“He’ll be fine,” Reece tried to comfort me with a reassuring smile. “But I don't really think you’re fooling him as to why you want to move.”
Rubbing my temples, I tried to take a deep breath to ward off the headache that was setting in. I hated being at odds with my brother since we so rarely were. He had given up so much for me, had taken care of me from the moment I was born. I hated to do anything to make him unhappy, but I had been telling the truth when I told him moving away was something I needed to do. For my own sanity I needed to get away.
“Yeah, I don’t think so either,” I answered her, hearing dread seep into my voice. Wrapping her arm around my shoulders, Reece tugged me to her side and hugged me tight. I leaned into her embrace glad I had asked her to be there when I told Declan the news.
“You’re doing the right thing, Kenzie. You’re looking out for yourself for once. Declan is going to come around.” She said the last part with a determination that made me think if my brother didn't come around soon, his fiancé was going to show him the way. The image of my brother getting railroaded by his hormonal pregnant fiancé lightened the tension that had crept into my gut.
“When are you going to tell everyone else?” Reece asked after a moments silence.
Thinking about telling the rest of the family made my skull start to throb. “I have no idea.” I let my heavy head fall back onto the couch and stared up at the ceiling like it would give me the answer. “Maybe at dinner tomorrow night if I don’t chicken out. I’m going to have to tell them soon, otherwise I’ll have to move all of my stuff by myself.”
“I’m sure we can rustle up a few recruits,” Reece assured me with a small chuckle, her hand rubbing soothing circles along my back. “If not you, Jon, Lane, and I will just have to remember to lift with our legs and not our backs.”
I gave her cheek a light pat making her amber eyes light up with laughter. “Have I mentioned how lucky my brother is to have snatched you up?”
She shrugged twirling a piece of her dark hair around her finger. “Once or twice. I’m sure he could stand hearing it again.”
I worried the inside of my cheek looking out the door again only to see that Declan had disappeared from view. “Do you think he’s going to be mad at me long?”
Letting the smile fall from her face, Reece cupped my jaw in her hands. “Kenzie, he’s not mad at you. He’s worried. We both are. You’ve haven't been acting like yourself these past few weeks and he wants to keep you close. Just give him time. You’re doing the right thing.”
Nodding I closed my eyes as my head fell back against the couch. “That’s what I keep telling myself.” If I didn’t I wasn't sure I was going to be able to go through with my plan.
If I ever wanted to get over Jason Craw, I had to go through with the plan.
Jace
Waking up early was getting easier since I had stopped going out and drinking so much. Ever since Adrenaline had wrapped up our last tour, the guys and I had been taking it relatively easy as far as partying went. Hell, since Declan had met Reece he’d become so domesticated it was rare to see him without his girl somewhere near by. Not that I minded. Reece fit right in with our family.
As I walked out onto my front porch I saw that Declan’s car was parked at the main house. He and Reece were probably inside visiting with Aunt Lorraine before they looked over the progress the builders were making on their house. Just as I started to walk over, I saw my friend storm out letting the door swing shut behind him. The sound of it carried across the lawn as Declan stomped towards the stables.
Scratching my head, I wondered what had gotten into him when he spotted me from the corner of his eye. Although we were a few hundred feet away from one another, I could see his shoulders tense, could practically feel his blue eyes boring into me. He took a single step in my direction before seeming to think better of it. He turned on his heel and started back towards the stables.
“Huh,” I heard Lucas say as he approached my porch. He climbed the steps to stand beside me sporting his usual frown. We both watched Declan yank the barn door open. When he disappeared inside I felt Lucas’ eyes on my face. “What did you do?”
“I have no idea,” I answered, trying to think of something I might have done to offend the guy in the past few days. “Guess I better go find out.” I started down the stairs with Lucas at my heels. I saw him pull out his phone from the corner of my eye and cocked a brow in question.
My cousin glanced up at me and shrugged once before sliding his phone into his back pocket. “Wyatt and I have a deal that if there’s ever a chance of a fight, we’ll give each other a heads up.”
Stopping in my tracks I turned to face him. “Why do you think there’s going to be a fight?”
Lucas kept walking towards the barn never slowing his pace as Wyatt came bounding into view, still pulling on the shirt he had grabbed on his way out the front door.
“What have we got this morning?” Lucas’ twin asked tugging on his shirt. The bastard looked almost giddy as he waited for his brother’s report.
“Declan just stomped out of the house looking like he could murder someone. Our cousin was on the receiving end of that look,” Lucas informed him as we all continued to head towards to stables.
“What the fuck did you do?” Wyatt asked staring at me the same way his brother had moments before.
“Who says I did anything?” I bit out giving him an annoyed look.
“Well we’re about to find out,” Lucas remarked calmly as we walked into the barn.
Leaning against the wall, Wyatt crossed his feet at his ankles. With a mischievous grin he waited to see what was going to happen next. When a moment passed without anyone speaking Wyatt cleared his throat. “Good morning, sunshine,” he chimed cheerfully.
Declan wiped a hand over his brow glancing in Wyatt’s direction before going back to his task. His jaw was clenched so tight I was surprised he hadn't chipped a tooth.
Lucas hit his twin's shoulder hard enough to make him wince. While Wyatt seemed incapable of taking anything seriously, Lucas was the polar opposite. He was always the one we could count on. Lucas had a tendency to take on the responsible role in the group. I suspected he felt like it was his job to look out for everyone.
“What’s going on, Declan?” Lucas asked in a soothing voice. It was the one he used with skittish animals or his son Simon when there was a particularly bad storm. “Everything alright with Reece?”
“Reece is good,” Declan grunted as he tossed the shovel aside. “She’s inside with Little One now.” When he said his sister’s nickname Declan’s eyes zeroed in on me. His face took on a hostile quality that almost made me flinch.
I had been best friends with Declan for over a decade and in all that time we had never fought. This past year had changed all that. There had been a noticeable rift between us. A rift between me and the whole family if I was being honest.
“Is it your mom?” Lucas hedged hesitantly. Declan and Kenzie’s mom had always been a sore subject, even more so after she had faked a terminal illness in order to get money from Declan. The Kane siblings hadn't really seemed bothered by the incident lately. Ever since Kenzie had confronted their mother, giving her a much deserved fist to the face, they seemed to be at peace where Mara Kane was concerned.
“Nope,” Declan spat out. His answer made my heart leap to my throat. If there was nothing wrong with Reece or his mother, there was only one other person who was capable of getting Declan this worked up.
“Well then what?” Wyatt groaned impatiently. “The suspense is killing us.”
“It’s Kenzie, isn't it?” My voice came out gruffer than I had intended and all eyes turned to me.
“What about Little One?” Wyatt’s voice lost all trace of humor as he took a step towards Declan. “She’s okay, right?”
“She’s fine,” Declan spat out glaring at me.
I wondered if Kenzie had finally broken down and told her brother about what had happened
between the two of us on her birthday last year, but some part of me deep down knew she would never do that. She loved her brother too much to make him hate his friend and bandmate for acting like an absolute dick.
“When Reece and I move onto the property next week, Kenzie will be moving into Reece’s house in town.”
“Since when?” Lucas demanded shooting me the same heated look that Declan was. I turned to see that Wyatt had the same angry expression on his face. “Why would she move into town when we’re all here?”
“She said she needs space,” Declan barked out a bitter laugh. “Remember the first day we came here? I couldn't get her unglued from my side. She’s always been with us and now she wants to move away. What’s worse is she is lying to me about why.”
“Why do you think she’s lying to you?” Wyatt wondered. He glanced towards the house as if he could see Kenzie through the walls.
“I don’t think, I know,” Declan corrected as he began to pace. “I’ve always known when she’s lying to me.” He looked at me again making my gut clench as regret flooded through me. Kenzie had been lying to her brother to protect me for quite some time now and I was too big of a coward to do anything about it.
After a moment of tense silence Wyatt spoke, “We can change her mind. I’ll sit on her if I have to. This is our home. Kenzie belongs here with us.” I began nodding in agreement before Wyatt had finished talking. There was no way Kenzie could leave the farm. I wouldn't survive it.
“It’s no use. She’s already gotten to Mrs. Cooper and Reece.” Sighing in resignation, Declan closed his eyes briefly before walking out of the barn. “It’s a done deal.”
Not if I had anything to say about it.
Chapter 2
Kenzie
By the time dinner rolled around the next night everyone knew about my plan. The first step of it anyway. Only Garret, Reece, and our friend Lane knew the rest.
Wyatt had already given me a list of reasons why I was needed on the farm while Lucas used Simon to try to lure me into staying. We both knew he was playing dirty. The only one I hadn't heard from was Jace for which I was both grateful and disappointed.
Grateful because I didn't think I would be able to say no if he asked me to stay and disappointed because he didn't care enough to bother.
“Who is going to help me with my homework?” Simon asked as he sat next to me at the kitchen table. He looked so much like his dad and uncle, it was easy to imagine what a handsome man he was going to become. “Don’t say dad will. He doesn’t know as much as you.”
“I don’t think anyone knows as much as Little One does, son.” Lucas frowned in my direction, his eyes crinkling in concern. “The boy does have a point though. What if his school work suffers because of this?”
“That’s not fair,” I glared at both of them when they pouted at me. Setting the book I was reading down I gave them my full attention. “Simon, of course I will still help you with your homework, either here or you can come see me in town. Maybe we can make it a regular date and get ice cream after.”
“Yes!” Simon exclaimed, clearly won over by my sugar incentive. As he turned away to grab a plate I stuck my tongue out at Lucas. He flipped me the bird discreetly behind his hand.
“Knock it off, Lucas,” Mrs. Cooper gave her son a swat on the back of the head. “That goes for the rest of you too,” she continued giving everyone around the table a hard stare. “Leave Kenzie be.” As she turned away, the guys all started muttering under their breath, stopping when she turned around, her eyes flashing in warning.
Reece hid a smirk as she picked up her water glass, laughing outright when Wyatt received the same swat his brother had gotten a moment before.
“Hey!” He exclaimed indignantly. “I didn't even say anything.”
“You were thinking it,” Mrs. Cooper clucked her tongue in disapproval.
“How does she always know,” Wyatt murmured rubbing the back of his head. He turned to eye his mother warily over his shoulder.
“A mother always knows,” Mrs. Cooper replied serenely as she sat at the head of the table.
I went back to reading my book as everyone sat down, glancing up when the back door opened. Garret and Jace walked in looking larger than life, kicking off their shoes before grabbing plates. Garret moved fast taking the empty seat next to me earning a scowl from Jace. I looked at Garret to see what that was all about but he only smiled and tugged on my hair making me swat his hand away in annoyance.
“This is amazing, Mrs. Cooper.” Reece grinned as Jace slammed his plate down on the table with a huff.
“You think all food is amazing,” Wyatt commented with a roll of his eyes.
Declan shot him a look but Reece only laughed and stole a french fry from his plate. “That’s because I’m eating for two, you ass.”
The annoyed look faded from my brother’s face shifting to one of pure adoration as he watched Reece. Leaning forward he pressed a kiss to her temple and grabbed all the fries from Wyatt’s plate placing them onto hers. Wyatt grumbled in disapproval but he gave Reece a smile before standing from the table to refill his plate.
When everyone had finished eating I offered to do the dishes. Reece had basically fallen into a food coma along with Simon and Mrs. Cooper had done the cooking. Wyatt and Garret skipped out right after Mrs. Cooper had gone to bed, no doubt knowing they were going to be selected for clean up duty. As I watched my brother carry Reece out the door after Lucas and Simon I suddenly realized that I was alone with Jace.
“You really don’t have to help.” I started gathering the empty plates from the table into a neat stack that I carried over to the sink. I heard Jace move behind me, grabbing the glasses and moving to set them on the counter next to me. “Seriously, Jace. I can handle this if you want to go.”
Chancing a look over my shoulder I saw that Jace was standing with his back towards me, using a rag to wipe down the dinner table. The angle gave me a nice view of his strong back and toned arms. Sighing I turned back to the sink, tensing when Jace came to stand next to me. Taking the wet dishes from my hands he began to dry them as we worked together in a steady rhythm that came from years of routine.
The first time I had seen Jason Craw he had intimidated me. That had been until he’d flashed that wide grin, the one that was so wide it could swallow you whole if you weren't careful. He was more than a foot taller than me, which I had always liked but I suspected it reminded him that I was like his little sister. All of the women in his life were tall and willowy. My complete opposite.
When the dishes were done I backed away from the sink, wiping my hands on the dish towel to dry them before offering it to Jace. “Thanks for the help,” I said giving him a tentative smile. Looking up into his eyes I waited for him to say something, growing increasingly frustrated when he only continued to stare at me. “Do I have food on my face?” I asked snatching the towel from his hands to run it over my mouth self consciously.
“When’s the big move?” He spoke at last, crossing his arms over his chest. His eyes were laser focused on me making my heart stall in my chest as I started fidgeting with the towel in my hands.
“Probably Saturday depending on everyone’s schedule.”
Jace nodded sharply, a muscle ticking in his jaw. “Declan says you need space from the farm. He said you needed space from us.” Bending down to look into my eyes, Jace studied them momentarily. “He also said you were lying. I’d like to know why.”
Sucking in a breath, I took a step back right into the kitchen table. “It’s not a lie.”
“But it’s not the whole truth is it?”
Despite everything that had happened between us I couldn't help but react to the plea I heard in his voice. Shaking my head I took a deep breath and looked down at my feet before looking at him again.
“No, but it’s still true. I need to be on my own for a bit. I can’t keep going on like this.” I hesitated trying to think about what I wanted to say. “I need a change.”
“Kenzie,” he said my name in a husky voice and my hands got clammy. I tried to look anywhere but into his eyes knowing that if I did I would crack and tell him anything he wanted to know. When I continued to look just over his shoulder, Jace took my chin in his hand and forced me to look at him. “What’s going on with you?”
Feeling unbelievably tired I leaned back against the table. Jace’s hand fell from my face but he remained still as a statue in front of me. I gave him a long look as I started to fidget with my hair. “Why are you so concerned all of the sudden?”
“Don’t be like that, Kenzie.” Frowning at my tone, Jace shifted on his feet shoving his hands into his pockets. “All I have ever wanted was for you to be happy. I love you. We all do. Don’t go.”
I closed my eyes at his words, feeling a sharp pain in my heart knowing he would never mean them the way I wanted him to. Taking a deep breath, I blinked back the tears I felt rushing to the surface and pushed away from the table, stopping short when Jace shuffled to block my path.
“You have to let me go, Jace,” I ordered softly.
The man didn't budge, he just shook his head infuriating me. “No.” The word rang with a note of finality I didn't miss. “Not until you tell me the whole truth.”
Gazing up at him, I almost smiled noticing his long brown hair curling over his ears in a way I knew irritated him but I had always loved. No doubt he would steal one of my hairbands before long to keep the silky strands from falling into his eyes.
I forced myself to remember the pain I had felt when I had finally worked up the nerve to tell Jace the whole truth, only to hear him fucking Sydney West minutes later. I should have gotten out then but apparently I was a glutton for punishment. Since that night it seemed he had done everything in his power to push me away from him.
He’d done a fantastic job.
Squaring my shoulders I forced myself to meet his gaze, ignoring my splintering heart. “I need to get over you, Jace. Moving away is the first step of my plan.”
Keeping the Beat: An Adrenaline Novel Page 2