Page 50 of Family Forever
“Straight,” Cole replied.
Terry shot a quick glance at her, then toward Cole, before returning his gaze to the road. “He’s not going to drive over to this party and kick the crap out of me, is he?” His voice was dead serious.
“No, that’s not his style,” Cole replied.
“I don’t know. The pathetic look in his eyes when I told him I was here for Marissa instantly made me want to fess up. And then when he was grilling me, I thought one wrong answer and this guy’s going to explode.”
Marissa shifted in her seat to face Cole more directly. “Maybe this was a bad idea. Maybe we should go back and set the record straight.”
Even in the darkness of the night, Marissa could see Cole’s contemplating gaze. He shook his head. “No, let him stew on it overnight. We’re … no, you’re giving him exactly what he asked for. He’s cautious, too cautious. He’ll never submit to his feelings for you until he’s sure you’ve explored other options and know exactly what you want. Let him believe you’re testing the waters with Terry for a while, break up, and then he’ll be satisfied.”
Marissa blew out a sigh. “I know you’re right about him, Cole, but I don’t like hurting him,” she paused and swallowed the golf ball-sized lump in her throat, “and lying to him.”
Cole leaned forward. “I know it’s hard for you. It’s hard for me too. But ultimately, we’re doing this for his own good. I know my brother, and he loves you, I know he does. I just want him to be happy. I know being with you will make him happy. He just needs a slight push, and assurance that you are ready and willing to accept not only him but more importantly, the boys as well.”
“How come you can see it, that I am, and he can’t? I couldn’t love those boys any more if they were my family blood.”
He squeezed her shoulder. “I know. He’s just guarded, so very guarded of himself and the rest of us since our parents died. He’d walk through fire to see to it none of us ever felt hurt or pain again. So much so he’d risk his own happiness.”
“You guys are killing me here. Breaking my heart,” Terry stated.
Marissa reached over and touched his arm. “You’re a good friend for doing this for me. I hope Todd realizes how lucky he is to have someone as sweet and caring as you.”
Terry flashed her a wink. “It’s me who’s lucky, and good thing for you he had to work tonight or I would have ditched you to be with him.”
Marissa smiled at her kind friend. Though she wasn’t sure she liked this plan any longer, Terry was the perfect friend to help her out. No risk of collateral damage from a lover’s standpoint. She and Todd knew each other, and Todd knew exactly where Terry was tonight and what he was doing. Plus, her being female caused no worries for Terry’s boyfriend.
* * * *
Dylan tossed and turned in his bed. Every time he closed his eyes, visions of Marissa in that skimpy red dress crashed through his mind. He imagined every male at Jake's party ogling her. Why wouldn’t they? She looked absolutely breathtaking in that dress that hugged her in all the right places. Her angelic vision faded from his brain only to be replaced by the unwanted vision of her new friend, Terry. Where did this guy come from all of a sudden? Pain slashed through his heart at the thought of Marissa ringing in the New Year with Terry or any other male for that matter. He should be welcoming the New Year with her, not this stranger. He should be kissing her at midnight, kissing her beautiful, desirable ruby red lips. His heart thudded at the thought of tasting her as he imagined her delicious flavor.
That’s it, I’m going to Jake’s, to her!Dylan sprang out of bed, and slid into a pair of khakis, the first button down dress shirt he could find that didn’t need ironing, and then slipped into his cowboy boots.
He was on his way upstairs to let Aric know he was leaving for a bit when Luke started screaming for him. His heart leaped into his throat. Taking two steps at a time, he was by his little brother’s side in no time. Nate was already trying to comfort Luke but it wasn’t working.
Dylan sat on Luke’s bed and pulled him onto his lap. “What’s the matter, buddy?”
The poor boy’s heaving sobs came too quickly for him to answer. Dylan looked at Nate who shrugged. Braden and Aric had now joined the rest of them, both looked frazzled.
Tears streamed down Luke’s flush cheeks, dampening Dylan’s shirt.
“Did you have a bad dream?” Dylan asked. It would be no surprise if he did because it happened on occasion, and the death grip his brother had on him let him know it was absolutely horrific.
Luke nodded, and Dylan held him and rocked him back and forth until his sobs subsided.
Aric eyed him. “Why are you all dressed up?”
“I was on my way up here to tell you I was going over to Jake’s.”
“No!” Luke yelled as his death grip tightened on Dylan, and his sobs started over again.
“Shh, Luke, everything’s okay. You just had a bad dream is all.” Dylan continued to sway back and forth. “You can climb into bed with Aric, you’ll be fine.”
“Don’t go, Dylan, please don’t go,” Luke pleaded between gasps.
Dylan’s heart nearly exploded on behalf of his little brother, and himself for that matter. The poor kid was so scared there was no way he could leave now even though that meant he wouldn’t be able to stand in the way of Marissa ringing in the New Year with Terry. Maybe it wouldn’t have worked out anyhow.
“Okay, buddy. I won’t go, but how about we go downstairs and let Nate, Braden, and Aric climb back into bed?”
