Free Pass (Free Will Book 1) (9 page)

Chapter Twenty-two
 

Hot lips moved against my throat, waking me. I moaned and reached up to tangle my fingers in his hair. I giggled. This man was insatiable.

"Something funny?" Jake asked, his voice still heavy with sleep. He kissed me, not letting me speak. The question never did get answered. But I learned that a morning with sex was the best way,
ever
, to start the day.

We finally made it downstairs a good while later. Heat crept up my cheeks when Austin winked at me. He laughed at my red face and slapped Jake on the back, whispering something to him. I couldn't hear what they said, but Jake managed to get Austin in a headlock and they roughhoused for a while.

Martha laughed as her sons goofed around. It was good to see her smile again. This rift between us hurt. I sat at the island and she glanced over at me.

She walked over to me and tilted my head to one side. "Well, I see Jake is as much of a vampire as his father used to be. I used to walk around with marks all over me too. I've got some concealer. We'll try and cover that up before you go to the hospital."

If I could have hid under the island right then, I would have. Until she said that, I'd completely forgotten about the marks he was sure to have left last night. "Is it bad? I hadn't even looked," I finally managed to choke out.

"Well, it's not pretty. I'm sure your dad wouldn't want to see it." She laughed. Jake walked over grinning and she poked him. "Take more care not to mark her up where her dad can see it. You want Jimmy coming after you with a shotgun?"

"He already came after me with a bat. I'm not scared," he joked. Grabbing a fork, he chowed down on the plate of pancakes his mom set in front of him.

"I don't think I even want to know why. Come on, Laney. Let's see if we can get you presentable before you go out with Austin."

Martha led me into her bedroom. She pushed me down on the corner of the bed and dug through a case on the dresser to pull out a tube of concealer. She dabbed the cold liquid onto my throat, tilted my head this way and that, and dabbed some more.

"Thank you," I whispered. The silence stretched between us. I bit my tongue to keep from blurting out another apology. It wouldn't help right now. I'd do anything to fix this awkwardness between Martha and me, but I didn't say a word. Martha and I had always been close. I hated this.

"This is the most messed up situation. I'm not blaming you. The boys seem okay with it. I just don't want to see any of you hurt." She squeezed my shoulder tight. Tears filled my eyes then. Her eyes softened and she pulled me in for a motherly hug. I wrapped my arms around her and tried to swallow the giant lump in my throat.

"You aren't cleaning her up to strangle her, are you?" Jake's voice called from the open doorway.

Martha laughed. Pulling back, she winked at me before answering back, "Would serve you right if I did."

"Austin is ready to go get some breakfast. He wanted me to come check on you."

Leaning against the door frame, shirtless, he was mouthwatering. My tongue darted out to lick my lips and I wondered how I could get him back in bed. The only thing I hungered for was him.

Martha walked by and nudged him. She got out of sight and Jake took advantage of our moment alone. He kicked the door shut and hauled me up against his bare chest. His kiss was hard, possessive. Desire pummeled my senses and I clung to him.

The door behind Jake swung open and knocked us off balance.

"Aww, come on, really? In Mom and Dad's room? That's wrong on so many levels." Austin shook his head and backed away. "Laney, you about ready? I'm starving."

I tiptoed to graze my lips across Jake's and whispered goodbye. I watched impatiently while Austin got his shoes on. He grasped my hand tight and drug me out of the house. Dread pooled in my stomach. Would Austin try to kiss me again? I shuddered in remembrance of his last attempt.

Breakfast options in Free Will consisted of the Awful Waffle and Kay's Diner. We walked in to the diner and saw Austin's friends, Adam and Mark, sitting together near the door. He surprised me by just waving at them and getting us a booth toward the back. He sat across from me, held both my hands in his, and stared at our entwined fingers. He didn't speak for some time. My hands trembled. What was he thinking?

"You looked real happy at the hospital yesterday. After y'all came out from seeing your Granny, I mean. When you were looking at those drawings Jake made of you. Then I opened my big mouth and wiped the happiness right off your face. I felt like such a fucking ass right then. Do I always make you that unhappy?"

His eyes searched mine as I struggled to answer without being rude. "No, I wasn't
always
unhappy with you. What you said hurt though. With all the things you said, I kinda wonder why you even asked me out?"

He pulled his hands away and rubbed the back of his neck. Grimacing, he finally answered. "Honestly? I asked you out the first time because I saw Jake checking you out. He asked me how old you were, and I knew he was into you. But I also knew he wouldn't ask you out 'til you were eighteen."

"What?"
Austin only asked me out to piss Jake off
? But we'd been together for three damn years. How the hell could you stay with someone for three years for a stupid reason like that?

He stared down at his hands as he replied, clearly unable to look at me. "So, yeah, I only asked you out because he was interested. We were friends, good friends, and I didn't want him to have you. Then, we were a couple, and it was nice to have a steady girlfriend who wasn't all possessive and crazy. Remember that girl Randy dated in high school? The one with the braids that keyed his car when they split up?"

I did remember. But damn, I thought... well, it didn't matter what I thought. For three years, I was a convenience to Austin. I wasn't loved. I wasn't even really wanted.

No wonder I could never please him.

"Laney, I don't want to hurt you anymore. I don't want you to be miserable anymore and you seem happy with him." He braved a glance up at me and the honesty in his eyes did me in.

Tears ran down my face. It hurt to hear him say all these things, yet it was a relief at the same time. He wasn't going to cause trouble for me and Jake. And maybe, just maybe, Austin and I could re-claim our friendship out of this mess.

Austin slid around the booth to wrap an arm around me and I snuggled into his shoulder.

"Do me a favor though, will ya? Don't tell Jake about this. Act like we had a good time this morning and make him think you are still trying to decide."

Sibling rivalry...

Wiping my eyes, I smiled up at him. He brushed his lips against mine, one last time. That farewell kiss gave the end of our relationship an official closure our words hadn't seemed to.

Our food came. We ate our breakfast and reminisced about the good times in our relationship before heading back.

We walked in and Martha asked if we had a good time.

"The best time ever. Laney and I reconnected and things are just perfect," Austin bragged until Jake stalked away, his back stiff. Austin smirked at me before he shoved me after Jake.

Head hung in his hands, I found him on the stairs where we'd nearly kissed. Body language was a powerful communicator and his posture screamed defeat. I sat next to him and he didn't even raise his head. Just continued to stare down at his hand and fiddle with the carpet pile.

"I'll head back to the city here shortly and give you and Austin some privacy. I don't want to... I can't watch you with him right now."

He never looked up.

"What if I don't want you to leave?"

"What?"

Well, that got his attention. He finally made eye contact. The despair in his eyes brought tears to mine and again I was reminded how much was at stake here.

"I don't want you to go. I thought maybe, well, other than seeing Granny, maybe we could spend the day together, just us. No Austin, no parents, no Sheila."

"You aren't going back to Austin?" He cleared his throat, but returned his gaze to his hands.

I slipped my arm around his waist and snuggled in close to him. "I... I haven't decided yet what I am going to do long term. But I do want to spend time with you. Get to know you better. This week has been, I don't even have words to describe... just thought-provoking, amazing, crazy."

I should have told him Austin and I'd decided we were better off friends. But part of me wanted to know if he cared enough to fight for me or if he'd just let me walk away. We'd only been together a week, but damn it, I would fight for him. I know that. But did Jake feel as strongly for me? That's the question. He seemed prepared to let me walk away.

He wrapped his arms around me and buried his face in my hair. We sat there on the stairs for a while. Not speaking. Not doing anything, but holding each other. Austin came around the corner to head upstairs and stopped short when he saw us.

Jake gave Austin the evil eye. "You wanna get outta here? I got some ideas for today, after we go see your Granny." He stood and almost drug me down the stairs and past Austin.

He could have just asked.
Silly man, didn't he know I would follow willingly?

When we arrived at the hospital, the upstairs waiting area next to the ICU was empty. Not a cousin, aunt, or parent to be seen. I asked one of the nurses and found out Granny had been moved to a regular room.

The tiny single room held wall to wall people before we even made it through the door. Jake leaned in far enough to wave at Granny, then stepped back into the hall. Weaving my way over to her, I gave her a big hug. Her color looked so much better today. She held me close and whispered in my ear, "You did okay covering up that sucker bite he left on your neck, but I still see it."

With a nervous giggle, I tried to move away from her and she squeezed my neck again. "I like him, Laney. He's got spunk. I like spunk."

With the room so crowded, and Jake in the hall waiting, I didn't stay long. I gave Granny a kiss and promised to stop back in before we headed back tonight. I had class first thing Monday morning and now that I knew she was on the mend, I couldn't justify missing more classes.

Chapter Twenty-three
 

"So, what did you have planned for the day?" Laney asked as we walked out of the hospital.

"I thought you might like to meet some of my friends? Maybe my godson?" I smiled at her, hoping she'd say yes. She nodded in agreement and I made a quick call to confirm that we were coming.

"So, if I'd said no, would you have called to cancel?"

"Yeah, I want to see my friends, but I want to be with you more. You are the most important thing in my life right now, you know that?" I hugged her close and covered her lips with my own.

I didn't think she'd ever been the most important person in Austin's life. It's intoxicating knowing someone feels that strongly about you and I wanted her to experience that headiness. I kissed her again and put all my feelings into it.

I could kiss her all day, but she broke away and pushed me toward the Jeep. Then she sat and stared out the window without speaking for six blocks. When she sighed, I clued in that she was nervous.

"They will love you, stop worrying."

While my words were meant as reassurance, her hands still shook with nerves when I pulled in. As we walked up to their door, I reached for her hand. She snatched it back to wipe her palm against her jeans before taking my hand. I didn't knock, just walked right in. Laney let me pull her in behind me, although she seemed reluctant.

My friends sat on the living room floor and a dark-haired little boy toddled between their outstretched arms. They cheered at his every wobbling step and I couldn't keep the smile off my face. When I called out a greeting, the little boy squealed in delight and tipped over.

I released Laney's hand and scooped the toddler up with a hearty laugh. I squeezed the little guy and gave him a big kiss on the cheek. "How's my buddy bear doing? Did you miss me?"

I turned back. "Laney, this is my godson, Tristan." Tristan giggled and reached for her. She put her arms out. He snuggled in to her neck and she held him close.

I met her gaze over the toddler's head. Her eyes twinkled and sent my pulse racing.

My friends stood up and I hugged them both in greeting. With an arm still flung around Eric's shoulder, I introduced him and Tina.

"So, this is Laney? It's good to finally meet you!" Tina gushed.

Shit. I should have known that Tina wouldn't be able to keep her damn mouth shut.

Raising an eye brow at me, Laney asked, "Finally? How long have you been talking about me?"

"Oh, a couple years, at least." When Tina answered, my ears started burning and heat rose in my face. Damn. Damn. Damn.

I took my godson from Laney and busied myself tickling him.

"Years? But we only just started seeing each other."

"That doesn't mean he hasn't been interested," Tina told her with a laugh. "So I guess you bought a clue that Austin is an idiot? Jake's loved you for ages."

"Tina! Don't. Please," I pleaded.

Eric laughed, "Don't mind my wife, she never has known when to keep her mouth shut. He's only been in love with you for three or four years, not the decade she'd have you believe."

"I give up." I lay on the floor and pulled one of Tristan's blankets over my head.

Tristan thought it was a great game and started trying to peek under at me.

Laney took pity on me and changed the subject. "So, how old is Tristan? He's adorable."

Her distraction ploy worked. Tina chattered at her about their son. After a few minutes, I resurfaced. I stood up and moved to the couch. Laney snuggled into my side and sighed. I hoped she liked my friends. Tina and Eric both made a real effort to include her in their conversations, a fact that's greatly appreciated. Nothing sucked worse than hanging out with people who barely acknowledged your presence... But I knew they'd welcome her with open arms, even if they ragged on me about it.

"So, Jake...What made you finally grow the balls to ask Laney out?"

"Eric. Shut up, please. Can't we just hang out?"

"Maybe once I get a straight answer. She's been dating your brother. I want to know how this came about. Christmas, you came over telling us about a big fight they had, and how you thought she could do so much better. Yet, you didn't say anything to her then. Why now? What changed?"

"I'd be curious to hear this as well," Tina said. Leaning forward so she could see me better, she literally perched on the edge of her seat awaiting an answer.

I sank back onto the couch and threw my head back. Their line of questioning was uncomfortable. How the hell do I explain this to them? Tell them I only have two weeks with the woman they know I've wanted for ages?

Laney lay a hand on my chest, and I tilted my head down just enough to make eye contact. Sliding a hand up to the back of my neck, she urged me to come closer. I kissed her. Slow, tender, and absolutely perfect. Like every other kiss we'd shared, any trace of awkwardness disappeared. Nothing else mattered. When she relaxed into my arms with a little contented sigh, I knew whole-heartedly that Laney was it for me. I was falling for her, even more than I already had. Eric's snickers pulled me from my fantasy world.

"Austin cheated on me. Jake stepped in. That's all you need to know," Laney answered.

"Ha, no. I need so many more details than that. He laughed at me when Tina first moved to Free Will and I said I liked her. He butted his nose in, giving his opinion. As his best friend, I plan to do the same."

My chest shook with laughter. "Yeah, well, we were art nerds. She was a cheerleader. Not exactly the same league. I didn't think it would end well."

"I couldn't believe when Eric asked me out. I may have been a cheerleader, but I could still appreciate an art nerd. Still can," she told Eric with a kiss.

"I really didn't think I had a shot. Jake sure as hell didn't. But I couldn't live with myself if I didn't try. Now, here we are, seven years later. Married with a beautiful baby."

"Did you cheer, Laney?" Tina asked.

"Me? Oh, no way." She laughed. "I can trip over air. I was the girl who stayed in the library, praying not to be noticed. Austin and I had a group project one semester, otherwise he would have continued to ignore me as his mom's friend's weird daughter." Laney nudged me then. "Besides, he only asked me out because of a comment you made at a pool party that summer. Something about my ass and asking him how old I was?"

"You do have a nice ass," I whispered and nuzzled her neck.

"Wait, Austin asked you out just to spite Jake?" Eric found that amusing. His roaring laughter filled the room. When Tina elbowed him, he slid off the couch and continued to laugh on the floor.

"Yup. I was so flattered when the star basketball player actually noticed me. Knocked me down a peg when he said he only asked me out because of Jake's interest. Three years, I spent with him. Only to find out it was a joke, and then a convenience."

Tina hopped up to start dinner. Tension was thick, I'm sure she hoped to release some of it. She and Eric didn't know what a can of worms they'd opened. Trying to understand the motivations behind Laney and I was a big job. Hell, she and I were still working all that out.

We said our goodbyes and left in time to say our farewells to our parents and her granny. We drove by the hospital and visited with Granny for a moment. She seemed to be doing better, just tired. So we didn't stay long. Laney promised to come back the next weekend.

"Not at the hospital," she said. "I'm gonna be home by then. And you'd better bring Jake, so I can get to know him better."

She winked at me when I said I'd come if Laney let me. I think maybe I'd won the old lady over... Just had to work my magic on her granddaughter still.

We drove back to the city, relatively silent. This weekend had been crazy with highs and lows.

Her place had been invaded by Kelsey's friends. They invited us to join them in their game night, but we decided to watch a movie in Laney's room. By we, I mean she, Laney didn't seem to want to hang out with the others. I was tired and didn't really give a shit. Just whatever made her happy.

Laney put on some chick flick and snuggled up against me. Didn't take long for me to get sleepy...