The Unexpected First (The Unexpected Series Book 2)

Chapter Two

The sound of my name on her lips is the sweetest thing I’ve heard since I left ten years ago. The time I spent hunched over creating art on human canvases holds nothing over the look in her chocolate eyes as she takes me in.

I noticed her the second I walked in. I would have known that body anywhere, even if Jack hadn’t been standing with her. She’s been ingrained into my mind since she was seventeen. Ry was always Jack’s annoying baby sister when we were kids, following us everywhere. We were both protective as hell of her, but it was never more than that.

When she turned seventeen, though, everything changed for me. She blossomed into a woman overnight, but my twenty-two-year-old horny fuckboy self refused to follow that path with her. I was never the same after finding out Raven, my high school girlfriend, cheated on me for most of our relationship. I couldn’t use Ryan like that just to scratch an itch. She always meant more to me than that.

“I hope I’m not crashing the party. Jack told me this was the best place for coffee.” My eyes never leave hers. The warm chocolate color that still makes my dick twitch anytime I see a fucking Hershey’s bar.

“Yeah, our friend Kayleigh owns the place. She makes the best peppermint mocha lattes and muffins you’ll ever experience.” Hadley chimes in, still excited to see me, completely oblivious to Ryan’s internal struggle.

A woman with hair that matches Ry’s shirt with a huge rack barely contained by a sundress, walks over with her coffee in hand, wrapping her free arm around Ryan’s waist. “Do I have to beg for an introduction, babygirl?” She flicks her long teal hair over her shoulder, waiting and glaring at me.

Babygirl?

I arch a brow at Ryan, who responds, “Pickle, this is Grey.” Her eyes are still trained on mine, the brown orbs not breaking contact. “Grey, Pickle. Well, Kat, but I call her Pickle because she hates it, and I think it’s adorable. She made the mistake of telling me that was her nickname in college, and well, you know me. I always stick to a bit.” She rambles adorably and I fucking love it. Her cheeks tinge in the most perfect shade of pink.

I haven’t even been around her for ten minutes, haven’t had the pleasure of discovering if she still smells like kiwi and mango. I haven’t even touched her, and my dick is already responding to her presence.

Fuck me.

“Nice to meet you, Kat slash Pickle.” I smile as I hold out my hand to shake hers. She simply looks at it and nods her head.

“Uh-huh, well, we’ve got things to do.” She pulls Ryan alongside her and yells for Hadley to follow.

Hadley squeezes my side again and whispers to me. “We’ve all missed you.” She smiles up at me with a wink before scurrying out the door.

Fuck, could that have gone any worse?

Jack scowls at me, a fire in his eyes. He”s only ever looked like that at the shitheads we used to threaten for trying to hook up with Ryan in school.

“What?” I roll my eyes.

“You know what, asshole. You”re just here to settle up, and then you”re going back to your beach life.” His voice gruff, “Don”t fucking lead her on.”

“Are you serious? It”s Ryan!” I roll my eyes at him. It is Ryan. My dick throbs in my pants, reminding me how much of a fucking liar I am. I”m gonna need to keep my distance while I”m here. This will only end in a shit show of hurt feelings.

Several hours later, I step into my childhood home. My dad never could find it in his heart to change anything after mom died. He said it was her home and always would be. Back then, I hated it. The memories blinded me in every space I entered. Now that he”s gone, I can feel them both in each room, and it feels somehow gut-wrenching and cathartic simultaneously.

I can’t believe they’re both gone. Dad and I hadn’t seen eye to eye for quite some time. He hated that I took the apprenticeship over the corporate job he lined up for me at his company. He was so angry at me last year when he had to sell the company so he could retire.

“Son, you had your fun. Put your schooling to use and come take over our company. YOUR company.”

I couldn’t even assign a digit to the number of times I heard that over the last five years. I hadn’t spoken to him in a month before I got the call a few days ago. He had a stroke. I was in the middle of working on a sleeve I had been looking forward to when I saw the hospital was calling me. I barely wiped down and bandaged up my client before telling him I’d reschedule and finish for free. Once I picked up Ellie, it only took me ten minutes to take the normally twenty-five-minute drive to the airport and leave on the first flight I could book. He held on until I got to his bedside before he passed. I got to tell him I love him, and that was it. My dad was gone. I called Jack on my way to the hospital from the airport for a place to crash. I don’t know if I can stay here. This house holds too many memories.

My phone dings as I stand there, pulling me out of the memories of my past, both distant and recent. I can’t help but get lost in them while in this place.

Hadley

Hey Buttface! I’m pissed you didn’t tell me you were coming home. Let’s catch up. So much has happened since you left.

I chuckle at the memories Hadley stirs with that nickname. She used to give me shit all the time growing up. She hated how protective Jack and I were of the two of them.

Greyson

I’m not sure how long I’m here, but I’ll make time for my favorite pain in the ass. I’ll text you later, kid.

The image of Ryan comes rushing back to me. Hadley is still as beautiful as ever. She was always a cute kid. But Ryan, damn. She grew up to be a hell of a woman. A body that she displayed proudly, a huge fucking change from the timid girl she once was.