“Fess up and quit stalling. I can’t trust my future kids to some quack.” She began murmuring to someone in the background before I could respond. It must have been Keiran because I heard kissing followed by a loud slap and giggling.
“Do you two need some time alone?
“Huh? Oh, sorry. So did it go well?”
“I won’t really know for sure for another week. You know this.”
“But do you think you did well?”
“Lake, what is this about?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, why are you suddenly so interested in my grades?”
“Do I need a specific reason to be interested?”
My eyes narrowed although she couldn’t see me. Something was up. “Put Keiran on the phone.”
“I don’t understand why—”
“Lake,” I growled.
The next second a deep voice filtered through the phone. “What’s up?”
“You tell me. Lake’s fishing. What’s going on?”
I knew if there was anyone who wouldn’t insult my intelligence by beating around the bush or pretending, it would be Keiran.
“I’m going after him.”
Not even a few deep breaths could calm the turbulent storm in my head. I tried to tell myself it would be just like every other time. Keenan was never coming back. He promised me so the night he left.
“Keiran, don’t you think it’s time to give that up?”
“I found him, Sheldon.”
My pulse quickened, and my heart skipped a beat.
“You told me you would stop looking,” I snapped. Did he really find him? I had a million questions I wanted to ask, and yet I knew better than to give into the possibilities, but my heart had different ideas.
“I told you this was the last time,” he defended.
“And so you just happened to get lucky?” There must have been a million rocks Keenan had hidden under.
“He’s my fucking brother, Sheldon.” His voice dropped threatening, but then almost at the same moment, he added softly, “I probably would have never given up.”
“Why do you care so much? He hates you and don’t you remember what he tried to do to Lake?”
“It’s not something I’ll forget anytime soon. What’s your point?”
“He could be dangerous, Keiran. It’s been four years. We don’t know him anymore.”
“I’m not turning my back on my brother.”
“It’s funny because it’s exactly what he’s done to you.”
“How long do you think your excuse for him would be enough for Kennedy? One day, she’s going to ask real questions.”
“She’s doing just fine without him.”
“That isn’t your decision to make. She needs her father.”
“You’re wrong, Keiran. It is my decision to make, and she doesn’t need that coward.” I hung up without waiting for a response. Let him be on the receiving end of rude behavior for once.
I double checked to make sure Kennedy was okay before heading for my bedroom. Once inside, I closed and locked the door, ran to my bed, and screamed my frustration into the pillow.
How could he do this?
No one knew what bringing Keenan back here would mean.
CHAPTER THREE
FOUR YEARS AGO
PROM WAS EVERYTHING I thought it would be and nothing like I wanted. All night, I was surrounded by friends. There was laughter, music, dancing. The colorful lights and ornaments had lit up the gymnasium. Everything should have been perfect, but it all had felt so wrong.
If it weren’t for Willow, I wouldn’t have even bothered, but according to her, I needed to make a statement. I had been fully prepared to play dress up and enjoy the night. I had even looked forward to witnessing Keiran slow dance. It was supposed to have been amusing, but when he gently led Lake to the dance floor and took her into his arms, it only served to remind me of all that I had lost from love. I could tell he was nervous, but the way he stared into her eyes and her at him—as if they were the only two people in the world, seemed to help him through it.
They had been together for all of two minutes while Keenan and I had been together for two years yet, somehow, their bond seemed truer. I think it was at that moment I began to resent the idea of love.
There was a saying that love doesn’t love anyone.
Whoever said that was a fucking genius.
I walked inside the house alone after being driven home from prom by Keiran and Lake. My parents were away on a business trip, so the house was quiet and dark. I didn’t want to be alone, but there was no one available to call. Willow unexpectedly had to leave prom early after a rather angry phone call from her mom. All she managed to say before leaving was that she had to get home right away. Dash surprisingly offered to take her, and even more surprisingly, she went without a fuss.
I had high hopes that those two would quit fighting the inevitable. It was a hope I didn’t bother to keep secret.
I made my way into the kitchen and snagged one of my dad’s beers. I preferred something much stronger, but eventually, my parents became smarter after catching us stealing the drinks for the fifth time. They now changed the combination to the cellar every week.