Ray of Time (Ray #4)

by E. L. Todd

  Hell no. I was not doing a threesome with another dude. “No, that’s not what I meant.”

  “Then why don’t you just cut the shit and say what you mean?”

  She cornered me like a wounded dog, and I had nowhere to run. “Fine, this is the deal. Tobias is into you and wants me to figure out if you might be into him. If you think he’s cute or whatever, he’s gonna ask you out. But if you aren’t interested, then he’s going to move on.” Now that everything was out in the open, I could finally breathe again.

  “Oh...” Her features softened in response. “I wasn’t expecting you to say that.”

  “So, what do you think? Yay or nay?”

  “I do think he’s cute. He has a nice body.” She spoke her thoughts out loud. “But I’ve never looked at him that way before. I have to be honest, I’m not really a fan of a guy who needs to ask his friend if I’m into him. I need someone more confident than that.”

  “He is confident. The only reason why he wanted me to feel you out was because you two are friends. He didn’t want to make things awkward. If I’d done this right, I wouldn’t have spilled all the details to you. So...that was my fault.”

  She nodded in understanding. “If he asked me out, I’d give him a chance. I’m pretty open-minded when it comes to men.”

  “Cool.” I was glad I would have good news to relay to Tobias.

  “And for future conversations, you can just come out and ask me whatever you want. We’ve been friends for twenty years.”

  I smiled in response. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  The girls returned from the bathroom, and Tobias walked back inside. Jessie did a good job of pretending like nothing just happened. She spoke to Rae and Kayden about the game like she’d actually been watching it.

  Tobias gave me a questioning look, trying to figure out what happened in my exchange with Jessie.

  I nodded in return then clinked my beer against his. That was answer enough.

  He grinned back, his smile stretching from ear to ear. “Awesome.”

  Chapter Six

  Rae

  Zeke’s second bathroom had become my territory. My makeup, hair supplies, and salon hair dryer that Jessie got for me at a great price were scattered across the counter. I needed space to get ready, and unfortunately, I just took up too much space for us to share a single bathroom.

  Zeke didn’t seem to mind.

  I put on my new dress and cardigan, curled my hair, and slipped on my heels before I walked into the living room where Zeke was waiting. The barbecue started in fifteen minutes, and we needed to get on the road if we wanted to be there on time. “What do you think?”

  Zeke was staring at his phone when I initially walked inside. He stuffed it into the pocket of his jeans before he gave me his full focus. Instead of giving me that gaze of intense longing that I was used to, he seemed disappointed.

  He rose to his feet and slowly walked to me, still eyeing the dress and the cardigan.

  “Do you not like it?”

  He crossed his arms over his chest. “Let me start by saying you look beautiful, like always. But...what the hell are you wearing?”

  “What do you mean? Jessie picked it out with me.”

  “Are you going to church?”

  My jaw dropped. “It’s not that bad.”

  “It’s not bad, no,” he said. “But it’s not you, Rae. Why are you taking this barbecue so seriously? You’ve already met my parents. They know you as well as I do.”

  “I just want to make a good impression.”

  “Rae.” He gripped both of my shoulders and gave me a squeeze. “I want you to be you. I don’t want some classy princess. I want you in your jeans and hoodie. I want my down-to-earth, funny, and awesome girlfriend.”

  “It’s different now that I’m your girlfriend, Zeke.”

  “Yeah, it is different,” he admitted. “But that doesn’t mean you need to be different. I want you to be yourself around my family—always. Even if my family hated you, I couldn’t care less, Rae.”

  I took a deep breath and realized I was taking this way too seriously. “You’re right...”

  “I know I am. I want Rae, the woman who doesn’t give a shit what anyone thinks of her. I want that badass woman who holds her head high no matter what. I want that sexy lady who’s proud to be a tomboy. I want you exactly as you are—perfect.”

  I smiled at his sweetness. “You’re too good to me, Zeke.”

  “You’re good to me too, baby. And I appreciate you trying to integrate with my family.”

  “I know you’re close to them...”

  “And it means a lot to me.” He lowered his hands from my shoulders. “But never change for anyone. They already love you for you.” He pulled the cardigan off my shoulders then unzipped the back of my dress. “Now, I’d really like to have some hot sex on the couch, but we’re running late. So, when we get back, I want you to put this back on so we can do some role-playing.”

  “Role-playing?” I asked with a smile.

  “Yeah. You’re the good church girl, and I’m the bad boy.” He winked. “And I’m gonna turn you into a naughty girl.”

  ***

  I carried the green bean casserole into the house, wearing my dark blue hoodie, jeans, and my Chucks. It was nice to be in my regular street clothes, especially since it was a cool day. But I still felt the nerves get to me.

  “Mom, we’re here.” Zeke shut the door behind me, and we walked into the kitchen.

  Pam was standing at the counter with a platter of toppings for the hamburgers. Lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, and onions sat in a pretty display. They had their own garden in the backyard, so everything was homegrown. “Oh, I’m so excited to see you.” She wiped her hands on the towel then turned around to give her son a big hug. She had short blonde hair that didn’t match Zeke’s whatsoever, but she did have the same eyes.

  “It’s nice to see you too, Mom.” He returned her affection before he pulled away. “Rae made a casserole.”

  “Oh, that’s so sweet.” She walked up to me and looked into the bowl. “It looks amazing. Thank you so much, dear.” She placed the bowl on the counter before she hugged me. I noticed the embrace lasted longer than it ever had before. It was warm and full of motherly love, like always. “I’m so glad you’re here. You have no idea how happy Richard and I are about the two of you. When Zeke told me, I couldn’t stop smiling all day.” She pulled away and squeezed my arms gently. “A match made in heaven.”

  Now I felt stupid for being worried about this barbecue to begin with. “Thank you. I only wish this had happened sooner.”

  “It’s okay,” she said. “I always say everything happens for a reason.” She turned back to Zeke. “I’ll get your father. He’s at the grill.” She walked out of the kitchen and to the back patio. They had a large house, twice as big as Zeke’s.

  Zeke turned to me, and he didn’t bother hiding the smug grin on his face. “Told you.”

  “Don’t be a jerk.”

  He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me close, giving me more affection than he probably should have in his parents’ kitchen. “Aren’t you glad you didn’t wear that princess dress?”

  His mother was in jeans and a t-shirt just like Zeke. I definitely would have stuck out like a sore thumb. “You’re right. I admit it.”

  “Looks like you aren’t always right, huh?”

  I narrowed my eyes. “Don’t be a mean winner.”

  “Don’t be a sore loser.”

  When we bickered playfully, it made me want him even more. Being with him was like hanging out with my best friend and the sexiest guy in the world. “I’ll admit my defeat. And when we get home, I’ll pay reparations.”

  “Hmm... I like the sound of that.”

  I pressed my lips to his ear and whispered, “And you’ll like the feel of your cock in my mouth.”

  He stilled instantly, his hands tightening around my waist. He pulled away and looked down into my face,
his eyes dark and his jaw clenched with excitement. He gripped me a little harder, wanting to make that offer happen now instead of later.

  His dad entered the kitchen and ended the inappropriate conversations. “Where’s my little man?”

  I nearly laughed at the word little.

  “Hey, Pops.” Zeke turned around and hugged his father. His family was always affectionate. I’d seen men give their fathers a handshake when they saw each other most of the time. But Zeke’s family was different. “Those burgers smell good. I can smell them from here.”

  “I know my way around that grill.” He turned to me next. “You look lovely, Rae. Like a ray of sunshine.” He hugged me just as hard as Pam did, giving me a fatherly squeeze. “I hope you’re hungry. I made an extra patty for you. I know you like two.”

  “Thanks so much, Richard.” Zeke’s father was always kind, going out of his way to make Rex and me feel welcome. Sometimes I wondered if it was because we didn’t have parents of our own. But I also suspected things wouldn’t have been any different even if they were still around.

  “Come out in the backyard,” Richard said. “Zoey and Tom are outside.”

  “Who’s Tom?” I asked.

  “Zoey’s boyfriend,” Zeke answered.

  “Oh, cool.”

  Zeke took my hand and guided me outside. Richard returned to the grill on the patio, and Pam prepared the condiments on the picnic table. Zeke opened his ice chest and pulled out a beer. “What do you want, baby?”

  “Whatever you’re having.”

  He grabbed another and twisted the cap off before he handed it over. “Have I ever told you I think it’s hot when you drink beer?” He clinked his glass against mine with a handsome smile on his face.

  “Not manly?” I teased.

  “I think that’s why it’s sexy.” He winked then grabbed my hand. He took me to the picnic table under the willow tree and sat beside me on the bench. Zoey shared a lot of similar characteristics with her brother. She had the same brown hair, flawless complexion, and crystal blue eyes. But the dimensions of her face were strikingly similar to her mother’s, whereas Zeke took after his father. “What’s up, sis?” Zeke didn’t hug her the way he did his parents. They were close, just not touchy-touchy.

  I didn’t hug Rex either, so it wasn’t surprising. “Hey, Zoey.”

  “Hey.” Zoey and I always got along since the first day I came to the house when we were kids. She was more of a girly-girl like Jessie, but she still had a killer sense of humor and a buoyant personality.

  “Right back at you.” She clinked her glass of wine against my beer. “So, you finally sank your claws into my brother?”

  “Yeah,” I said. “I claimed him.”

  “Good,” she said. “My brother needs to settle down. He’s almost fifty.”

  “I like the way you talk about me in third person like I’m not here,” Zeke said. “And I’m thirty.”

  “Same thing,” Zoey teased.

  Zeke turned to her boyfriend Tom, a handsome guy in a collared shirt and jeans. “How do you put up with this?”

  Tom shrugged. “She buys me dinner sometimes.”

  “Maybe Taco Bell,” Zoey said with a laugh. “That’s my favorite place.”

  “Mine too,” I said. “I’d eat there every day if I had a car to go through the drive-thru.”

  “I have a Jeep,” Zeke offered. “I could take you every day.”

  I chuckled. “Believe me, you wouldn’t want to take me every day.” After so many bean burritos, my jeans wouldn’t fit anymore. “You’d regret it after about two weeks.”

  Richard waved to Zeke from the grill. “Son, could you give me a hand with the corn?”

  “Gotta go.” Zeke leaned in and kissed me like he’d be gone for a week. Then he joined his father on the patio, his ass looking awesome in his jeans, like always.

  I forced myself not to stare in front of his sister and her boyfriend, so I focused my attention on Zoey instead. “What’s new with you?”

  “I just got a Honda,” she said. “Needed it for work.”

  “That’s cool. You like it?”

  “Yeah, it’s pretty nice. It should last a long time, so that’s a plus.”

  I’d never had a car because I’d never needed one. Plus, it was extra money to cover the gas and the insurance. It was easier just to Uber where I needed to go. But I’d admit grocery shopping was a lot easier with a car. Zeke and I went shopping together, and the convenience was awesome. “You still like selling insurance?”

  She made a face. “Ugh, I hate it. I’m looking for something better.”

  “I’m sure you’ll find something you love.”

  “I come from a family of overachievers, so nothing I do will compare. But all I have to do is have a baby, and I’m back in the game.” She smiled like she was joking.

  Tom didn’t seem to care for it. He eyed her with a terrified expression, like marriage and kids were the last things on his mind.

  “So, you and Zeke, huh?” She crossed her arms and rested her elbows on the table.

  My smile formed automatically. “Yeah...it’s been great. He’s an amazing guy. Wish I’d noticed him sooner instead of wasting my time on jerks.”

  “I was so relieved when my mom told me the news. Don’t get me wrong, I liked Rochelle. She was a nice girl. But she just wasn’t...” Her voice trailed away like she couldn’t find the right words to explain herself. “She just wasn’t right for him. When I see him with you, I can tell he’s genuinely happy. With her, it felt forced.”

  At least his family didn’t see me as some kind of slut that kicked Rochelle out of the picture. I’d kept my feelings tucked away because I didn’t want to ruin what they had. In the end, it didn’t matter. “I liked her. She was sweet.”

  “When Zeke was going to propose, we all got onboard. Since we’d thought he would never settle down, we were just excited he’d found someone to spend his life with. But when he called it off to be with you, we were all relieved. My parents will never admit that, but I overheard them talking.” She sipped her wine then grabbed a stuffed mushroom sitting on the plate in the center of the table. She ate the entire thing in two bites.

  I froze in place because I heard what she said, but it hadn’t sunken in. The words wouldn’t get past my eardrums and absorb into my brain. My eyes were wide open, and my heart was beating so fast it actually hurt.

  Tom noticed my reaction. “Uh...I don’t think she knew that.”

  Zeke was going to propose to Rochelle?

  Why didn’t anyone tell me that?

  When was this going to happen? Did he buy a ring?

  Zoey’s cheeks reddened in guilt when she realized her mistake. “I’m so sorry. I just assumed you already knew...”

  Nope. Didn’t have a clue. “Excuse me, I need to use the bathroom...” I left the backyard and ventured into the house. When I was behind a locked door and sitting on the toilet seat, I was finally allowed to absorb what I’d just heard. I knew Zeke and Rochelle told each other they loved one another, but I had no idea he wanted to marry her.

  I’m the one who got in the way.

  Did her parents expect a proposal that never came?

  My head was spinning, and the guilt was eating me alive.

  Poor Rochelle. Did she know? Was she expecting him to ask but got dumped instead?

  Now I really felt low.

  ***

  We played Trivial Pursuit after dinner, and each couple was their own team. Zeke and I were both good at science, so we did well in that category. But Zeke was also a history aficionado, and I loved the English classics. The game didn’t last long because he won after a few rounds.

  Zoey stuck out her tongue. “What brainiacs. You guys are perfect for each other.”

  Zeke wrapped his arm around my shoulder and squeezed me into his side. “We do make a good team, baby.”

  I kept a smile plastered on my face and pretended everything was normal. “We do.”

>   He gave me a quick kiss on the lips, not caring about sharing affection with me in front of his entire family. Then he turned back to the table and picked up the pieces to the board game and returned them to the box.

  I spotted Pam nearly swooning with joy. She shared a smile with Richard, and he smiled back. Both were happy that Zeke and I were together. There didn’t seem to be any resentment that Rochelle had been kicked to the curb. I was welcomed with open arms.

  But I still felt like shit anyway.

  We said our goodbyes at the door, and hugs were passed around. When Zeke hugged his mother, he told her he loved her, like always. He did the same with his father. Zoey got a high five and nothing more.

  I hugged everyone goodbye and felt their love seep into my skin. When Pam hugged me, it seemed like she didn’t want to let me go. She wanted to make me her daughter right on the spot.

  Zeke and I finally made it to his Jeep and drove to his house just fifteen minutes away. The first half of the ride was spent in silence, listening to the radio as we drove home in the darkness. I looked out the window and watched the endless trees go by.

  “Told you my family loved you.” Zeke finally broke the silence with his eyes on the road. “I think they might love you more than me.” His hand snaked to mine on the leather seat. He interlocked our fingers, his pulse calm.

  “Yeah, you were right. I had a good time.”

  “Tom is a pretty nice guy. I like him.”

  “Yeah, he was cool.”

  “He’s a programmer for a software company in Seattle. Pretty smart dude. And I can tell he’s infatuated with Zoey. Anytime I look at him, he’s usually staring at her.”

  “Well, she’s gorgeous. I’m not surprised.”

  He shrugged in response.

  We made it back to the house and walked inside. Safari immediately greeted us the moment we walked inside, brushing up against us and licking our hands. I took the opportunity to take him to the backyard so he could do his business. The dark night enveloped me and gave me some privacy to consider my options. I wanted to confront Zeke about what I’d learned, but I wasn’t sure how to do it. No matter how the conversation went, it wouldn’t go well. I sat on the couch and looked at the tall trees of his enormous backyard. Safari had already finished pooping, but he was exploring the rest of the yard like he’d never been there before.