Pivotal Moments (In Time #1) (7 page)

“She punched the shit out of Tracey, okay? The little bitch went and called the cops.” His tone ended in a snarl.

Penny opened her mouth, but Connor snapped a finger and pointed at her, warning her to be quiet. She clamped her mouth shut, glaring at him murderously.

Penny had punched Tracey? What the hell had taken place while Teagan and I were gone? I held up a hand. “Okay, wait. Hold up for one second here.” I ordered. “What do you mean Penny punched Tracey?” Penny might yell, but she never got physical.

Connor started to respond, but Penny jumped in instead. “Look, she was being a class A bitch, okay? After you left, she just kept making her little comments and those snide remarks. I got fed up and—”

“You didn’t have to break her damn nose, woman,” Connor interjected.

She marched over to Connor, pointing a finger at him. “You can take your woman and shove it up your ass, Connor Munroe! You’re just pissed because I dealt with her before you could. So shut up and kiss my rosy red rear end!”

More than a few heads turned our way at Penny’s yelling. Teagan groaned, and I silently agreed. This was nothing but a huge mess, and I just wanted to go home. I outright echoed his groan when the thought struck me—

How would we explain to Mom why we were stuck here? That we had to wait for the cops to show up and question us before we could go home?

Chapter 7

Seventeen years of being my mother’s poster child…seventeen. Now, my record was epically blemished. By one girl. One girl who had it out for me for no reason. My record was ruined and I was so going to pay for it.

Mom was not happy. 

I cringed upon recalling the conversation we’d just had on the phone while I sat in the waiting area of the police station. She lectured, I listened. I occasionally threw in a, “Yes, ma’am,” and, “I understand, Mom.”

It was painful. And I suspected it would be repeated when I got home.

A headache had started when I learned that Penny’d had the police called on her, and it had been steadily building. I stretched my neck and rolled my shoulders, hoping to relieve some of the pressure that had settled there. A pair of warm, strong hands rested on the base of my neck, squeezing gently, and I froze in surprise.

“You okay?” Teagan’s warm breath brushed across my cheek as he spoke in my ear.

I shivered, then nodded. “Yeah, it’s just a headache. I’m fine.”

He let go of my shoulders and walked around the row of plastic chairs to sit down beside me. I smiled, somehow understanding he was trying to make me feel better. He succeeded. His thumb ran over his chin for a moment before he reached out and laid a hand back on my shoulder. I flashed him a shy smile, nervously shuffling in my seat.

“How’d the talk with your mom go?” he asked quietly.

I shook my head. “Not well. I’m about half a step from being lumped into Connor’s status,” I said, sad about the turn of events.

His hand tightened slightly, a frown on his face. His gray eyes were stormy. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. I shouldn’t have pushed you to come with us.”

I stilled. Sweetheart? My heart was pounding so hard he should’ve heard it. First, babe…now sweetheart? What did that mean? He was watching me, so I brought myself back to the conversation.

“It’s not your fault, Teagan. None of us knew Tracey was going to be there.” I prodded a bit. “I’m just glad I got to spend time with you…all of you. Despite Tracey being Tracey.”

A tiny, hopeful smile formed on his lips, and a shudder of glee wriggled through me. He opened his mouth to respond—and Connor stepped in, frowning. His eyes flashed between me and Teagan several times, and then finally settled back on me. My stomach tightened into knots.

Teagan stiffened at Connor’s expression, and his arm moved to rest on the back of my seat. Protectively. By the looks on Teagan’s and Connor’s faces, there was a silent battle taking place.

The standoff ended when the back door of the police station suddenly opened and Penny was escorted into the waiting room by a female officer. The woman said something quiet to Penny before letting go of her elbow and leaving the room. Penny glared at the door as it closed, then came our way. Connor took a step toward her, and an odd look shot across Penny’s face.

I was going to have to talk to her about this.

Teagan and I stood up, and I blushed at her pointed look. She didn’t have to open her mouth to say I told you so.

“We need to go,” Connor said. “It’s late, and it’s a long drive back home.” 

Outside, the day had marched into the night without my notice. Mom was going to be pissed. We should have been home hours ago.

The others nodded, and we walked out of the station to get into Teagan’s SUV. Zver had stayed in the truck, and needless to say, the canine happiness showered upon me was abundant and sloppy. I smiled at the wet, slimy dog kisses and ruffled his ears, making him whine in delighted glee. Then I slid into the seat behind Teagan.

Connor got in the front passenger seat and slammed his door shut much harder than it needed to be. Well, this was going to be a fun trip.

“That was bullshit!” Penny exclaimed, leaning between the two front seats. “All I did was break the bitch’s nose. It’s not like I drew a gun on her or anything.”

Connor looked at her for a long moment, then turned his gaze straight ahead. “You’re eighteen, Penny. You’re lucky it didn’t go worse.”

“Whatever. I’m not worried about her.” She waved him off.

Connor swung back around so quickly that Penny fell off the seat and onto the floor board of the backseat. “Do you have any idea what they could have charged you with? Assault and battery, for one. That goes on your permanent record. It’s there forever, woman.”

Penny narrowed her eyes at the woman statement. I intercepted the fight. “Calm down, Con. Everything worked out.”

At that, his eyes swung to me. I fought the instinct to shrink back against the seat. By the look in his eyes, I was about to go up in flames.

“Calm down? Seriously?” He looked at me like I had lost my mind.

“Yeah. I mean, no one got—”

“Someone was, Ash!” he interrupted. “She,” he pointed at Penny, “now has an arrest on her record. Granted, we’re going to fight it. But the point is, you made it happen!”

I stiffened. “What exactly does that mean, Connor?” I demanded, blinking.

“It means you need to start fighting your own battles. That was bullshit, you just walking off like that. Then Teeg had to go hunt down your immature ass.”

I sucked in a breath. Teagan’s face started to turn red. This needed to stop, now. “I’m not getting into that with you,” I stated softly, but firmly. There was a lump lodged in my throat, and my nose burned, but I refused to cry.

“No,” Connor said. “We’re going to discuss this now. Are you really so insecure that a couple of sentences make you haul ass into the woods and risk getting lost?” He turned back to the windshield and muttered, “This is precisely why I don’t take you anywhere. I constantly have to watch you.”

“That’s enough, man,” Teagan said, hands tightening around the wheel. “Stop before you say something you can’t take back. I get that you’re upset, but she’s your sister.”

Connor’s face turned red. “Seriously, dude, what the fuck? I don’t know what’s going on with you two, but stay the hell out of this,” he snarled.

“I’m not going to let you talk to her like that,” Teagan stated. His voice brooked no argument.

Amazed surprise was the dominant feature on Penny’s face at the exchange taking place. Both men had drawn their lines, defending us girls. I had entered an alternate universe, where Penny wasn’t arguing, Connor was defending her at my expense, and a hot guy was defending me.

“She’s my sister. I’ll handle this as I see fit,” Connor said.

Teagan’s hands clenched tighter. “Not now you won’t.” His voice was steely, hard, and unforgiving.

Connor turned toward me and glared. “We’re not done here.”

I did shrink into the seat this time. Teagan noticed, and a frown creased his face, his eyes tight.

Connor opened his mouth to say something else, but I turned my head and watched the darkened landscape flash by, fighting tears. Something brushed my left leg, and I jumped. In the rearview, Teagan met my gaze with a smirk before returning his attention to the road.

Something bumped my leg again. It was a hand—Teagan’s hand. His left arm was wedged between his seat and the door so that his fingers were softly grazing the calf of my leg. When I didn’t move, he waggled his fingers. In the mirror, he raised an eyebrow. I bit my lip, then maneuvered myself so that I was laying my head down on my knees. I reached out, placing my hand within his, and shivered when his fingers wound through mine. He gave them a brief squeeze.

I grinned into my knees.

I must’ve fallen asleep, because I awoke to Penny shaking me, and the sound of the door slamming shut. I sat up and stared at my empty hand. I blushed, and Penny flashed me a smug grin. 

“He didn’t let go until we turned onto the street,” she whispered. “I don’t think Con saw, though.” She paused for a second. “Do you like him, Ash? Because it’s obvious he likes you.”

I could only blush again and nod. I was nervous. It was so fast, these emotions, and they scared me.

Penny scooted closer and took my hand. “This is your first rodeo, Ash. Don’t think. Just go with it, all right?” She took a deep breath and held it for a moment, then let it out in a rush. “I’m really sorry, sweetie.”

“About what?”

“That whole thing with Connor? I don’t know what it was about, but it wasn’t cool. And he was dead wrong. You know that, right?” I shrugged, but she gave a tight smile and squeezed my hand. “It’s not your fault. I made the decision to go after her.” She let go of my hand and flashed me an evil grin. “I’d do it again too. The look on her face! Now the bitch is sporting a black eye and a broken nose.”

I smiled. When Penny decided she didn’t like someone, she went all out. My best friend in a nutshell was all or nothing.

“I know, Pen. You do what you want to.” I hesitated, then whispered, “He hurt my feelings. He humiliated me. I…” I stopped and swallowed hard. “He made me feel like a little kid.”

She nodded. “So what are you gonna do?”

I shook my head. “I don’t know. Probably give him the silent treatment for a while.”

A snort came from the rear of the vehicle. Teagan stood at the open back, and may’ve heard the whole conversation. I swear, if my life got any more embarrassing…

Penny looked between me and Teagan, then grinned. “What? You don’t like her method of payback?”

“Ladies, let me explain something to you.” He rested his arms on the overhead tailgate. “We guys consider the silent treatment a reward. It means we pissed you off to the point that you’ll leave us alone.” He straightened and chuckled. “Don’t do the silent treatment, babe. I may regret this eventually, but I’d advise you to try another method.”

Penny burst out laughing. “That explains why my dad always sits in the recliner with a smile on his face after a fight with Mom.”

Teagan grinned while reaching in and grabbing the rest of our things from the rear cargo section of the truck. Slinging my bag over his shoulder and picking up the smaller cooler, he met my gaze and nodded toward the house. A pit of cold dread settled in my stomach, and it must’ve shown, because he closed the trunk and walked around to my side of the SUV and opened the door.

Penny slid out on her side with a wicked little grin and headed inside. I turned to focus on the man filling the open car door. Despite the mass of butterflies and pigeons in my stomach, his nearness was comfortable, comforting.

“You going to be okay, babe?” he asked, his eyes searching mine.

I shrugged. “I have no idea. Between my mom and Connor…yeah, I’m starting to understand why kids run away from home.”

His lips twitched as he forced back a smile. I narrowed my eyes. “Look, Teagan, you have no idea how Mom can be when she’s in one of her moods. And trust me, after yesterday and today, she is definitely going to be in a mood.” I closed my eyes. “I’ve never been on the receiving end of it, but I will be tonight.” I ran my hands through my hair, pressing my fingertips to my scalp. My hair was already a horrendous mess; what did it matter if I made it worse?

Teagan took my wrists and pulled my hands away. Then he reached out and smoothed my hair back into place with a thoughtful look. My breath caught as his silver-gray eyes locked with mine. “Penny was right. None of this is your fault. That girl was drunk, and Penny made the decision to take things to a physical level with her. You’re not responsible for it.” He bent his knees a bit to look me in the eye. “Of course it’s always easier to say it than to believe it.”

I nodded. It definitely was easier said than believed. I just wanted to hide here with Teagan, rather than go in the house and deal with more drama. I glanced at my car—still parked across the street—and debated just driving far, far away.

“Nope. No, you don’t,” Teagan said, grabbing my wrist. “You’ll have to deal with it eventually. Might as well get it over with now.”

His grip slid down to take my hand and I couldn’t resist the gentle tug to get out of the car. Now trapped between him and the vehicle, I had to tip my head back and meet his amused gaze. “You’re short,” he teased.

I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, I know. You’re tall.”

He leaned down until we were almost eye level and gave me his Teagan smirk. “I like it, babe.”

My breath hitched as his eyes dropped to my mouth. He stilled for the briefest of moments, and something flashed across his face. Then a carefully schooled look of amusement came.

What the hell?

Teagan suddenly straightened and took a step back. My confusion must have shown, because a sheepish look settled on his face. He began to turn away, but stopped and opened his mouth to say something. He quickly snapped it shut again and shook his head, motioning for me to pass him.

Frowning, I walked past him and up the pathway to the front door. At the door, I hesitated, delaying the inevitable. But I waited for Teagan to join me, and as soon as I felt his warmth at my back, I took a deep breath, opened the door, and stepped onto the battlefield.

***

I knocked on the guest bedroom door, and at Penny’s cranky grunt, I went in. She’d sequestered herself in the room shortly following our dismissal, and she still wore a traumatized expression. I gave her a sympathetic smile and sat down on the bed next to her. Letting out a deep sigh, she looked at me for a moment before screwing up her face into a frown.