Page 112 of The Foul Out

“JJ.” My heart stopped in my chest. Oh shit.

“Traffic was light coming up from New York, so I figured I’d come here rather than kill time wandering the city.” He tossed his keys onto the round table where I kept mine and moved into the main room.

Normally, I’d be cool with him showing up like this. He was always welcome, and he knew that. But with Harper and the kids still here…

I opened my mouth, but before I could form a single word, Harper called.

“Kyle, I can’t get the—” She appeared at the mouth of the hallway, her wet hair dripping onto my T-shirt, the only thing she currently wore. My stomach dropped.

“Harper?” JJ whispered, his eyes going wide.

Fuck.

“James?” she asked, just as shocked to see him here.

No one called him James, so it was odd coming from her. His father, my uncle, was James. But his son, James Junior, had always gone by JJ.

Blinking, she zeroed in on me, then a line of confusion appeared between her brows. “Do you know James?”

I sucked in a breath, then tried to clear the lump in my throat.

“We’re cousins,” JJ said, beating me to the punch. “What’s going on?” This he directed at me while wearing a look that could definitely kill.

All the color drained from Harper’s face, and I swore she swayed on her feet.

Shit.

“No.” With my heart in my throat, I darted to her side. “Not like that.” I rushed the words out. “Look at me.” I cupped her cheek, forcing her panicked eyes to mine. “My stepfather is his biological uncle. You and Iaren’trelated.”

The air rushed out of her lungs, and her shoulders sagged. For one second, I thought this might be okay. But then her spine went ramrod straight, and she yanked away from me.

“Wait,” she murmured, her eyes going hard and turning to slits. “You knew James was my brother.” She turned herattention to James, then focused on me again. “That means your aunt and uncle.” She swallowed. “Wait, your stepfather.”

I winced. Yes. Every one of them had been awful to her.

“Yeah,” I breathed, gripping the back of my neck. “I know.”

“You knew.” Her lips parted. Her eyes flicked between us again. “You both knew.”

“I asked him to help me with our situation, but I had no idea that he was fuc?—”

“Don’t.” I cut him off with a warning glare.

“Uncle James?” Sam stood two feet behind him.

JJ cringed. Yeah, dumbass, exactly.

“Hi, Sam.” He spun around and crouched in front of his nephew.

“You know Kyle.”

“Uh-huh,” he said, keeping his tone even. “He’s been my best friend since we were seven.” He glowered at me over his shoulder.

That comment twisted the knife that had lodged itself in my chest the moment he stepped off the elevator.

Beside me, Harper’s breath came faster, and I worried she might hyperventilate.

“Sam, bud. Can you do me a favor?” I forced a smile his way.

---