The Marked Men Series Books 1–6: Rule, Jet, Rome, Nash, Rowdy, Asa. Jay Crownover
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safe. I agree with your brother, I think you should try to see your parents while you’re there.”
I didn’t want to argue with her so I just kissed her hard and fierce with enough tongue and enough force to let her know she would be on my mind throughout the day. I thought maybe she would freak out about the public display of affection but it only took between one heartbeat and the next for her cold hands to climb up my chest and wrap around my neck. She kissed me back with just as much fervor and when she fell back to her feet, she was breathing hard and had a pretty flush under her pale cheeks.
“You be safe, too. I’ll see you later. I’ll bring your phone by the bar after work. Remember, don’t be alone whenever you can avoid it. And Shaw”—she met my gaze with humor lighting up her own—“I like you going to school in my clothes, it’s totally hot.”
She stood back on her tiptoes and kissed the end of my chilly nose. “Agreed. And you suck for changing the subject, but I can take a hint so I’ll see you later.”
I watched her walk up the stairs of the building and she paused at the top, where a girl was seemingly waiting for her. She smiled at the girl and told her hello. I heard the other girl ask her in a surprised voice that was loud enough to carry down to where I was waiting, “Who was that?” I was curious as to what her answer would be, considering that wasn’t something we had ever really talked about.
Her laugh carried sharp and clear through the winter air. “That’s Rule.”
“I didn’t know you had a new boyfriend.”
“Well, he isn’t exactly new, but yeah.”
I was her boyfriend. She was my girlfriend. How weird was that? I hadn’t had any girl in my life long enough in twenty-two years to call a girlfriend; I didn’t even really have friends who were girls. Shaw was the closest thing that had ever come to filling that role as well. I was her boyfriend and that made me want to dance a jig and pump my fist in the air. Instead, I winked at her when she turned back to look at me and laughed when she in turn stuck out her tongue at me. Why hadn’t I realized before that letting someone in would make me happy, that she made me happy? I couldn’t remember the last time I had laughed so much and even in bed she made it fun. She made things better and I knew I wanted to do the same for her.
I sent Rome a text that I was on my way and he replied back that he and Nash had just finished up at the gym so he would be ready to go when I got home. I changed the music to the Bloody Hollies and rocked out on the way back to the Victorian. I ran in to grab Shaw’s phone out of her bag and collected my brother and in no time we were on the highway headed to Brookside. The first few flurries of snow started to pelt the windshield as we were just entering the interstate and I swore, knowing what it was going to do to the commute and my schedule for the rest of the day. In fact, before we even got to Brookside, Nash called and told me both my noon and two o’clock appointments wanted to reschedule because of the weather, so I no longer had the work excuse as a reason to bolt home without trying to see my folks.
Rome, not being stupid, blatantly listened in on the call and looked across the cab of the truck expectantly. “It won’t kill you to stop by and just say hi for a minute. We can even go there first so they don’t ask why we have Shaw’s car with us.”
“I just don’t see the point.”
“The point is that no matter how you feel they’re still our parents and you don’t just get to give up on them.”
“Why not? They gave up on me the minute the good twin was pronounced DOA.”
“Stop it and grow a pair. You can tough out a five-minute visit with Mom and Dad if only to say you tried. It’ll make Shaw happy to know you made a minimal effort. Remember they’re more like her parents than her real parents so if the two of you are going to do what you’re doing for the long term, you’re going to have to show her that even if Mom isn’t going to budge that at least you tried.”
He was right and it totally made my stomach turn over. Right now, Shaw was all about building a bridge and forcing my mom’s hand when it came to dealing with me and accepting me, but after seeing how awful her biological mother treated her I had no doubt the divide between her and my parents wouldn’t be longstanding, which meant I had to figure out how I fit into that puzzle. Trying wouldn’t kill me, but it was sure as hell going to be awkward and uncomfortable for all of us I was sure.
“Fine, we can stop by but don’t get your hopes up. I haven’t heard from either one of them since I left brunch that day.”
“Archer pride is a dangerous thing. If we aren’t careful it’s going to destroy our entire family.”
I just grunted in response and tried to tell myself that doing this was not only going to make Shaw happy, but clearly it meant something to Rome as well and if there was anyone in the world who I would do anything for, it was my brother. Rome never asked me for anything and had given me his support and his approval endlessly, even when it put him at odds with the rest of the family, and I owed him at least the opportunity to try to mend what was fractured. We drove the rest of the way to their house in silence but I could see Rome giving me surreptitious looks out of the corner of his eye the entire way. I think he was waiting for me to drive past the exit or freak out and change my mind, but I kept telling myself that I didn’t need my parents to look at me the same way they looked at him to go home and be okay. Before, that tore me apart and made me act like a troubled adolescent with a chip on his shoulder, but now I knew I was going home to a kick-ass job, a rock-star brother, a smoking-hot girl who happened to be totally into me—issues and all—and to a solid group of friends who were willing to put up with me and have my back no matter what. And while the hole that Remy’s death left would never really be filled, I was living a good life and they should be proud of me. If they weren’t, they could just piss off.
Both my folks’ cars were in the driveway when we pulled onto their street. I hissed a breath out between my teeth and tried not to flinch when Rome clapped me on the shoulder and gave me a little shove. “Come on, we’ll be quick.”
I jumped out of the truck and my boots sent little tufts of snow scattering. I could see my breath in the air, indicating the weather was going to get worse before we headed home, which was kind of how I felt about my situation here. I knew Rome had a key, but since I was with him he stopped at the front door and knocked, relegating himself to visitor status just like me. I heard shuffling around and it took a few minutes for my dad to come to the door. He peered out at us in surprise and I had to admit I was secretly pleased that he looked equally surprised to see Rome as he was to see me.
“Boys? What are you doing here?”
He pushed open the screen door and motioned us into the warm house. I was rubbing my hands together to warm them up so he didn’t even try to give me a hug after he embraced Rome, which was fine by me because I wasn’t sure we were at the hugging phase of our relationship anymore.
“Rule had to run an errand before work out this way so I thought we’d stop by and say hi. You guys aren’t busy are you?”
“No, your mom’s in the living room.” His gaze settled on me. “I’m surprised to see you, son.”
I wanted to throw out something flippant but in the vein of trying to make peace I gave a lopsided grin and answered, “Yeah, I bet. Rome thought it would be cool.”
“Rule, this is your home, you are always welcome here.”
I wanted to say I hadn’t felt welcome in well over three years but I just nodded and said, “Thanks for that, Dad.”
“What kind of errand did you have to do an hour away in the snow?”
I rubbed a hand over my head and looked at Rome sideways. “Uh … I actually told Shaw I would come get her car for her. She left it here when she was visiting her folks.”
“Shaw was in Brookside this weekend? You might not want to let your mom know that. She’s having a hard time with the line Shaw drew in the sand. That little gal is just as stubborn as you boys, and I don’t