Other people in this town have learned how to navigate polyamorous relationships, butme?Is that something I could do?
And is that something they would be even remotely on board with?
I shake my head because this train of thought is pointless. It doesn’t matter if I have feelings for them. It doesn’t matter if their feelings are returned or not.
It doesn’t matter because Maverick and Oliver are more important than anything that is making my heart beat a little faster in my chest this week.
Kane, Linc, and Wyatt are my friends. Any other feelings I may have will stay firmly locked away and never see the light of day.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Kane
I really hopethey catch this son of a bitch soon. There’s a chill settling into the air as we get further into fall, but that’s not the main reason.
I hate seeing the fear in Leah’s eyes every time she steps outside.
The bruises on her face have mostly faded, and she’s moving around easier now, but the psychological effects of what happened haven’t lessened. She’s constantly looking over her shoulder, waiting for her ex to jump out at her.
No woman should have to feel that way. It makes me want to go hunt the bastard down myself. I know the police are doing the best they can, but it doesn’t seem like enough.
I just want this poor woman to find some much-needed peace. She deserves it.
In the meantime, I pull my beanie down a little tighter over my ears and take another sip of the coffee Abby brought me earlier. I could easily bring my own cup, but I’m not going to pass on the excuse to see her.
Seeing her all sleep-rumpled and barely awake is my favorite part of these days at Leah’s. It makes me want to be here every morning, just for those few moments I get with her.
I internally groan because what the fuck?I need to get a grip and remember why she and I can only be friends.Friends.
An SUV I don’t recognize comes to a stop along the curb in front of Abby’s house. A woman with long, wavy dark-blonde hair and what looks like a small baby bump slides from behind the wheel while Maverick jumps out of the back.
“Grab your bag,” the woman calls to him before he can get very far.
He whips around, leaning back into the car to grab a backpack. With it slung over his shoulder, he walks toward me.
He squints up at me through his glasses. “Are you watching out for Leah again?”
“Yeah, bud, I am.”
“Cool.” He nods a few times. “So… Oliver isn’t here. Right?”
I can’t help but smile. “No, he isn’t. Sorry.”
He shrugs, but the disappointment is evident on his face. I love how close these two boys have become. It does wonders to warm my dad heart.
“I’ll tell him you said hi and asked about him.”
His face brightens a little. “Okay… thanks. Tell him I’ll save him a spot in the cafeteria for breakfast in the morning.”
“Thank you…” He hesitates for a beat. “Should I call you Mr. Bradley, like Oliver’s last name?” he asks, tilting his head to the side, like he’s trying to solve the world hunger crisis rather than what name to call me.
“Just Kane is fine. No need for fancy names. That makes me feel like an old man.”
“But you are kind of old.” His delivery is so direct. It’s fucking hilarious.
“Mav,” the woman behind him scolds. Her voice is stern, but one glance at her face shows she’s fighting to keep from laughing.
He turns to face her. “What? It’s true. I mean, he isn’t old like my grandma and grandpa, but still, like…” He tilts both of his hands from side to side. “Kind of old.”
