Evolve Series Box Set (78 page)

“A deal’s a deal, baby,” I announce. “I get to buy the rest now, right?”

“Well, I had an idea, like a new, improved deal.” She smiles, batting her eyelashes and rubbing herself against me. “How about if you buy some stuff and I’ll work it off at the gym? Rather than pay me, Tate can pay you back what I earn.”

I love that she loves me for anything other than my money, but enough is enough. I’m tired of her fighting me every step of the way just so I can help her furnish her place. I finally have her time and I’m sure as hell not sharing with the gym. The hundred dollars she’d clear isn’t worth the many hours she’d have to be gone to earn it. 

“How about if we get you a damn bed already and worry about it later?” I suggest. “If you want to keep a tab, go right ahead, and we’ll figure something out.”

“Promise you’ll let me pay it back?”

“Somehow, yes, I promise.”

Infinite possibilities.

CHAPTER 9

***Laney***

Judgment Day. May the best decorator win! Our judges are Tate, Bennett and the elusive Sawyer Landon Beckett, who we’d finally gotten to show his face. He’s not talking, and we’re not asking, skirting around his somber mood until he’s ready to share. Zach, Evan and Whitley are still at Parker’s farm, and Dane boycotted my absentee ballot plan. Something about not appreciating the ambience of his room unless you’re in it.

I called him Nancy again, cause ambience, really? Oh, and because he attacks me and shows me he’s not a Nancy when I say it. Win-win.

So, we let the three of them into the room I did first, known to them simply as Room One. (Except for Bennett, but that’s our little secret.) The walls are light purple, or Champagne Elegance, and all the trim is now bright white. The solitary window has billowy, floor length sage green drapes that match the leaves on the bedspread. The bed itself is a thing of beauty; queen-sized mahogany wood with four tall posts and tons of different purple, green and beige pillows. It’s my favorite part of the room by far.

The dresser is the same wood as the bed, purchased as a set, and the nightstand I got for a steal is a close match. Atop them both are groups of candles and assorted brown picture frames with shots of Dane and me, as well as the Crew. Two sage accent rugs line the floor and the walls each have abstract art pictures, one of which I swiped from the hall at my dad’s house and have absolutely no fear he’ll ever notice or care.

I couldn’t love the space any more if I tried. It’s tranquil and just feminine enough, plus, the minute I walk inside, I feel lighter somehow. This is the first time Dane’s seen it, of course, and he looks at me from the corner of his eye and winks.

He likes it.

And as crazy as it sounds, that makes me feel like I’ve already won.

When the trio of judges have seen enough, we move to Room Two. I try not to gasp out loud, lest revealing that obviously Dane did it if I haven’t seen it either, but it’s hard not to as I am truly taken aback. I should have expected nothing less than tasteful beauty from my man, and he’s delivered tenfold.

He chose a light blue for the walls, and a fresh, crisp white for the trim as well, really making the blue color pop. The bed we chose for this room, assuming it will be Sawyer’s, is a California king sleigh bed in a light pine. The dresser and nightstand match and there’s one big, light brown rug on the floor.

I would have already said the room has a light, airy, beachy feel to it, but the pièce de résistance really drives that message home. It takes my breath away, and will undoubtedly win him this competition—a bookshelf now standing tall against the wall by the closet door. I don’t know when or how, but I know he wouldn’t cheat, meaning Dane made it with his own two hands. The bookcase is light pine and magnificent, shaped like a canoe with four little shelves.

For a moment, I let myself imagine him, shirtless and sweaty, running his nimble fingers up and down the wood, intricately carving each piece, mastering it much like his fingers master everything they touch. This time it’s me that steals a peek, and Dane is already looking back at me, searching my eyes for approval.

He never ceases to amaze me; brilliant, kind, funny, a musician…and now he’s freakin’ Geppetto! I would never have guessed he was a woodcarver, never mind a talented one.

“Very nice,” I mouth, pointing at the shelf.

He raises his brow in question. “You like?” he mouths back.

I nod slowly, again thinking about how hot this man is, so full of hidden talents. “Can I have one?”

“Of course, baby.” Our silent conversation continues with another one of his winks that buckle my knees.

“We’ve decided!” Bennett intrudes into “our little world” and we both look at her. “The vote was two to one, and the winner is…” she keeps us waiting for what must be a full minute, “this one, room two.”

Dane deserved the win, without a doubt. I couldn’t be more proud.

“Congratulations,” I tell him, giving him a big hug. “It’s beautiful.”

“Your room is gorgeous, baby,” he leans in and whispers in my ear, “I can’t wait to christen it with you.”

“Please tell me you didn’t build that shelf with my dad’s saw,” I mumble into his chest, only sort of joking.

“I didn’t,” he assures me with a laugh, “I bought my own. Why don’t you go over there and see what book is on it?”

That’s right, I did see a book on the shelf. I thought it was just a prop for the judging display. I walk over and pick it up, four sets of eyes on me. If I wrote a book, I’d write Dane exactly how he is, unbelievable. I wouldn’t have to exaggerate or embellish—he’s really that good on his own.

It’s an old copy of Winnie the Pooh. I turn around, weepy-eyed, clutching the book to my chest. I adore it. “This is mine, right?”

They all chuckle at me simultaneously, but Dane steps forward. “Yeah, baby, it’s yours. My first ever garage sale purchase. Another first that’s just ours.”

I nod, understanding the depth of his statement. Sometimes I wish I was all the firsts to him that he is to me, well, one in particular, but there are still so many he chooses to give me. The really special ones that go beyond physical experimentation and creep into your soul and stay there, are just for us. Perfection.

“I’ll treasure it,” I whisper, walking back into his arms, soaking up his scent. I wish I could bottle it and spritz myself sporadically throughout the day.

“Okay,” Sawyer pipes up, breaking the mood. “As real as this has been, I gotta go. We done here?”

“Where you need to be so badly? Would it kill you to spend some time with your friends?” Tate’s voice is menacing, which is completely unlike him, but honestly, we’ve all been worried about Sawyer. “You’re like a ghost lately.”

“I got shit to do. I don’t keep tabs on you, do I?” See—this is the weird part. Sawyer’s never hateful, he’s just not himself these days.

“Saw,” I move to him and place a hand on his arm, “we just miss you, that’s all. You’re still moving in, right? This can be your room. We got you a king bed.”

“Ah, Gidge.” His hardened glare dissolves now and I get a slight smile. “You’re the best. Where’d he find you?” he says where only I can hear it against my hair as he kisses the top of my head. “I’ll be moved in by the time school starts back, okay?”

“Ok,” I murmur, wishing desperately that he’d talk to me. I love Sawyer dearly, and I’d move mountains or die trying to make sure he’s happy—we all would. I just wish he’d tell us what’s going on. “Are you going to Parker’s wedding with us?”

“Wouldn’t miss it.” He looks at Dane. “I’ll ride with you guys?”

“Of course, bud,” Dane affirms with a jerk of his head. “And I worked my ass off on this room for you. Get moved into it.”

I have no idea when Tate and Bennett crept out, but it’s just the three of us now, and I can tell by tension in the air before I even check their body language—Dane’s going in for the kill and Sawyer’s defenses are coming up.

“You know you can come to me with anything. You need something, I need to know.” Dane crosses his arms over his chest and widens his stance.

Oh yeah, like that’s gonna work. He can do that too, babe…have you seen Sawyer?

“Appreciate it, bro, I do, but there’s nothing you need to fix. I don’t need to be mothered.”

“Yeah, how about needing to be friended? Where you been staying?” The veins in Dane’s neck and forehead are all on display now.

“CJ’s,” Sawyer answers, voice getting louder.

Wow, it got really uncomfortable in here really fast and I have no idea why. It’s not like he’s got track marks up and down his arms or anything, so there’s no need for that kind of intervention. I think maybe we all just need to calm down.

“Dane,” I attempt to mediate. “Saw…”

“Baby,” Dane speaks to me now, keeping his temper in check, but barely. The storm in his eyes and hard set of his jaw are scary, quite frankly. “Can you go find Bennett and see if they want to go to dinner with us?”

I’m being dismissed, but I don’t care. Doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know I want out of this room. “S-sure,” I falter, giving Sawyer a questioning glance.

He chuckles. “We’re fine, Gidge. I’ll be moved in soon, k?”

I nod and hustle out of the room and all the way to Bennett’s door, knocking feverishly.

“Come in,” she says brightly, but then quickly notices my face. “What’s wrong?”

“Where’s Tate?”

“Tate!” she yells, clutching my shoulders. “Laney, what’s wrong?”

“I don’t know, but Dane wanted me to leave.” I look up as Tate walks in. “Oh, Tate, hey, can you go next door? Dane and Sawyer are—I don’t know—something about CJ’s and Dane told me to—”

“Shit,” he mutters. “Yeah, I got it.”

“What is CJ’s? What’s going on?” Bennett asks me after Tate runs out.

“I have no idea, but Dane isn’t happy about it and Sawyer’s annoyed about being called out and they didn’t want me there. I don’t want them fighting or anything.” I bite my nails worriedly.

I’m probably overreacting. Dane and Sawyer would never really fight, but damn if I didn’t feel like a spectator to something ugly watching the two of them throwing off testosterone and evil glares like lions circling the one female left in the whole damn jungle.

“Stop!” Bennett pulls my hand from my mouth. “It’ll be fine. Tate will calm them down.”

She’s right. Tate’s the counselor and he’ll mediate and everyone will calm down and go about their day, but there’s a story there. And we have this unspoken rule in the Crew that we don’t air each other’s dirty laundry, so I’m gonna have to get it out of Sawyer.

CHAPTER 10

***Laney***

I’m dressed and ready, just waiting for Dane and Sawyer to show up so we can head out to Parker’s wedding. I still can’t believe he’s getting married. And having a baby. And no longer in college, but running the farm.

Life sure has a funny way of saying “F you” to people’s plans and deciding things for them.

Is that what’s happening? Is Parker’s life being decided for him? I know Parker and he’ll always do the right thing, foregoing whatever it is he wants for what someone else needs. I really hope that isn’t the case here.

Regardless of what I think (and I’m not even completely sure of my position), it’s too late to talk to him about it now. I can’t pull him aside at his own wedding and grill him. Besides, Evan’s been around, he’d know if things weren’t on the up and up. If Evan tells me this is what Parker wants, I’ll believe him.

“Well, don’t you look like a wet dream?” Sawyer’s voice startles me and I look up to see him looking down at me with a lecherous smirk.

“Gross, but thank you.” I smile and hug him. “And you look very handsome as well.” I straighten the collar on his light blue button down shirt, which is tucked in to pressed beige dress pants. “You clean up nice, big boy.”

“I know.” He shrugs and wiggles his eyebrows. “But you, Gidge—I didn’t figure you even owned such a pretty dress.”

“I didn’t,” I admit, twirling in my yellow strapless dress and tan platform wedges, “I borrowed it from Bennett.” The outfit is pretty casual. I mean, it’s a farm wedding in Georgia, but still more feminine than I usually wear. “It’s comfy, though, I like it.”

“Me too, a lot.”

My whole body responds to his voice, a wave of tingly warmth starting at my toes and ending at my cheeks. I turn and take in my man, looking like GQ Boss Sex on Legs.

He’s in dark slacks, a black belt with silver buckle, and a charcoal shirt and silver tie; I swallow my tongue a little as I shamelessly peruse him from bottom to top. His dark brown hair sticks up just a little in the front, his matching brown eyes bewitching me with their sparkle.

I can’t help but catapult myself at him. “You look wonderful, Mr. Kendrick. Like, too hot to be allowed out in public, really.”

“And you,” he traces my neckline with his finger, then across my collarbone which is exposed in this dress, “showing up the bride. Not very nice you, beautifully sexy girl.”

“Good God, you horny fucksticks, let’s go.” Sawyer opens the front door with a bang. “We don’t have time for this. You break the golden rule, Gidge, and we could be here all day, or get plagued by locusts for disturbing the great design. So come on.”

Oh, I have to ask.

“What golden rule?” Instinctively, Dane’s hand tenses in mine. He must know the S-bomb coming, which I’m sure is a real doozy.

He smirks, delighted that I asked. “You get it up, you gotta take it.”

Get wha— Ohhhh, I get it. I shake my head at him. “Good Lord, Sawyer!”

Good to see the old Sawyer’s trying to make a comeback, at least.

***

The drive to Parker’s isn’t tense like I had worried; Dane and Sawyer seem to be over their mysterious argument. We laugh and listen to music like it never happened and I’m more than a little relieved.