Page 29 of When We Were Reckless
Quinn
Declan slidthe omelet onto a plate and set it in front of Jesse, sitting at the other end of the island.
I drizzled honey on my berries and Greek yogurt and jammed a spoonful into my mouth. It was still too tart, but maybe that was just the bad taste in my mouth from this unexpected turn of events.
“Sure you don’t want an omelet, Bean?” Declan asked. He was at the stove again, his back to me while he made another omelet. He was shirtless in boardshorts and a backward ball cap.
“I’m sure. And don’t call me Bean,” I muttered.
“LittleBean,” Holden said, shoveling a forkful of eggs into his mouth. “Damn, that’s good. I can taste the cilantro.”
“I can’t see how. You’ve put so much hot sauce on it. You’ve probably killed off your tastebuds.”
“Love me some hot sauce.” To prove his point, he doused his eggs in more sauce, completely ignoring the heat warning on the label.
I checked my phone as a text came in from Evie. I’d messaged her for backup.Sorry, can’t.I have to work today. If J gives you any shit, kick him in the balls.
After texting a response, I pocketed my phone with a sigh. Looks like I was on my own.
“So, what’s the plan?” Carly asked, pulling her dark hair into a ponytail. She was wearing a tiny bikini top with shorts, just like her friend, Tasha. I had no idea who had invited them, but with each passing minute, my mood plummeted.
I’d been so excited about spending time with Jesse today. Just the two of us. Until my brothers had shown up with girls in tow and hijacked my plans. Shortly after, Jesse had arrived, but unlike me, he hadn’t been the least bit surprised.
Had Jesse planned this?
I side-eyed him. He was talking to the blonde. Tasha. With all that hair flipping and giggling, I couldn’t imagine she’d have anything of interest to say.
Salty much, Quinn?
Ever since he’d arrived, he’d barely glanced at me. And why should he? Tasha’s boobs were practically spilling out of her tiny bikini top, and she was leaning into him, giving him the perfect view of her cleavage.
Could she be any more obvious?
“My dad keeps his Jet Skis and boat up at our lake house,” Mason told Carly. “It’s about a forty-five-minute drive….” I tuned him out while he discussed logistics. Mason was big on logistics.
I loved the lake. I loved going out on the Jet Ski and hanging out on my dad’s pontoon.
Or, at least, I used to. I rubbed my hand over the jagged scars on my abdomen hidden under my white t-shirt. The black script across the chest said: Perfectly Imperfect. Wasn’t that the truth? A heart punctuated the words.
My scars, though… It looked like a shark had attacked me.
Mason nudged my arm. “Hey. Nobody cares.” He kept his voice low, for my ears only. My brothers knew about my insecurity. It had been the topic of a family discussion last summer.
Icared. Because Jesse was here, and these two girls were flaunting their perfect skin.
Mason lifted the hem of his T-shirt to show off his scar. He only had one where they removed his kidney. I had four—two eight-inch scars on each side.
My stomach looked like a road map.
“I wear mine like a badge of honor,” he said quietly.
Tears sprang to my eyes. He gave my shoulder a little squeeze as if he knew the effect his words had on me. My brother had given me a kidney. Every single one of my brothers had volunteered. Even Declan. Surprisingly, he had been the first to offer. And that was just so amazing that they loved me enough to do that.
I lowered my head, a curtain of hair falling to cover the side of my face. Tears brimmed in my eyes. It was so stupid. I didn’t want to cry in front of everyone. I didn’t even know why I felt like crying.
After my second kidney transplant a year and a half ago, I was so depressed that Mom took me to a therapist. Logically, I knew it wasn’t my fault that my body had rejected the first kidney. My dad had donated it when I was twelve. But still. I felt like such a failure.
I always tried to put on a brave face, but deep down, I was so scared it would happen again. So afraid I’d have seizures and convulsions again and that I’d have to go through yet another surgery or be put on dialysis.
