Page 45 of Play For Keeps

Grief slams into me like a tsunami. It’s been 15 years, but the loss of my parents is a pain that never goes away. My chest tightens. Grief is a wound. Over time it heals, but it leaves a scar. I was just a kid when my parents died in that fire; in the blink of an eye, our world changed, never to be the same again. I miss them.

Returning to the table with Gran’s sweater, I see Sierra walking into the living room with drinks for us all. Grayson stands as soon as he sees her, and I don’t miss the way his eyes are all over her as he takes the tray from her hands. I feel my jaw clench.

We’ve been here for an hour, and I’ve been acutely aware of how Grayson and my sister have been acting around each other the entire time. This isn’t the first time I’ve noticed it since Sierra’s return to Reed Point. I even confronted Grayson about it once, but he denied there’s anything going on between them. And I trust him. Besides, he knows that if he tried to touch her, I’d rip his arms then his legs off and then find a creative way to dispose of his body.

I keep my eyes on them, pushing back my chair to stand as Grayson follows my sister into the kitchen, offering to help get dinner on the table. What the hell is going on with them?

“Sit down, Jake,” Gran says. “I’d like to play some poker with my grandson.”

I sit back down in my chair reluctantly. We’re here for Gran, I remind myself. I’ll have to deal with this other shit later.

It’s my turn to bet, but I can feel my jaw tic. I don’t know if it’s this growing suspicion about Sierra and Grayson that has me so stressed, or the frustrating situation I’m stuck in with Everly.

My mind has been pummelling me with memories of that kiss. When her lips met mine, every swipe of her tongue, the feel of her skin, the sounds she made. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about how perfect she felt against me.

I’m also still bothered by the conversation we had that night about her ex. I hate that she was married to that asshole. I hate the way he treated her. It makes perfect sense now, why she’s afraid to trust men. I understand why she’s so hesitant to get into another relationship. There’s no way she doesn’t feel that spark between us, I’d bet everything on that. Hell, I find it difficult to be in the same room as her and not grasp the back of her neck and kiss the life out of her. But she went through hell and she’s not ready to risk that again. She sees all men like her ex; selfish assholes who put themselves first who will take advantage of you.

Everly is scared to get hurt again. Worse yet, she’s scared that Birdie will get hurt. That’s what I’m up against.

This girl has woven herself into my life to such an extent that I can’t imagine her not being a part of it. It’s the way she smiles with her eyes, making you feel her happiness, or the way she looks at Birdie like she’s the best thing to ever happen to her. It’s the way she nibbles on her bottom lip when she’s concentrating or worried that I’m going to tease her. Every time I close my eyes, I dream about kissing her again, craving that feeling of her body pulled in close to mine.

“I told you, this can’t happen.”

I’ve replayed her words in my mind dozens of times. Everly is scared, but I wish I could make her see that I’m worth the risk. I know we could be good together. I know what we have is special.

Sierra announces that it’s time to eat, snapping me back to reality. We all take our seats in the dining room, squeezed together around the small table. We all dig in, the clatter of cutlery and laughter filling the room. I’m glad Gran didn’t sell this place. It’s not fancy, but it feels like home. And the view of the beach across the street from the living room window can’t be beat.

After dinner, Sierra brings a homemade apple pie to the table, and it tastes just as incredible as it looks.

“Not everyone can make a pie this good,” Gran tells her. “You have a gift like your mom.”

The table goes quiet. The guys know that our parents died when we were kids, but they also know it’s not something I talk about. I hate people feeling sorry for me. The silence at the table is deafening until the ever-unflappable Holden steps in to rescue us.

“So, did you hear about Tucker’s run in with Norma at Seven Oaks?”

“Really?” Tuck shakes his head. “Do you have any stories that don’t involve me? You’re kind of obsessed, dude.”

“What? It’s a good story. Poor Norma wanted to die though. She was traumatized. Daisy witnessed the shit-show too.”

Norma has worked at the Seven Oaks drug store in Reed Point for as long as anyone can remember. She’s in her 70s now and knows everybody’s business. Daisy has known Tucker all of his life, growing up in the house next to his. Their families are close friends.

“Tuck here,” Holden says with a nod at Tucker. “Throws down a box of cereal, a jumbo box of condoms and a bottle of cherry-flavored lube at Norma’s till. Poor Norma’s jaw went slack, and I swear I heard her whispering the Lord’s prayer under her breath. Daisy looked disgusted.”

Grayson busts out a laugh. “Why didn’t you go to Rexall? Everyone knows you can’t buy that stuff at Seven Oaks. I don’t think Norma has taken a sick day in 25 years. I hope you’re ready for the whole town to know about your sex things.”

Tucker rolls his eyes. “Do you have to call them sex things?”

“That’s what they are,” Grayson shrugs, shovelling a fork full of apple pie into his mouth.

“Norma needs to get a grip,” Gran pipes up. “It’s the 21st century, for Pete’s sake. Does she think you’re not having sex? And everyone knows cherry is the only flavour worth using.” I drop my head into my palm in horror while the rest of the table cracks up.

After dessert, everyone takes turns hugging Gran before I leave to take her back to her place. It was a great evening, and I can see how happy it made her to see Sierra and the guys.

It’s late, and I should head home and catch up on sleep. But my mind is racing. I’m unsettled, restless, and I know there is no chance I’ll be able to fall asleep anytime soon. What I want to do is go to Everly’s apartment, but I know that’s not an option. So instead, I just drive, taking the road that winds alongside the cliffs above the beach. It’s a quiet night, and I roll down the window to hear the sound of the waves crashing into shore.

I try to pinpoint what has me so bothered. It’s Everly, of course. It’s always Everly. I’m crazy about her, but it feels like the line of obstacles in our way just keeps getting longer. It’s more than that, though. It’s also my sister. I’m so glad to have Sierra home, but ever since she’s been back in Reed Point, there’s been something off between us. And now I can’t shake the feeling that she’s keeping something from me. Is it Grayson? The thought of one of my best friends sneaking around with my sister makes my blood boil. I’ve known Grayson a long time, and he isn’t a one girl kind of guy. But he wouldn’t add my sister to his list of conquests, would he? He knows how protective I am when it comes to Sierra.

I pull a U-turn and head back towards Haven Harbor. I may not be able to do anything about the standstill with Everly tonight, but I can try to get an answer from Sierra. I feel like I’m going crazy, I have to do something.

---