The Keys to Jericho (86 page)

“Until now? He’d die happy if he fucks you, Hadley!”

Her mouth drops open. “Jared Beckett! Why do you have to say that shit? ”

Disregarding her question, I angrily ask, “You do remember that you have a boyfriend, right?”

“Yeah, I do! It’s just nice to have someone paying attention to me!”

I bitterly laugh. “Are you serious? Last time Finn was here, he more than paid attention to you! He couldn’t keep his fucking hands off you or his dick to himself! That must’ve been enough attention for you to ride him as much as I heard!”

She cringes as she sneers, “Fuck you, Jared!
Finn
is the one who doesn’t remember that he has a girlfriend!” Hadley abruptly bites her lip and looks away from me.

I cock my head to see her face. “Shit! Is he screwing around on you?”

She shakes her head as her eyes take on a glassy shine. Glancing at me, she mumbles, “I don’t know. He says he’s camping, and I want to believe him, but… His best friend cheated on his wife. I don’t know if Finn would do that to me, too, not that I’m his wife or ever will be.”

I snap, “Like I told you then, find someone who
will
marry you.”

“I don’t want someone else!”

“You’re close to fucking
my
best friend!” As soon as I say that, I regret it, knowing I did do that to her. More than once.

Hadley’s face turns red and she explodes, “I am
not
, Jared! What comes out of your mouth is unbelievable!”

“You’re drunk! Things happen!”

“I would never cheat on Finn! Why do you care anyway? I don’t even know who you are! One minute, you’re denouncing marriage like it’s the scam of the century, and the next, you’re announcing your fucking engagement to a girl I thought was only a friend of yours! I asked and she said you weren’t dating!”

“We’re not just dating!”

“How can you marry her when you don’t love anyone? You said you don’t believe in that shit!”

“I’ve been in love with Kat for as long as I’ve known her!” Christ.

“You met in high school!”

“I know that!”

She scoffs, “Right. You’ve been in love with her since
then
? Highly improbable since you said love doesn’t exist. That would mean you lied and have been suffering all these years without Kat.”

I truthfully say, “Yeah. Painfully.”

She slowly contorts her face as she realizes what I just said. “How come you never told anyone?”

I dubiously laugh. “Who was I going to tell?”

“Me! We used to be close! Maybe I could’ve helped you.”

“You couldn’t have.”

“Why weren’t you together if you loved her?”

I sigh. “It was complicated, Hadley.”

“I doubt that. If you just told her then, I bet you would’ve been together all these years.”

“I couldn’t even admit it to myself.” Now I can’t stop telling people just how clueless I was. Jesus.

Hadley brushes her fingers through her long hair, looking at people milling around the patio. As she does, she muses, “I can’t believe you’re getting married.”

“Is that good or bad?”

“It’s good.”

I uncross my arms, running a hand through my own hair, and saying, “I know you want to marry Finn.”

“You said he’ll never change his mind.”

I heave a hefty sigh. “Finn might.
I
did when the right woman came along. If he’s not incredibly stupid, he’ll know you’re the one. If he doesn’t, then he doesn’t deserve you anyway.” Frustrated with Finn, too, I shake my head and yell, “He can’t even take you out in public in his goddamned viewing area! What the fuck is that shit?”

Hadley shouts, “Forget what I told you! I’m going back inside!” She tries to dodge past me, and just like I did with Kat, I block her. She pushes on my arm, but I still refuse to let her by me. “Jared, move!”

I snarl, “No way. I’m not done with you.”

“What? He wants his fans to think he’s single. I don’t have a say! That’s how he wants to handle his career!”

“And you’re okay with that? What the hell is wrong with you? Where’s your damn backbone, Hadley Beckett?”

“You can shut the fuck up, Jared! There! Backbone enough for you?”

I sneeringly laugh. “Barely.”

“I don’t know what else to say to make you understand!”

Glaring down at her, I say, “You love him. I get that. What I don’t get is how you let him stuff you into a trunk, only pulling you out to play with you whenever he feels like it, just as long as his door is shut and the lights are off. Nobody can see him in the light of day with you. All those fans of his think his dick is up for grabs. Do you want that?”

Hadley’s eyes well up again and she garbles, “He’s not cheating on me. He…”

“You don’t really know, do you?”

She throws out her arms. “What is being with him in public going to prove, even if he is cheating? He’ll still do it!”

“Maybe it’ll keep those fans with morals, who do know he’s taken, to keep a respectful distance from him!”

Her hands go to her hair, twisting it. “I want to trust him. I love him, Jared, but I’m afraid he’s going to break my heart.”

“And if he does, I’ll make sure that’s the last fucking thing he ever breaks.”

She rolls her eyes. “I don’t want you getting involved in my problems. You’re my little brother.”

I laugh. “Too late. And guess what? I’m going to be your neighbor.”

Hadley lifts her wet eyes to my face. “What?”

“Next summer, I’m moving to Virginia. I’ll be working in Richmond, so there’s your warning, or his, I should say.”

“There’s nothing to warn about, but it’ll be good having you close.”

“Yeah. I’m just not bringing Dash with me.”

She tilts her head, giving me an impatient look, but then her hand goes to her forehead as she closes her eyes. I ask, “You okay? The alcohol?”

Hadley slowly nods. “Yeah. I don’t feel great. My head is starting to hurt.”

“We can leave. It’s probably better that we do.”

She peers up at me. “I don’t want to ruin your night.”

“You’re not.”

“Kat might get mad.”

“She won’t.” She’d most likely want to be in bed with me again.

Hadley smiles, but it’s more of a courtesy, instead of a joy. “I like her. She’s pretty, too. I really am happy for you.”

“Thanks. I like her, too.” I grin, making Hadley’s smile widen somewhat, but I know her heart is hurting. Finn better not be fucking around on Hadley or he won’t like the dare I offer him.

Going back to the table, I see Rio sitting next to Dash in the corner, nearly pinning him to his chair. Pulling Hadley down with me, I whisper to Kat, “We need to go.”

She nods. “No problem. Is she okay?”

“Not really.”

Kat says, “Just drop me off at my apartment.”

Shaking my head, I argue, “No. I’m staying with you.”

“Do you have clothes at your dad’s?”

“Some, but—”

“I think you should stay at his house tonight. We’ll be together tomorrow and for the rest of the time you’re here.”

“I don’t need to stay there.”

“Jared, just tonight. For your sister.”

Rolling my eyes in irritation, I grumble, “Fine. I’ll be by in the morning, though.”

“Afternoon. We’ll have lunch.”

I scoff, “Do you always win?”

“Only when it counts.” She smiles and I kiss her. In front of everyone.

On the way home, the ride was quiet. I made Hadley sit up front with me this time, so Dash wouldn’t be turning around talking to her, but he made no sound in the car or any attempt to talk to her from the backseat. It’s best he just forgets about ever having a chance with her. It’s not going to happen for him. I’ll make sure of that.

Dropping off Kat at her apartment, I would’ve walked her to the door, but she insisted I stay in the car, coming around to my window to give me a kiss goodnight. She whispered that I shouldn’t leave Hadley and Dash alone in a car when they’re drunk. Good thinking, I guess. However, when I whispered for her to go wash the junk off her face, she rolled her eyes at me and smacked my arm.

Arriving at my dad’s, Hadley went up to her room, without much said to me, which is a waste for me even staying here.

Walking into the living room, my dad looks up from his laptop. “How’d it go? Hadley didn’t say a word to me before going upstairs.”

I shrug. “She’s drunk, and feeling sick.”

“She actually got that drunk?”

“Yeah. Fast, too. With Dash.”

Dad laughs. “Oh.”

I sit on the edge of the coffee table, next to his feet, and sigh. “Not good, Dad. I had to separate them.”

“Why?”

“Dash. You know how he feels about Hadley. It’s obvious.”

He rubs his chin and says, “Huh. Kind of like how you were with Kat?”

I roll my eyes. “I doubt it. He’s far worse.”

Dad shakes his head with a laugh. “And I doubt
that.
”

“Hadley was downing the shots like they were running out of alcohol. She’s taking my engagement hard. I didn’t even think of that. I feel kind of bad now that we announced it like we did.”

“Why is Hadley taking it so hard? She said she’s happy for you.”

“She wants to marry Finn. Yesterday.”

“Oh.”

“Finn and I had a talk when he was here. He said he isn’t ready for marriage and doesn’t know if he ever will be.”

“Really?” He sighs. “Poor girl. I hope he does love Hadley and will marry her, but it worries me that he doesn’t acknowledge her as his girlfriend. If he can’t even do that, how’s he going to become her husband?”

I shrug. “I don’t know. He probably won’t if his career comes first.”

“I don’t want him to break her heart. Maybe I should talk to him.”

“That’s the last thing you should do. It’s bad enough she knows that I talked to him. If you say something to Finn, too, I think that would push Hadley over the edge.”

Dad sighs, crossing his arms. “Damn it. I really like Finn and from what I can see, he does love Hadley. But if it gets too much... If he hurts her…”

“I’ll intervene. I’ll be down there anyway. I’ll keep an eye on her.”

“You’ll be a newlywed, Jared. You’ll have your own life to worry about.”

“She’s my sister. I’ll watch out for her.” Lowering my voice, I mumble, “I owe her.”

He sighs again, eyeing me as he considers what I said. “Okay then.”

“I uh… I want to thank you for everything you’ve done for me. I appreciate it.”

Confused, he screws up his face, shaking his head. “I haven’t done anything.”

Rolling my eyes, I cross my arms, and I smile thinking about how alike my dad and I probably are. “Yeah, you did. You forced me to see what I should’ve seen years ago, and to take action before it’s too late. If it weren’t for you… Shit. I don’t know what I’d do.”

“It’s no problem. I’ll always look out for you and Hadley. I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again until you realize that. You’ll do the same thing for your kids someday.”

I nod and clear my throat. “I will. Even so, I still want you to know how much your help means to me.”

He smiles and shrugs. “Okay. You’re welcome.”

“Um, I was wondering… I’m not sure…” I mutter, “Fuck.”

Dad’s eyes grow huge and sitting up, he rubs his hand over his graying stubble, and suddenly looking anxious. “What is it, Jared. What’s wrong? Are you not telling me something?”

Swallowing, I blurt out, “Will you be my best man?”

He stares at me in shock before stumbling over, “What? But… Jared… Dash…”

Shaking my head, I say, “I want
you
to be my best man, Dad. You’ve earned it and I’d be honored if you’d stand up for me.”

“I’ll always stand up for you.”

“I know that. I wouldn’t ask if you didn’t.”

Dad blinks his shining eyes and he says, “Jared, I… I’d be the one who’s honored. Of course I’ll do it.”

He sets his laptop on the table, and we both stand. As soon as he does, I yank him into a hug. “Thanks, Dad. For everything. I don’t know where I’d be without you. I truly mean that.”

“You never have to thank me for being your dad. Just know that I always will be here for you. You don’t ever have to doubt that.”

“Same here. I promise.” And I always keep my word.