I fist my hands and turn, storming out the back door of the house, but I run into a hard body. “Sorry …” I look up and gasp.
A hand slaps over my mouth, and I’m pushed up to the side of the house. He takes his free hand and places a finger over his lips, silently telling me to be quiet. Then removes his hand.
“What are you doing here?” I whisper, looking around to make sure no one is looking our way. “No one can see you.”
He gives me a soft smile as his hand grips the hem of my shirt before sliding underneath it. “I needed to see you, baby.” Then his lips land on mine.
DEKE
It’s officially Thanksgiving, and we are back at Collins for the week. We had planned on flying but then decided we wanted to have access to vehicles. My father has plenty to go around, but I’m still not talking to that fucker. And same thing goes with Cole’s father. It took us two days to make the thirty-hour drive. We had to stop and stay the night in Utah and watched Lilly swim in the indoor pool with the girls. Things seem to be going pretty good lately. Cole is on edge again, though. He hasn’t told Austin what all he knows. That wouldn’t bother the old Cole, but it’s eating the new one alive. I think he’s afraid to tell her just how deep her friend’s betrayal ran. And I think the fact that we’re back here in Collins adds to that.
“Are you glad to be back?” Demi asks from the passenger seat.
“Yes,” I answer, pulling up to my sister’s house. I haven’t spoken to her in a few hours. We’re a little ahead of our scheduled time to arrive.
I frown when I see a white SUV parked in the driveway that I know all too well. I exit my Range Rover and walk inside with Demi right behind me. “Sis?” I call out.
I walk down the hallway and turn to enter the kitchen, thinking I’ll find her at the table, but she’s not there. “Shelby?” I yell this time.
“Deke?” She answers from behind me.
I turn to see her standing in the hallway with a dark gray towel wrapped around herself. Her blond hair, wet and sticking to her bare shoulders. She still has some soap on her face. “What are you doing?” I ask.
“I was in the shower.” She smooths her hand down the towel and looks over to Demi who comes to stand next to me. She swallows nervously. “You guys are early.”
I narrow my eyes on her neck. She has a couple of marks that resemble hickeys. What the fuck? I’ve never seen hickeys on my sister before. “Is that a problem?”
“No,” She laughs like I told a joke and changes the subject. “Are you hungry? Want me to make you something …”
“Babe what’s taking you so long?” A man interrupts her, coming into the hallway. “Deke?” His wide eyes meet mine.
I fist my hands down by my sides. “What the fuck are you doing here?” I demand, looking him over. He too wears a towel low on his hips. And soap still covers his chest and arms. No fucking way! “At my sister’s? Also dressed in a towel?” I snap.
He runs a hand over his wet hair and squares his shoulders. “We were going to tell you.”
“When?” I snap and look at my sister. This motherfucker … “How long?” I demand.
She drops her blue eyes to the floor.
“How fucking long?” I shout.
“Hey.” Bennett pushes her out of the way and steps up to me. “Don’t yell at her. I was the one who wanted to keep this a secret from you.”
I reach out, gripping the back of his neck and yank him to me. “I’m not gonna ask you again.”
He gives me a smile, and says, “A year.”
I punch him in the face, knocking him into a wall.
“Deke!” my sister and Demi both shriek.
“You fucking bastard …” I slam my fist into his face again. He doesn’t fight me back, and I take full advantage of it.
I take him to the floor right here in the hallway. The force making a few pictures fall as well.
“What the fuck?” I hear Cole growl, and then I feel his hands on my shoulders. He yanks me off him, pulling me to my feet.
I stand, hands fisted and breathing heavily.
“What the hell is going on here?” he demands.
“What’s it look like?” I shout. “He’s fucking my sister.”
Cole looks from Bennett to Shelby. But looks away quickly when he realizes she’s only dressed in a towel. He throws his hands up and takes a step back. “By all means.”
“Cole!” Austin growls his name as she pushes Lilly behind her legs. “Not here,” she tells him.
He nods and tells Bennett. “Get dressed. Deke can beat your ass in the backyard.”
Without a second thought, I turn and exit the house. Rolling my shoulders, I get ready to kick my best friend’s ass when Demi walks out back behind me.
“Deke …”
“Don’t,” I growl, interrupting her. I’m in no mood to hear it. Whatever she has to say, she can save it.
“But …”
“Drop it, Demi!” I snap. He’s been fucking her for a year. He deserves at least a broken nose for that.
She lets out a growl and turns, running back into the house just as Cole and Bennett exit.
I lift my fisted hands ready to start punching his face.
“Can I explain?” he asks, lifting his hands in surrender.
“Nope.” I slam my fist into him, knocking him back a few steps.
“Goddammit, Deke.” He growls, covering his face. “Cole …”
“I can’t help you out, man. I’m with Deke. We all knew she was off-limits.”
I step into him ready to throw another punch.
“Just listen for two …”
This time, my fist connects with his jaw, sending him onto his ass.
“Motherfucker!” he shouts, jumping to his feet.
“Is she who you messaged nonstop while you were down in Texas?” I snap. The fucker barely ever looked up from his phone, but I never questioned it because I didn’t give a shit who he was talking to. Obviously, I should have.
“Yes!” he snaps.
Cole falls down into a chair and takes a bite of an apple. The fucker is enjoying this too much. “And the girl you ushered out of the clubhouse the night I called you …? That was her, wasn’t it?”
My hands drop to my sides as my mouth falls open. No fucking way …
“Yes!” he answers Cole.
I let out a growl and run at him. My shoulder hits him in the chest, and I lift him up off the ground before slamming his ass to the snow-covered grass. “I’m gonna kill …”
“I love her!” he shouts.
I pause, one hand fisted in his shirt and the other about to hit him in the face again. “What?” I pant.
He lets out a long sigh and licks the blood off his lip. “I fucking love her, Deke.” He shoves me off, and I go willingly. Sitting up, he runs his hands through his hair. “You think I would risk losing you as a friend for a fuck or a fling?” I don’t answer. “I’ve been in love with her for a long time, and a year ago, I got my chance to show her just how much.” He looks over at Cole who continues to eat his apple with a smirk on his face. “I’m sorry we didn’t tell you. She wanted to, but I didn’t. I knew you wouldn’t understand. I was selfish and wanted as much time with her as possible before you found out.” He hangs his head. “She broke up with me after Cole killed Kellan. She thought I helped, which I did, but she said she wanted nothing to do with our lives.” He glares up at me. “It took a lot of groveling to get her back and show her that I can be different for her.” He huffs. “And I’ll be damned if I’m gonna allow you to come in and fuck that up for me.”