Chapter 4
four
. . .
Kingston
“What’s going on with you and Selena?” River asked, as we looked out at the water from the dock. There were several chairs on the wood structure, and he and I had just gotten out of the water.
“Nothing, really. It’s casual. She heard you were having a barbecue and asked if she could come.
” I shrugged, my eyes moving to where Saylor and Coach Assmunch were sharing a raft.
They were awfully cozy lately. The guy just rubbed me wrong.
I didn’t know why Hayes wasn’t asking more questions about this guy.
Must I be the one to do everything?
“You’ve been out with her a couple of times, huh?” my brother pressed.
“What is this? An episode of The Bachelor?” I barked out a laugh. “Yeah, dude. I do take women out now and then. I’m not a barbarian.”
“She seems really…invested. I was just checking in to see if you felt the same. Because from where I’m sitting, you seem to be watching Saylor a lot more than the woman you brought here today.”
“For fuck’s sake. Of course, I am. Do none of you see that this guy is a total player? He’s putting on this fake Australian bullshit charm, and he’s wearing a goddamn Speedo for a bathing suit. Am I the only person who sees how crazy this is? I can’t believe Hayes isn’t concerned.”
“I guess Speedos are back in style. Maybe it’s an Australian thing,” he said with a sarcastic chuckle.
“That motherfucker is from Jersey. This is outrageous.”
River raised a brow. “You seem pretty worked up, King. You sure there isn’t something more going on? You’ve been a little edgy lately, and for most people, it wouldn’t be noticeable. But when fucking happy-go-lucky Kingston seems moody, it’s noticeable.”
I rolled my eyes, my gaze moving from Selena back to Saylor. I couldn’t see her dipshit boyfriend’s hands, as they were hidden in the water, and I was two seconds from diving off this dock and finding out what he was up to.
“Let’s see… I’ve got two huge renovations going on, we’re trying to get the bookstore open for Saylor so she can start making money, it’s fucking bee season, so I’m constantly on the lookout, and my brother won’t stop harassing me about being edgy.”
He raised a brow and studied me. “Dude. You were stung by a bee when you were a toddler. Are you seriously going to do this every spring for the rest of your life?”
“Hmmm… I nearly died. I wonder why I overreact to bee season?” I tried to hide my smile because I knew my fear of bees was irrational. But those little black-and-yellow fuckers had me on edge.
And now this muscle man in a Speedo made me want to go all caveman. It made no sense.
“I was there, remember? Your lips swelled, and you got a rash on your face. You did not almost die.”
“Well, Grammie said it was bad. And they rushed me to the hospital, where an actual doctor told her the next time could be worse. Second-time allergies can be deadly. And I don’t remember your law degree coming with a medical license.”
“Then get a fucking EpiPen and stop whining.”
“That is a very insensitive attitude, River.” I tried to act annoyed, but the whole thing did sound slightly comical. “You better check yourself before you think about making a baby with Ruby. You can’t be a dick and a father. It doesn’t work.”
“I’ll work on it,” he said, as everyone started climbing out of the water and onto the dock.
“We’re getting hungry,” Ruby said, as she wrapped a towel around herself and dropped to sit on my brother’s lap.
Selena was next, and she did the same. I never minded a beautiful woman sitting on my lap, but for whatever reason, I just wasn’t feeling it romantically with her.
I liked her enough. I wrapped my arms around her when she shivered, and I kissed her cheek.
We hadn’t done more than make out, and I knew she wanted more.
But something was holding me back. I’d found excuses to cut our nights short every time we went out, usually blaming work.
“Come on, lover boy. You can help me cook the burgers and dogs,” my brother said, as he pushed to his feet, and I helped Selena stand.
“Can I help, too?” Cutler shouted, running toward me as I caught him on a whoosh.
“You know it, Beefcake. And I’m a master on the barbecue, so I’ll teach you my skills,” I said, following River through the yard.
I set Cutler down when we got to the house and used the towel to dry off his hair, and he followed me into the kitchen.
This little dude was basically all of ours. We’ve all been in his life since the day he came into the world, and I loved him in a way I didn’t even know possible.
Ruby followed us into the kitchen next and helped River pull out the platters of meat and started making a salad.
I grabbed a beer before reaching for the milk and chocolate syrup to make my little dude his drink of choice.
We all kept chocolate syrup at our homes for him, because chocolate milk was his favorite.
“I think I want to get a swimsuit like Coach has.”
My head spun around, and I gaped at him. “Abso-freaking-lutely not. Beefcake! You do not want to rock a Speedo.”
Ruby and River’s loud laughter filled the room. But I didn’t find this funny at all. It was our job to mold the little guy, and short-shorts and Speedos were not a good fashion choice.
“Why? I think it looks cool.”
“Well, if you want to wear colorful underpants that don’t leave anything to the imagination, I guess it’s a choice,” I grumped as I poured the milk into the glass and stirred in the chocolate.
“Maybe he’s got nothing to hide,” River said, knowing exactly how to provoke me.
“Listen, it’s not about having something to hide. I don’t like the look, that’s all I’m saying. You want to leave a lady guessing, Beefcake. Let your personality do the talking.”
“Uncle River says that you have a colorful personality, Uncle King. I want to have a colorful personality, just like you.”
I handed him his glass of milk and clinked my beer bottle to his. “You’ve got it in spades, buddy.”
“I do like my trunks a lot. And I don’t know if they make those small suits like Coach has with little dinosaurs on them.”
“We can look into it if it’s something you want to try out,” River said, a wicked grin on his face.
“I’d just need to make sure my sea monster fits inside that kind of suit, right, Uncle King?”
“Correct. You need to keep your sea monster real safe.”
“Seriously? You called it a sea monster?” Ruby whispered so only I’d hear. Cutler had moved on to asking my brother questions about the meat he was going to cook.
“What? That’s what I called it when I was young.”
She shook her head and glanced over to make sure River was deep in conversation with Cutler. “So, Selena’s nice.”
“Yeah. She’s really nice. Great girl.”
She raised a brow before turning back and chopping cucumbers like she was a damn sous chef. “What’s your deal with Coach?”
“I told you. I’m not a fan. I don’t trust him.”
“That’s not like you, King. Do you know something that we don’t?” There was concern in her voice now, and I knew she and Saylor were close. Of course, she’d want to protect her friend.
“That’s the surprising thing. You all see what I see, yet none of you have a problem with him?”
She shook her head and smiled before leaning in again and whispering. “You sure you aren’t just jealous?”
I gasped dramatically, because theatrics were kind of my thing. “I don’t get jealous. But I am protective, and I trust my gut.”
“All right. Just don’t be so hard on the guy. He likes her, and she seems like she likes him. She deserves that, you know?”
My chest squeezed. Was I being a total dick? Had I misread the guy?
Am I fucking jealous?
“I’ll try harder. How about that?”
“That would be nice. At least give him a chance. It’s not all that serious, but I think she’s enjoying things right now.”
I took a long pull from my bottle and glanced out the window.
Saylor was wearing a pink bikini, her golden skin impossible not to stare at.
Her perky tits, which would fit perfectly in the palms of my hands, had my mouth watering.
My gaze moved down to her flat stomach and toned, lean legs, settling at the apex of her thighs.
Good Christ. I am losing it.
I quickly shifted to look at Selena. My date. She was gorgeous. Why the fuck wasn’t I scanning her body? She was curvy and voluptuous and sexy as hell.
Why couldn’t I keep my attention there?
Right where it belonged.
It was probably my history with Saylor that made things so complicated. Our connection.
And, of course, I was attracted to her. That was completely normal. She was hot. It didn’t mean anything.
“You all right?” Ruby studied me as she tossed the veggies into the bowl.
“Of course. I’m great.” I kissed her cheek and followed my brother and Cutler out to the grill, and we got to work.
Country music played in the background, and I took it all in.
The sun was still shining, and the lake glistened in the distance.
Romeo, Nash, Hayes, Slade, Bobby, Coach Junk-on-display, Demi, Saylor, Selena, and Peyton were all playing football out in the yard.
They called Cutler over, and I high-fived him before he jogged over to the group.
River and I moved the cooked meat to the platter just as they finished the game. Everyone helped Ruby carry the food out to the big table that I’d built for my brother as a housewarming gift years ago when he purchased this place. The two matching benches made it so we could all sit together.
“Where did you find a table this large, mate?” Coach asked my brother, and I made a conscious effort not to show my irritation.
“King made it for me when I bought the place,” River said.
“It’s a nice table.” Coach glanced over at me.
Maybe I was being a dick. I needed to try. Everyone else liked the dude.
“Thanks. I appreciate it.” My gaze moved to Saylor, who smiled in response.
I could do this.
Hayes didn’t seem bothered by the guy, though I knew he’d have a comment about the Speedo later.