All the Broken Pieces: (Broken Series Book 3) (11 page)

She blinked at me a few times, startled or confused, maybe both. “Why?”

“Why not? We’re friends, right?”

“Yes, but…” she stammered.

“But what? Do you not want me to have it?”

She shook her head quickly. “No, that’s not what I was saying. It’s just…” Another frown. “You could have just gotten it from Ali. You didn’t have to come all the way over here.”

“I didn’t want to get it from Ali. I wanted you to give it to me. And I didn’t know when I’d see you again, so I decided to come here to ask for it.” I ran my hand over the cool surface of the antique dresser, following the motion with my eyes to avoid her gaze. “Plus, I wanted to check on you, make sure you’re okay.” I shifted my attention out the open door, toward the front of the house and the source of my concern, Bonnie.

Something on the door frame caught my attention, making me pause in my train of thought. Locks. Several of them. Two different styles of deadbolts, a swing-arm lock like on hotel room doors, and a sizable slide-bolt, among others.

What the hell? Why would anyone put those on an interior door? Who or what were they trying to keep out of this room?

I turned to ask Lauren about it and found her staring at the floor near my feet, looking ashamed. “They’re mine. I need them to feel safe.”

When I followed her gaze, I saw a well-worn groove in the carpet in front of the door that suggested the dresser I was propped against was routinely dragged in front of the door. Like a barricade.

Fuck.

What the hell was going on?

“Has someone here hurt you?” I had to steady my voice as best I could to disguise the rage I was feeling.

She shook her head. “No. Never. It’s not because of them. I just can’t sleep without the locks.” Her tone basically said she didn’t want to talk about it anymore and, as much as I wanted to know the whys, I let it go.

“Okay, I just wanted to make sure.” I forced a smile I didn’t feel and withdrew my phone from my back pocket, changing the subject as smoothly as possible. “So, about that number…”

She cocked her head and studied me a moment before answering. “You were right, you really are weird.” A smile played at the corners of her mouth. She looked relieved that I hadn’t pushed about the locks.

“It’s weird that I want your number?”

“No. It’s weird that you
still
want my number, despite getting another glimpse of my particular brand of crazy.”

I chuckled softly. “Sweetheart, I’ve seen crazy. And you’re not it. Everybody has quirks, it’s what makes people interesting.”

“Then I must be the most interesting person on the planet.” she joked, smile finally reaching her clear blue eyes.

“We’re not sufficiently acquainted enough for me to make that call. Ask me again in a month or two.”

“Think you can stay on this roller coaster that long?” She arched a brow, trying to seem playful but I could see the insecurity in her eyes. She wasn’t used to people sticking around.

I was going to change that, if she’d let me. “Absolutely. My friendship doesn’t come with an expiration date, Red. You’re stuck with me now.” I handed her my phone. “So, how about those digits?”

She programmed the number in, smiling and shaking her head at the same time. She handed the phone back just as hers beeped on the bedside table. Reaching for it, she smirked. “I sent myself a text from your phone so I could program your number into mine.”

I opened my text history and frowned at the contact name assigned to the last text sent from my phone. “Pariah?” I looked at her incredulously.

“Yep.” She turned her phone to face me. “And I saved your number as ‘Weirdo’.”

We both cracked up, laughing so loud that Bonnie suddenly appeared at the door, scowling and making shushing motions. “You two need to take that noise somewhere else. Disrespectful wretches.”

I waited for her to meet my eye before turning to Lauren with a wink. “We were just headed to the shower anyway. Weren’t we, babe?”

To Lauren’s credit, she didn’t balk. Instead she looked at Bonnie and smirked saucily. “Yep. But you should be prepared. Brant’s a screamer.”

Shit.

I had to forcibly clamp my mouth shut to stifle the bark of laughter threatening to erupt from my throat.

Bonnie’s eyes flashed to me and I gave her a slow seductive wink that sent her scurrying back down the hall, muttering insults under her breath.

As soon as she was out of earshot, I closed the door to muffle the sound and then I lost it. I laughed so hard I damn near broke a rib. Lauren was doubled over, hugging her sides as she fought for breath. When she started to settle down she straightened, only to catch my eye and burst out laughing all over again.

When we were able to look at each other without starting up again, she finally got around to asking, “Do I want to know what the shower reference was all about?”

I shrugged, still grinning despite how much my cheeks ached. “She bitched about you coming in smelling like my cologne. I told her I’d be sure to have shower sex with you before I brought you home from now on.” Her eyes widened, looking uncomfortable at the mention of future hook-ups, so I added, “I was just trying to piss her off, so don’t read anything into what I said. Okay, Red?”

“Okay.” She nodded. “And thanks for sticking up for me with her.”

“That’s what friends are for, remember?”

Her smile was tinged with sadness. “I suppose you’re right. I’m just not used to it, that’s all.”

“Used to what?”

Her voice was barely above a whisper when she said, “Having friends.”

•••

Eventually, I stepped outside and waited in the garden while Lauren changed and got ready to run to the diner to take a delivery. The place had been closed since Teach’s death, but would be re-opening the next day and Lauren wanted to get things in order. Naturally, I offered to go along and help.

The fact that she had eagerly agreed to my tagging along told me she was nervous about going back to the diner for the first time since losing her uncle. Maybe having me there would act as a buffer, keeping her mind off of things.

And if she needed more than just me to help ease the pain of being there, I had that covered, too. A couple of quick texts was all it took.

Lauren would soon learn what real friendship was about.

The sound of the back door opening behind me caused me to turn, already preparing myself for the crack of the storm door slamming shut. Lauren was quick, though, and caught it just in time, scowling at it as I made my way over to her. “One of these days, I’m gonna have this fixed.”

I laughed, waiting for her to turn my way before confiding, “I happen to know a guy who could take care of that for you.”

“Is that right?” She chuckled.

I nodded gravely. “The price might be a little steep, though.”

She cut her eyes at me, suspicious. “How steep?”

“He might make you keep him company for the duration of the repair. It could take as long as five whole minutes. An eternity, if you ask me.”

She tapped her index finger against her chin, playing along. “Hmm… that really is steep. Wouldn’t he prefer cash?”

“Nah. The company of a gorgeous lady far outweighs any possible financial gain.”

“I suppose I’ll have to suffer through, then. That door really does need fixing.” Her dramatic sigh was meant to be funny but my dick sure wasn’t laughing.

Down, boy.

I couldn’t help but be reminded of the sigh she’d let out when I first thrust into her. Such an erotic sound.

I resisted the urge to adjust my burgeoning erection and gave her a wide smile, ushering her toward the side of the house closest to the driveway. “I’ll alert the handyman at once.” My hand was on her lower back as we rounded the corner, and I was reminded again of the cobra imprint.

I needed to focus before I ended up with a full-blown hard-on.

Fuck. ‘Blown’ was not the best word choice at this juncture.

Juncture… like the juncture of her smooth thighs…

Goddamn it!

“Brant?” Lauren’s voice cut through my adolescent reverie, startling me.

“Huh?” I wondered if I was blushing. My face felt like it was on fire, so I probably was.

She tilted her head, studying my reaction. “I asked if you minded taking my car.”

I glanced from her to the Mustang, nodding quickly. “Sure. Whatever you’d prefer.”

Her eyes flicked to my truck and a blush crept up her neck. “I think I’ll drive today. Give your truck a break.”

“It did get a workout the other night.” My eyes widened. Shit. Shit. Shit.

Lauren was looking at me with raised brows, her cheeks reddening. “Um…”

“I mean, because we drove around for hours. That wasn’t a reference to… you know.”

Smooth, Matthews, very smooth.

Jesus.

Lauren chuckled, standing in the open driver’s door while I made my way to the passenger side. Just before she climbed into the car, she looked at me over the roof and said, “Weirdo.”

I folded myself into the passenger seat and looked over at her with a shrug. “Told ya.”

•••

I’d never seen the diner before, having been on a different project the previous year while Clay was in Denson working, but I’d heard a lot about the place from my friends. Walking in that blustery afternoon with Lauren, there was no sign of the vibrancy my partners spoke of when describing it.

Everything seemed stark, cold and inanimate, as if the energy of the place had been taken when Teach passed on.

Lauren stopped in the middle of the dining room and drew in a deep breath, slowly turning to take in the state of the place, shoulders slumping more with each passing moment until her watery eyes met mine, helplessness and disappointment radiated off of her in waves as she spoke. “He’s not here.” Her voice was a mere whisper, soft and defeated.

I reached for one of the hands that hung loosely at her side. “Who’s not here, Red?”

She blinked rapidly, trying to whisk away the tears that threatened to spill over. “Teach. I thought I’d walk in here and feel his presence like before.” Her free hand motioned to the long table situated at the back of the restaurant. “His favorite spot. All the older guys hang out at that table. We call it the ‘bullshit’ table because that’s all they sit and do every day—bullshit.” She huffed out a small laugh. “We even write that on the order pads. All the other tables are numbered but, for that one, we write BS. Teach thinks it’s funny…” A pause. “Thought it was funny.”

I squeezed her hand until she looked up at me. “If you aren’t ready for this, it’s okay. There’s no rule that says you have to reopen tomorrow, or the next day. Take the time you need. Or, you could enlist someone else to run things for a while.”

She was shaking her head before I’d even finished. “There’s no one else to do it. Miss Fay would be the only one who might be able to do it all but she’s been under the weather lately and asked me to cut her hours back.”

“There’s no one else who can help?”

“Nope, no one.” She shrugged helplessly.

The kitchen door swung open behind Lauren, and Ali and Talia emerged. “I wouldn’t say that.” Ali said as Lauren spun around in surprise.

“Yeah, I think she has more options than she realizes.” Talia grinned, one hand on her swollen belly as she looked over at me and winked. “Thanks for the heads-up, little brother.”

I groaned loudly, fighting back a smile. “Great, now they have you calling me that, too. Perfect.” I narrowed my eyes at Ali, accusation clear in my gaze.

She just shrugged and grinned back innocently.

Lauren turned to the side so she could see all three of us at once. “Um… what’s going on?” Her eyes darted back and forth before settling on me. “You called them?”

“No. I merely texted my friends and casually mentioned where I was headed and with whom. The rest is on them.” I gave her my best, most charming smile.

She rolled her eyes and gestured toward the back of the restaurant. “You’d fit right in at the bullshit table, you know that?”

Not waiting for my response, she turned to Ali and Talia. “You guys don’t have to do this. It’s okay. I mean, I appreciate the offer to help but this can’t be easy for you either. And after all that’s happened…”

Ali lifted a hand to cut her off. “Stop that. We’re here because we want to be, because we owe it to Teach.”

Lauren’s gaze dropped to the floor as I stepped up beside her, retaking her hand.

“We also want to make this easier for you. Because we’re all your friends, Lauren.” Ali finished, causing Lauren’s head to jerk up at the admission.

“How can you say that? After what I did? I mean, you were here to help Teach last summer and I made your lives miserable. Why would you want to help me now, much less be my friends?” Her voice wavered, overcome with shame and disbelief. “I was awful to you and I’m sorrier than you’ll ever know. I should be the one trying to do something for you guys, to repay you, to make it all up to you.”

Ali and Talia stepped from behind the counter and moved to stand in front of me and Lauren. Talia reached for Lauren’s other hand while Ali put one hand on her shoulder.

“You think what you did is something to be ashamed of but you’re wrong.” Ali told her earnestly. “Going to the lengths you did, risking everything to protect the person you loved most in the world? That’s heroic. If you’d told me what was happening, the choice you were faced with… I’d have welcomed whatever you threw at me with a smile on my face because you made the exact choice I would have made.”

“Me, too.” Talia nodded.

“Me, three.” I chimed in as I shifted my hand and threaded my fingers through hers, needing to feel closer to her.

“Damn right.” Clay said as he and Spencer emerged from the kitchen.

Spencer nodded, chiming in. “There’s nothing to make up for. Let’s leave it all in the past where it belongs.”

Guess the gang’s all here.

A moment later, Clay and Spencer stood behind their girls, smiling at me and Lauren.

“So, boss lady…” Clay spoke to Lauren. “What can we do to help?”

•••