Chapter 27
Locke
“You’re an asshole,” Decker snarks at Kylian.
“I learned from the best,” Kyl fires back, lifting his chin.
I knew this wouldn’t be easy. The tension has been simmering between them all week. Tonight’s revelations finally sent it bubbling over.
The three of us are still on the deck, despite how late it is and how early we have to be up for tomorrow’s game. This can’t wait, and we all know it.
Decker is standing on one side of the table, Kylian on the other.
They’re facing off in a way I’ve never witnessed before.
After all the years we’ve had together and everything we’ve been through, I hope like hell this isn’t what breaks us.
There’s no way I can choose between them if it comes down to it.
Decker huffs, glaring from Kyl to me, then back to our friend again. “I can’t believe you kept all that from us. We don’t do secrets. I can’t fucking stand secrets.”
Clearly exasperated by arguing in circles, Kylian sighs. “It wasn’t my story to tell,” he says for the umpteenth time.
Decker paces the length of the table, muttering to himself. He’s hurting. We all are. But he’s having a hard time coming to terms with what Joey shared. He’s failing at keeping his shit together, and, apparently, he’s decided Kylian should be the punching bag for his self-loathing.
Raking his hands through his hair, he spins and strides back so he’s directly across from Kylian again and thrusts a finger in his direction. “We could’ve avoided all of this. All the shit we put her through—”
“I didn’t do anything wrong,” Kylian grits out, hands planted on the tabletop.
“And I’d do it again, if given the chance.
You knowing about her past wasn’t going to change your decision about keeping her here.
” Leaning forward, he squints behind his glasses.
“You just can’t handle knowing you weren’t as in control of this situation as you let yourself believe. ”
Yikes. Shots fired.
But also… Kylian’s got a point.
Propping myself against the railing, I cross my arms over my chest and examine them both. They’ve never really had to duke it out before—not like this. They need to work through this so we can all move forward.
“I should have known,” Decker groans, his hands clenched into fists. “I should have fucking known.”
Now we’re getting somewhere.
He’s not upset that Kylian didn’t tell him.
To his credit, I think Kylian knows that.
Decker’s pissed because he can’t fix this. Because so many of his decisions and actions probably made things worse for her over the last several weeks.
With a final huff, he slumps into a chair, lifting his head to regard me before focusing on Kylian again.
“What can we do?” he laments.
Kyl stands up straighter, a glint of mischief in his smirk. “What we do best. Analyze. Strategize. Make a plan and hit them where it hurts. Cut them off at every pass. We play the long game, and take down our enemy in ways they never expected.”
“How?” Decker demands, glowering. He won’t be satisfied until he figures out a way forward.
Kylian can’t control the smugness that drips from every word.
“We could start by tracking them down, quietly dropping hints that someone knows their secret. Harass them for months to make it that much more unbearable. Then, eventually, we expose them to their families and communities with irrefutable evidence.”
Decker’s eyes practically bug out of his head. “The fuck, Kyl?”
“That’s what I’ve been doing. Ever since I found out. I’ve been working to destroy the videos and weave together a revenge plan worthy of our girl.”
Decker nods, then blows out a long breath. “That’s a start. But be careful, Kyl. She can’t…”
“She won’t. Not until it’s done. It’ll take time. Years, even. But I won’t rest until I see this through.”
“What can I do?” Decker presses. “How can I help?”
“We can’t outsource this,” Kylian contends. “I wouldn’t trust anyone else with this job anyway. I need time. Money. New equipment dedicated to this project so it isn’t tangled up with anything related to football.”
“Consider it done,” Decker declares, sitting a little straighter. That position, and the satisfaction it conveys, only remains for a heartbeat, though. A second later, he’s hunching forward in his chair, and his expression fades to one of remorse. “Do you think… Do you think she’s really okay?”
She is. Or she will be. I know that. Kylian knows that, too.
There’s a vivacity to Joey that life hasn’t dimmed, despite all the trials and hardships she’s endured. She’s okay. And now that we’re all on the same page, maybe she can move past okay and finally thrive.
“Unequivocally,” Kylian assures him. “It’s important that you believe her, Decker. That might be the most important piece to all of this.”
“Should someone go check on her?” Decker asks, tapping his foot against the boards of the deck—he’s clearly anxious to volunteer.
“Kendrick’s with her,” Kylian informs us, double-checking his phone. “And it’s late. We all need to go to bed.”
How Kylian knows Kendrick’s whereabouts, I have no idea. But I’m glad he has it covered. She’s got the support of all of us, and she’s going to need it.
Never one to mince words, Kylian shuffles toward the sliding glass door. “I assume we’re done here?” He regards me, then nods to Decker.
“We’re done,” Decker confirms.
He grips the door handle but pauses before sliding it open. “And we’re good? As in, you no longer feel compelled to slam your throwing hand into inanimate objects or my face?”
Decker gapes in response to Kyl’s question, but I can’t hold back my snicker. Kylian has never cracked jokes like this. She’s changing him. She’s changing all of us.
“We’re good,” Decker eventually confirms, his eyes wide as he watches Kylian retreat into the house.
Turning to me, he blinks a couple of times and nods toward the closed door. “He’s got jokes now?”
With a grin, I push off the railing. “Apparently.” I come to stand before him and extend a hand.
When he’s on his feet, I pull him into a hug and give him a smack on the back.
“She makes us better. All of us individually; all of us together. I know your first instinct is to protect, but there’s no danger here.
She doesn’t need protection. She just needs you. ”
I don’t give him time to respond before I turn on my heel and head to bed.