Page 61 of No Place Like Home
“Texting Lilly?” I asked.
“Yep. I promised Darcie I’d send her a picture of us. But let’s get back to you. Why you so quiet?”
“Quiet? Hell, what do you expect of me? Y’all have been drinking and acting the fools you are. I have to stay focused and get you where you need to be on time.” Just then my phone pinged. I read the message. “And it’s time for the first look. Kai, you ready? The girls are on their way, and you need to go into your room until you’re told to come out.”
He blew out a breath. “Looks like we’re doing this.” He clapped his hands and rubbed them together. His smile filled his face and his silver eyes gleamed.
“You’re not crying, are you?” Lance asked.
“Shut up, Lance,” Jamison said. “Maybe one day you’ll fall in love and understand how important this day is.”
“What girl would be dumb enough to deal with his standards—or lack thereof?” I asked. Lance was not the type to focus on just one girl. Though their mom, Kaye, is a sweet woman, Lance and Lilly’s father was an asshole—and, unfortunately, Lance might have inherited that trait. He was someone I could barely tolerate on a normal day, but somehow he remained Jamison’s best friend. I’d never understood that.
“Whatever, dick. I don’t see you with anyone draped over your arm.”
“You didn’t see him last night with Summer?” Bryson elbowed me. “I think Summer has finally opened her eyes to what’s always been right in front of her.”
“Yeah, well we all know what kind of person she is. Her standards are pretty low. Hell,Iwouldn’t even go there, and if Rowan thinksIdon’t have standards, what does that say for him?” Lance laughed at his own stupid joke, but I saw red-hot fire behind my eyes. I jumped up from the couch.
I’d be damned if I’d let someone talk about Summer with disrespect—and Lance, of all people, sure as hell wasn’t going to get away with it. “What did you say, asshole?” I asked, nose-to-nose with him. We were about the same height, so his bulky size didn’t intimidate me.
“Rowan, back off,” Jamison said as he came up beside me and placed his hand on my arm.
I pulled out of his grasp, keeping my gaze on Lance. “Leave it, Jamison. Let me take this asshole. He’s always irritated me. I never understood why you kept him around.”
“What, Rowan?” Lance taunted. “You’re the small-town god and military hero. Was it so hard to find a beautiful piece of ass anywhere else to shack up with on your trips around the globe, that you had to come home and settle for Summer?”
That was it. I didn’t think, I just reacted.Crack!My fist made contact with Lance’s nose, and the spurt of blood that ran down his face and splattered on his tux was in high contrast to the white shirt he wore.
“Fucking-a, you piece of shit!” Lance bellowed as he covered his nose with his hands.
“What the hell are you two doing?” Kai hollered. He glanced between me and Lance, his eyes bulging when he saw Lance’s face. “Shit! Jamison, get your brother out of here. Bryson, get me a towel and some ice. Kora’s going to be pissed.” He led Lance to thekitchen. “And you need to get your shit straight. You’re walking Summer down the aisle.”
I didn’t hear what else was said, because Jamison pulled me outside just as Susie came around the corner of the house.
“Hey, guys,” she said, her voice upbeat and oozing with excitement. Then she froze when she saw me shaking out the pain that shot through my hand, and her eyes trailed over me. “What happened?”
I cradled my hand in my arm and paced in tight, angry circles. I needed to get a grip before my anger took over completely.
“Oh, nothing much,” Jamison spat, directing his sarcasm at me. “Just Lance and Rowan having some words. Lance getting his nose broken. Rowan bruising his knuckles.”
“Why does Rowan have bruised knuckles?” Kora came around the bend along with her dad. Nigel came over to me and put his hands on my arms to stop my pacing and checked out my hand.
“Uncle Nigel, good to see you,” I said through gritted teeth.
“You too, Rowan.” He grabbed my hand then caught my gaze. “It’s swollen, but I don’t think anything’s broken. You need to ice it.”
“It’s fine,” I seethed.
“What happened, Row?” Kora asked
His gaze wandered across my face and a smirk ticked at the corners of his mouth. “Good luck dealing with her.” He jerked his head toward Kora and smacked my arms, just as Kora walked up.
“Yeah, Rowan?” my mother echoed. Great, she and all the women were there too. Summer’s eyes were huge.
“Rowan?” Summer said as she rushed to my side and grabbed my hand. “Who did you punch?”
I shook my head and closed my eyes.
