Rebuilding Stone (The Stone Brother Series Book 2) (9 page)

I am meeting Molly for lunch today. I plan to ask her if
it’s still okay to take her up on her offer to move to Kentucky. My face lights
up when Molly walks in, pushing her gorgeous son in the stroller. She is due
any day now and is huge. There is no other word for it. I feel bad thinking it,
but she is about to pop. I stand up to give her a hand. I feel bad making her
get out of her home, but with her on maternity leave, I had no other choice.

“Hey, girl,” Molly says, as she comes in for a hug.

“Hi! How are you doing?” I ask, happy to feel concerned for
someone else.

“Oh, you know, I have a man child in my belly, Noah works
non-stop, and Landon is just like his daddy—non-stop. My parents are
coming up so that will help.”

“They are?” I wonder how long they plan to stay.

“Yeah,” she replies. “I am being induced next week if this
boy doesn’t show up before then.”

“What? Oh my God. I wanted to talk to you about taking you
up on the offer of staying with your parents.”

Molly’s face drops.

“You know, even though my parents will be here,” she says,
“my best friend Kelly just got a new place. Trust me, she’d love to have you. I
should warn you, she is a little weird. Okay,
a lot
weird. Then, when my parents get back, they can help you get
set up with your own place.”

“I don’t want to intrude. I don’t mind waiting.”

“No, Kerrigan, as much as I’m going to miss you, you need to
go. Noah and I make the drive down every other month. It’s only seven hours. I
would love it if you can stay and see Lane, though.”

“Lane?” I ask. Molly points to her belly.

“Alright,” I say, “I’ll stick around to meet the new Stone.
That will give me time to sort through things and make sure Ari will be okay.”

“Kerrigan, can we have a small going away on Friday at
Hansons?” asks Molly. For the first time in a long time, I feel free to say
yes.

“Yes, but only a small one.”

My phone is ringing. It’s Molly. I almost don’t want to
answer. Molly nearing the end of her pregnancy is no fun. She knows she can
vent to me about her Noah problems, so she does. Frequently. I wonder if it was
a toilet seat left up or an empty milk jug this time? I laugh before answering.

“Hey, my nephew’s baby momma.”

“Maddox, I need your help.”
 

“Name it. Everything okay?”

“Oh, yeah,” she replies, “but I need help with who I should
invite for Kerrigan’s going away party.”

WHAT THE FUCK? WHAT?

“What do you mean
Kerrigan’s
going away party
?”

“Well, she is moving to Kentucky next week. I am giving her
a going away party on Friday.”

“Dammit, Molly, was this your dumb idea?”

“It’s not a dumb idea. It’s the right idea for her, Maddox.”

“No, it’s not, Molly. She should be here with friends and
family...to be around her support system.”

“I agree, but right now she doesn’t want that. She isn’t
going to move on until this court date comes and goes. Right now, she is under
a tremendous amount of stress. She needs to get away.”

Even though this is killing me, I want Kerrigan to do what
will make her happy.

“What time?” I ask.

“8:30,” Molly responds.

“I don’t know who to invite. I say the usual people.”

I hang up and find my running shoes. I want so badly to go
to her place to let her know I’ll go with her, or that she could move in with
me. As I take off on my jog, I start getting pissed, reminiscing about my life.

I was two when my mom left me alone in the dark house. Of
course, I don’t have any memories of it. I can only hope I slept through it and
didn’t wake up afraid. Dad always blamed me, saying I cried all the time and
that mom couldn’t deal with me. For years, I thought Noah and Evan blamed me. I
know they don’t now, but I still wonder if they ever did.

I’ve always felt incomplete. I don’t feel whole or worthy of
love. Yes, I know my brothers love me; they’re my best friends. If Noah was
ever around when dad was hitting me, he’d do something quickly like break a
glass or something so that our father would hit him instead. I hated that. It
always made me feel like I couldn’t take it, but they could. Evan was always
there to pick up the pieces and talk to me. He reminded me that it wasn’t my
fault. How could it not be my fault, though? Mom made sure they were out and
taken care of. Me, she just abandoned. She discarded me like I meant nothing.

I stop running to get off this train of thought. Loving my
nephews the way I do makes me realize how innocent children are. Trust me,
Landon is a handful, but there is no way any of us could even imagine walking
out on him.

I understand Kerrigan needs to leave. I know I shouldn’t
take it personally, but with what I’ve been through, it does feel personal. I’m
easy to leave and not worth staying for.
Why?

I’m in the bathroom getting ready for my going away party. I
admit it’s more fun getting ready now. Sometimes, I find myself hesitating
thinking that I shouldn’t wear something. Then, I realize I don’t have to worry
about how short or revealing my outfit is. Tonight, I picked out a pair of
short jean shorts and a pink tank top. I've gained a few pounds since the
attack because I haven't been nearly as active. The benefit is I fill out the
tank top a little more.

It’s hard to believe that it’s almost been five months since
Aaron almost killed me. In some ways, I’ve moved forward, and, in some ways,
I’m still stuck in that place with Aaron. Tonight, I will try not to go there
in my mind and be present with my friends. It’s my last day with them all
together. At least, for a little while.

When I walk out of the bathroom, I see Ari getting dressed.
My sister is beautiful. She takes care of herself and her body is to die for.
She’s around five foot six inches, light brown hair like mine, and the
prettiest blue eyes I’ve ever seen. She’s not just beautiful but smart and
funny too.

“Hey, girl, you ready?”

“Yes, Kerrigan. Let’s get going and start dancing. I’m so
excited to get out.”

When I see her smile I think, “Yes, I am too.” Spending time
doing fun stuff with Ari is what I’ve always wanted.

“Well, let’s get going so you can hit the dance floor.”

I have mixed emotions tonight. I want to see Kerrigan out
having a good time with her friends, but the reason she is doing it is killing
me. I’m already at the bar with my brothers, Lani, Brayden, and Missy.
Something draws my eyes to the door; my heart stops and I stop breathing as I
see Kerrigan walk in. She is smiling like I haven’t seen in a long time.
Kerrigan is tall and her tanned legs look sexy in those short shorts.

I can tell that everyone here tonight is happy to see her
and that Aaron isn’t allowed to be brought up not in thought and not in
conversation. We all get up when she approaches the table. Kerrigan is hugging
everyone. When she wraps her arms around me, I decide to tell her just how
beautiful she is. I place my lips close to her ear.

“You’re the only girl who has ever stopped my heart,” I say
as I place a soft kiss on her ear.

I don’t expect anything back so it shocks and pleases me
when she whispers back.

“You’re the only guy who has ever owned my heart.” She
slowly pulls out of the hug and goes to sit next to Missy. I’m left standing in
a daze. I want to take Kerrigan right now and head to Vegas, to put a ring on
her finger and to love her the way she deserves. She can’t leave.

“It’s nice seeing you, Missy. Congrats, I hear you just
finished your Physical Therapy degree,” Kerrigan says to Missy. She has been
back in school for the last couple of years.

“Thanks. I’m glad it’s over. I feel like I had very little
time for anything,” Missy explains.

“Alright, who’s dancing with me?” my very pregnant
sister-in-law asks.

“I will if you promise not to go into labor on the dance
floor,” Kerrigan responds.

We all watch our girls out on the floor. Mine is smiling and
enjoying herself. I can tell she is happy, right now. All I can do is stare at
her. I watch as her silky light brown hair sways back and forth, her ass
shaking to the beat of the music. My dick is instantly hard. I try adjusting
myself but I know this will be his position for the rest of the night. I notice
a couple of fucks staring at her and I have the irrational urge to gut punch
them. The music slows to Ed Sheeran’s ‘Thinking Out Loud.’

“Well men, let’s go claim our women before those assholes
try to make a move.” Noah says while giving a 'don’t fuck with my wife' glare
at some men on the floor. I almost laugh. Molly is beautiful, but clearly
limited to closeness. I mean she is nine months pregnant. I should be worried.
Kerrigan starts walking off the floor. Before she gets back to the table, I
walk up to her and place my hand on her arm.

“Want to dance with me?” I ask. I see her smile drop and she
suddenly looks nervous.

“Maddox. I’m not ready. Not yet.”

“I know, Kerrigan. It’s just a dance. For now, it’s just a
dance.”

“Alright.” Thank God, she agreed. I take her by the hand and
guide her back out to the dance floor.

She still looks nervous so I take the lead. I pull her as
close as I possibly can without actually having my dick inside her. She doesn’t
pull away and lays her head on my shoulder. I can feel her take a deep breath
and exhale. There isn’t a single ounce of tension in her. In my arms, Kerrigan
feels safe. I feel ten feet tall. I’ve wanted this closeness with her since the
day I laid eyes on her.

Maddox looks so good tonight. His jeans hug his hips in the
right way and he’s in a simple white t-shirt that fits his arms perfectly. His
dark black hair is styled with gel and spiked. His dark brown eyes just stare
at me. He is showing me that he wants me without having to say any words. There
is no other feeling in the world better than having Maddox’s arms wrapped
around me. I feel beautiful, wanted, loved, and protected. This feeling is
weird to me. I’ve never felt this way, even with Aaron, in the early days.

Earlier, when Maddox said I am the only girl who has ever
stopped his heart, well, it stopped mine. I thought about not saying anything
and keeping my feelings locked inside, but Maddox deserves to know what he means
to me. I’m leaving, and I can’t let things go unsaid. I smile thinking about
how he is trying to be a gentleman right now. The song stops and I decide to be
the first one to make a move. Maddox is always putting forth effort in this
relationship, and he is always met with my reluctance. Tonight, he won’t be.
Maddox will know my feelings. He leans down to my ear.

“Thank you,” Maddox whispers.

“You forgot something,” I say.

I’m so nervous. I’ve never made a move on a guy. He looks
confused.

“What?” he asks.

I feel my lips trembling. I close my eyes. I can’t do this.

“Kerrigan, what?”

When I look up, I see the concern and love in his eyes. I
might not have been able to get the words out before, but now I gather enough
courage and place my hands on the back of his head. I get up on my tiptoes and
kiss him. His lips are perfect against mine, but I immediately feel foolish. He
isn’t kissing me back so I pull away.

“Sorry,” I say.

“For?” he asks.

Holy shit, Kerrigan just kissed me. I didn’t kiss back because
I was afraid I’d climb up inside her right here on the dance floor. My dick is
hard and has been since the moment she walked in. When she laid her head on my
shoulder and her beautiful clean scent filled my nose, it was all I could do to
hold myself back. Why the hell is she apologizing?

“It’s nothing, Maddox,” Kerrigan responds. She sighs and
starts to walk away. It pisses me off. I stop her by grabbing her hand and
pulling her into me.

“Don’t do that, Kerrigan. Why are you sorry? Please don’t
hide from me.”

“Well, I thought maybe you wanted to kiss me. Sorry, I did
that without asking.”

Hold up. She thinks I didn’t want to kiss her? I do. Of
course, I do. I don’t want her to ever feel rejected by me ever again.

“You own me, Kerrigan. Heart, body, and soul. If you want to
fucking kiss me, then kiss me.”

“I’m not kissing someone who doesn’t seem interested and
just stands there.”

In this moment, I realize she still puts herself down and
doesn’t realize her worth. She jumps to conclusions about the way people feel.
She is so far off the mark here.

“I held back, Kerrigan, because my dick is hard. It’s taking
everything in me not to take you home and do way more than kissing. I want more
than to kiss you right now.”

I see her face turn red.

“Oh,” she says in a whisper.

I know I can’t kiss her the way I want to right now, but I
do want to show her how much I want her so I pull her in for a hug.

“You feel that? I can’t control myself right now. The one
thing I want you to know is that I love you. I’d take you to Vegas right now
and marry you. Fucking kiss me whenever you want. Understood?”

I watch a beautiful smile cross her face.

“I understand,” she says and backs out of my hug.

It hurts to admit this to myself, but Kerrigan should go and
work on herself. As much as I wish I could, I can’t fix what’s going on inside
of her.

Oh, my God. I was so turned on at Maddox’s words. Maddox
taking me home sounded like a good idea. Yes, I am still broken, but fighting
what I am feeling for Maddox is just plain stupid. However, I am here to have a
good time with my friends. When we rejoin the group, I decide to start talking
and catching up.

“Lani, is Jase going to be able to make it tonight?” Jase is
Lani’s booty call for a lack of a better word. Two years, they’ve been sleeping
together on and off. Neither of them are looking for anything, just casual sex.
He is a nerdy accountant and, I say, she could totally do better. She trusts
him though and so do I.

“Not until it’s time to go home,” Lani winks at me.

“Excuse me. I’m getting a beer,” Evan says and he looks
irritated. I guess I was right. He is into her, but Evan isn’t Lani’s type. I
kind of feel bad for him.

“What’s his problem?” Lani asks.

“Oh, I think he wanted to take you home,” I tease.

Noah and Maddox just stare at me. Did I do something wrong?

“Please, Evan doesn’t want to take me home. I’m not a leggy
model.”

“Oh, girl. I’d fuck you right here,” Evan says. Oh, shit. He
was right behind me. Lani looks up, and her face is fire engine red. Mine has
to be too. This is so uncomfortable. I silently pray for Molly to go into
labor. I watch as Lani tries to regain her composure. God, someone say
something. Do something.

Lani stands up and excuses herself to go to the bathroom.
The rest of us girls stand up, too. We have to talk about this. This is an
emergency, all hands on deck bathroom meeting. I didn’t see this coming and I
can’t stop watching as Evan grabs Lani and lays a kiss on her so hot I am
pretty sure the bar just caught on fire.

“Now you girls have something to talk about,” Evan says
while running his finger over his lips. Must all the Stone brothers be so cocky
and beautiful? We all rush to the bathroom. Lani just stands there. Her face is
flushed and she licks her lips.

“What the hell just happened?” Missy asks.

“I have no idea,” Molly responds.

“Lani?” I ask.

“Oh, my God. That asshole just kissed me,” Lani says.

“We saw. The whole damn bar saw. How was it? It looked
fucking hot,” Molly says.

“I don’t know. Hot, yes. But, Evan is an ass, and I won’t
sleep with him and be another number for him,” Lani responds.

“I’m sorry but that wasn’t another number to him. I’ve never
seen him kiss someone. I’ve never heard him talk about another girl. I’m
shocked he did that.” Molly states.

“It’s because he is a dominating asshole. He gets the last
word. Or, the last kiss.” Lani is getting all worked up.

“He is those things, but he is also compassionate and a good
friend. Lani, I think you should give him a chance,” I say. I know what the
Stone brothers want people to see. Evan is just like his brothers.

“I’m seeing Jase. Well, not dating. I can’t do rough and I
know that’s all Evan does.”

“How do you know?” I ask.

“What the hell is it with public bathrooms?” We all look
over to Molly, who is sporting wet pants.

“Please tell me you pissed yourself and that isn’t your
water breaking,” Missy states as she rushes out the door.

“Get Noah.”

This night is getting better. I think.