Enough (21 page)

“No thank you
, Miss.” He said.

“You can ca
ll me, Emily and this is Alex. What about the officer in the car? Does he need anything?” I asked.

Officer Miles smiled.
“We fueled up before we came here. Officers need their donuts and coffee.” Alex and I smiled. Are we thinking about the same thing?

“I knew that rumor was true
! If you need anything feel free to make anything. Mi casa su casa.” I said.

“Thank you Mis–
Emily. Alex.” Miles said nodding.

Alex and I
walked inside to head toward the basement. Alex moved the fake bush by the door and swung the door open.

“You’re a tough girl but you have a good heart.” Alex said turning on the light.
“You care about people.” Who doesn’t?

“
Thanks.” I said while looking down the stairs. “You want to go first?” I asked. He was brave with the shed, why not now?

“Is it that bad?”
He asked turning to me.

“No.
I just don’t like basements. They’re really creepy. Do you watch horror movies?! Bad things always happen in the basement.” I said.

“I get it.” He
said smiling. He started going down the stairs and I followed. The basement isn’t bad. Mom renovated it into a game room and laundry space three years ago but it always creeped me out. Everything looks okay. The only thing left was the closet door in the back. As soon as I opened the door, the chainsaws started and I jumped. The noise was kind of blocked out down here so I recovered quickly.

“
When these guys leave we can go back to my place.” Alex said eyeing the pool table. “Everything’s fine so your mom will be happy.” Our eyes met. “Your guy seemed nice.”

“He is. And dreamy
.” I said. Alex set his mouth in a line. “But he’s not my type.” I said picking up the eight ball and letting it roll across the table. Alex surprised me by grabbing me and turning me until my butt was against the table. His lips found mine and I was lost again. Last night was nowhere on my mind right now.

Then Alex pulled away from me as his eyes searched my face. “I’m sorry.” Sorry? For what? “I don’t…you…is this okay?”

I knew this would happen one day. A man can’t grab me and kiss me like that without thinking he’s forcing himself on me. I let my hands brush down his arms. “I’ve never met a guy like you.” I said. “You make me forget about everything.” I stepped closer to him. Those lips are calling my name. “And you drive me crazy.” Just one kiss. “It’s okay.” I said before pressing my lips to his.

“I
drive you crazy?” I nodded. He let out a small laugh. “You’ve been driving me crazy since I first met you.” He said finding my lips again. One minute were just kissing, the next, our hands are all over one another. Mine slid under his shirt to touch his skin. Any part will do. And it worked. Alex picked me up and set me down on the pool table. His lips moved past my mouth, down my jaw to my neck. I closed my eyes and enjoyed every second of his sweet torture. Our clothes should be off.

There was a loud
thump
then Alex stopped moving his mouth over my body. Another
thump
then the chainsaws stopped.

Damn trees! “We should go upstairs.” Alex said pulling back.

“Umm…yeah. We…” I stared at the ground trying to find the right words. “They’re done already.” I finally said jumping off of the pool table. “Alex…” He turned and looked at me. I don’t want to go back upstairs. I want to stay here and go back to what we were doing. What would he think if we just did it? Right now. I don’t want to know. W
ay to go. Have sex in the basement on the pool table. Real classy. Just a random hook up and he’ll leave.
I thought. “Never mind.”

We walked back upstairs and
waited a few minutes so the guys could finish up. “That was quick.” I said as Jessie grabbed his things.

“They got shredded and we cleaned up everything.
Good as new.” He said handing me a card. “If you need anything else, call me.”

“Thanks
for everything. Just wait one second. Let me grab my purse then we can go.” I said mainly to Alex. I ran upstairs and grabbed my stuff. By the time I got downstairs, the men were gone. “Where did they go?” I asked. “I didn’t even pay them.”

“I took care of it.”
Alex said. I sighed.

“Alex,
I can do things on my own you know. After what you did for me and my family…I don’t want you blowing money on us.” I said trying to stand my ground.

“
I just wanted to help.” He said kissing me as I got downstairs. Yeah, he knows that will work. “You’re going to have to get use to me being nice.”

I really am but I don’t want to. I don’t need a man to pay for my stuff
. I had jobs in the past. I supported myself. I sighed and walked toward the front door. I armed the house and locked up.

“Nobody should be coming by
. I’m bringing my family here so if someone says they were invited…do whatever cops do.” I said to Officer Miles.

“Yes Ma’am.
” Ma’am. Oh, c’mon.

We
drove back to Alex’s without locking lips. That’s what I call self-control. “Do you think they’re happy to go back home?” I asked Alex as we walked up the steps of his place

“I don’t know
. If they’re not, they’re still welcome to stay here. I really don’t mind.” He said. The things I want to do when he said that.

I found Declan
waiting on the couch as we walked in.

“Did you go home?”
He asked putting his phone away.

“Yeah
. Are Scar and Mom still sleeping?” I asked.

“No, they’re getting
their clothes ready.” Declan said staring at Alex a bit longer. “We’re happy to go back. I mean your house is great, Alex but it’s
your
house. You need your privacy too.” I held my breath. Ohmygod. Is he talking about yesterday? I turned my head away and blushed. Fuck me.

“Al
l right…I’ll get their things and we can go.” I said running up the stairs. I left Alex down there with my wolf of a brother. He’s out for blood. He doesn’t like me and guys in the same room. Alex was right behind me smiling as I grabbed my suitcase. “Ohmygod, did you hear what he was saying?” I asked throwing my clothes inside making sure I didn’t leave anything behind. Embarrassing. “You don’t have to come back to the house.” I said. “You do…whatever it is you do.” I said looking up. “Then I can come by so we can go out.”

“Are y
ou sure? I don’t mind helping.” He’s too nice.

“
I’m sure. I have to take a shower and my clothes are there… You know how long girls take to get ready.” I said.

“Okay.” Alex said.

I finished packing up and headed over to Scarlett’s room. They were ready so Alex and I grabbed everything and stuffed everything in Declan’s car.

Scarlett came do
wn the stairs with help from Mom so I offered to help. I slipped her on my shoulder and helped her out.

“Emily, I’m sorry I did
n’t tell you about Bryan sooner–”

“It’s okay.
” I said cutting her off. “We talked about this.” I’m okay with it now. They wanted me to feel like we were a family. We were until David fucked that all up.

I got Scar
in Mom’s car then they disappeared on me. Just like that.

“I’ll come by around six. D
o you have anything to do in the meantime?” I asked Alex.

“Yeah
, I’m getting rid of the cars today.” He said with a wicked look in his eyes. “We’re going to break some laws tonight so be ready to run.”

I nodded then glanced at the Camaro.
“Thank you for him, Alex. You’ve been nothing but good to me.” I said. “I am going to pay you back. Someday.”

“I won’t accept it.” He said. I was about to say otherwise when he gave me a look. “Ever.” Then he kissed me and the topic was dropped. He knows how to
get me to shut up.

“I should go…”
I said pulling away from him. Now is not the time for this. He held onto my hand as I walked away and I laughed. “I’m coming back later. Alex…this is unhealthy. I think you’re obsessed with me.” I joked. “I’ll be back.”

“I’ll be here.” He said letting me go.

I walked toward the car with a smile on my lips. I started the car and drove home. My family was getting the suitcases out of the car when I slid under Scarlett’s body again to help her.

“C’mo
n. Let’s get you some food…you feel like a feather.” I teased. Officer Miles was still there and asked if we needed help. And people are scared of cops. They’re harmless. I should know. I know one very well. Drew. He’s back in Stoneham. With Mark and Christy.

I disarmed the alarm,
brought Scar to the kitchen and slid her onto a chair. Declan brought the suitcases inside with Mom following behind until she stopped to talk to Officer Miles.

When she came inside she went start to cooking like she never stepped foot out of the house.

“I missed your cooking.” I said finishing up the delicious stir-fry Mom made.

She
grabbed my hand and kissed my forehead.

“Me too. I’m glad we’re home again.
” Then she smiled at me. Like really smiled. “So…Alex…I like him.”

“Right. And he’s hot.” Scarlett
said wiggling her brows at me. “Where have you been hiding him?” And the questions began.

After a long conversation about Alex,
I brought Scarlett up to her room. “I have to take a shower but I’ll be right back when I’m done.” I said. She nodded and waved me out.

I picked dark blue skinny je
ans, any shirt that was close and a sweater. I saw my heels lying on the ground and decided they weren’t that high. I can run in anything. I also want to look good. Alex and I could get some dinner in downtown Boston before we go break the law.

I started the shower and hopped in. It felt good lett
ing the water run over my body until it reminded me of Alex and his mouth and hands on my body. Let me say it’s not a good idea to think of a guy touching you when you’re in the shower. My legs got wobbly and I almost fell. Twice.

I glanced at my
body in the mirror and was glad to see the bruises fading away. It was one in the afternoon so I have plenty of time. I put on some comfy clothes then went to Scarlett’s room.

“I thought you weren’t coming back.”
She said.

“I told you I was. How are you feeling?”
I grabbed her stuffed bunny and laid down beside her. She got this thing when she was sixteen, she kept it ever since.

“Better. I don’t heal as fast as you but it doesn’t hurt
that much anymore.” She said. I instinctively put my hand to the cut under my left breast. It doesn’t hurt anymore and I think it’s healed. Scar and I are going to have scars to remind us of what happened. Great.

“
Christmas is Wednesday. We’re not doing anything, right?”

“I don’t think so. We don’t even have a
tree.” She said.

“We have everything we need anyway
s.”

We got to talking until she yawned. She’s tired and I was a bit tired so I asked if she wanted to take a nap. She talked about Alex instead.

“Are you guys seeing each other later?” She asked.

“We’re going out, yeah
.” She turned to face me.

“Going out with him or
going out
with him? Friend date or more?” The grin on my face gave it away. “You didn’t tell me! I know I’m older but still, you’re my sister. We’re supposed to talk about everything. When did this happen?” She asked.

“To be honest I don’t really know.
We’ve been spending a lot of time together and…I don’t know what we can call it right now but whatever it is I like it.” I said.

“Did you guys h
ave sex yet?” She asked.

“Well that was directly to the point. No
, we didn’t.”

“Oh
, I thought you did because you guys were sleeping in the same bed…so I figured…” Speaking of that…

“
First, that doesn’t prove anything. I like him next to me. Second, no one complained. And third…I have to tell you this. We were about to…last night…at least I think we would have but Declan came in.”

“Same thing happened to me.
” She said laughing. “I think Declan can smell sex in the air.” I stared at her wide-eyed.

“
That just freaked me out. What should I do? Alex said it was okay. He could be lying.” I said. Right?

“Just don’t think ab
out it. It happens to everyone.” She turned to face me. “And once you guys seal the deal, you’ll forget about it.” She said. “Are you…going to seal the deal with him?”

I let out a breath. “Scar…” I
found her eyes. “He makes me forget about what happened. And whenever I think of him…I want to jump his bones and have sex.”