“It’s cool,” I say, shooting Faye a smile.
“And yes, we’re together,” Keanu says, beaming at me. “Now and always.” He links his fingers through mine. “Nothing or no one is separating us again.”
“Aw.” Faye places a hand over her heart. “That is so sweet and romantic.”
“Maybe, now, you’ll stop sulking like a toddler,” Kyler says, smirking at Keanu as he leans around him, swiping a bread roll from the basket.
Keanu flips him the middle finger. “Bite me, asshole.”
Alex swats the back of Keanu’s head. “Language, Keanu. Especially in front of your girl.”
I giggle, and Keanu’s entire face lights up as he stares at me, his adoration clear to see.
“Man, you have it bad.” Kyler chuckles, folding his arms, his gaze jumping between me and Keanu.
“Hey, you’re in no position to throw shade. We all remember how googly-eyed you were over Faye.”
“You mean how googly-eyed he still is.” Faye slides her arms around her husband’s neck, smiling up at him.
“Damn straight, babe.” Kyler puts his hands on her waist, pulling her in for a kiss, uncaring that they have an audience.
“Love you,” Faye says, rubbing her nose against his.
“Love you too,” Kyler replies, cupping her face and pressing his lips to hers.
“This is so amazing! Everyone’s in love,” Alex says, and she’s practically singing it. “And Kalvin and Lana are having another baby, and Eva is due to give birth just after Christmas. I’m so happy I think I might explode.”
James pulls her into his side. “Please don’t. I’ve only just got you back.”
Keanu kisses the top of my head, pulling me around in front of him, and draping his arms around me. “You sure you’re ready to be a part of my crazy family?”
“Nothing would make me happier,” I say, realizing how true it is.
For years, I was afraid of people, afraid of what I’d say or how I’d behave around others, but being here just feels so natural and there is so much love in this room that it’s impossible not to feel comfortable, to feel at home.
Faye and Kyler stay for dinner, and they are the sweetest couple. Faye makes a huge effort to include me in the conversation, and she even invites us to come stay at their Connecticut cabin. She takes my cell number so we can make arrangements, and I can tell Keanu is pleased that I’m getting along with his family.
Faye and Kyler leave first, to head back to Harvard, and we stroll back to the cabin to pack up our things.
“We hope to see you again soon, Selena,” James says a half hour later when we’re ready to leave. Alex hugs Keanu, whispering in his ear.
“Thank you so much for having me. It’s been a fantastic weekend.” In more ways than one. My cheeks heat as my mind recalls the orgasm Keanu coaxed from me last night.
“It’s wonderful to see a smile on Keanu’s face again,” he adds, glancing over his shoulder at his wife and son. “Kyler may have been joking earlier, but Keanu hasn’t been this happy in a long time. You’re good for him.”
I blush profusely at his praise, but I can’t deny how amazing it is to feel so openly accepted. “He’s good for me too.”
“Selena, honey.” Alex slowly opens her arms and I hug her. “Thank you for loving my son,” she whispers in my ear. “You’ve no idea how happy you’ve made him.”
“Mom. Stop.” Keanu gently pulls me from his mother’s arms, reeling me into his embrace. “You’re all going to scare her away. It’s too much.”
“It’s good,” I say, smiling. “I’ve had the best weekend. Thank you again.”
“Hopefully, we’ll see you soon,” Alex says, “but, if not, we’ll see you at the ceremony and party in November.”
“I’ll be here.” I reconfirm what was already discussed and agreed around the dinner table.
“Are you sure you had a good time?” Keanu asks when we’re in the car on our way back to Cambridge.
“I really did. The cabin was perfect, and your family was so welcoming.”
He takes my hand, linking our fingers. “I always knew they’d love you. Well, Mom already did. You’ll meet the others at the party next month, and they are going to love you too. Thank you for agreeing to come with me.”
I tuck my hair behind my ears as I face him. “I told you. I’m with you all the way now.”
* * *
Kent isn’t at the condo when we arrive, so we have the place to ourselves. My anxiety levels increased the closer we got to Boston, and now I’m back here, I’m remembering all the stuff I’d successfully blocked this weekend.
“You look tense. What’s going on?” Keanu asks, a frown appearing on his handsome face.
I rub the back of my neck. “It was nice to escape reality for a while, but now, I have to face up to it, and I’m already on edge.”
“That’s a normal reaction, babe.” He holds my hips, pulling me toward him. “But we’re being proactive, and this time next week, you’ll feel much better with the new security system and the extra precautions at your mom’s place. Plus, hopefully, Kev’s boss will have agreed to help us and we’ll have the FBI on board.” He kisses my forehead. “It’s going to be okay.”
“I’ve been thinking about something,” I say, hauling him over to the couch with me. We sit down, and he waits for me to speak. “You know how I recalled that memory of Juanita from the picture?” He nods. “Well, I’ve been wondering what else I might be blanking and if there is something I can do about it, like, maybe, undergo hypnosis.”
“Is that something you’ve tried before?”
I shake my head. “Denise has mentioned it in the past, but I can’t remember exactly what she said. I’m going to talk to her about it on Wednesday, and I’m going to do some research of my own.”
“Maybe, if your brain has subconsciously hidden stuff, it might return naturally anyway?”
“I’d rather tackle it head-on than risk a memory coming back to me unexpectedly and me freaking out again.”
“There’s no harm in exploring options. Let’s find out more, and we can take it from there,” he says, and I love how he says we, confirming he’s fully in this with me.
I leave Keanu downstairs for a while to do some yoga and deep breathing in his bedroom, and I’m surprised when I hear Kelly shouting up the stairs for me. The urgent quality to her tone has me jumping up and racing down the stairs in my sports bra and yoga pants. I slam to a halt in the living room, my mouth gaping open at the sight of Keanu with his hands around Todd’s throat as he shoves him up against a wall.
“Do something!” Kelly pleads, her eyes beseeching me, and I snap out of it, rushing over to the guys.
“K!” I tug on his arm, trying to pry him away from Todd. “Let Todd go.”
“What the hell is he doing here, Selena?” Keanu grits out, still holding Todd in his tight grip.
“He’s Kelly’s boyfriend! And he’s turning blue. Let him down!”
“What?” Keanu lets go of him immediately, turning to face me. Todd slumps to the floor with a thud, and Kelly dashes to his side.
“Todd is Kelly’s boyfriend.” I know why Keanu has reacted like this. Clearly, he thought we were together at some point. I may have perpetuated that idea by not confirming Todd was only a friend. But last year, at the club, when we bumped into one another, I was in a panic, terrified I wouldn’t be strong enough to stay away from him, so I used his confusion to my advantage. “Kelly was with us that night in Torment, but she was in the bathroom when you and Kent approached us.”
“So, you didn’t date him?”
“No. I haven’t ever dated anyone but you.”
“Aw, shit.” Keanu scrubs his hands down the front of his face before extending his arm to Todd. “Man, I’m sorry. I jumped to the wrong conclusion.”
Kelly glares at Keanu, and I don’t blame her. Todd takes Keanu’s hand, letting him pull him to his feet. “It’s all good, man.”
“We were late leaving Vermont,” Kelly explains, “and I thought I’d drop by now rather than going back to the dorms and having to come out again later.”
“Makes sense.” I look at Todd, grimacing as he rubs his sore neck. “Are you okay?”
“I’ll live.” He eyes Keanu warily, and, if I’m not mistaken, with a little more respect.
“How about I make coffee? And Keanu’s mom gave us some gorgeous chocolate cake.” I eyeball my friend and her boyfriend. “Peace offering?”
“Deal,” Kelly says. “But your boy can make it.” She jabs her finger in the air in Keanu’s direction, pinning him with a loaded look, daring him to argue. “Because you and I need to talk.”
19
Keanu
The week passes quickly, and it’s as if Selena has always lived with us. I love going to bed with her at night and waking up with her in my arms. I still have to pinch myself to believe it’s real. Even Kent seems comfortable with her staying here, and he’s taking the time to talk with her, to get to know her, and they are starting to bond in a way I never imagined happening.
Kev came over on Wednesday evening while I took Sel to her appointment with Denise. He had the new security system installed by the time we returned to the condo, and he explained how it worked to all three of us. We must set it every time we leave and put it on part guard when we head to bed at night. Should anyone attempt to get in, it will emit an internal alarm and notify Keven as well as Morgan Security, the company we are using for bodyguard protection. The guard on duty at night tends to rotate, so, this way, the security company will be aware, and they can touch base with whoever is on duty at the time.
It gives me peace of mind, because the longer that asshole is out freely roaming the streets of Boston, the more I worry. Sel is taking the necessary precautions though. She understands the risk, and she’s fully cooperating. Her bodyguards go everywhere with her, and that’s the only reason I’m not ditching my classes to shadow her.
On Friday night, we catch dinner and a movie after classes end, and it’s past eleven by the time we arrive at our place. Sounds of female laughter tickle my eardrums as we approach our front door, and my jaw tenses as I prepare to face whatever lies in wait. I keep Selena behind me for protection as I tentatively swing the door open.
I suppose I should be grateful it’s not a party. But the sight of Kent sprawled across the couch in only his boxer briefs with two half-naked chicks running their hands over every inch of him is still enough to fuel my anger.
He promised he’d keep this shit confined to the privacy of his bedroom. “What the actual fuck?” I snap, glaring at my brother. I should’ve known his saintly act wouldn’t last for too long.
“What, dude?” He looks at me through unfocused, bloodshot eyes, a smug smirk plastered on his mouth.
Selena closes the door behind us, sliding around the perimeter of the room, making a beeline for the stairs.
“We had an agreement,” I say through gritted teeth, watching my girlfriend lowering her eyes to the floor as she attempts to escape upstairs.
“Keanu. Baby.” The brunette with the big, fake tits hops up, wobbling from side to side as she moves toward me in a barely there red lace bra and matching thong.
It’s Casey.
Oh, hell to the no.
I glare harder at Kent. After my run-in with her at the last party, he promised me he wouldn’t bring her back here again. She is a headache I most definitely could do without right now. Things have been going amazing with Selena, and this chick has the power to wreck everything.
Casey reaches for me, but I jerk back out of her hold. Selena stops at the base of the stairs, turning to stare at me with unspoken questions in her eyes.
I rub a tense spot between my brows, contemplating throttling my brother.
“Don’t be like that, baby.” Casey pouts, tripping over her feet and barreling into my chest. “You can join in. Like last time. It’ll be fun.”
“Yeah, Keanu,” Blondie says, glancing over her shoulder and grinning at me as she strokes Kent’s cock through his boxers. “Maybe, this time, you’ll fuck my ass.”
Selena’s face drains of all color as I pry Casey off my chest. She’s pawing at my crotch and yanking on the waistband of my jeans, trying to get her hands on my cock.
“Fucking stop!” I jump sideways before she lunges at me again. Panic jams my throat, and I glance at Selena, praying she’ll let me explain. “Get your fucking hands off me!” I shout as Casey reaches for me again. “I am sick of repeating myself.” I glare at her, a muscle ticking in my jaw.
If they fuck things up for me with Selena, I will go postal on all their asses.
“I’m. Not. Interested.” I pin furious eyes on Casey and Blondie. “I have a girlfriend,” I add, moving quickly to Selena’s side.
Selena hasn’t moved a muscle, like she’s frozen in time. She’s pale and painfully quiet, and I could fucking murder Kent for this. She flinches when I curl my arm around her waist, and it kills me, because she’s trying to close herself off for the first time since she came back into my life. I’m not letting that happen, so I tuck her protectively into my side, keeping a firm hold of her so she knows this is where she always belongs. “And you are all being disrespectful to her.”
Casey pouts, planting her hands on her hips, as she rakes her gaze over Selena. A sneer spreads across her mouth.
“Hey,” Blondie slurs, continuing to stroke Kent’s cock, “you’re that model.”
“So what if she’s a model,” Casey hisses, shooting daggers at Selena. “She’s got no tits.” Casey grabs her overinflated fake chest, squishing both breasts together. “And I remember how much you loved playing with these babies, Keanu,” she says, pulling the cups of her bra down to expose her tits. “She can’t satisfy you like I can.”
Selena wrenches out from under my arm and races up the stairs without uttering a word.
I turn to rip Kent a new one, but he’s already on his feet, a look of murderous rage on his face. “Get the fuck out, whore,” he slurs, pointing at Casey. “And don’t come back.” He picks up her clothes, thrusting them at her.
“What?” she screeches. “You can’t throw me out for telling the truth.”
“Like fuck he can’t,” I say. “Get the hell out and stay out. You are not welcome here.”
“You heard my brother,” Kent adds. “Get lost.”
“Screw you, asshole. You’re not even that good of a fuck.”
“Savannah. C’mon.” She looks over Kent’s shoulder at her friend.
“Who says I’m leaving?” Savannah says, licking her lips as she pushes to her feet.
“Me,” Kent says. He runs his hands through his hair. “Both of you, get the fuck out.”
“Assholes.” Savannah glowers at both of us, but I couldn’t give two shits.
My foot taps idly off the floor as I wait for them to get dressed. I need to go to Selena, but I want to make sure these bitches are out of here first.
I turn the full extent of my anger on Kent the second the door shuts behind them. “You promised me you wouldn’t do this.”
“We can’t all be fucking perfect,” he slurs, prodding me in the chest. “And I need sex. Fucking deal with it!”
“So, entertain your fuck buddies in your damn bedroom!” I roar. “Have you any idea how much you’ve upset Selena?”
“Fuck you, asshole.” He drops back onto the couch, swiping his beer bottle off the floor, fixing me with a snide look I’ve seen countless times on his face when he’s drunk. “Don’t pin this on me. This is all you!”
“Tell me what you really think, brother.” My fists clench at my side. I’m not usually the violent one in my family, but right now, I want to ram my fist in my brother’s sneering face.
“You fucked your way around campus knowing that shit
might get back to her.” He swigs from his beer. “Not my fault you didn’t come clean.” He shrugs, and I want to punch him again. “This is my place, and I’ll fuck whoever I want whenever I want wherever I want. You don’t get to dictate to me.” He points his beer in my direction, and I’m so mad I could spit. “You should’ve told her you turned into a man-whore after she dumped you. It’s your fault she learned that the hard way.”
“You’re a dick,” I seethe, hating that he’s partly right. “I was going to tell her when the time was right.” I stalk toward the stairs, stopping at the bottom and turning around. “I don’t want to see either of them in here again. And next time, take your whores up to your room!”
I bound up the stairs, two at a time, approaching my bedroom with caution, knowing I need to have this conversation with Selena now, but I’m fearful she’ll have a change of heart about me.
About us.
I take a few minutes to calm down, because bursting in there in a fit of rage won’t help my cause.
She’s in the shower when I enter the room, so I change into pajama pants and sit on top of the comforter with my back to the wall and my knees bent while I wait for her to finish.
Steam billows out of the bathroom when the door finally opens and she appears, dressed in pajama shorts and a thin pajama top. Her hair is damp, pulled into a loose braid.
When her anguished eyes meet mine, I wish I had a time machine so I could rewind the last half an hour. Screw that thought. I wish I could go back two years in time and wipe the whole slate clean. Erase all my mistakes and remove the reason she’s hurting right now.
“I need to explain,” I croak, patting the empty space beside me. “Come sit.”
She pads around the bed, crawling up beside me but careful to leave a big gap between us. It feels prophetic. “I’m sorry about that.”
“It’s not your fault,” she says in a quiet voice, tucking her legs close to her chest. “And you don’t have to explain. We were broken up. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
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