Tracy, Lisa, and Courtney waved to me from the back where I made my way over. We exchanged merry cheer while I waited for my latte to arrive. They didn’t jump in with their usual bickering about workload. My ears pricked up eventually.
“You look happier,” Courtney pointed out, and all three of them stared at me waiting for an explanation. They could wait.
“I enjoyed having a beak.” I shrugged. “Who doesn’t cheer up being away from school?”
“It’s a guy!” Lisa stated, grinning. “You have the sex bubble going on. Who is he?”
“I never mentioned a guy.”
“You don’t need to. It’s written all over your face,” Lisa continued. “Tell us. Please…”
“There really is nothing to tell. I thought you wanted to talk about the assignment or something.”
“Did you know Dylan McKenzie went to Ireland, too?” Tracy watched me carefully.
What the heck did she know? Dylan wasn’t even back yet.
“I didn’t know that. How do you know that?” I acted nonchalant.
“We had coffee before he left,” Tracy sighed. “He’s been messaging me while he’s been there. The place looks gorgeous. He said something happened to the bus and he got snowed in at a small village.” She grinned. “I wouldn’t have minded being snowed in with him. He’s really hot.”
My mind rapidly tried to work out how the hell she knew about the bus and being snowed in if Dylan hadn’t been the one to tell her. No way had he been with me while messaging another girl. I wasn’t the most confident person, but Dylan had been sincere. He had been. I had to believe that. There was a perfectly reasonable explanation.
“He said he was bored and that he’d rather be messaging me than spending his time with others from the bus.” Tracy gloated. “I can’t wait for him to get back on the twenty-ninth. He’s going to his parents’ but will be back to school on the fourth. We have a coffee date planned.”
“You’ve gone awfully pale, Jenna. Are you okay?” Courtney asked, frowning.
I wasn’t sure I was okay. The only way Tracy could know so much about Dylan’s trip to Ireland was if he’d told her himself because he hadn’t even arrived back in Boston yet.
“Think I’m coming down with a cold.”
“Don’t be upset that Dylan wants to spend time with me when he gets back. I’m more his type than you are.”
The bitch!
“I don’t mean to be harsh, but everyone knows you have a crush on him, so I thought it best if I told you myself instead of you finding out through the gossip.” Tracy shrugged. “I’m sorry Jenna, but I’m meant to be with Dylan.”
Lisa looked embarrassed while Courtney ate up every word Tracy said. I refused to believe them. But how she knew about his trip niggled at me. My mind wouldn’t move on from that.
He had to have told her.
Was he messaging her after he’d made love to me? Did he even message her?
Urgh!
“When did he message you?” I snapped, much to their surprise.
I wasn’t an angry person, but I was getting there right now.
“Christmas Eve was his last message. He told me he wouldn’t have connection, so we’d talk when he got back on the twenty-ninth.”
“Hmm.”
Courtney huffed out a loud breath. “I think we should talk about something else because this sounds like it’s about to get ugly.”
I glared at Courtney who backed off. “Tell me the truth Tracy, because it sounds like a load of bullshit.”
They gasped and Tracy looked as though I’d punched her in the stomach. “You’re saying I’m lying?”
“Yes.” I leaned forward until I was inches from her face.
She closed the distance and snarled. “I’ll show you.” Her phone landed on the table. “I have the messages saved.” She sniggered. “Then I expect an apology.”
Tracy’s fingers flew over the keys of her phone before she shoved it in my face. I hesitated before I took it from her. My eyes refused to focus as I recognized Dylan’s number. Inhaling deeply, I forced myself to read his words and felt my heart break as I did. He wrote about passing his time with a boring Irish girl who was visiting her family. He wrote that she wasn’t anything special.
“Jenna, you’re crying. Why?” Lisa asked quietly.
I raised my face and cast my glance between the three of them. “I have to go.”
Pushing away from the table, I glanced at Tracy and saw the smug look on her face. She wanted to upset me.
Some friend!
The moment I left the café, I ran smack into Jason. So not the time to have to face him. I’d been avoiding him since I’d gotten back…even avoided his texts the past couple of days; the last thing I needed was him insisting on consoling me.
There had once been a time when I’d have let him, however; with his feelings toward me going more toward the need for a relationship, it was no longer wise.
“Jenna, let me help you,” he begged, trying to grab hold of my shoulders as I backed away.
I cried into a tissue I’d found in my pocket and met his worried frown. “I can’t talk to you about what’s wrong, okay? I wish I could, but I don’t want to hurt you.”
His frown deepened. “Why would you hurt me?” He shook his head. “Jenna, we’ve been friends for years.” He took my shoulders in his hands and held on to me. “I’m worried about you.”
“I’m stressed with the assignment, and Christmas didn’t go as planned and…and…I’m tired—you know, jet lag and all. It’s a mixture of everything. I just need to go home and sleep.” I backed away as he followed.
Jason rolled his eyes and tugged me straight into his arms. My own, completely in reaction, flew around his waist to catch myself, and I decided to stay where I was. He felt warm and it was nice being held by someone familiar.
His heavy sigh resonated against me, and I froze when he asked, “Did you tell me the truth?”
I wanted to be honest with him, my best friend, but I couldn’t. Hurting Jason was the last thing I wanted to do. “Yeah,” I sighed and left the heat of his arms. “I’m going home to catch up on sleep. Maybe I won’t feel as weepy then.”
“I’ve never known you to be like this before.” Jason tilted his head and regarded me through different eyes. He knew I was lying to him. He probably knew it was to do with a guy too.
At least I hadn’t admitted anything to him. Thinking about him at least took my mind away from Dylan. For mere seconds anyway.
13
Dylan
My parents hugged me to them, but it was my mom who wouldn’t let go. Her cold hands cupped my face while she placed kisses all over. “I missed you. You’re never leaving me at Christmas again. Ever.” She kissed me again while I cast my eyes over to Dad for help. He just stood back and grinned.
“Dad, a little help.” I struggled around Mom’s hold. She laughed and, after giving me one last kiss, she patted my cheek and snuggled against Dad.
“It’s good to see your face,” Dad said, before placing a kiss to the top of Mom’s head.
I loved how they were both affectionate after over twenty years together and they didn’t care who knew it. My uncles were all the same and it made me want what they’d built over the years. Maybe I’d have that with Jenna.
Speaking of which, where had she gotten to? I did a slow circle trying to spot her, but nowhere was there a head of red curls. I’d messaged her earlier and she hadn’t replied.
“Who are you looking for?” Mom asked, frowning.
“I have a girl,” I grinned. “She’s coming home with me. I just don’t know where she is.” I continued looking around. “She’d said she’d be here.”
“Maybe she got held up in traffic,” Dad offered. “Plus, your flight did land a bit early.”
“Fifteen minutes, Dad.” I sighed and met his gaze. “Let me try and call her. She isn’t one for being late or not messaging. I’m worried.”
Moving away
for privacy, I dialed Jenna’s number. It rang continually until it clicked over to her voicemail. I hated those things, but I did leave her a message.
“Jenna, its Dylan. I’m worried. Where are you? Is everything okay?” I stared at the phone and let the beep of the voicemail disconnect the call.
There was only one other person who I knew was still around school until later today. My cousin Jaxon.
I waved over to my parents’ and told them five minutes. Dialing Jaxon, he answered on the second ring.
“Why are you calling me so early?”
“Nice to talk to you too, Jax.” I ran a hand through my hair. “Jax, have you seen Jenna McCormick around school over the holidays?”
There was rustling on his side of the phone and then he came back on the line. “You really are into this Jenna chick, huh? I knew it.”
“Okay, Mr. Genius, tell me if you’ve seen her,” I asked becoming impatient.
“I haven’t seen Jenna, but I got cornered by Tracy the other day. She wanted to know where you were and who you were with. I didn’t tell her much, she seemed to already know it anyway. She asked me for the pic you sent me of the village. I didn’t give it to her, but one of the guys borrowed my phone and sent the picture to her.” I could hear his shrug down the phone. “She wanted more pictures, but I refused, and she got snarly. I told her to get lost. Don’t think she liked me being that honest.”
My heart sunk the more Jaxon spoke. “What did she do or say?”
“Not much. She did look a bit too closely at the village pic you sent though. It was just a snow picture. I didn’t get it. Anyway, where are you?”
“At the airport with my parents. Wondering where Jenna is.”
“She was supposed to be there?”
“Yeah. I asked her to come home with me. She promised to meet my flight. I can’t get through to her. I’m worried, Jax.”
“Then detour to her apartment. She’s in apartment twenty-eight, across from us. It’s a single.”
“You know this, how?” I grumbled.
“Don’t be a dick. We’ve passed coming out of our buildings. Plus, I figured you’d want to know in the end. Jeez!”
I winced. “Sorry. Go back to sleep.”
“I can’t. I’m supposed to be ready to go when your parents swing by to pick me up.” He hung up.
Turning, Mom stood behind me. “Your father went for the car. He’s going to pick us up outside.” She slipped her arm through mine. “Do you want to go and stop by her place? We need to pick Jaxon up too before heading home.”
“She lives across the square from the apartment.” Absentmindedly, I let Mom lead me from the airport, wondering what was going on with Jenna.
I hadn’t heard from her for just over a day, but I hadn’t worried because of the time difference and then my flight. My gut told me I should have been worried. I also had a sinking feeling it had something to do with Tracy.
Groaning, I climbed into the back seat of Dad’s SUV and tried calling Jenna again. Each time, it went to voicemail.
“No luck, huh?” Dad asked, watching me through the rearview mirror.
“Oh honey,” Mom turned and patted my knee, “I’m sure she’s okay.” Smiling, she added, “Can you message Jaxon and let him know we’re close?”
“Yeah.”
Jaxon ignored my message. “You guys go up to Jaxon. I’m going to go and find Jenna. I can’t leave until I know she’s okay.”
“Are you sure everything is okay between the two of you?” Dad asked, turning the engine off.
“Jenna is Isaac’s niece. Turned out we go to the same school.” I glared at Dad. “I don’t suppose you knew that already?”
“News to me.” He grinned.
“You planned it.” I rolled my eyes and Mom laughed. “It worked out well, which is why I don’t know why she didn’t meet me.” I had a thought. “Perhaps she got scared of meeting you both.”
“Now Dylan, don’t be using those kinds of excuses. We’re not scary.” Mom patted my knee. “Go find her, honey.”
I swallowed hard suddenly hit with nerves. “Wait for me,” I shouted over my shoulder already dashing across the square.
The air was icy as I gasped, slipping and sliding my way toward the girl I’d fallen for. What had happened between then and now, I didn’t know, but I was determined to find out. My only hope was that she was actually okay.
Skidding to a stop on Jenna’s floor, the unmistakable sound of Tracy’s voice floated down the hallway, although I couldn’t see her. Tracy was obviously being a bitch to Jenna, and it suddenly clicked why Jenna hadn’t been at the airport or answered her phone. If I wasn’t partly responsible for Tracy’s actions, I would be annoyed with Jenna for not believing in me. However, I was annoyed at the girl and myself. I should have known better but hadn’t wanted to be horrid, so I’d responded to her messages. Little had I known she’d use them to upset the girl I was in love with.
“I’m going to call him if you don’t believe me,” Tracy snarled.
I quickly retrieved my phone and hit the silence button on the side, and as soon as her call appeared, I cancelled it. What would the horrid girl do now?
To my amusement she started talking, clearly a one-sided conversation with me. I chanced a glance around the corner so I could see what was going on and Tracy and two of her friends had their backs toward me. Jenna didn’t.
Taking a chance, I slipped toward the opened doorway and held my finger over my lips to indicate for Jenna not to give me away. Although with her reaction, I thought the girls would turn but they didn’t. Instead, Jenna looked back at Tracy and carried on listening to her chatting away—to herself`!
When Tracy said, “So you’re already in Lexington, huh? Well, I hope you have a good New Year’s party with your family. I know, you can’t wait to get back but you really need to spend it with your family. I love you too. Kisses baby. Bye for now, Dylan,” I decided to step into view.
Tracy was left with her phone hanging from her hand while her cheeks blushed a bright shade of red. Her two friends looked between her, me and Jenna, and then back to their friend.
“As you can see, she wasn’t talking to me.” I shrugged before I pulled my phone out from my back pocket. I stepped beside Jenna. “She did call me, but I canceled the call and blocked her number.”
“You still messaged me from Ireland,” Tracy insisted, her lips pressed into a stubborn scowl.
“Yes, I did. To be polite. And if you thought I would tell you about the girl who has my heart before I’d told my family, then you don’t know me at all. Oh, and you might want to avoid Jaxon for a while because he’s annoyed that you got the photograph of the village from his phone.”
I placed an arm around Jenna and ushered her away from the door before I slammed it in their faces. “She’s the reason you weren’t at the airport?”
Jenna nodded, staring at me wearily. “She told me all kinds of stuff and showed me messages, and the photograph on her phone.” Tears fell from her eyes. “I should never have believed her.”
“If I’d told you from the start, then none of this would have happened. She wouldn’t have had a leg to stand on because you’d have already known and seen the messages I’d sent from my phone. I hate that I upset you.”
“Did you mean what you said?” she asked, quietly.
I grinned, and teased, “What part?” while backing her further into her apartment. “I said a few things.”
“You know which part I’m talking about.”
“I want to hear you ask me.”
“Am I in your heart?” she whispered.
Taking her beautiful face between the palms of my hands, I pressed a soft kiss to her lips. “Yes Jenna. I meant every word. I love you, and I still want you to come home with me.”
“What will your parents think of me?”
“My parents will love you.” I kissed her lips, lingering on her taste as my blood thickened. “They’ll love you because I do
.” Our mouths fused together, and I might have forgotten my parents waited for us.
14
Jenna
The McKenzie’s were overwhelming when they were together. Two days into the New Year celebrations and I still couldn’t remember who everyone was. Dylan’s parents, Sebastian and Carla, were amazing, and, of course, I remembered their names, along with his sister, Madison and husband, Derek. Dylan’s cousins would have to stay nameless for now, otherwise, I’d end up having a panic attack. Jaxon, I knew from school, but he’d been absent for the most part since arriving home.
Lexington was beautiful and so was Dylan’s home. Everywhere I’d been this winter—Ireland, Boston, and now, Lexington—there had been snow covering the ground. Not just a small amount either. Deep snow. I loved it. The little kid came out in me and my mind went straight to snowmen, ice skating—which I couldn’t do—and snow angels. Thanks to Dylan, I had a slightly different view on winter activities.
On that naughty thought, I cast a side-eyed glance at him. Dylan raised a brow and the corners of his mouth twitched up in a smirk. He knew exactly where my mind had gone.
I grinned up at the handsome man standing beside me. This evening, he’d changed from his usual rugged self, to an elegantly dressed hot guy. I never knew a pair of black slacks could look so good on a guy. The material molded to his thighs and rounded ass making me hot and bothered. I tried to avoid looking at his groin, but damn, his package was cupped nicely.
“If you don’t stop eyeing my cock, it’s going to get embarrassing,” Dylan whispered. “I mean it Jenna.”
“You look really hot in those pants.” I turned my body into him, and whispered, “I think you should wear only them when we get back to our room.”
He growled, “Stop teasing me.”
“I think we should get started.” I slipped my hand between us and rubbed against his growing erection. “You’re going to be ready to go, very soon. Maybe my mouth can get you fully ready.”
McKenzie Cousins Box Set Four: Books Ten, Eleven, Twelve Page 6