500 Days (50 page)

“
With pleasure. I already
beat you it shouldn’t be too hard to do it again.”

We beat him again, pissing him off, so
Jasper insisted a one on one game just him and me. I rolled my eyes
and told him I would after I had another beer. I cozied up next to
Casper to see how he was doing. “Havin’ fun?”

“
Yeah, your brothers are
great, although Jack keeps looking at me like he’s planning which
way he wants to kill me.” He nodded in Jack’s direction.

I looked over my shoulder and to no surprise
Jack was watching Casper. “I’ll talk to him. He tends to be a
little over protective when it comes to me. I promise I won’t let
him kill ya, at least until I’m done with ya,” I smiled.

“
Feelin’ the
love.”

I leaned in for a kiss but he hesitated.
“Casper, really?” He relented, but was still stiff. I let out an
aggravated sigh and went to go talk to Jack.

“
So are you going to spend
all night giving Casper dirty looks or are you actually going to go
talk to him and learn that he’s a good guy and not a psycho.” I
stood with my arms crossed not appreciating the silent treatment he
was giving the whole night.

“
You really want
me
to talk to
him?”

“
Jack, stop it. I like
Casper. A lot. We already talked about this. I would really like it
if you got the chance to know him, for me.”

He sighed, dropping his guard. “Fine. I’ll
talk to him.”

“
And be nice. And don’t be
so…you.” He put his hands up in the air and gave me a
WTF
look. “Jack,” I
warned.

“
Alright, alright. I
promise to be on my best behavior.”

Jasper started yelling at me to quit farting
around and get my ass over to the pool table. I grabbed my beer on
the way and gave Casper a wink as I walked by. Jack went over to
talk to Casper as promised and from the serious looks on both of
their faces I admit I was starting to get nervous.

I had a hard time
concentrating on the game while Jack and Casper were talking. I was
playing horribly
,
proving to Jasper that he was the better player. Poor Casper
looked ready to bolt any second. Jasper sunk the eight ball and did
a celebratory fist pump in the air. “Told you, you sucked. Next
round is on you.” I stifled an eye roll and grabbed my purse. I
knew I couldn’t use the excuse I was distracted. Jasper would call
bullshit. So I kept my mouth shut as I wandered to the
bar.

“
Hey Shauna.” I leaned my
elbows up on the bar, pressing myself closer so she could hear me
over the loud music.

“
Hey girl, what can I get
ya?” she replied. I spit out my order and she got to work right
away, ignoring the other impatient customers. Shauna was one of the
few girls here I really liked. She was almost as tough as me and
didn’t take anyone’s shit.

“
So what’s up with you and
the hottie rocker?” she asked, flashing me a wicked smile. I looked
down at the bar, blushing. Her mouth dropped. “Don’t tell me you
finally managed to cage him?”

“
I only keep him locked up
when I’m not around,” I winked.

She threw her head back and laughed. “You
are one lucky girl.”

I looked over my shoulder at the table where
the boys were sitting. Casper looked up at me and smiled. I threw
him one back and I knew from the way his eyes darted down he was
checking out my ass. Jack’s head shot up and followed Casper’s line
of sight, instantly scowling. I watched Jack clear his throat.
Casper’s smile fell and he turned quickly back to Jack. I chuckled
and turned back to Shauna. “Yeah, I am.”

“
If I were you I would
keep my eye out and hold that one real close, because the second
girls find out he’s off the market it’s going to be a real shit
show.”

I hadn’t really thought about that. Casper
had a lot of groupies and was usually surrounded by women. When we
weren’t even together I could barely tolerate it when another girl
was trying to get her hooks into him. I couldn’t even imagine how I
would react now that we were dating. I gnawed at my bottom lip,
feeling slightly anxious. “Oh hey girl, don’t look like that. I was
just teasing. Alex, I can tell you, you have nothing to worry about
with that boy. It’s so obvious he’s in love with you.”

“
You knew
that?”

“
Honey, we all knew that.
We were just waiting until you finally came to your
senses.”

This time I did roll my eyes. “Gee, thanks
Shauna,” I laughed.

“
Alex, that boy only has
eyes for you. One of the Victoria Secret models could walk through
here naked and he wouldn’t even blink an eye in their direction.” I
gave her a look that said, “doubtful.”
Hell, even I would look
. “Go back to
the table and show those cougars he’s yours.” I pulled back and
looked at her funny. She inclined her head to the back, smile
dancing on her lips. I turned around. Sure enough the table where
the boys were was now swarmed by women, old women. I couldn’t help
but laugh out loud. Jaxson and Jasper loved the attention while
Casper and Jack just looked uncomfortable. Casper gave me a
pleading look to help. I shrugged my shoulders and turned back
around.

“
Now that’s just mean,”
Shauna laughed. I grabbed the beers and made my way back to the
table. I squeezed my way in between Casper and some over bleached
blonde who had on way too much perfume and more makeup than I
owned. I wanted to tell her there wasn’t enough makeup in the world
to hide those crow’s feet and dark spots, but I decided to bite my
tongue, sit back and enjoy the show.

I slipped an arm behind Casper and pressed
my body closer to his. Not because I was trying to make a point but
because I just felt better when I was near him. “Wanna introduce me
to your friend?” I teased.

He turned just enough that his lips were
close enough to kiss. “I think she’s more interested in Jack,
besides, I’m not into antiques,” he said, casting me a sexy smile.
I closed the distance. He didn’t pull away this time. I parted my
lips slightly, engaging in the kiss. I could feel Casper’s body
tense before he pulled away. His eyes narrowed slightly and I
couldn’t hide my smile. He pressed a tender kiss to my temple while
I rested my head on his shoulder. I watched as Jack tried to
respectfully decline the woman’s advances, but was clearly having a
hard time convincing her to take a hint. His eyes pleaded with me
for help. I just sat back and relaxed against Casper, enjoying
every minute of Jack’s anguish.

Jasper was egging Jack on to go for it, but
Jack wasn’t having it. Jasper could have cared less. If it had
tits, it was a go. I let Jack suffer for about another five minutes
before I interrupted. “Alright ladies, I think it’s time you moved
on to your next victim.” The brunette who had her hands all over
Jaxson gave me a nasty look. “I hear they’ve got some banging prune
juice at the diner down the street and an all-night marathon of
Matlock on,” I pointed to the door.

“
How old do you think we
are?” the blonde ask with a threatening look.

“
Judging by the bad dye
job to cover those grays and the fifty pounds of concealer to hide
those worry lines I’d say…” I pretended to think it over. “Mid to
early fifties?” The women scoffed at me, clearly offended. I even
got Jasper to laugh which just made it worse.

“
Now Alex, didn’t anyone
teach you to respect your elders,” Jasper chimed in, almost causing
me to lose it. The woman who had her claws in him balked. Jasper
just shrugged.

“
I never,” shrieked the
blonde.

“
And you never will by
trying to squeeze your fat ass into your granddaughter’s clothes,”
I said. All three of them stomped off. Casper gave me a light
squeeze while Jacob and Jaxson cracked up.

“
Alex, that wasn’t very
nice,” Jack said, crossing his arms.

“
Please, I saved your ass.
And I was being nice.”

“
See I told you she comes
in handy, sometimes,” Jasper said, hitting Jack on the back. I
flipped him off. He ignored me and looked back at Jack. “You got to
admit it was kind of funny.” I could tell Jack was trying not to
show it but he thoroughly enjoyed watching me put it to those
women. Even though I knew he wished I would have gotten rid of them
in a more kindly manner.

After talking to Casper and the cougar town
express took their exit, Jack started to relax a little. I even
caught him throwing back a few shots with the boys, which was a
surprise because Jack was normally the responsible one. I didn’t
question it. Jack needed to have some fun and let loose. He
deserved it.

It was rounding 1am
and I was ready to go home and take my boyfriend
to bed. The boys seemed to have other plans. Jack was smashed,
Jaxson could barely stand and well, Jasper was Jasper. I couldn’t
ever remember seeing Jack drunk. He had us cracking up the whole
night. He told Casper stories of when we were younger and his first
experience taking me shopping. He admitted half the time he had no
idea what he was doing. Casper assured him, despite his lack of
parental skills, he did a great job raising us. I knew Jack took
that to heart.

He smiled, patting Casper on the arm. “You
did good Alex. I know mom will be excited to hear all about him.” I
flinched when he mentioned mom. I looked at him funny. It took a
minute for Jack to realize what he said. I watched him swallow the
big lump in his throat. “Um, excuse me.” He got up abruptly. Not
happy with his slip of the tongue. I got up and followed him.

“
Jack, what the hell was
that all about?”

He turned to me with a pained look on his
face and I knew I wasn’t going to like what I was about to hear.
“I’m going to go see her before I head back.”

I took a step back, not believing what I was
hearing. The last time Jack had visited our mom was the first year
after he enlisted into the marines. He hasn’t been back since and I
wondered what the sudden visit was about. “Why? Why now?”

“
I have some things I have
to take care of.”

“
Like what?” I
snapped.

“
Alex, now is not the time
or place to have this conversation,” he growled.

“
Well maybe you should
have thought of that before you opened your big mouth,” I
yelled.

“
He doesn’t
know?”

“
No, and I’d like to keep
it that way if I can.”

“
Alex, you can’t hide who
you are forever. He will find out, and better you tell him the
truth now rather than later.”

“
I will,” I snapped.
“Just, not now.”

“
What, you’re gonna wait
until she’s released?” Jack knew me all too well.

I switched the conversation back to him. I
was good at that. “What’s so important that it can’t wait?”

“
Because this is the only
time I have to speak on her behalf.” His shoulders sank.“We should
discuss this at another time.”

“
No, damn it!” My voice
was loud enough to draw the attention of the rest of my
brothers.

“
What the hell is your
problem, Alex?” Jacob complained, standing next to Jack. I glared
at both of them.

“
Tell him Jack. Tell him
what you told me.”

Jack scrubbed a hand down his face seeing no
other way around it. “I’m going to visit mom before I leave.”

“
Jesus Alex, you act like
he just told you he just killed someone,” Jacob said. My eyes meet
Jack’s. “What’s the big deal?”

I knew I was overreacting. I think I just
panicked when Jack mentioned her in front of Casper and I was
letting my fear of him finding out take over. “Nothing,” I
whispered.

“
Then chill the fuck out,”
Jasper said.

I could tell Jasper and Jacob were about to
gang up on me when Jaxson stepped in, throwing an arm over Jasper
and me. “Alright, we got a whole table of shots going to waste over
there. So how about you put the bullshit aside and have some fun.”
Jaxson, always the cool, calm, and collected one, dragged Jasper
and Jacob away.

“
Alex, I’m sorry. It just
slipped out, but you really need to be honest with Casper about our
past.”

“
I know. Just, not
now.”

Jack relented and gave me
a hug
,
squashing
whatever animosity I was feeling towards him. We both sat back down
and tried to enjoy the rest of the night. Casper gave me a sideways
glance and I just shook my head at him. My attention was now
focused on Declan and Colton who seemed to be having a heated
argument of their own. Declan stormed off in the direction of the
bathroom while Colton had a worried expression on his face. “I’ll
be right back,” I told Casper and got up to follow
Declan.

When I reached the bathroom she was pacing
back and forth. “What is up with you today?”

She ran a shaky hand through her hair.
“Nothing,” she snapped, stepping into one of the stalls. I leaned
back against the sink, waiting. “YES!” she cried. Two minutes later
she came out of the stall and let out a deep breath.

“
Seriously
Declan.”

She washed her hands before she turned to
face me. “I was late.”

“
Late as in?” She nodded.
“But now?”

“
It’s all going to be
okay,” she smiled, relieved.