Chapter 26
TWENTY-SIX
This week turned out to be a bust, not only for myself, but for Rachel as well.
While I got flowers, she didn’t receive her weekly bouquet from her ex-husband. I had no idea who had sent mine. I doubted they came from Tyler unless they were apology flowers. “Sorry, I didn’t make you come.” But I doubted that was the case.
I did not share the fact that I got flowers with anyone in my home life. My coworkers knew because they worked with me—as for me, I figured that if I ignored it, the problem would go away.
Had it been roses, lilies, or anything else, I might have felt some form of excitement, but they were astrids, making it feel like a threat rather than a gesture.
As for my sleepover, my parents had been worried I had been kidnapped, but once they saw Mark dropping me off, they seemed to think it was okay that their only daughter was sleeping over at a man’s house.
Life was wacky that way.
“I can’t believe you got engaged.” I turned to look at Orianna.
She was proof that time moved quickly for some while it stood still for others. When I started to work here, she was single, and now she was ready to get married to the chief of police in a town over.
“Between us, I want to elope,” she amended. “My mother-in-law would freak, but if we do that we will have a small celebration in a few weeks. I’d expect you there.”
I agreed because no one in the town over had beef with me, and it would be fun to go out and mingle with other people.
“Astrid!”
I let out a silent groan when Ronnie called me over.
“I can’t wait to go home,” I told Ori as I got up and went to Ronnie’s office.
“What’s up?”
Ronnie looked up at me with a set jaw. My stomach sank, and I thought something was wrong with my article.
“Is everything okay?” I asked softly.
“No,” he told me. “They changed the conference date. It won’t be next week anymore.”
I felt relief, not only because everything was okay with my column but because I had not let myself think too much about this, and now I had a bit more time before I had to fret about it.
“Aw, that sucks,” I lied. “But it gives us more time to prepare.”
He gave me a grin that instantly transformed his harsh features and made him look softer.
“You’re right. Everything will still go according to plan.”
I gave him two thumbs-up and walked out of his office. When the clock struck five, I headed straight home.
My mom and dad were getting ready to go to Zeke’s for wings and drinks. They asked me to come along, but I wasn’t in the mood to go into town, and I didn’t feel like being a third wheel on their date.
Rachel wasn’t home, which was odd since she had nothing to do after work. I was sure she would have mentioned that yesterday.
Now, I was in a pair of light gray drawstring shorts and a white long-sleeved crop top. I was comfortable and ready to have a chill night. Not doing anything was making me have crazy thoughts, like maybe I should go for a jog.
Back in college I used to go to the school gym.
Treadmills and anything cardio bored me.
I couldn’t sit still long enough to make progress, but weights were another story.
I think the closest gym to me was in Willow Grove, and from what I saw on the newspaper archive from when it opened it was small.
Then the nearest chain gym was a good forty minutes away.
I needed to find a good hobby. Maybe I should go over to Sunny Pines and check out the coffee shop? It’s not like I didn’t have the time.
It seemed so far away when I was in high school, but that was before I had a car. Just as I contemplated what to do, someone knocked on the door.
Hesitantly, I got up, glaring at the door as if that would make me see through it. With shaky hands, I turned the knob. Not many people visited us, and the ones who did were none I wanted to see right now.
I had done a superb job of not thinking about Tyler, not how his fingers had felt or the dirty little things he said to me. I was doing okay, not at all bothered about it.
I’ve had sex before. I’ve messed around with drunk frat boys, and that wasn’t memorable. Why should this be any different?
You weren’t in love with any of them.
Seriously? Was my mind with me or against me?
I opened the door and came face to face with a fist.
“Took you long enough,” Adam said, catching himself before he hit me, and dropped his hand.
“You almost hit me,” I stated.
“But I didn’t,” he told me as he gave me a once-over. “I’m here ’cause we have dinner plans.”
It took a moment for his words to sink in. He wasn’t in his shop clothes. He was wearing jeans and a T-shirt.
“No, we don’t,” I replied.
Adam reached out and patted my head, which wasn’t hard to do since he was a lot taller than me.
“You look hot, Astrid. This is going to be fun,” he said with a grin slowly spreading over his face.
He took a step toward me, and I took one back.
He craned his head into the door and began to yell.
“Mama Hart! I’m taking Astrid with me. She will be back later—if she doesn’t, she’s probably having a sleepover again. ”
“Adam!” I hissed as I punched his arm.
He took hold of my arm and threw me over his shoulder instead of arguing with me.
“I’m being kidnapped!” I yelled, but my parents’ laughter was answer enough.
How dare they?
“It’s AK woman, and we all know about the sleepover. No need to be shy,” Adam teased.
I began to punch his back.
“If you weren’t Ty’s, I would spank you for that.”
“What?” I screeched on behalf of both statements.
Once he got to his truck, he opened the door and let me inside. I noticed it wasn’t the same one he had in high school. This one didn’t have any rust, it was shiny and white.
“Where are you taking me?” I crossed my arms and demanded to know as he began to drive.
“Every Friday, we have to bring something to family dinners. I’m bringing you,” he said like it was obvious.
“No, you’re not,” I uttered in mortification.
My stomach instantly twisted in knots, and I wasn’t sure if it was dread or excitement that I would be seeing Tyler. Trust me, I had perfected the art of avoiding someone in a small town.
“Yes, I am. We’ve all missed you. I don’t give a shit what kind of drama you and Ty have going on, but you need to stop punishing the rest of us.”
All I could do was glare at him.
Maybe he did have a point.
Adam and EZ had tried to get in contact with me, just like Ty had, and by association, I denied their calls and deleted their messages. I didn’t hold the same grudge against them because, at the end of the day, they weren’t my best friends.
We pulled up to the Kane brothers’ childhood home. The last time I was there, I didn’t see Ezekiel or Adam.
“Is the shop closed?” I asked since he said this was a family dinner, which would have been hard to do if someone was working. Although I would have been fine if that someone was Ty.
“Yeah. We do it early since people tend to get in trouble after nine. That way, we can open up the lines after we are all fed.”
That made sense.
Once he parked in the driveway, I began to feel flutters in my stomach. Maybe I could make a run for it— I mean, I certainly looked the part of a runner at the moment.
Adam somehow sensed this because I once again found myself going over his shoulder.
“Adam,” I hissed.
This time, he didn’t bother to reply. He walked to the side of the house and went to the backyard. As soon as he opened the gate, he began to shout.
“Look what I brought, family.”
He was boasting, and that made me cautious.
“Please tell me you didn’t attempt to cook. I don’t think your renters’ insurance covers burning down the whole apartment building.”
My heart instantly started racing upon hearing Tyler’s voice.
Shit.
I was not prepared for this.
“Who’d you kidnap?” Ezekiel asked now that we were closer to where I assumed they would be having dinner.
I figured this was the case since there was no more shouting.
“This is my contribution to our family dinner,” Adam proudly added as he put me down and turned me around.
Ezekiel snickered, and I was transfixed because I couldn’t remember the last time I saw anything remotely close to a smile on him. Mr. Kane immediately stepped forward, before he hugged and kissed me on the forehead.
Ty did not look happy.
His jaw was clenched, and he was glaring at me.
Maybe he had a come-to-Jesus moment and realized what a mistake the other day had been.
Well, that made two of us.
“What the fuck are you two doing together?” he barked.
I crossed my arms and glared right back.
“I was kidnapped,” I replied.
“Called it,” said EZ. “No woman would willingly come with Adam. They’d be too scared to catch an STD from the contact.”
“Fuck you.” Adam flipped EZ the middle finger.
“Don’t call your brother a whore,” said Mr. Kane, and that made me forget about Ty, and I giggled.
Ezekiel winked at me.
“So, did I win?” Adam asked.
I was wondering what Adam thought he won but didn’t comment.
Mr. Kane, bless his heart, started to explain.
“Everyone has to bring something on Fridays.”
Since Adam was still next to me, I punched his arm.
“Not only did you bring me against my will, you came here empty-handed?”
From the corner of my eye, I saw Ty had moved closer. When I dared peek at him, there was a slight grin on his face.
“It’s okay. If he does bring something, it’s chips, drinks, or pizza. We learn not to count on him,” said Mr. Kane.
“Isn’t my presence enough?” Adam gasped. He then turned toward me. “Come on, let’s get you a chair, unless you want to sit on my lap.”
I rolled my eyes at him.
“Adam,” Tyler warned.
“Kidding, baby brother. I’m kidding.”
Adam put his hands up and then went inside the house. Shortly, the rest of the Kanes followed suit, except Tyler.
Well, wasn’t this awkward?
Tyler didn’t waste a moment to come toward me. As he did this, I took a step back without making it seem like I would take off on a run.