Chapter 3

Gavin

“But it’s Lee-Lee’s last night of work. You’ve gotta go, man. Support her.” Max sat next to me on the couch in my living room, laying the guilt trip on thick.

“The last time I tried supporting her, I got punched in the face and foamed by a fire extinguisher.” I looked down at the floor, a cold beer in my hands as my best friend and neighbor rambled about my lack of a decent excuse. Going to that scuzz-bar where she worked and dealing with a bunch of scuzz-people was not my idea of a good time. “And I’m tired.”

“Aww, poor baby Gavvy. Sitting on the couch all day took it outta you, didn’t it?” Max noogied my hair like the asshole he was. I knew he meant well by trying to get me out of the house, but I wasn’t in the mood. Not tonight.

I shoved him away and leaned forward to set my beer on the coffee table. “I’m not going.”

He stood, pointing his finger down at me. “Ten bucks and a hot blond says you are.”

“What’re you talking about?” I leaned against my couch cushions, arms spread along the back.

“McKenna. She’s coming too. I know damn well you’ve still got a hard-on for her.”

Schooling my features was impossible since Max knew about the elevator situation. The last time I’d gotten drunk, I’d told him all about it. That’s also the night he admitted to having a thing for the little sister of our other best friend, Collin. I didn’t think Max would go there though. The bro code said sisters were off-limits. But he tended to get what he wanted when he wanted it, even when it wasn’t right. He and Collin both did, actually.

Then there was me, the guy who didn’t ask for anything more than what he desperately needed. “So?” I asked.

“So?” Max shook his head. “Are you kidding me, man? Now’s your chance to tell her how you feel.”

I stood from the couch and walked over to the sliding glass doors that led to the big wooden porch connecting my duplex and the one Max shared with Collin. The sky was black, like my head space since those elevator doors separated Kenna and me two weeks ago. Obviously, what we’d done in that elevator meant nothing to her.

She hadn’t tried to contact me since that day. Sure, the phone worked both ways, but I wasn’t a chaser. No matter how badly I wanted something, I never went after it. Fear of rejection stuck with a person, no matter how old they got.

I shouldn’t have been as surprised as I was. That’s the thing. According to Addie, Kenna was the female version of the man standing in front of me. She didn’t do relationships, and she didn’t sleep with the same man twice. Nothing wrong with that. Hell, I loved a woman who took control of her sexuality. It just wasn’t for me.

Still, the stupid part of me thought that she might be different with me. The way her body responded to mine, the way she ran her fingers over my face and through my hair…

I pinched my eyes shut at the memory, needing a hell of a lot more beer to get me through this night.

“Not really in the mood to be around people, Maxwell.”

“Are you ever gonna be in the mood to be around people again? Doubtful.”

My nostrils flared as I inhaled. I loved the guy, but he stepped on my toes harder than anybody else. Collin at least knew when to lay off, but not Max. The pushy bastard wasn’t satisfied until he got his way.

“Probably not.” I shrugged, grabbed the remote off the coffee table, and sat back again. “Besides, Kenna wanted nothing to do with me then, so what the hell makes you think she’ll want me now?”

“Jeez, man, you need to quit being a baby. The girl is a runner. Likes to play with her food, remember? Who says you can’t enjoy being the meal for once? That’s all I’m suggesting.”

He scooped my beer off the table and walked it to the kitchen. I watched as he dumped the liquid into the sink and then tossed the bottle in the garbage.

“That was my last beer.” I glared at him.

He smirked at me through the breakfast nook. “And guess where there’s an endless supply?”

“The liquor store,” I grunted, kicking up my feet as a knock sounded on the door.

“That’s probably Colly.” Max rubbed his hands together like a kid as he ran through my living room to the door. “He’ll get your ass going.”

Lip curled, I turned my attention back to the Cubs game. I didn’t need to deal with this tonight. Or any other night.

“Hey.” Collin’s voice echoed through the half-empty room. The only things of merit I had in this place were my couch, my bed, a dresser, the TV, a desk, and my coffee table. Simple. It’s how I liked to keep my life.

I looked up, spying the little thing squirming in his big arms. The bitterness inside me melted at the view of Collin’s daughter—my pseudo-niece.

“Avvy,” she squealed.

I grinned, secretly loving how she’d said my name before anyone else’s. I wasn’t sure if I’d ever be a dad, mainly because I knew I wouldn’t be good at it. The idea of having a kid rely on me all the time was some seriously scary shit. Plus, there were diapers, and all the crying, and their lack of communication… I didn’t deal with it well. Hell, most days I could barely take care of myself. Still, the idea of being a father didn’t seem as crazy as it used to.

“Hey, baby girl.” I waved, and Collin set her on the floor. She raced to the couch and crawled onto my lap. Her tiny arms went around my neck, and I held her close, finally comfortable holding her now that she was mobile. She smelled like baby lotion, Collin’s aftershave, and Addie’s perfume. A combination that reminded me of family.

Collin sat on the coffee table and frowned. “I’m about ready to take her to my parents’ house. She wanted to stop by and see you first.” He leaned over to tug on her tiny, curly pigtails—Addie’s work, no doubt.

I nodded and kissed the top of her head, only for her to pull back and cup my cheeks with her hands. She jabbered something I couldn’t understand, eyes like her dad’s, wide and filled with happiness. My heart twisted in my chest at the view. Something about this girl always melted me like butter.

“Max says you don’t want to go,” Collin said, kicking his feet out in front of him.

I shrugged. “I’m tired.”

“You’re always tired, Gav.” Max sat down next to me again and poked Chloe in the stomach. She giggled, and all three of us smiled, the sound an instant mood-lifter.

“It’s just one night. We all want you there for Lia’s sake. Something is up with her, and I need you guys’ help to figure it out.” Collin let out a tired sigh.

On cue, Max cleared his throat and stood, his eyes flashing to the back of Collin’s head, then widening with guilt when they met mine. I frowned. If I didn’t know better, I’d think he was the reason Lia had gotten all weird lately.

“Not happening. Tell her I said hi though,” I said.

“Fine. Beaner, let’s roll. Uncle Gavin’s got brooding to do.” Max reached for Chloe, but she shook her head and tugged me closer. Her cheek was on my shoulder, and her fingers tickled my neck.

I flipped Max off from over Chloe’s shoulder.

Collin scowled at me, like always. I loved the guy, but he and I had some underlying issues. He used to think I wanted Addie—which I did. But it’d been brief and passed the second I realized how serious the two of them were. Still, Collin had trouble trusting. I did too, another reason why relationships weren’t my strong suit. Deep down, though, I wanted what he had with Addison.

“Come on, Chloe.” This time Collin reached for his daughter, and she bolted from my lap, only to latch her arms around his neck. He smiled as he patted her back.

“Beaner, I’m hurt,” Max piped in. “You go to your daddy, stick to Uncle Gavvy like glue, but you ignore me?” He made a goofy face at her, and she instantly reached for him, a sucker for us all.

The kid didn’t stand a chance growing up with three weirdos like us.

When they reached the door, Collin was the first to turn my way. “Tomorrow. We can all hang out. Go to O’Paddy’s or something. Maybe watch the Cubs next preseason game together. How’s that—”

“Maxwell, Collin, good to see you, boys.”

I froze at the sound of McKenna’s voice from the porch. Collin might’ve said goodbye, or see you later, but my ears were buzzing with the sound of her voice.

“You gonna save me a dance tonight, Maxwell?” she asked.

I balled my hands into fists.

“Now, Kenna. You know you’re too good for me.” Max—always the ladies’ man.

She giggled, then said something under her breath that I couldn’t hear. But it didn’t matter. My feelings and emotions were changing the longer she stood outside my door. Something inside me flashed like lighting striking through my body.

Damn. I knew exactly what I wanted to do, even if it was the last thing I needed. But if I didn’t do it, I’d never be able to get over her.

A minute later, Max poked his head back into my apartment, giving me the all clear.

“I’m in,” I said.

His eyebrows rose in question, while a half smile quirked his lips.

Ignoring his knowing look, I finished with, “I’m gonna take a shower. I’ll be ready in fifteen.”

Fuck it. It was time to be McKenna Brewer’s food.