Page 75 of Tease
“Jared came back into my life for a reason; I truly believe that.” I reach out to palm his cheek. “I’m sorry… I didn’t think you’d bethisupset.” He slaps my hand away.
Mattie starts shaking his head, laughing uncontrollably, maniacally.
“I-–I still love him. I never stopped.” I rush my words out, hoping he can at least try to understand where I’m coming from.
“Well, KC, if you’re not mine, then you’ll behis.I’ll make sure of it.”
He walks away from me, stopping at the door. “Just remember,you chose this, KC. Life could have been so different for you and me.”
Mattie slams the door on his way out, leaving me standing there, speechless.
What the fuck just happened?
My laptop starts ringing from the kitchen island. I look at the clock, realizing it’s time for the family video chat. I don’t think I’ll tell them about Jared just yet.
CHAPTER 56
Jared
I’m still smiling from last night. I can’t believe Kailey and I are really back together. God must have heard all of my prayers, because getting her back went much easier than I thought it would. She left this morning before Beau got back home. Kailey told me she didn’t want us out in the open just yet.
Beau walks in, and when he notices me at our kitchen table, he stops in his tracks. “Why are you glowing like a little school girl who just received her first valentine?”
I lift a shoulder and continue to stare at my phone. “No reason.”
He drops his duffel bag and goes to the coffee pot, making himself a cup before sitting in the seat across from me. Beau exaggerates sniffing the air. “Why does it smell like sex in here, Jared?”
“You must be smelling yourself, bro. Did you get lucky last night with a mystery girl?” I raise an eyebrow at him.
“Don’t deflect with me.” He kicks my foot under the table.
“I have nothing to say. And we’ve gotta head out soon to hit the gym, so hurry up and finish your coffee, princess. We can race there on the bikes, and the loser fesses up about who they were really with last night.”
Beau chugs the rest of his black coffee, placing the mug down on the table. He uses the back of his hand to wipe away the coffee that spilled from his lips. “You’ve got yourself a deal.”
Pssh, like I’ll let him win. I promised Dimples thatfor nowI’d keep us a secret. But not for long. I want the world to know she’s mine, and I’m hers.
Beau and I weave in and out of traffic on our crotch rockets. He’s a fast fucker, I’ll give him that. But not fast enough. I rev up my engine and speed past him, popping a wheelie to show off. I pull into the parking lot of the gym, and a minute later, he’s parked beside me. He’s laughing when he pulls off his helmet. “You’re crazy; no fear, huh?”
“What do you mean?
“You didn’t care about anyone else but yourself out there, making sure you beat my ass.”
I pause at the entrance to the gym and turn around to snark, “I’ll be taking that name once workouts are done,” and pat his shoulder twice.
“Yeah, yeah. A bet’s a bet. Let’s knock this shit out so I can go home and take a nap. I’mwhooped.” He gives me a toothy grin.
Skyler is already here, throwing punches against a bag. I can’t tell if he’s pissed off or if that’s just him.
“What’s up, man?” I yell to him while waving.
“Ah, look at you two, finally showing up, hand in hand.”
Okay, he’s still an asshole.
“Yeah, this guy even made me coffee this morning. A real stud muffin, if I do say so myself.” Beau grabs my shoulder and leans into me, trying to place a peck on my cheek when I playfully shove him away.
“Nuh-uh, cut that shit out.”
