Page 19 of Double Dare

I picture what we’d look like in there. Me, Laken and Kade. Sometimes I think about the three of us living together. I mean, I’ve shared a tiny ass bedroom with Kade since we were babies, and this is the first real time I’ve lived away from him. Without it having anything to do with Laken, I hate it. I miss having him in my space, sharing a room with him, venting, fighting and bickering with him all the damn time. Would he move in with us, or is it weird now that he wants my girl?

“Gen’s dad won’t stay gone for long,” Four says from the back, staring at his girl through the window.

“What’s Genny want?” Kade asks.

“I mean, she wants them in her life, but not like this. Right now, she’s scared of her dad, and fuck, that breaks me. Imagine what it’d be like to be afraid of your own parents.”

Unheard of. I can’t even picture it. My mom is the foundation of our family and my dad is the calmness that gets us all through. I’d be lost without both of them.

“She okay?” I ask.

He doesn’t say anything for a bit, but then he clears his throat. “She’s a badass who doesn’t swear. Weird as fuck, but I’m into it. Whatever she wants, I’m here for.”

“You know we are, too, right? We’ve all got her back.”

“I know,” Four says. “Thanks.”

He doesn’t have to thank us, but at least he tells us shit, unlike Dom. Still worried about what that dipshit is up to.

I grab the door handle to get out, but I don’t. For whatever reason, we’re all just sitting here watching them through the window. I feel a bit stalkerish for it, but it’s not putting me off. Gen fits in so well, and Laken is such a part of our family now. Even Maeve is family, though looking at her sometimes makes me…possessive. Of Kade. On behalf of Laken. Like I want to ensure that they aren’t fucking anymore because he’s Laken’s now. Jesus.

Is that fucked up? Definitely fucked up.

“You think they fuck around when we’re not around?” Kade asks, obviously lost in a different fantasy than me.

“Hell no,” Four says. “Those three are only in it for us.”

“Cock addicts. All three of ‘em.” I laugh.

“I think Gen’s hooked on Lakes. You’ve got more competition than just Kade,” Four laughs, finally leaving the truck, slamming the door to let us simmer in that last bit of bullshit.

Kade pinches the bridge of his nose, shaking his head. “Jed, before we go in…”

“Nope. Shut the fuck up, Kade. Not talking about this shit tonight.” I get out of the truck and hear him call me a pussy, following me at a distance.

We’ll talk, but not tonight.

Truthfully, I’m sick of talking. Time to turn it sexy.

Chapter 9

Nothing happened last night at Laken and Jed’s cabin. I think I got way too caught up in my head about it being different now that we’d had the talk, but it all stayed the same. Four and Gen disappeared to fuck, and Laken and Jed held out longer than usual, but eventually, they disappeared, too. That’s when Maeve would have climbed on my lap and enticed me into a steamy fuck, but instead, she poured me a whiskey and asked if I wanted to go in the hot tub.

We talked. It was fine. The whole time, I was a mix of relieved that nothing had changed and pissed off that Jed was fucking Laken when I couldn’t. I mean, I know I can’t. She’s not mine. No talk in a basement is going to change that. We’re not there yet, and I have no idea if we’ll ever get there.

I have so many questions, and a lot of them are bred from guilt.

I stayed the night there, and in the morning, Laken was gone. She’s been sneaking off to go handle whatever bullshit secret Dom is keeping from us, and I’m seriously starting to get pissed. Maybe because I’m worried about him. She looks tired sometimes, and I catch her taking naps when she’s never done that before, so whatever is going on, it’s weighing on her. I don’t even know if it’s my place to worry about her, but it sure as shit is my place to worry about my brother. Dom’s never really had secrets, and to be honest, I can’t remember a time when he’s been in trouble and needed help, either. Him and Bo are the strong ones, and it makes me think we aren’t capable of helping them like they’ve helped us.

By the time I get home from work, I catch Jed in the kitchen, trying to call her. He hasn’t heard from her all day other than a quick text saying she’s fine, and I can tell he’s worried, too. About both of them. Dom and Bossy. His eyes light up when his phone chimes.

“Fuck, she’s with Dom. Says it’s all good and that she’ll be home soon.”

Relief.

“Sit,” Mom demands, pointing her stern ass finger at the kitchen table. “Eat something and stop moping. She’s fine. He’s fine.”

“Do you know something?” I fire the question at her, pulling out a chair and sitting down.

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