“My dick,” he splutters, as I’m scrambling off him.
“What?” I screech. “This is hardly the time for cracking jokes.” I scan the half-empty dance floor. A larger crowd is kicking the shit out of one another in the center of the floor while everyone else is running for the hills. I can’t see Keven or Kent in the writhing mass of bodies. Punches are flying in all directions as a member of staff urges everyone—over the loudspeaker—to evacuate the club.
I stagger to my bare feet, wondering where the hell my shoes are. Thankfully, I have my emergency fold-up ballet flats in my bag.
Ky tries to sit up, cupping his groin. “You elbowed me in the balls when I caught you,” he explains, answering my silent question. “Fuuuuccckkk!” He squeezes his eyes shut, wincing in pain.
Up ahead, a group of six bouncers is attempting to break up the fight. A thinner, older guy with cropped gray hair stands off to one side talking urgently into a mouthpiece. He shakes his head at the bouncers, and, as one, they fall back, watching events from the safety of the sideline.
That can only mean one thing.
“We have to get out of here now, Ky. They’ve called the police.”
“Help me up.” He extends an arm, and I pull him to his feet. He is bent over, still cradling his crotch, and huge guilt waylays me.
“Sorry. I should’ve listened to you.”
“Let’s just focus on getting out of here without anyone getting arrested.”
Someone shouts my name, and I whirl around. Kev has a hold of Kent’s arm, and he’s dragging him away from the fighting. Both of them are bloody and cut up, but they don’t appear to have sustained any serious injuries.
Kal and Kade appear in front of us. “I hear police sirens in the distance. We need to get the hell out of here,” Kade says, cursing when he spies the state of his brothers.
“Take Faye’s hand,” Ky says through gritted teeth, eyeballing Kal. “And don’t let go. Get her out of here now.”
“What the fuck, man?” Kal asks, frowning as he grips my hand.
“Elbow in the balls,” Ky whimpers, hobbling after us.
“Ouch.” Kal’s face scrunches into a painful grimace, and I roll my eyes.
Seriously? How painful can it really be? It’s not like it’s bloody childbirth. Wisely, I keep those thoughts to myself as we flee the club.
Outside, Keaton is crouched over Keanu as he pukes up his guts in the alleyway alongside the club. Sam has one arm around Rach and one arm around Jill. He straightens up as he spots us. “I know a shortcut. Follow me.” The blaring noise of the sirens draws nearer, and he glances briefly over his shoulder. “But let’s make it snappy.” Keaton helps Keanu up, and we all run down the alley after Sam.
I have a stitch in my side, and my feet are sore, but I say nothing, fueled by adrenaline and a potent desire not to become acquainted with the inside of a garda station. After about fifteen minutes, we emerge onto a quieter, less well-known street, and Sam slows his pace until we come to a halt. Everyone is gasping for breath and taking a moment to let recent events sink in.
“Holy shit,” Keaton exclaims, being the first to break the silence. “That was some fucked-up shit back there.”
A loud snort of laughter erupts from somewhere inside me. I collapse onto the pavement, clutching my stomach as I bust out laughing. Relief washes over me, as I contemplate how disastrous that could’ve been. One by one, everyone joins in, and it helps to ease the tense atmosphere.
“Shit, those Dublin dudes are not to be messed with,” Kent begrudgingly admits.
“I’m glad you’ve learned that lesson early in the vacation,” Kade deadpans. “I did not come on this trip to be your babysitter.”
“Nor me,” Ky pipes up, sounding more like himself now. He’s stopped cupping his groin, so I figure that mini-drama is over.
“I didn’t ask either of you to babysit me,” Kent grumbles. “I’m more than capable of looking after myself.”
“Stop talking shit, Kent,” Kev speaks up, glaring at his younger brother. “You could be dead right now if we hadn’t waded in to save your ass.”
“Your brother is right,” Rach adds. “You don’t want to get mixed up with those fuckers.”
Kent mumbles something incoherent under his breath, but we all ignore him.
“What now?” Jill asks.
Ky looks at his watch. “It’s late. Time to call it a night, I think.”
“We need to get them cleaned up,” I supply, motioning at Kent and Keven. “We can’t send them back to the hotel looking like that. Your mom will throw a hissy fit.”
“I’ve got a first aid kit at home. Why don’t you swing by my house, and we can patch the guys up there?” Rach suggests.
Her house is closer than mine so it makes the most sense. “Sounds like a plan.” I get up, brushing bits of dust and debris off my now very filthy jumpsuit.
Jill summons a couple of Halos on her phone, while Ky wraps his arms around me from behind, nestling his chin on my shoulder. “You okay now?” I ask, tilting my head around to look at him.
“Yeah. No permanent damage.” He smirks.
“Yeah, um, sorry about that.”
His smirk turns to a scowl. “Thought I told you to stay out of the fray?”
“I thought you might need a local to help talk your way out of the situation. I didn’t realize it had already turned into fisticuffs at dawn. Then I saw that knucklehead beating on Kent and I got mad.”
“So that’s why you decided to jump on his back like a spider monkey?”
I shrug. “Seemed like a good idea at the time.”
He shakes his head, but he doesn’t seem too mad at me. “What am I going to do with you?”
“I can think of plenty of things,” I reply saucily, and a flare of desire sparks in his eyes.
“That reminds me. Someone owes me a rain check,” he whispers, and his hot breath on my ear does funny things to my insides.
I fight a smile. “And that someone is happy to oblige once we get home.”
Jill and Sam take one taxi with Kade and Kal while the rest of us take an eight-seater to Rach’s house.
Once inside, she retrieves the first aid kit, opening it up on the marble countertop in the kitchen. Ky is currently in the living room, plying Keanu with water and coffee in an attempt to sober him up. Keaton is sprawled lengthways on the leather sofa, snoring his head off.
Keven and Kent are seated on stools in the kitchen while Rach and I attend to their injuries. I don’t miss the myriad of looks being exchanged between my cousin and my friend, and it wouldn’t surprise me if Kev didn’t return to the hotel tonight.
“This might sting,” I warn Kent, dabbing a cotton pad in some warm water and pressing it to his nose. He flinches, grinding down on his molars as I gently clean all the blood away. He has a few contusions to his jaw and his left cheek, and his nose is already swollen and discolored, but nothing is broken or requires professional medical treatment. “You’ll need to come up with one hell of an excuse to explain all the bruises to your parents.”
“I’ll just tell them the truth,” he says, surprising me. “Not like they can do anything about it.”
My eyes flit to his, while rubbing some arnica cream into his cheek. “Why do you do this all the time?” I’m expecting some smartass response, but he just shrugs. I finish cleaning him up in silence.
Rach and Kev are quietly kissing as I round up all the wet cloths and bloody tissues and take them to the bin. Kent jumps down from the stool, shoving his hands in his pockets and shuffling awkwardly on his feet. “Thanks.”
“No problem.” I smile.
“And thanks for tonight. I appreciate what you tried to do.”
Well, knock me down with a feather. Kent is actually being serious for a change. And showing gratitude. Wonders will never c
ease. “I was hardly going to stand around and watch some asshole beat on my cousin and do nothing about it.” I gulp over the sudden lump of emotion in my throat. “Family means everything to me, Kent. I care about all of you so much.”
A terrified expression flares in his eyes. “Please don’t cry or get all gushy and emotional. I can’t handle that shit.”
And just like that, the Kent I’m more familiar with is back. I grin, mussing up his hair. “Don’t worry. I think you’ve had enough shit for one night.”
“Thank fuck.” He winks, sauntering past me out to the living room.
Subtle moans and groans echo in the quiet kitchen, and I clear my throat. “Ahem.”
Rach reluctantly pulls away from Keven, running her tongue over her swollen lips. “This better be good, girlfriend.”
I laugh. “We’re going to head now.” I drill a piercing look at my cousin. “Are you coming with us or staying here?”
He looks up at Rach, and some unspoken communication filters between them. Kev pulls my bestie onto his lap, eyeballing me over her shoulder. “I’m staying here.”
“Grand.” I lean in and hug my friend. “I’ll text you tomorrow.”
I rally the others, and, between Ky and me, we manage to get a hungover Keanu, injured Kent, and sleeping Keaton into the Halo in one piece. We drop them off at the hotel before heading back to my house.
When we eventually flop into bed, it’s well after four a.m. Ky is snoring the instant his head hits the pillow, and I chuckle. So much for rain checks.
Chapter Seven
Kyler
Faye makes good on her rain check the next morning, and I drive us to the hotel in plenty of time to meet the family for breakfast. Mom takes one look at Kent’s face and explodes. Dad just shakes his head in exasperation. Kade is still tucked up in bed, and he’s refusing to join us. Kev is a no-show so far, but Mom doesn’t look displeased at the news he stayed at Rachel’s last night. I think she likes Faye’s best friend, and she probably wouldn’t mind if something were to happen between them.
Not that it will. There’s the little matter of the Atlantic Ocean separating them and the fact that neither of them are into relationships. The last girlfriend Keven had was in high school. When he broke up with Cheryl their senior year, he was devastated, and I don’t think he’s ever gotten over her. I don’t know what went down between them, but it was a damn shame they didn’t last the distance. She was a real sweetheart and perfect for Kev in so many ways.
Come to think of it, all his troubles only started after that time.
Faye’s hand lands on my thigh under the table. “Hey. You okay?”
I press a kiss to her forehead. “I’m perfect. Just thinking about stuff.”
“Should I be worried?”
I smooth the furrow in her brow with my thumb. “Nope. I’m good.”
She relaxes, squeezing my thigh playfully. “I’m going to go to the graveyard with your dad in a few minutes. Kal and Keaton are coming too, but I think you should stay to keep your mom company. I know she missed you like crazy.”
I sweep her hair back off her forehead, conscious of Mom slyly watching us. “You sure?”
“Positive.” She leans in to my ear. “Maybe you can get the lowdown on her and your dad?”
I roll my eyes. Faye has her heart set on the two of them reuniting. If I’m honest, I’m rooting for them too. We all are. But none of us want to get our hopes up either. While Mom and Dad haven’t divorced yet, they’ve lived separately for eight months now. The longer they are apart, the less likely reconciliation seems.
“Who’s playing matchmaker now?” I tease.
Her eyes sparkle. “I’m an eternal optimist,” she declares with a wink. “And they seem to be getting on well so far.”
“That’s one of the things I love about you.” I press a soft kiss to her mouth, uncaring that my mother is still watching. “And you’re right. They are.”
“Are you coming with us or staying here, Kyler?” Dad asks, rising from his seat.
“I think I’ll pass. I visited with Faye last week.”
He slaps me on the back. “You can keep your mother company then, and round up your wayward brothers.”
After Dad, Faye, and my brothers leave, Mom orders more coffee and pastries as we wait for Kade and Kev to grace us with their presence. Kent and Keanu have gone for a swim in the hotel pool. “Things seem to be getting very serious with Faye,” she says, licking the froth off the back of her spoon.
I level her with a look. “Things have always been serious with Faye.”
Her responding smile is warm. “Should I prepare myself for an official announcement?”
I nearly spit my coffee out on the table. “Relax, Mom. We’re only eighteen.”
She flaps her hands in the air. “Age is only a number when it comes to love.”
I sit back, crossing one leg over the other. “I don’t disagree, but I’m in no rush to race Faye to the altar. It’s going to happen, and I’ll do it when the timing feels right.”
“I’m very proud of you, Kyler.”
My brow puckers. “Okay?” My tone carries my confusion.
She laughs softly, and she looks so young and carefree in the moment. “You’ve gone through a lot in the last year, but you’ve come out of it stronger than before. I’m proud of the way you’ve handled yourself and so thankful that you found it in your heart to forgive me.”
I reach over the table, taking her hands in mine. “I’ve come to terms with all that, and you’re my mother. I, ah”—I squirm uncomfortably in my seat—“I love you, Mom, and I know you’ve always tried your best to do right by us.”
She slides out of her seat, crossing to my side, and slips in the booth beside me. Her arms envelop me in a giant hug. “I love you too, son. So much.” Her voice cracks and her eyes are shiny, and I wonder how the fuck we ended up having this conversation. I know Faye has brought my softer side to the fore, but I’m still not used to airing my feelings so freely in front of either of my parents.
She cups my face, pressing a gentle kiss to my cheek. “And I love Faye as if she already is my daughter. I think you know that, but I wanted to say it aloud. You two are perfect for each other, and it warms my heart to see you both so happy and in love.” A nostalgic look glistens in her eye. “It reminds me of when I met James. The way you look at Faye is the way he used to look at me.” She smiles sadly, folding her hands in her lap.
I clear my throat. “Do you think there’s any possibility you and Dad might get back together?”
“I don’t know.” Nervously, she tucks strands of her blonde hair behind her ears. “I will always love him, but I hurt him a lot too, and I don’t know if that’s ever something he can get over.”
“But he hurt you too.”
She nods. “Yes, he did, but, as the saying goes, two wrongs don’t make a right.”
Silence engulfs us.
“How come you haven’t divorced yet?” I ask after a bit.
“I don’t think either of us are in a rush to do that,” she admits quietly. “But if your father wanted that, I wouldn’t stand in his way.”
“Have you spoken to him about it?”
“Not really, and I don’t want to rock the boat. Things are good the way they are, and unless he feels otherwise, or if the time comes when I feel differently, I’m happy to leave things for now.”
“Do you want me to talk to Dad?” I offer, twisting around to face her head-on.
She cups my face again. “No, sweetheart. I understand you want to help, but you have to let us deal with things on our own.”
I swallow the wedge of emotion in my throat. “Sure.”
An awkward throat clearing has me looking up. Kev has his arms folded across his chest, his gaze flipping from me to Mom. “Am I interrupting?” His brows nudge
up.
“Not at all, sweetheart.” Mom jumps up, encasing him in a mammoth hug. “Sit down and I’ll order you some breakfast unless Rachel already took care of that?” Her teasing tone matches her grin.
“She was still sleeping when I left,” he sheepishly admits.
Mom lightly slaps his arm, frowning a little. “That’s not very nice, Keven. I thought I’d raised you better than that.”
Kev groans, dropping into the booth across from us. “Mom, don’t.”
Mom scowls, and Kev stares up at the ceiling. I fail to keep the smirk off my face as I settle back in my seat, glad the heat is directed at someone else for a change.
“Rachel’s a lovely girl, and she deserves to be treated with respect.” Mom isn’t going to let this go anytime soon.
Kev leans over the table. “I agree, Mom, but I didn’t want to wake her when she looked so peaceful. I also didn’t want to be late for today’s excursion, so that’s why I left a note on her pillow explaining everything.” Kev looks like he’s just swallowed something sour, and I laugh at his uncomfortable expression. It’s killed him to admit something so sweet.
Mom’s eyes glisten mischievously, and I get the sense she’s totally playing with him. “I approve, darling.” She pats his hand. “Of the girl and the gesture.”
Kev smacks his palm against his forehead, groaning. “Mom, just stop. Please. Nothing is going to happen, okay. We’re just having a bit of fun while I’m here so don’t go reading into things.”
Mom holds up her hands. “Okay, okay. I’ll say no more.” She shoots me a grin, and I grin back as Kade appears at the table, tapping away on his phone.
He plonks down alongside Kev without even looking up. Mom rolls her eyes. “Kaden.”
“Just a sec, Mom,” he says, without altering his focus.
Kev’s eyes narrow as he slants a brooding stare at Kade. Kade’s lips twitch as he texts, and I share a loaded look with my other brother. Mom summons the waiter, ordering more food and coffee. Kade finally looks up, slipping his cell into his pocket and propping his elbows on the table. “Where is everyone?” he asks the same time Kev speaks up.
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