Fighting Fate (Endgame #4)

by Leigh Ann Lunsford

  Brecklynn doesn’t bat an eye and laughs at her brother’s baby mama. “I don’t at all, but now we know the root of your issues. What’d he do?”

  “I don’t want to talk about it.” Emberlee lies. If she didn’t want to complain, she wouldn’t have trudged her ass over here. Granted, all she had to do was cut through the back yard, but still.

  “I just Googled sleavage. You can get Brody to show you how to use light weights to tone your arms.” I’m proud I was able to decipher her gibberish. I’m balking at the idea because she looks like she’s ready to commit murder— and I’m her mark.

  “So, you agree I have sleavage?” Her sobbing keeps my mouth shut. I won’t give her further ammunition to target me. She’s locked, loaded, and ready to explode.

  “No. You were complaining, I was coming up with a solution. You’re beautiful, Lee Lee.” I rub her back and head, hoping to calm the crazy woman down.

  “Stop petting me unless you want me to bite.” If she wasn’t laughing I’d pull her hair. Fucking Sybil.

  “Jeez. Four months left of this rollercoaster.” I sigh and pray. I need to remember to call the Pope— I know I’m getting sainthood with tonight’s escapades. “I think you and Saylor are like birth control on steroids.”

  “They’re like playing Wheel of Attitude. Never know what you’re gonna get when you spin.” Brecklynn adds her two cents.

  “So, how are you and Mason?” Emberlee goes for the jugular. If I didn’t know where she came from, I’d swear wolves raised her. Or monkeys. Some uncouth animal.

  “Oh, that ship sailed to Fuck It Mountain. His ball bitches try my patience, and I don’t have time to deal.” Brecklynn’s trying to keep a hard exterior . . . but she isn’t happy letting go of Mason.

  “Who decided this? And ball bitches?” Emberlee can be very protective of Mason . . . this could go either way.

  “I decided.” Brecklynn doesn’t seem afraid of her. “He isn’t happy. Wanted to try a relationship. And ball bitches— baseball chasers. They’re fucking everywhere. Like crotch spiders.” I can’t help laughing and Emberlee joins. Brecklynn is sober and on a roll. Wonder if I have any alcohol here— I need some amusement.

  “Holy shit. Mason wanted a girlfriend, and Brecklynn broke his heart,” I tease and Emberlee stiffens.

  “Avery— stop. Mason is our friend. He’s probably upset,” she bites at me.

  “And I’m not? You try dealing with the girls everywhere. At all times.” Bitchy Brecklynn mixed with Hormonal Hattie is a disaster in the making. I need some super soakers to cool them off.

  “I don’t know, Breck. Are you upset? If he said he wanted you— take him at his word. He doesn’t lie.” Says the girl sobbing and pissed at the male who knocked her up . . . but in all honesty, she’s always pissed at him. I don’t think I’d take advice from Etiquette Emberlee.

  “I didn’t say he was lying. But I know me. I’m jealous as hell, and I was creating drama and fights that weren’t his fault, but I can’t deal with his past. I’m being honest.” Brecklynn is getting heated . . . I wonder what the reach is on the sprayer mounted to the kitchen faucet. “Yes, I’m upset.” And her crying phase is activated. These girls need some testosterone infusions. The damn tears are killing me. I slap Emberlee, pregnant or not, she’s wrong, and I gather Breck in my arms. Thank fuck Emberlee joins me in consoling her.

  Once these bitches are done with the cry fest, I give everyone ice cream and dance a jig when Lee Lee falls asleep. “Handle this.” I demand of Breck, knowing she’ll call Brody.

  “I’m gonna lose my shit.” I whisper in my phone. Calling Caden calms me but I’m ready to snap. Mason is up his ass, Brecklynn follows me like a puppy in training and we still have two weeks until Christmas.

  Brody took a second job to provide for Emberlee, she’s upset and over all the time. Crying, yelling, eating . . . and I know in the pit of my stomach until her and Brody fix their issues, my relationship will be kept on the back burner. Add Mason’s broken heart into the mix . . . Caden is wrapped up in consoling and appeasing him. He took Mason to the club and that was the first chip in the relationship with him and Brecklynn. It didn’t help we got busy in the bathroom . . . but our time has constraints so we do what we have to.

  “Gotta go, Brecklynn is walking in.” I end the call and lean back and relax like I don’t have a care in the world.

  She plops next to me with her eyes sparkling. “Guess what?”

  I rub my hands as if I’ve figured out the secret to implementing world peace. “You realize you can’t live without Mason and are gonna make an honest man outta him?” The amount of pressure that would take off me.

  Her eye roll tells me she’s been spending too much time with Lee Lee. “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.” Another obstacle. Babies. Baseball.

  Me here.

  Caden there.

  “Shit. I don’t know what to do.” Her teeth sink into her lip and I can hear her distraught tone.

  I suck it up . . . as usual and make it better. “You go. I’ll deal with the crazy pregnant chicks. But you owe me.”

  “Deal.” She laughs and throws me a devious look. “It depends— what do 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.” I wink to lighten the mood but I’m serious. The sooner we get back to normal, the quicker I can claim my man. “What are your plans tonight?”

  “I’m having dinner with Brody to tell him.” Poor girl, she’s still wearing a smile. That boy is gonna have a fit.

  “Ah. Have fun with that. I’m going to the studio and I don’t know what time I’ll be home.” Another lie. I’ve become good at them.

  She chortles and pins me with her stare. “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 divert and brush over her blatant fishing for information.

  “Nope. Maybe I’ll talk to him tonight.” Her eyes squint and I know she doesn’t want to burden her brother.

  “I’m sure Caden or Mason would do it. Deacon and Brody are kinda occupied, Breck.” I wish these people would get their heads outta their asses . . . we’re a unit damn it.

  She scrubs her face. “Just let me ask him first.”

  “Okay. You’re as stubborn as Lee Lee. No wonder Brody can deal with her.” Those two are double mint twins.

  “Fuck off.” I manage to dodge the pillow she chucks at my head.

  “Have fun with your brother. I would wish you luck, but I’ll have more fun listening to your replay.” That boy is gonna have a coronary . . . and still be controlling— or trying— his rogue woman and disaster of a sister.

  “If you don’t quit being mean, I’ll withhold the good stuff.” As if. It’s comedic relief for all of us.

  “You wound me, Brecklynn Collier.”

  “Go to the studio you floozy.” I laugh as I flee. She’s gonna be relentless if she smells a cover up. I drive aimlessly for twenty minutes and when I return, she’s gone. The front porch light flickers next door and I hurry over.

  “Mason’s gone. He’ll be home soon. . . probably drunk.” He sighs as he pulls me close.

  “She’s taking a trip to some island over Spring Break. I hope they get their shit together.”

  “Let’s not talk about them.” His knuckles brush my cheek. “God, I miss you.”

  “Hopefully we’ll be able to sneak off during vacation.” I wink. “Our parents know so we can get them to cover.”

  “So devious.” His lips skim my earlobe.

  “You ain�
�t seen nothing yet, big boy.” I drawl.

  “You’re fixin’ to see how big my boy is.” He tosses me over his shoulder and I get up close and personal with his large counterpart.

  I smirk as Breck’s keys hit the counter and she slinks into a chair— complete with an exaggerated sigh. “Rough day?” I play into her hands.

  “My mom talked my ear off.” She stares at my paint-splotched clothes. “You painting another masterpiece?”

  “Yep. I love those lights. When are you getting your darkroom?” I’m in love with what Caden did with my studio in the basement.

  “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.” She shrugs like it doesn’t matter, but it does. She followed her brother across the country . . . learned Texas and Kansas are different and there’s no place like home the hard way. He’s fallen in love, having a baby and I know she feels abandoned. She’s happy for him, loves Lee Lee, but add in the sting of her heartbreak, thrown into the mix with us, where she has to see the object of her desire— it’s taking its toll with her psyche.

  Speak of the devil— in her mind. “Hey. I fixed the sink.” Mason saunters in as her walls rise. Her shoulders become rigid, her eyes dart everywhere but his presence.

  “Thank you. My hero.” I clasp my heart playing the damsel in distress. He chuckles, tweaking my nose. “Please tell me you washed your hands.” I gag imagining him elbow deep in nasty ass water— now touching my skin.

  “Of course, Aves. Now you don’t have to carry your brushes through the house.” He stares at Breck, grabbing a water. “Hey, Brecklynn. How you been?” Awkward.

  “Good. My mom just got here so doing the family stuff.” She avoids looking at him.

  “I know you’re happy.” His tone wistful . . . he wants her happiness. He wants her. “Avery, what time are we leaving for the airport?”

  Brecklynn inhales and I answer him as I turn to tell her. Shit . . . it slipped my mind to tell her. I figured she knew, but it was an oversight in my mind. “Six should work. Our parents are meeting us there. 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.”

  “Oh, that’s great. Where to this year?” She lies as well as me.

  “Back to Colorado. We loved it last year, so we’re heading back.” I’m thrilled to go back to where it all began with Caden. The strain from her and Mason is making my stomach clench.

  “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.” Brecklynn escapes, pausing to give me a quick hug. She halts in front of Mason and I’m cheering in my head . . . but, alas, she pats his chest and freezes. He grazes her cheek with a chaste kiss and my heart gives a tug, a slight squeeze. . . too much heartbreak isn’t good for my sensitive soul.

  “Y’all are the sappiest fuckers I’ve seen.” I sigh to Mason. He’s pining, following her every step.

  “Hey. Can you move our flights to a bit later? I have something I need to do.” He’s fidgeting with his phone and I think this may be his grand gesture.

  “I’ll try. I’ll text everyone. I’ll let our parents keep the same flight.” I reassure him, but he’s half way to the door.

  “You’re a lifesaver.” He hollers as the door slams. Caden hops in his truck and I blow him a kiss while Mace’s head is turned. His quick smile and wink makes my heart flutter.

  I make the arrangements, dealing with twenty fucking questions from everyone— I’m not the National Enquirer and don’t have the answers. These people need more excitement in their life.

  A few hours pass and I stare as they cart in everything. Seeing the supplies, I know what his agenda is. “What do I need to do?” I’m all in . . . because Mason is and I’ll do anything for him. Proving it in silence by sacrificing my love with Caden.

  “I’m gonna start putting the drywall up and I need to sand and paint the area we will be using.” He acts like he’s fucking Mike Holmes, construction extraordinaire.

  “On it.” I grab the sand paper Caden hands me and head to the basement. A few minutes pass and Deacon, Saylor, and Julie join us. Mason pauses to dote and greet Julie— their bond evident to anyone.

  I work faster than a whore on nickel night, wiping walls, vacuuming, prepping the areas they’ve completed. Caden is a distraction in jeans, no shirt, sweat, muscles bulging . . . I’m gonna find lots of honey do projects for him to perform in my house.

  It’s complete in the nick of time. “Let’s shower and head to the airport and get some food.” Mason grins as he surveys his darkroom— made from love.

  Chapter Twelve

  “Recon mission. We need to get our parents involved.” I wink at her, whispering in the hallway. It’s been hard to steal time with her, but damn it, I’m spending Christmas Eve with my girl. Mason’s wallowing because after his overture to Breck . . . it’s been radio silence. That girl is harsh, but I still have hope for them. They’re miserable fuckers without each other.

  “On it.” She murmurs back.

  “Not yet, but you will be.” She covers her mouth to stifle her laughter.

  “So romantic.” She sashays from me searching her mom, I’m sure.

  I stroll in the kitchen and all the parents are there. Deacon, Saylor, Mason, and Julie are in the living room playing with stackable blocks sprawled everywhere. “Mom, can I talk to you a minute.” Yeah, this is gonna be hell.

  All eyes look up like they’re one person. Might as well be, fucking Parent Patrol. “You need something?” Josh asks. Not his advice— I’ve heard the shit he tells Deacon.

  Jason smirks. “Yeah, father of the year goes to you. You couldn’t teach your boy how to roll a condom over his small penis. Let the professional handle it.” I choke with laughter.

  “In my defense, I didn’t know he knew how to use it.” Josh is jovial. People wonder why we have trust funds . . . therapy isn’t cheap. And we’ll all need it.

  “Seems how I sired him, this is a chore for me.” My dad steps forward. “What can I help you with?” He lowers his voice. “Does it itch? Are there red bumps?” Holy. Fuck.

  Avery’s leaning against her dad’s shoulder, biting her bottom lip, suppressing her giggle while I’m mortified. He’s the only dad that hasn’t stepped in to offer his advice— knowing I’m looking for a distraction to sweep his daughter from this family gathering for the night. He’ll sit there and let me swing in the wind. “Back up boys, he needs a professional.” Sara steps in front of my dad. She may be a physician assistant but unless she has a PHD, she isn’t much help with this group.

  “I don’t need a doctor. Mom?” I’m impatient and my tone speaks volumes.

  “Here, baby.” My mom shoves her tiny frame in front of the fucked-up foursome whom were helping out. She pulls me by my ear from the kitchen to her bedroom. “Caden, you know you can’t announce to those people you need assistance.”

  “Those people? You mean your friends?” I raise my eyebrows.

  “That’s neither here nor there. I know how they behave.” Yeah, oh ringleader. Unless she thinks I’ve lost my memory in the last nineteen years, she isn’t fooling me.

  “I need your help. Yours and Abigail’s.” She smiles.

  “Want to sneak away with Avery?” I sigh in relief. “Only if you ask Brian’s permission.” I stop breathing. Brian is a great guy. Cool. Laid back. Smart-ass. But Avery is his sole child . . . only daughter. He isn’t clueless regarding our relationship but asking if I can take her for an overnight date . . . I’m fucked.

  “Mom.” I plead as she giggles.

  “Bethy Monroe. Don’t torture that boy.” Abigail Michaels is my hero. “I’ll handle it Caden.” She narrows her eyes at my mom. “And when you go to therapy in a few years, make sure to tell the nice man I was the sane one. I’m not to blame for any of your problems.” She smiles swe
et as sugar up at me.

  “As if. You’re the core of this group.” My mom and Avery’s bicker as I tip toe from their disagreement. I head to the kitchen to claim my girl and freeze. Her dad has pulled her down to sit next to him, tucked in nice and tight as he peers at me over her head. I swallow, wipe my palms down my jeans, and shift from side to side . . . until he laughs.

  “Do I have something you want, son?” I have all eyes focused on me . . . again. Blue balls aren’t the end of the world. I can deal. This . . . this shit . . . that’s too much for The Hulk to carry. These people are certifiable. Who thought they were capable of being parents? They live to torture us.

  “No fucking way.” Michelle, Mason’s mom, whispers. Avery is giggling, I’m burning up and lacking oxygen, my vision spotty.

  “What?” Jason asks.

  “Avery and Caden.” Sara smiles.

  “Shhhh!” Avery stands and chides them.

  “Oh shit.” Josh smacks the counter. “They don’t know?”

  “Not yet.” She goes toe to toe with him. “And it will stay that way.” I’m amazed when they all wide-eyed nod at her authority. She schooled them and it’s inappropriate I’m sporting wood at this moment.

  Brian chuckles. “It’s apparent my baby girl wears the pants in this relationship.” Hold up a damn minute— I catch his dare, the glint in his eyes as he steps behind her. He has the power to ruin me. I don’t miss that warning.

  “Yep.” I nod. He can believe whatever helps him sleep at night if I get to sleep with her tonight.

  “Go. We’ll cover for you.” My dad grips Avery’s hand and pulls her to me. I don’t falter and rush her from the house. Our moms have stopped their feud long enough to meet us at the door, each handing us an overnight bag.

  “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” My mom sings.

  “Hey, that’s my daughter. That leaves it wide open.” Abigail pinches my mom’s arms.

  “Let’s go.” I growl. Who wears the pants now, Brian? After getting her settled in the car I remind her “when it’s time for therapy, we need a young doctor.”