“She isn’t guilty of anything besides being too clingy and wanting to fuck both Jakob and I. Leave her alone, Kie. I mean that.” It’s not at all true, and it turns my stomach to even say it so innocently, but that’s not their business.
He huffs in exasperation, “Fine, but I’m serious, Dec, she’s trouble.”
He’s been saying the same thing for the past five years. He isn’t wrong at all, but he is annoying. Before I can remind him to kindly fuck off, the door to the gym swings open and in walks his wife. Poor thing looks exhausted and like she’s already going to tip over from the five month pregnant belly that she’s sporting. Her strawberry blonde hair is thrown up in a messy bun, and her watery gunmetal gray eyes search the gym until she locks onto her husband. Kieran folds instantly as she walks over to him, and he wraps her up in his arms.
“What’s wrong, Mo Stóirín?”Little Darling.My lips subtly tip at the nickname he’s always used for her. We all wait with bated breath for why the incredibly strong Phoenix looks seconds from breaking.
“I’m so tired but I can’t sleep. I’m so sorry. I really did try to leave you alone, but everything hurts and I’m uncomfortable.”
He’s murmuring into the top of her head quietly as he holds her. I don’t know what he’s saying, nor do I think whatever it is is for my ears. A few moments later he scoops her into his arms before addressing us.
“I’m done. See you guys tomorrow.” He carries her out, and you can see her body melt in his arms.
“Dude, pregnancy has to suck. I can’t imagine how helpless he feels when she’s in pain like that.” Sully pipes up as soon as the gym door closes.
Sully is the baby of the family. I mean, by two minutes, but still. He and Flynn are identical twins. Their hair and eyes are the lightest of all of ours, at an almost dirty blonde color and blue-green eyes. Sully’s been in love with his best friendhis entire life, but neither of them has made a move. At this point I’m wondering if they ever will.
“Yeah, definitely a reason I don’t want kids. I don’t want to put anyone through that shit.” I say absentmindedly before kicking myself in the ass when Mac’s face crumbles for half a second before he storms from the room without a word. He and Lee can’t have kids, and I’m the world’s worst brother for not thinking before I speak.
“Dude, seriously?” Flynn throws his hands up at Sully, and I.
“I know, fuck. I’ll apologize in the morning. Let him go to her and feel what he needs to tonight.”
Speaking of wives, Rowan’s walks through the door next with her hand outstretched towards where Roe is standing. He smirks as he walks to her without even looking our way.
“Pretty girl.”
“Babe. Let’s go to bed.” She sleepily smiles at him.
“Your wish is my command.” He lifts her by the back of her thighs so she can wrap her arms and legs around him and snuggle in. Her deep brown eyes close as her face presses into the crook of his neck, and Rowan carries her out without another word.
“Okay, I think that’s our cue. Let’s call it a night. It’s late.” Sully and Flynn say their goodbyes to me and leave to go to bed too.
Finally it’s just me in the gym with all this pent up energy, a heavy bag, and visions of Jakob fucking Fischer. I’m going to beat the shit out of this bag until I’m too tired to move, and his stupid blue eyes get out of my head.
But a couple of hours later I fall back on the mats, depleted of all energy. As I shut my eyes, visions of a strong jawline, an ever present five o’clock shadow, and ice fucking blue eyes haunt me.
2
Chapter Two
Jakob
I’m running late.Shit, I’m running late. Myalmostbrother-in-law and sister are going to kill me. Today’s their engagement party, and Lelonie is going full bridezilla already. Okay, maybe that’s a little dramatic. All she asked of me was to make sure I’m on time and that I don’t kill Declan.
Declan Byrne. I can’t even think about the spineless prick without wanting to barf inside my helmet. That really would be unfortunate, seeing as I’m going one hundred and twenty on my dark blue CBR 1000 to get back to Corey Heights with minimal tardiness.
Anyway, back to Declan. We were best friends growing up until he started sleeping with the woman who now makes my life hell. We quickly became sworn enemies after I walked in on them. I mean, one way sworn enemies. I hate him withevery ounce of my soul. He used to match my energy with this, but over the past five years his anger has dissipated, and now it seems he’d much rather goad me than hate me.
Years later we became more like frenemies when his brother started dating my sister. Hell, Declan even gave one of his kidneys to her. I can say a lot of negative shit about the Byrne’s, and trust me, I do, but what I can never say is that they don’t love Lelonie like one of their own. The day of the transplant surgery, I went to thank Declan for saving my sister’s life, and just when I thought we could at the very least become friends again, the tornado that wrecked our friendship in the first place came barreling past me and into his arms. I vowed right then and there that if I ever got the chance, I’d shove a knife directly into his beating heart.
Only now, we have to be at the same places for wedding shit, and my family would never forgive me for killing my sister’s brother-in-law at one of their pre-wedding or wedding events. It’s why I left him alive in that alley two weeks ago. Killing him right now would be a mood killer to Mac and Lee’s happy day, and I’ll never intentionally upset any of my siblings.
Finally, after what feels like an eternity, I cruise down the long driveway without stopping at the guard shack. They don’t even try to stop me anymore. They know who I am, and if Lelonie is here, I can be here too. The old white brick mansion comes into view. It seems intimidating if you’ve never been here, but all I see are the memories made here growing up as Dec’s best friend.
I park my bike next to my youngest sister’s car, smiling because she’s home for the summer. Annie just graduated from Princeton a couple of weeks ago and is living back home with our parents until she starts medical school just overthree hours away at Johns Hopkins in the fall. She’s extremely intelligent and is going to be the top surgeon in her field, I just know it. Call me a doting big brother all you want, but I know who my siblings are, and I know they’re all destined for great things.
I mean, just look at Lelonie. She has survived through so much. A lesser person would have broken. She and her fiance, Mac, have an amazing love story. It was an emotional roller coaster, and I was unsure of how it would end at first. After I got over Mac being Declan’s brother, I realized that he treats my sister like his sole purpose on this Earth is to make her feel loved and safe. I was able to see the undeniable, once in a lifetime love that they both share. I thought maybe I could have had that once, but it wasn’t in the cards for me. I lost my best friend and gained a girl who has me trapped under her thumb in one night. Now that I’m years older, I can recognize that I was never in love. I was in lust. We would have never worked out. I was looking for forever, and they were looking for ‘right now.’
