Karma (Endgame Series Book 3)

by Leigh Ann Lunsford

  I grab my phone and figure preparing my brother sooner than later will fare best.

  ME: Dinner tonight?

  BRODY: Have baseball meeting. After 7 is good.

  ME: I’ll bring pizza and I’ll call Emberlee and ask what she wants.

  BRODY: She’s got therapy and dinner with her dad. Just us.

  Settled. I may coerce someone into buying alcohol to ply him with. It seems if I’m outta earshot or visual, he freaks.

  Finishing up the day and researching Saipan, I focus my exploration on the aftermath of destruction has my mind reeling. I know I’ll just be an assistant and this isn’t my rodeo, but I have so many ideas that will bring the devastation to the visual eye and help with humanitarian efforts to revitalize this island, its inhabitants, and its culture.

  Beauty to ruin in a matter of minutes.

  Mother Nature can wreck havoc.

  I’m not immune to it. Our states have seen their share of catastrophes, and I know I’ll be preparing for tornadoes here in Kansas but with a small populous of people inhabiting this gorgeous island, rebuilding isn’t as easy. Trucks can’t reach it lickety-split. Supplies can’t be shipped through roadways . . . it opens my eyes to the other parts of the world, and I question if my heart is strong enough to see the obliteration I want to capture.

  If I can bring the damage to light, allow people to see it through my eyes, I hope to help one person, country, city, family through my dream and restore their hope, then I’ve done my job. Brody served our country. My dad served our town. My mom is serving the judicial system . . . it seems to be a family tradition.

  Avery is curled into the couch so I plop next to her. “Guess what?”

  She rubs her hands together. “You realize you can’t live without Mason and are gonna make an honest man outta him?”

  Eye roll. “No. I was asked to take a photography assignment over Spring Break. I’ll travel to Saipan, an island in the Pacific and document the aftermath of the typhoon.”

  “That’s cool for you, but you know that’s when your niece is due? And I’m not traveling with the guys this year so I can be here for Saylor and Emberlee.” Damn it. I didn’t think of that.

  “Shit. I don’t know what to do.” I bite my lip.

  “You go. I’ll deal with the crazy pregnant chicks. But you owe me.”

  “Deal.” I laugh. I see her smirk and know she isn’t up to any good. “It depends on what you have up your sleeve.”

  “After Christmas break and we resume our Sunday dinners, you don’t sneak off pretending to have ‘work.’ I’m not as dumb as the rest of the crew.” She winks and gets up. “What are your plans tonight?”

  “I’m having dinner with Brody to tell him.”

  “Ah. Have fun with that. I’m going to the studio and I don’t know what time I’ll be home.”

  I laugh. “I don’t know what studio is code for . . . but I like it.”

  “Next week the lights should be installed. Did you decide where your dark room will be?”

  I wrinkle my nose. “Nope. Maybe I’ll talk to him tonight.”

  “I’m sure Caden or Mason would do it. Deacon and Brody are kinda occupied, Breck.”

  I rub my face and bury it in my hands. “Just let me ask him first.”

  “Okay. You’re as stubborn as Lee Lee. No wonder Brody can deal with her.”

  “Fuck off.” I toss a pillow at her head and she deflects.

  “Have fun with your brother. I would wish you luck, but I’ll have more fun listening to your replay.”

  “If you don’t quit being mean, I’ll withhold the good stuff.”

  She covers her heart with her hands. “You wound me, Brecklynn Collier.”

  “Go to the ‘studio’ you floozy.” She laughs but leaves the house. One day I’ll get that shit from her. I call and order the pizza, change my clothes and head to pick it up. I’ve timed it all perfect because I pull into their driveway at the same time as Brody.

  “Hey, baby girl. Need help?”

  “It’s a box. Filled with pizza. I think I can manage.”

  “Smart ass.” He ruffles my hair as he pulls me close and we meander inside. “Miss me?”

  “I do. It’s weird. I survived the last five years without you in the same house— sometimes not in the same country, but give me six months living with you, and I got kinda used to it.”

  His lips turn down, and I see his guilt spread across his face. “We have room here. Embe and I would love it.”

  But I wouldn’t. “Nah. It’s good for both of us. It may suck at times— no matter what I still need ya.”

  “And I’m always here. I know there’s been a shit ton of change. I can’t feel bad because I’m having a kid with the woman I love. She’s gonna marry me one day and it’s like my dreams are coming true. But I feel you got shafted. Hell, I don’t know what happened with you and Mason.”

  “Nothing dramatic. Just wasn’t gonna work. Brody, I didn’t get shafted. I get to experience college life without you standing guard over me.” I wink. He frowns. “Relax. I need to talk to you.”

  He grabs a beer and brings me a soda. We dig in, and he orders, with his mouth full. “Spill it.”

  “It’s regarding my plans for Spring Break.”

  “No.” I tilt my head. “You aren’t going to some forbidden paradise and practice hedonism with the punks from colleges across the country.”

  “What about the ones who don’t go to school? I can scour the streets for them.”

  “Brecklynn, don’t push me.” His scowl sets off my giggles.

  “I’m not going to practice hedonism on an island. But I am going to an island.”

  “Like hell you are.”

  “Shut up and listen, you ass.” I proceed to explain the opportunity and watch his face morph from anger to awe. His eyes shine, and his grin is wide.

  “Breck, I’m so damn proud of you. I don’t like you being that far, and I want to talk to this hot shot you’ll be accompanying, but I’m on board. Do you need money or anything?”

  “No. I’m a working girl now. And you can read all correspondence I get from Juan. He’s the photojournalist, but you aren’t to call him.” I shoot him a wink.

  “Rephrase that shit.” I giggle and settle back to eat, breathing easy that the hard part is over.

  “You doing okay with everything, big bro?”

  He sighs. “Yeah. Just fucking exhausted. It’s hard to find a compromise. We didn’t grow up with money and to this bunch it literally grows on trees.”

  “Is that why you took that second job?” He nods. I won’t bother him with my dark room. It’s petty, and I can do digital, and if I need hardcopies I’ll use the school facilities. “And you’re being stubborn?”

  He winces. “You know how I am, Breck.” And I do. He’s the best guy I know. My champion. My protector. My best friend. I feel the scales tipping and it isn’t that I’m being shoved from my place, but his priorities are shifting and we’re all moving in different phases of life.

  “I know but you and Emberlee are supposed to support one another. You can’t do everything. Remember that before all others.” I kiss his cheek and stand.

  “When did you get so smart?” His voice is small, and his eyes shine.

  “I had a great role model.” I leave him to stew in his male chauvinistic ways and head home.

  “I can’t believe it. I knew you’d go places.” My mom’s excitement is threatening to burst my windows. I told her a bit here and there about the trip, but she did her own research and since I’ve picked her up from the airport she’s busting at the seams. “Richard, isn’t it wonderful?”

  I refrain from rolling my eyes. It’s hard, but I sacrifice it for her happiness. He agrees with her and I pull into my brother’s and Lee Lee’s driveway. “I’ll pick you up in a few hours and we’ll go shopping before we go to dinner at Emberlee’s parents.” This whole mingling of families is taking over my life.

  “Okay. Love you.
”

  “Love you, too, Mom.” Richard gets their luggage, and I bolt and leave them to my brother and his girl.

  My keys hit the counter as I sink into a chair with a melodramatic sigh. “Rough day?” Avery smirks.

  “My mom talked my ear off.” I take in her stained clothes. “You painting another masterpiece?”

  “Yep. I love those lights. When are you getting your darkroom?”

  “Eh. Not in the cards. Brody has the second job, and I didn’t bring it up again. No biggie, I can use the school’s.” I shrug and admit I’m a tad jealous of her. How easy it would be to develop in my home and not juggle my schedule. The studio I work in doesn’t have a dark room— everything is digital.

  “Hey. I fixed the sink.” Mason walks in the kitchen, and I straighten and tense.

  “Thank you. My hero.” Her feigned adoration is over-kill, but he chuckles and tweaks her nose. “Please tell me you washed your hands.” Her nose scrunches and she fake gags.

  “Of course, Aves. Now you don’t have to carry your brushes through the house.” He grabs a bottle of water. “Hey, Brecklynn. How you been?”

  God, just his voice makes me swoon. “Good. My mom just got here so doing the family stuff.”

  “I know you’re happy.” He knew how much I missed her. “Avery, what time are we leaving for the airport?”

  I gasp, this is the first time I’ve heard of a trip. “Six should work. Our parents are meeting us there.” She turns to me. “Every year we vacation as a group for Christmas but this year Emberlee is staying with her parents— for obvious reasons. We’ll be back the second.” Two weeks without them. I won’t get to stalk my bedroom window hoping for a glance of Mason, I won’t get to hear stories via Avery.

  “Oh, that’s great. Where to this year?”

  “Back to Colorado. We loved it last year, so we’re heading back.” She is pinging from the tension Mason and I emit . . . so I alleviate the tension.

  “Have fun. I won’t see you before you go. I’m going shopping with my mom this afternoon and after we have plans with Emberlee’s family this week.” I stand and give her a hug. She holds a bit longer, and I squeeze a tad tighter. I turn and stop myself from hugging Mason. “Have fun.” I pat his chest and turn beet red. Awkward.

  “Merry Christmas.” His lips brush my cheek, and I feel my nose tingle and eyes fill with tears.

  “You, too.” I hurry to my room and get myself under control.

  I wish it didn’t hurt still.

  I pray I can get over my insecurities and have him.

  I hope he’ll still be there.

  I long to still believe in Santa and the miracles he provides.

  “Y’all are the sappiest fuckers I’ve seen.” Avery breaks my stare. I watched Breck walk to her room and wanted to pull her in my arms. Beg her to come to Colorado with me. Plead with her to let this nonsense go.

  “Hey. Can you move our flights to a bit later? I have something I need to do.” I start Googling the information I need and shoot an SOS text to Caden and Deacon.

  “I’ll try.” I jog to the door. “I’ll text everyone. I’ll let our parents keep the same flight.”

  “You’re a lifesaver.” I call as I slam the door. Caden’s waiting at my truck. “Come on. We have to pull off a Christmas miracle.”

  “What the fuck are you doing? We leave for the airport in six hours.” He shakes his head. “And I guarantee you aren’t packed.”

  “Avery is trying to change our flights.” I didn’t ask if they were okay with it— it’s what we do. “I’ll ask Saylor to pack for me.”

  “Great. Put Deacon in a foul mood when we are trapped in the air with him.” I laugh.

  “I think he’ll be okay with it.” I pick up my phone and let Deacon know what I’m planning and Caden learns for the first time where we are going. “See you in an hour. Thanks, DD.”

  “Holy shit. I believe again. Mason fucking Adler still loves this girl. Do you think this will break through to her?”

  I’m hoping, but I can’t be sure. “Even if it doesn’t . . . I want her dreams to come true.”

  “Fucking hell. If I drank eggnog I’d think I overdosed.” I punch him in the shoulder and drive to our destination.

  Several hundred dollars and a rebooked flight later, we have nine hours to pull a miracle from our asses. Avery stares as we cart everything in. I know Brecklynn will be busy so I don’t worry her spoiling the surprise. “What do I need to do?” She asks.

  “I’m gonna start putting the drywall up and I need to sand and paint the area we will be using.”

  “On it.” She grabs the sand paper and some towels from the closet and heads to the basement. Deacon comes in, and Saylor follows with Julie.

  “Hey Princess.” I kiss her cheek, and she slaps my face.

  “Unc. Pop.”

  “No ma’am. We’re going to pack for Unc.” Saylor holds firm.

  “Thanks Shortstop.” She smiles and hugs me.

  “I’m proud of you, Mason.”

  Deacon, Caden, and I carry the supplies to the room, and I pull up the instructions I found. Our tools are under their sink down here from the last project . . . shit; it’s like a rotation of home renovations here. Hammering, screwing, drilling, hanging commences. Avery works like a pro and wipes the walls with wet towels after sanding and vacuuming. The white paint coats the prepped walls; the alcove we framed is complete. I hang shelves, Deacon preps the wet area, Caden tackles the dry area and other than a few things I had to order, her darkroom is complete. We have a few hours to spare.

  “Let’s shower and head to the airport and get some food.”

  I rush to her room and write her a note. Hurry home, grab my bag, and we head off to spend a vacation with family and friends . . . minus the one person I want to wake up with.

  Sitting with everyone Christmas Eve, I’m fidgeting because I haven’t heard a word from Doll. “Did Coach mention what scouts are sniffing the next draft?” my dad asks.

  “Jason, leave the boy alone. They have another year.” Deacon’s dad, Josh, socks my dad in the shoulder.

  “Michelle, did they ever grow up?” Sara asks my mom. Her eyes sparkle, and I shake my head. It’s the same ole’ shit. Our parents are one of a kind.

  “Dad, I don’t have the list, but I still have two seasons.” He nods.

  “You made the right choice. Education before ball.”

  “Deacon plays with balls,” Josh kids.

  “Ball. Ball. Ball.” Julie claps, and Saylor throws a diaper at her father-in-law. Giggles, shouts, cajoling flows, and I sit back to take it in.

  My mom comes and sits next to me. “Tell me about the girl.” Nobody can keep their mouth shut.

  “Nothing to tell. She can’t handle the stuff that comes with baseball.” I omit some of the truth. It’s my mom.

  “Don’t sell her short. I’m not blind, Mason. I know what your activities have included, and I feared this would happen. It’s hard to look past it when it stares you in the face. A past should be the past, but sometimes indiscretions smack us in the face while we pave our way to a future.” I avert my eyes . . . Mother and discussing my sexual activity isn’t what I want to tackle right now.

  “So what do I do?”

  “Keep trying until you think there’s no use. It may not work, and I hate that for you. I didn’t expect you to get knocked on your ass the first time outta the gate.” She snickers. “But, I’m glad to see it.”

  “Thanks.” I think. “She’s got history and no relationship experience. I think she finds any excuse she can to keep me at a distance.”

  “I taught you how to swim. I threw you in the pool and prayed you’d kick to the surface. I don’t agree with that method, but that darn instructor assured me it was the best way. So what I’m saying is you’ve been a fighter since day one. Swim upstream, downstream, side to side . . . fight until there’s no fight left in you.”

  “Time for bed, Michelle.” My dad steals her
from me.

  “Thanks, Mom.” I hug her. “Merry Christmas, guys.” We all adjourn to our room except Saylor and I.

  “She hasn’t called you?” I shake my head. “I told you that average package in your pants would catch up to you.”

  I can’t help the laughter. “How’d you do it?”

  “What?” She purses her lips. “I didn’t. I know the rejection was hard for you, but why settle for a pickle when you can have cucumber?”

  “Realize Deacon had you?”

  “Oh, you had me worried there.” She winks and smiles. “Being without him didn’t work for me. I was inside my head and refused to open my eyes.” She turns to face me. “Mason, if she can’t see what a great guy you are, she doesn’t deserve you. I like her, that isn’t what I’m saying but maybe I don’t like her for you.”

  “But I do.” I admit.

  “And that’s enough for me but I want you to understand you’re a catch . . . as much shit as I give you, you know I love you, right?”

  “I know and back atcha’— don’t cry yourself to sleep you got stuck with DD. I’m too much man for you to handle.”

  She sticks her tongue out. “And he’s back. I’m off to bed. If you need help I’m here.”

  I ponder sending her a text, or calling so I can hear her voice but I veto those ideas. I’ve laid it all on the line. Grand gestures, true words— it’s her move.

  The holidays pass, and still no word from Brecklynn. My friends give me pity looks, wide berth, and whisper when they think I can’t hear them. Caden tries to pick my mood up and takes me to a pub. After a beer I call it a night and head back to the hotel. I seclude myself, wallowing in my misery and my friends enjoy themselves. I know how Deacon felt last year.

  “Unc Mace. Pop?” Her big blue eyes reach inside my chest and grip my heart.

  “Sure thing, Princess.” I pull a blue one from my pocket and instead of taking it from me she climbs on my lap and curls into my chest. I unwrap it and she sticks it in her mouth and sucks.