The Unexpected First (The Unexpected Series Book 2)

Chapter Ten

When I read the messages that Raven tried to start shit with Ry, I nearly lost it. After all the things she pulled in high school, I really thought she’d have grown up by now, but apparently not. I tried to keep Raven away from Ryan and Hadley because I knew she was a bitch to both, but more so Ryan. She was incredibly shy when she was younger and Raven used that against her. She’s grown out of it since her mom passed away, and from following her social media accounts which I shamelessly stalked after I left, I’ve seen the confident woman she’s grown into.

Raven trying to manipulate her has me seeing red. I left Jack at my dad’s house packing up tools and ended up here, at Mud House after she texted me. I pull the door open and rush in. My face must show the rage I’m feeling because Kat blanches when she sees me. Ryan turns to meet my gaze, concern etched on her face. She slips off her chair and walks towards me, my dick responding the moment I see her beautiful face.

“Grey?” She reaches for my hand before continuing, “What’s wrong?”

“What exactly did she say to you?” I snarl, “I may not have protected you like I should have from her before, but I’ll be damned if I allow her to hurt you again.” My jaw tenses as I wait for a response.

“Really? That’s why you’re here?” A sweet smile pulls at her lips. “Grey, I handled it. I’m not a kid anymore. I stood up for myself, for today, and for all the bullshit she pulled in the past. I’m ok.” She shakes her head as a soft giggle escapes her.

“I’m sorry I didn’t do better back then.” I sigh, “I”ve never forgiven myself for how she treated you.” I raise my hand, brushing my fingers against her cheek. She leans into my hand so slightly that I’m not sure if I imagined it until her eyes meet mine again.

“I’m ok, I promise.” Her voice is so quiet as she continues staring into my eyes. “Do you want to have coffee with us or do you need to get back to Jack, since I’m assuming you disappeared on him while he was packing something at the house to come here.” She chuckles teasingly which makes my already hard dick twitch in my pants.

“I’ll stick around for a cup of coffee. We can talk about your tattoos since you’re all here.” I wink at her. She shrugs as she takes my hand and guides me to their table.

“Fancy seeing you here buttface.” Hadley smiles at me as we approach.

Ignoring her taunt, I take a seat next to Ryan, across from Hadley and Pickle.

“Hi to you, too, Hellion,” I respond.

Once I get settled into my chair, I look at Hadley. “So, what kind of ink do you want to get?” Ryan tenses next to me and Hadley’s smile turns sad.

“Well, I want to cover up some scarring,” she says quietly as she pushes up her sleeves to reveal angry red lines along her wrists.

“What the fuck, Hellion,” I growl. “Are you ok? The fuck happened?” Ryan squeezes my thigh under the table to bring me back down.

Hadley’s eyes glisten with unshed tears as she goes into the details of the abuse she endured at Andy’s hands. I clench my fists under the table as rage cascades through me, and it isn’t until she tells me how he died that I start to calm down.

“I wish I had known, Hellion.” I gently clasp her hands between mine. “I would have been here for you. I would have killed the motherfucker myself.”

Her smile returns at my comment.

“It’s ok, My girls and Connor helped me through it.” She squeezes my hands before continuing. “Connor has been my anchor through so much of this. I want to honor that. Even if we aren’t forever. Which, don’t get me wrong,” she giggles, “he tells me every day that we are. I want to do this to show not only our strength together, but mine on my own, too.”

Kat is tearing up holding Hadley in her arms as she explains what she was hoping to do with her tattoos. I turn her hands in mine, running my fingers over the length of her scars, images running through my mind of ideas for her. I can’t wait to help my Hellion take back her power.

When I get back to the house, Jack is finished with the garage. I walk up to him, handing over a Corona from the twelve pack I picked up on the way back.

“Where the hell did you run off to, dick?” he groans as he pops the cap off the bottle.

“Raven is causing problems already.” I groan as I pop the top off my own bottle and take a long pull.

“It’s fine,” I say before I allow him time to ask what happened.

My feelings for his sister need to get in check before he finds out and kicks my ass.

“Let’s call it a day. I want to go out,” I announce.

I just need to fuck someone, anyone, tonight. That will get this need to take Ryan every fucking time I see her out of my system. Hopefully.

“Like you did much of anything today, anyway,” he chuckles and shoves my shoulder.

Twenty minutes later we’re at the bar, seeing the same crowd we used to before I moved. We’re all just older now. It’s like a goddamn high school reunion.

I spot a woman I’ve never seen before; tall, slim waist, perky little tits held up in a poor excuse for a dress. She’s hot as hell. Her brown hair sprinkled with pink highlights, it makes her icy blue eyes pop. I nod to Jack before I walk towards the bombshell at the bar. I take a seat next to her, glancing between her and the bartender until her eyes meet mine. She raises a perfectly shaped eyebrow at me.

“I was just trying to buy a drink here, but you’re very distracting.” I wink at her.

“Does that really work for you?” she asks, chuckling at me.

“You tell me?” I smile at her and hold out a hand, introducing myself. “I’m Greyson.” She’s even more attractive up close, but my brain can’t stop itself from comparing her to Ryan’s effortless beauty. A smile spreads across her face, and as alluring as it is, it’s not the smile I want to see.

“Anya,” she answers. “And you’re cute. Does that line really work, Greyson?”

I chuckle and lean in, close enough to speak low in her ear. “You tell me?” I breathe in her floral perfume before pulling back, grazing her cheek with my fingers and throwing her a wink.

Her cheeks flush with a light shade of pink, “I think it could.” She raises her hand and grazes her nails down my shirt over my chest.

Before I came back here, I would be laying on the charm so thick she’d never be able to resist. Now, though, my dick has no interest and I know the damn reason is currently at her place, probably watching some true crime documentary and debating with Hadley on who could get away with murder between the two of them. Now the three of them, if Pickle is into that kind of thing.

“But, I’m,” she pauses as she searches for the word, “involved.”

“That’s probably for the best. My best friend over there is already staring daggers into my head because his sister is in love with me and I’m over here with you.” My smile doesn’t quite meet my eyes.

She stares at me for a moment before leaning in close, her soft words meant only for me. “Does he know that you’re in love with her, too?”