Page 60 of Bear
“You don’t know Griff like I do, sweetheart.”
“Well, it’s not up to him anyway. It’s Bear’s call.”
“Bear does what his father tells him.”
“Bear does what he wants to do. He’s not a puppet. God, is that what everyone really thinks of him?” I didn’t realize how harsh my tone was until Dad stared at me like I’d morphed into a new person. My voice was full of irritation and ice but it wasn’t geared toward my father. It was geared toward Bear’s father.
“Cecily, I didn’t know you felt so strongly about Bear. I know you two are close and he’s like a son to me but…” He eyed me suspiciously and I felt every bruise on my neck burn like red hot exclamation points.
“You know I love Bear,” I blurted, trying to brush off my true feelings. I wasn’t ready to tell my parents about us yet. We were too new. I wanted to be firmly rooted in my relationship before I told them.
I didn’t know how to get anymore rooted in Bear though. He was a seed that had been planted in my chest at six-years-old and ever since then he’d grown like a tree. His roots wrapped around my lungs and his branches fanned out in my brain so that he was always on my mind.
There was no untangling myself from Bear Stone. He was a part of me.
“I know you do.” Dad’s brown eyes flitted over my face and neck. I knew there was no way he missed the marks. He chose not to say anything and I was appreciative. “Just remember, Bear is exactly like his namesake. He’s tame around us because he knows us but don’t think for a second that he won’t show his true colors.”
“And whatarehis true colors, Dad?” The ice was back in my voice and I made no point to hide it. Nobody knew Bear the way I did. He could be cold and he definitely had blood on his hands but that was business. I’d never known him to kill or hurt anyone that wasn’t fucking with his business.
I felt it in my gut that Bear was good. He was just groomed by a bad man.
“He’s a drug dealer, Cecily. A murderer.” Dad’s jaw flexed rapidly. I turned my head away from his words because they weren’t the whole truth. Dad was fixated on one facet of Bear and not the whole picture.
Or maybe it was me. Maybe I was the one who didn’t see the whole picture. Shit, maybe I saw the picture and didn’t care. That might have been the reason why I fit so well with him. I didn’t mind his darkness. I didn’t see it as bad.
“I don’t know if this…” He touched my bear paw necklace and his nostrils flared. “Is a solid thing or a phase, but protect yourself. There are too many things going on for me to sit you both down the way I want to but after Lu goes to the doctor and we get her on a treatment plan, we’re all going to have a talk. I’m not even mentioning this to your mother. I’m gonna act like I haven’t seen it.” My cheeks grew hot under his probing gaze. I turned my head and toyed with the ends of my hair. “Go set the table, Cecily. Dinner’s almost done.” He turned away from me and I nodded, grabbing the plates and silverware.
The moment I put out the last set of plates, the doorbell rang. I lifted my head up and smiled. “I’ll get it,” I called, rushing to the foyer. I pulled open the door and a rush of warm air slid against my skin.
“Cecily!” Lane threw her arms around me in a hug and I laughed happily. She still looked the same and she still smelled like expensive flowers. Her beautiful coffee bean skin was flawless and her dark hair didn’t have one strand of silver. I started wondering if maybe Dad was right and working for Mr. Griffon all these years aged Mom.
“Lane! It’s been so long,” I sighed against her before pulling away from the embrace.
“It has been. That’s my fault. Paul told me about Kaiden. I am so sorry, sweetheart.” She touched the side of my face and a frown pulled my lips down. Every time I thought about Kaiden, my heart cracked open. I forced a polite smile and rubbed her hand.
“Thank you. His mother told me his killers were found murdered so…it’s something.”
“Good. Whoever did it has good favor coming their way.” Lane always had an air about her that told me she’d dabbled on the dark side of things. She was a chiropractor so she seemed unassuming at first but I always wondered what secrets she held. I knew she had some. I could see them swimming in her chocolate eyes.
Lane stood back and put her hands on my shoulders so she could look at me. “I can’t believe how much you’ve grown up, Cecily.” Her brown eyes dropped to my neck and she lifted her eyebrow. It wasn’t in a cute way that saidooh girl we need to talk. That’s what I was expecting.
No.
The look she gave me was different from what I thought I’d see. It was full of conflict and words I knew she’d never say. I couldn’t tell if she was disappointed or hurt. I saw both feelings dueling inside of her though. It confused the fuck out of me. Mindlessly, my fingers toyed with Bear’s necklace. It made me feel safe without him being around.
Lane forced a smile on her face and without saying a word of what was really on her mind, she moved into the living room and greeted Mom and Kareema. Everyone hugged and squealed and laughed. I couldn’t partake though.
Something about Lane’s expression shook me to my core. During dinner and cleanup, I still couldn’t get that look out of my head. It burrowed its way into my mind and refused to let go.
I was happy that Mom seemed to come alive once she was around her best friend and it made me feel better about going back home to Bear. I knew Lane would stay at the house and they’d have some much-needed girl time. I knew the importance of girl time because I was definitely trying to convince Kareema to stay longer with me and Bear.
“We’re gonna get ready to go, guys. Lane, it’s been nice seeing you again.”
“It has. Let me walk you girls to the car,” she said. Dad grunted and they shared a look. It seemed the only one oblivious was Mom. She was happy to have Lane there and she was happy to clean up the dishes after we were done eating. She couldn’t have cared less about what kind of messages her best friend and husband were sharing. I knew somehow those covert messages were absolutely about me.
Kareema and I walked out with Lane in silence until we reached the car. Kareema shot me a quick look then got in the driver’s side and pretended to busy herself. I took a deep breath and tried to focus on the smell of the budding new plant life sprouting all around my parents’ yard.
Lane’s finger swiped across Bear’s pendant and the corners of her mouth twitched. I couldn’t tell if she wanted to smile or frown. “Be careful, Cecily.” Her eyes narrowed the slightest bit.
