Page 12 of Reckless

Nick started suggesting different foods to try and I looked at the time. I was supposed to meet with Patrick Hayes, the notorious Irish mobster, in an hour, and I was sitting with Boston’s most boring couple and two parents to be that seemed to have no idea what was happening to them, listening about my sister’s eating habits.

“You’ll just have to suck it up,” Nick added at the end. “If it continues in your second trimester, you should discuss it with your OB-GYN. I’m really not the right person to give you any advice. But if you ever need someone to cut your chest open, I’m your guy.”

“Nick,” Hannah smacked his shoulder with a laugh. It was a fake laugh. Not that throaty one she gave me when we were alone. “Sorry, guys. Surgeons have a weird sense of humor. You should hear them when they get together.”

Nick leaned in and kissed her cheek.

“Thank you for the reminder, sunshine,” he said and my head snapped in his direction when I heard the nickname. “I sometimes forget people don’t usually like these images inside their heads. Again, congratulations on the pregnancy. You must be thrilled.” He shot a quick look at Hannah and added. “I would have been.”

Yeah, it was definitely the kids and the Labrador situation over there.

“And terrified,” Clem squealed. Hannah and I both shot her a look, then shared one between us. It wasn’t like her to be so openly insecure. And with a total stranger. Not to mention I had literally never heard that voice coming out of her mouth in her entire life.

“What’s going on?” I whispered to Hannah, while the other three discussed other baby related things I had no interest in.

“I don’t know,” she answered under her breath.

“I have to go. Ask her and text me later.”

“Excuse me?”

“I presume you still have my number.”

Okay, that sounded bad, but Little Spencer wasn’t the hysterical type that burned personal items or deleted phone numbers in a fit of rage.

She balled her hands into fists, which only proved me right, and I got up.

“Sorry, kiddos,” I shot a quick look at Nick. “Not you. You’re probably older than me both in age and in spirit. I have to go now.”

“Where are you going?” Clem didn’t try to hide her disappointment.

Everyone was looking at me except Hannah, who was staring at her salad like she had never seen one before.

“I have to go. Take care, Clem.” I hesitated for a moment but finally added. “Spencer. It was nice seeing you again.”

I had no fucking idea why I said anything to that woman if you didn’t count my never-ending desire to make a mess of everything that is perfect. Her diligently arranged world made me want to drag her out of her comfort zone and watch her squirm.

“But we hadn’t finished our talk,” Clem’s wounded gaze clung to my face. I felt like something was pulling my insides out of my flesh, but I answered with a smile.

“I have to work, Clem. It’s Saturday. The bar is full.”

“You’re the manager. You could take a night off.”

“I’m sorry,” I kept my voice firm. I could promise to do this another time, but I wasn’t a total asshole, and I didn’t want to lie.

“Okay,” she tried to figure out what to say next. “Can I come to the bar later tonight?”

“No,” I said with a laugh. It was rude but I had to make her feel unwanted. I was playing with her childhood trauma but what else could I do. Let her come there and introduce her to Patrick Hayes and his thugs. “Call me tomorrow, okay? We could grab a coffee or something.”

I leaned in and kissed her cheek. I saw her eyelashes batting fast. She fought tears. I allowed myself a quick look in Hannah’s direction. I couldn’t miss the accusation in her stare.

You made your pregnant little sister cry.

Chapter Five

Tyler

Iwalkedinthebasement fifteen minutes earlier than I should have. Patrick Hayes was already there. Two men were fighting in the ring. They wore black jeans and black t-shirts, just like all of Hayes’s cutthroats. One of them was bleeding.

---