Freckles

Chapter 31

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

KINCAID

We’re an hour into Zeke’s party, when a cold bottle is pressed into my hand and Jared raises his own. “To beating the bloody Aucklanders on our home turf next week and dragging the tournament trophy back where it belongs!”

Everyone in the room cheers, half of them too bleary-eyed to know why.

“You want a game of beer pong?” Ezra asks from the connecting doorway, raising a red plastic cup until the beer sloshes over the lip, running down his arm. He laughs, switching hands and shaking it until the droplets spill across the concrete, darker than the large oil stain under the ping-pong table.

He’s obviously well gone if he’s talking to me. Either that or he wants something. “Nah, I’m good.”

Aidan comes up behind him and pulls a face. “Chess all tucked up in bed, waiting for you, is she?”

I’m on him in two steps, forcing him back into the garage, an arm pressed to his throat, crushing it until I see the lines of pain on his face. “I don’t ever want to hear my girlfriend’s name coming out of your mouth again, got me? You see her coming your way, head in the other direction.”

“Yeah, man.” He shakes himself free of my grip, stumbling to the side, and Ezra tugs him into the garage, frowning at me. I leave them to it, walking through the house until I spot Francesca talking with some other girls in the kitchen.

I raise my bottle in acknowledgement but don’t go over, happy to see her enjoying herself and making friends.

Appropriate friends.

I catch up with a few other teammates in the main living area, all excited by the prospects of next week’s game. It’s the last match in the round robin, and a victory will set the mood for the upcoming First XV tournament. A much harder competition. The winners from that will head overseas to compete in the internationals, a chance to showcase their abilities to the world.

It would be fantastic to capture a win like that, but it’s hard to get excited when I don’t know if coach will even let me compete in next week’s game, let alone continue as captain.

The fact my rugby ambitions are teetering in the balance doesn’t matter to me like it would have a month ago. I’m starting to comprehend the deeper threads of my uncle’s analysis. Now I understand how restorative a true connection can be.

I finish my beer and enroute to grabbing another, change my mind and angle towards the side patio instead, attracted by a cloud of steam.

“Come join us in the hot tub,” Jared calls, Hailey under one arm, a brunette from my economics class under the other. I stare at the water and pull a face, but he laughs. “Don’t worry. Zeke said he filled it fresh today. You won’t catch anything.”

With both him and Hailey encouraging me, I strip off my jeans and shirt, leaving on my boxer briefs as I slip into the water, my phone set close enough to grab but far enough away to avoid casual splashes.

“You’re smiling,” Jared says, sounding perplexed. “That injury Wednesday must really have thrown you.”

“Fuck off. I smile.”

Hailey gives a drunken giggle and shakes her head. “Not for real, you don’t. There are scores of girls who thought they would be the first one to make you genuinely happy.” She waves her arm across the yard. “Needless to say, we all failed.”

“Hey, babe. Maybe stop with the references to your exes when I have my arm around you?”

“Says the boy with another girl currently fondling his cock.”

Jared snorts with laughter but can hardly deny the charge. For my part, I can’t remember hooking up with Hailey but don’t doubt her recollection. Prior to Francesca, everyone is just a blur.

I rest my eyes, leaning so the jets of water massage my back. A sixth sense tells me when Francesca ventures outside and I open them again, raising a hand. “Come join us.”

She walks close enough to bend and test the water, then steps away. “I don’t have a swimsuit.”

“Neither do we,” Hailey assures her. “Just strip to your underwear.”

Francesca’s nose tips into the air as she hugs herself, looking more uncomfortable by the second.

“It’s okay,” I say. “No one cares what you’re wearing.”

I shift to the seat nearest the rail, smile widening as she peels off three layers, each baggier than the last, then gingerly inserts her foot into the water.

“Shit, girl. Did you grandmother hand that underwear down to you?” Jared chuckles while she blushes.

“Say another word,” I growl at him, tucking her against my side and making sure most of her is obscured beneath the bubbles. “I’ll buy you something fancier tomorrow. And get you a proper bikini in time for beach season.”

She pulls a face. “I’m a redhead. We don’t have beach season. We have cower-inside-and-curse-the-sun season.”

“Then we’ll go swimming at night.”

“Speaking of men paying for shopping expeditions…” Hailey says and Jared groans.

“Finance it yourself.”

“You’d make me take it from my mother’s benefit?”

Francesca shifts inside my embrace. “Your mother’s on unemployment?”

“Nah, that’s just what I call the obscenely large payment my father gives her each month for my upkeep.”

“He’s the owner of HomeTechnic,” I explain. A nationwide chain of stores selling computers and other electronics. Judging from Francesca’s expression, she’d hoped to find another girl in financial straits, and instead stumbled upon another billionaire.

“But that doesn’t stop anyone from buying me nice things,” Hailey adds, tossing her hair. “Like a sweet tiara I found that matches my ball dress to perfection.”

“I haven’t even asked you to the winter dance,” Jared grumbles.

Hailey cups a hand to her ear, leaning close, making me laugh.

“Fine,” he says with an exasperated snort. “Would you like to go to the dance? We can go Dutch.”

“Cheapskate.”

I stretch my arm farther around Francesca, cupping her hip. “Do you want to go? We can shop for a dress and shoes this weekend.”

“Don’t say yes until he adds in jewellery,” Hailey says, beaming at her. “For you and your new best friend.”

“Rented,” I counter like it’s a negotiation. Then I turn back to Francesca. “My uncle’s got a new jewellery contact he’s checking out this week, up in Auckland. I’ll see if he minds us tagging along.”

Hailey’s eyes light up even further. “Deal!”

“Hey,” Francesca interrupts, her foot pushing Hailey’s knee. “Don’t I get a say?”

I chuckle, ignoring how she stiffens at the thought of meeting my uncle. It has to happen sometime, and a shopping trip seems a nice way to cushion the experience. “Only if you say yes.”

“Do I get to pick the dress?”

“You do, and I’ll select the lingerie,” I say, my lips buzzing against her neck. “Not just for the dance.”

“Okay.”

“It’s a date.” I close my eyes, enjoying the relaxation and the company. I’m close to dozing when Hailey makes a disgusted noise and the other girl jumps out of the hot tub, striding swiftly across the decking to disappear inside.

“Did I miss something?”

Jared purses his mouth. “Meh. Just tried to get an underwater blow job, but I guess it’s not on the cards.”

“You’re being revolting, babe.” Hailey takes his chin in her fingers, tipping his face towards her. “And your pupils are all blown. You promised you wouldn’t drink too much tonight.”

“And I kept my promise,” Jared mumbles. “I’m not drunk. I’m high.”

He laughs while she pouts, her expression brightening when she sees Ferdinand leaning against the outside wall. “Hey, Ferdie! You want a three-way?”

The boy immediately crosses to the tub, crouching while she turns around, leaning her arms on the decking.

“Babe, no,” Jared says in a hurt tone.

“What?” she says, the picture of innocence. “Are you too high to get it up?” She pulls a face at Ferdinand. “In which case, want a two-way?”

He laughs and lifts her bodily from the water, carrying her across the deck while she squeals.

Jared’s face turns thunderous. “For fuck’s sake. She’s only been back with me for five minutes.”

“Perhaps you should cool it with the drinking and drug-taking then.” When he turns a stony gaze on me, I add, “Carry on the way you are, and coach will pull you from the squad.”

“You’re the one who’s in danger of being cut, dude. How about you mind your business, and I’ll mind mine?”

He heaves himself from the water, and I track his stumbling progress, relaxing when he makes it safely inside.

When I turn back to Francesca, she appears concerned. “Are you losing your place because I hurt your arm?”

I snort. “More to do with me arguing and swearing at coach when he told me to see the nurse.” I drop off the seat, letting the water buoy me as I turn to float before her, spreading her knees. “You’re sure you’re okay with our shopping plans this weekend? I haven’t asked Uncle Lance yet, so if you want to pull out, now’s the time.”

“And disappoint Hailey?” She rolls her eyes. “I couldn’t, possibly.”

“She might’ve invited herself but she’s not coming. Her dad can buy her a tiara.”

“That’s fair.” She tilts her head back, staring up at the stars. “And it’s only married women or brides walking down the aisle who’re meant to wear them.”

“Wait. There are rules for jewellery?”

“There are rules for everything, rich boy.”

We stay in the water for another few minutes, then I climb out to fetch towels, quickly dressing so I can help her dry.

The house is overheated after the crisp air outside, and we both gravitate towards the garage, where the open door keeps it cooler.

Ezra is still playing beer pong but must be winning because he looks more sober now than he did earlier. Jealousy might also play a part as Aidan flirts with a couple, university age, apparently keen on introducing himself as a third.

Hailey arrives in the room, stealing Francesca away, and I take the opportunity to text my uncle, checking that he’s okay with me inviting us onto his weekend trip. He soon replies to say he’s looking forward to meeting her.

A much better option than accidentally running into her one day at home. Not that she’ll be staying there long.

With the body gone, I’ve organised for an exterminator to clear and rodent-proof the place this coming weekend. After we spend the day in Auckland, she can safely return home to her mouse-free, freezer-free rental. The less time she spends in Onyx, Tyson, and Ezra’s close company, the better.

Speaking of the devil, Ezra finishes his current round and comes over to stand beside me. “You weren’t training the last few days. Did coach cut you?”

“Not that I know of.” Not yet. “I had a few jobs on. Your dad might assign you jobs that fit around your rugby ambitions, but he doesn’t do that for me.”

Ezra snorts, then looks vaguely shocked. “You’re kidding, right? You think the reason I don’t get sent on all the jobs you do is because he cares about rugby?”

I press my lips together, trying to work out his angle. “No. I thought it was because he cared about you.”

“Sure,” he scoffs. “With the golden child around, showing me up at every opportunity.”

I squint at him quizzically. The phrase doesn’t make sense.

If anything, he’s the golden child. The sole heir to an immense fortune while I’ll only ever qualify for scraps.

I open my mouth to rebut him, then glance around. This isn’t the place for a family heart-to-heart. I grab his arm and walk him upstairs, finding a quiet room. “What’re you talking about? You’re the one who’s set to inherit everything. After what Mum did, I’m a footnote at best.”

“What your mum did?” Now he’s the one looking puzzled. “You mean, let her brother pay her millions to move overseas.”

An icy chill runs down my spine. “She stole.”

“The fuck she did.” He bursts into laughter, genuinely entertained. “If she touched a cent without authorisation, he would’ve dumped her in the slurry and who cares if they share DNA and grew up together. After finding out she left you alone with Pops, he nearly killed her there and then.”

I can’t speak.

Every memory in my head is suddenly in disarray, trying to juggle this new piece of information. “No, he would’ve—”

“He took you out on jobs with him, and you were… what? Eleven? Twelve? You think he ever let me near a meeting between the area crime bosses? Even now, I’m not allowed to go on collection jobs on my own.”

“That’s because you don’t try.”

“It’s because even when we performed the same, you’d get feedback and a detailed breakdown of how you did, what you could try in future, praise for every detail you got right. I’d get a nod if I were lucky. I don’t try because there’s nothing to try for. This business was only ever going to you.”

The ground no longer seems stable beneath my feet. All the days I’ve spent wondering what I did wrong to drive away the person meant to love me most, and I had the entire incident backwards. “He paid off my mother?”

“Don’t pull that face. He killed mine.”

Another shock. I’ve always been told she died giving birth. “I never knew that.”

Ezra studies me more carefully. “A talk with my dad might be well overdue.”

“You reckon?”

He laughs and after a few moments, I join him, the release better than screaming, which is the other likely option.

Once I fall silent again, a few pieces begin to fall into place. I remember Tyson saying how I fuck girls but don’t date them, while Ezra was the opposite. It went over my head at the time, but now… “Does he favour me because of your sexuality?”

Ezra’s eyes grow so wide and panicked; I have a tug of pity. “What makes you say that?” he asks in a strangled voice. Then with urgency, “Have you been asking Aidan these questions? Is that why he’s been acting weird, lately.”

“Weird as in not spending all his time with you?” I arch my eyebrow, and he nods.

For all that we’re competitive slash antagonistic, Ezra is family, and I strongly suspect Aidan is a narcissist. Love bombing people with support and friendship until he gets what he wants from the relationship.

That’s the reason he let go of Francesca so easily. Not caring about my threat to cut her as much as my threat to have him cut from the team. All credit to him, he hides the defects in his personality well.

If I hadn’t been close enough to see the small signs of falsity in his reactions, I would never have guessed.

If Aidan has what he needs from Ezra, ahead lies nothing but gaslighting and pain.

“You’re fucking him, yeah? Aidan?”

The wide-eyed shock is understandable. Organisations like ours aren’t known for their progressive ideas, even if his birthright will shelter him from the worst.

I find the video file I recorded on Wednesday, cueing it ready to forward to Ezra’s phone, not yet pressing send. “I don’t personally give a shit, but if you are, he’s using you.”

“What would you know about it?”

“When did you two first hook up? Did he make you wait until after you got him on the team?”

My cousin’s face turns stony… but the slow flush rising from his neck tells the true story.

“I’ll give you some ammunition, but only if you tell me why you fucked around with Francesca.” He continues to glower at me. “What d’you have to lose by telling me? It’s behind us now.”

Ezra holds out for another minute, then puffs out an aggrieved breath. “Fine. He wouldn’t let me touch him until I ditched my girlfriend but…” His jaw clenches.

“But…?”

“Fuck you. You’ll just laugh.”

“Because I find it so amusing that you stuck your cock in my girlfriend’s mouth.”

He shifts from foot to foot, my flat tone unsettling him. “The longer we went out, the harder it was to perform with Alice. I excused it away with stress and a new training regimen, but I know she suspected the truth. I got worried that if I dumped her, she’d—” He abruptly cuts off, tugging back his fringe.

“Tell everyone you’re gay?”

“Yeah, maybe.” His looks miserable. “But I guess you’re going to do that now.”

“I don’t spill family secrets.”

When he glances at me, his nostrils pinch together, then he nods. “Thanks. Aidan told me about this ad Francesca had…” He frowns. “You knew about that, right?”

“Yeah. I know.”

“Okay, so he suggested if I went along and filmed it, then Alice would break off with me and everyone would believe we broke up because I was fucking another girl. Anything else would sound like sour grapes.” He pauses for a second, then adds, “Not gonna lie. The fact you had a crush on her was an added bonus. Kind of hoped it would throw you off your game.”

My frown grows deeper as I turn over the new information. Appalled anew at Aidan’s callousness, exploiting my cousin’s attraction, traumatising Francesca to earn a place on the team. “But you didn’t show Alice the video. I did.”

“Yeah.” He shrugs. “What can I say? You’re predictable. If you hadn’t, I would’ve just arranged for someone else to send it.”

“You don’t fancy Francesca at all?”

He snorts. “No. You’re welcome to keep your little redhead all to yourself.” His smile thins. “If you’re worried on that score, it’s Onyx you need to keep her away from.”

Don’t I know it.

I press send, then tuck my phone away, clapping him on the shoulder. “Use it wisely, man. Either to get Aidan thrown off the team or earn a place in the try-outs with a little selector blackmail.”

His eyes widen as he watches the video, but I don’t stick around to the end.

It’s time to collect my girl and head home.