Too Sweet (Boys of Lake Chapel)

1. Locke

Chapter 1

Locke

“Dude. I’ve been looking for you everywhere.”

Kylian doesn’t look up right away—clearly intent on finishing what he’s working on before giving me his attention. The dining room table has disappeared under piles of papers, folders, monitors, and tablets.

I shift from hip to hip and cross my arms over my chest. The move makes the healing skin on my back pull slightly. I’m still sore as fuck after spending four hours in the tattoo chair last week.

It’ll be worth it.

I can’t fight my grin as I think about her reaction. I’ve been counting down the days until February fourteenth. I can’t wait to get away and to spend time with my girl and all the boys this weekend.

“Congratulations.” Finally, Kylian shifts papers off to one side, then, bringing his hands together in front of him, peers up at me through his thick-framed glasses.

Cocking my pierced eyebrow, I wait for him to continue.

“You located me. Mission accomplished. Well done, you.”

I bark out a laugh. “ Well done, you . Seriously? You’re spending way too much time with the Brit.”

Kylian raises both eyebrows in concession, the slightest hint of a smirk teasing the corner of his mouth.

“Perhaps. But Jo is happy, and Hunter is safe.” He surveys the table, then blows out a long breath. “Or at least as safe as she can be with Magnolia still alive.”

Eyes narrowed, I give him a once over. He looks tired yet determined. Resolute yet somehow wary, too. I’m worried about him. He’s working too hard.

His word choice also concerns me. Kylian always says what he means, and he means what he says. Aside from the occasional joke, or a rare moment where he’s masking in front of others in a social setting, it’s safe to assume he’s being literal. Magnolia, Hunter’s mom, is terminally ill, but is he implying that she won’t be alive soon?

Hunter and her men moved into the mansion over winter break, then Decker insisted they stay for the semester. It’s worked out well for the most part, but I’m stoked to get away this weekend, just the five of us. We’re heading up to the cabin for Valentine’s Day. And I missed the hell out of Joey last weekend when she went to the Combine with Kendrick. We need this time away.

Despite living in a literal mansion, the house has felt cramped lately. Hunter’s boys love the gym, and the Brit keeps the oddest hours. Honestly, I’m not sure if the guy sleeps at all. Then there was that incident when I walked in on Mrs. Lansbury and Spence’s butler guy having a private moment in the pantry.

I shudder involuntarily at the memory.

“What’s up?” he asks, jolting me from my thoughts.

With a sigh, I put my concern to rest. I trust Kylian. Kylian trusts Spence. Hunter is Joey’s best friend. When Joey was the one in danger, then when Joey needed to be avenged, Greedy didn’t hesitate to roll up his sleeves and get his hands dirty right alongside Kendrick and Cap.

“Just wanted to check in with you about this weekend. See if you needed any help or if you wanted me to pack for you.”

Kylian’s been grinding harder than usual, which is saying something, because the guy works all the time as it is. Between school, his stats analyst work for the Lake Chapel football team, and now helping with increased security and whatever Spence has him mixed up in, I figured he might need some extra help.

“I’m already packed,” he declares, pushing away from the table. “I’m waiting on one more order, but it’s being delivered to the cabin and appears to be en route with a confirmed delivery of tomorrow. Otherwise, I’m ready to go.”

“Nice. What’d you get her?” I rub my hands together, trying to ease some of the soreness in my knuckles.

Living with chronic pain is a bitch. This flare-up is mild, but I want to stay on top of things before we head to the cabin. I’m planning an ice bath tonight, followed by a soak. If the hot tub’s unoccupied. Another downside of living with five extra people this semester? Hunter’s guys make liberal use of all the amenities.

“I did not get Jo anything,” Kylian replies. “I curated an experience she will find equal parts amusing and sexually satisfying.”

I balk. “Sexually satisfying? I thought we were testing out the cock ring attachment together?”

This particular vibrating cock ring has an adjustable part that I can anchor to my pubic piercing. Kylian found it online and is excited about the ability to sync it to his phone. When he presented the idea to me last month—with a fully prepared deck —I was instantly on board. So was Kendrick. I’m down to try anything once. Especially if it pleases our girl.

“This is something separate,” he says. “Something I have planned for Jo tomorrow afternoon, when we arrive.”

Unease settles in my chest. I’m not jealous, exactly. But I always feel a little off-kilter when it comes to navigating shit like this. I want Joey to have time with each of my brothers, no doubt. But I can’t help but worry that whatever Kylian has planned doesn’t upstage what I did for her for Valentine’s Day.

“Nicky.”

Head snapping up, I meet my best friend’s gaze. I don’t bother trying to hide the apprehension coursing through me. Kylian may not be great at reading social cues most of the time, but he knows my deepest worries and darkest secrets. I can’t hide shit from him.

“Statistically speaking, Jo’s going to thoroughly enjoy the cock ring. But your other gift? She’s going to absolutely love it. It’s top tier.”

I release a breath I was very aware I was holding, thanks to the ache in my ribs and the burning sensation behind my sternum. “Right. Yeah, you’re right. Thanks, man.” I run one hand through my hair, then take another steadying breath. “What time do we leave again?”

He waves me over. “Here.” He hands me one of the iPads from the table, then reaches for another for himself. I watch the screen as he mirrors the devices and taps on the itinerary he created.

But before his schedule loads, the master calendar app catches my eye.

I home in on the calendar listing for Saturday, February fourteenth. There’s a line indicating we’ll be at the cabin. Another line that lists Valentine’s Day. Then below that, there’s a third line. Two words. Eleven letters. I count them as I read it, over and over again.

Jo’s Birthday

My pulse pounds in my head as the screen changes. The itinerary appears, but those two little words dance across my vision, taunting me and making my brain glitch so badly I can barely make sense of what I just saw.

“Go back,” I grit out. Tension has coiled in all my muscles. Anxiety is percolating in my gut.

Kylian looks up, bewildered. “I didn’t even go forward yet.”

“No. Kyl. To the calendar. Go back to the calendar.”

I’m gripping the sides of the iPad so tightly I’m afraid it’ll crack in my hands. This can’t be happening. This can’t be right.

But then again…

I have no fucking idea when Jo’s birthday actually is.

The calendar reappears.

“There.” I stab at the words. “It says Jo’s birthday right there. Is that for real?”

Kylian scowls. “Of course it’s for real. Why would I add something not real to my master calendar?

The fuck? I glare at him, breaths sawing in and out of my lungs.

“How long have you known?” I make an effort to unclench my fists. The last thing I need is to cause myself even more pain ahead of this weekend.

“Known what?” Kylian asks.

He’s not being obtuse, and he’s not fucking with me. He needs me to spell it out for him—to make it black and white. It takes every ounce of my patience to keep it together.

With a cleansing breath, I try again.

“How long have you known that February fourteenth is not only Valentine’s Day, but Joey’s birthday ?”

Kylian squints one eye, considering. “Since September third.”

“Motherfucker.” I rake both hands through my hair. February fourteenth is this weekend. That means Joey’s birthday is literally two days away.

Another realization slams into me.

“Do Cap and Kendrick know?”

With a huff, Kylian glares up through his glasses. “I assume they do not. To my knowledge, Jo has never shared her birthday with any of us.”

“God dammit.” I drop the device on the table and whip out my phone. “We’ve got to get them down here. Emergency meeting. Right here, right now.”

I text the others, telling them to meet us in the dining room ASAP.

When I look up again, Kylian is watching me. With a steady gaze that takes concerted effort on his part, he maintains eye contact. “Did you consider that if Jo hasn’t mentioned her birthday before now, there’s a strong probability she does not want to acknowledge the day?”

Shit. I had not.

Decker bursts into the dining room with Kendrick hot on his heels.

“What’s wrong?” Decker demands, looking from me to Kylian, then back to me again.

His intensity fuels me. My concern isn’t unwarranted. If Joey’s birthday is this weekend, that’s a big fucking deal.

“Locke. What is it?” Decker presses.

I blow out another breath, then raise both eyebrows and tip my chin to Kylian. “Daddy Genius over here has something he forgot to share with us.”

Kyl rises to his feet, sets down the iPad, and folds his arms over his chest. “Or I happen to possess information that’s not mine to share.”

He and I stare at each other, our silent stand-off raising the tension already sizzling around the room. He has to tell them. It’s not okay for two of us to have this information and the other two to be kept in the dark. We’re a team. She’s our girl. All of us. I’m not backing down on this. Decker and Kendrick have a right to know.

“Spit it out.” Kendrick splays his hands wide on the table, clearly trying his best to keep it together as we all wait out Kylian. “Your text said this was urgent, and about Jojo. Don’t leave us hanging.”

Sighing, Kylian gives me one last incredulous look. Then he turns to the others and finally clues them in.

“Nicky’s all worked up because he was looking at my calendar and saw that Jo’s birthday is coming up.”

Decker’s face falls. I swear I see the exhale leave his body. “Seriously? When is it?”

I wait a breath. Then another. Kylian’s being exceedingly difficult, so I come out and say it. “It’s Saturday. This Saturday. Joey’s birthday is on Valentine’s Day.”

There’s a single moment of silence, then Decker and Kendrick simultaneously explode.

“Are you for real? That’s only two days away.”

“How the fuck did I not know it’s my wife’s birthday this weekend?”

My thoughts exactly.

A deluge of relief washes over me. Decker and Kendrick get it. This is a big fucking deal, and we’ve got work to do.

“How long have you known?” Kendrick grumbles, the question aimed at Kyl.

“Since September third,” he repeats, clearly annoyed by everyone’s reactions.

The others stride over, looking equal parts agitated and anxious. Decker and Kendrick look the way I feel right now: like we dodged a bullet, but just barely.

I breathe another sigh of relief. That was close. We almost fucked up big time. I’m just grateful we realized how important this weekend really is before we head up to the cabin.

We wanted to make our first Valentine’s Day special. Now that we know it’s Joey’s birthday? We’re going to make this a weekend she won’t ever forget.