Bracing the Blue Line (21 page)

I place a soft kiss to her forehead, and before I can speak, she does.

“You know, I used to think that you kissed me on my forehead because I was short and that was closer to you than my lips.”

Chuckling, I kiss her forehead again. “You're partly right.”

“So what are you going to do?” she whispers, watching me carefully, a wall already built in case I don't give her the answer she wants.

“Dave's supposed to come up for one of my games. I could tell him then.” I can't believe I'm doing this, but I can't let her slip away again. We were damn near perfect together.

“But you want to keep it hush-hush until then? Winston-”

“Only because I want to tell him in person, Maddie.”

“You really think he'll be upset? It almost feels like you're overreacting,” she tells me.

“I know him better than you do. He won't be happy, but I can convince him that he should be.”

She nods, seeming to accept it. With a small smile, she says, “You still haven't answered my question.”

“What question?”

She slightly puckers her lips. Oh, yes. Do I still want to kiss her? I lean forward until my lips are mere millimeters from hers.

“What was your question again?” I steal her breath when my lips become a feather-light touch against hers. She blinks a few times, and I barely graze my mouth along her jaw and down her neck. “Your question, Maddie,” I remind her.

The sound of doors opening and closing sound down the hall before we hear the shower running.

“Who's here?” she whispers.

“Probably Grant,” I answer. Maddie is surprised when I flick my tongue over her skin, kiss it, and then pull away. She swallows hard, and I smile. This is going to be a lot of fun. “You never answered my question either.”

“I think we have the same answer.”

“We do?”

She nods. “Yes. Both answers are yes.” Maddie plucks the beanie off my head, tosses it aside, and then wraps her arms around my neck. “You're positive about this?” All it takes is a nod of my head, and she presses her mouth to mine.

It's hurried and urgent and better than any of my dreams. My hand runs down her back before cupping her ass. She wiggles closer to me, kissing along my jaw before pulling my earlobe into her mouth and gently biting. God, she's going to drive me insane. When her hands go to my side and grab the hem of my shirt, I stop her.

“Maddie, we need to slow down.”

“One more.” She clutches my sides and kisses me hard one more time, like she said. “I've been thinking about that for a long time.”

“Me too.” I kiss her forehead before grabbing her hips and lifting her out of my lap. “We need to get back to camping. Time for a scary story, don't you think?” I question, grabbing a flashlight to hold under my chin.

WE WERE QUIET for a long time. While she was getting a change of clothes, while we walked to my car, while we drove to my house. I only talked upon our arrival to tell her where things are in the bathroom. I use the down time to think and analyze what’s happened. Sure, we’ve become friends of sorts. Lucy’s as comfortable around me as she is around her brothers. We have stolen moments where something changes or happens between us, but we haven't really acknowledged it.

Today means something though. It’s a day where she’s usually with her brothers and has always been. Their reaction to her saying no made that obvious. This day means something to all of them, and they were none too happy that she was spending it with me instead of them. The fact that her oldest brother is going to make sure he sees her makes me think that whatever it means, Lucy is at the center of it.

Which brings me back to the next obvious question. One that I may be able to ask. Why did she choose me? Why me over her brothers or her other friends? Is it because I’m the only one in the dark about the mysterious situation? Lucy plops down next to me on the couch, dragging me from my mind. Her hair is wet and in very loose curls around her shoulders.

“Has the game started yet?” she asks, watching the TV for clues, but it’s on a commercial.

“It’s about to.” Lucy scoots closer to me and presses herself into my side, resting her head on my shoulder again while holding my hand in hers. It’s an intimate gesture for her. It’s just enough to give me the nerve to ask. “Can I ask just one question?”

“I might not answer.”

“Why me, Lucy? Why not them?” Straight and to the point.

Lucy sits upright to look at me. She’s going to answer, and I’m going to listen to every sound that leaves her mouth. “I’m not sure I can explain it, Grant. My brothers have always made me feel safe, but you make me feel a different kind of safe and that’s what I wanted tonight. Not their safety. Yours.”

The announcers appear on the TV and Lucy returns to how she was sitting before. That’s all I’m going to get. It feels like I got too much though. I make her feel safe? Why does she need to feel safe? There’s always so many questions surrounding Lucy. Who she really is under the surface, and sometimes, I think all she lets me see is the surface.

That’s not entirely true. Lucy gives me more all the time. It’s just in small pieces, and I never know what to make of it or how to put it all together.

“I’ve never met Corey before.”

Lucy frowns. She must have thought we were done talking. I don't even know why I said that. It's not like I want to meet the guy. “He’s the worst of the three when it comes to me. Jon bothers you, doesn’t he?” I nod. “Then you definitely won’t like Corey. Can we watch this? No talking.”

We’re back to the silence with the exception of the game on TV. She keeps squeezing my hand in hers every couple seconds. It’s almost like she’s making sure that I’m still here. She’s been doing it on and off for about twenty minutes now. When I squeeze her hand back, it catches her off guard, and she looks up at me, a small smile playing on her lips.

“Thank you,” she whispers.

“For what?”

She lays her head on my shoulder again. “This.”

We’re quiet again until midway through the second period. “Still don’t know what’s going on?” I ask with a hint of laughter.

“Number 25 is about to score. That’s what I know.”

I’m about to ask her what makes her think that, but I’m interrupted because he scores. Son of a bitch. How did she know that?

“I could tell based on how he’s playing. I’ve learned a lot by taking pictures, even if I’m looking through the lens.”

To say I’m impressed is an understatement. Lucy calls a few more goals before there’s a knock on the door.

“That’s probably Corey.” She stops short of getting up. “Unless you’re expecting someone?”

I shake my head and get up to answer the door for her. Standing on the other side is an older version of the other two brothers. “You must be Corey. She’s in here.”

His mouth is in a firm line as he steps past me to go find Lucy. Well, hello to you too. I hear him say hello to her, but when I reenter the room, Lucy looks like a pouting, angry child.

“What are you doing, Luce?” he asks her cautiously, but there’s a lace of suspicion in his voice.

“What does it look like I’m doing?” she snaps. Woah. Never seen this side of her. Maybe this brother brings it out of her.

“That’s not what I meant.” His voice is low and threatening. Corey sends a glare at me. I’m obviously not wanted here. It’s then that I notice he’s sitting on my coffee table in front of Lucy with his hands on her knees. Who is he to come here and sit on my coffee table like he owns the place? Okay, it’s not mine, but that’s not the point.

“Do you want me to give you two some privacy?” My question is directed to Lucy, but Corey answers.

“Yes.”

“No,” Lucy inputs angrily. “You saw me, Corey. I’m fine. Go home.”

“I’m sorry I haven’t called you, Luce, but you can’t, not today.”

She huffs. “I’m pissed at that, but that’s not what this is about.” Did she say pissed? It fits her mood, but it’s too vulgar of a word for Lucy’s pretty mouth.

Corey is fuming, but there’s something else underneath the surface that’s bothering him. I’m clueless because Lucy won’t tell me anything, and they are being vague.

“Let me take you back to campus, at least.” He wants her away from me. Whether it’s because she’s with me and not them or if it’s so they can talk or both, I don’t know.

Lucy sighs. Her voice is full of heartache when she says, “No, Corey.”

“Seriously?” he asks incredulously.

I don’t know what’s going on, but he needs to stop. She doesn’t want to go, and he doesn’t need to make her feel guilty about whatever it is. “It’s time for you to go.” Both heads snap to look at me with surprise, but Lucy also looks thankful while Corey still looks pissed. “I’ll make sure she gets back safely when she’s ready to go.”

“Who the fuck are you anyway?” He stands and so does Lucy.

“Corey,” Lucy warns. “Patrick understands, I don’t get why you and Jon don’t.”

“Because it’s bullshit, Luce. After everything-”

“Leave,” she interrupts. Her lower lips is quivering slightly, and I wonder if he sees how much he’s upsetting her.

“Damn it. I’m sorry.” Corey reaches for her, but she steps towards me and away from him. Now, he looks betrayed. “Luce.” It’s one word, a plead, an apology, a surprise, but ultimately disbelief.

“Patrick is our barrier until further notice.”

What? I don’t know what it means, but Corey sure does. His eyes are wide, but what she said seems to hit him hard finally. Corey nods, steps forward to kiss her forehead, whispers he loves her, and without another word, he leaves. The moment the door closes, Lucy falls back onto the couch and buries her face in her hands. She doesn’t make a sound, but her shoulders shake. The bastard made her cry. And I’m still completely in the dark over what.

I gently sit down next to her, desperately wanting to comfort her. Lucy leans over and lays with her head in my lap, the tears streaming silently down her face. That’s the scariest thing about it. Who doesn’t make a single sound when they cry? Not a gasp, a whine, a sob, nothing. She grabs my knee and squeezes. I rest my hand on her hip and let my other play with her hair. What I really want to do is go beat the shit out of her brother.

“What can I do to make it better?” I whisper. I don’t want to speak too loudly because she might break. Hell, she might already be broken. I don’t know. I'm freaked out that she’s not making any noise. Not even a sniffle. Lucy shakes her head in reply. The front door opens, and Neil cracks a joke at Bo. “Come on.”

She stands and as I start to lead her down the hallway to my bedroom, Neil catches sight of us.

“Grant! What-”

“Good night,” I cut him off.

“What the fuck?” I hear him say in confusion.

Ignoring him, I open the door to my room, pulling Lucy inside. We sit on the bed and she leans into me, the tears never missing a beat. With every passing minute that silence emits from her, the more worried I become. After thirty minutes, five words leave her mouth, and I couldn’t be more thankful.

“Can I stay here tonight?”

“Yes, of course.” Whatever she wants, I’ll give it to her. I don’t like seeing her so upset, and I want my happy Lucy back.

She sits up to look at me, reaching up to wipe the tears away, but I beat her to it. “No, don’t say it because I was crying. Grant, don’t let me stay because you feel bad for me and want to make me feel better. Do it because...because…” Her voice trails off like she doesn’t even know what she wants anymore.

“Stay, Lucy. I don’t want you anywhere else but here with me.” She gives me a small smile, and I know that’s what she wanted to hear. “I’ll be right back, okay?” Lucy nods, so I reluctantly leave her to go talk to the guys. I’m more than ready to go to bed. Dealing with three Kennedy brothers in one day is exhausting, but I need to do this first.

“What the hell, man?” Neil asks, but he’s only curious. “Was that Lucy?”

“Yeah. Sorry about a while ago. She’s having a rough day.”

“Everything okay?” Bo questions.

“Fuck if I know. We’re going to lay low in my room. Don’t be asses, all right?” Neil smirks, like I’m joking. “I’m serious, Neil. Don’t even think about it. I’ve had to see all three fucking brothers tonight, and Lucy is not having a good day. Make the wrong move, and I-”