Page 38 of Refusing Kendall

“I’m glad we did now,” Lucas says from beside Goose.

I nod, “Me too.”

He kisses the side of my head as we talk dinner plans. They stay as late as possible, trying to help me forget about the psycho bullshit from earlier.

Thanksgiving

It’s been two weeks since the photo incident, and nothing out of the ordinary has happened. The cops weren’t able to find any traceable fingerprints that weren’t ours on any of the pictures. They told us that whoever it was must have worn gloves. With us no closer to figuring out who is needlessly doing this to us, at least the security system that Mav had installed provides some sort of comfort. None of them wanted to leave me long enough to go back to their dorms, but I pulled up my big girl panties and made sure they knew I’d be ok. I even went as far as to admit to them that the system made me feel much more secure. I just can’t help but to be supremely happy getting our short break away from the house for a little while.

We’ve been staying with Lucas’ family for close to three days now, and being back here has been reminding me daily why I fell in love with these guys in the first place. We’ve visited a few of our old spots, and I finally got to meet Mav’s family on the second day. I tried my best not to let his story from the boat cloud my judgement of his mom. It turned out to not be too difficult, because she was as sweet as Lucas’s mom’s pie.

“Dude, are you even listening?” Ryleigh jokes as we stroll through the local grocery store. It’s Thanksgiving Day, and there are very few people here. Lane, Lucas’ mom forgot a few of the things we need to finish dinner, so here we are doing a quick supermarket sweep. Lucas and Logan came with us, but they took off towards the dessert aisle as soon as we stepped through the door.

I playfully roll my eyes at her, “You know that I am. I just got distracted for a minute.”

She snorts softly, “By what? The mac and cheese you’re hardcore checking out right now?”

There’s a second of silence before we both break out into quiet giggles.

“Kendall?” a man’s voice comes from behind us, breaking off our laughter.

When we turn, my spine stiffens, and Ryleigh looks curiously between the two of us.

“Derrik,” I say, trying to keep anger out of my voice. Looking at the one person who went out of his way to not only personally torment me for years, but also to go the lengths of paying someone else to do the same, I’m obviously not very happy to see him. The name triggers Ry’s memory too, and she opens her mouth to I’m sure give him a piece of her mind.

I speak first, cutting off whatever she wanted to say, “What do you want?”

It isn’t until a guy steps up behind him that I realize he’s not alone either.

“I was wondering if I could talk to you alone for a second?” he asks. The guy behind him quietly excuses himself, but Ryleigh looks to me first to make sure that I’m ok. I give the smallest of nods, and she walks a few feet over, but still stays within eyeshot.

The first words out of his mouth shock me, “I’m sorry, Kendall. I know I owe you a lot more than those simply words, but I am.” I fold my arms over my chest, but let him continue, “I was so angry for years and I took it all out on you. I’m assuming that Will never told you this, which makes sense with the kind of guy that he was.” Hearing Will’s name come from his mouth makes me want to punch him in the throat, considering what he put me through the past several years. He glances down and rubs the back of his neck, “I was in love with him. My parents freaked when they found out I was gay, and he was the one person who didn’t shun me for it. When he told me he would never give you up for me, I did something stupid and tried to force him. That’s why we got into a fight. Then when he died, I blamed that on you too. It was easier than trying to face or deal with my own bullshit.”

What he says, as crazy as it sounds, makes sense. Thinking about the VanPelt brothers still sends a sliver of hurt through my chest. There will never be a chance of Derrik and I becoming friends, but I give him what I can, “You weren’t the only one mourning them, you know.” I see the mist in his eyes when he nods. “But, I do forgive you, Derrik. For everything.”

The smile he sends me is the first one I think I’ve ever seen directed my way. It quickly fades into a frown as his dart up over my head.

“Is there a problem here?” Lucas asks from behind me.

Glancing back, I see that his hands are balled up into fists, probably ready to pound Derrik’s face in. Lucas is quiet and sweet, but he’s the one I have to keep an eye on more than any of the others. Mav and Teagan may be hot tempered, but hurt his family and Lucas will be the first one to fight. I get a side view of Ryleigh putting her hand on Logan’s arm to keep him from coming over to where we are.

Best to diffuse this situation before we get kicked out of the supermarket, “It’s fine, baby. Derrik was just leaving.”

He gives me one short nod, in appreciation I’m sure, and walks to the end of the aisle where his friend is waiting.

“What was that all about?” Lucas presses.

My eyes follow Derrik until I can’t see him anymore before I turn to find Lucas’ blue ones studying me, “It’s a long story, but I think Derrik has done some growing up lately.”

“It’s about time,” he says, throwing an arm around my shoulders and tugging me back towards Ry and Logan. “You sure you’re ok?”

I kiss his cheek with a smile, “Better than.”

He accepts my reassurance and doesn’t say anything at my silence on the ride home. I’m one hundred percent sure that he tells the other three about the run-in, though. At some point or another, while Ry and I help Lane in the kitchen, each one of them comes in to drop a kiss on me. As we sit around the huge table that’s been set up for dinner, I can’t help but be grateful to have met all of these wonder people. Not just my four guys, but their families, who welcomed me with open arms. No questions asked.

Later, as I sit between Goose and Lucas on the couch watching football, I make sure to tell them both how much they mean to me. When Teagan and Mav come to sit at our feet, I don’t leave them out. Between the warmth radiating off them and my full belly, I find myself dozing off right there on the couch.

The next thing I know, light is hitting me in the face from cracks in the blinds in Lucas’ room. A slight creak at the door has me flicking my half-opened eyes that way. Lane sends me a soft smile before ducking her head back out and shutting the door. I guess she was just checking on us, but I’m surprised that she let us all sleep in here together as it is. It makes me wonder if it was allowed because, with everyone staying over, there was no room anywhere else, or if they trust us enough not to do anything while we’re here. I wonder what she’s thinking now that she’s seen me sleeping between her son and Goose. The night before it was Mav and Teagan. They’ve been rotating since we’ve been here. Whoever doesn’t sleep with me on the bed is on the floor on an air mattress. Oh well, there’s nothing I can do about it now.

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