Trenton lifted his chin. "She better be there, or what? What are you going to do if she doesn't show?"
Chase leaned against the counter. "Come get her."
"No. You won't," Trenton said.
Colin leaned in, too, keeping his voice low when he spoke. "I'm only going to say this one more time. This is family business, Trent. You need to stay the fuck out of it."
Trenton's jaws worked under his skin. "Cami is my business. And her cocksucking brothers walking into her work trying to bully her is most definitely my business."
Colin and Chase glared at Trenton, both of them taking a step backward. Colin spoke first, like he always did. "Camille, come outside with us right now, or I'm going to tear this place apart while I kick your buddy's ass."
"I'm not her buddy. I'm her boyfriend, and I'll knock you the fuck out before you can scratch the paint."
Calvin appeared on the other side of me. I looked down and his hands were balled into fists. "Did you just say you were going to tear up my shop?"
"What are you going to do about it?" Chase spat on the floor.
"Chase, Jesus Christ!" I yelled. "What is wrong with you?" Trenton held me back, even though I wasn't trying all that hard to go anywhere.
Bishop and Hazel came out of their rooms, curious about the noise. Bishop stood on the other side of Calvin, and Hazel on the end.
Hazel crossed her arms. "I may not look like much, but when one of these big boys are holding you down and I'm clawing your eyes out, you'll understand why I'm standing here. But see . . . I don't want to claw your eyes out, because you're Cami's family. And we don't want to hurt her. Ever. Because she's part of our family, now. And you don't. Hurt. Family. So take a lesson from us, wipe those frowns off your punk ginger faces, and go home. When you cool off, Chase . . . give your sister a call. And talk to her nice. Unless you don't want to keep your eyes."
"Or your arms," Trenton added. "Because if you ever talk to her with anything less than a respectful tone again, I will rip those fuckers off and beat you with 'em. Do we understand each other?"
Colin and Chase watched our group with wary eyes, from Trenton to Hazel, and everyone in between. They were outnumbered, and I could see in Colin's eyes he wasn't going to take them all on.
Chase looked to me. "I'll call you later. We deserve an explanation for why our family's falling apart."
I nodded, and they both turned and pushed through the double doors.
When Colin's engine fired up, I looked down, embarrassed. "I'm so sorry, Calvin."
"The shop's good, kiddo. We're good." He walked back to his office, and Hazel walked over, sliding her arms between mine and pressing her cheek against my chest.
"We got you," she said simply. I kept my eyes on the floor, but when it was obvious Hazel wasn't letting go, I squeezed her tight.
Bishop watched us for a moment.
"Thank you," I said.
Bishop raised an eyebrow. "I wasn't going to fight. I was just out here to watch." He walked back to his room, and I chuckled.
Hazel let me go and took a step back. "All right. Show's over. Get back to work." She left for her room.
Trenton pulled me into his arms, and touched his lips to my hair. "They'll get it eventually."
I looked up at him, unsure of what he meant.
"I'm never going to let them intimidate you again."
I pressed my cheek against his chest again. "It's all they know, Trent. I can't really blame them."
"Why not? They blame you for everything. And they're not robots. They're adults, and they can make different choices. They choose to stick with what they know."
"Kind of like you and your brothers?" I didn't look up, and Trenton didn't respond right away.
Finally he took a breath. "We don't react to things because it's all we know. It's just the opposite. We have no fucking clue what we're doing."
"But you try," I said, nuzzling up against him. "You try to be good people. You work toward doing better, being better, more patient, and more understanding. But just because you can beat someone's ass . . . doesn't mean you should."
Trenton chuckled. "Yeah it does." I tried--and not very hard--to push him away. He held me tighter.
"I'm going to make you beef tips and rice tonight," I said.
Trenton made a face. "I love your cooking, baby doll, but I can't keep eating dinner at three AM."
I laughed. "Fine, I'll have it waiting for you. There's a spare key under the rock that sits in front of the pillar by my door. I'll leave it there."
"Can I take a rain check? I promised Olive I'd take her to Chicken Joe's."
I smiled, but I wasn't happy about missing out on Olive time.
"Wait. Did you just tell me where the spare key was?"
"Yeah?"
"So can I use it anytime?"
I shrugged. "Yeah."
A small smile tugged on one corner of Trenton's mouth, and then it spread across his face. "I'm going to bet on Travis's next fight. Try to get the money back I lost to Abby, and then some. I'm going to start looking for a place next week. I want you to come with me."
"Okay," I said, not sure why he had such a serious look on his face. I already knew he was working toward getting his own place.
Trenton's smile was beaming. "It's his end-of-the-year fight. Big money. They'll probably get some has-been MMA fighter like they got last year."
"Who'd they get last year?"
"Kelly Heaton. He lost the championship four years ago. Travis beat the piss out of 'em." Trenton was clearly enjoying the memory. "I made fifteen hundred. If I can make at least that this year, we'll be set."
"You'll be set. I have a place."
"Yeah, well, maybe one of these days you'll decide to stay the night and you'll never go home."
"Don't count on it. I love having my space."
"You can have your space. You can have whatever you want."
I rose up on the balls of my feet, wrapped my arms around his neck, and kissed Trenton's soft lips. "I already have what I want."
He squeezed me tighter. "Come on. You know you want to."
"No, thank you. Not anytime soon."
Trenton's face fell for just a second, and then he winked and grabbed my keys. "I'm going to start the Jeep. Be right back."
He slipped on his coat and jogged outside.
Hazel came to the front and shook her head. "Trenton loves you, kaibigan. Like, the deep, forever kind. I've never seen him like this, doing this shit for girls." She was nearly cooing every word.
I turned to her. "What did you just call me?"
She smiled. "I called you 'friend,' bitch. In Tagalog. You have a problem with that?"
I laughed and pushed her, barely hard enough to budge her tiny frame. "No. I have a problem with the fact that I'm almost out of cigarettes, and I don't want to spend the money for another pack."
"Then fucking quit. It's gross, anyway."
"You don't smoke?" I asked. Everyone else at the shop did, so I just assumed she would, too.
Hazel made a face. "No. And I would never date you, based on that alone. It's disgusting. No one likes tonguing an ashtray."
I popped a cigarette in my mouth. Trenton ran in, shivering. "Heat's on high, baby!" He pulled the cigarette out of my mouth and kissed me, leaning me back a bit.
When he released me, I turned to Hazel. "Someone does."
Hazel stuck her tongue out at me. "Come in early tomorrow. I'm going to start your gauges."
"No. You're not."
"Yes, I am," she lilted, walking to her room.
"You want me to drive you to the Red? I don't want your shit head brothers showing up at your apartment. And it's nasty out."
"Brazil's there, and I can handle a little snow." There was a foot of dirty, melting mess on the ground, and the wind was brutal, but it was better than ice, and our little town was good about keeping most of the roads clear.
Trenton's cheeks and nose were bright red, and he was still
shivering. "Brazil can't handle your brothers," he said, frowning.
I giggled, and grabbed my heavy black coat and purse. "Thank you for starting the Jeep. Stay in here where it's warm."
He handed me back my cigarette, but not before giving me one last kiss. "Valentine's is in a week."
"Yes. In exactly one week from today. So it's on a Saturday. Good for everyone else, bad for us."
"Ask off. You worked Thanksgiving."
"I'll think about it."
Trenton stood at the door while I backed out of the parking lot. I drove home without a problem. I shut the door behind me, tossed the keys onto the counter, and walked straight to the bathroom. Standing under a hot shower felt glorious, but the second I turned off the water, I could hear Brazil and Raegan bickering. By the time I brushed my teeth, wrapped myself in my white, fuzzy robe, and stepped out into the hallway, they had taken their argument to the front door.
Brazil saw me, and sighed. "I'm going, Ray. I told them I'd be there, and I'm going."
"But we had plans. It's not okay to cancel plans with me to go drinking with your frat brothers! Why don't you get that?"
Brazil pulled his hat down low over his eyes, zipped up his coat, and left.
Raegan walked straight into my room and sat on my bed. I sat on the floor in front of a full-size mirror, and unzipped my makeup bag.
"He's such a dick!" she said, pounding the mattress with her fists.
"He's not ready for a relationship. He wants the benefits of a girlfriend without the commitment."
She shook her head. "Then he'd just pull a Travis Maddox and fuck everything with a vag until he found the one, instead of trying so hard to make things work with me."
I raised an eyebrow. "He doesn't want you to be happy with anyone else."
Raegan's angry expression turned sad. "Kody called me today. He's worried about the roads and wants to pick me up for work. We had our stupid fights, but I miss him."
I painted my eyes and lips, and then plugged in my hair dryer and turned it on. "What are you waiting for, Ray?" I said loudly, above the noise.
She didn't answer, instead she just watched me blow my hair all over the place. When I was finished, she shrugged. "Brazil dumped me right about this time before last year's date party. I bought a dress, I told everyone he asked me. I'm going to that fucking party."
I glared into the mirror, staring at her reflection in disbelief. "Are you kidding me? You are putting up with this frat boy nonsense to go to a party?"
"I bought a dress!" she said. "You wouldn't understand."
"You're right. I wouldn't."
The doorbell rang, and Raegan and I stared at each other.
"Maybe it's Brazil," she said.
"Colin and Chase came by Skin Deep today. Almost got in a fight with Trenton . . . and everyone else."
"Shit, you think it's them?" she asked.
I stood up, crept over to the door, and looked through the peephole. I rolled my eyes and pulled off the chain, opening the door. Kody was standing there, bundled in a wool coat, scarf, gloves, and cap.
"What are you doing here?" Reagan asked, stepping out into the living room.
"It's getting worse, Ray. I don't think it's a good idea that you drive. Either of you."
She looked down. "I'm not ready for work, yet."
Kody fell onto the love seat. "I'll wait. I'll leave the truck running so it's warm when you get in."
Raegan stifled a smile, and then she rushed to her room and shut the door.
"I just got home less than twenty minutes ago. It's not that bad," I said with a smirk.
"Ssh," Kody said. "She doesn't need to know that."
"You're good," I said, walking back to my room.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Saturday night after a grueling night at the Red, I dragged my ass into the apartment, and flipped on my bedroom light. Trenton was lying on top of my covers in a pair of navy-blue boxer briefs . . . and socks.
I peeled off my clothes, flipped off the light, and then crawled in bed next to him. He fought with the blankets as he tried to get beneath them with me, and then grabbed at me until I was close enough. He buried his head into my neck, and we lay there for the longest time, still and warm. I'd never come home to anyone before, but it wasn't a wretched feeling. Just the opposite: I was in a warm bed with the warm, incredibly-hard-to-resist body of the man who loved me more than anyone ever had. It could be worse. Way worse.
"How is Olive?"
"Hmmm?"
"Olive. Is she doing okay?"
"She misses you. I promised to bring her here to see you tomorrow."
I smiled. "How was Chicken Joe's?"
"Greasy. Loud. Awesome."
I squeezed his arm that was across my chest even tighter against me. "I see you found the key."
"No, I couldn't find it, so I crawled in through your bedroom window. Did you know it's been unlocked?"
I froze.
Trenton laughed, slow and breathy. I elbowed him.
The front door slammed, and Trenton and I both sat up.
"Quit! Don't fucking wave at him! Raegan!" Brazil yelled.
"He was being nice! He just didn't want me to drive in the snow!"
"There's no snow on the roads! They're just wet!"
"Yeah! Now!" she said. She stomped down the hall, and Brazil followed her, slamming her bedroom door.
I groaned. "Not tonight. I need sleep."
Brazil's muffled voice filtered through the wall. "Because you can't ride around with your ex-boyfriend, that's why!"
"Maybe if you had taken me to work . . ."
"Nuh-uh, don't pin this on me! If I had done the same thing . . ."
"Who says you didn't?"
"What does that mean? What do you mean, Raegan? Has someone said something to you?"
"No!"
"Then what?"
"Nothing! I don't know what you do when you're out! I'm not even sure I care anymore!"
It got really quiet then, and after several minutes, they continued speaking in lowered voices. Ten minutes later there were no voices at all, and just when I thought to go check on Raegan, I heard her moaning and yelping, and her bed was knocking into the wall.
Ugh. "Seriously?" I said.
"Living together is sounding better all the time, isn't it?" Trenton said against my neck.
I settled in next to him. "It's been less than four months. Let's pace ourselves."
"Why?"
"Because that's a big deal. And I barely know you."
Trenton touched my knee, and then let his hand slide upward until his fingers were touching the cotton piece of my panties. "I know you fairly intimately."
"Really? You want to get it on with Buffy and Spike next door?"
"Huh?"
"They're fighting, and then they . . . never mind."
"Not in the mood, huh?" he asked.
Raegan's yelps were becoming shriller.
"Not . . . right now, no."
"See? We're practically married already."
"You got jokes!" I said as I dug my thumbs between his ribs. He tried fending me off, grunting and laughing as I tickled him. Eventually, he began emulating Raegan's high-pitched cries. I covered my mouth, giggling incessantly. Raegan grew quiet, and Trenton fist bumped me. Then we settled down again.
Half an hour later, Brazil and Raegan crept down the hall and then the front door opened and closed. A few seconds later, my bedroom door flew open and the light turned on. "Assholes!"
I covered my eyes until I heard Raegan gasp.
"Holy shit, Trenton, what happened to you?"
I turned to look at him. Three bloody scratches were on his cheekbone, and his lip was split. I jerked to a sitting position. "What happened to your face, Trent?"
"I haven't thought of a good lie to tell you yet."
"I thought you went to Chicken Joe's with Olive tonight? You went to that biker bar, didn't you?" I said, my voice thick with accusation.
/> Trenton chuckled. "No, I went to Chicken Joe's. So did Chase and Colin."
Raegan gasped, and so did I. My eyes filled with tears. "They fucking jumped you? When you were with Olive? Is she okay?"
"They tried. She's fine. We went outside. She didn't see much."
Raegan took a step. "What happened?"
"They won't try to jump me again, let's just put it that way."
I covered my face. "Goddammit! Damn it!" I picked up my phone and sent the same text to Colin and Chase. It only said one word.
ASSHOLES
Trenton's phone buzzed, and he picked it up, and then rolled his eyes. I'd sent the text to him, too.
"Hey. They came after me."
"Are they okay?" I asked.
"They're hurting. They'll hurt worse in the morning. But it's done."
My face compressed. "Trent! Damn it! This has got to stop!"
"I told you, baby, it's done. Coby was with them. He didn't jump in. He tried to talk them out of it. I beat their asses. They agreed to back off."
My phone chirped. It was Chase.
Sorry. We worked it out. It's all good.
How does your face feel?
Not good.
Good.
Raegan's eyes widened a bit before she backed out and walked to her room.
I glared at Trenton.
"What did you want me to do? Let them beat my ass?"
My face smoothed. "No. I hate that it happened in front of Olive. I'm worried about her."
Trenton climbed out of bed, flipped off the light, and then crawled back in beside me. "You'll see her tomorrow. She's okay. I explained it to her, and then I explained it to her parents."
I cringed. "Were they mad?"
"A little. But not at me."
"Do you need an ice pack or anything?"
Trenton chuckled. "No, babe. I'm good. Go to sleep."
I relaxed against him, but it took me quite a while to fall asleep. My mind wouldn't stop racing, and I could tell from his breathing that Trenton wasn't asleep, either. Finally, my eyes got heavy, and I let myself drift off.
*
When my eyes finally opened, the clock said 10:00, and Olive was standing next to my bed, staring at me. I held the covers against my chest, aware that I was nearly naked beneath them.
"Hey, Olive," I said, squinting. "Where's Trent?"
"He's bringing in the gwocewies."
"Groceries?" I said, sitting up. "What groceries?"
"We went shopping this mowning. He said you wuhr out of a few things, but he has six sacks."
I leaned over but only saw the open front door.
Brazil stepped into the hallway, his dark bronze skin covered only by a pair of green plaid boxers. He yawned, scratched his ass, and then turned around to see Olive. He crossed his hands over his groin that was just waking up as well.