Keeping the Beat: An Adrenaline Novel (18 page)

              Filling two glasses of water I rushed back to the bedroom eager to climb back into bed with Kenzie. When I walked inside the room she was sitting with a blanket wrapped around her shoulders, a frown replacing the smile I had seen just moments before.

              “What’s wrong?” I asked, immediately sensing something was up from the rigid set of her shoulders.

              “Why is Sydney West texting you?”

              My heart dropped as I set the glasses down on the bedside table and reached for my phone where it sat in the middle of the bed. Kenzie was staring at it like it was a bomb that was going to go off at any second.

              “It started buzzing from your pants pocket. I didn't know if it was going to be Mrs. Cooper or one of the guys so I grabbed it. I didn't read the message though.”

              I looked back at her face and wished I had changed my number like I had been thinking about for the last few months. It seemed nothing I said or did could dissuade Sydney from making contact with me. We had been over for months now and she still couldn't get it through her thick skull.

              “I don’t care if you read it.” I tossed the phone back onto the bed gesturing for Kenzie to pick it up. “I’ve told her time and time again we are done. She doesn't listen. I just ignore her. Tomorrow I’m going to get my number changed.”

              Kenzie pushed my phone away making me growl in frustration. Sitting down next to her I watched as she subtly shifted away from me. “Don’t do that!”

              “Do what?” She asked wide eyed.

              I grabbed her legs with both my hands and tugged her closer to me. “Don’t pull away from me. I couldn't handle it if you did that, Kenzie.”

              “I’m not pulling away Jace,” she sighed and ran a soothing hand over my hair. “I just wasn't expecting to see her name on your phone is all. Not that I can blame her. I know what it’s like to be crazy obsessed with you.”

              “The difference is she’s actually crazy.” I deleted the message without looking at it before tossing my phone back onto the floor. “Do you believe I want nothing to do with her? That you’re the only one I’ll ever want?”

              A small smile touched her lips though a trace of sadness lingered in her eyes. “I believe you, Jace.”

Chapter 17

Kenzie

              After a long week of work a girls night was exactly what I needed. Reece had called me earlier telling me I was expected at her house in sweats at seven o'clock. When I pulled into her driveway I noted that Lane and Emma's cars were parked outside. Grabbing my overnight bag and the groceries I had stopped for, I hopped out of the car and walked into the house without knocking.

              Loki heard me enter and immediately rushed over to me. He had grown considerably in the last few months and would have knocked me off balance had I not been prepared for his greeting.

              "Hi, baby," I cooed reaching down to give him a good scratch. He stared up at me lovingly before his focus shifted to something at the back of the house.

              My brother appeared in the hallway walking towards me with a cheery look on his face. "Hey there, Little One." He pulled me into his arms for a quick hug.

              "What are you doing here? Reece said it was girls night."

              "Not even a hello," my brother complained ruffling my hair. "Don't fret. My soon to be wife is kicking me out. I've been instructed to take the mutt with me." Whistling for Loki he grabbed the dog's leash and started to put it on.

              "Are you headed over to Lucas'?" I asked knowing that's where Jace was going to be.

              "Yeah. Figured it would be a guys night." He looked back at me, assessing my face with cool blue eyes. "How are things?"

              I felt a smile coming over my face, knowing he was not so subtly asking about my relationship with Jace. "Things couldn't be better.” The memory of Sydney’s text message floated into my mind but I pushed it aside. I knew Jace was even more bothered by it than I was which was part of the reason I had decided to let it go. That and the fact that he had followed through and changed his phone number the day after my birthday.

              A look of relief came over my brother's face as he nodded. "Good. You'd tell me if they weren't right?"

              "You don't have to worry so much about me, Declan."

              "It's my job to worry about you. You telling me not to doesn't do anything so knock it off." I felt him smile as he pressed his lips to my forehead. "I love you, Kenzie."

              "I love you too."

              Satisfied my brother nodded again and called out over his shoulder. "Baby, I'm leaving."

              Reece walked down the same hall Declan had moments before. "Hi Kenzie," she greeted coming to my brothers side. She gave him a brief kiss before slapping him on the ass. "Bye Declan."

              "Love you too dear," he said with amusement tinged in his voice. Reece blew him a kiss as he walked outside heading towards Lucas' with Loki nipping at his heels.

              "What's that?" Reece asked pointing to the bag in my hand. I looked over at her and saw that her stomach had rounded out a little, the evidence of the baby growing inside her showing ever so slightly.

              With a wide grin I handed her the bag, laughing when she squealed in delight at the deluxe chocolate I had stopped for. "Between you, Emma, and the baby I'm going to be as big as a house soon." Grabbing my hand she pulled me towards the living room.

              Lane and Emma were sitting on the floor going through Declan and Reece's DVD collection. Both women looked up and smiled when I walked in.

              "We've been dying for you to get here," Lane said jumping to her feet. "I need details about you and Jace."

              "Good grief Lane, we haven't even opened the alcohol yet." Emma rolled her eyes before looking at me. "I mean not that I would turn down details but once we get her inhibitions lowered she'll probably be more forthcoming with the information."

              "Maybe I should stick to water.” I gave a sideway glance to Reece only to find her grinning over at me. No doubt she wanted the inside scoop along with the rest of the girls. The only difference being she would remember every detail of what was said come morning.

              "Oh no you won't." Emma shook her head making her long red hair dance behind her as she uncorked a bottle of wine. "It's girls night and that's a night for dishing, gossiping and spilling secrets. You will not deny me this, Kenzie Kane." Pouring three glasses she handed them out before pouring a fourth glass of juice for Reece. 

              “If I’m expected to share my information, I expect the same from all of you.” I looked over at Reece briefly giving a small shake of my head. “Maybe not so much from you.”

              With a laugh she slung an arm around my shoulder pulling me into her side. “Oh but Kenzie, I have so much to tell. Like how last night Declan and I got carried away out on the porch. He does this thing with his mouth-”

              Slamming my hand over her mouth I ignored everyone’s laughter and gave Reece a pointed glare. I loved her but that didn't mean I wanted to hear about her and my brother’s sex life. When she licked my hand I pulled it away with a laugh, wiping my palm on my faded sweatpants. “Gross.”

              Reece stuck her tongue out at me and popped a chocolate into her mouth. “My love won’t be silenced Kenzie Kane.”

              Taking a deep sip from my wine I moved over to sit on one of the couches in the living room. “How are the wedding preparations going?”

              “Smoothly. We don’t want a big fuss, just family. Speaking of which. Emma,” her voice turned sickeningly sweet. “Declan and I were wondering if we could hire you to cater?”

              “Done,” Emma answered without any hesitation. “We’ll talk menu and cake design soon.”

              “You’re the best!” Reece said flinging her arms around Emma for a hug. Emma returned the embrace with a smile.

              “Happy to do it. I’ve been looking for a distraction lately and that one will do nicely.” Her smile faded away as she began to fidget with her hands.

              “How’s your dad doing, Emma?” I asked bringing her attention to me. Emma’s dad had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s two years ago which was the main reason she had moved back home after being away so long. She had tried to take care of him herself for awhile but after he had wandered away from her childhood home a few times, she had to find an assisted living facility for his own safety.

              We had been in touch a lot over the past year. Emma knew I had done some research on dementia and Alzheimer’s while I was in school. I had helped her pick out a memory care facility, flying home from wherever Adrenaline was to go on some tours with her to ensure all her dad’s needs would be met.

              “He’s alright,” she gave a little shrug. “Confused but I think he likes where he’s living. They have activities and programs everyday and the staff tells me he attends all of them. I usually go see him on Wednesdays and Saturdays.”

              “I was sorry to hear about your dad, Em,” Reece said. Emma nodded in acknowledgement but didn't offer further comment. It was only recently I learned that the two had some bad blood between them in the past. After Reece’s dad left her mom, Mrs. Becker had started going out with a lot of different guys, one of them being Emma’s married father. When Emma had found out the two had gotten in a fight, each defending their own parent. I was glad they had gotten over it though. I didn't want two people I cared about to be at odds.

              “Enough sad talk.” Lane rubbed her hands together shifting the topic of conversation. “Let’s get to the happy stuff. Like how Jason Craw is in bed.” Her wiggled eyebrows had the desired effect making everyone laugh and easing the sudden tension in the room.

              Willing to play along I gave a lofty sigh and stretched my arms over my head. “I always thought they were exaggerating in books when they said you see stars but with Jace I see stars, galaxies, and one time I swear I saw the pearly gates.”

              Fanning herself Lane sat down heavily on the opposite side of me. “I think I’m going to need more wine.”

Jace

              Lucas never had any beer at his place which is why Wyatt had run to the store to grab some for the rest of us. When Kenzie told me she was going to be at Reece's for a girls night I had immediately called my cousins to see if they wanted to do something.

              I picked my head up from where it was resting on my hand when the front door opened, seeing Declan and Loki walk inside.

              Loki immediately ran past me to lick Simon's face as he laid on the floor flipping through television channels. The boy laughed and pushed the dog away looking over at his father.

              "Can Loki and I go play outside?"

              Lucas gave the dog a wary look before nodding. "I think that would be a good idea. I don't want that dog causing a mess in here after we just cleaned."

              When the door slammed shut behind them Declan gave Lucas an amused look. "Are you going to cave and get the boy his own dog soon?"

              Lucas shrugged watching his son chase the dog around the yard through the window. "Soon enough I expect if he doesn't stop hounding me about it."

              Declan snorted and sat down next to me. “Please, I know you want a puppy just as bad."

              Lucas didn't look nearly as amused as Declan did. "After hearing horror stories about your dog, I'm not so sure."

              Declan gave Lucas a quick wink. "Loki's just special. Reece signed him up for classes that start in two weeks so we'll see how it goes."

              "With the chick Emma was talking about?" Lucas asked. "You'll have to let me know how it goes. If I do end up getting Simon a dog, you better believe that boy will be the one to train it. I'm not going to wake up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom only to step in a pile of puppy shit."

              "I heard that's really good for your skin." Wyatt walked through the front door with a twelve pack of beer and a smug grin. Lucas shot him the finger as his twin moved around him to place the beer in the refrigerator. "So are all the girls tucked in at your house Declan?"

              "Yep," Declan answered shortly, picking up a game controller. He nudged me on the knee and gestured for me to pick up the other one as he turned the gaming system on. Garret was sitting in the corner love seat  texting on his phone, bummed because Jared had to work tonight.

              "Who's all over there?" Wyatt asked casually, crossing his feet at the ankles as he stood at the counter next to his brother.

              "The girls," Declan said the words slowly. From the twitch of his lips I knew he was purposely trying to get a reaction from Wyatt. The impatient snap of my cousin's teeth told me he didn't need much more prodding to produce the explosion Declan was looking for.

              "So Reece, Kenzie, and Lane?"

              I saw Garret put his phone down and locked eyes with him, noting his amused stare. It seemed that since we had moved back home Wyatt couldn't get Emma Thompson off of his mind. Since she had been hanging out with us a lot more frequently we all got a front row seat to the almost animalistic way they circled each other. It reminded me of the old days before they'd finally given in and gone at it.

              "Yep," Declan confirmed with a nod.

              "I saw Emma's car in your driveway on my way back."

              "Did I forget to mention her?" Declan answered trying to look innocent. He turned his attention to the game for a moment before cutting his eyes back to Wyatt. "You went out of your way to drive past my house to see if Emma's car was in the driveway?"

              Wyatt blanched for a moment before he narrowed his eyes, pointing an accusatory finger towards Declan. "Shut up."  Everyone started to chuckle as Wyatt turned to grab a beer from the fridge. If that boy didn't unwind soon he was going to snap.

              "What did she say to you at Kenzie's party?" I asked as he dropped down on the couch next to Garret. Wyatt looked confused for a moment before his expression cleared and a hardness entered his eye.

              "None of your fucking business."

              "Touchy," Garret commented with a half smile. "Must have been something really good."

              "Stay out of it," Wyatt barked turning on his brother.

              "Yeah, we don't really do that." Declan shook his head once before walking to the kitchen to grab a beer. I nodded when he silently offered me one, accepting it with a grateful smile.

              "I don't even know how this conversation got stuck on me. He's the one we should be badgering." Wyatt jerked his chin in my direction making me frown.

              "Why do I need to be badgered?"

              "Because you're sniffing around our Little One," he shot back indignantly.

              Leaning forward I set my beer aside and rested my elbows on my knees giving Wyatt a serious look. "First of all Wyatt I'm not sniffing around Kenzie. We're together. Second of all, if you're still feeling sour you didn't get a hit in when you heard the news, that's your dumb luck. If you want to take a swing at me go ahead but I'm warning you I won't just stand there and take it this time. Being with Kenzie is the best thing that's ever happened to me and I'm done feeling guilty about it."