Chapter Four
Zoey
Luke’s Jeep smelled just like him: pine, wool, and a touch of danger. Okay, so maybe the “danger” was the faint smell of gasoline, but still. Zoey breathed in deep. This car said a lot about its owner. The red, four-door Wrangler was rugged but stylish, with its leather seats and manual transmission. It told her that the owner liked to stay in control, but wanted to look good doing it.
She giggled. Good God, when would she stop doing that? She sounded like a seven-year-old. She didn’t like acting like one of his groupies, but she couldn’t help melting a little every time he set eyes on her. And that sexy, lazy grin? Her bones turned to Jell-O.
Speaking of which—when had Parker mastered that skill? He’d flashed her a nearly identical, albeit slight more genuine, lazy grin when they were having coffee. Had he always done that and she hadn’t noticed? Huh.
She glanced at the brothers standing just outside the coffee shop, worried by the tension in the way they stood, facing off, having what looked like a semi-serious discussion out in the cold. They never discussed anything seriously. Ever.
Fought, yes. Discussed, no.
When they were younger, Luke and Parker fought all the time, giving her a chance to see what it was like to have brothers. She loved it—fights and all—so much that she was always lonely the first few weeks after coming home from Aspen. But this seemed different. Worse. Their postures were more dominant and wound-up, like Luke had pushed Parker one button too far.
She revved the engine to get their attention. Whatever was bothering them needed to take a rest. She didn’t want to have to be their referee this trip. She’d done that three years ago when Luke “borrowed” Parker’s board because his was broken…then broke Parker’s, too. Parker, in turn, had thrown Luke’s trophy from his first win at the Boardercross race into a snowdrift in the backyard and refused to tell Luke where he hid it. They didn’t speak to each other for two-thirds of the vacation, leaving Zoey to organize all the activities and separate them when they made eye contact and fists started clenching.
Revving the engine did the trick. They both jumped slightly and turned to face the Jeep at the same time. Totally brothers, even if they were annoyed with each other. They started for the car. Parker stalked, barely hiding the fact that he was still really, really mad, but Luke swaggered behind him, like he’d hit his brother where it hurt, just as she’d suspected.
Seriously, what was wrong with these two?
Luke rapped on her window, flashing her a hundred-watt smile. “You can ride shotgun, but I’m driving, Sweet Cheeks.”
Parker made a gagging sound. “Sweet cheeks? Miller, are you going to stand for that?”
Two pairs of hazel eyes focused on her, like the answer to that question was the most important thing in the universe. What the hell was going on? “I’ll let it slide this time.”
She hopped out of the driver’s seat and managed to brush her arm against Luke’s chest as she passed by. Parker rolled his eyes and followed her passenger side. Once Luke’s door slammed, she grabbed Parker’s sleeve. “Is everything okay with you two?”
He shot Luke an unreadable glance. “Fine. I just need to talk to my brother about…boundaries.”
Boundaries? Had he noticed her flirting with Luke, and Luke flirting back? Because that’s what it had felt like—him flirting back. Was Parker mad because he thought Luke was messing with her? “I hope everything’s okay now.”
“It is what it is,” was his cryptic answer, before he opened the front passenger door for her and shut it after she climbed in.
The Jeep’s interior was so thick with tension on the ride home, Zoey couldn’t bring herself to talk. That didn’t stop Luke, though. “So, Zoey, there’s a great new club downtown. Eighteen to enter. How’s a night out dancing sound?”
Parker jumped in before she could answer. “Sounds good to me. How about it, want to join us?”
Luke’s jaw tightened, and Parker looked pleased with himself. Oh, great. She’d been right. Parker didn’t approve of Luke showing her that kind of attention. Sweet of him to be so protective, but she could handle herself. Still, the guys seemed strung out and she had to keep the peace somehow. She’d roll with Parker as a chaperone for now, but try to find a way to get Luke alone so she could gauge how he felt. “Sounds fun. I brought some going-out clothes just in case. When?”
Please say tonight. Please ditch your bros and let me show off my red dress. She thought about fluttering her eyelashes, but that was going too far. Or was it? Hadn’t Paige’s boyfriend, Ben, said something about her being a danger to others when she vamped it up? How much was too much?
Luke winked. “I’m booked tonight, and the club’s closed Sunday through Tuesday, so we’ll go Wednesday night. I overheard Mom say the parents are having an Apples to Apples tournament then, so it’ll be a good idea to escape.”
“God, I hope we never get that boring when we’re old,” she said.
Parker chuckled in the backseat. “Miller, when we’re old, we’re going to be smoking the youngsters up on the Cirque. They’ll all be like, ‘look at those geezers cutting a trail!’ It’ll be awesome.”
She looked over the headrest to grin at him. “Then we’ll put on our bifocals and get into our Caddie and drive home ten miles under the speed limit.”
The skin around Luke’s eyes tightened. “And what will I be doing?”
Wound up. Both of them. “You’ll be with us, of course.”
“The three amigos.” Luke snorted. “Z, you know Parker and I aren’t a package deal. Eventually we’ll go our separate ways, and you’ve always stuck with Peanut Butter.”
She shrank down in her seat feeling like she’d been sucker punched. “I’d hoped we could all still get together, like our parents do.”
Hopefully, you and me with our kids, and Parker with his family. Wouldn’t that be perfect?
“We will,” Parker said, and Zoey caught him glaring at Luke in the rearview mirror. “We’re friends forever, Miller. Luke doesn’t stick to stuff, but I do, and I promise, I’ll be there.”
Luke’s hands gripped the wheel so hard his knuckles turned pale in the dim light. “I’m not as temporary as you seem to think, bro.”
Holy crap. Zoey waved her hands. “Okay, okay, stop. I don’t know what the problem is, but you two either need to tell me or get over it. I can’t referee if I don’t know what I’m dealing with.”
“It’s nothing,” Luke growled to the windshield.
“Nothing,” Parker said.
Yeah, right. Because “nothing” had them in a really pissy mood.
Luke turned down their street. Lights were on in both houses—Zoey’s a rustic two-story, and the boys’ column-fronted colonial. Or so Parker told her—she wouldn’t know the difference. Their windows gleamed a soft gold against the snow, welcoming them home.
“See you at seven,” Parker called as she hopped out into the slush at the edge of the driveway.
She nodded, then half-skated up the frozen sidewalk to the front door. While Parker and Luke lived here year-round, her place was their second home. Her parents paid Parker to mow the lawn in the summer and bring in the mail, but it still felt lonely and stale the first day or two after they arrived. “I’m home!”
“Okay!” Dad called, probably in the kitchen. “Have fun?”
Had she? Interesting question. “Yeah, but the guys were kind of snarling at each other.”
He came into the entry, drying his hands on a dishtowel, and gave her a quick side-hug. “You expected peace?”
“Not exactly.” She chewed on a strand of her hair—a habit she was very careful to hide from her friends back home. “But this wasn’t their usual one-upmanship. Something’s wrong.”
Dad’s expression turned thoughtful, and a little sad. “Hmm. Well, don’t turn yourself inside out about it, chickadee. Let them figure it out and stay out of firing range.”
“I’ll try.”
Sh
e trudged upstairs for a quick shower, waving at her mother, who was rummaging in the storage closet at the front of the upper hallway. Probably looking for photo albums. She and Mrs. Madison liked to coo and weep over baby pictures when everyone got together for the holidays, musing about how big the kids were. How grown up. It was sweet…and kind of embarrassing. Especially since Luke was in college. They weren’t children anymore.
Now, she simply had to prove it.
Chapter Five
Parker
Parker avoided looking at Luke as much as humanly possible while helping Mom set the table for dinner. Candles glowed, tall and elegant in their crystal holders, and she’d pulled out all the stops with linen tablecloths and a flower centerpiece ordered from her favorite florist in downtown Aspen. She was even wearing dress pants and a nice top instead of her usual sweater and jeans.
And now she was fixing the silverware he’d just laid on the table. Apparently they were a millimeter out of alignment. “Mom, it’s just the Millers. Not a state dinner.”
“It’s their first night in town, and I want it to be perfect.” She flashed him a smile. “I’ve missed Jen and Brian so much. I imagine it’s nice to have Zoey back, too.”
Her tone sounded expectant. Wait, did she know something? The knowing look in her eye said she did. Crap.
He used the excuse of folding a napkin to avoid looking at her. What was it about mothers and their relationship-ESP? “Yeah. I love it when Miller’s in town.”
“Of course he does. Peanut Butter is incomplete without Jelly,” Luke said, putting the last pot in the dishwasher. He stole a stuffed mushroom from the tray on the counter, narrowly avoiding a slap on the hand from Mom. “What?”
“Those are for our guests.” The doorbell rang and Mom clapped. “They’re here!”
“Does that mean I can eat the mushrooms now?” Luke called at her back as she raced to the door.
“Dude, really?” Parker muttered. “Can’t you wait thirty seconds?”
“Why wait when something’s right in front of you—that’s what I always say.”
Luke’s tone was mischievous, and Parker’s eyes narrowed. “What the hell does that mean?”
His brother popped a mushroom into his mouth and raised his hands as if to say, “Sorry, can’t tell you.”
Excited voices filled the house—Mom and Mrs. Miller talking about Mom’s latest reno project, Dad teasing Mr. Miller about how bad the Cowboys looked this year. Zoey rounded the corner into the kitchen and Parker’s jaw dropped. She had on tight jeans and a sweater, with her hair and makeup done. She never dressed up for dinner, and he’d never minded, but…
Damn she looked hot.
She waved a hand toward the living room. “You’d think it’s been ten years since they’ve seen each other.”
Luke swallowed the mushroom and smiled at her. “They’re so cute at that age.”
Zoey laughed. “Yeah? Get ready to hear that phrase all night, big boy. Mom brought photo albums with her.”
Parker and Luke groaned in unison, which set them all off laughing.
“How’re your legs?” Parker asked. “Think you’ll be able to board tomorrow?”
“Hey, don’t think you’re getting out of showing off for me.” She put her hands on her hips like an angry playground monitor. “I’ll be just fine tomorrow.”
“I’ll bring some Advil anyway, hotshot.”
They stared at each other down, grinning, before Zoey said, “Point taken.”
“Bring the Advil.” Luke grabbed another mushroom and toasted them with it. “’Cause, bro, I think you’ll need it after trying to keep up with me.”
Great, here we go again. Could Luke lay off for one night? “If you’re suggesting I’m going to wipe out tomorrow, think again. I’ve been home since the parks opened—you haven’t. I have two weeks on you.”
“And I have two years on you, little man.” Luke puffed his chest out, looking smug, which struck Parker as stupid since he was taller. “I was boarding while you were in bunny class with Z here.”
To his surprise, Zoey jumped to his rescue. “Maybe, but you taught us everything you know, which means Parker might have tricks up his sleeve you don’t.”
Heat spread across his chest and up the back of his neck. After the flirting earlier, it was nice to see Zoey stick up for him. “And I’m only one here smart enough to wear my helmet.”
Zoey rolled her eyes. “I feel like I can’t move my head in one.”
Luke gave Zoey a fist bump. “And I think they look stupid. No sense in preparing for a fall that won’t happen.”
“You wear them to Boardercross,” Parker said.
“Yeah, because that’s more like roller derby than pure downhill. I don’t need one for everyday stuff.”
Parker sighed. “Don’t come crying to me when your eyeball falls out, then.”
Zoey and Luke exchanged looks and Parker gave them both a wicked grin. “Totally happened to a guy last year at one of the Snowmass Big Air Friday Nights. Hit his cheekbone and face so hard, his eye socket lost pressure and his eyeball fell out. I swear—I saw it happen. Helmets, children. Helmets.”
Luke stared at the mushroom in his hands. “Think I’ll throw this away.”
He staggered off, face green, but Zoey shuddered with morbid glee. “You tell the most disgusting stories.”
“Is that a clue you want more?” He knew full well she would. The two of them had spent hours as kids sneaking horror movies in her game room. The gorier, the more she shrieked…and the more she liked it.
“Yes, but wait until Luke’s back.” She chuckled. “Did you see his face? He’s such a weenie.”
“Remember that time he passed out when he cut his hand? Dude only needed two stitches!”
They both dissolved into silent laughter. Luke came back in and eyed them. Parker swallowed his amusement and asked, “All better?”
“Wait, about your story,” Zoey said, her eyes gleaming with mischief. “What did you do?”
Parker sobered. He hadn’t known the guy, but had felt for him tremendously. “I helped push the crowd out of the way so the medics could get to him.”
“Wonder what happened to the eyeball?” Zoey tapped her chin with her finger, and Luke swallowed hard.
“You kids ready for dinner?” Mom called.
“Not anymore,” Luke muttered, and Zoey giggled into her hand.
A pang hit Parker’s chest. He liked teasing Luke, but this was probably over the line. “Just don’t think about it. Trust me, you’re still hungry. You just have to turn your brain off.”
“Yeah?” Luke smirked. “Tell me, bro. How do you do it?”
Okay, maybe it wasn’t so over the line after all.
Mom bustled into the kitchen, followed by Zoey’s parents. Jen Miller was an older version of her daughter, right down to the blue eyes and blond hair. Brian Miller was a hulk of a guy—six-five, most of it muscle. To look at them, you’d see a socialite and her square-jawed bodyguard. In reality, Brian had founded a dot.com right out of college that he then sold for millions.
When he stopped to think about it—how the Millers were worth half a billion—it was kind of hard to believe. Zoey was as down-to-earth as any normal girl, not affected by her wealth, or her looks. His own parents were doing just fine. They owned a high-end ski gear line, which always ensured Parker had the best of everything, and allowed them to live in high-rent Aspen year round. But the Millers? They were a whole other kind of wealthy. Hell, Zoey drove a new BMW to school.
“Parker!” Jen stepped forward and gave him a hug, while Brian shook Luke’s hand. “It’s so nice to see you, honey.”
He squirmed at her warm, affectionate tone. More affectionate than usual, anyway. Did she know how he felt about her daughter, too? Wait, had his mom said something? From the fond, conspiratorial twinkle in her eye, he thought she might have.
She turned to Luke next, and while her greeting was warm, it lacked a note that Parker�
��s had.
Yeah…she knew.
They settled into their usual places around his family’s huge kitchen table—the Dads at one end, the Moms at the other, with Zoey and Parker sharing a side of the middle, across from Luke. In the early days, this arrangement had been to entertain the two youngest. Later, it was to keep a twelve-year-old Luke and a ten-year-old Parker from trying to steal food off each other’s plates. Now, it was simply tradition, and no one had to be told where to sit. Parker liked it that way, especially since it meant Zoey was to his left for every meal they shared.
“So, Zoey?” Parker’s dad asked. “Any word on college, yet?”
She picked at her chicken. “I’m accepted to Texas, Arizona State, and Colorado State, but I haven’t decided.”
“Yet,” her mother corrected. “But she will soon.”
“Yes, mother, she will.” Zoey’s tone was caustic and she curled in on herself.
Parker frowned. He’d thought she was going to Colorado State with him. They’d talked about it a few years ago. Since when had she applied to Arizona State? UT made sense—that’s where all four of their parents had gone. Their moms had been sorority sisters and best friends. So, when his mom fell in love with his dad, she fixed Jen up with his best friend: Brian.
But why was Zoey applying to ASU?
There was only one reason.
Luke.
He glanced up at his brother and the corner of Luke’s mouth twitched. He hadn’t missed that exchange, probably tallying it as another reason to make a play for Zoey. Parker fought a glare. It’d be a cold day in Hell before he’d let that happen.
He nudged Zoey’s shoulder lightly. “You know, if you go to Colorado State, we can board every weekend during the season.”
“I don’t want to talk about it,” she muttered.
Nobody talked much after that.
Once they finished the dishes, Parker finally couldn’t take the silence. “Miller, talk to me.”
She sighed. “It’s nothing.”
“No, ‘it’ cratered dinner.” He put his hands on her shoulders. “Tell me what’s wrong.”
Defying Gravity Page 3