129. Can it be?
129
CAN IT BE?
Daire
“What the hell?”
With one eye open, I glanced at Nate who was still asleep. I wasn’t going to wake him. It was late morning on Sunday, a day off for everyone and we needed it. All the manor residents did. After the crap Brax had pulled, we should have been happy to see the last of him. But when he told us about his father’s bullying, I couldn’t help feeling sorry for him.
And so my dads gave him a job here in town. We didn’t go so far as to offer him an apartment in the manor. That was too much but he didn’t ask, saying he had an old school friend who he’d share a place with.
Nate and I’d planned to spend the day in bed, catching up on sleep, ordering takeout and maybe discussing if we were going to make babies.
But when Ryder’s voice pierced my consciousness, I had to get up. My buddy had lost his hair and had little energy to do much other than sleep and watch TV. We were all pitching in with food and taking Dyani to daycare. Martin had stepped in and was covering for Ivor at work.
The chemo treatment was working, thank Gods, but it was early days. All the Sunshine Manor residents, including the ones living on either side of the building, looked forward to a time when we could enjoy Friday nights on the roof again.
But with Ryder’s shout, I suspected that wasn’t happening today.
Putting on pants and a tee, I headed next door.
Ryder was sitting on the porch bench and Ivor was standing, fury etched on his face, and hands on his hips while glaring at a guy whose back was toward me. He seemed familiar and it wasn’t like my old housemate Ivor to get so angry, except at cancer. And Kellan.
Fuck, no. Now I recognized the guy who was trying to reach Ryder but Ivor was in his way. “Kellan.”
He twisted his head and snarled, “This is nothing to do with you, grizzly.”
“It’s everything to do with me. Ryder and Ivor are my family and the manor belongs to me.”
Ryder got to his feet and leaned on the railing, and Ivor took his arm.
“There’s no room at the inn, Kellan. If you’re looking for a place to stay, this isn’t it.” I climbed onto the porch and got on the other side of Ryder.
“Kellan.” Ryder’s ragged voice almost broke me. “My family’s going through a lot right now and we don’t need any more problems. And you’re always stirring up trouble.”
“I came to see you.”
Ivor took charge of the conversation. “We’re not doing this, Kellan. Ryder needs rest and you do nothing but cause havoc in our lives.”
“That’s why I’m here.”
“To cause trouble?” I butted in. “Yeah, we know. We’ve met before, remember?”
Kellan pulled a face at me. “I heard you were sick, Ryder, and I wanted to see you.”
“Stop right there,” Ryder insisted, his voice stronger than before. “If you say you came to see me one last time before I die, I’ll use the last bit of strength I have to punch you in the nose.”
“Can’t an old friend drop in and see his buddy without everyone thinking the worst?” Kellan asked.
Where Kellan was involved, everything was always the worst. “No,” we all shouted.
“I’m insulted,” he huffed. “But…” He pulled a box from his bag. “I brought your favorites, Ryder.”
“Macaroons?” Ryder’s anger evaporated as he held out his hand while Ivor simmered beside him, his jaw and fists clenched.
“Mmmm. Remember how we used to eat these naked in bed after sex?”
“That’s enough,” Ivor’s raised voice had three sets of eyes fixed on him. Kellan always enjoyed getting under everyone’s skin and judging by his smirk, he was doing just that. “Thank you for the gift but Ryder needs his rest.”
“I’ll pop by again tomorrow.” Kellan wasn’t fazed by Ivor’s outburst.
“We won’t be here.” Ivor was going to snap if Kellan didn’t leave soon.
“Don’t worry. I’ll wait. I still have Ryder’s number so I’ll text him.”
“No need to talk about me as If I’m not here.” Now Ryder was about ready to explode.
Remembering that Kellan said he was pregnant the last time we saw him, I wanted to ask where the baby was. But even though the guy was a dick, I was reluctant to bring it up in case something had gone wrong with the pregnancy, though he may have been lying about the whole thing.
But I didn’t have to say anything because Kellan himself mentioned it.
“I have to get back to my son. I’m staying at The View hotel a few streets over.” He blew Ryder a kiss, ignored Ivor and glowered at me before prancing off down the path.
I sat on the porch and waited until Ivor had taken Ryder inside for a nap. When my former roommate returned, he sank onto the bench Ryder had vacated. I reached out and took his hand. “I can’t cope with much more.” His sobbing interrupted what he was saying and he wiped the tears from his cheeks with his free hand.
“How about I book you, Ryder, and Dyani into a hotel for a few days. Not The View. Don’t worry.” I suspected Kellan had an ulterior motive for coming to town and seeing Ryder. “But if you and your family aren’t here, I’ll deal with him. Or I’ll lock all the doors, close the curtains and pretend no one is in.”
Ivor jumped up and hugged me.
“Go and pack while I make the booking.”
After seeing Ivor and family into a rideshare, I checked their apartment was locked, sent texts to the manor family warning them about Kellan possibly lurking around and headed back to my place.
It was now early afternoon and Nate had eaten a bowl of cereal, judging by the dishes in the sink. I made a coffee and a sandwich and climbed into bed beside my mate. He’d fallen asleep again and after finishing my food, my eyes grew heavy and I dozed off.
“Daire.” A hand was shaking me but I didn’t want to wake up. “What is it now? Kellan? Brax? My folks? Ryder?” My eyes snapped open and I blinked at the bright sunlight shining into the room. “Is Ryder okay? Did the hotel call?”
“What? Is that one of their clients?”
“No.” I was too tired to explain.
“Neil just called asking if we’d like to go to brunch with them.”
“Isn’t it a bit late? Do you mean dinner?”
“Babe, you’re more tired than I realized. I’ll tell Neil no and we’ll do it another Sunday.”
Grabbing my phone I texted Ivor. How’s the hotel? Do you need anything?
His reply had me reading and rereading the message. Was that text meant for me? Are you and Nate in a hotel this weekend?
I dialed my friend and when he picked up, I asked, “What’s going on, Ivor?”
“I was about to ask you the same thing.”
“I set you up in a hotel after Kellan turned up.”
“Kellan!” Ivor’s shriek had me holding the phone away from my ear. And then there was Ryder’s voice in the background yelling, “What the fuck? I thought we were done with him?”
Nate snatched the phone out of my hand. “Ivor. Yes. Yes. I’m sorry he upset you. I’ll find out what’s happening and call you back.” He threw the phone onto the bed. “Daire, Ivor’s sobbing. Tell me what’s going on.”
After relating the whole story, he pointed out it was still Sunday morning and yet when I’d supposedly sent my friends to the hotel, it was Sunday afternoon. “Check your phone.”
There were no calls to any hotel, and nothing on the rideshare app. “Am I going crazy?” I collapsed onto the bed and studied the ceiling. Nate climbed onto the mattress beside me.
He kissed my forehead. “No. I think you just had a very vivid dream.”
“Shit.”
My mate suggested I apologize to Ivor and Ryder. First, I ordered lunch and had it sent to them. And I arranged for two boxes of those macaroons that Ryder liked to be delivered.
Ivor met me at the door and gave me side eye after I explained it was a very realistic dream. “You almost gave me a heart attack bringing up Kellan’s name.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay, the food almost makes up for it.”
Ryder offered me a macaroon.
“Wow, these are really good.”
“Mmmm,” he replied, his mouth full.
Ivor took one and agreed they were the best he’d ever had.
“But how did you know I liked these ones from the bakery on third street?”
“I didn’t. They’re the ones—” I couldn’t tell him they were the same ones that dream Kellan had brought.
“Because as far as I know, the only person besides me who was aware that they were my favorite was…” His voice trailed away.
“Kellan.”