Kade rubbed his jaw. “It’s your dick we’re worried about.”
I growled. “Bite me.” I stormed out, passing Lacey.
“Kelton, I want to talk to you about Chloe,” she said.
I waved my hand in the air. “Later.” Like a lifetime later. With Lacey and Chloe as cousins, I was in the middle of a situation that was sure to blow up. More between Lacey and me. I adored my future sister-in-law, but I wasn’t about to listen to her speech about why I should get back together with Chloe. I had bigger problems. I had to keep my distance from Lizzie. But I wasn’t sure I could.
* * *
I showered quickly, dressed, then opened my bedroom door to find Lacey with her knuckles raised, about to knock.
“I don’t want to talk about Chloe. What’s gone on between us is our business,” I said nicely.
She splayed her fingers. “Five minutes. Then I’ll leave you alone.” She pushed past me and took a seat on my desk chair, sitting regally with one leg crossed over the other, hands in her lap. She’d taken after Chloe more and more. Actually, Chloe’s mother was big on proper etiquette.
I leaned against the doorjamb. Might as well get this over with.
“Something is wrong with Chloe, and she won’t tell me. And I don’t think it has anything to do with the breakup, even though you know she’s in love with you.”
I was well aware of that fact. Suddenly, I wanted to bang my head against the wall until my brain shut down. “I’ve told you several times, I don’t do love.”
“Yeah, because you’ve seen how Kody still hurts over the loss of Mandy. Blah. Blah. Blah. You’ve got to open your heart someday.”
Screaming, yelling, or even tearing out my hair wouldn’t do any good. I wanted to tell Lacey to back off. But she was only looking out for her cousin. I got that. “You did warn Chloe about me when you first met your cousin. I’ve also been very clear with Chloe about my intentions. She deserves someone who is willing to give as much love as she gives in return. I’m just not that guy.”
She popped out of the chair and glided over to me. “Will you ever be that guy?”
Maybe someday. “No.”
“You will.” She pointed a finger in my face. “And when you do find that special girl, you’ll never be the same. Or maybe you’ll be less of an ass.”
I was never the same when Lizzie moved away. Hence one of the main reasons I couldn’t or wouldn’t fall in love. “But a lovable ass.”
“Pfft.”
“Lace?” Kade called. “Dinner is ready. Bring Kelton.”
“Do you know what’s wrong with Chloe or not?” she asked.
“I can’t say I do.” I tipped my head to the hall. “Go. I’ll be out in a sec.”
I wasn’t exactly hungry. But my mom would be disappointed if I didn’t make it to dinner. She’d also be worried if she thought I wasn’t feeling good. I straightened, combed my hands through my wet hair, and wound my way down to the dining room.
Dad took the head of the table near the window. To his right was Mom, then Kody. To my dad’s left were Kade, Lacey, and then Kross. They were passing around salad, rolls, and lasagna, filling their plates as they chatted.
I slid into the chair next to Kody, inhaling the spicy aroma of the lasagna.
“Lacey, when does baseball training start?” my dad asked as he poured dressing on his salad.
“Next week,” Lacey said.
She was a big deal for Colby College. She’d perfected her fastball, curveball, and slider along with a change-up pitch she’d learned her freshman year on the team. The media whispered about her being scouted by one of the major-league organizations. One thing I admired about her was her dedication to the game. I didn’t know if women would ever make it into the major leagues, but if any female could, it would be Lacey.
My dad beamed her way. He had a huge soft spot for her, as though she was his daughter. I wouldn’t doubt he was thinking of Karen. My sister had wanted to play sports, mainly football. Mom reached out with her small hand and touched his unshaven jaw. He kissed her palm. They each seemed to know what the other was thinking.
“Kelton,” Dad said. “Have you heard from Mr. Davenport about your summer job?”
Mom peeked around Kody. My heart warmed to see how proud she was of my intentions to become a lawyer. Sometimes I had to pinch myself that she was even home. My dad said her medication helped a great deal. I believed time was a better medicine. But if the past showed up at our door, all the healing could be gone in a second.
“Not yet. Probably tomorrow.” Trudy had relayed that message to me when I’d seen her at Rumors. “If not, I’ll call.”
“You need that job for your résumé and law application to Harvard,” Dad added.