My throat constricted, and I swallowed reflexively, trying my hardest to find the words.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I lied.
I saw the look in Carter’s eyes the night before. The desire written on his face. The adoration that didn’t belong there when he looked at me. The hunger.
She patted my hand with hers. “That’s a load of shit, Avery. But like I let Bria lie to herself, I’ll let you lie to yourself, too.”
The door to the kitchen opened and Mr. Malone stuck his head out and smiled at us. “Avery James, as I live and breathe. It’s nice to see you dear. Will you be having coffee with Amy this morning?”
“Yes she will,” Mrs. Malone answered for me. “She’ll be in for breakfast with us too.”
“That’s good,” Mr. Malone supplied. “Because I just got a call from Casey talking about how some little hoodlum stole his truck from Carter’s house.” He glanced pointedly at the massive black Ford sitting outside their house. “Do we know anything about that?”
“Well, of course we do.” Mrs. Malone said helpfully. “Avery here was just doing what I asked her to. I needed to make sure that Casey didn’t do something stupid, like harass his ex-wife.”
Oh shit.
I watched her face, and realized that the Malones didn’t know that Casey and Bria were still married. For a second, I thought about telling them. But I wasn’t going to be that person, not right now. Instead, I made a mental note to tell Bria. She might be able to use it when Casey wouldn’t leave her alone.
“I’ll give Chief Townsend a call,” Mr. Malone said briskly. “Let him know, in case a call comes in, that our boys went a little crazy last night and misplaced a vehicle.” Then his head was gone, and the screen door closed right behind him.
“See, dear?” Mrs. Malone smiled at me, and tears stung my eyes again at the pain that she struggled to cover. “You can lie to yourself all you want. But the truth always comes out. Now.” She stood up, leaving me alone on the bench. “Let’s go have some coffee, and maybe Patrick will make French toast. It’s my favorite.”
When I walked into the kitchen after her, my face was bright red with embarrassment from the night before.
I’d seduced him and left him with blue balls. All because he called me on my shit and made me feel bad about myself.
Shit.
I needed to apologize ... Maybe one day or in a year. When he calmed down or when I died. Yeah, that sounded like a better plan. I’d leave a note detailing my apology in my will, and my lawyer could give it to him.
Having made the perfect plan, I sat down at the old table that took up the middle of the kitchen and did my best not to show my thoughts.
When the front door opened in the distance, I knew I should have left Mrs. Malone alone on the porch. Loud footsteps approached, and my shoulders shrank, even as Mr. Malone set a piping hot cup of coffee down in front of me with a knowing look on his face.
In marched Casey, followed directly by Cameron and Carter. All three of them wore matching expressions of menace on their faces. But they couldn’t see me, at least not yet. The way the Malone kitchen was set up, there was a large serving bar that separated the kitchen from the dining area, where I was sitting.
“How did you get it back?” Casey barked at his father. “Carter said that little menace stole it while he was sleeping.”
I couldn’t help it. I snorted. Even quietly, it drew attention. Thankfully, Mrs. Malone shifted so that she stood, blocking any view they might have of me.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said smoothly, putting on the ‘mom’ voice that mothers so effectively used. I recognized it because my ‘teacher’ voice had been created from years of watching my mom use hers on me and my siblings.
“Come on, Mom.” Cameron’s voice was lower than his brothers, more reserved and intense, like he would bring a storm of chaos down on anyone’s shoulders who stood in his way. “We know she took off with it.”
“I asked her to,” Mrs. Malone insisted. “Ask your father, if you don’t believe me. But remember whose house you’re standing in, child.” Her voice grew firm. “At this ungodly hour in the morning, I might add. It’s nice to see you, of course, but could you please leave?”
I leaned over, catching a glimpse of the brothers, all of whom looked like they hadn’t slept a wink. Carter’s eyes narrowed as he looked at his parents. “You never want us to leave. What’s going on here?” He stared pointedly between the two of them, both blocking me from view, and crossed his arms while he waited for an answer.
“None of your business.” Mr. Malone snapped. “Now I’m about to make French toast for your mother. Maybe you should leave.”
Carter’s face flushed, much like mine had out on the porch, and I couldn’t hold it in anymore. The laughter started to bubble in my chest, and then I lost control. I laughed so hard that I fell out of my chair and hit the ground, tears streaming from my eyes the entire time.
“I believe,” Carter said seriously while nudging me with his foot. “That you owe me an explanation, Ms. James.”
I looked up at his face, eyes watering with laughter, and realized I had nowhere to run.
I was screwed, and not in a good way.
11
Carter
She ran away. Literally. I’d offered her a hand up, which she took with tears falling from her eyes as she laughed. I couldn’t even blame her, either.
Standing in front of my family, about to hash out the fact that she’d left me with my dick literally in my hands, and her underwear on my face, I’d have done the same thing.
So, I let her go. Against my better judgement, I let her run away. Besides, it’s not like she could go very far. I knew where she lived and where she worked. Plus, her older brother had been one of my best friends in the entire world once upon a time. I even gave her a week, to start thinking she was safe, before I started to plot my revenge.
“Did you tell her you bought the Johnson farm for her?” At least Mom waited until my brothers were gone before she cornered me at home after work.
“No. And I didn’t buy the farm for her.”
Mom snorted, sounding for all the world like she didn’t have skin in the game. “Keep telling yourself that.”
“Go annoy Casey. He’s the one with a love life for you to meddle in. All I’ve got is work.” I tried to keep my voice from sounding too bitter at that. If she sensed any sort of weakness, she’d drive a nail into it and pick at it until I opened up for her.
“I’m going to get to Casey. But first, you need some help getting that girl to open up to you.” She patted me on the shoulder, and I knew I should let her talk. That she’d just lost Keegan, but I couldn’t.
“Mom,” I tried to keep my tone neutral. “There’s nothing to help with. There’s nothing going on with me and Avery James.”
Mom huffed before getting up from her seat at my kitchen island. The same seat that Avery had occupied exactly a week before.
“Well okay then.” She sighed deeply, walking toward the front door.