The Maxwell Series Boxed Set - Books 4-6

by Alexander, S. B.

  “Lowell,” Kody said. “You can be on my team.”

  I knitted my eyebrows. Lowell had dabbled in shooting hoops. We had a basketball net above the bay door of the shop. But he hadn’t played against anyone.

  He noticed my face. “It’s cool. This chair can go faster than these dudes.”

  “Awesome,” Kelton said. “Kody, Lowell, and Dad against, Kade, Kross, and me.”

  “Hey, what about us girls?” Lizzie asked.

  I didn’t have an athletic bone in my body, yet it sounded fun. “I’ll play.”

  My brother cocked an eyebrow. “Since when can you shoot a basketball?”

  I lifted a shoulder. “I can’t, but I’ll try.”

  Kelton smacked his lips on Lizzie. “Then you play on Kody’s team. That way I can steal the ball from you.”

  “Game on,” Lizzie added.

  Kody shook his head. “Kelton is the most competitive in the family.”

  I could see that without a doubt.

  “We’ll clean up later,” Mrs. Maxwell said. “Ruby and Raven, let’s grab a chair on the deck and watch the show.”

  I followed Kody as he ushered Lowell out the front door, while the rest of the group trekked through the kitchen.

  Once we were gathered outside, cars were quickly moved either into the garage or around to the side. Then Kelton sauntered out of the garage with a basketball. We took turns shooting baskets.

  Lowell tried, but the ball didn’t quite make the height of the net. “I’ll pass a lot,” he said to Kody and his teammates.

  When it was my turn to shoot, I pushed the ball upward from my chest. The ball hit the backboard and bounced back. No one said anything, but I wouldn’t have cared if they did.

  After everyone had taken a turn, the game started.

  My brother passed the ball to Kody, who flipped it to Mr. Maxwell, who then passed the ball to Lizzie. Kelton tried to slap the ball out of her hand, but she managed to dart around him then went in and made the layup.

  “Good one, Lizzie,” Kody said.

  She stuck out her tongue at Kelton.

  My brother was guarding Kade, which was comical since Lowell kept speeding toward the six-foot Maxwell and bumping him with his wheelchair. Kade just moved out of the way.

  Raven was shouting, “Shoot, Daddy.”

  But Kross didn’t have the ball. Ruby and Mrs. Maxwell snickered.

  Then Kade tossed the ball to me, and I froze. Kody skirted around Kelton, and as he did, a loud engine rumbled in the distance. I knew the sound of a Harley well. Everyone on the court stopped playing and directed their attention toward the road.

  Lowell whipped his head at me. My heart sank as I gripped the ball between my palms. When Mack came into view, my first thought was oh shit until he started swerving as though he were drunk. That oh shit turned into no fucking way.

  The closer he got, the more my heart jumped out of my throat.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Kody

  Donovan was on a collision course with us and the garage. His eyes were heavy as though he were about to pass out.

  “Get out of the way,” I shouted above the engine. I grabbed Jessie just as Mack wobbled.

  My dad reached out to take hold of a handle, but Mack swatted at him. When he did, he lost control. The motorcycle and Mack went down. The bike skidded until it came to a stop underneath the bed of Kade’s truck, which was parked inside the garage.

  Unfortunately, Mack’s shoulder took the impact before his head bounced once on the pavement.

  Jessie screamed as she wiggled out of my hold. At first, I thought she would run to Mack. Instead, she bolted over to the bike and cut the engine. Lowell was parked next to Kelton and Kross at the foot of the stairs as the rest of my family watched in horror from the deck, even Raven. I was about to kill Mack for scaring the fuck out of my niece and my mother.

  My dad helped Mack to his feet. “Young man, you smell of booze, and you’re bleeding.”

  Blood ran down the side of Donovan’s temple.

  “Honey, can you get the first-aid kit?” Dad asked Mom without looking at her. “Kelton, get a lawn chair.”

  Kelton dove into action.

  A turbulent storm plagued Jessie’s pretty face as she stood by the Harley.

  With my fists at my sides, I slowly made my way over to Jessie, trying like a motherfucker not to go ape shit on Donovan.

  Once Kelton produced the lawn chair, Dad gently pushed Mack into it. My mom came out of the house with a first-aid kit and a glass of water. She was about to hand the glass to Mack, when he flew off the chair, his arms violent as he knocked my mom backward. She stumbled, and I dove, trying to catch her so she wouldn’t fall.

  The girls screeched. Glass broke.

  Lowell sped over to my mom and blocked her fall just as Dad, my brothers, and me swarmed her.

  Mack swayed as he rushed for Jessie. “You belong with me.”

  Jessie punched him in the chest. “You’re an idiot. You don’t drink and get on a motorcycle.”

  Mack grasped her arm. She sucked in a breath.

  Appearing a little frazzled, Dad eased Mom down into the lawn chair.

  I stalked over to Donovan. “Get your hands off her.”

  He spun around and punched me in the jaw. The adrenaline filling every pore of my body suppressed the pain. I listed before I tackled him to the ground. I was about to unleash all the strength I had to beat his face in until I heard my mom’s voice.

  “Kody, he can’t help his actions. He’s drunk,” she said in a firm voice.

  I shook with raw need to end this guy once and for all. She didn’t know what he’d done to me. She’d been in a mental health facility when I landed in the hospital. My old man hadn’t wanted to tell her anything for fear her depression would worsen.

  Hands gripped my shoulders from behind. “Bro,” Kade said. “Another time.” His voice was extremely low. No doubt he didn’t want to upset Mom.

  I hopped to my feet, leaving Mack to stumble to his. He wobbled into Jessie, and she steadied him.

  Lowell powered over to her and Mack. “Dude, we’ll take you home.”

  Mack bared his teeth at me.

  I had the urge to do the same, but Kade was right. The last thing I wanted to do was upset my mom, my niece, or anyone else. But the feud between Donovan and I wasn’t over, not by a long shot. We would end our dispute once and for all. I wasn’t sure how yet. If you just let Jessie go, then your Donovan problem would go away. I silently roared with laughter. I’d always been afraid that the next girl I fell for would die too. Maybe I was wrong. Maybe I would lose her because I couldn’t forgive Donovan for what he’d done to me.

  I needed space. I needed to collect myself. I stormed past my family and into the house. I poured a glass of water when I should have been downing a bottle of whiskey. No sooner had I finished the water, than Jessie prowled into the kitchen, tentative and wary.

  “Kody, I’m sorry,” she said in a small voice.

  My knuckles were white around the glass. “Why? Did you tell Donovan to show up here?” My tone was all kinds of mean.

  She crossed her arms over her chest as she settled in front of me. “Of course not.”

  “Then don’t apologize for the asshole.”

  Her bottom lip trembled. “Lowell and I are taking Mack home. I had a great time up until—”

  I planted my lips on hers then pushed my tongue into her mouth. I shouldn’t have. I should’ve walked away—far, far away. She was all wrong for me. As long as I kept seeing her, I would also have to see Donovan, and that was a recipe for another hospital stay. Plus, Donovan had feelings for her. He had a history with her. I’d had one night with her, yet I wanted so much more.

  Once she melted into my arms, her coconut scent swirled around us, creating a cocoon that I didn’t want to break. We kissed as though it was our last until she pressed her fingers into my chest and gently pushed away. I almost whimpered.

  �
��I’ll see you on Wednesday at Mr. Robinson’s.” Then she hurried out faster than the Road Runner.

  I ambled over to the sliding glass door. Jessie’s van was now in the driveway with Lowell in the passenger’s seat and Mack in the backseat. Kade opened the driver’s door for Jessie.

  My dad was ushering my mom up the deck stairs. Jessie hopped into the van. The rest of the family was down by the garage. Ruby was holding Raven near Kross. Lizzie was sweeping up the glass, and Kross and Kelton were talking.

  My mom came in, appearing shaken. I hoped she wasn’t upset with me for tackling Mack.

  Nausea settled heavily in my stomach. “Are you hurt, Mom?”

  She pressed her soft hand to my rough jaw. “Not at all. You’ll have a bruise there, for sure.”

  I couldn’t care less about me. She was the thread that held our family together. If she’d gotten hurt, then I wasn’t the only one who would’ve beaten Donovan into submission.

  Dad heated up water then removed two cups from the cabinet along with tea bags.

  My mom slid onto a stool at the island, which was strewn with dirty dishes and leftover food. “Is that man Jessie’s boyfriend?”

  I ponied up to the end of the island. “No. He has feelings for Jessie, though.”

  Mom clasped her hands together on the granite top. “Do you have feelings for Jessie?”

  Dad watched me intently as he waited for the water to boil.

  “It’s complicated,” I said.

  “Son, you either have feelings for Jessie or you don’t.” Dad’s psychiatrist voice was in full force.

  “Do you know who Donovan is, Dad? Think back six years ago.” I slowly laid eyes on my mother, trying to gauge her mood, hoping I didn’t stress her out by saying too much about how Donovan and friends had ganged up on me.

  “I know all about what those boys did to you back then,” Mom said. “Your father told me the whole story last year. While I would like to give that young man and the other two a piece of my mind, that wouldn’t change what had happened.”

  I jerked my head to my father, who had a satisfied expression as though he’d had a breakthrough with my mom’s recovery.

  “I’m not going to break,” Mom added. “You boys need to understand that. I’ve been home from the mental health facility for over four years now. I’ve learned how to deal with several things. But Kody, I would not be able to live if anything happened to you or any of your brothers. So promise me you will not do anything to get hurt and hurt anyone else.”

  I couldn’t say no to her. I couldn’t be responsible for ruining her recovery, either. “I promise.” As soon as I said those two words, I prayed I wouldn’t disappoint Mom. “Did Donovan tell you he was sorry?”

  Dad poured hot water into both cups. “He was drunk, son. When he sleeps it off, things will look differently in the morning.”

  Like hell. He would apologize even if I had to break my promise to Mom.

  I kissed Mom on the cheek. “I’m going down to my place. I’m glad you weren’t hurt.” I nodded at my dad then started for the door.

  “Kody,” Mom said. “If you have feelings for Jessie, make sure she knows. Let her decide who’s best for her.”

  Jessie had to know after the kiss we’d just exchanged before she left.

  Mom and Dad chatted as I walked out onto the deck. The threat of rain had vanished. Now, blues, oranges, and purples streaked the sky over the lake as a humid breeze rustled the trees.

  Raven ran past me. “It’s time for ice cream.”

  Ruby chased her up the stairs, frowning at me as though she felt sorry for me.

  Kade, Kelton, Lizzie, and Kross were in the garage, near the boxing ring.

  Lizzie kissed Kelton on the cheek. “I’ll be inside, helping to clean the dishes.” She gave me the same look as Ruby as she disappeared into the house. When she did, I let out a breath, relieved that I was finally free of anyone’s pity.

  Kross threw me a set of boxing gloves from the ring. “You need to release that anger.”

  I grinned at my brothers. I missed them living here. I missed the good times we’d had as kids—boxing, playing baseball, and just hanging out, doing nothing.

  Kade and Kelton sat in lawn chairs. I toed off my shoes, put the gloves on, and met Kross in the ring.

  He slipped on punch mitts that coaches used to train with Kross. “Keep your punches to my mitts. My coach would freak if I got hurt.”

  I arched an eyebrow. “Dude, you’re bigger than me and Kelton combined. It’s impossible for you to get hurt.” Kross was rock solid—arms, legs, and chest. Kelton was in great shape but lacked the broadness of Kross. As for me, I worked out, but not like Kross.

  “Just keep your punches to my mitts.”

  I launched into a right then left jab combination as Kross held steady. The act was freeing as I pictured Donovan’s face.

  “I think we should talk to Donovan,” Kelton said.

  I came to an abrupt halt. “One step ahead of you, bro.”

  “Are you and Jessie dating?” Kross asked. “Do you have feelings for her?”

  “Look, we had one night together, and we recently postponed our date. She’s dealing with something. What, I’m not sure. I do like her. No, she’s not into Donovan, if that’s your next question. She swears he’s not for her. Look, she’s amazing. But I have issues. I’m not sure I can deal with her riding a motorcycle or the fact that Donovan is in the picture.”

  “That sucks,” Kelton said.

  Kade finally spoke. “Regardless of motorcycles and Donovan, remember what Karen always said. ‘The heart knows.’ Kody, you can’t go through life believing Jessie will die like Mandy. One, it’s not healthy, and two—”

  “Dare to live,” I said.

  My brothers cocked their heads.

  I removed my gloves. “That was the advice Ms. Sharp gave me, and now it’s the title of my new song that Jessie will be singing for your future father-in-law, Kade.”

  My brothers congratulated me.

  Then Kade popped out of his chair. “We’re here for you, Kody. I don’t want to drudge up the past, but that fucker owes Mom an apology.”

  “Let me handle Donovan,” I said. “We’ll let things die down for a couple of days. He’s drunk, and I want to see if he has the balls to own up to what he’s done. If so, then maybe he’s not as much of an asshole as we thought. If not, then I’m paying him a visit.”

  At that moment, as much as I wanted Jessie, I couldn’t bring her into the mess with Donovan. I had to somehow clear the air with him. The problem was I didn’t know how, not after today’s incident.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Jessie

  As soon as Roxanne and I arrived at Mr. Robinson’s house, he ushered us down to the basement, where his music studio was located. Then he disappeared to make a phone call. I gnawed on my nails in the quiet sound room and bounced my knee a hundred times, staring at the workstation that had lots of buttons on the large keyboard.

  “Would you stop sighing every second,” Roxanne said from a chair next to mine.

  I’d asked her to come along for moral support. But singing wasn’t why I was so agitated. “I should postpone this session. I have way too much on my mind. I have to meet Ms. Harold on Friday. I got my order from my gynecologist to schedule my mammogram, but when I called the imaging center, they couldn’t get me in for two weeks. Not only that, I haven’t heard from Kody.”

  For three agonizing days, I’d stewed over what Mack had done, and I’d sulked because I hadn’t heard from Kody. He’d been so livid about Mack showing up, even more so when Mack had pushed his mom. I couldn’t blame Kody or any of the Maxwells if they never wanted anything to do with me again.

  Roxanne pressed her hand on my knee. “Stop. You’re going to make yourself sick. I’m sure Kody will be here.”

  I stared at the microphone near the workstation, rifling through why Kody hadn’t returned any of my texts or calls.

  “Any
word from Mack?” she asked.

  “Only a text from him to Lowell, saying he was fine.” My brother and I had been furious with Mack for drinking and riding. “I don’t want to see Mack right now, anyway.”

  After we’d left the Maxwells, Lowell and I had dropped Mack off at his house. He’d passed out in the backseat as I yelled at him for not only making an ass out of himself, Lowell, and me, but for his stupidity of riding while intoxicated and almost hurting everyone at the Maxwells, especially Mrs. Maxwell.

  Roxanne gave me a sidelong glance. “I still can’t believe he pushed Mrs. Maxwell.”

  I was surprised the Maxwell brothers hadn’t hunted down Mack and beat his brains out. Maybe they had, which was the reason Mack didn’t want to show his face and why I hadn’t heard from Kody. Maybe Kody had realized I was all wrong for him. Then why did he kiss you before you left his house like you were everything to him? I touched my lips, remembering how much feeling he’d put into that kiss. It was as though he had needed me to calm him, or maybe that had been his way of saying goodbye.

  Regardless, I dismissed the idea that the Maxwell brothers had hurt Mack. For one, Mack hadn’t shown up in the emergency room, and neither had any of the Maxwell boys. If they had, Roxanne would’ve known. If I knew Mack, he was embarrassed. I would also go out on a limb and say that Mack was emotionally hurt that Lowell and I had been at the Maxwells. He probably thought we’d abandoned him, or at least that Lowell had.

  The only silver lining from Sunday’s fiasco was that Mrs. Maxwell was fine, thanks to Lowell and his quick reflexes with his wheelchair. I’d apologized to her right before I’d gotten into the van, but she wouldn’t hear of it. “It’s not your fault he’s drunk.”

  I’d begged to differ but hadn’t argued the point. Mack had shown up because of Lowell and me, and Mack wanted me.

  Mr. Robinson walked in, exuding excitement. “I’m sorry to keep you waiting. I just got off the phone with my partner at Jewel Records. I’d sent him a short snippet of your performance at The Cave the other night that Jake recorded. We both feel that Kody’s song, “Dare to Live,” will zip up the charts in no time at all.”