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“He’ll always be here to help, Ally. You’re his family.”
A sad smile forms on Ally’s lips, as if she’s holding on to a secret she’s not yet ready to share. “I hope you’re right.”
“Right about what?” I feel Ky’s arms around me before I see him, and I wonder if he’s taken a timeout from being a human climbing frame because he’s curious about what we’re talking about. Up to now, the only member of his family I’ve met is Lacey, and part of me can’t help but think he’s kept us at a distance because he’s worried about how his mom and sister would act around me.
“About you being the best uncle in the world,” Ally replies, quickly changing the subject, so as not to alert her brother to her worries. “I can’t believe you managed to hire this place. Lacey was beyond excited when she got here. Thank you, Ky.”
“She deserves to have what we didn’t.” My boyfriend doesn’t mince his words with his reply.
“Yes, she does. And on that note, I think it’s time to cut the cake.”
As Ally leaves us to rally up the kids, I take a hold of Ky’s hand and bring it to my mouth, lightly kissing each of his knuckles. “You know she’s right. You’re the best uncle Lacey could have. You’re definitely going to be rewarded for your efforts in your next life.”
A mischievous smile forms on his face and his other hand cusps my neck, bringing me toward him. “I’m more interested to know how I’ll be rewarded in this life.”
His lips meet mine and with a sweep of his tongue, I grant him access. Our kiss starts off chaste, but quickly turns into something little eyes should not be witnessing in broad daylight. Before we get too carried away, I break off and duck my head into his chest. Ky’s chuckle reverberates through me, and he plants a light kiss on the top of my head. “To be continued,” he whispers.
Before I can answer, something catches Ky’s eye and I feel his body tense as he quickly looks up toward the entrance and curses, causing me to turn around. I immediately see the reason for the change: walking toward us is Adam.
“Adam?” I ask, confusion lacing my voice. There’s no reason for him to be here. “What are you doing here?”
“I told you, I needed your help for our meeting.” His demeanor is a far cry from the one in the coffee shop during the week. This Adam isn’t the nervous, chatty person who was asking favors. No, in his place is a cold, sneering businessman, eyes narrowed with determination and mouth in a tense line.
“That meeting was meant to be this morning, you fucker, but you didn’t show.” The anger rolling off Kyler is palpable, and I place a hand on his chest to try and calm him—or at least stop him from lashing out. His fists are already curled at his sides, ready to take action at a moment’s notice.
To his credit, Adam doesn’t get riled by Ky’s comment and ignores him.
“Ky’s right, I waited for you this morning, but you told me the meeting had been postponed.”
“It has,” Adam tells us, “it’s taking place right now.”
I frown because surely he can’t be right. Adam knew I wasn’t available this afternoon so why would he even ask if I could attend it with him? I reiterate this to him again. “I told you I couldn’t go with you this afternoon.”
Adam laughs, a tinge of malice lacing the sound. “You really are clueless, aren’t you Thea?”
This time Ky pushes against my hand and steps forward, leaning into Adam’s space. “Watch your fucking mouth,” he tells him, lips curled and nostrils flaring. The anger is coursing through his body.
“Actually, I think it’s in your best interest to watch yours.” Adam turns to me and continues. “You see, Thea, I really did need your help. It’s true, we have found Austin’s baby mama. We just didn’t know what her exact location would be this weekend. Your problem is you’re too trusting. How easily you turned your phone over to me so I could update my contact details. And how easily I managed to turn on the Find My Friends function.”
“And you,” Adam’s talking to Kyler now, a smirk forming on his face. “I knew I recognized you. I’d seen your face before, and it bugged the hell out of me. So, I dug out some of Austin’s belongings and there you are. In the background of a photo he has of a girl who is smiling lovingly at him through the camera lens.”
Slowly, and horrifyingly, the pieces start to fall into place: the times Adam mentioned he thought he had met Ky before, and how I dismissed him; the immediate contempt Adam felt for Ky without really knowing him; the comment Mr. Nelson said at Thanksgiving about the “trailer-park trash” and how he’s developing the mobile home park she lives in. The realization is a stark slap in the face and my stomach drops to the floor.
“No, Adam . . .”
“What the fuck are you talking about?”
Kyler’s and my words clash with each other, but it’s the gasp behind us followed by the sound of plates crashing the ground, that draws our attention.
Ally’s face is as white as a sheet, but it’s the sheer terror in her eyes which has us following her line of sight back to the entrance and to Carl and Andrea Nelson who’ve just walked in.
“Th-that man,” she cries, “No, no, no . . . he promised. He can’t take her. He can’t.”
“Ally, it’s okay, we’ll make him leave,” Ky’s by her now, bringing her into a protective hug and tucking her into his body.
“No, Kyler, you don’t understand. That man?” Ally slowly raises her hand and points at Mr. Nelson. “He’s Lacey’s grandfather.”
twenty-six
