Thursday Nights (The Charistown Series) (11 page)

“Kyle Marx, you son of a bitch,” Danny bellowed. “What has gotten into you? Or a better question…what have you gotten into? Those women came into our lives and made them
better
. They have made us more of a family than we ever were. They have invited us into their homes and cooked us dinner and helped us out at the bar. Lyla has driven your sorry, drunken ass home more times than I can count. She has donated money to “Leo’s Light” charity, and she has spent six months showing you unconditional love when she had no reason to, and
this
is how you treat her? I wanna kick your ass, boy.”

Danny noticed Ryan’s hands were already in fists. “The only reason I haven’t punched you is because I fear that if I start this fight, Ryan here will finish it. I may be angry, but I still love you and don’t want him to kill you.”

Danny looked at Max and then Ryan. “Sorry, son. No deaths tonight. Besides, I think the punishment will be worse when he has to look at Lyla every day from here on out and see the hurt he’s caused.”

Ryan unclenched his fists and stalked over to Kyle, who had quickly sobered up when Lyla closed the door behind her. His hands wrapped around the collar of Kyle’s T-shirt. “Listen to me, you sorry piece of shit,” he muttered between closed teeth. “Don’t you ever,
ever
speak on behalf of me or any one us ever again. If she even looks at you again then you are one lucky son of a bitch, and if she ever says she forgives you? Just know that she finally learned how to lie. Because no one could—or should—ever forgive the crap you said tonight.” Ryan let go of Kyle’s shirt, then grabbed it again. “And Kyle? If you ever even
think
about talking to Ashley the way you spoke to Lyla, I will cut out your fucking tongue. We clear?” Ryan dropped the fabric and walked away, leaving a visibly shaken Kyle nodding in his wake.

“Max,” he said as he neared the kitchen door. “Get him out of here, man.” Max just grunted his assent, and Ryan disappeared into the kitchen.

“Ash, let’s go,” he said when he saw his roommate. “Janie, I’m sorry. I’m never gonna let Kyle talk like that again.” He reached out and pulled Janie in for a hug.

“It’s not your fault. But…” With a forced smile, Janie looked Ryan in the eye. “I need one of you need to get Kyle out of this house before I kill him. I’m not joking. I can’t even look at him…” Janie could feel her heart still pounding. All she could see was red. “I want him gone. He has no idea what he has done.”

“Max is taking care of it.” Ryan gritted through his teeth and walked out of the kitchen with Ashley tucked into his side.

Danny walked into the kitchen and directly into his wife’s embrace, replacing the two who just left. The couple then reached out and pulled Janie into their hug.

Danny spoke over top of the two women’s heads. “Did anyone else think it was like witnessing a Christmas miracle when Ryan and Ashley left without any arguing or complaining?” Julie and Janie both smiled…but their eyes told a different story.

Expecting Someone Else?

“Why won’t you turn on your phone, Lyla?” Janie asked the empty room as she paced her apartment. Her body felt weighed down by bricks, but she continued to take laps around the main room. Janie knew her well enough to know that she wouldn’t turn her phone back on until she was ready to talk. When Lyla needed to clear her head—to think, to write, or to just disappear—she would turn off her phone and check out. In the past, the girls had a safety plan in case of an emergency. Lyla would keep a special cell phone with her, one only Janie had the number for, so Janie always had a direct line to her. And Lyla knew Janie wasn’t going to bother her with nonsense, knew that the knowledge that her friend was “there” was a form of safety that kept Janie calm. Lyla always kept that phone on, even when she checked out from the rest of the world.

But that phone was going straight to voice mail now. Janie had come home in hopes of finding Lyla inside, but her apartment reeked of loneliness from the moment Janie had opened the door. Too anxious to sit and wait, she drove around Charistown, stopping at their favorite coffee shops, restaurants, and even the movie theater, but Lyla was off the radar. Janie knew that Lyla need time to regroup. She knew that the things Kyle had said must have cut Lyla bone-deep. She knew the things in Lyla’s past that she kept hidden from the rest of the world, and she had a feeling there were things that even she, after all these years, still did not know about her best friend. Janie let out a frustrated breath. Her head was being logical, but her heart wanted to just force Lyla to show up.

Janie wanted so badly to take on the pain that Lyla was drowning in, to help Lyla the way she always helped Janie. But when her friend resurfaced, Janie knew she would look perfect on the outside—just like Kyle had said she always did—but on the inside she would be more lost, more cracked, more guarded, and more unreachable. And at that point, even Janie wouldn’t be able to break through. God, what if Kyle’s careless words were the ones that finally cemented the door to Lyla’s heart closed?

Janie wanted to scream and returned home feeling profound sadness and slight dejection at her fruitless search. She got ready for bed and left yet another message on Lyla’s voice mail. “I love you, Lyla. Every part of who you are. Call me when you get home.”

A hard knock on the door startled Janie, and she nearly dropped her phone. Lyla had a key to her apartment, so it couldn’t be her. Janie set down her cell and looked through the peephole. Max stood on the other side of the door, holding himself tall and strong. The butterflies in her belly started fluttering, even though her mind was reeling with thoughts of Lyla. With a loud sigh, she opened the door and looked at the stunningly sexy man who stood before her. Before she could question his presence, Max placed a large, calloused hand on her cheek. That one gentle touch made all words evaporate from her mind.

Her eyes were red from crying, making her irises all the more vibrant. Her hair was pulled back in a messy bun, her neck and jaw exposed.
God, she’s beautiful…even now
.
Max mentally kicked himself for allowing his mind to wander so far from the reason for his visit: he had to check on her. He knew that Lyla’s wound would cut Janie too, and no matter what his mind told him, the place in his chest where his heart once lived begged him to go comfort her.

“Janie, I…I had to come and see you tonight,” he said. “Have you heard from Lyla?” Max didn’t waste time with ridiculous questions such as, “Are you okay?” or “Do you need help looking for Lyla?” Max knew her well enough to know the answers already.

“No,” Janie said through watery eyes. “I even tried to use the emergency number we’ve shared for years…she’s off the grid.” Max watched tears slowly slide down Janie’s beautiful cheeks. “She has shut everyone out, Max. Even me.”

Pain knifed through Janie as she started to sob. “She is out there alone…and she left me alone.” Janie looked around her apartment with blind eyes. “Lyla is the only family I have, and we’re both alone when we don’t have to be…”

Max looked at the kind and loving woman standing before him in excruciating pain. With one large step he entered her apartment and enveloped her small frame in his embrace. He placed his lips on the top of her head as her arms wrapped around his waist and pulled him closer. The sweet smell of her shampoo filled his lungs as he pulled in deep breaths in an effort to consume her.

“You aren’t alone, Janie. I’m here. I’ve been your friend for months, and I’m here for you. You are not alone.” He kissed the top of her head again, feeling his blood starting to flow south toward his groin without his permission.

Standing wrapped in his arms, Janie’s heart was screaming that this was a bad idea. He would probably leave in the morning again, and she would be left feeling like shit. Again. But her brain didn’t care about what her heart said. She needed to be part of something tonight. She needed to feel wanted. She just needed to
feel
. And standing in front of her was the one man she knew who could take care of her tonight.

As her small hands skated up his torso, she felt his heartbeat thumping in his chest. “Max,” she whispered boldly. “I need more than just a friend tonight.” She licked her lips as her hand slid up to his neck. Staring into his eyes, she waited for a response.

Whatever thoughts may have been holding Max at bay dissipated the second he looked at the fire burning in her aqua eyes as her pink tongue moistened her bottom lip. It was all he needed to lean in and capture her mouth. Electricity crackled between them as the kiss became a hungry plea for more.

“Babe, I’m right here,” Max stated gruffly. “I’m not going anywhere tonight but to your bed…if that’s where you want me.” He kicked the front door closed with his booted foot and swept her up like a groom carrying a bride over the threshold, carrying her to her bedroom. With her face so close to his neck, his cologne both soothed her frayed nerves and fueled her desire.

When the bed hit his knees, he placed her gently on the mattress, and his eyes roamed her form for just a second. She was lithe and beautiful, and with only the light from the main room glowing down the hall, she looked like an angel. Kneeling over her, Max began the slow seduction of her body. He licked and sucked on her lips, biting gently.

“Open for me baby,” he purred.

Janie opened her mouth as Max slid his warm tongue into her moist opening. She met his tongue stroke for stroke as Max’s hands started to drift their way down her neck to her collarbone. God, she smelled and tasted so good, like the coconut and citrus lotion she used mixed with pure Janie. He could taste the salt from the tears she had shed, which made him want to beat the shit out of Kyle even more than he already did.

Anger at Kyle turned into the need to possess Janie. The feeling hit him in his gut. He refused to let himself feel possessive of another woman who could break his heart. So instead, he turned it into passion, passion for this woman who was under him and willing him to take her body.

As if she could hear his thoughts, Janie groaned and pulled him tighter against her, writhing underneath him.

“Tell me, Jane. Tell me what you need,” Max said, his voice low and raw.

Janie’s insides were igniting, each touch starting a small fire that was meant to consume her. “Touch me, Max,” she begged. “I need your hands on my skin. I need you everywhere.” She knew she sounded wanton, and maybe even desperate, but she couldn’t find the presence of mind to care. She needed a connection with someone, and truth be told, she wanted that someone to be Max.

Her pleas made him feel like a king. Like he was worthy of the gifts that were bestowed upon him. His fingers slowly slipped under Janie’s tank top, and the cool air kissed her skin as the fabric inched up and off her body. Warm licks trailed from her stomach to her hips as Max slid down her shorts. He drew in a shallow breath when he saw her lacy, pink thong and matching bra. Sitting back on his haunches, he devoured her with his eyes.

All Janie could do was watch him. And just when she thought she would melt under his smoldering gaze, Max lowered his mouth to her breast and started to lave her nipple through the lace. Janie gasped, a moan escaping her lips. While Max’s mouth focused on one nipple, his fingers tugged and twisted the other one through the fabric. She could feel his shaft grow harder beneath his jeans, pressing into her leg. “More Max,” Janie pleaded.