Read Without Boundaries Online
Authors: Cj Azevedo
Tags: #Literature & Fiction, #Romance, #Contemporary, #Contemporary Fiction
Without Boundaries (11 page)
Talon nods in thought. “Does anyone know where you are?”
“Yes. Do you remember meeting my friend Drea?”
“Yeah, I do. Will she tell him?”
“No. She hates Hollister. She was quite happy when I asked her to get your contact information for me out of my office.” This seems to have put him farther into thought. I’m not sure what he could possibly be thinking about so hard but I have a feeling it isn’t something that I want to approach right now.
Instead, he reaches out and grabs a chocolate filled croissant. He brings the pastry up to my lips. I laugh and take a bite. Thankfully, that makes him smile again and then he takes a bite of the same croissant as I chew. I know it’s silly for something so trivial to get the butterflies fluttering but it does. There is just something intimate about it that I want to keep experiencing.
“Yes. Do you remember meeting my friend Drea?”
“Yeah, I do. Will she tell him?”
“No. She hates Hollister. She was quite happy when I asked her to get your contact information for me out of my office.” This seems to have put him farther into thought. I’m not sure what he could possibly be thinking about so hard but I have a feeling it isn’t something that I want to approach right now.
Instead, he reaches out and grabs a chocolate filled croissant. He brings the pastry up to my lips. I laugh and take a bite. Thankfully, that makes him smile again and then he takes a bite of the same croissant as I chew. I know it’s silly for something so trivial to get the butterflies fluttering but it does. There is just something intimate about it that I want to keep experiencing.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
BAILEY
When the water turns cold, I dry off and start towards my room when I see Talon sitting on the edge of his bed with his shoes kicked off. The thoughts that cross my mind are completely inappropriate, so I shake them off quickly and give him a small smile.
“How does being lazy and watching movies in bed today sound?” Talon asks me with his sexy smirk in place.
“Sounds perfect, will you be joining me?” My heart flutters at the thought. If he says yes, then all good intentions of stacking up those boundaries again are going to fly right out the window.
“That was my plan. Why don’t you go get dressed in some comfortable clothes and I’ll go get some popcorn and drinks, then meet you back in here.”
I am already standing in front of him, but I find myself walking closer and standing in between his legs. He wraps his arms around my towel covered waist as I lean down to kiss him softly on the lips. He doesn’t protest and I don’t pull away. “What about Kali, shouldn’t I go find her and apologize or something? I feel awful.”
“Kali is just fine. In fact, I was kind of banking on the fact that you were going to want to spend the day in here with me and told her as much. She and Hunter already left to go downtown.”
“I hate that I’m monopolizing all of your time. I know you have friends here Talon, you should be out catching up with them, not babysitting me.”
Talon pushes me back a step allowing himself some room to stand up in front of me. He grabs my face in both of his hands. “Grown man. Right here.” He points his index finger into his own chest to make his point. “Stop with that Bailey, I’m serious.”
I stretch up onto my tiptoes and kiss his lips again. “I’ll meet you back in here in ten minutes.” I turn around and walk out of his room. I can feel his eyes on me every step of the way.
After throwing on a camisole and some sleep shorts I make my way back to Talon’s room to see him lying across his bed holding a bowl of popcorn.
I can tell this room was part of the original design and it is just as beautiful as the bathroom attached to it. The walls are a deep blue and the furniture all a very dark wood. An antique dresser stands to the left with a few picture frames on it, there’s a white wing back chair with the same dark wood and a blue throw across the back of it with a Tiffany floor lamp sitting just behind it. The bed is directly across the room, a large king size with an elaborate and stately wood headboard and footboard. The bedding is a fluffy white comforter with tons of deep blue and white pillows stacked up against the headboard. I can’t wait to curl up in there under those blankets the same way I did last night.
He pulls the blankets back for me as I climb on to the bed. I curl up next to him and pop a couple pieces of popcorn in my mouth. Then I notice he doesn’t have a TV in the room. “How are we going to watch a movie when you don’t even have a TV in here? Was this just a ploy to get me in your bed?” I ask him incredulously as he laughs at me.
“No, it's not a ploy.” He lifts the remote and pushes a button towards the foot of the bed and the top of the console that sits down there lifts up soundlessly and a large television starts to rise up.
“Tricky.” He laughs at me and puts his arm around me so I snuggle down onto his chest. “So what are we watching?”
“A marathon of Arnold Schwarzenegger movies.”
“Please tell me you’re kidding.”
“We have Netflix, choose whatever your little heart desires, love.”
“Well, I would choose
P.S I Love You.
However, since I’m obsessed with it I already know it’s not on Netflix. So, how about something with Hillary Swank?
Freedom Writers?
.”
Talon laughs and squeezes me tightly. “Your brain works so fast. It’s always spinning.
Feedom Writers
it is.” He searches for it and just two minutes later the movie starts playing.
We don’t say anything else for a long a time, we just lay there watching a great movie in peaceful silence. He runs his fingers through my hair as I fight sleep while lying on his chest.
“You awake?” Talon asks in a hushed voice.
“Yeah.”
“How did your mom die?” I wasn’t expecting that. I have only explained my mom’s death a handful of times at most. Thinking about saying the words out loud has a vice gripped tight around my heart and makes my breathing go erratic. I want to tell him, I want him to know everything about me, so I steady myself as I relive the most tragic time in my life.
I scoot up so I'm sitting next to Talon and he slips his arm around the back of my waist. I snuggle closer and begin telling him of one of the most important pieces of me.
“She used to sell the quilts she would make at state and county fairs. She had been away at a fair for a few days and decided to come home after her last day there instead of staying one more night. Halfway home she fell asleep behind the wheel and hit a semi head on. The highway patrol called our house at one sixteen a.m. I remember looking up at my clock and seeing the time when the house phone woke me. My dad answered before I could get to it and was out of the house without a word to me or my sister. I was so terrified; I just knew something had happened to her.” I didn’t look up at Talon, but I know my story affects him because he tightens his grip on me as I speak. I can feel his support rolling off him, and I soak up every iota of it.
“She didn’t have any wishes written down anywhere in case something had happened to her. She always said that was just asking for something to happen.” I laugh a little at the thought. “She believed strongly in the power of positive thinking. Said if you make plans to die, then you’re going to die sooner rather than later. So, not wanting to let her go, my dad kept her alive on machines for over three months. The doctors finally said that she had made all the progress she was going to make and suggested letting her go. My dad refused for another week, then decided it was best to take her off them.” Tears silently and slowly rolled down my cheeks. Talon reaches up to wipe them away as I take a deep breath and continue, “The machines were unplugged at eight a.m. on May twenty-fourth and she took her last breath at nine sixteen a.m.”
“Were you there when she passed?” he whispers so softly and I love that he’s so interested in what is or
was
my life.
“Yes. My dad, sister, and I were in the room with her, her parents and my dad’s folks were just outside the door.”
“How did you that? I mean, I just couldn’t imagine sitting there knowing each breath she took could be her last.”
“It wasn’t easy, but I knew she was so much better off if she would just take that last breath and pass. The body was no longer my mom. My mom was already gone, so I just prayed that her body would let go quickly so we could lay her to rest.”
“That was very mature of you Bailey; you were only seventeen, right?”
“I was yeah. Country kids tend to mature quickly in normal situations, throw in the death of a parent and there is no option for immaturity any longer. You just do what you have to do, you know?”
“That’s why you packed up and moved to New York? So you didn’t have to have the family responsibilities?”
“No. I had applied for NYU at the beginning of my senior year but my mom was in a roundabout way letting me know she didn’t want me to go. She just wouldn’t talk to me about it and if I pressed the conversation she would give me a million reasons why the college in San Jose was a better fit. It was a better fit because I would have been close to her. So, after she passed, I didn’t have her guilting me out of going and staying in her house just seemed impossible. I probably overreacted by moving across the country, but it was my first choice in schools and seemed like a good idea at the time.”
“Do you regret it?”
“I don’t believe in regret. I probably would do it differently if I had the chance, but I don’t so there’s no use in dwelling on it. How about you? Do you believe in regret?”
“I have never really thought about whether I believe in it or not. I am fortunate enough to not have any regrets if I did believe in it.”
“That’s good. You’re right, you’re very fortunate.” We stay silent through the rest of the movie, which isn’t much longer after we make it through that conversation. He continues to run his fingers through my hair and I continue to lay across his muscled chest and daydream about being way more intimate in this bed, right now.
“I think you’re pretty amazing Bay. I don’t know many people who could pull through that and become as successful as you have become. I'm truly sorry for your loss, I'm sure your mom is extremely proud of you as she watches over you.”
His words hit me so hard in my chest I almost can’t breathe. Plenty of people have said their condolences to me, but never like that. That was the purest thing anyone has ever said to me. I feel the famous three words sitting on the tip of my tongue, and though I can't say them I feel the immense need to show him how much I feel for him.
How can I even be thinking about telling him “I love you”? I have only known him for five DAYS!!!
I sit up and turn his direction before I swing my leg across his lap to straddle him. He places both hands on my hips. I lean in and kiss him slowly and softly on his lips just as my eyes flutter closed. I move my lips down his jaw and nibble on his neck just under his jawline before making my way up to his ear. I take his earlobe in between my teeth and I hear him suck in a quick breath.
“I think you’re pretty amazing too Talon. You make me feel things I never thought possible, things I didn’t even know I was missing out on,” I whisper in his ear as he grips my hips tighter. I brush kisses across his jaw one more time before he flips me over on to my back and lays on top of me. He’s careful to keep his weight off me as he rests on his forearms placed on either side of my head. His hands tangle in my hair tightly as he kisses me hard and passionately and I have never experienced anything so real in my entire life.
“Baby,” Talon says in a deep raspy voice that does some amazing things to my insides. I don’t bother answering; I just keep soaking in his kiss. “Baby,” he says one more time before pulling back from me and staring down into my eyes.
“What? What’s wrong?” I say breathlessly, completely oblivious to anything that could have stopped that kiss.
The most beautiful smile appears on his face. “I need ice cream,” he says in the happy, sexy tone that I love so much.
“You need ice cream?” My face morphs into a look of disbelief and I all but stick out my bottom lip in an involuntary pout.
Talon laughs as he jumps off the bed and holds his hand out for me. “Yes, ice cream. C’mon, go get dressed and I’ll take you to my favorite ice cream parlor.”
“You’re serious,” I say straight-faced. It's not a question because it is obvious that he is super serious but I still need to state it out loud. “You want to go get ice cream right now. Like stop what we’re doing to go get you some ice cream,” I drawl it out slowly in disbelief that he really needs ice cream right now, that badly. I am frustrated. I don’t know that I'm ready to go any further with him than an intense make out session but I definitely don’t want to stop it so suddenly either!
“To go get
us
some ice cream and yes, I'm serious. Now stop pouting and go get dressed, I’ll meet you downstairs.” He gives me a kiss on the nose, spins me around then gives a little swat to my backside as he pushes me out of his room.
BAILEY
When the water turns cold, I dry off and start towards my room when I see Talon sitting on the edge of his bed with his shoes kicked off. The thoughts that cross my mind are completely inappropriate, so I shake them off quickly and give him a small smile.
“How does being lazy and watching movies in bed today sound?” Talon asks me with his sexy smirk in place.
“Sounds perfect, will you be joining me?” My heart flutters at the thought. If he says yes, then all good intentions of stacking up those boundaries again are going to fly right out the window.
“That was my plan. Why don’t you go get dressed in some comfortable clothes and I’ll go get some popcorn and drinks, then meet you back in here.”
I am already standing in front of him, but I find myself walking closer and standing in between his legs. He wraps his arms around my towel covered waist as I lean down to kiss him softly on the lips. He doesn’t protest and I don’t pull away. “What about Kali, shouldn’t I go find her and apologize or something? I feel awful.”
“Kali is just fine. In fact, I was kind of banking on the fact that you were going to want to spend the day in here with me and told her as much. She and Hunter already left to go downtown.”
“I hate that I’m monopolizing all of your time. I know you have friends here Talon, you should be out catching up with them, not babysitting me.”
Talon pushes me back a step allowing himself some room to stand up in front of me. He grabs my face in both of his hands. “Grown man. Right here.” He points his index finger into his own chest to make his point. “Stop with that Bailey, I’m serious.”
I stretch up onto my tiptoes and kiss his lips again. “I’ll meet you back in here in ten minutes.” I turn around and walk out of his room. I can feel his eyes on me every step of the way.
After throwing on a camisole and some sleep shorts I make my way back to Talon’s room to see him lying across his bed holding a bowl of popcorn.
I can tell this room was part of the original design and it is just as beautiful as the bathroom attached to it. The walls are a deep blue and the furniture all a very dark wood. An antique dresser stands to the left with a few picture frames on it, there’s a white wing back chair with the same dark wood and a blue throw across the back of it with a Tiffany floor lamp sitting just behind it. The bed is directly across the room, a large king size with an elaborate and stately wood headboard and footboard. The bedding is a fluffy white comforter with tons of deep blue and white pillows stacked up against the headboard. I can’t wait to curl up in there under those blankets the same way I did last night.
He pulls the blankets back for me as I climb on to the bed. I curl up next to him and pop a couple pieces of popcorn in my mouth. Then I notice he doesn’t have a TV in the room. “How are we going to watch a movie when you don’t even have a TV in here? Was this just a ploy to get me in your bed?” I ask him incredulously as he laughs at me.
“No, it's not a ploy.” He lifts the remote and pushes a button towards the foot of the bed and the top of the console that sits down there lifts up soundlessly and a large television starts to rise up.
“Tricky.” He laughs at me and puts his arm around me so I snuggle down onto his chest. “So what are we watching?”
“A marathon of Arnold Schwarzenegger movies.”
“Please tell me you’re kidding.”
“We have Netflix, choose whatever your little heart desires, love.”
“Well, I would choose
P.S I Love You.
However, since I’m obsessed with it I already know it’s not on Netflix. So, how about something with Hillary Swank?
Freedom Writers?
.”
Talon laughs and squeezes me tightly. “Your brain works so fast. It’s always spinning.
Feedom Writers
it is.” He searches for it and just two minutes later the movie starts playing.
We don’t say anything else for a long a time, we just lay there watching a great movie in peaceful silence. He runs his fingers through my hair as I fight sleep while lying on his chest.
“You awake?” Talon asks in a hushed voice.
“Yeah.”
“How did your mom die?” I wasn’t expecting that. I have only explained my mom’s death a handful of times at most. Thinking about saying the words out loud has a vice gripped tight around my heart and makes my breathing go erratic. I want to tell him, I want him to know everything about me, so I steady myself as I relive the most tragic time in my life.
I scoot up so I'm sitting next to Talon and he slips his arm around the back of my waist. I snuggle closer and begin telling him of one of the most important pieces of me.
“She used to sell the quilts she would make at state and county fairs. She had been away at a fair for a few days and decided to come home after her last day there instead of staying one more night. Halfway home she fell asleep behind the wheel and hit a semi head on. The highway patrol called our house at one sixteen a.m. I remember looking up at my clock and seeing the time when the house phone woke me. My dad answered before I could get to it and was out of the house without a word to me or my sister. I was so terrified; I just knew something had happened to her.” I didn’t look up at Talon, but I know my story affects him because he tightens his grip on me as I speak. I can feel his support rolling off him, and I soak up every iota of it.
“She didn’t have any wishes written down anywhere in case something had happened to her. She always said that was just asking for something to happen.” I laugh a little at the thought. “She believed strongly in the power of positive thinking. Said if you make plans to die, then you’re going to die sooner rather than later. So, not wanting to let her go, my dad kept her alive on machines for over three months. The doctors finally said that she had made all the progress she was going to make and suggested letting her go. My dad refused for another week, then decided it was best to take her off them.” Tears silently and slowly rolled down my cheeks. Talon reaches up to wipe them away as I take a deep breath and continue, “The machines were unplugged at eight a.m. on May twenty-fourth and she took her last breath at nine sixteen a.m.”
“Were you there when she passed?” he whispers so softly and I love that he’s so interested in what is or
was
my life.
“Yes. My dad, sister, and I were in the room with her, her parents and my dad’s folks were just outside the door.”
“How did you that? I mean, I just couldn’t imagine sitting there knowing each breath she took could be her last.”
“It wasn’t easy, but I knew she was so much better off if she would just take that last breath and pass. The body was no longer my mom. My mom was already gone, so I just prayed that her body would let go quickly so we could lay her to rest.”
“That was very mature of you Bailey; you were only seventeen, right?”
“I was yeah. Country kids tend to mature quickly in normal situations, throw in the death of a parent and there is no option for immaturity any longer. You just do what you have to do, you know?”
“That’s why you packed up and moved to New York? So you didn’t have to have the family responsibilities?”
“No. I had applied for NYU at the beginning of my senior year but my mom was in a roundabout way letting me know she didn’t want me to go. She just wouldn’t talk to me about it and if I pressed the conversation she would give me a million reasons why the college in San Jose was a better fit. It was a better fit because I would have been close to her. So, after she passed, I didn’t have her guilting me out of going and staying in her house just seemed impossible. I probably overreacted by moving across the country, but it was my first choice in schools and seemed like a good idea at the time.”
“Do you regret it?”
“I don’t believe in regret. I probably would do it differently if I had the chance, but I don’t so there’s no use in dwelling on it. How about you? Do you believe in regret?”
“I have never really thought about whether I believe in it or not. I am fortunate enough to not have any regrets if I did believe in it.”
“That’s good. You’re right, you’re very fortunate.” We stay silent through the rest of the movie, which isn’t much longer after we make it through that conversation. He continues to run his fingers through my hair and I continue to lay across his muscled chest and daydream about being way more intimate in this bed, right now.
“I think you’re pretty amazing Bay. I don’t know many people who could pull through that and become as successful as you have become. I'm truly sorry for your loss, I'm sure your mom is extremely proud of you as she watches over you.”
His words hit me so hard in my chest I almost can’t breathe. Plenty of people have said their condolences to me, but never like that. That was the purest thing anyone has ever said to me. I feel the famous three words sitting on the tip of my tongue, and though I can't say them I feel the immense need to show him how much I feel for him.
How can I even be thinking about telling him “I love you”? I have only known him for five DAYS!!!
I sit up and turn his direction before I swing my leg across his lap to straddle him. He places both hands on my hips. I lean in and kiss him slowly and softly on his lips just as my eyes flutter closed. I move my lips down his jaw and nibble on his neck just under his jawline before making my way up to his ear. I take his earlobe in between my teeth and I hear him suck in a quick breath.
“I think you’re pretty amazing too Talon. You make me feel things I never thought possible, things I didn’t even know I was missing out on,” I whisper in his ear as he grips my hips tighter. I brush kisses across his jaw one more time before he flips me over on to my back and lays on top of me. He’s careful to keep his weight off me as he rests on his forearms placed on either side of my head. His hands tangle in my hair tightly as he kisses me hard and passionately and I have never experienced anything so real in my entire life.
“Baby,” Talon says in a deep raspy voice that does some amazing things to my insides. I don’t bother answering; I just keep soaking in his kiss. “Baby,” he says one more time before pulling back from me and staring down into my eyes.
“What? What’s wrong?” I say breathlessly, completely oblivious to anything that could have stopped that kiss.
The most beautiful smile appears on his face. “I need ice cream,” he says in the happy, sexy tone that I love so much.
“You need ice cream?” My face morphs into a look of disbelief and I all but stick out my bottom lip in an involuntary pout.
Talon laughs as he jumps off the bed and holds his hand out for me. “Yes, ice cream. C’mon, go get dressed and I’ll take you to my favorite ice cream parlor.”
“You’re serious,” I say straight-faced. It's not a question because it is obvious that he is super serious but I still need to state it out loud. “You want to go get ice cream right now. Like stop what we’re doing to go get you some ice cream,” I drawl it out slowly in disbelief that he really needs ice cream right now, that badly. I am frustrated. I don’t know that I'm ready to go any further with him than an intense make out session but I definitely don’t want to stop it so suddenly either!
“To go get
us
some ice cream and yes, I'm serious. Now stop pouting and go get dressed, I’ll meet you downstairs.” He gives me a kiss on the nose, spins me around then gives a little swat to my backside as he pushes me out of his room.
CHAPTER TWENTY
TALON
Bailey was driving me wild on that bed. There is no way I could stay in there alone with her for another minute without losing it. The woman is beyond sexy as far as physical attributes go but her heart and the way her mind works makes her dang near perfect. Listening to her talk about her mom and how she doesn’t believe in regrets made me see just how lovable she is. She’s smart, really smart, which is such an attractive quality and the love she has for her family and “the boys” is so real. It’s admirable really.
So, before I let things get out of hand I told her I needed ice cream. I'm just thankful she didn’t punch me; the look on her face said she wanted to. Not that I blame her, I kind of want to punch myself for putting a stop to that. But my sensibility won and I convinced myself that it is best to hold off on going any further with her until I know for a fact that she won’t be returning to her bastard boyfriend.
After I push her out of my room I text Kali and told her and Hunter to meet us at the ice cream parlor we had been going to since we were kids.
Once we arrive at Main Street, I grab Bailey’s hand and stroll down the tree lined sidewalk in front of the local shops. Bailey doesn’t seem to be too pissed at me anymore and she stops several times to window shop. I have always hated doing that, in my opinion you either walked straight to your destination or you went inside to look for whatever you were wanting. However, watching Bailey peer inside the gift shops to browse over the lighthouse figurines or point out a funny coffee mug or to comment on someone’s art display made me find a whole new appreciation for window shopping.
Several blocks later we walk up to Kali and Hunter who are sitting out on the patio of the parlor. The antique wrought iron table is white with matching chairs and different bright colored seat cushions. I expected Bailey to drop my hand once she saw them but much to my surprise she only squeezes a little tighter as she looks up at me and smiles.
“Hey guys! Decided to get out and join the rest of the world, huh?” Kali says happily as she gestures for us to take a seat.
“Yeah, it was the weirdest thing. We were watching a movie and out of nowhere Talon jumps up and declares that he needed ice cream right away,” Bailey tells them dramatically as they all laugh. “So here we are.” She sits down in the chair across from Kali and I sit next to her only dropping our hands so I can push her chair in for her. Reaching over, I pick up her hand again and place it on my thigh inside my own hand. I notice that she looks over at me as though she was questioning if it was a good idea to do that or not, so I just wink at her and she keeps her smile on.
Hunter asks what we each want and goes inside to get our ice creams for us.
“What have you guys been up to today?” I ask Kali when I notice that she is really paying attention to Bay and me. She wants to ask questions, it is killing her I'm sure. So I decide to interfere before she has the chance to make Bailey uncomfortable.
“Oh, nothing much. Mom asked me to stop in and check on Mrs. Anderson while we’re here so we did that and then got a little shopping done, had lunch, ran into a few friends and that’s about it.” She eyes me carefully as she mentions the friends and has me curious what everyone is saying about Bay and me.
“Who did you run into?” I was curious and have to ask as Hunter came up with our ice creams.
“Darren. He said he was an ass to Bailey last night and that everyone was giving you a bunch of crap about Missy. I told you she was a bad idea, but you couldn’t listen to me, could you?” Kali has a smug look on her face and it irritates me.
“He was an ass to Bailey. He needs to stop drinking like that is what he needs to do.”
“Did you tell him about Declan?” Hunter asks Kali.
“What happened to him? Is he alright?” That boy stresses me out more than anything else in my life. I always assume the worst when someone is getting ready to update me on him.
“He’s fine, you worry wart. He sent me a text this morning and told me he had a fight in New Jersey this afternoon so I invited him out to the house. Him, Grayden, Keegan, and Luca are going to be at the house about nine tonight.”
“Oh good! I miss that kid; it's been a long time.”
“Who’s Declan?” Bailey asks from beside me.
“Declan James is our cousin. He lives in California and fights MMA. I haven’t seen him fight in almost a year but he’s going to be breaking his way into the UFC quickly from what I hear. He’s a good guy, you’ll like him.” Bailey just smiles and nods at me. We finish our ice creams and decide to go back to the house to cook dinner and hang out
on the back patio by the fire.
TALON
Bailey was driving me wild on that bed. There is no way I could stay in there alone with her for another minute without losing it. The woman is beyond sexy as far as physical attributes go but her heart and the way her mind works makes her dang near perfect. Listening to her talk about her mom and how she doesn’t believe in regrets made me see just how lovable she is. She’s smart, really smart, which is such an attractive quality and the love she has for her family and “the boys” is so real. It’s admirable really.
So, before I let things get out of hand I told her I needed ice cream. I'm just thankful she didn’t punch me; the look on her face said she wanted to. Not that I blame her, I kind of want to punch myself for putting a stop to that. But my sensibility won and I convinced myself that it is best to hold off on going any further with her until I know for a fact that she won’t be returning to her bastard boyfriend.
After I push her out of my room I text Kali and told her and Hunter to meet us at the ice cream parlor we had been going to since we were kids.
Once we arrive at Main Street, I grab Bailey’s hand and stroll down the tree lined sidewalk in front of the local shops. Bailey doesn’t seem to be too pissed at me anymore and she stops several times to window shop. I have always hated doing that, in my opinion you either walked straight to your destination or you went inside to look for whatever you were wanting. However, watching Bailey peer inside the gift shops to browse over the lighthouse figurines or point out a funny coffee mug or to comment on someone’s art display made me find a whole new appreciation for window shopping.
Several blocks later we walk up to Kali and Hunter who are sitting out on the patio of the parlor. The antique wrought iron table is white with matching chairs and different bright colored seat cushions. I expected Bailey to drop my hand once she saw them but much to my surprise she only squeezes a little tighter as she looks up at me and smiles.
“Hey guys! Decided to get out and join the rest of the world, huh?” Kali says happily as she gestures for us to take a seat.
“Yeah, it was the weirdest thing. We were watching a movie and out of nowhere Talon jumps up and declares that he needed ice cream right away,” Bailey tells them dramatically as they all laugh. “So here we are.” She sits down in the chair across from Kali and I sit next to her only dropping our hands so I can push her chair in for her. Reaching over, I pick up her hand again and place it on my thigh inside my own hand. I notice that she looks over at me as though she was questioning if it was a good idea to do that or not, so I just wink at her and she keeps her smile on.
Hunter asks what we each want and goes inside to get our ice creams for us.
“What have you guys been up to today?” I ask Kali when I notice that she is really paying attention to Bay and me. She wants to ask questions, it is killing her I'm sure. So I decide to interfere before she has the chance to make Bailey uncomfortable.
“Oh, nothing much. Mom asked me to stop in and check on Mrs. Anderson while we’re here so we did that and then got a little shopping done, had lunch, ran into a few friends and that’s about it.” She eyes me carefully as she mentions the friends and has me curious what everyone is saying about Bay and me.
“Who did you run into?” I was curious and have to ask as Hunter came up with our ice creams.
“Darren. He said he was an ass to Bailey last night and that everyone was giving you a bunch of crap about Missy. I told you she was a bad idea, but you couldn’t listen to me, could you?” Kali has a smug look on her face and it irritates me.
“He was an ass to Bailey. He needs to stop drinking like that is what he needs to do.”
“Did you tell him about Declan?” Hunter asks Kali.
“What happened to him? Is he alright?” That boy stresses me out more than anything else in my life. I always assume the worst when someone is getting ready to update me on him.
“He’s fine, you worry wart. He sent me a text this morning and told me he had a fight in New Jersey this afternoon so I invited him out to the house. Him, Grayden, Keegan, and Luca are going to be at the house about nine tonight.”
“Oh good! I miss that kid; it's been a long time.”
“Who’s Declan?” Bailey asks from beside me.
“Declan James is our cousin. He lives in California and fights MMA. I haven’t seen him fight in almost a year but he’s going to be breaking his way into the UFC quickly from what I hear. He’s a good guy, you’ll like him.” Bailey just smiles and nods at me. We finish our ice creams and decide to go back to the house to cook dinner and hang out
on the back patio by the fire.
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