“So is watching your family lose their patriarch. But we do it anyway, because what else can we do?’ I asked, hating how my voice shook and my heart raced. I’d told her everything, things I hadn’t told my teammates in the three years I’d known them. “Every time he crawls back into my life, I think about what he did to my mom, to my brothers, and I get so mad.”
“Tell me about your brothers.”
And I did. I told her about Malcom and Marcus, and how I loved them fiercely even though I wasn’t around a lot. I showed her pictures of them and gushed about how strong they were, taking care of my mom despite being kids. The relief at telling someone about it was the same feeling I got when I hit a bomb out of the park. We sat there, our secrets and struggles escaping into the summer air, and I could’ve stayed there all night. But familiar voices carried over the quad.Aaron. Greta. Zade. Callie.The cute foursome.
“Shit.” I removed my hand from hers and put some distance between us. I wasn’t ready to explain why we were sitting on the grass, on a Saturday night, holding hands. Nope. No fucking way. “Your brother is going to see us.”
“Wait, is he—”
“Kenzie? Why the hell are you out here with—” He stopped and practically growled my name. “Tanner.”
I panicked. No reasons came to mind and as the four made their approach closer to us. Aaron and Zade eyed me with a well-earned suspicion, and I gripped my coffee cup so tightly that it broke. “How was dinner?”
“Why the fuck are you two out here?” Aaron asked, not hiding the accusatory tone. Greta slapped the finger he pointed at me, but he didn’t stop his glare.
“Because, Aaron, I asked him to be. You were all hanging out and no one else was around, okay? I had a freak-out and needed air and knew enough to not walk alone,” Kenzie said.
“You could’ve joined us.”
“You didn’t invite me.”
His face blanched and Greta let out a curse. “You told me you asked her.”
“I forgot, shit.” He ran his hands through his hair and pulled on the ends. “Why did you have a freak-out? Are you okay now?”
“It was about dad, college…a lot of shit, but I’m fine now.” She stood and put her hand on my shoulder, squeezing. To anyone else, it looked friendly, but it sure as hell didn’t feel that way. She had fire in her eyes, to protect my secrets, and I had no idea how to process that.
“Do you want us to walk you back?” Zade asked, leaving both of his hands on Callie’s shoulders. They always touched and it had never made sense, until right now. The way Kenzie kept her hand on my shoulder gave me more comfort than I deserved. I totally got it.
Kenzie smiled at him, gave me a squeeze and shook her head. “No, don’t end your night because of me. Go on.”
Callie looked unsure and gave her signature goofy smile that charmed us all. “Stay with us tonight. You need a night away from all this…testosterone.”
“Cal, I haven’t seen you in a week. You’re kicking me out?” Zade asked, his voice going an octave too high.
“None of you know what it’s like trying to fit into this tight group. It can be overwhelming and she’s the official newbie, making me a vet, and I get it. You can still stay the night, Zade, but let her have a couple of hours with us.”
He pouted, unashamed to do so in front of all of us. “Fine. But I’ll be there soon.”
I snorted into my fist and hated watching Kenzie walk away with Greta and Callie. That left Zade and Aaron, both unhappy, glaring at me. “Neither of you have any reason to be pissed at me. This is your doing, Hilly.”
“Tell me why she’s sad, please. I don’t like how she’s going to you instead of me. I’m her brother, not you.”
Chapter Thirteen
Kenzie
My girls’night was not what I expected. Movies and TV shows painted a vastly different picture than seeing Callie and Greta sprawled out on their couches in baggy sweatpants, makeup free and their phones in their rooms. Greta spoke first, handing me a fancy IPA I had never tried before. “Can I speak freely, Ken?”
“Sure.”
“Your brother makes me want to punch a wall sometimes. I love him—most times I think too much—but fuck. He’s a hard person to love, because he has to make every mistake before he figures out the right thing.”
“Ha, that’s a good way to put it,” I said, admiring her candor. “He is hard to love.”
“Again, love the guy, but I’m so sorry he didn’t invite you over for dinner. I thought he did and I feel bad because I want you to feel welcome and one of us, ya know?”
“G, bring it down a peg,” Callie said, throwing a remote at her. She opened her mouth to say something, but someone pounded on the door and Callie rushed to get it. “Sorry, we all know Zade is pretty much one of the girls now.”
