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Heading into the kitchen for a glass of water, I spot Tom in the backyard on the phone to someone. He’s pacing back and forth. He hasn’t noticed me, but he looks tense. Curiosity gets the better of me, and I carefully slide the window open.
“–get your money. Things have been a bit quiet at the garage, and we’ve had some family stuff going on… yeah, I understand… of course… no, you don’t have to do that. I’ll get it to you. Just give me a couple more weeks.”
My stomach sinks. This doesn’t sound good. Tom starts wrapping up the phone call, and I quickly close the window before filling a glass with water.
“Oh, hey,” he says when he enters through the backdoor. “I didn’t realise anyone was home.”
“I just got here,” I smile, raising my glass at him. “You’re home early.”
“I, uh, had some paperwork to do.” He glances down at his phone, palming the back of his neck. “If you need me, I’ll just be in my room getting it done.”
“You can use the kitchen table,” I offer. “I don’t mind. I was just going to make a snack and watch a movie. I won’t get in the way.”
“I’m good. Also, don’t count on me for dinner. I’m going to go check on Dad, and then I’ve got plans. I’ll probably be back late, so you and Harley will have the place to yourself.”
My cheeks heat. “I hope it’s not weird for you now that Harley and I are…”
“Not at all,” Tom says, a genuine smile tugging at his lips. “I’m happy for you guys. Harley’s been through a lot. He deserves someone good in his life.”
“So do you,” I remind him.
He sighs, rapping his knuckles on the bench top. “Yeah, maybe. One day.”
Tom leaves the room, and a few moments later, I hear his bedroom door close. I busy myself making popcorn, but I can’t get his conversation off my mind. It sounds like he’s in trouble and owes some money. I wonder if I should tell Harley, but he’s got enough going on with his dad, and I also didn’t hear both sides of the story. Maybe it’s got something to do with a job at the garage. Maybe it’s something completely innocent.
I just wish I could convince my gut that that was the case. I don’t have time to overthink it as there’s a knock at the front door. When Tom doesn’t re-emerge from his bedroom, I take the bowl of popcorn with me to answer the front door.
My stomach drops as I come face to face with Elijah and Kai. I force a smile, though, and move aside to let them in.
“Ooh, popcorn!” Elijah scoops a handful into his mouth with a grin. “Hey, Lily. Where are those pesky cousins of mine? We want to say goodbye before we head back to Sydney.”
“Tom’s in his room,” I say, nodding down the hall. “Harley’s in class. He’s not due home for another couple hours.”
Elijah kisses my cheek before he heads to Tom’s bedroom leaving me and Kai hovering awkwardly in the entryway.
“I still can’t shake the feeling I know you,” Kai says quietly.
My blood runs cold. “Nope. Maybe I’ve just got one of those faces.”
“Maybe,” he says, thoughtfully.
“Well, I’ll leave you to say goodbye.” Instead of heading into the living room to watch a movie, I go to my bedroom, closing the door and leaning against it as I try to regulate my breathing. That was too close for comfort. Thank God they’re going back to Sydney. I don’t need Kai remembering how he knows me.
THIRTY-TWO
HARLEY
I CAN’T WIPE the grin off my face as Zeke and I run through our training session first thing Monday morning. Lily and I barely left my bedroom all weekend, and I can’t wipe the memory of her legs spread for me as I buried my face in her sweet pussy. Fuck, the thought of it has my dick twitching in my pants.
“Looks like someone finally got laid,” Zeke smirks, boxing me playfully around the ears.
“A gentleman doesn’t kiss and tell,” I respond, grabbing him in a headlock and giving him a couple of fake uppercuts to the jaw.
I unravel my hand wraps and drop them in my bag before following him over to the treadmill.
“I’m not asking for details, Surfer Boy,” he says with a laugh, selecting his workout and tossing his towel over the panel. “I’m just glad you finally came to your senses, so now you can concentrate on not getting your lights knocked out.”
I grimace. “You’re never gonna let me live it down, are you? It was only my second fight. You can’t win ‘em all.” I select my own workout and settle in for a warm-up jog.
