Homewrecker (Into the Flames #1) (37 page)

My blood boils as I take in the smug bitch in her “Jesus is my wide receiver” hooded sweatshirt and roll my eyes.
Of course
. More often than not, you meet those who attend the big churches in town on Sunday, but the other six days of the week they tend to forget God is supposed to be about love and not about being a judgmental cuntnugget.

“You need to step the fuck off, mother Mary,” Lynsey interjects, stepping in front of me. “If God needs your help enforcing his shit he has way more problems to tend to than how many men my friend has in her bed. Honestly.” Pulling a card out of her jeans, she grabs the pen out of her purse and scribbles something on it before handing it to the woman. “Here. We own Batteries Not Included down on Center Street. Bring that card and I’ll help you out. Maybe you’ll quit being a nosy cunt if you have an orgasm... or ten.”

“I’ll pray for you,” the woman barks, throwing the card at our feet. “It’s people like you that make this world such a horrible place.”

Shoving around Lynsey, I glare daggers at this self-righteous bitch. “I don’t remember anything in the Bible saying I couldn’t love more than one person in my lifetime, but I do remember it saying that we shouldn’t judge other people or we risk being judged ourselves. Last I checked, you weren’t God. And not that it’s any of your business how I live my life, but I’ve fought harder for these two amazing men than I have for anything in my life. It’s not about having more than one man in my bed, it’s having the pieces that complete my heart and soul. So how about you sit the fuck down and shut the fuck up and I’ll be sure to remember to buy you a drink in hell. Because if I’m there, I know you’ll be right there with me.”

Dixon grabs my attention by squeezing my hand and pulling me down the stairs behind him. I almost trip trying to keep up with him as we rush from the stands, but he catches me before I tumble and slows his pace.

“How are you not completely infuriated right now?” I scream when we stop and he’s smiling. Reaching up he slides his fingers along my cheek, tucking my hair behind my ear.

“I honestly was ignorin’ her. Something you’re gonna have to learn to do.” Spinning me in front of him, he presses my stomach against the fence and settles in against my back. “What I didn’t ignore was the fact that you were fightin’ for us, and that’s the hottest thing I’ve ever seen.”

“Then why stop me?”

“Because if I didn’t pull you away I would’ve fucked you right there while you were tellin’ that bitch how much you loved us. It only seems fair that if we fuck in the stadium again, that we have Gunnar with us this time.”

Dixon grinds his hips against my ass, teasing me, but I try my best to pay attention since there are only a few more minutes in the game. Somehow I manage to make it until the buzzer goes off and the entire crowd behind us begins to scream since the ball is still in motion. Dixon cheers behind me for whoever has the ball, but I can’t breathe. Instead of watching the kids, I can’t take my eyes away from Gunnar as he yells and runs down the sideline, encouraging his team to the very end. There is so much fight, so much passion in him. That’s one of the major reasons I fell in love with him when we were younger. The pride that radiates off Gunnar when the buzzer sounds and they have officially advanced to the next round of the playoffs has me grinning and pushing back tears. Everything they have been working so hard for, even with all the setbacks they have had, is happening because of their determination and hard work. I couldn’t be more proud if I had suited up myself.

After he celebrates with the team and sends them back toward the locker room, he seeks us out. Grabbing me by the back of the neck, he pulls me closer to him by bending me over the fence a bit. I can feel the excitement roll off him while he kisses me, high fiving Dixon at the same time. He pulls away and rushes to catch up with the team, yelling over his shoulder that he’d meet us in the truck as soon as he was done.

Walking through the parking lot, hand-in-hand with Dixon, we pass the crowds of people leaving and make our way toward the back lot by the field house where Gunnar parks his truck.

Spinning me around, Dixon presses me against the door when we reach the truck and slams his mouth to mine. His hands slide down to cup my ass, rolling my body into his. It has my entire body heating instantly, making me forget to be mad about the mouthy bitch in the stands. Shit, if he keeps it up I’ll forget my own name, but I don’t care. All I want is to feel him touch me.

A bag drops at our feet at the same time as I feel lips at my ear and I tilt toward them because I know they belong to Gunnar. Skimming the outer shell of my ear, he nips at the lobe with his teeth. “Can’t wait to get you home, baby.” His voice is wicked and laced with promise.

Dixon breaks the kiss when I shudder beneath their hands and chuckles. “Get that ass in the truck, Sunshine. First stop is food, then it’s time for naked celebration.”

Once we stop for our usual burgers, fries, and milkshakes at Pixie Drive-Thru, we make our way home. The air in the truck is adrenaline filled after such a win. His face is lit up like a kid on Christmas, and Dixon and I are right there with him. Reaching over, Gunnar grabs my hand and squeezes. “Tonight could possibly be the best night of my life.”

“I’m so proud of you and the guys, baby.” I say, beaming at him.

Looking over at me for a second, I notice his smile nearly touches his eyes. “Not just because of the win, Kennedy.” Squeezing my hand again, he stops at an intersection when the light changes and leans into my lips, kissing me quickly. “Because I had two of the most important people in my life walk onto the field with me tonight. The win was just icing on the cake.”

Dixon slips his arm behind me, patting Gunnar on the shoulder. “Love you too, sweetcheeks, we can hug it out later.”

Rounding the corner by our house, Gunnar turns into the driveway and we are met by Gunnar’s dad, George, leaning back against his old, rag top Jeep.

“Hey, George,” I say, smiling as Dixon helps me from the truck and we grab the bags of food.

Making my way over to him, I lean up and kiss his cheek. Instead of the warm greeting I usually get from him, he stays silent. He doesn’t move in for his usual hug but he continues to stares at Dixon. His lack of enthusiasm has me wondering what is wrong with him, but since I’m used to lackluster greetings from most of the parental figures in my life, I don’t give it much thought.

Gunnar jumps out of the truck and rushes over to where his dad is still standing. Unlike with me, George wraps his arms around Gunnar, patting him on the back with a congratulations.

“Why didn’t you tell us you were comin’ to the game?” Gunnar asks.

He shrugs. “Didn’t want any more pressure on you than necessary. There’s no damn reason for you to have anything but the game on your mind when you’re there.”

“If you had told one of us you were comin’ we would’ve brought food home for you too,” Dixon yells over the bed of the truck when he finishes speaking. George narrows his eyes at him, sliding his gaze over to me and then glares back at Dixon.

Well, that was weird
.

“Not hungry. I saw something earlier that made me sick to my stomach. I don’t plan on stayin’ long anyway.”

Turning his full attention back to Gunnar, he spins the conversation to the game, turning his back on us. Gunnar beams, oblivious to whatever is going on, and tells him everything he wants to know about.

I grab ahold of Dixon’s hand and pull him along behind me to the house. It’s clear to see that there is something on George’s mind that has him upset with Dixon or myself for some reason, but he won’t talk about it. Instead of making everyone uncomfortable, letting Gunnar talk to him alone for a while seems like the way to go.

Dropping the takeout bags on the counter, I head down the hall and change into something more comfortable than my game gear. Loose black pants and a purple tank seem like a good idea to me because if what was happening before we left the school was any indication of how the rest of the night would be, something easy to get out of will be vital.

I turn the faucet on when I reach the kitchen sink and wait for the water to warm up so I can wash away the dirt they acquired at the game. Dixon steps up behind me. Pressing himself against my back, he pulls my hair up, piling it on top of my head. I lean forward to shut the water off and he grabs a hair tie from the window sill in front of us, looping it around the messy pile a few times. It won’t stay up long because they’ll want to be pulling it, but for now it’s out of Dixon’s way so he can get to my neck without having to continuously shift where he pushes it.

His lips blaze a trail from shoulder to shoulder, making me close my eyes and moan when he gently bites where my neck and shoulder meet. His arms wrap around me, hands splaying across my stomach, and I lace my fingers with his. I roll my head as he makes his way across the back of my neck again, giving him more access to my skin. He drags his nose up the length of my neck to my ear, breathing me in as he does.

“Guess what I just did,” he whispers against the shell of my ear.

“Hmm?” I hum, opening my eyes to meet his in the reflection in the window above the sink.

“Switched the laundry and dropped a new load in.”

The sexy tone he uses makes me giggle, but I try to cover it. “Oh yeah? That’s hot, I think you’re my new hero.”

Dropping his hands, he grabs my hips and spins me around. Hoisting me up, he slides me back onto the counter and situates himself between my thighs, letting his hands drift up them. I grab the front of his shirt, pulling him closer and nip at his mouth.

“If you think that’s hot, you should probably know that Gunnar and I fixed the bathroom window and cleaned the garage too.”

Letting my head fall back, I moan when he brushes his finger over my nipple. “God damn I think I just came. I knew I loved you two.” Sliding my fingers into his hair, I tug and make him groan. Looking at him I can’t help but wonder if he knows what was wrong with George, so I ask.

Blowing out a breath, he nods. “I overheard ‘em talkin’ while I was switchin’ the laundry. He thinks that we’re fuckin’ around behind Gunnar’s back… again.” Dixon drops his head to my shoulder.

“I’m sorry, baby,” I whisper against the side of his head. Sliding my arms around him, I pull him closer and tuck my face into his neck and comfort him as much as I can. Other than Gunnar and myself, the only other person’s opinion that matters to Dixon, is George. I know that feeling like he disappointed George is killing him inside.

“We should’ve told him in person a long time ago.”

“You’re damn right you should’ve, but you didn’t."

Both of our heads snap up when George speaks up from the doorway. Dixon turns to face him, but he doesn’t step out from between my legs. In fact, he covers me almost protectively. From behind George, Gunnar winks at me.

“Want a beer, Dad?” Gunnar asks, pushing his way past him, but George stays silent. Pulling open the fridge door, he looks over at us in question. We both shake our heads so he only grabs one. He pops the top, leaning around us to drop the cap with the rest of them. Before taking a drink he leans in and kisses me, smiling slightly against my lips.

The tension in the room rises as we wait to find out what George is going to do now. He studies us, watching for a minute before blows out a deep breath. “This situation works for y’all?”

Sliding one arm around Dixon’s chest, the other grabs Gunnar’s hand when he reaches out and I pull him tightly against us.

“So far, yeah,” Gunnar says, nodding. “Like I told you outside, if it isn’t somethin’ you’re comfortable with, you can see yourself out like Kennedy’s mom did.”

“Boy, did I say anything negative about it?” Gunnar’s mouth snaps shut as we wait for George’s reaction. He shrugs, reaching out he grabs Gunnar’s beer and starts to drink it. We all know where Lynsey learned the move from now and I know she’s getting called out on it soon. “It’s not my life, guys. If this works for you, great. Maybe if I had thought about something like this I’d still be married. As long as y’all are happy, good.” We all breathe a sigh of relief, but he isn’t done yet. “Don’t ever go seekin’ other people’s approval for something that only effects the three of ya.”

Dixon squeezes my knee. “We good?” he asks, and as soon as George nods he rushes forward and wraps his arms around him. When they let go, Dixon makes his way back over and leans against the counter beside me. The conversation finally begins to flow easily between everyone as we munch on the food we brought home. Every time I touch Dixon I can tell he is finally relaxed now and I know it’s because the thought of George being disappointed in him is no longer weighing on his mind.

I think it’s a weight off of all our shoulders and I know what he said about other people’s approval was needed and it will stick with us for a long time.

“Dinner?” I ask, looking up to meet Gunnar’s eyes. “It’s your night to pick what he have.”

The mischief filled smile makes my stomach twist in anticipation. “If I remember correctly it’s my night to pick all activities.”