Chapter 18 | Julie
Eighteen
Julie
The guys had decided to put up Christmas lights outside and had been out there for twenty minutes, as my mother and I sat on the couch and watched.
Daisy had started to not feel well shortly after breakfast and had fallen asleep between us while Duke laid on the rug beneath her, always guarding her.
My dad held up a strand of lights and looked at it, while Patrick shook his head, folding his arms over his chest and scowling. Gage looked off to the side and lowered his head, clearly not wanting to get into another fight with my brother.
I chewed my thumbnail anxiously as I watched them, hating that there was still so much anger and hostility between them. I used to say that nothing would ever come between me and my brother, but my stomach soured at the thought as I looked at Gage and felt my heart flutter in my chest.
I knew it was wrong to get involved with him—especially right now.
But it was damn near impossible not to when we were walking sticks of dynamite, trying to avoid the flames that burned so strongly between us.
I spent my teen years and early twenties being obsessed with Gage, only to tell myself nothing could ever happen because he was my brother’s best friend.
Only things were different now, and I couldn’t talk my heart out of loving him like I used to.
“If you keep chewing your nails like that, you won’t have anything for her to paint when she wakes up,” my mother said, nodding to Daisy.
“She really does love painting nails.” I smiled and gently brushed a strand of hair off her face as she slept. “I can’t believe she got all of the guys to let her paint theirs.”
“Me neither. I can honestly say that I’ve never seen three manly men out there hanging Christmas lights with their pretty pink nails glistening in the sun,” she teased.
“She’s going to be so excited when she wakes up and sees the lights.
I feel bad that Christmas has been off for her.
..” I let my voice trail as I realized that it was only a week and a half until Christmas, and I still didn’t have anything figured out for gifts.
Now that my parents and Patrick were there with us, I needed to have gifts for them too, which only added to the stress I was already feeling.
“Gage mentioned to your father that he thinks the roads will be clear enough to head into town soon,” my mother said softly, staring out the window and smiling when she saw my dad pointing at both of the guys and frowning. “He really does love both of them like sons.”
“How were the roads coming up here yesterday?” I asked, clearing my throat as I shifted the topic away from how Gage has always felt like family to us. I didn’t need to think about him like that while still remembering the taste of his lips and how they felt trailing across my skin.
“Not too bad. A little icy here and there, but you know Patrick and his big truck. That thing can handle just about anything.”
“That’s good to know,” I replied, not thinking through my answer before it slipped out.
There wasn’t a time when I hadn’t been thinking about what we would do if Joel showed up here.
My main priority was keeping Daisy safe.
Nothing else mattered. But part of keeping her safe meant that we had a way to get the hell out of here if needed, and quickly.
While my car had done alright for the most part on our way up here, I felt better knowing that my brother’s beast of a truck could save the day if needed.
My mind was racing, and before I could stop it, warning bells started flashing through my brain.
“Wait a minute—” I said, holding my hand up as my mother began to speak. “How did Patrick get his truck? I thought you guys flew into Seattle yesterday and rented a car to drive up to the inn?”
My mother’s cheeks flushed crimson as she looked out the window for someone to save her from having this conversation with me.
Patrick had left his truck at my apartment because I had two parking spaces included in my lease.
Since I didn’t need both, I told him he could use the other space to store his truck until he decided whether to sell it.
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” I growled, gently getting up off the couch so I didn’t wake Daisy. I shook my head and stalked over to the front door, flinging it open as their heads all whipped in my direction.
Gage smiled warmly while my dad looked confused. My mother sat on the couch, covering her mouth with her hands as Patrick’s eyes went straight to her.
I stepped into the cold, not caring that I didn’t have a coat on. Thanks to my anger, I was burning up and didn’t need one. I pulled the door closed and turned to Patrick, my eyes burning into his.
“What the fuck were you doing at my apartment yesterday?” I snarled, poking my finger into his chest as I stepped closer to him.
“I was handling what needed to be handled,” he replied easily, tilting his head to the side as he studied me.
“I didn’t need anything handled. Do you not remember our conversation about how dangerous this guy is? I don’t need you putting yourself in danger!”
“I wasn’t in danger.”
I inhaled deeply, trying to force the oxygen to my brain so I could think clearly.
“You said it yourself that he was dangerous. What could you have possibly needed to handle by going there? You knew that Daisy and I were safe here!” I threw my hands up.
He stood straight, pulling his shoulders back as he cocked his head to the side and studied me. I hated it when he did this, always having to make sure I knew just how much bigger than me he was.
“I went to make a point,” he said softly.
“A point? A point? Who were you making a point to? Me? Was this all some sort of power play that you needed to show up against Gage so he’d think you’re tough and manly?”
“No. I went because I knew he was watching your apartment, and I wanted him to see exactly who he was going up against. No one—and I repeat no one—” he paused, looking at Gage, “fucks with my family. I walked out of the middle of a multi-million-dollar deal in New York, just to catch the first flight to Seattle so I could take care of things. You might be safe right now, but I won’t rest until he’s dealt with. ”
I pulled back, startled by his words as my lower lip trembled.
“What are you going to do?” I whispered, all of the anger from a few minutes ago rushing out of me.
“Whatever I have to. Make no mistake, I don’t fuck around when it comes to my family, Jules. I don’t care whose blood I have on my hands as long as you and Daisy are taken care of.”