Ruthless King

by Hughes, Maya

  My stomach knotted like it always did when Emmett was nearby. Before it had been with an infatuation and a word I wasn’t touching with a ten-foot pole. I hadn’t wanted it to end. Now it was nerves wrapped in anger topped with fear of everything I wanted to tell him but never could.

  9

  Avery

  I jumped up off the couch when the streaks of sunlight fought their way through the partially closed blinds. Where am I? Blinding pain shot through my head. Freaking Liv and her damn shots. I swore she was trying to kill us all.

  I’m late!

  Bending down to put on my shoes, I froze.

  Late for what? I didn’t have a shift to work, and Alyson was driving her way across the country to school. I sat on the edge of the couch in silence trying to remember the last time I’d had a moment to myself, a moment when there weren’t more pressing things in the back of my mind telling me to Go! Go! Go! Maybe it had happened when I’d had a terrible bout of food poisoning a couple years earlier. I’d prayed to the porcelain gods to kill me, but they’d seen fit to let me survive.

  Stumbling into the kitchen, I turned on the coffee machine, set it to auto brew, and pre-heated the oven. I’d scoped out the cabinets yesterday—there were more than enough staples to make a nice breakfast. I hummed to myself and took some butter out of the fridge to let it soften. Grabbing my bag, I dashed into one of the downstairs bathrooms.

  I broke out in goosebumps when my feet hit the cool white tile. Shivering, I stared at myself in the mirror over the sink, running my hands over my cheeks. I looked a hell of a lot older than twenty-two. I felt a lot older, too. I felt like I’d been running so fast I’d made it into middle age before most of my friends had graduated college.

  After taking a quick shower, I went back into the kitchen. Having come prepared with my own apron, I wrapped it around my waist and put my hair up. The coffee percolated and the smell made me want to fill a pitcher with cream and sugar so I’d be prepared when the sweet, sweet deliciousness was ready.

  With minimal banging of pots and pans, I spotted a griddle in the back. Damn. The place had everything an at-home cook could want, every gadget imaginable. Setting everything up, I smeared the cast iron with butter until it was popping. I used my tried-and-true pancake recipe and ladled it out onto the sizzling-hot black surface. Plugging in my headphones, I found a playlist of our high school hits. Gotta love the boy bands.

  The steady stream of coffee stopped flowing, so I picked up the pot and filled my bowl-sized mug with the black gold. Drowning it in sugar and cream, I leaned against the counter, savoring the rich, full taste. There was nowhere to be, no rush to do anything, and a calmness settled over me. Pushing aside the complications lurking in the back bedroom, I could stand there and drink as many cups as I wanted for as long as I wanted.

  A few sips later, my brain began to fully function. Bacon, eggs, and pancakes—that would be an excellent breakfast. Cranking up the broiler in the second oven, I took out the bacon and laid out the contents of two packages on a few baking sheets. It was the only way to cook for so many people at once. Seeing it all spread out, I grabbed another pack from the fridge; there were a lot of dudes to feed.

  The pancakes all went into the warm oven as I finished them. Swapping out the trays of bacon, I stole a crispy, crazy-hot piece. The Avery breakfast bot was in high gear, fueled by coffee and the salty goodness of bacon.

  A call interrupted my music. I slid my phone out of my bra and tapped the screen. “Hey, what’s up?”

  “Are you having fun yet or do I have to come down there and force you to?” Syd’s gruff voice blared out from the other side.

  I rolled my eyes. “And good morning to you too.”

  “It’s a good morning when I don’t have to get up at two a.m., which means it’s never a good morning.”

  “What would your regulars do without your glowing, bubbly personality to get them through their mornings?”

  She let out a huff of laughter. “Dance in the streets.”

  “They’d riot if you weren’t there to greet them.” I tucked the phone against my shoulder and poured some more batter onto the griddle. The pop and sizzle around the edges filled the air.

  “I don’t think so. You don’t even realize how long they all hang around when you’re there for opening. It’s like a freaking statue garden. Everyone’s all doe-eyed.”

  I snorted. “Yeah, right. Did you need something or were you just checking in on me?”

  There was dead silence on the other end, and I looked at the phone to make sure the call hadn’t dropped.

  “I need something. I was looking through some of the papers you organized. Thank you, as always, and don’t tell me not to worry about it.”

  I snapped my mouth closed.

  “I’m looking for some old tax returns, ones from maybe three years ago?”

  “I tried to keep any tax stuff I saw together. They should be in the red folder in the middle drawer of the yellow filing cabinet, but they’re also on the computer. I saved them in a folder named Taxes under Financial Documents.”

  She scoffed. Yes, God forbid she use modern technology.

  “Okay, kid, thanks for the tip. I’ll go fish them out.”

  “I can come back, Syd. If you need me, I’ll be there.”

  The hairs on the back of my neck stood up. I tightened my hand around the spatula handle and whipped around like the main character in a horror movie.

  Glowering in the doorway with his arms stretched over his broad chest, Emmett stared at me, his tanned skin and hunter green sweatpants a stark contrast to the light pastel surroundings. Without a shirt on, his muscles were on display, every bulge and hard plane in full view. The strange expression on his face made my stomach flip.

  “No, that’s all I needed. You have fun out there, and don’t even think about coming back early.”

  “Okay.” I ended the call and spun around to face the counter, focusing on the blue and green glass backsplash. I dragged my other earbud out. Just be civil.

  “There’s coffee already made. I was just going to start on some scrambled eggs if you want to wait. If not, there’s bacon and pancakes in the ovens.” I turned and pointed, and he pinned me with his gaze. I was frozen with my arm outstretched.

  Seconds stretched on into an eternity…and then it was over. He severed the connection and walked to the cabinet. Grabbing a mug and slamming it down, he snatched up the coffee pot and poured himself a cup like it was the most hated substance known to man and the mug had run over his dog.

  I turned away, but I could feel his stare the entire time. You’re a taker, Avery. I’d never thought about decking someone before, but in that moment, I’d wanted to leap over the freaking couch and knock him down. A taker…I couldn’t even fathom being in the position to take from others, the luxury of it.

  “Holy crap, there are too many competing delicious smells right now. I want to worship the ground you walk on, but first, coffee.” Mak came into the kitchen yawning and jumped when she spotted Emmett leaning against the counter as far away from me as possible. “Morning, Emmett.”

  “Morning, Makenna.”

  She made a face at me. Ohhh, going with her full name, I see. He was pissed.

  “Do you need any help? I’m an excellent flipper.” Mak rubbed her hands together.

  I bowed and handed over the spatula like it was a royal scepter. “I’ll get started on the eggs.”

  About halfway through the first dozen pancakes, more arrivals stumbled their way into the kitchen.

  “I think my nose led me halfway down the stairs before I even realized I was awake. What smells so freaking good?” Heath came in with a bleary-eyed Kara trailing behind him. From then on it was a train of bed-headed, half-asleep entrances into the kitchen.

  “There’s bacon and pancakes ready already, and in about two minutes I’ll have some scrambled eggs. Anyone up for cheesy eggs?”

  Half the heads nodded. I laughed as Declan attempt
ed to stealthily retrieve some bacon from the oven.

  “You can just take the tray out and put it on a plate. There’s a lot more in the fridge.”

  “Thank God. My mouth is watering over here.” Declan grabbed the bacon from the oven. While he tried to take it off the tray, people kept swiping strips. “Would you assholes give me ten seconds to get a plate?” He elbowed Heath and Liv back.

  I laughed and piled the perfectly fluffy eggs onto a giant serving platter. Someone grabbed the pancakes from the oven, and we were good to go. I slid the eggs onto the table and everyone dug in—almost everyone.

  There was a lot of man meat crammed around the kitchen table; it was a good thing everything in the place seemed to be oversized. Broad shoulders, tons of muscles, and sleepy eyes abounded. The sweet smell of syrup clashed and melded with the salty bacon-y air.

  For several minutes, no sounds other than forks and knives cutting, bacon crunching, and small groans of appreciation came from everyone seated around the table.

  “Avery, every bite is amazing. I need this pancake recipe,” Heath said with his mouth full, trying to cover it with his hand. His blond hair fell in front of his eyes and a drop of syrup hung from the end of one of the strands.

  “Are you mopping the plate clean with your hair?”

  “Be nice to me and I’ll make you these whenever you want.” He grinned at Kara.

  She dipped her head. “How nice?”

  “Very.” He brushed a dot of syrup off her chin.

  Kara grabbed a napkin and tried to wipe it clean. “I guess I’ll have to be very nice, then.”

  “Stop making eyes at each other like that. We’re trying to eat here,” Liv grumbled.

  “Emmett, stop moping and take a seat. We’re enjoying a delicious meal together and you’re standing at the counter like you’re ready to mug us. Sit.” Colm pushed a chair toward him.

  Emmett glanced down and his lips pressed together in a flat line. I kept my head down, not making eye contact, my pancakes suddenly the most interesting thing in the world.

  His chair screeched across the floor as he sat down at the table, begrudgingly taking a couple pancakes.

  “Do you think I could get the recipe too, if you were already going to give it to Heath?” Ford ducked his head and shoveled more pancakes into his mouth. He held his fork in a total caveman grip with his fist tight around the utensil, somehow looking adorable doing it.

  “Of course. I’ll text it to you.”

  “Thanks.” His words were soft as he grabbed for another piece of bacon.

  With full stomachs, everyone leaned back in their chairs, but there was a final showdown for the last piece of bacon.

  “Colm, if you take it from me, I’ll throw away one of every pair of your cufflinks. Just think of the horror—not a matching set in the whole drawer,” Liv taunted her brother, who glowered back at her.

  “You do that and I’ll throw away every piece of makeup you own.”

  “Do it—it’s all last season’s shades anyway.”

  A large hand swooped in and snatched the perfectly crispy piece then shoved it into a scruffy-cheeked face. Ford shrugged, barely stifling his smile. “Oh, that was good.”

  “Ford!” and “Dude!” shot across the table from his indignant roommates.

  “Someone had to break the stalemate. This is what you two get for always fighting.” He pushed back from the table and sauntered out of the kitchen. Everyone else cracked up laughing.

  Jumping up from the table, everyone scattered. Heath and Kara handled the dishes. I tried to help, but was summarily dismissed from the kitchen and told not to return until everything was cleaned. Since I didn’t really have anything to do while everyone was taking showers and getting ready, I stepped out onto the balcony with another cup of coffee and watched the world wake up.

  10

  Emmett

  Watching her in the kitchen, I was transfixed. She moved through the space like she owned the place. The kitchen had always been her domain, her go-to—standing in front of the oven at my house with a spatula in one hand, banishing me from the room when I tried to sample the brownie batter too many times.

  For a second I’d forgotten where and when I was when I saw her in the hip-hugging jean shorts, showing off so much leg and baggy off-the-shoulder shirt that was still her signature style. Walking in on that scene, my throat had tightened and the memories had been so keen, so similar to those very few mornings I’d watched the sunrise with her in my arms. She’d done the same thing on those days, making a big breakfast while I watched, sitting at the kitchen table and feeling content to observe her for hours.

  My daydreaming was snapped short when I realized she was talking to someone—someone named Syd. The familiar way she spoke and the concern in her voice made me bristle. Was it her boyfriend? If it was, why was she down there with us and not wherever the hell he was?

  “I can come back, Syd. If you need me, I’ll be there.” The concern in her voice had my hands curling.

  She whipped around, eyes wide in surprise. Yeah, I definitely see you, Avery. Her call ended, and I waited for the ‘I love you.’ I’d have lost it if she said it, but she didn’t.

  I grabbed a cup of coffee while she rambled about food in the oven. Everyone else woke up and it was the picture of coziness. Begrudgingly, I ate some of her food, and damn it was good. I barely kept myself from groaning when I shoveled a few bites of the pancakes and eggs into my mouth. She hadn’t lost her touch.

  The kitchen cleared and a flash of green out on the balcony caught my eye. Without meaning to, I stared at her as she savored her coffee. Her hands were wrapped tightly around the sides of her mug and she stood so still, letting the wind whip around her.

  A set of heavy hands clamped down on my shoulders. “Maybe you need to admit exactly what has you acting like this with her.” Colm nodded toward Avery, but I shook his hands off. He couldn’t even begin to understand.

  “I don’t think I’m acting any way other than I should for someone who got cheated on and then shoved aside so she could be welcomed on my vacation with my friends.”

  I spun on my heel and walked toward the front door.

  “I think you two need to sit down and have an adult conversation. Go over everything. Air your grievances and then the tension will ease up.” Colm’s voice followed behind me and he obviously didn’t get the hint that me walking away meant I didn’t want to talk anymore.

  “Air our grievances? What is this, an HR meeting?”

  “You never wanted to talk to us about it. I know it gets to you.”

  “Maybe because the one time I tried to, you guys told me dating someone when you went away to college was the stupidest thing imaginable.”

  “We were eighteen—what the hell did we know?” He shrugged.

  “Sometimes it seems like not much has changed.” Pushing out the front door, I stomped down the steps and out onto the street. Bikes zoomed past me as I bent to retie my shoes. A run was what I needed, to clear my head and get rid of some of this excess energy. I took off, leaving Colm behind, calling after me.

  Half a mile in, I knew exactly what needed to happen. Sitting on a bench at the sand’s edge, I scrolled through my phone, looking for everything we’d need for a Fourth of July none of us would forget.

  A few calls later, the wheels were set in motion for one epic evening we would be talking about for years to come. After cooling off, I walked back to the house, and my phone rang on the way.

  “Hey, Dad. How are you?”

  “Hi, Emmett. I want to know if you gave the Fourth of July any thought.”

  “You mean since, like, thirty-six hours ago? I have. I can come up after that. The guys have a big party planned, so I want to be here for that. Maybe a few weeks later I can come up.” I stopped outside the open garage door and leaned against the hood of my car where it was parked in the driveway.

  “It would be better if we could see you before that, but if that’s the e
arliest possible time, we will make it work. For your birthday maybe?” There was an odd edge to his voice, not that I’d had much experience with it other than a few stilted conversations. I’d probably spoken to my parents more that summer than I had in the past two decades combined. Were they still trying to set me and Sloane up? They didn’t know me, had no idea what kind of woman I’d be interested in. Hell, if Sloane told them I was gay, they’d probably believe it. So, why did I want to go back up there? I supposed I was a little excited about them meddling like normal parents were supposed to. Was I that stupid? That messed up that my parents badgering me was making me happy? Idiot.

  “Okay, Dad. I’ll see you after the Fourth.”

  “Bye, Emmett.”

  “Bye.”

  I ended the call and a metal-on-metal sound from the garage drew my attention.

  My shadow filled the space and Avery tensed. She stood outside the driver’s side door holding on to her mirror with a tube of crazy glue in her hand. Percy looked a few dings and dents worse for wear.

  “I see Percy’s still hanging in there.”

  She slowly turned, like she’d put her back to the outside hoping if she couldn’t see me, I couldn’t see her. Her grimace matched the one I imagined filled my own face.

  “Yes, he is.” Her lips parted and she hesitated. “Were you talking to your dad on the phone?”

  “Yeah.” She knew all about our past. There were many nights she’d run her hands through my hair and stared into my eyes, telling me it was my parents’ loss that they were never around, that someday they’d realize the mistake they’d made. Although I hadn’t wanted to, I’d always hoped she was right.

  “And you’re going to spend time with them after you leave here?”

  I tried not to look at the curve of her hips showcased by her shorts, or the way her lips parted as she waited for my reply.