Wanting Reed (Break Me) BOOK 2 (50 page)

I stand quietly in the entryway of the kitchen, watching my mom pull out a pan of lasagna from the oven and setting it onto the counter. She’s glowing and looks more than beautiful today. I wonder if it has anything to do with Dad being here for dinner. She was unsure when I first told her about inviting him, but she put aside her feelings because she knows how much it means to Jace and me.

“Need some help?” I ask, entering the kitchen.

She glances up in surprise at the sound of my voice. “Well, hi to you.” She smiles as I give her a kiss on the cheek. “No, I think everything is set,” she replies. “I love having everyone here together as a family today. We have to do this more often.”

“I know,” I reply, propping myself against the counter. For the next few minutes we make small talk. I steer the conversation toward her cooking and her job, trying to avoid any reference to school. It’s painfully difficult for me to stand in front of her without telling her, so after a few minutes, I excuse myself and head upstairs to my room.

I suck in a breath as I enter my old room. I seriously believe I am on an assignment to torment myself today. It’s empty apart from a large wooden desk and a matching bookshelf filled with old photo albums. I gaze out the window that overlooks the street in which I grew up and where all my memories live. It’s hard to believe that twenty-two years of my life have passed so quickly.

“Hey, stranger.”

His voice is so comforting and instantly tears rush to the surface of my eyes. I turn to him as he stands in front of me with an impish grin. He’s wearing a dark pair of blue jeans that hangs low on his waist and a gray Boston College sweatshirt that fits him perfectly. His hair has grown longer and falls over his sparkling eyes. I see the little boy who loved to play baseball, arm wrestle and would do anything for me and still will. Tyler. My Tyler. Before I can move, he steps to me, seeing the tears in my eyes and draping me in his arms.

“I’ve missed you,” I stammer, holding back my sobs. I smell his Cool Water cologne and feel his heart hammering in his chest. “I hated not seeing you and hearing from you daily. You said nothing would change.”

“Nothing has, Elle,” he whispers into my hair. “I’m still here. I said a
little
space.” He pulls me away to look at me. “We needed it, but
that’s it
because the clock is ticking and I need my best friend.”

“There’s so much I need to tell you.” I smile past my sadness and look up into his kind brown eyes.

“Me too.”

I told Tyler about my interview in Texas. He knew it was coming and hated it, but this had to happen for me and we both knew it. He’s happy for me, just as I am ecstatic for him that he’s one of the top MLB draft picks for the upcoming June 2014 draft and that Karlie and Travis plan to get married next summer. Our lives were moving, drifting into different directions. Tyler joked that he may end up in Texas or wherever I go for medical school. His agent says he could have his pick of any team he wants.

“Your mom told me you’d be up here.” Reed’s smooth, sexy voice echoes through the room to touch my ears. I immediately observe Reed’s eyes travel to Tyler’s hand around mine as Tyler pulls me up from the floor where we were laughing and reminiscing our childhood. Tyler makes no motion to let go until he makes eye contact with Reed.

“Um…hey, baby,” I reply, meeting him in the middle of the room where he snakes his arm around my waist and kisses me on the forehead.

“I hope I didn’t interrupt anything,” Reed says as he glances around my room and back at Tyler. This cannot get any more awkward for me.

“No,” Tyler says with a tight smile, thrusting his hands into the pocket of his jeans. “We were just catching up. Elle told me about her interview and that she may end up in Texas. Home sweet home for you,” he states sarcastically.

“Yeah, that’s right,” Reed confirms in a clipped voice, smiling down at me. His eyes are ablaze with passion and growing anger.

“Make sure you take care of her.” Tyler’s focused brown eyes pierce Reed.

“I plan on it,” he grits as his jawline tightens.

“Yeah, good thing for second chances. I hope you know how lucky you are to have her.”

“I do.”

Reed is growing impatient with the direction of this conversation and that Tyler is not finished laying into him. I flinch at Tyler’s next comment, hoping that Reed doesn’t release me from his grasp to take him down.

“You’ve proven that you’re good at making a mess of shit,” he says casually as he brushes past Reed. “You know you have fucking Jace and me to deal with if anything happens to her.”

For a moment, Reed looks homicidal. I swallow and hug him, or a better word is restrain. His body is unyielding, but then he gradually relaxes when Tyler leaves the room and heads downstairs. This was Tyler’s’ test, and Reed was trying hard to pass it. I gently rub his back and reach up to kiss him, hoping that my touch calms him. I think Reed would fail without my help. He smiles and grabs my hand.

“Sorry about that, babe.”

“No, I get it, doll. He cares about you. I don’t blame him one damn bit.”

“You’re not going to kill him?”

“Wouldn’t I have to get past you first?” He watches me, humor crinkling the corner of his eyes.

“Yes, but I promise I’ll be gentle.”

“Hmm…” He moans against my lips. “I’ve seen you when you play rough. I like that better.”

“I make the call,” I say, pressing my body against his growing erection.

“You know you’re my Achilles heel,” he growls into my ear. “I can lock the door and take you right here, but I’d hate to leave a bad impression with your folks.”

“You know as good as taking the room’s virginity sounds right now, I’d be willing to bet Jace or my dad would kill you on the spot if they knew you were violating me in the same house while they are here. Let’s go get this news over with so I can relax and get you home where we can really have some fun.”

I’m truly impressed with Reed. He’s been able to connect with both my parents this afternoon in a way that should have taken months. Reed and my dad talked more sports. He even charmed my mom all over again by complimenting her cooking. Throughout dinner, I was a little antsy and unsure of when I should spring the news on them. Reed was trying hard to calm my jitters by holding my hand under the table, which helped slightly, but not much. I wasn’t sure how long I could refrain from sharing the news until Jace, noticing my obvious nerves, called me out on it at the table.

“What gives, Sis?” Jace asks between a bite of his lasagna. “You’ve been practically jumping out of your chair since you sat down.”

I’m thankful that Jace exposed me because it forces my hand in having to tell them about my interview.
I smile nervously and set down my fork. I push an errant strand of hair back with my hand and glance around the table. A lump blossoms inside my throat at the thought of leaving everyone at the table, but I wanted this. I feel Reed’s strong hand squeeze mine in reassurance. I glance up at him, and his loving eyes tell me that everything will be okay.

I gaze up at my family seated around the table, and I swallow hard. My mouth is suddenly dry, and my brain devoid of any thought but of what I plan to say and how I would say it. Licking my lips, I struggle for the best way to tell my family that I won’t be home for Thanksgiving.

Once I open my mouth, the words come out measured and deliberate. All the emotion and pressure that I’ve been feeling to tell my family disappears. For a moment, I feel stupid for thinking my parents would be upset at me for missing Thanksgiving. Instead, they are proud of me for my dedication and following my dream to become a doctor. I know there will be many more Thanksgivings, if they’re with Reed’s family or mine. My family and Tyler will always be a part of my universe, but now I have to create my own. My career. My life. Reed is a more permanent part of it now. He is my everything, the foundation to build something strong and lasting, and a piece of the fairytale that I’ve always wanted.

I stroke the temples of my forehead, trying to rid my mind of the images of shitty diapers and crying. Yep. Today is the big day. I get to donate some of my blood to find out if I’m the father of Mindy’s baby. Shit. I’m fucking nervous as hell. I can’t be a dad. I have no idea how to raise a kid. I could barely handle Cooper, a fucking golden retriever.

Shoving myself up from the couch, I pace the floor between the kitchen and living room. Eventually, I want to have kids and see Elle with a beautiful glow and round stomach from carrying my child. We haven’t even talked about kids et, and maybe Elle doesn’t want them right away with medical school.

Mindy wants to keep the baby. There are other options, like adoption, to consider. If not, and the baby’s mine, then I’ll man up. I am not sure how good of a job I’ll do, but it’s better than not being there at all. I turn to the living room window where the rising sun warms my face. I don’t really want to think about the fact that I may be a father to a child in six months with a woman I don’t even know.

“Dude.”

Shit.
I jump at the sound of his voice. Luke trudges out of his bedroom and into the living room, wearing only a pair of blue plaid boxers and scratching his head with his eyes at half-mast. He yawns so wide I can see every tooth in his head. This is way too early for him.

“What sup?” I say, taking a momentary reprieve from my frantic pacing.

“You got something to tell me?” He deadpans, raising a tired eyebrow.

“Not sure. Do I?” I ask. I turn to him, scratching the back of my neck anxiously. I’m supposed to pick up Elle from class to take her to practice today and then go with Luke for the paternity test. So, I really don’t have time to shoot the shit with him about strippers and wild parties.

“I ran into some peeps at Centerfolds a few nights back,” he answers, ruffling his hair.

“Yeah?” I chuckle. “Were they naked?”

“Nah…kinda fat, bald, Texas twang, smoking a cigar. He was asking about you. Know anybody that looks like that?”

Jerry was fucking in town?

“When was this?” I probe as I resume my uptight pacing for an entirely other reason.

“Night after Halloween,” he says, watching me with heightened interest. “Why? Is there a problem?”

“Damn, I got this paternity test, and now you fucking throw this kind of shit in my lap.” I laugh, a forced bark.

“Throw what shit?”

“Fuck, it’s not you, man.” I snap my teeth together and rub my face in my hands. Jerry was serious about coming up here. I can’t even wrap this shit around my head right now. Having ol’ Papa West roaming the streets of Boston looking for me and asking my friends questions about my whereabouts is not something I want to worry about. I can’t breathe, knowing this latest tidbit.

“Yeah, I hope they say that when I get the blood test results back.” He smiles.

“Dude, you gonna be ready so we can get this fucking paternity test done?” I ask, pushing Jerry out of my mind and preferably off a deep cliff. I’m not prepared to discuss this topic with Luke, not yet anyway.

“Seriously?” He shakes his head, eyebrows arched. “Why should I rush? Mindy waited this long to tell us she was knocked up, and now after sleeping with half the city, she wants to know who her baby daddy is?” He walks past me into the kitchen and grabs a bottled water from the fridge. “Screw her! Let her ass wait on me for once ‘cause Lord knows she wasn’t waiting to get into my pants the night she told me to fuck her senseless,” he spits out.

“Hey, it’s our problem now. Just be ready later when I get back,” I say, grabbing my keys and phone from the table and heading to the door.

“Fuck, I’ll be ready,” he mumbles, dropping his shoulders. I watch as a half dozen emotions ripple over his tired face.

I close the door behind me and collapse against the wall. I’m so angry my chest is heaving. What the fuck is going on? Now my trouble has traveled across the country to find me? I’m surprised he hasn’t called me. All I can think about is Elle and her safety. My first instinct is to call Jerry and ask him what the fuck he’s doing, but that could set him off. I can’t risk doing anything crazy.

Panicked and consumed by my thoughts, I don’t even notice the text that comes through from Elle, saying she got out of class, until I text her a couple of minutes later to tell her that I’m on my way. A black cloud settles over me when I think of Elle waiting somewhere alone with the prospect that batshit crazy Jerry and some of his pawns are around. Closing my eyes, I take a couple of long, deep breaths. I’ve got to keep it together.

If he knows about Luke, then there is no doubt he has seen me with Elle. All I see is red as I run to my Hummer. My hands are tied, not knowing where he is. I’ll be in Texas at the end of the week, so I’ll take care of this shit once and for all while Elle is interviewing. I know at some point I’m going to have to tell her about this, but right now my biggest concern is getting to campus and picking her up.

The morning is cool and clear as I drive into Boston. Joggers crisscross the street, dogs bark and car horns honk. The city is coming alive. I try not to speed through the streets to get to campus. The last thing I need is trouble with the cops. I pound my steering wheel at the red light in aggravation, thinking about the steps I need to take to ensure that Elle remains safe the next few days. I need to get a copy of her key and spend the next couple of nights at her place. More importantly, I must stay cool. Any strange behavior and she’ll know something is up and I’ll have to confess. That can’t happen before her interview. I know how important that is to her, and she needs to stay focused. I’m going to have to pull off one Oscar-winning performance for her not to suspect anything.