Music still blasted, but little pockets of discussion were rising in corners.
“Sarah said she needed a washroom. Why don’t you go ahead, sweetheart? We’ll be done chatting by the time you get back.” Joel was forced to step aside as Jesse slapped Sarah on the bottom and directed her farther into the apartment.
Vicki was torn. Did she go after her sister or stay with Joel?
Sarah vanished fast enough the decision was made for her. Vicki slipped out the door just in time to grab hold of Joel’s arm and stop him from slamming his fist into his twin’s face. “Whoa. That bit I said earlier about causing massive pain? Let’s rethink that, okay?”
Because as mad as she was, she hated that she’d come between the two brothers.
Joel checked himself at Vicki’s touch.
The pause allowed Jesse to back out of range and turn to sneer at Vicki. “You are a hell of a lot less fun than I thought you’d be. Other than being a pain in the ass, you’re simply…needy, aren’t you?”
Asshole. Joel glared daggers at his brother. “Leave Vicki out of this and explain what the hell you’re doing showing up with Sarah.”
“Hey, having a good time, you know. Nothing wrong with giving someone a chance.”
Sarcasm dripped from his words.
The door at the entrance to the apartment slammed open, and Travis sauntered in. “Hell, it’s a Six Pack party in the hallway. Who’s in shit now?”
“Mind your own fucking business,” Jesse snapped.
“Ahh, that answers my question.” Travis stepped between the twins, pausing for a moment as he faced Jesse. “You’re too dumb to realize this, but the guilty party always speaks first. And you know what’s really odd? It usually seems to be you flapping your jaw far quicker than Joel.”
“Stay out of it, Travis. I can deal with him.” Joel tugged Vicki to his side, wishing he could insist she go back into the party, but it was as much her fight as his.
“There’s nothing to deal with, jerk. I’m here, I brought a date, that’s it.” Jesse sniffed at Travis. “Speaking of dates, where’s Ashley?”
Travis stiffened. “Fuck off, Jesse.”
“Ha. Then I did hear right, she dumped you. Damn, you can’t seem to keep a girl happy. Maybe you need to do like me and Joel.” Jesse pointed at Vicki. “I mean, you’re taken, and I nabbed Sarah for the night, but there’s one more Hansol whore still available—”
Joel couldn’t fathom the words had really been said. Disbelief made him hesitate just long enough that by the time he went to smack some sense into his ass of a brother, Vicki had beaten him to it. She leapt from beside him and slammed her fist into Jesse’s smirking face.
It took a moment of scuffling before Travis had Jesse in a headlock and Joel had his wildcat of a woman pulled free.
“Let me go. I’m going to kill the fucker.” Vicki swung even when she must have known it was futile. Joel had her around the waist, holding her struggling body tight to his as he attempted to calm her.
“Let us have the fun, we’ve been waiting for longer.” Travis jerked Jesse off his feet, biceps bulging as he kept his brother trapped in position. “Don’t think about fighting back. You’re in deep shit.”
Fury whipped through Joel that Jesse would take whatever was pissing him off and make this battle into hurting Vicki. Wading in and using his fists to beat some sense into his brother would have been fun, but clearly wasn’t going to work. “You have a problem with me, you talk to me, but you leave Vicki and Lynn out of this.”
Travis released Jesse from his grasp, tossing him down the hallway. “I second that. I don’t care if you want to poke at me or meet me outside the barn so I can rearrange your face. In my books, Vicki deserves more respect than you do.”
“Now why would you defend her as well?” Jesse scrambled to his feet, wiping blood from his nose. He turned to face Joel. “Sharing with Travis this time? I guess you still haven’t figured out how to fuck a woman on your own.”
Silence descended on the hallway so hard Joel heard his blood pound past his eardrums. He couldn’t let go and beat Jesse like he deserved or Vicki would be loose, and murder really would be done.
Travis held up a hand, speaking quietly to Vicki. “Ignore him. He’s being an ass, and he’s not worth it. Joel’s got a damn fine woman in you, but I don’t want you the way Jesse implied. I consider you a sister, and that’s all I’ve ever said in public, and that’s all that will be said. So if you want me to pound Jesse on your behalf, you go ahead and let me know.”
“No one has to beat him up.” She relaxed, and when she tapped his arm, Joel set her on her feet. She nestled against his chest, glaring across at Jesse. “Your words, your actions, tonight and earlier. All of it makes me realize what I should have already known. Just because people are related doesn’t mean someone will be like their family. I’m nothing like my sister, and, Jesse, you’re nothing at all like your brothers.”
“Just words, sweetheart. They’re not going to make me cry into my pillow tonight.”
“They should,” she snapped. “I’m proud I’m not like Sarah, but you should be damn ashamed you’re not more like Joel or Travis or Matt. I’d trust them with my life. I wouldn’t trust you with dirt.”
“Why, sweetie, what a sad way to talk about your sister.” Sarah slipped out of the apartment door and stepped into the mess.
Jesse’s face had flushed bright red at Vicki’s accusation. Travis stood warily to the right, Joel protecting Vicki on the left.
Only Sarah moved, Vicki still as a statue as her sister paced closer.
Sarah tilted her head. “You’re not like me? Maybe you should rethink that. You seemed to have weaseled your way into a protective family who are taking good care of you. Mama would be proud.”
“Fuck you.” The words came out soft and low, but lifeless, as if Vicki had no more fight left.
Joel saw it coming this time. When Sarah lifted her hand he caught her wrist before she could take a swing at Vicki. “You’re not welcome here. I think you should go. You and Jesse, both.”
“It’s a Coleman family party. You’ve got no right to kick me out.” Jesse blustered a bit as Sarah retreated to his side. Joel noticed he didn’t take her hand or draw her close, more like turned aside as if she weren’t even there.
Sarah noticed as well, her gaze darting between Jesse and the others. Her eyes narrowed for a second before she hauled back and used the slap Joel had stopped earlier.
“What the hell was that for?” Jesse pressed a hand to his cheek where Sarah had laid into him.
She sniffed. “Fuck you for using me to pick a fight with your family.”
Sarah swung on her heel and vanished out the apartment doors. Tension rose higher even as Joel stroked the back of Vicki’s neck, willing her to relax.
“Gee, even the whores think you’re a jerk,” Vicki muttered.
Travis snorted.
Jesse glared in her direction, and his continued rotten attitude was the final straw. Joel stepped forward. “Had enough of you tonight. No, you’re not welcome at the Coleman party. Not until you damn well remember what it means to be family.”
“I agree.” Travis gestured down the hall. “You only showed your face to take a piss on everyone anyway. Go home, Jesse. Go home until you grow up.”
Jesse didn’t say a word, just left.
Joel died a little inside at the loss, at the confusion and anger they’d tossed about like matchsticks. It hurt like hell to see his brother wrench farther apart from them all.
But he put his attention on the good he did have, turning Vicki toward him and kissing her cheek tenderly. “You’re an incredible woman. Don’t you forget that.”
“I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have—”
“Stop.” Joel cupped her face in his hands and put everything he could into his words. “Jesse made his choice, and it’s not your fault. He was wrong. Period. I’m sick of him and his shitty attitude, and I’m sorry he hurt you.”
She nodded, only she was blinking away tears. “I’m sorry he hurt you as well. Damn weird parties you people throw.”
“This is not a typical Coleman…” Travis paused.
Joel swore, remembering another toxic New Year’s party only a couple years earlier.
“Well, maybe it is.” Travis straightened his jacket and gestured toward the door. “Come on, I need a drink.”
Vicki caught his arm. “Ashley?”
Travis shook his head in an exaggerated manner. “You’d really make me discuss this
before
I toss back a couple strong ones? Evil woman.”
Joel spoke up. “I thought things were going well.”
“I thought you were good together,” Vicki added.
Travis shrugged. “Yeah, but for one little argument she won’t give an inch on. It’s okay, or it will be down the road. She needs time to cool off.”
“I hope it’s soon.” Vicki patted his arm, then linked her fingers into Joel’s as she moved back against his side. “Thank you for defending me.”
Travis nodded. “I meant it. You’re alright. And I owed you.”
She frowned, and suddenly Joel wasn’t sure where this was going anymore.
Travis stared off into space for a minute before hauling his gaze back to meet hers. “In high school. I knew the guys were setting up that damn bet. I’ve kicked my own ass a million times I didn’t tell them it was stupid or that I didn’t do something to stop it. I’m sorry for the pain it caused you.”
“Whoa.” Vicki shook her head. “You…knew?”
Oh hell. How much did Travis know? Joel let her squeeze his fingers bloodless.
Travis took a deep breath. “It wasn’t right what Eric did, taking advantage of you. I’m sorry.”
Breath whooshed out of her like air from a released balloon as Joel scrambled to put the facts into place.
Travis was missing the fine details.
Vicki nodded slowly. “Thank you for telling me.”
He lifted his dark eyes and allowed a smile to break free. “I wasn’t very good at standing up for what I thought was right back then. I’m trying harder these days.”
Vicki smiled and reached on her tiptoes to press a kiss to Travis’s cheek. “I meant what I said earlier. I trust you, and the rest of the Colemans. You’re good people, Travis. And Joel’s a wonderful friend. I’m thankful to have you guys in my life.”
Travis cleared his throat. “Can we go drink now?”
Ring out the old, bring in the new. It was a mix of sadness and hope they were staring down as they reentered the apartment and walked into the noisy crowd.
Travis disappeared after winking at Vicki. Joel found a place for them in the thick of an animated exchange between Tamara and the three youngest Colemans: Rafe, Lisa and Lee.
Joel forced Jesse out of his mind. He had to, or it would drive him mad. He’d already gone through a dozen different ways they might have avoided the situation, and yet none were real solutions.
Jesse had chosen his path.
Joel concentrated instead on the woman in his arms, on trying to find ways to get her to relax and enjoy the evening. Slowly Vicki opened up again, her sadness fading and laughter coming quicker as they shared jokes and meaningless conversation with people who had no agenda other than to enjoy themselves. Joel breathed easier as the hours passed, but he couldn’t help wondering.
In light of everything that was changing, what was the coming year going to hold?
Chapter Twenty-Four
“I don’t suppose we could put this off for a few more weeks?” Vicki was certain she wasn’t ready for this. Would never be ready.
And yet the confidence on his face said something different.
Joel shrugged. “Your choice, but eventually you need to get up on a horse, and I see no reason to postpone it any longer. You’ve only got a couple more months before you have to give your final yes or no to the job.”
“I can’t even wait that long. It’s not fair to Karen if I bail at the last minute, and she has to scramble for a new cook.” Vicki fought with herself. He was right, and with all the practice she’d had building up to this moment, there was no reason not to try.
February had come damn fast, though, in the big scheme of things.
By now, she’d waded through enough sheep they really were nothing but walking bundles of fluff. She’d saddled and unsaddled the sawhorse so often she could buckle straps with her eyes shut.
Even spending time around Trigger had been built into her training. Since New Year’s, Joel had introduced one fresh challenge after another. He’d coaxed her from watching him walk the beast in a circle, to having her join them, to finally “helping” hold the lead rope.
Trigger seemed to think the entire exercise rather boring except that at the end of each lesson Joel always pressed a couple bits of carrot or apple slices into Vicki’s hand. The first day she’d been certain she’d end up with missing fingers, but now it was more a case of convincing the stupid oaf there were no extra treats in her pockets, because Trigger didn’t hesitate in sticking his nose where he had no right.
Today Joel upped the ante again. This was no longer leading the creature. He wanted her to get on its back and actually ride.
“Is it safe?” His snort of amusement pissed her off, and she smacked her fist into his chest. “Don’t
do
that.”