ve been playing since—”
“I know who Thomas is, Jayce.” She smiled over at me. “We grew up together, remember? I didn’t realize that was his sister because she’s so much younger than us. Thomas used to tease the hell out of me over at your parents’ house.”
“Oh yeah?” He glanced over at me, his gaze a little too sexy for my current state of mind. I was going to fucking kill Aubrey. There was no way I was going to survive living with Jayce. I couldn’t even ride in a car with him for more than a few minutes without going through hot flashes.
“He had a crush on me, or that’s what Aubrey said. Who knows?” I shrugged and pointed to the right. “Let’s go to this store. I like the produce selection. It’s fresher.”
“Thomas had a crush on everyone when we were kids.” He chuckled. “Not much has changed.”
I waited until we got out of the truck to pick up the conversation. “I haven’t seen him in a long time. You should bring him around.”
“Oh yeah? Interested in seeing if there’s anything there between you guys?” His smile was cheeky, but the tone of his voice let me know that he wasn’t too fond of the idea.
“I know you remember me saying I needed peace in my life. Getting a new boyfriend would be the opposite of that.”
“And what would give you peace?”
“Lots of things.”
“Are any of them things I could possibly help provide?” He grabbed a cart and glanced over at me. His perfect lips turned up into a sweet smile and my heart melted a little further.
“Actually…” I pressed my fingers to my lips. “I’m having trouble hitting when a pitcher throws an outside ball. I’ve tried just about everything to correct it, but no matter what I do, I come right back to my same reaction and miss the ball every damn time.”
“I’d love to, but I’m a tough coach. No lollipops and atta-girls until you actually deserve them.” He wagged his eyebrows.
“And if I don’t perform as well as you’d like? Are there spankings involved?” I continued to walk down the produce aisle, ignoring the fact that he’d stopped the cart somewhere behind me. “Kidding. I was just kidding.”
“Whew. I thought maybe you were serious there for a minute.” He sounded relieved.
“As if. You’re like a brother to me and you know it.” I grabbed a bag and internally kicked myself for lying. That wasn’t true at all. He was nothing like a brother to me.
“Good. Without my twin here to give me hell and set me straight, you’re up to bat.” He moved up beside me and grabbed a lemon. “Have you tried my homemade lemonade?”
“That watery shit you used to make and sell on the street corner back home?” I laughed and turned to face him. The image of him and Aubrey sitting in that little yellow booth filled my mind with images and my heart with an odd goodness.
“You drank four glasses every time you came to see us.”
“I didn’t want to hurt your feelings.”
“My feelings? I only have one.” He reached out and tapped the tip of my nose. “I’m hurt. I thought you liked my lemonade.”
“I did, but not because it tasted good. Because you made it.” I winked and set the apples down in the cart.
My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I pulled it out, half expecting it to be Aubrey replying to my crazed texts from earlier. But it was Seth.
“Hello?” I grabbed another bag and walked toward the veggies.
“Hey, Lay. It’s Seth.”
“Oh, hey. What’s up?” I picked up a head of broccoli and turned, lifting it up to see if Jayce liked the stuff. He crinkled his nose and shook his head like a small kid would.
I laughed and put it back.
“Party at the Omega House this Friday.”
“Awesome. I care because?”
“Because I want you to come. You know I haven’t been much for partying since losing Bryan, but I’m ready to get back to living now. It was a good Christmas with Mom and Dad.”
“I’m glad to hear the holidays were good. I know we haven’t spoken in a while, but I’m really sorry about you losing your brother.” I picked up a package of mushrooms and turned to see if Jayce liked them.
He crinkled his nose again.
I pulled the phone from my ear. “You’re impossible. Do you eat any vegetables?”
“Is rice a veggie?” He smiled.
I knew good and damn well that his mother cooked veggies all the time.
“It’s all good.” Seth’s voice was soft, sensual. It pulled at the part of me that was lonely and looking for a good time. “Is this a bad time? Should I call back?”
“Not really. I’m at the grocery store, so make it quick, but it’s not a bad time.” I put the broccoli and mushrooms in the cart as Jayce scowled.
“Come with me this weekend to the party, Lay.”
“I’ll think about it, okay?”
“All right. I’m not going to give up on us.”
“There is no us, Seth.”
“That’s my fault. Let me make it up to you.”
“I’ll think about it. Thanks for calling.” I hung up before he could reply. “Mushrooms and broccoli are a no-go?”
“Who was that?” Jayce nodded toward my phone.
“Seth. My ex.” I shrugged and pulled at the cart.
“I know who Seth is or was. What did he want?”
“To ask me out to the Omega party on Friday, Daddy.” I gave him a cheeky grin. “You know what I really want?”
“Hopefully not Seth. That guy’s an asshole.”
“No. I want a cheese pizza. Let’s grab one from DeAngelo’s on the way back to the apartment. Yeah?” I gave him a hopeful grin.
“As if I could say no to that face, even if I wanted to.”
“Yes, I knew there was a man out there that would fall to my charms.”
“There’re a lot of us, silly woman.” He nodded toward my pocket. “Obviously.”
I shrugged. “He’s just lonely. Guys get that way sometimes. Not that you’d know.”
“No?” He stopped the cart and watched me. “And why wouldn’t I get lonely?”
“Because you have Aubrey.” I gripped the other end of the cart. “And whether or not you bargained for it, you have me too.”
“Then I’m officially the luckiest man in Providence. Two bossy-ass women to run my life? I don’t need to do anything but buckle up and hold on tight.”
I rolled my eyes and pointed to the carrots. “Grab us a bag of those and make sure they’re not wet.”
“See? Bossy. Bossy. Bossy.”
“You like it.” I gave him a cute look and walked toward the center of the grocery store, forcing myself to not get too comfortable in being domesticated with him. Five months would be gone before we could blink twice, and much like I was losing Aubrey, I would lose Jayce too.
Chapter 9
Jayce
“So how’s it going?” Aubrey glanced up from her kneeling position beside her bed at our parents’ house.
“It’s going.” I gave her a look and taped up another box. “I’m still not sure why you thought me and Layla living together would be good. It’s too much like playing house, sis.”
“Hmm, that’s an interesting way of looking at it.” She moved back to sit on her butt, extending her hands behind her as she watched me. “And have either of you cracked?”
“What exactly do you mean?” I to
ssed the empty box to her.
“You know what I mean.” She set the box down and went back to her reclined position.
“No, I’m thinking you’re delusional with your thoughts of her being madly in love with me. She’s going to the Omega party tonight because Seth invited her.”
“Bullshit. She’s going because Emily is going to be there and wanted her to come.”
“I was in the grocery store with her on Monday night when he called.” I turned and walked toward her bookshelf. “You sure you want to take all of this stuff with you to Washington? Half of these are children’s books.”
“I plan on having children. Pack it up.” She grunted a few times before moving to stand beside me. “You’re stressed.”
“Fuck yeah, I am. The girl of my dreams is living in my house with me. School is about to start, and I’m taking the same damn class for the third time and I’m juggling two major sports. Stressed would be an understatement.”
“So we need to work through each of these things.” She moved behind me, pressing her fists into my back. “Lean against me.”
“Fine, just don’t drop me.” I smiled and tilted a little toward her.
“Let’s start with Chemistry.”
“Let’s don’t.”
“Did you ask Layla to help you?”
“Sort of.” I rolled my shoulders forward as Aubrey worked her fists into the muscles between my spine and shoulder blades.
“Ask her to help you. She will.”
“Great, and when she does, that means more time around her. I’ve been trying hard to avoid her as best I can.”
She moved back and I hit the floor, growling loudly.
“What? Why? You guys are supposed to be helping each other with all of this transition.” Aubrey turned and began pacing the floor while I lay on my back, looking up at her. “This wasn’t supposed to work out like this.”
“Hey.”
She ignored me. “Maybe I should just put off the wedding until after May. With all the shit you’re dealing with and her parents coming unglued, maybe this isn’t the right time. It’s selfish and too fast.”
“Hey,” I yelled this time.
“What?” She put her hands on her hips and gave me a look our mother would be quite proud of.
“Layla and I are fine, sis. You need to live your life for you, not us.”
“Easy for you to say. I’ve been in between you guys my whole life.” She turned and walked toward the door. “Lucas will understand, Jayce.”
I sat up. “No, he won’t. He’s your priority now. Layla and I will figure things out together.”
“Seems like you’re doing a great job already.” She cocked her head to the side and lifted an eyebrow at me.
“It’s not that easy. I’ll work on it, okay?” I got up and walked toward her. “How long are you staying in town?”
“I’m leaving tomorrow morning.”
“Come to the Omega party with us tonight.”
“Us?” She dropped her hands to her side and let out a long sigh.
“Yeah. Emily, me, and Layla. I’m not sure if Lay is going out there to see Seth. I don’t care if she is. Well, I mean, I do care, but I’m still going. I want to make sure she’s safe.” I reached out and grabbed my sister’s hands. “Come with us.”
“I can’t. I need to talk to Mom and Dad about all the wedding stuff.” She tugged her wrists from my grasp. “Let’s go out back and talk on the porch.”
“Tell me what’s going on with Layla’s parents.” I followed her toward the back of the house. The smell of sugar and chocolate filled my nose, and I almost turned and went in search of what might be causing it. My mother bitched and bitched at Aubrey about her weight but baked the worst possible treats in the world on a regular basis.
“I’ll let her tell you about that.” She opened the door and glanced back at me. “You know she’s uber private.”
“Yeah, I do. I just wish she would open up to me. I could help. I know I could.”
“So tell her that.” She walked down the stairs and paused at the bottom, squatting and making a snowball. “You ready for a rematch?”
“Only if you’ve been practicing. Otherwise, it’s just unfair.” I jogged past her, almost busting my ass and giving her a good laugh. At least someone was enjoying my pain.
“Hey, man! I didn’t know you were coming out tonight.” Jacob extended his hand and pulled me into a quick hug as I walked into the Omega House.
Layla was supposed to already be out there after spending the afternoon with Emily, or so the text earlier that day said.
“I figured I’d come make sure you guys don’t break too many rules.”
He chuckled. “You know Micah ain’t gonna let that shit happen.”
“He’s up next to lead this rowdy bunch of losers, right?” I turned and waved at Geoff, who was in the corner. “I’ll check you later.”
“Have fun, buddy.” Jacob walked around me, greeting the next guy that came in.
I walked over to Geoff and Teri, who were standing in a crowd of hockey guys, laughing loudly. They turned my way and the crowd let out a few hollers, welcoming me into the center.
“Hey, guys.” I smiled and pulled Teri into a hug. “Where is the baby?”
“At home with Geoff’s mom.” She glanced up at him as she snuggled against his side. “Colton is what we named him.”
“He’s awesome, man. The best thing that ever happened to me.” Geoff shook his head as his eyes filled with pride.
Jealousy reared its ugly head deep inside of me. I didn’t want to accidentally get some girl pregnant by a long shot, but I wanted a baby, a little girl of my own. Most guys were dreaming of ruling corporate America or marrying some hot chick they could bone ten times a day to feel better about themselves, but not me.
I wanted a good woman that would love me and a baby girl that I could give my heart to. After watching Aubrey struggle to please our mom her whole life and never truly measuring up, I wanted to right that wrong as best I could.
It was silly and sentimental, but it was the deepest cry of my heart. Family.
“That’s incredible.” I turned around in a circle, talking with everyone a little here and there until I found Layla in the far corner of the room. She and Emily were talking about something from what I could tell.
“Excuse me, guys. I’m going to grab a beer.” I slipped through the crowd and walked toward the girls, trying hard not to notice how good Layla’s breasts looked in her tight blue top. The woman was every wet dream I’d had as a boy, an adolescent, and a man.
“Jayce. Good.” She moved toward me, which was rather unexpected.
“Hey. What’s up?” I reached out and ran my hands over her shoulders, hoping to offer her a little bit of comfort. “You look good.”
“Thanks.” She glanced down as if trying to remember what she had on. “I can’t find my damn keys. I thought maybe someone put them in the fishbowl up front, trying to be cute, but they aren’t there.”
“Let me help you.” I released her and offered her my hand.
She took it without hesitation and we moved through the crowd of people in the living room as the music started.
“I had them when I first got here, but after getting a beer in the kitchen…” She grumbled something else, but it was too damn loud to hear her.
“It’s all good,” I shouted above the music and pulled her toward the kitchen. “We’ll find them.”
Micah turned and smiled over his shoulder. “Hey, guys. How’s it going?”
“Layla lost her keys. Have you seen them by chance?” I scooted over a little to give her room to move up beside me, which she did, snuggling against my side tightly.
Every cell in my body woke up and screamed for attention from the woman beside me.
“These?” Micah held up a set of keys with a little pink softball on the end.
“Oh, thank God.” She reached for them, snagged them, and pulled away from me. “I
gotta go.”
“What? Why?”
She walked toward the living room as I waved to Micah and went after her. Something was off. I finally caught up with her as she reached the front door. I reached out and grabbed the back of her arm, forcing her to turn around and face me. The worry in her pretty blue eyes left my chest constricting.
“My mom called. Something is wrong. I have to get out there. Now.” She pulled her arm from me roughly and turned, jogging out of the house.
“Then I’m going with you.” I went after her, grabbing the keys from her and walking toward the driver’s side. “Get in and I’ll take you over there.”
“No. I can do this on my own, Jayce.”
“Oh, I know that, but here’s the deal.” I paused and walked toward the front of the Jeep where she stood, looking like an ice princess. “You don’t have to.”
“Fine, but don’t ask me a million questions, and when we get there, I’m going in alone. Period.”
I got in the truck and started it as she got into the other side. I didn’t answer her simply because there was no way in hell I was going to agree. She wasn’t going into the house alone, seeing that something was up. She’d been smacked around a few too many times on my watch, and it was damn time I found out why. She wasn’t going to tell me, and Aubrey wasn’t either.
“Promise me, Jayce.”
I reached out and gripped her hand tightly. “No. Sorry.”
“Then pull over and get out.” Her voice rose as if terror had a hold of her.
“Hush. Now.” I turned a hard stare toward her. “You and I are friends, and I’m not letting you deal with whatever is going on over there alone. Period. You wouldn’t let me deal with something alone, would you?”
“No,” she whispered and turned her head to look out the other window. For the first time in my life, I saw Layla cry. There wasn’t a softening of my heart or sadness that swept through me over it though. Only anger and rage over who might have caused it.
Something told me that it was the only other man in her life—her father.
Chapter 10