Page 38 of Huge Dynamite
“Yeah?” Sitting back up, she moves on to the eggs.
Shoveling in a bite of eggs, her eyes widen. “Oh, my gosh, Seth, these are delicious. You can cook?”
Scooping up another bite of eggs, she offers it to me, holding her other hand beneath to catch anything that might fall. It’s all so normal and feels so nice.
Taking the bite, I chew and swallow. “I cook a little.”
“Where’d you learn? Your mom?”
“Some.” Looking into Holly’s brilliant eyes, I suddenly feel like talking. “My mom died when I was a teen. Colt was just a kid. That’s when we were split up—he went to live with our aunt.”
“I’m sorry.” Her brow furrows. “But if you were just a teen, who did you live with?”
Nodding, I swallow what feels like a lump the size of Montana in my throat. “I was sent to juvie.”
Sitting forward, she puts the tray down. “As in juvenile detention?”
“Yeah.”
Looking away, I stare at the blanket between us, waiting for her to jump up and run. Instead, she reaches out and takes my hand. Turning it, she strokes my palm with her thumb. It’s the most calming thing I’ve ever felt, and it’s like a million pounds of stress fall off of me. Taking a deep breath, I exhale.
“I’m so sorry you went through that.”
Looking up into her eyes, I wait for more—the questions, the judgment, the abandonment. But there isn’t any of that. Instead, she leans toward me, and laying a hand behind my neck, she moves closer and kisses me so very softly.
If only kisses could cure.
Pulling away, she moves toward her side of the bed. Reaching out, I grab her hand and hold on. She looks startled, but not the least bit scared.
“I want you to know.” I hold her hand tight. “I was stupid then. And I guess I’m still stupid now—like that night I fought with Avery.”
“You’re not stupid, Seth. You’re passionate.”
Giving her a small smile, I explain. “We were living in Ohio then, and I was a bad kid. I was always in trouble—nothing all that bad at the beginning—petty theft and eventually stealing cars, but when I was fourteen and my mother died…” Shaking my head, I fight to keep my voice even. “I just freaked, you know? Instead of comforting Colt—who was just a friggin’ baby—I bought a shotgun and went to the local liquor store. I was arrested for armed robbery.”
“Seth…”
With her free hand, she strokes my cheek. Closing my eyes for a moment, I take a deep breath. Letting my breath go, I open my eyes and look at her.
“When they arrested me, I just lost it. Dynamite, you know? I lashed out at the cop. Got an extra two years for that. The judge was lenient on me because I was considered a kid from a troubled environment, although I don’t know why. Yeah, my dad had split, but my mother was an accountant. Maybe the judge felt bad because she had just died. I got one year for the botched armed robbery since I didn’t actually steal anything or hurt anyone, but I got an additional two for my behavior. I learned to cook there.” Looking into her eyes, I feel myself pleading. “I heard you last night, when you told me the difference between impulse control and passion. But what does it matter when the end result means hurting someone I love?”
“Colt?”
“Yeah.” Sighing, I try to push the sadness away. “That’s why this new clubhouse is so important to me. I feel like it’s a way I can contribute to the Knights, who’ve welcomed me with open arms, and bond with my brother at the same time.”
Nodding, she smiles. “I get it.”
Exhaling loudly, I shrug. “Sorry. What a way to bring us down.”
“No, I’m glad you told me. And you’re not bad, Seth. You just done some stupid things. Haven’t we all?”
Looking at her out of the corner of my eye, I tease, “I’ll bet you have never done one stupid thing in your life.”
“Ooh.” She rubs her hands together. “Another bet. I love betting with you because I win.”
“Is winning everything?”
“Hell, yes.” She smiles playfully. “You’re in bed with the captain of the cheer team, president of the debate club—with an undefeated record that still holds today—valedictorian, and then the top one percent of my Ivy League med school’s graduating class. Hell, yeah, winning is everything.” She takes a bite of the eggs with a triumphant smile on her face.
