The Keys to Jericho (87 page)

Checking my phone after my shower, I tell Kat that Dad said yes, so that works out since she asked Brenda to be her maid of honor, or whatever you’d call her, since women are complicated. I also told Kat I’ll be over at 1:00, and to meet me in her driveway. When she asked for what, I laughed, not replying to her text.

A knock on my bedroom door startles me and I set down my phone on the nightstand. “Come in.”

Hadley walks in, looking bleary-eyed and pale, but her hair is wet, so she was able to take a shower, at least, so she’s not too far gone.

Walking over to me, she says, “I wanted to tell you goodnight, congratulations, and thank you for helping me tonight.”

Shrugging, I say, “No problem. It’s what I’m here for, believe it or not.”

“Why? We haven’t been close in years, and now you’re suddenly wanting to look out for me?”

Anxiously tapping my fist into my hand, I say, “Yeah. That’s my fault. I’m correcting my mistakes. Is that so hard to believe?”

She smiles. “Maybe. Anyway, goodnight.” She hugs me, and I almost want to confess to her about Blair, but I don’t, especially since she’s drunk.

Letting go of me, she chuckles. “You sound like Dad sometimes.”

I roll my eyes. “I don’t know if that’s a good or bad thing.”

“Good. You’re going to be a great husband, I know it.”

Crossing my arms and biting my lip, I say, “Um, thanks. I hope so. I’ll try my hardest.”

“Are you and Kat going to have kids someday?”

“Yeah. Probably in a few years.”

“I want kids someday, too, but I can’t even get him to change his mind about marriage. I wish Finn wanted to marry me.”

“He’ll change his mind. I did and I never thought I would. I was wrong.
So
wrong. Just be patient with him, but not for too long. You deserve to be happy.”

Hadley smiles, but it’s heavily put-upon. “Thanks, Jared. So do you.”

She walks to the door, but turns before leaving. “By the way, Dash definitely gets hotter every time I see him. Is he working out?”

I scowl. “You’re drunker than I thought.”

She shrugs. “Maybe if I were single...”

“Hit!”

“Miss!”

“That’s it. No more Dash Calder for you. At all.”

Hadley giggles and rolls her eyes. “Night, little brother.”

“Yeah. Night, big sis.”

Jesus Christ.

Finn Wilder, do
not
let me down. My family tree and my sanity depend on it.

Pushing open the door, the bells attached to it ring.

“Well, well, well! Look who’s finally gracing us with his presence! It’s been way too long, Jared!”

Closing the door, I raise an eyebrow. “Hey, Victor. Dash around?”

“You’re not here to see me?” he pouts.

Tapping comes from the hallway until a blonde appears in the doorway behind the counter. “Jared Beckett. I never thought I’d see you in here again.”

“Yeah. It’s been a while.”

Shell comes around the counter to give me a hug, and as usual, she’s wearing heavy makeup and tight clothes, never totally giving up the inner stripper. Her perfume reminds me of when Dash and I sometimes would go to the strip club after school and play around on the stage, pretending we had an audience as we acted like dumbasses. Or even Dash and I cleaning up dead flowers at her shop to earn beer money, unbeknownst to anyone over 21. The smell of her perfume, flowers, stale cigarettes and beer will forever remind me of a significant part of my childhood.

She says, “You certainly look good. You were always a nice-looking kid, though.”

Victor’s gaze appraises me and he says, “He’s definitely not a kid anymore.” Jesus Christ. I didn’t come here to get checked out by the homosexual staff.

Dash appears in the doorway, his face going pale. He nearly stutters, “Jericho.”

I resolutely state, “Dash.”

Shell demands of Dash, “Why didn’t you tell me Jared was stopping by today?”

“I didn’t know!”

I say to Dash, “You’re usually here Saturday mornings for a couple hours, so I thought I’d try here first.”

Shell asks, “Isn’t it sweet? You two have been best friends since you were little boys.”

Dash grumbles, “Yeah. Sweet.”

I roll my eyes as I push up on my hat. “Awesome.”

Victor says, “Jared sure doesn’t look like that sweet little boy now.”

Shell says, “I agree. You grew up to be a hot tamale. I’d do straight again for you.”

Dash shrieks, “Mom!”

Victor grins. “I wouldn’t.”

Dash says, “He’s engaged. Both of you, back off.”

Shell swings her head to me, appearing confused. “Engaged? To a woman?”

I nod with a grin, and Dash says, “Yeah. Kat is his fiancée.”

Victor asks, “Katriona? That pretty, little teacher who was here, helping Dashiell?”

Dash nods. “Yep. Her.”

Shell asks, “Engaged? She only mentioned she knew you, not that she’s rocking your hot bod.”

“For the love of Christ, Mom! They’re newly engaged!
And
that’s my best friend, who you’ve known since we were eight!
And
you’re a lesbian!”

She rolls her eyes and waves him off. “Oh, shut up, Dash.”

Victor leans against the counter, shaking his head. “Jared, you bad boy, corrupting that nice girl.”

I shamelessly smirk. “She doesn’t mind the corruption.”

Shell scoffs, “I bet she doesn’t.”

Dash says, “You’re all sick.” Looking at me, he nods over his shoulder and turning to go down the hallway, I follow him.

Walking past Shell, she smacks my ass, and I spin around, gaping at her. She shrugs. “Nice ass, Beckett.”

“Thanks?” I laugh. Glancing at a sulking Victor, I’m glad it wasn’t him. He’d enjoy it entirely too much.

Dash goes into the prep room, where we used to hide our beer in the refrigerator, behind boxes of flowers. Closing the door, he says, “I know why you’re here.”

Crossing my arms, I lean my lower back against the worktable. “Do you now?”

Dash aimlessly shoves a box to the other end of the table. “Yeah. Last night. You’re picking Rio to be your best man.”

I darkly chuckle. “No, that’s not why I’m here.”

He looks up at me, the color draining from his face. “Oh… Shit.”

“Yeah.
Oh, shit
. Your hands were all over my sister, Calder. Care to explain?”

Both of his hands go into his hair, messing it up, which is unlike him. “Look, we didn’t do anything. I just… I wanted… I…”

I inhale an impatient breath. “You’re doing a piss-poor job of explaining.”

“I just wanted to be close to her!”

“Any closer and you would’ve gotten her pregnant.”

He takes a step back from me. “
Not
true, Jericho.”

“You’re actually going to argue that? If she would’ve wanted to go back to your apartment, you wouldn’t have actually risked that happening?”

Dash adamantly shakes his head. “No…”

I counter, “Yes…”

He sighs. “I can’t help the way I feel about her.”

I narrow my eyes at him and he swallows. “Let’s get this straight. You don’t feel anything about Hadley.”

Dash scowls. “Because you say so.”

“Yeah, I do say so. And so does Finn Wilder. Remember him? He’s the one who would pound your face into a wall first, and then ask questions later.”

“I know. I still…”

“No. You don’t. It’s not going to happen. Ever. Forget about Hadley.”

“How can I? She’s your sister!”

“That’s exactly right. My sister. You won’t ever cross that line with her because of that fact.”

“A line
you
drew.”

“You’re damn right I drew it. She’s taken anyway. He’ll marry her, so she’s off limits to you.”

“And if they break up?”

“I said
no
, Dash.”

“Why are you so against me and your sister ever being together, if she wanted to and she were single?”

“I just don’t.” I move closer to him and fear is evident on his face. Leaning in, I whisper, “And if you ever show your junk to Hadley, Kat, or even me again for Christ’s sake, I’ll fashion it into a purse for Victor. Got it?”

He rolls his eyes, but says, “Got it.”

Stepping away from him, he asks, “Does this mean I’m out of your wedding altogether?”

I sigh and scratch at my stubbled jaw. “Despite all the freakish shit you do, you’re still one of my best friends, God knows why.” Inhaling, I ask, “Would you be one of my groomsmen?”

“First one?”

“Fucking hell! You’re negotiating this?”

He throws his hands up. “No. Just asking.”

I roll my eyes. “Fine.”

“Do you know who I’m paired up with?”

I grit my teeth. “No, but…”

He nods, biting his smiling lip. “I’ll be on my best behavior.”

“Uh-huh. I’ll be watching you, and just remember that our next conversation about Hadley will not be so pleasant.”

“Message received. Jesus.” He crosses his arms and asks, “I bet Rio was stoked that he got the top position.”

Putting my hands on my hips, I say, “Actually, he didn’t. I gave it to my dad.”

“You did what?” Dash gawks at me in shock. “You asked your dad to be your best man?”

“Yep. I did.”

“Totally unexpected.”

“Why? I can’t do something nice like that?”

Dash shrugs. “Not really.”

“Thanks, asshole.”

He laughs. “I’m just surprised. Good move, Jericho.”

I guardedly answer, “Thanks.”

“So, you’re really going to marry Kat?”

“Yeah. I am.”

“Congratulations. Really. Can I say one thing and I’ll never say it again?”

I sigh, tugging on my bill. “What?”

He audaciously grins, like he knows it may be his last. “You’re marrying your soulmate.”

“Whatever. Now never say that word again.”

“Being in love actually looks good on you.”

I smirk as I glance at the table. “Well, then I’ve looked good since I was 16.”

“Wait. You’re admitting that you’ve been in love with her that long?”

Picking up a red rose from the box on the counter, I say, “Put this on my tab. Later, Calder.”

As I walk out of the room, he yells, “I knew that, too! Damn, I’m good!”

Rolling my eyes and twirling the rose, I mutter, “Fucking Dash Calder.”

Getting out of the Nissan, I check my watch again, since I had told Kat I’d be here at 1:00. Hearing her apartment door shut, I lean against my car and cross my arms, waiting for her. When she rounds the corner of the garage, she grins at me. “Hi, baby.”