Kenzie
He called me babe again. In fact, he’d called me babe numerous times, and the surprising thing was, I wasn’t actually pissed off about it. It had been a hell of a long time since anyone referred to me as sexy, and no one had ever called me babe before. I’d watched everyone else give each other stupid nicknames and thought they were pathetic, my brother included. He and Bailey preferred “baby,” while Indie and Linc had their own special nicknames that meant something to them, and Harper and Nate called each other “friend” because they had denied they were anything but friends for so long, even though they’d been sleeping together behind everyone’s backs for months.
Maybe it was his hair, the shaggy black locks that hung in his eyes. Or maybe it was his ocean blue eyes, framed by thick dark lashes. No, it was definitely his sharp cheekbones when he smiled that made babe sound so much better.
My thoughts drifted to Chace as I watched Jeremy curiously. I wondered how on earth I was ever attracted to a pretentious ass like Chace, when guys like Jeremy existed. I blamed it on immaturity.
“Babe?” He said it again. I suppressed my smile. I really needed to be careful around Jeremy.
“Okay.” I took a deep breath and prepared to tell him everything. I wasn’t even sure Harper knew everything. Not all the details. She knew most of what had happened. The only people I had told absolutely every detail to were Mum and Ryder, and, of course, Bailey over the years. “Before I start, you need to know Chace and Ryder were best friends growing up.” I took a sip of wine.
“Ryder’s your brother, right?”
I nodded. “And it’s important you know that, so you can understand Ryder’s reaction, or overreaction to Chace most of the time.”
Jeremy took a mouthful of beer, his Adam’s apple bobbing, but didn’t say a word.
“They were like chalk and cheese. Chace was outgoing and popular, the centre of attention and absolutely gorgeous. Ryder, on the other hand, was quiet, reserved. He blended into the background, hated the spotlight. He wasn’t always the hothead he is today. But Chace changed that. I don’t know whether it was just brotherly protection, or some freaky twin thing we have going on…”
“You’re twins? I didn’t know that,” Jeremy said, leaning forward with eyebrows raised.
“As identical as opposite sexes can be. Yep.” I nodded in confirmation. “When we were kids, Ryder had blond hair too, and there was no way to tell us apart. The dimples. The curls, the green eyes. It wasn’t until we matured and lost the baby look that our features became more distinguished. My face was softer, more feminine, while Ryder’s features became more prominent, angled, and masculine. And, you know, I grew boobs.”
Jeremy choked on his beer, spluttering everywhere. He banged a fist to his chest. “I’m well aware of that fact, babe.”
I laughed. It was easy talking to Jeremy, comfortable, like we’d been friends for a long time, which was crazy. I’d only known him for a month, since he moved to town to be closer to his sister.
“Anyway, I think it was more the freaky twin thing than anything. It doesn’t happen often, only when emotions are strong, but we feel what the other is feeling. So, when I found out I was pregnant at fifteen, Ryder knew something was wrong. He came home to find me crying on the bathroom floor after feeling my emotions. He was pissed that his friend would be so careless, but it wasn’t just Chace’s fault. I was stupid too. But then Ryder went into full supportive mode. Was with me when I told my mother and offered to go with me when I told Chace he was going to be a daddy.” I paused and gulped down my wine.
“How’d your mum take it?”
“She was disappointed, but supportive. Told me she’d be there no matter what I chose.”
“Meaning, whether you wanted to keep—” Jeremy screwed his face up.
“Yeah. I told her there was no choice, I wanted my baby. It goes against everything I am to terminate a pregnancy. That little life didn’t ask to be born, and I had no right to take it away. I thought Chace would agree. I thought he’d feel the same way. Only he didn’t. He completely flipped out. Accused me of cheating on him, because we’d always been careful. I was fifteen, for fuck’s sake. I wasn’t sleeping around. He demanded that I get rid of ‘it.’ He couldn’t even say the word ‘baby.’”
More wine.
Jeremy’s fingers tightened around his beer bottle, his jaw clenched and mouth set in a firm line. I’d seen that look on Ryder so often. He was trying to control his temper. I wasn’t even angry or upset about it anymore. I’d moved on. I was happy. I was just annoyed that Chace wouldn’t leave us alone. And worried he’d do something stupid.
“I tried to talk to Chace, to get him to understand, but he wouldn’t. His parents offered me money to terminate. I refused. They sent me a cheque every month for two years. It was hush money. ‘Don’t tell anyone our son knocked you up and left you.’”
“Are you fucking kidding?”
“I wish I was. They dragged my name, my family, through dirt. I felt so alone. I couldn’t even leave the house without fear of what people were saying about me. So, I moved away. I went and stayed with my aunt. She was wonderful. Supported me as much as possible. Ryder was always there for me. He missed so much school, he became a completely different person. He was angry all the time, and it took me months to figure out why because he wouldn’t talk about it. Seemed the minute I left town, Chace started dating Bailey.”
“Ryder’s girlfriend?”
“Yes. Ryder had been crushing on Bailey secretly for, like, ever, and Chace knew. But the moment Ryder’s back was turned and I was no longer in the picture, Chace swooped in.”
“The guy’s a dick.”
I laughed. “He’s a lot of things.”
“And now?” Jeremy turned and looked at me.
“Now, for some reason, he’s decided he wants to be a father. Five years and a hell of a lot of trouble too late.”
“Maybe he’s grown up and seen the error of his ways,” Jeremy suggested.
“I doubt it. A lot of bad blood happened between Ryder and Chace while they were at uni as well. I don’t know much of it because Ryder and Bailey refuse to discuss it, but from what I’ve gathered, it got pretty intense. Ryder put Chace in the hospital and was arrested for assault. I don’t know what caused him to snap that way. I just know Chace must have screwed up really bad. Did something unforgivable.”
“More unforgivable than what he did to you?”
I nodded. I’d find out what happened one day. But for now, all I knew was it had something to do with Bailey. There was no other reason for Ryder to almost beat Chace to death.
“Shit. And now?”
“And now he wants to be in Cole’s life. He shows up here, at work, uni. Everywhere, demanding to see my son. But I don’t trust him, and the more I tell him no, the harder he tries, the angrier he gets. The police won’t do anything because he hasn’t legally done anything wrong. So, we just keep going ’round in circles. When it comes to Chace, Ryder has no control. He’s protective of me and Cole, and Bailey, and hates Chace with a passion. I’ve stopped calling him when Chace shows up because he’ll get himself into even more trouble with the law, and I don’t want that. And Chace knows it too. Tries to use it to his advantage because he knows Ryder won’t be there to get in the way. I don’t know what to do anymore.”
Jeremy nodded in understanding and rubbed a hand over his face. “Quite the situation you’re in, huh?”
“Don’t I know it.”
“Well, there’s not much I can do, but if he shows up here and you don’t want him to, I’m right next door,” he said before adding quietly, “You know, if you need me.”
“I appreciate that. Thanks, but I don’t want you getting in trouble either. Chace has a way of bringing out the worst in people. And aren’t you on good behaviour or something? You have to keep your nose clean.”
“Don’t worry about me. Worry about Cole.”
I smiled at Jeremy. It was nice to know I could rely on him if I really needed, though I wouldn’t. I didn’t want anyone to fight my battles anymore. I had to do it myself. I had to do it for Cole.
We sat in silence and finished our drinks. I stood and collected Jeremy’s empty bottle. “Want another one?”
“I won’t say no.”
“Okay, just give me a minute. I want to get changed out of these clothes,” I said and walked into the kitchen to get rid of my glass.
I walked down the hall to my room and quickly changed into a pair of yoga pants and tank top. I tied my hair into a messy bun on top of my head before returning to the kitchen to pour more wine and get a beer for Jeremy.
“Here you go.” I handed him the bottle and sat back down on the sofa.
“You didn’t have a sexy little white nurse’s outfit in your room to change into?” Jeremy smirked.
“You’re a pig.” I laughed. “Of course not.”
“That’s a shame. Though I must admit…huge fan of the yoga pants, babe.”
I stamped down the butterflies in my stomach and snorted. “Does it ever work?”
“What?” Jeremy raised an eyebrow.
“Your pathetic attempts at flirting.”
“You tell me. Is it working?” He raised his beer bottle to his lips in a show of flexing his bicep.
Yes. It was definitely working.
“No. Sorry, Casanova, you have to try harder than that to get in my pants.”
“I don’t want to get in your pants. I doubt I’d fit. But I do want to get you out of them.” He winked, and I burst out laughing.
“Smooth.”
“Well, you know. I haven’t had much of a chance to practice. Hot chicks in prison are non-existent.”
“True.” I paused then asked, “What was it like?”
“Prison?”
“Mmm-hmm.”
“A hellhole.”
“As bad as TV shows make out?”
“Worse. TV shows have censorship. Prison doesn’t.” Jeremy gulped down his beer, and my stomach dropped. I shouldn’t have asked him. I had no right. I couldn’t imagine how awful it would have been for him.
“Sorry, I shouldn’t have brought it up.” I gave him an apologetic smile.
“No worries. I just don’t talk about it much. I was the one who mentioned it, so you don’t have to be sorry. Really know how to kill the mood, don’t I?”
“Okay.” I took a deep breath and a sip of wine. “Enough with the heavy talk. Let’s lighten the mood.”
“By playing doctor?”
I shook my head and threw a cushion at him. “Mind out of the gutter.”
“It was worth a try.”
“How’s work?”
“Mmm, small talk. Riveting company I’m in,” he joked.
“The door is right there. You can leave.”
“You want me to go?”
Did I want him to go? In all honesty, no. I was worried Chace was still hanging around outside, and I enjoyed having someone to talk to other than my brother and Bailey, since Harper was still away for a few more days.
“No,” I said as my stomach grumbled, “but if you’re staying, how about dinner?”
“I could eat.” Jeremy nodded. “What if we order some takeout, and I duck home for a shower and come back?”
“Pizza?” I suggested.
“Looks who’s flirting now. Pizza is the way to my heart, babe. Better watch yourself.” Jeremy smiled and stood to throw away his empty beer bottle. “I’ll be back.”
He paused at the door. “Lock this door as soon as I leave. Okay?” He tapped his hand against the back of the door and nodded once.
I did as I was told and bolted the lock once he’d closed it behind him. Then I called for pizza.
I had a smile on my face the entire time.