Finding Ever After (36 page)

           
He wanted to know more about my mom, so I shared the twelve wonderful years I
had with her, and then he wanted to hear about the years that came after. He
asked a lot of questions about my time with my dad. He wiped away my tears when
it was painful to talk and he didn’t push when I didn’t want to talk anymore.

           
I was more hesitant to ask him questions. He held a lot inside and I didn’t
know how much I was allowed to pry. I didn’t want to risk making him close up
on me so soon. He told me a few stories about his childhood and high school
years, but nothing heavy.

           
I knew his relationship with his parents was strained though. I don’t even
think he realized that he tensed up any time he talked about them. It didn’t
bother me that he wasn’t ready to open up. I knew it would take time to earn
his trust and get past all the walls he’d put up. I didn’t mind waiting, he was
worth it.

           
I’m not sure how long we stayed up, but eventually my eyelids became heavy and
I was unable to hold back a yawn.

           
“Sleepy?” I nodded. “You should have said something. We can go to bed.” I liked
the way he said we, but I was a little uneasy about our sleeping situation. I
didn’t know whether he wanted me to get out and go to Chris’ room, or if he
expected me to stay with him. He said before that he didn’t like to share his
bed, yet we had slept together more than once. I didn’t know what he would want
now that we were a couple, or whatever we were. Crap, I would have to remember
to get him to clarify that in the morning.

           
“Go grab your pajamas and then get your butt back in here. Be warned, I’m going
to cuddle you so hard all night.” I left the room grinning like an idiot. This
morning I woke up wondering how I was going to make it through another day
being so close to Kyden without losing my mind completely, and tomorrow morning
I would be waking up in his bed and his arms. I was still having a hard time
wrapping my head around it. One day can change everything.

           
“Look at that smile.” I came out of Chris’ room after changing into pajamas and
Bas was waiting for me with an amused expression on his face. I shouldn’t have
been surprised. I’m sure Ace told them all about what had gone down, and they
were smart enough to figure out where I had been the last couple hours. We
hadn’t showed our faces since we went into his room, except to slip out and use
the bathroom.

           
“Are you okay with it?” I wasn’t sure where he stood anymore with Kyden and me.
In the beginning he was strongly against it, but then he seemed to switch
sides, and now, well I had no idea.

           
“All I want Jazz, is for you to be happy, and if it’s that jackass who makes it
happen then I’m okay with it.” He was still grinning and I knew he was really
was okay with it, almost pleased even. “Just make sure you warn him that if he
takes that smile away from you I will hurt him.”

           
“Don’t worry, that’s the last thing I want to happen.” Kyden was standing in
his doorway looking a little too good in a pair of black pajama bottoms and
nothing else. His eyes traveled up my bare legs and he had a dangerous look in
his eyes. I probably should have chosen sweatpants instead of pajama shorts.

           
“You took too long. I was coming out here to make sure you hadn’t changed your
mind and to drag you back if you had.” He was smiling and his tone was
lighthearted, but his eyes revealed that he truly had been worried that I
changed my mind.

           
We said goodnight to Bas and then I found myself in his bed, up close and
personal with a beautiful, tattooed chest. With my head resting on his shoulder
I got a good look at the ink covering his skin, particularly the tree that ran
up his side and over his ribs. I was able to see that almost hidden in the
lines of the bark on the tree, was the shape of a guitar and that there were bars
of musical notes woven in the branches.

           
I would need all day to examine each of the different pieces that made up his
sleeve and I could barely keep my eyes open. He was tracing circles with his
thumb just above my hip, it was relaxing and comforting. He noticed my eyes
starting to droop and reached over to turn off the lamp. It wasn’t long before
I was sound asleep in his arms using his chest as my pillow.

           
“Are you sure you don’t just want to skip it and stay in bed all day?” Kyden
was trying his hardest the next morning, to talk me out of going to the
barbecue Bas’ dad was having. He wasn’t fighting fair either. He tucked me into
his chest so that we were spooning and nuzzled his face in my neck. How was I
supposed to think about being anywhere else, but right here with him? It would
have been really easy to forget all about the barbecue except that Ace and
Spade chose that moment to start beating on the door.

           
“You two get your asses out of bed and into the shower.
Separately.
It’s one o’clock in the afternoon and you two haven’t come out of there.” Ace
wasn’t entirely right. Kyden had snuck out to snag some breakfast and bring it
back.

           
“If you two don’t start getting ready for the barbecue we’re coming in there
and dragging you out. I don’t care if you’re naked. In fact Rainbow, if you’re
naked tell me now and I’ll be right in.” Kyden reached over me and threw one of
his shoes at the door. Both guys burst into laughter.

           
“Sorry to disappoint you Spade but we’re both fully clothed so you might as
well just go away.” 

           
“Not
happening
Rainbow. Not until you guys get up.”

           
“I tried.” I said to Kyden and he just groaned when they didn’t show any signs
of shutting up or leaving. They continued to bang on the door and taunt Kyden
until he finally got up and yanked open door.

           
“You guys are assholes.”

           
“Yeah, yeah.
Get over it and get your ass ready. We’re
leaving in an hour. You can resume your love fest tonight.” He winked at me
over
Ky’s
shoulder. “I would
also like to mention that if you keep her locked up in there and she quits
cooking and baking for us I’m probably going to knife you.” Spade had gotten
used to me making breakfast for them the past two weeks.

           
“Can you blame me for wanting to keep her to myself?”

           
“Nah man.
I know if she were mine I’d have her-”

           
“If you don’t want me to break your nose then don’t even think about finishing
that sentence.” Ace just shook his head and Spade laughed at the threat. It was
going to be a long day. Spade wasn’t about to stop giving him crap, no matter
what he threatened, but I kind of liked Kyden going all possessive caveman. It
was sweet, and a little entertaining.

           
I had one sundress with me and decided to wear that since it looked like it was
going to be hot today. Kyden tried to talk me into the dress
Vi
had brought last night. She’d left it behind and he spotted it when I hauled my
stuff out of Chris’ room into his. After I reminded him that if I wore it, he
wouldn’t be the only one getting to see so much of me, he quickly changed his
mind and took the dress away from me.

           
I was still in a dress though, which meant no motorcycle. While I would have
loved to spend the forty minute drive wrapped around him, the bike still made
me nervous. I was much more comfortable taking his car, at least I was until
Spade and Ace climbed into the backseat wearing matching grins. Danny, Chris and
Marcus were picking up Maysie and some girl Chris had invited.

           
The entire ride there was more of the same ribbing. Spade kept trying to
provoke Kyden by commenting on how nice my hair looked or how much he liked my
dress, and my legs. Ace just laughed the whole time. He knew Spade was going to
get it the minute the car stopped, and he did.

           
As soon as we pulled into the driveway at my house, Spade ripped his seatbelt
off and flew out the door and through the yard next door. Kyden put the car in
park and shot after him, not even bothering to grab the keys out of the
ignition. When Ace and I rounded the corner of the house into the back yard
Kyden had Spade in a head lock. Spade got himself out of the hold and he must
have said something to Kyden because he turned around to look at me and
grinned. Then he started walking toward me while Spade just stood there
chuckling.

           
“Have I told you how gorgeous you look in that dress?” He put his hands on my
hip and brought my body in closer to his.

           
“You like it?” I teased.

           
“I do. I really, really do.” He pressed his lips to my forehead in a feather
light kiss before tucking me into his side and heading toward the picnic table
where Lissa,
Vi
and Jake were sitting. Kyden took a
seat and when I went to slide in next to him he tugged me onto his lap instead.

           
I was enjoying all the affection from my boyfriend, yes I said boyfriend. I
didn’t even have to ask him what our status was because he called me his
girlfriend when he kissed me good morning. I admit that hearing him refer to me
as his girlfriend made me giddy, and I went into the bathroom to do a little
happy dance. I know, I’m super lame but I don’t even care.

           
Being in his lap was giving me a similar feeling. For someone who was so sure
that he wouldn’t be any good at it, Kyden was really excelling in the boyfriend
department. It must have been all the Nicholas Sparks movies I made him watch.

           
“Stop it.” I said trying to squirm out of his grasp, but he had one arm wrapped
around my waste and his other hand was tickling my side. I was gasping for
breath and trying to laugh. The result was awkward noises coming out of my
mouth and a beet red face. It was an attractive combination.
“Stop.
Please stop.” I squealed between gasps until he finally relented.

           
“Sorry I just can’t help myself. You’re finally
mine
now and I just can’t keep my hands off you.” He grinned and looked at me with
those deep green eyes and I couldn’t even pretend to be annoyed. I was in so
much trouble.

           
Ky
slid me off his lap and
hopped up to go grab a beer and talk to Chris and Bas who were helping their
dad with the food. My eyes followed his movements as he walked away. They
lingered on the jeans that hung low on his waist and hugged his long, lean
legs. They had really nice back pockets.

           
“You two are sickening.”
Vi
teased, startling me. I
quickly turned my head away from the direction of
Ky’s
backside but didn’t even pretend to be
embarrassed or ashamed. Thankfully it was just us girls sitting at the table
now. Jake had already disappeared to help set up the volleyball net. The guys
wanted to get a game going. Maysie took his seat since they
wrangled
Marcus into joining them.

           
“Oh man, you’re so far gone girl.”
Vi
laughed at the
stupid grin I still had plastered on my face and the other two agreed with her.

           
“I am not. Or at least I don’t think so. I’m just enjoying myself. I’m happy.
He makes me happy and to be honest, I don’t know how long it will last.” I felt
like I could be completely open with them. As overjoyed as I felt, there was
still a voice in the back of my head spewing doubt.

           
“Oh shit Jax. I was just messing with you. I wasn’t trying to make you feel
bad.”

           
“I know, but do you think I’m jumping into this too fast? Do you think I’m
being ridiculous?” I hadn’t had a chance to talk to her about it yet. Her
opinion mattered to me and I knew she would be honest with me.

           
“No, babe.
I think you’re a girl in love with a boy,
and he’s crazy about you too. I think you tried for a long time not to feel
what you do, but you can’t help it. If he’s being good to you and making you so
happy, which it appears that he is, don’t let anyone make you feel bad about
it. Be as disgusting and cute as you want.” It helped to hear that.

           
“I agree with her. I don’t know Kyden that well, but in the times I’ve been
around him since Bas and I got together, I’ve never once seen him treat a girl
as well as he does you. In fact I’ve never seen him be much of anything except
an arrogant ass. You seem to bring out a better side of him that Bas always
insisted existed. I didn’t believe it until now.” Lissa and I had already come
a long way in our relationship, and her support meant almost as much to me as
Vi’s
.

           
“Thanks guys. I needed that. This is all really different for me. I’ve never
had a serious boyfriend. I don’t know how serious Kyden is but I do know that
I’m in way over my head with a guy like him. Right now everything feels
amazing, but I’m so damn terrified he’ll change his mind at any second. I know
I’m going to say or do something wrong.”

           
“All I know is
,
I wish Marcus would look at me the way
that guy has been looking at you all day.” Maysie sighed.

           
“Well then turn around
Mayse
,”
Vi
told her. “He’s staring right now.” Sure enough Marcus’ attention was fixed on
the cute red head at our table. They’re eyes met briefly then they both blushed
and looked away.
Vi
and Lissa started grilling Maysie
on all the details of her and Marcus’ near relationship, but I was distracted
by the volleyball match starting. Kyden had stripped off his shirt and my eyes
were glued to the way his muscles rippled and strained every time he moved for
the ball.

           
Ace caught me staring and said something to
Ky.
He
looked over and our eyes locked for just a brief moment before he winked and
then returned his attention to the game. I
shuddered.           

           
After we ate, most of the guests hung around until almost six and then it was
just our group remaining. I’d gotten to visit with some of the neighbors I
still remembered, they all said how sorry they were about the fire. The only
person I hadn’t really talked with, that I wanted to, was Mr. Cross. He’d been
a busy host, which is why I was glad when he came and joined me in the kitchen
where I was wrapping up the leftovers.

           
He asked how I was handling everything with Connor and hugged me when I
honestly told him I didn’t know what to do. He also grilled me about my new
relationship like any father would his daughter. It made me smile.

           
“You ready to get stuff from next door?” Kyden popped his head in and asked.

           
“Yeah.
We can go now.” I hugged Mr. Cross goodbye and
kissed him on his cheek then followed Kyden over to my house. The day after the
fire Shane and Bas insisted I get an alarm system installed. I should have done
it sooner. At least now all of the windows and doors had sensors and there were
motion detectors in each part of the house.

           
Dealing with the insurance company had been a grueling process and of course
the company they used couldn’t start on it right away, which is why the kitchen
was still a blackened pit. The construction guys were set to come in on the
Monday coming up and start tearing out the burned wall, sections of the floor
and ceiling.

           
It’s amazing how much damage even a small fire does. I needed to replace
cupboards, appliances, dishes and just about everything in the kitchen. Even
stuff in the other rooms that hadn’t been touched by the actual fire didn’t
survive all the smoke. As I looked around at all of it I couldn’t stand to
think about what would have happened if Mr. Manning hadn’t noticed the guy
running out of my yard.
If the fire had burned for even
another ten minutes, how much more would have been destroyed?

           
“Hey, nothing was damaged that can’t be replaced. A little bit of paint and
some new boards and it’ll be like it never happened.” He must’ve seen the
emotions playing out on my face. I was thankful for his presence and the
reassurance he provided. It wouldn’t do me any good to get worked up over what
might’ve happened. He kept my hand in his all through the house and up to my
room.

           
After loading up
another duffel
of my things we tossed
it in Kyden’s trunk and went to collect Spade and Ace.
Vi
invited
Ky
and I to brunch in the morning with her,
Jake, Bas and Lissa. I felt Kyden tense up for just a second, but I think I was
the only one who caught it. If I hadn’t been holding his hand I probably
wouldn’t have noticed. Then he relaxed again and accepted the invite. I had to
wonder what his hesitation was about.

           
The entire car ride I held back, not wanting to talk about his reaction in
front of the other two. As soon as we were alone and settled into his bed to
watch a movie I decided to bring it up.

           
“If the brunch thing is a little too ‘
couply
’ for
you, or if it makes you uncomfortable we don’t have to go.” I was giving him an
out without making him the bad guy, but I really hoped he didn’t take it.

           
“So you caught that?” He asked sheepishly.

           
“Yeah.
If you don’t want to go, it’s okay. I don’t
want you to feel like you have to just for me.”