The Keys to Jericho (85 page)

Kat returns to the table, smiling, and looking to her finger, I see why. Her ring is on, which seems to illuminate her, inside and out. I can’t help but smile, too.

Taking her seat next to me, but still careful not to be too close yet, she folds her hands together, perching them on her lap. So far, nobody notices, except for Liberty. Catching her attention, I sharply look at her, narrowing my eyes, warning her not to say anything first. She bites her smiling lip and pretends to check her phone, which again, her restraint surprises me.

Our drinks are brought to the table, and Hadley reaches for her pink-colored drink at the same time Kat reaches for her cream-looking, orange drink. Suddenly, Hadley squeals, “Kat! Where in the hell did that ring come from? I didn’t notice that before!”

Dash sits up. “What ring?”

Kat smiles as she sets down her drink on the table. As soon as she does, my sister grabs her hand to look closer. “Is it real?”

Kat says, “Uh…”

I shout, “It’d fucking better be!”

Hadley looks up at me with a mix of surprise, confusion, and horror.

Peering over Hadley, Dash shrieks, “Blessed fuck! Is that what I think it is?”

Rio cranes his neck, as Liberty giggles with tears flooding her eyes. When Rio sees what Hadley is gawking at, he immediately looks to me, mirroring my sister’s reaction.

When Kat and I don’t respond, Rio asks, “Jared…?”

Kat looks up at me, and I take the plunge, kissing her in front of everyone, willingly, for the first time.

Hadley shouts, “Oh, my God!”

Dash yells, “There’s no fucking way!
Engaged
? How’d I
not
know?”

Rio doesn’t say anything, which isn’t out of the norm for him. However, when Kat and I end our kiss, a hand goes to my arm, yanking on me. I get up as Rio says, “How in the …? What…? I can’t even…”

Kat shows him her ring and he shakes his head, still in shock. He asks, “Are you serious? This isn’t a joke?”

Watching his reaction, I answer, “I’m dead serious. I asked Kat to marry me, and she said yes.”

He dubiously laughs. “You? The same Jared Beckett, who doesn’t believe in love, melts smiles with a dirty look, and never has a girlfriend, is getting
married
?”

“I am. I can’t let her get away again. You know that.”

Nodding, he says, “I’m happy you
finally
took our fucking advice.” Rio grins and jerking my shoulder as a new, bass-thumping song starts, he shouts, “Congratulations, you cagey son of a bitch!”

I laugh and Rio roughs up my hair before hauling me to him, squeezing the breath out of me. He loudly repeats, “You’re getting married!”

“I am!”

Letting go of me, he asks, “Is Kat moving to Philadelphia?”

I bite my lip before saying, “Uh, no. I’m moving to Virginia.”

Rio steps back, dubiously regarding me. “Wait a minute. You’re following the woman you love to another state, giving up a job for her, even?”

I smile, but glance down, eating my own words I had said to him. “Um, yeah. I am.”

“Huh. Sounds like someone else you know, maybe?”

Nodding, I sigh, looking up at him. “Yeah, Duquesne. I get it.”

He shouts, “Finally, you jackass!” I roll my eyes, but laugh. “I guess we’ll be neighbors?”

“Fuck, yeah!”

Laughing, he mirrors, “Fuck, yeah! God! I’m so happy for you, Jare!”

“Thanks. It’s what I want with her.”

Rio smiles. “When I first saw how you looked at her, I knew it was.”

“Yeah?”

He nods and laughs. “You’re just so fucking pigheaded, Beckett.”

Grinning, I shove his shoulder. “Bite me, Doc Pussy.”

Dash hooks his arm around my neck. “Jericho! Are you fucking kidding me? You and Kat are getting hitched? For real?”

“For real.”

“I’m super shocked! How’d I not know? What changed your mind?”

“You know why I changed my mind.”

“You two love birds! I’m so damn happy for you guys! This is miraculous! When did this go down? You told Kat you’re in love with her, but then jumped to marriage?” He laughs. “What the hell? This just blew my fucking mind!”

I incredulously laugh. “Jesus! Slow down!” Looking at his excited expression, I can’t help but laugh again, shaking my head. “I proposed at the park, while you were there.”

“Huh? You’re shitting me? That can’t be… You did it when I… How?”

Smirking at him, I shrug. “I’m that good.”

Dash claps his hands together. “Okay. The big question: Who’s your best man? Me, the suave, charming, good-looking blond, or Rio, the pussy whiz?”

Rio heaves Dash sideways. “Shut up, Douche.”

As Dash brushes his hair back into place with his fingers, I look from him to Duquesne, who only smiles, while Dash is practically prancing around like that damned fluff ball of a dog. I roll my eyes and Dash asks, “Do you even know who it is?”

Laughing, I say, “Not yet, so consider tonight to be your audition. You’ll both want to make it good.”

Dash whines, “Are you serious? Just pick me!”

“That’s not how it’s going to work. I need a star player as my best man. I’ll make my decision tonight and let you know tomorrow.”

Pouting, Dash mutters, “Congrats, Diet Dr. Pussy.”

“I said I haven’t decided yet, Calder.” Lie. Still, this could be entertaining.

He grabs Kat, hugging her. I want to push him off after learning that he stripped his clothes in front of Kat, but then again, it’s Dash. Harmless when it comes to Kat. He’s helped us more than I care to admit to him. He wouldn’t try anything with her. I do trust him.

On the other hand, he’s not so harmless when it comes to Hadley. He turns into a whole different Dash Calder, and I’m wary to trust him with her.

Dash says to Kat, “You’ll be Kat Beckett. Does that mean I have to stop calling you
Merrick
?”

She laughs. “No. You can still call me that.”

“I couldn’t call you
Beckett
. That’d be weird.”

I say to Dash, “Like you don’t deal with weird on a daily basis.”

“I know! I don’t need any more!”

A hand goes to my arm and I look away from Dash to the object of his damned desire. Hadley’s stunned gape is the last thing I see before she gives me a hug. Against my chest, she says, “I’m blown away. Congratulations.”

“Thanks.”

She abruptly lets go of me, turning to her drink. Liberty slips in and gives me an enthusiastic hug, almost making me roll my eyes or puke from her perfume. She says some things, but I’m busy watching my sister down her drink in nearly four gulps.

Dash leans in, saying something to her. He then finishes off his own drink. When he sets down his glass, he nods to the bar, and grabbing her hand, leads her over to it.

Pete goes over, talking to Dash, while personally taking care of their drinks, instead of the bartender working the bar. I look on as Hadley and Dash do multiple shots, racing each other, it seems. What the hell has gotten into her tonight? First, she’s chatting up Dash like he’s her new best friend, and now, she’s slamming back hard liquor with him? With me, at least, Hadley has never been a heavy drinker, usually nursing one beer to my five. 

Seeing Hadley become drunk right before my eyes with my best friend spurs me. 

An arm goes around mine, hugging me, and I look to see Kat watching Hadley and Dash, as well. She states, “Dash is getting drunk.”

“I see that.”

“They
are
adults.”

“Adults who should
not
be together in any way possible.”

Reading some of my thoughts, she says, “I don’t think she’d cheat on Finn, but do you think she has feelings for Dash?”

“Fuck, I don’t know. She says he’s funny and cute.” Those leave a bad taste in my mouth.

“Maybe you should talk to her, remind her that she has a boyfriend.”

“She’s not going to listen to me while drunk.”

“It might be the only time to say something to her. She shouldn’t be too far gone yet.”

I mindlessly nod and she gives my arm a squeeze before turning to a squealing Liberty. Jesus Christ. We’re going to exchange rings and vows, not start a new country.

Liberty excitedly squawks at Kat, and still watching Hadley and Dash, I sit down as I contemplate what to do next, unsure of confronting which one first.

Rio takes the empty seat next to me. “So, uh, I just found out who your partner in crime was for this particular undertaking.” Fuck me.

Crossing my arms, I reluctantly admit, “Yeah…”

He rather proudly says, “You’re welcome, Jare.”

I briefly glance at his grin and I raise an opposing eyebrow. What a dick.

We then look on at the scene unfolding in front of us. In the matter of 30 seconds, Dash puts his hand on Hadley’s shoulder, back, and arm, being extremely unrestrained with her, which reminds me of how I always needed to touch Kat when we weren’t even a couple.

Dash hands Hadley another shot, which she guzzles before he even picks up his glass. Forget Dash. What the fuck is
her
problem?

When he finishes, Dash leans in, saying something next to her ear, his hand goes to her bare leg, annoying the fuck out of me. However, when Hadley’s hand goes to his leg, squeezing his thigh, I sit straight up in my chair. Her gesture says a whole lot more than his does, and I don’t like what she’s saying to him.

Dash hops off his stool, helping Hadley off hers, and they head to the dance floor for a slow song, holding onto each other unlike mere drinking buddies. His hands go to her hips, holding her close to him, while her arms wrap around his neck. Even the way she looks up at him isn’t good.

Rio ultimately asks, “What the hell is going on with them? Dash is all over your sister.”

“Finn isn’t here. That’s why.”

“I know they grew up together, but shit, he looks like he wants her.”

“He does.”

“You think so?”

“I know so. Dash has been infatuated with Hadley since we were in grade school. This is the first time she’s really given him any attention.”

“Fuck. He’s eating it up.”

“Yeah. That’s what I’m afraid of. Dash wants to fuck Hadley, and he’s not even hiding that he would if she let him.”

On the dance floor, they laugh and Dash says something to Hadley, causing her to giggle more. With his dimpled smile and affable personality, Dash probably could charm the skirt off my sister. However, inebriated or not, that won’t be happening if I can stop them. In my favor is the fact that they don’t have many places to be alone here.

When Hadley whispers something in Dash’s ear, I see his enthusiastic smile as he licks his lip, looking like an enraptured chump. Normally, Dash Calder has no chance in Hell against Finn Wilder, winning Hadley’s affections, but with the way she’s behaving now, I think Finn is losing.

Kat rounds the other side of me, and sitting down, she says, “I’m worried, Jared. For so many reasons. They’re both drunk. I don’t want their next move to be kissing. Hadley would regret it, and Dash would get hurt, plus hurting Finn, and you. Please, say something to them before it’s too late.”

Grinding my teeth together as my fingers tighten into fists, I tell Rio, “You get Dash. I’ll get Hadley. I need to talk to her alone before things go too far.”

“What do you want me to say to him?”

“Tell him if he values his life, he’ll put away his hard-on he has for my sister.”

Rio sighs before we get up and head to the bar, where they are again. When I go up to my sister, I strive to not start anything with Dash in front of Hadley. Helping me is how fast Rio tows him from the bar.

Hadley avoids looking at me as she picks up another shot glass. I let her finish it before grabbing her arm and leading out of the room.

As I drag her, she shouts, “What are you doing?”

I don’t answer her as I weave us through the crowd to the door leading to the second-floor patio, overlooking a patch of trees. It’s crowded but only in areas. I drag her to the corner near the doorway, trapping her.

Crossing my arms, I spew, “Jesus Christ, Hadley! What the hell is going on with you and Dash?”

She scowls at me, crossing her own arms. “Watch your mouth, Jared! We’re not doing anything! We’re just having fun!”

“While drinking! You don’t know how many wrongs can come from that!”

“We’re not doing anything
wrong
!”

“I told you that Dash has a fucking crush on you! Why are you leading him on like that?”

“I’m not trying to!”

I roll my eyes and bite, “It really looks that way from where I was sitting! Even Rio knows Calder’s dick is gunning for you!”

“Jared! Nothing is going on! I always thought Dash was cute, but I never thought of him more than just your best friend!”