Chapter 12
CHAPTER 12
JACE
“Did you seriously just growl at me?”
I stare wide eyed at my little sister and smack her hand when she reaches for the tray.
She stomps her foot. “Would you quit that?”
Arms band around me, pinning mine to my sides.
“Oi! What the fuck?”
Lawson’s chuckle vibrates through my back. “Hurry up, sunshine.”
Sydney snatches two biscuits and sprints away. He releases me and I jump away, pointing at him. “Traitor!”
He rolls his eyes, snagging a treat for himself. “I just saved you from being mauled by your hangry sister. I think the words you’re looking for are ‘thank you.’”
“I could take her.”
He pats my chest. “Sure you could, mate.”
Mum walks over and I pout. “Mum, Lawson’s bullying me.”
She stifles a laugh. “Boys, behave.”
Sydney pops out of nowhere and steals his biscuit as he lifts it to his mouth. She high tails it over to where our dad mans the grill and uses him as a shield when Law prowls closer.
Dad throws his hands up and steps aside. “You’re on your own, baby girl.”
She gasps and looks at Lawson with wide eyes, shoving the entire biscuit in her mouth. He lunges for her and she squeals.
“Good luck ever getting me to help you with anything again, sunshine,” Lawson calls out as he snatches her around the waist, throwing her over his shoulder.
“Don’t you dare, Law—” her protests break on a scream when he launches her into the pool.
“So.” Mum’s soft voice draws my attention. “This girl?—”
“Kinsley.”
“Do we like like her?”
“I’m definitely starting to.”
“Does she feel the same?”
“God, I hope so. She’s a little shy at first, but once she opens up—she’s incredible. Too sweet for her own good. Caring to a fault.” I smile thinking about our afternoon in the park and how her eyes lit up with every shutter of her camera. “Unbelievably talented.”
Mum reaches up, cupping my jaw. “She makes you happy?”
Images of her bright face and the sound of her laugh flash in my mind. My lips tingle with the phantom feel of hers from when I kissed her the other night and my heart skips at the memory of her clutching on to me like she never wanted me to let go.
“More than I thought possible.”
My phone vibrates and I pull it out, grinning at the screen. “Be right back.”
I head through the house and open the front door. Kinsley whips around, beaming. “Jace,” she whispers.
“Kinsley.”
I open the door wider and she steps into the foyer. Slowly, she spins to face me and holds up a cling wrapped plate. “I made some banana bars. They’re basically mini breads with vanilla frosting. No nuts, though, since you said your sister is allergic.”
“You remember that?”
She shrugs. “It’s kind of an important thing to remember.”
I huff a laugh and shake my head. It was an offhand comment I made when we were talking about our favorite snacks.
I told her I loved trail mix, but never really got it growing up since Sydney liked to steal my snacks when she was younger. She still does it, but now she knows better.
Of course Kinsley remembers. That’s who she is. Someone who pays attention, from the biggest moments to the quietest whispers.
Without thought, I step forward and cup her face. She sucks in a breath as I tuck a strand of her hair. “I really want to kiss you, again.”
Her lips twitch and she nods. “Okay.”
With a smile, I lean in and gently press my lips to hers. She shuffles closer, placing her hand on my chest and I swipe my tongue over her bottom lip.
I pull back before I’m ready, leaning my forehead against here. “Thank you.”
For caring to remember.
For seeing me as more.
For staying.
For being you.
“Do you want the tour now or introductions?”
“Tour, please.”
I set her plate down on the hallway table before leading her around the first floor. We pass the family trophy case and she whistles, glancing up at me with a raised eyebrow. “Trying to impress me or something?”
I scoff. “Always.”
She giggles as we walk up the stairs. I fail to keep her distracted as we pass a picture of me with a mouth full of braces and a face covered in the lovely gift of puberty acne. She covers her mouth with her fingers, lips twitching.
I pout and she reaches over, brushing her fingers through my hair. “It’s nice to know that even someone like you couldn’t escape the dreaded awkward phase.”
We walk into my childhood bedroom and I sit on the bed, watching her slowly spin with a soft smile. She sits down next to me and her eyes slide to the nightstand.
I lean in when she picks up the frame, and look down at the four younger versions of me and the lads. “That’s the first race we all competed in together.”
She turns her head, our noses nearly brushing. Her eyes drop to my lips and I lean in, but a voice calls out a second after I hear the front door slam shut. “We’re here!”
I drop my head to her shoulder as she sighs. “We should?—”
“Just give me a moment,” I grumble as her shoulders shake with silent laughter.
“Is there anything I can do to help?” she whispers.
“I’m okay,” I chuckle and stand. “But know that the next time you ask me that, I’ll have a very different answer.”
She tucks her lips, cheeks flaming, and slips her hand in mine. Ryder’s mum sees us first as we walk down the stairs. “Jace!” Her eyes slide to Kinsley. “Oh, you’re a pretty little thing. Why can’t you bring home a sweet looking girl like that?” She backhands Ryder’s chest.
“I need a drink,” he grumbles, scrubbing his face and nodding at Kinsley. “It’s good to see you again. This is my mum, Alice. I apologize in advance for the nonsense bound to come out of her mouth.”
Alice gasps. “Just for that, I’ll be standing with the Collins in their garage this weekend.”
“Wait, I didn’t mean it.” Ryder jogs after her.
We follow them down the hallway and I clear my throat. “Speaking of this weekend. How do you feel about standing around a packed garage, watching twenty grown men play with their fast cars, and later on maybe celebrating a win?”
She smiles. “I feel really good about that. Especially the last part.” We step out into the back garden and she sighs. “Guess I need to get my hands on some Miller Racing swag then.”
I wink. “I think I know a guy.”
Mum pops out of nowhere and pulls Kinsley into a hug. “You must be Kinsley. I’m Eleanor, Jace’s mum, and the handsome fella on the grill over there is his dad, Julian.”
“It’s nice to meet you. Thank you for letting me join today.”
They separate as Sydney shoves her way between me and Kinsley. “Oh my god, you’re here and you’re real. Hi, I’m the much better Collins sibling, Sydney.”
“Hi.” Kinsley laughs, then glances to our left. “Lawson.”
He dips his chin. “I see this one hasn’t sent you running for the hills yet.”
She winks at me. “Not yet.”
He nods. “Give it some time.”
I elbow him as we take our seats. Kinsley sits next to me and our legs brush. She glances at me and I slip my hand over her thigh, squeezing.
“Sydney, there’s a plate full right there.” Lawson scowls as she steals a chip from him.
“But they taste so much better off your plate.”
Kinsley giggles and I lean over. “Don’t worry, yours are safe.”
“Then so are your fingers,” she whispers back.
After everyone is done eating, she’s stolen away by the ladies while the gentlemen clean up before changing into our swimsuits. The lads sneak up behind Sydney and snatch her, swinging her into the pool before jumping in after her.
“Please don’t do that to me,” Kinsley pleads.
I scoff. “I’d never.”
She takes a step away. “Jace. Don’t you?—”
I wrap my arms around her and throw us over the edge. Her squeal is cut off as we hit the water and when we come up, she splashes me.
“What? I tripped.”
Two bodies shove me from behind and Sydney jumps on Lawson’s back with a battle cry as I dunk Ryder. I catch Kinsley out of the corner of my eye, stifling her laugh behind her hand.
I swim over and perch myself on the side of the pool beside her. “Enjoying the show?”
“Immensely. I especially liked when you used Ryder as a shield.”
“Syd was after my nipples,” I pout and yank her onto my lap when my sister swims over.
Sydney rolls her eyes. “Big baby.”
“Am not.”
“Okay then, I challenge you and Kinsley to a chicken fight.”
“Absolutely not.”
“Aw, you scared? Like a baby?”
“No. You two are just a couple of cheats.”
“How can you cheat at a chicken fight?” Kinsley asks.
“I don’t know, but they do.”
She shrugs. “Well, I’ve never played.”
My sister perks up. “I’ll go easy.”
“She’s a dirty liar,” I whisper into her ear.
“Come on.” She looks at me over her shoulder.
Damnit. Try and find me someone who can say no to that face. Oh wait, you can’t.
Sydney swims over to Lawson as I move in front of Kinsley.
“This okay?”
I grunt, trying to tamp down the growing, well, everything as she slides her legs over my shoulders. I band my hands over her thighs when she shifts and clench my jaw.
Good lord, that isn’t helping.
“Who’s ready to rumble?” Sydney calls out.
Kinsley leans over my head. “I think I fucked up.”
“Too late now, angel. Time to put your game face on, we’re in it to win it.”
Ryder stands off to the side and counts us down, barely getting out the last number before they pounce. Kinsley squeaks, arms intertwining with Sydney’s as she tries to shove her off.
My sister curls a hand around the back of her head as Lawson takes a step back. Kinsley dips down, curling over me, and Sydney’s hand slips off.
She sits up and we circle them. This time I take the step forward and Kinsley grabs both of Sydney’s hands, yanking them off balance for a second. Lawson steps into me and tries to slip a hand under Kinsley’s calf.
I growl and yank us away. My mind rationalizes that it’s because I don’t want to lose and not because I don’t want my best mate to touch her. But it may be a little bit of both.
Lawson slips behind us and Sydney grabs onto Kinsley’s arms, but I spin and Sydney wobbles. Kinsley uses the opportunity to shove her shoulders.
Sydney hits the water with a shriek before popping back up with a look of disbelief.
“Yes,” I cheer and clap my hands on Kinsley’s thighs.
She laughs when I flip her over my shoulder, catching her in a hug.
“Oh my god, that was so much fun. Can we go again?” She laughs, bouncing on her toes.
We play three more rounds, winning all of them before the sky darkens and we gather around the firepit. I watch her across the flames as she laughs at something Sydney says.
As if she senses me, she glances up and I get lost in the golden glow as flames dance in her eyes. She smiles and my heart beats faster.
We haven’t talked about what this thing between us is and I know we will eventually. And as I watch her across the fire, I hope that when the time comes, she feels the same.