Chapter 15
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CADEN
“Happy Birthday, honey,” Mom smiled as I walked into the kitchen for a coffee on Sunday morning, forcing a smile.
“Thanks.” I didn’t feel like celebrating. I was having a huge party tonight, but I was pretty sure none of the guys were coming. Skeeter would be here for business, but that was it.
It felt even weirder without Rory. All I’d wanted for my birthday this year was to spend the day with her, but that obviously wasn’t happening.
Mom cooked my breakfast herself like she always did for my birthday, and I picked at the pancakes once they were in front of me, feeling how empty the table was.
The guys and I had always spent our birthdays together, so knowing they were all actively avoiding me sucked.
“Want to talk about it?” Mom asked, making me realize I’d been quiet for too long.
“I just don’t really feel in a birthday mood,” I sighed, her mouth curving into a small smile.
“Why don’t you call them?”
“They hate me.”
“They don’t hate you. They’re just upset, that’s all. You’re allowed to feel different to them about things, but you’ve been a bit of an ass to them lately. You’re the one that ran off, remember? They didn’t leave you, you left them.”
“Is this supposed to make me feel better?” I asked dryly, and she rolled her eyes.
“My point is, you’re the one holding onto hatred, Caden. You need to offer the olive branch for them to know you want to see them.”
She wasn’t wrong. I was the one that started avoiding the house, they were only respecting my wish for space by not being here anymore.
“How can you be okay with Hunter and Marco being around?” I asked, taking a bite of my pancake.
“Those boys might be on your shit list, but they’ve been really good to Rory while she’s stuck in that prison, and they’ve been checking in with me with updates a lot.
You don’t have to like them, I understand why you feel that way, but you need to look at it from another perspective.
They’ve had her back. Whatever history they have with Skeet is blurring your opinion of them.
You’re angry because he’s angry. Rory didn’t do anything to hurt you, honey. ”
“She snuck around with Slash.”
“True, but it sounds like no one was sneaking around in this situation. She forgave you boys after the horrible things you did to her. Surely, you can try harder to move past this when she didn’t do anything wrong in the first place.
You and Skeet really need to sit down and think about it because that girl has really needed you both, and you walked the other way,” she said gently, reaching out to give my hand a small squeeze.
“I just can’t, Mom,” I murmured, swallowing around the lump in my throat.
I was a little surprised when I heard the front door open and close, just before Tyler walked in. He looked unsure, not knowing if I wanted him there despite it being my birthday.
“Hey,” I mumbled, motioning to the seat beside me. “Pancakes?”
“That’s what I’m here for,” he joked lightly, relaxing and grabbing a plate before moving to sit down while Mom finished eating and excused herself to give us privacy.
Tyler helped himself to the pancakes, both of us eating in silence for a moment.
“Happy Birthday,” he finally said between mouthfuls, and I sighed.
“Thanks. I’m surprised you’re here.”
“It’s your birthday,” he said with a shrug as if that made perfect sense.
“I’ve been an ass.”
“A big ass, but you’re my big ass. I wasn’t going to let you eat breakfast alone, even if you deserve it. I wasn’t sure if Josie was going to be here or not since she’s been so busy with work,” he replied, stealing my coffee for a sip.
“How have you been?” I asked hesitantly, and he paused for a minute before answering.
“I’m alright. Rory is too, I spoke to her last night. She usually calls before bed.”
“I didn’t ask about her.”
“No, but just in case you had a change of heart. She’s in with a prison crew, and she’s banging the top dog. Lots of protection now.”
I choked on my pancake, taking my coffee back to wash it down.
“What?”
“She’s banging Lexi Bryant.”
“Archer Hendricks’ wife?” I snapped, but he didn’t seem bothered by it. Wasn’t that crew war kind of shit?
“Yeah. Don’t worry, she’s not into pussy now. If anything, she learned she’s definitely straight. At least she has protection and orgasms in there.”
“You’re a doormat, dude. You really don’t care that she’s fucking someone else?” I said bitterly, pissed that she was playing him like that. She knew he wouldn’t turn on her no matter what she did.
“No. Like I’ve said, she can fuck whoever she wants as long as she still wants me too. We all told her to get a prison wife anyway,” he said as he pointed the fork at me. “No amount of pussy has made her forget that you and Skeet haven’t visited her though.”
“I’m not okay with her fucking other people. Wasn’t okay with it when it was Hunter, still not okay with it now it’s Lexi.”
“That’s fine. Go tell her that.”
“Ty—”
“For once in your life, listen to me. She isn’t fucking the Devils.
There’s no way in hell she’d do that to us without a conversation first. This isn’t like Slash, she’s aware they’re the enemy, but the enemy are the only ones who keep showing up to help her when she needs it.
You haven’t seen how hard they’ve been working to get her back out, so you need to realize they might be Skeet’s enemies, but they’re not hers.
You don’t even have to fucking like it, but is it worth losing her over? ” he demanded, holding my gaze.
“They’ve made it clear to Skeet that they want her,” I scoffed, and Tyler shrugged.
“I hope she lets them. They’re more loyal to her than Skeet. Don’t you see that you guys just proved their point that she has to rely on them? You literally pushed her right at them.”
“You hope they fuck her?” I growled, getting a dirty look in return.
“You heard me. I like them. They have zero reason to help her, to check in with your mom, or to let me stay with them when you made it obvious I wasn’t welcome here.”
“You’re always welcome—”
“No, I’m not. You made it clear you were on team Skeet about Rory, and you glared at us every time you stopped by. You’re going to throw away a lifetime of friendship over this? Without even having the facts?”
I dropped my eyes from his as the guilt hit me, knowing he didn’t have a home to go to if I’d made him feel unwelcome. I’d honestly assumed he’d stay with Lukas and Jensen, but I’d been wrong.
“I don’t want to fight on your birthday, but I’m done letting you walk all over people.
If Skeet had been there for her, she wouldn’t have been with Hunter that night.
Without Hunter, she’d probably be in a lot more trouble right now.
Our money can’t always save her,” he added when I didn’t say anything. “You’re so lucky I love you, dumbass.”
I looked back up as he stood, his arms coming around me in a hug.
“Someone has to,” I joked, making him scoff without letting go as I hugged him back.
“Lots of people love you, you’re just too stupid to see it when you’re throwing a tantrum.”
“Asshole,” I grumbled as he pulled back, giving me a playful shove.
“Dickhead. C’mon, stop moping. Let’s go find the guys and get ready for tonight. Big party, I assume?”
I huffed out a laugh as I stood, nodding. “Yeah, man.”
Karl appeared to clean up, and I headed upstairs to let Mom know we were leaving.
“Don’t drink too much or trash the house tonight,” she said dryly, knowing I was throwing a party.
“I won’t. You don’t have to leave, you know? Maybe you’d like to stay and party too?” I grinned, and she gave me a flat look.
“Pass. I’d rather be in meetings. You call if you need me to come back though. I’ll be straight on a plane.”
“Thanks, Mom. I love you.”
She smiled, blowing me a kiss. “I love you too. Have a good day. Good to see you, Ty.”
Tyler didn’t hesitate to move around the desk to give her a hug and a kiss on the cheek.
“Safe travels, Mom. I love you too.”
“I love you too, sweet boy.”
He gave her a wide grin as we left the room, and we headed down to the garage to get my car out while he wandered out front to get in his. I put my phone on the holder as I started the Challenger, blowing out a breath. Maybe the day wasn’t going to be a complete mess after all.
I called Skeeter, his voice sounding annoyed but not at all surprised when he answered.
“Morning, birthday boy. What do you need this fucking early?”
“Just the sound of your voice, baby cakes,” I teased, following Tyler’s car out to the road as we turned towards Jensen’s house.
“Don’t fuck with me today, Holloway,” Skeeter warned.
“Chill out. You still coming tonight?”
“Yes, you clingy fucker. I’ll be there. So will D and Brick.”
“Good. Do any of your guys want extra cash? More security might be a good idea,” I suggested, hearing him grumble to himself before he answered.
“Already on it. Anything else, your majesty?”
“Suck my dick?” I asked with amusement, the line going dead a second later.
I had no idea what had him in a mood, but I wasn’t going to ask. It was probably something he couldn’t say over the phone anyway.
I kept my eyes on my surroundings as I drove, knowing danger could be anywhere. I wasn’t dumb enough to think Rory being in prison meant all the other bullshit stopped.
It was very obvious that Tyler hadn’t told the guys I was coming from the way they eyed me when we walked into Jensen’s living room to find them curled up on the couch together.
“Happy Birthday,” Jensen finally said as I sat in the recliner.
“Thanks, man.”
“Ran out of friends?” Lukas grumbled, giving me a dirty look.
“Something like that,” I muttered, wondering if I should have just stayed home.
“You’re an asshole, you know?”
“Very aware,” I said dryly, his body relaxing as a small smile formed on his face.
“As long as you know. Happy Birthday.”
“I’m sorry I’ve been an ass to you guys,” I said on an exhale, Lukas blinking at me in surprise.
“Damn, you got old and wise for your nineteenth?”