Page 18 of Blood & Kisses

She hesitates a few beats first, possibly deciphering how much she wants to tell me since I’m not part of their circle. “She’s doing okay and returning home to her parents tomorrow. They live out of state, so…I’ll miss her.”

“Good. I mean…I didn’t know her as well as you, but I’m glad she’s doing better,” I sigh in relief, pleased that she’s going home too, where she’s safe. She nods in reply, not adding to the conversation, so not wanting to overstep my mark, I say, “I’ll see you around.”

As I’m about to walk around the bend through the exit, she says loud enough for me to hear, “She’s happier now that the creep has gone.”

My feet freeze on the floor, and I glance back at her. “Creep?”

She waves her hand dismissively. “Oh, nothing.”

A small smile worms across my face, but I only allow myself to enjoy the gratification for a few seconds before wiping it clean again.

“Hey,” a familiar voice belonging to a tall, beautiful in nothing but black speedos, wet, messy hair, skin shimmering from water droplets. “Coffee?”

I laugh. “It’s become our ritual,” I reply happily.

“Indeed, it has,” he winks. “Give me ten minutes to shower and change, and I’ll meet you out here. We’ll go to our regular Kiosk.”

“Deal,” I answer gleefully, even though I’m supposed to be happy, considering that a terrible murder took place here only two days ago. But, you know, life goes on.

He’s suddenly right over me, taking me by surprise, and those lips find mine, kissing me on the mouth to let everyone watching know that he doesn’t care that Coach was murdered here only two days ago, either. A little pinch of my butt cheek as he seems to be getting off on me being fully clothed and him practically naked with only a tiny piece of waterproof fabric covering his genitalia.

“Whatever lights your wick,” I tease as he walks to the locker room, holding his little towel that barely wraps around his waist.

I meet Cormac at our usual coffee place on campus by the gardens, so we find a private spot under an oak. His brown hair is still wet and messy, but as usual, he’s cleanly shaven for a streamline in the water.

“I’m sorry I was being a dick two days when I didn’t show up for dinner after you made a special effort,” I start, finding it hard to apologize because I’m such a stubborn mule.

“Yeah, what happened there? You were normal one minute, and the next, you refused to socialize with us,” he says, watching me over his coffee cup as he takes a sip.

I exhale to relax as I decipher what to say. “Sometimes life gets too much, and my emotions and anxiety override my common sense. Does that make sense?”

“Did Blake say something to trigger you?” he asks as a bee buzzes around his hair, and he casually swipes it away.

“No…um, yes. He just asked about the photo with the men, and I prefer not to talk about it,” I reply as my phone beeps. I’m relieved about the diversion from this particular topic. The message was sent from Mom, and I’m tempted not to open it yet since it’s likely she wants to come over to Torres for a girls’ weekend, as I promised.

“I understand,” he answers. “I’m sure it opens old wounds you thought you healed.”

I’m impressed with his depth, but I don’t want to continue discussing this, so I use the message to distract my attention from the handsome man before me. My stomach turns as I open the message, and my mind is already thinking about why we can’t meet this weekend or the weekend after. Jeez, I’m an awful daughter.

Mom: We’ve had some terrible news. Can you call me ASAP?

“Huh, that wasn’t what I was expecting,” I mumble, swiping to call her as a million scenarios of what ‘terrible news’ could be rotated in my mind. Has something happened to my brothers? Please, not Rory. Anyone but Rory. Or maybe Dad’s health isn’t good. He does partake in too many whiskeys and has a thing for fried chicken.

“Is everything okay?” Cormac enquires as panic coils through my body.

“Um, I just need to call my mom because she says something terrible has happened,” I tell him as my fingers tremble. “Mom is not the type of person to exaggerate, so…” I swipe her number and wait for her to pick up.

“Do you need privacy?” Cormac asks, but I’m too flustered to comprehend what he said. “I’ll fetch a couple of bagels from the kiosk so you can talk with your mom alone.”

He climbs to his feet just as Mom answers the phone, saying, " Thank goodness, Rae. We’re in quite a state. We don’t know if we’re coming or going.”

“Mom, what’s happened? Is it Dad?” I imagine Dad having a heart attack because Mom always warned him about it every time he ate something that wasn’t green.

“What?” he stalls in surprise. “No. Your father is fine. It’s…I don’t know if you remember him, but do you remember your brother’s business partner Gavin…” Every word spoken after ‘Gavin’ is drowned out by screaming in my head.

“Gavin?” I interrupt her as she goes off on a verbal rant, and I can’t keep up. “What has he done?” The tone of my voice is accusing because I expect nothing but deceiving and degrading behavior from that creep.

“Done?” she asks, horrified. “Done? He’s done nothing. He’s been…someone broke into his house and…” her voice drops to a whisper, and I can’t pick up the last word she spoke.

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