by L A Cotton
“Okay.” Robert clinked his glass and rose from his seat, clearing his throat. “I’d like to make a toast. It isn’t often I get my family in one place. Gentry, Rebecca, thank you for opening your home to us once again. The barbecue is divine, and your cooking isn’t so bad either, brother. Maverick, I’m still not entirely happy at the thought of you and Lo... well, let’s just say she’s my little girl and just because you're family doesn’t mean I won’t break every bone in your body if you ever hurt her. But I wish you every success at Steinbeck University. Go get em, Scorpions.” He winked at Maverick who sat coolly in his chair, arm slung around Lo’s shoulder, giving nothing away. “Kyle, you’ve had some big changes in your life recently, but change can be good. It brings new opportunities, but it also gives us time to reflect. Know that we’re all here for you and support you and I’m sure everyone agrees with me when I say we look forward to welcoming Maria and Kiera into our family one day.”
Kyle squeezed my hand under the table and I squeezed right back feeling my throat constrict.
“Stella and Bethany.” He ruffled the little girl’s hair and she smiled up at him. “I can’t wait to start the next journey of our lives together.”
“Oh, shit,” Kyle said through gritted teeth as we both watch the last of the blood drain from Lo’s face.
“And Lo, I know our lives are about to change yet again, but I love you, sweetheart, and I am so proud of you. For the way you’ve handled the events of the last year. For the young woman you’re becoming. Senior year is a big year for you, for making decisions about your future, but whatever you decide, I’ll be right behind you.” He grabbed his glass from the table and lifted it in the air. “A toast, to family.”
“Family,” everyone said.
Kyle snaked his arm around my waist as we ate the rest of our meal. The Stone-Prince’s weren’t perfect by any stretch of the imagination. They were flawed: with their tainted pasts, messy presents, and uncertain futures. But there was something beautiful about that.
And when I thought it couldn’t get any better than a day spent with my boyfriend, friends, and their family, Kyle turned to me, gave me a sloppy grin and said, “You too, you know?”
“Me too?” I frowned wondering what crazy thoughts were going around in his head now.
“Family. You’re family, Laurie.”
Chapter 33
KYLE
One week later
“Are you nervous?” Laurie leaned into me, pressing her palm against my chest, as we stood watching Rick beat Trey’s ass at pool.
“No, I’m not nervous.” I shrugged. “She’s family.”
“I’m proud of you, you know.” Awe glittered in her eyes and I ducked my head, capturing her lips, pushing my tongue into her mouth. Someone groaned, and I lifted my hand out to the side and flipped them off.
“I didn’t think it was possible.” It was Lo who spoke. “But the two of you are worse than ever.”
Breaking the kiss, I glanced sideways at her. “Get used to it, Cous, because you have a whole year of this.” I tugged Laurie in front of me, wrapping my arms around her waist and resting my chin on her shoulder. “Picture it, the three of us hanging out at lunch. In class together. That’s a whole lot of awesome you can look forward to.”
“Kyle.” Laurie pinched my arm. “Don’t be mean.”
“Mean? I’m being serious. Lo should count herself lucky she has me in her life.”
“Did you get a concussion?” Rick frowned.
“What? I’m not allowed to be in a good mood, now? Geez, lighten up, Prince. We’re celebrating.”
“We are?”
“Well, duh? You’re leaving and I’m getting the pool house. What’s not to celebrate?” I flashed him a cocky grin.
“You’re a dick.”
“Yeah, but I’m your dick.” Smacking kissy lips in his direction, I couldn’t stop the laughter rumbling in my chest.
Today was a good day.
Okay, so Rick leaving for SU wasn’t exactly stellar, but he deserved it. He was going to kick ass when he got there, a one-way ticket straight to the NBA. I had every faith in him. And me and Laurie were great. I’d cleared the air with Dad and met my mom. There was a long way to go, for sure, but things were a damn sight better than they were at the beginning of the summer.
“The pool house is off limits. I mean it, Stone,” he grumbled, leaning back against the wall waiting for Trey to take his shot.
“Yeah. Yeah. Don’t worry, I won’t mess up your love pad while you’re gone.”
“Kyle, don’t push him,” Lo said shooting me a warning glare.
“Everyone is so uptight. It’s supposed to be a party. Come on, Prince, say it, you’re going to miss me. All those lonely nights without me, or Lo to keep you company.”
“Kyle!” More than one person chimed this time.
“What?” I said. “I’m just—”
“Do you always talk this much, or do you just love the sound of your own voice?”
Our group went silent, everyone’s head snapping in the direction of our guest.
Kiera Lessinger.
My sister in all her angry-don’t-fuck-with-me glory.
“Sis, nice of you to show.”
“What can I say, bro,” she drawled, “I was missing your awesome.”
Trey slung his arm around her shoulder and howled. “Oh my God, I fucking love this chick, and we haven’t even been formally introduced yet.”
My eyes went wide as I watched her shirk out of his arm and cut him down with an icy glare.
“Easy, goth girl, it’s all good. I’m a friend of the family.”
“Shit.” I choked. “Did he just call my sister—”
“Yes, yes he did,” Laurie whispered, but I heard the amusement in her voice.
Nothing about this was funny.
Not a damn thing.
“I guess if we’re already on a nickname basis, it’s okay for me to call you tiny-dick?” Kiera quirked her brow at Trey who went slack-jawed and then grinned as if he’d just won the lotto, and then dropped her gaze to his junk,
“Fuck, I think I’m in love.”
“Whoa, whoa.” I was on him in a second, positioning myself between the two of them, Kiera behind me, him in front. “That’s my sister, dude. My baby sister. She’s like fifteen.”
An arm snaked around my stomach and shoved hard and Kiera stepped in front of me. “Almost sixteen, actually. And while your big brother routine is cute, I can handle myself.” She glowered at Trey. “Let me say this real slow so you can get it into your dumb jock brain. Not, nor will I ever be, interested.”
He went to speak, but Rick slung his arm around his neck, dragging him away. “Okay, lover boy, you have a game to finish.”
“What?” Kiera snarled as I stood there looking at her with a mix of awe and horror.
“I think you and me need to have a little talk.” I jabbed my forefinger at her staring her down with my own hard glare.
“Kyle.” Laurie came up beside me placing her hand on my arm. “Relax. Kiera is fine, right Kiera?”
She flashed me a sarcastic smile with a heavy side of eye-roll. But it wasn’t Kiera I was worried about. I’d seen that look on Trey’s face before. It was the same one I wore whenever I looked at Laurie or when Rick looked at Lo.
Shit.
Trey had a crush.
On my sister.
My baby sister.
And the guy was worse than a dog with a bone. This was bad.
Worse than watching Summer and Nick love it up whenever he was over. I’d barely come to terms with dealing with one sister dating, let alone two.
When I didn’t let up, Laurie went up on her tiptoes and brushed her lips against my ear. “Don’t do this. You’ll scare her away. She’s fine. Everything is fine.”
It would be after I had a quiet word with Trey. There was no way in hell, he and his sister-corrupting boner were getting anywhere near Kiera.
Not happening
.
Ever.
Even if I had to go head-to-head with him and lose friends over it. It was the guy-code rule one: Don’t go after your friend’s sister.
“Down, Toto.” Kiera came nearer. “You look like you’re ready to tear him a new one. He was joking. I mean look at him and look at me.”
“Nothing’s wrong with you,” I snapped defensively, and her lips curved in an uncertain smile.
“I know nothing’s wrong with me, but we’re not exactly compatible.” She glanced over to where Rick and Trey were finishing their game of pool.
I snapped my fingers at her and her eyes slid back to mine. “Enough! I can’t go there, it’s weird. You’re my sister and he’s... well, he’s someone we are not talking about anymore.” And then I realized what she’d just said. “Did you just call me Toto?” My brows knitted, and she shrugged, failing to hide her amused smirk.
I leaned over and ruffled her hair. “I guess that makes you Dorothy. Welcome to Oz.” I made a big show of sweeping my hand around.
“Are you always this weird?”
“Takes one to know one,” I shot back.
“My God,” Lo said to no one in particular. “There’s two of them.”
“Good luck with that.” Rick reappeared, and I scanned the immediate area for Trey. “Chill, he’s with Luke ordering more drinks.”
“You need to deal with that,” I said out of earshot of Kiera who was busy talking to Lo.
“He was only joking. She’s just a kid.” He glanced over at the two of them.
“She’s almost sixteen. She was me a year ago. And Summer is just a kid but look at her and Nick.”
“Good point.” Rick stiffened. “But Trey’s a good guy, he would never...” he trailed off and switched direction because we both knew Trey and the guy had a problem with authority. Telling him to stay away from Kiera would be like giving him the green light to pursue her.
“He’s leaving for UCLA in two weeks. It’s all good,” Rick added.
“What’s all good?” Lo and Kiera joined the conversation and I stuttered, “I, hmm, the burgers.”
“The burgers?” Kiera raised an eyebrow. “You weren’t talking about burgers, were you?”
Rick took one look at me and then looked at her. “This is going to be interesting.”
And wasn’t it just.
TWO HOURS LATER, THE Shack was crammed full of our favorite people, and a few clingers. But the atmosphere was chilled, just as Rick had insisted. I’d wanted to go all out and throw him a party at the house, but he'd soon shot down that idea.
“So, this is your life, huh?” Kiera slid into the booth beside me. Laurie had gone to get more fries although now I was wondering if her disappearance was tactical.
“Yup, this is the dream.”
“I’m not sure this is me.” Her voice was quiet, and I met her conflicted gaze.
“Kiera, I want to get to know you and Mom. But there’s no pressure. Dad already spoke to the principal and there’s a place at Wicked Bay High waiting for you when semester starts.”
“Just like that? At the snap of your fingers?”
“I know it’s a lot to take in and honestly, I’m not even sure it’s a good idea. Wicked Bay is a different world. You know that. I know that. But you’re my family. My blood. And we wasted too much time already. If you’re happy at Rotunda High, then stay. We can still hang out.”
“Rotunda sucks, but then, I think you already know that.”
I did. I’d looked into it as soon as I got my head around the fact I had another sister. It had a high drop-out rate, and a crappy track record with student aspirations. And we owed Kiera this—or at least, I did.
“Think about it; that’s all I’m asking.”
“W- what if I don’t fit in?”
My mouth curved as I slung my arm around her shoulder. “Sis, your half-Stone, you fit in. Trust me.” She wasn’t, not really. But we shared DNA which was good enough for me.
“I want to say yes. I want to go to college and study to be a therapist, but this is...” her voice trailed off as she looked out across the room. Rick and the guys were still at the pool table. Lo, Summer, and Nick, were at the service counter talking and laughing.
“It’s a lot to take in.” I finished, and she let out a long sigh.
“Yeah.”
“If it makes you feel any better, they already consider you family.”
“But they don’t even know me.”
“It doesn’t matter. This time last year, we didn’t know Lo either.”
That piqued her interest, and she twisted back around to me shirking out of my hold. “You didn’t?”
“Not really. And now look at her.”
“The two of you seem close.”
“We are. Because like I said, family.”
“Mom wants me to do it. She wants me to say yes.”
“But it’s your choice, Kiera.”
“There you both are.” Laurie reappeared with a basket of fries in her hand.
“Babe, I’m right where you left me.”
“Oh, hush. I’m so glad you came, Kiera.” She slid into the booth and pushed the fries in the middle. “Kyle told me you’re thinking about transferring to Wicked Bay?”
She shrugged. “Maybe. It’s a big decision.”
“It’s not all bad. Some of us are even quite nice.” My girl winked at my sister and I wanted to reach across the table and hug the crap out of her. Because Laurie got it. She knew what it meant to me to have a relationship with Kiera, with my mom. She’d known all along. Even when I didn’t.
And I loved her all the more for it.
“Hey guys, what’s going on?” Lo and Summer came up to the booth glancing between the three of us.
“Kiera was just telling us she’s thinking about transferring to Wicked Bay when school starts.”
“She is?” Lo feigned surprise. She knew my plan, she’d been one of the first people I told after Laurie. “That’s great. Isn’t that great, Summer?”
“Yeah,” Summer smiled. “We’d be in the same grade too.”
Kiera’s lips pulled into a tight line and I panicked. We were coming on too strong. I’d done the same thing with Laurie once and almost lost her.
Shit.
“Hey guys, let’s not scare her off before—”
“It’s okay.” Kiera sat straighter, smoothing her black bangs out of her face. “I thought coming here would be awkward and horrible, and too much. But it’s turning out to be pretty perfect.” She smiled and this time it wasn't uncertain or conflicted. It was genuine. And when her eyes found mine, I smiled right back. And mouthed, “family”.
Because whether she was ready for it or not, hers had just grown in all the right ways.
“YOU READY?” I JOINED Rick in the yard. We’d gotten back from The Shack an hour ago. After giving Laurie and Kiera a ride home, I found him sitting in one of the garden chairs, beer in hand, staring up at the stars.
“Is there ever a straightforward answer to that question?”
I uncapped my beer and sat down beside him. “Probably not. But it’s going to be okay, man. SU will be great.”
“I know but I can’t help but think, we need more time, you know?”
“We’ve had the best part of fourteen years, Prince. I think it’s okay to move on with life.”
“Seriously, do you ever quit?” He shot me a sideways glare.
“Look, Lo will be fine,” I said. “And you know she’d be pissed if she heard you talking like this.”
His head shook with silent laughter. “It’s not her I’m worried about. Well, I am, but it’s me. I’m not sure I know how to live without her.”
“Do I need to check your junk again? Because I will.” My eyes flicked to his shorts.
“My dick is fully intact. Ask Lo if you need confirmation.” A smug smirk tugged at his mouth.
“Gross.”
“You started it.”
I reclined the chair, ki
cking my legs out in front of me. “I’ll miss this. Us. Our deep and meaningful conversations.”
“I’m moving twenty miles away. I’m not dying.”
“Yeah, but it isn’t the same.”
“Weren’t you the one who told me not to worry? That nothing would change?”
“What can I say? When I’m wrong, I’m wrong. Everything is changing. Every damn thing.”
Rick was leaving. Kiera was transferring to Wicked Bay High. Dad was trying to make amends with Maria. I hadn’t even had to ask, Rebecca had insisted. She’d even met Maria and Kiera. And in a couple of weeks, I would be a senior, chasing my dream of USC and pro-football.
“But some things never change, Stone.” He grinned. “You’ll still be here cracking your god-awful jokes and driving mom up the wall. And Laurie will still be at your side keeping you on a tight leash. Lo too.”
“And Macey is still an ice queen. I can’t see that changing anytime soon.”
“Cut her some slack.”
“One day I’m going to crack that nut. Just you watch. She won’t even know what’s hit her.”
“That, I’d pay to see.” He clinked his bottle against mine. “But I’m serious, the important things—the things that matter—they’re still the same. Family. Friends. The other stuff is all background noise.”
Silence settled between us. The heavy kind. Thick with the pressure of the future, the burdens of the past. We’d come a long way and still had so far to go.
“Just promise me one thing,” he said, finally cutting the silence.
“Sure, name it.”
“Stay the fuck out of my pool house.”
Thank you so much for reading Wicked Lies. Don’t forget to leave a quick review.
Lo and Maverick’s next book, Wicked Games, will be coming later this year. You can pre-order it here
Playlist
King – Years and Years
These Days – Rudimental ft. Jess Glynne and Macklemore
Bittersweet – ARCHIS
Firestone – Kygo ft. Conrad Sewell
What Do You Mean – Justin Bieber
We Don’t Have to Take Our Clothes Off – Ella Eyre