“Remote access, no clients, no work. So why aren’t you more excited?” Or maybe she does call me out. I’m glad she does though, as much as I want to avoid the question—and will.
“I am. Promise.” I kiss her again, matching her energy. “Once I take care of this last little to-do list, I’m all here.”
She’s nodding, still studying me, her eyes bouncing between mine.
“Tell our guests I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“I think we’ll go raid Brew for some breakfast burritos once everyone’s awake.”
“Sounds good. I’ll check your location before I leave Fit.” I smile and tap her upturned nose with my index finger and turn to leave, swiping my phone and water bottle off the counter as I go.
***
“Sorry, Stacey, I’ve gotta grab this call. Two more sets here, then move over to the press for three sets on number four. You’re doing amazing. Already stronger after two weeks. I’ll be right back.” Stepping away, I swipe to answer the Southern California number, assuming it’s the law firm. “This is Julian.”
“Mr. McKay, this is Michael Vega from Voss, Vega and Raines. Patrick gave me your info and I did some quick digging and found that your maternal grandfather did pass away almost two months ago. I’m sorry for your loss.”
“Thank you, Mr. Vega. I . . . didn’t know him very well.”
“Michael, please. I just wanted to update you. I’ll continue my research and contact the firm handling his estate for further details.”
“I appreciate it, Michael. Thank Patrick again for me. I’ll wait for your call.” I tap the screen and slide it back into my pocket. My grandfather McKay is gone. I guess I’m supposed to feel grief, but I didn’t know him. Beyond a basic human take of general sadness, I’ve got nothing. Even that feels somewhat affected. Does that make me an asshole? Dr. Carver would tell me to own my feelings or feel my feelings or whatever. She’d tell me it’s okay that I’m not destroyed over the passing of someone I didn’t know, blood or not. My family tree never evoked ties of loyalty in me since I was old enough to know what that meant. Ironically, I feel a closer, pseudo-familial bond to Tayathan anyone I share DNA with. That realization hits me square in the chest, and I take a physical step back, as if the impact were literal.
Taya feels like family. Maybe that’s why it’s so natural to have her staying with us, why her likely hooking up with Seth last night doesn’t bother me. Other than caring that she’s safe, I don’t have feelings for her. This realization puts a calm in my gut, like a key clicking in a lock.Taya is my family.Not like Ever, but like Allie. Noah and Lilly. Even Pete and Shelley. I wonder if she feels the same about me. Up until my birthday a couple months ago, she thought I abandoned her. Now that she knows it was a lie, where does she see me in her life? The fact that she asked to stay with us tells me she might feel the same.
As if thinking about her summons her, my phone vibrates and her name flashes across the screen. “Taya? What’s up? I’m just wrapping up at the—”
“Jay, Mitch called. Someone broke in last night.”
“What? Where?”
“The ranch. Mitch was gone. Found the mess this morning. I need to go. Would you go to the ranch with me? You and Ever? I don’t want to go alone.”
“Yes, of course. Where’s Ever?”
“Shower. She doesn’t know. He just called me.”
Shit!I fucking know it’s Todd. Who else? He’s trying to find me. I just fucking know it. And he’s not gonna stop. Maybe he thinks I live there now. Never figured him for anything but a drunk and an addict, but he’s clearly escalated to petty larceny. Still, what does he hope to gain? Some inheritance? By force? Yeah, clearly not escalating in the common sense department.You don’t know if it evenwashim.“I’m on my way.” I walk back into the nautilus area, where my client,Stacey, is finishing her rounds. “Stacey, I’ve gotta cut your session short. There’s an urgent issue I need to take care of. I owe you a free one, okay?”
“No worries, Julian. I’m sore enough.” She laughs and stands up from the leg press. “Ugh, they feel like Jell-O.”
“They look great though,” I say automatically. “I’ll text you my schedule to book your next one on me.” I’m already moving toward the exit.
“Sounds good. Thanks.”
I fly into the post office on my way back to Allie’s and grab my mail from the box. There are only three envelopes: one credit card promotion, one from my health insurance and one from an unknown law firm. I know now what it’s going to say. I toss it on the passenger seat and haul ass home. I’m going to have to come clean with Ever and Taya if Todd is on some warpath for an inheritance, no matter how delusional. Not sure what he hoped to find breaking into her place. He probably doesn’t even know. Strung out idiot. Fuck my white trash upbringing. It’s been a while since I’ve identified as that worthless kid. Ever changed that. Seems I can’t outrun it, though. No matter how much I grow, heal, achieve, it’s still there lurking under the surface, ready to burn it all down. To remind me that I’m Jayce Keller, born to trash and that I don’t deserve good things, a good life. Even worse, that the more I grow, heal and achieve, the more I stand to lose when it does come back around. Dr. Carver really would be proud because I’m not going down without a fight. Fuck Todd Keller and his genes. I’m not condemned to the life they brought me into. I’mnot!
Chapter 8
Everly
Soft knocking meets me when I step out of the shower. “Coming,” I call. Pulling the bedroom door open, Taya greets me with a flat-lipped smile, so I swing it wider. I’m in a towel and it doesn’t occur to me to feel self-conscious. But for a nanosecond it makes my radar that Taya being in my room, with me in a towel, isn’t awkward. Almost as if it were my sister, Via. The expression on Taya’s face though pushes the assessment out of mind. “What’s wrong?”
“There was a break-in at my house. Mitch, the ranch manager, just called me. I called Jay since you were in the shower. He’s on his way home.”
“Okay. Umm, okay. Are you okay?” I’m already pulling clothes out of drawers, dropping my towel and throwing them on—no thought of my nakedness. Trauma makes you good at handling other people’s crises.
“Yeah. Just kinda freaked out. Shit like that doesn’t happen up here.” She sits on the edge of the bed and rubs her palms up and down her knees. It’s true. The weirdest thing I got used to in Blue Lake ishow trusting everybody is. No one locks their doors. It’s not talked about. It just is. “He . . . Jay said we’d go check it out. He said he’d go with me. Is that okay? With you?”
