Bigger Than the Sky (Serenity Point) (18 page)

“Just had to pick up some things.”

“Should’ve let me know you were going.”

I frown. “Why?”

He pulls back a little as we keep dancing and looks down at me. “Is it so hard for you to let someone care about you? Jesus.”

I keep my frown as I process what he’s said. It’s been so long since I’ve had to answer to anyone or that I’ve had anyone really care about me that I’m not sure if I remember how to go about letting them do so. I’m tipsy and don’t really want to think about this shit, so I try to move back into him, but he holds me away.

“You’ve changed, Mill. Used to trust people, but now you’re so guarded. Why?” I bite my bottom lip and shrug. God, I don’t want to talk even though I told him we could. I just want the alcohol to do its job and get me to the point where I don’t care a whole lot about anything which would be awesome. He finally pulls me back into him, kissing the top of my head. “Gonna fix that,” he states.

I want to tell him I’m guarded with him because he has, in his own words, “fucked a lot of women,” and I’m not sure if I can trust him anymore because of the woman at Mags’ last night, but I keep it to myself. I’m sure it’ll all come out soon enough anyway. Can’t wait.

When the song ends, he holds my hand as we walk back to the table where I squeal in delight to see that Brody has now shown up. Cass tells me she’s ordered more drinks for us and I let out a “Yippee!” then bump her fist with mine. Kade shakes his head as he picks up a beer bottle on the table and takes a drink.

“Wanna blow job?” I blurt out to him, holding the drink toward him.

He pulls the bottle from his mouth quickly as he chokes out a cough while Brody barks out a laugh.

Oh, well. I turn to Cass and say, “May we always come more than we go,” and hear Kade groan as I lick the whipped cream off the top of it before downing the shot.

Our server brings us more of the same drinks, setting them on the table in front of us, which makes Cass and me bump fists again and wiggle our fingers at each other as we pull our hands away making us giggle.

“Jesus,” Brody mumbles.

Then out of the blue Cass asks, “So, Kade, who’s the blonde you went out with last night?”

I huff out a laugh at her bluntness then look at Kade waiting for him to deny it.

“How’d you know?” He looks at her in surprise narrowing his eyes.

My stomach takes a dive at his nonchalance in answering her question.

“Shit,” I mumble through the hand I’ve covered my face with. “I think I’m gonna be sick,” I say and take off toward the bathroom.

Chapter 16

I bypass the bathroom and head to the back door, going outside as I gasp for air.

Kade actually admitted that he’d gone out with that woman. Just said it straight up. Didn’t even flinch. Didn’t blink an eye. Just,
POW!
like a slam of his fist into my gut.

I sit down on the steps and put my head between my knees thinking that those Leg Spreaders are certainly living up to their name and I think if my stomach has anything to do with this, they’re about to make a reappearance when someone speaks to me.

“You okay?”

I let out a yelp and stand quickly, putting my hand over my heart to keep it from jumping out of my chest then turn to see Mike in the shadows where he’s been smoking a cigarette. “Holy shit! You scared the hell outta me!”

He smirks as he flicks the butt away then walks over repeating, “Sorry ‘bout that. You okay?”

I roll my eyes at what a chicken I am. “Yeah. I’m good. Just, uh, needed some air.”

“Leg Spreaders got some kick, huh?”

I chuckle. “Yeah, I guess so.” I take a deep breath, recouping from the damned fright I just experienced then wipe any dirt off the back of my jeans. “Well, I’m gonna walk back to the station.”

“I’ll go with you,” he says.

“No, it’s okay. I’m fine,” I say, but he tilts his head to the side and gives me a look.

“Just to make sure no more brick throwers show up.”

“Oh. Okay. Yeah. Uh, thanks.”

We walk down the alley behind all the businesses, and I wrap my arms around myself, the fall wind chilling me to the bone. Mike notices and takes off his wool trench coat and puts it around my shoulders where it almost touches my ankles. What a nice guy. I thank him and we keep walking in silence.

“So, what’s your story, Amelia?” he finally asks after a moment.

I huff out a laugh. “Not sure that I have much of one.”

He pauses for a couple seconds. “What’s the story with you and Kade?”

Oh, boy. I bite my lips not really wanting to go into it.

“Sorry. Didn’t mean to pry,” he offers at my silence.

I look over at him. He really is a great looking guy and he’s been nothing but nice to, taking care of the broken window in the garage and now walking me back. “No, it’s okay.” It’s not like he couldn’t ask someone else, so I might as well share. “Kade and I dated in high school. He was two years older, and when he graduated, he joined the Navy. I’m sure you know all that.” I look over to see him nod. “We stayed together until I graduated college and got a job for the city. Then he asked me to marry him, which I guess seemed like the logical next step.” I shrug when he looks at me.

“You marry him?” he asks.

We’re at the station now, so we stop at the front door and I turn to face him. “No. I didn’t. By that time, he’d been gone for nine years and I hadn’t gotten to see him very much.” I sigh and stare over at Kade’s store. “I guess I wanted more. A husband who was going to be there with me, share his life with me, you know? But I didn’t see that happening for us at the time, so I… I left.”

“I understand.”

I look at him, surprised. Most guys would side with Kade, I’d think, since he was doing his duty in serving his country when I walked out on him. “You don’t think I’m a raging bitch for leaving him at the altar? As in, literally leaving him there?”

He smiles. “No. I get it.”

I narrow my eyes at him wondering if he really understands or he’s just trying to get in my pants since he let me know earlier that he was interested.

He blows out a breath. “Kade and I got into it earlier.”

“What? I thought you were good friends.”

“We are.” He shrugs. “Knew you guys had a thing. Told him if he was trying to get you back, he was going about it the wrong way. Going out with Missy when her husband’s in Iraq. Just think he should be giving you his full attention. He told me to, let’s see, how can I put this nicely… go fuck myself.”

I snort then realize he’s just verified my suspicions. Kade really has been going out with a married woman.

God.

“Wait. He knows she’s married?” I look at him in shock because I’d never in a million years think Kade would do something like that. And now my drunk buzz is now gone because my adrenaline’s spiking at this breaking news.

“Yep. Husband’s a Marine on active duty. He and Kade are good friends too.”

“Told you to stay out of my fucking business,” Kade says, suddenly appearing out of nowhere. And, oh, shit. He’s giving Mike The Look times a friggin’ googol. I step back not wanting to get caught in their crossfire.

“Just tryin’ to help, man,” Mike says then looks down at me, apparently not ruffled one bit by Kade’s death glare. “Give me your phone.” This makes me frown at him. “Amelia, give me your phone.” He holds his hand out for it and I pull it out of my jacket pocket, handing it to him knowing he’s pushing his luck because I can feel the anger rolling off Kade which is pretty scary. Mike messes with my phone for a bit then hands it back. “Got my number. If you need me, give me a call.” He shoots Kade a look.

Kade grabs the coat off my shoulders and literally throws it at Mike who gives him a smirk. Holy crap! I mean, he’s
really
pushing it! My eyes about bug out when he starts casually whistling as he takes off heading back toward Jen’s. The guy’s got some serious balls.

When he’s gone, Kade holds his hand out and says angrily, “Keys.”

I look at him standing there glaring at me and I’ve had it. Completely had it. I’ve done nothing but think about him 24-7 for the last week wondering if we should try this again, thinking maybe we’d see where things could go between us, but I know now that’s impossible because I can’t be with a man who’s knowingly involved with a married woman. Yeah,
knowingly
. I throw a dirty look his way then grab my keys out of my pocket and unlock the damned door myself.

When we get inside, he spits, “Wanna tell me what the fuck’s going on? Why’d you run outta Jen’s?” The Look is still glowering on his face.

I turn to him and cross my arms, giving him my own version of The Look and lean into him. “You went out with a married woman!” I shake my head at him as he narrows his eyes at me. “God, you’re just unbelievable.” The smug look on his face makes me even angrier. “You know what? Ever since I came back, when it comes to you, I keep being confronted by things that make me go, ‘Hm.’”

The muscles in his jaws are now jumping and his eyes pierce mine before he snaps, “How about being confronted by some goddamned things that make you shut your mouth and listen to me for a fucking change?”

I jerk my head back and stare at him with my mouth hanging open, which I guess is in direct defiance of what he just suggested, but his tone was so harsh that I can’t help it.

He lifts an eyebrow waiting for me to argue. When I don’t say anything he continues. “First of all, Missy and Chase are good friends of mine. Chase asked me to keep an eye on her while he’s in Iraq…”

“Oh, and I see you’ve been doing a fine job of that!” I interrupt putting my hands on my hips.

He puts his hands on his hips too, a look of amusement on his face. When I keep glaring at him, he holds a hand out. “Please, proceed.”

Asshole.

“I heard her, Kade. At Mags’ last night. You went on your third date, right? Oh, she was all a-quiver,” I say sarcastically, holding my hands up and wiggling my fingers at him. My hands go back to my hips as I keep going. “Did you have a good time finally fucking her? Did you live up to all her expectations? Was it
amazing
?” Oh, my God. Now he’s smirking which makes me want to smack the hell out of him! Ugh! “I’ll bet you took her to
my
house too! Screwed her in
my
fucking bedroom!” I’m yelling and fuming and hating that I even care this much.

He stares at me with steely eyes, angry at what I’ve said. I’m breathing hard and pissed as all hell then he openly smiles at me. Holy shit. I really want to punch his teeth out now.

“You’re jealous.” He says this with a chuckle then smirks yet again.

Dear God. I’ve never hated anyone as much as I do him right now. “I hate you. You need to leave. Now.” I hiss through gritted teeth and cross my arms over my chest looking at him with all the hatred I’m feeling inside.

He snorts and reaches a hand toward me.

“Swear to fucking God, you touch me and it’ll be the last thing you do,” I warn which just makes his shoulders shake with his laughter as he pulls his hand back. I can’t believe he thinks this being with a married woman is funny. I really hate him right now. And, damn it, I feel tears burning the backs of my eyes. No! I refuse to cry! Not in front of him! I look away so he can’t see. “Go, Kade,” I mumble and swipe a hand across my cheek as a traitorous tear falls down it. Shit.

“Babe,” he whispers, grabbing me by my upper arm to turn me to him.

I wrench my arm away and scream, “Get out of here!” I’m crying now and turn to run toward the back to go upstairs but he grabs my shoulders with both hands and whips me around to face him. “Let me go!” I screech. And now I go apeshit crazy on him, crashing my fists into his chest, trying to kick him so he’ll let me go. Oh, my God. I’ve never been so mad in my entire life.

We struggle for a moment until he finally gets me under control by turning me to where my back’s against his front and he wraps his arms around me. I’m totally sobbing now, damn it, still telling him to let me go. I keep trying to wrestle myself out of his arms and he leans down saying, “Stop it, Mill.” When I don’t stop trying to wrench myself free, he barks, “Goddamn it, Amelia! Hold the fuck still!” and tightens his hold. I give up and let my head fall against his chest as the tears roll down my face. “Listen to me!” he demands. I close my eyes thinking the sooner I let him have his say, the sooner he’ll be gone. “You listening?” I nod, ready for him to say what he will then leave. “Missy and Chase’s nine-year-old son Hunter is doing a science project. Missy and I have been going out to the beach with him the last several nights to check on a sea turtle that’s laid eggs. They hatched last night, so we tried to help them get to the beach and into the water by shooing away the gulls. Didn’t help a whole lot, but I think almost half made it.”

Wait, what?

I stand there with my eyes closed and it takes several minutes before what he’s said starts to sink in. “Th-that’s what you were going ‘out’ for…” I say and feel him nod against the top of my head where he rests his chin. “L-last night was the n-night they hatched not when you were going to sleep with her. You’re not dating her…” I feel him shake his head. “B-but she likes you. I heard her. And she was rubbing her breasts all over you that day at your store.”

He’s quiet for a few seconds then answers, “You won’t believe me, but that was her twin sister Jalissa… who’s single.”

Holy crap. He’s got an answer for everything. I pull away and turn to look up at him. He raises an eyebrow again waiting for my argument but it doesn’t come because I’m still trying to grasp what he’s just told me.

“Her twin…” I reply. “Jalissa… you’ve gone out with her?”

He chuckles. “Fuck no. She’s a nutjob.”

“Oh,” I mutter. It’s all I can think to say. And now I feel like an idiot for going off on him about everything. “But I heard Missy say out-of-towners were a waste of time and you were tired of my indecision.”

He shakes his head. “She must’ve been talking about Mrs. Metcalf from Hayes. Came in wanting some work done on her kitchen but was driving me crazy because she kept changing her mind. She and Missy go to church together and Missy recommended me for the job.”