Page 17

17

Axel

E veryone left for work and school this morning to have a seemingly mundane day. I planned to sleep until the movers arrived with the furniture, but they were early. I spent two hours rearranging the rooms for Spencer, finding not one but three hidden guns. We will definitely be having this conversation soon. Katy may be sixteen, but gun safety is important at any age.

When I finish all the moving, I have just enough time to nap for a few more hours, except when I’m about to lie down again, my phone rings.

“Hey, Tails. Do you miss me already?” She sighs, and before I can retract my words for annoying her, she shocks me.

“Miller was arrested along with Lincoln’s brother—”

“Linc has a brother?”

“I tell you one of your friends has been arrested, and you question the stranger in the scenario?” Shit. She’s right . But in all the years I’ve known Lincoln, he’s never mentioned a brother.

“Sorry. Squirrel brain. What happened, and what can I do?”

“I need you to contact Lincoln. They’re both asking for him but I realized I don’t have his number.”

How is that possible?

“I can do that. What caused the fight?” Silence. Other than the commotion in the background she doesn’t say a word. “Spencer?”

“I’m here.”

“What caused the fight? Miller is usually a gentle giant. Is he okay?” I hope her silence doesn’t mean something terrible happened. She said he was arrested but that’s all the details she gave.

“Me.”

“Tails? Did you just say… you caused the fight?” I hear the whoosh of air as she blows out a breath.

“Tucker walked in and saw me. He came up and kissed me and Miller didn’t appreciate it.”

“Huh. I don’t know who I’m more proud of, Miller or you. I can’t wait to get the gossip tonight. Are they taking him to the PD?”

“Yeah.”

“I’m on it.”

When I call the school to get in contact with Lincoln, he’s as confused as I am.

? ? ? ? ?

The sound of the front door slamming wakes me, and Miller and Lincoln’s angry voices flood the room.

“Nothing good will come from my brother being here tonight?”

“You didn’t see—wait, yes you did because this was the second time he’s kissed her.” I peek my head up from the couch as Miller flings open the refrigerator and pulls out a beer.

“Morning love birds.” They both glare at me and I throw my hands up in surrender. “What’s going on?”

“Miller invited my brother to our family meeting tonight. He feels Spencer and Tucker should explain themselves to us.”

There’s an us? I know there was a moment between them and Spencer this morning, but an us ? I love the sound of it but I’ve never gotten my hopes up when it comes to Spencer.

“Forgive me if I feel like I’m owed an explanation. Linc, I didn’t even know you had a brother. We’ve been dating for over six months. Family is something I should know about by now. And they’ve kissed. Your brother has kissed the woman we’ve all been chasing around like the puppy dogs Katy accused us of being.”

“Speaking of Katy, I need to go pick her up from school.” Lincoln spins his keys around his index finger and gives Miller a hopeful look.

“I need to call my Chief and get my ass reamed out.” In three long pulls, Miller empties his beer and grabs for another. His frustration is palpable and I can’t blame him.

Lincoln nods in defeat, kisses Miller tenderly on the forehead, and leaves despite their current argument.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“No. I’m going to shower.” He stalks down the hall.

“If you need a hand just yell.”

I guess there’s no point in going back to sleep now. Everyone will be home soon and I need to take my pill before I get truly squirrely.

As the afternoon progresses everyone slowly pours back into the house. I haven’t felt the lack of space in Spencer’s small pool house until now. Everyone tries to keep to their corner of the room. Lincoln brought Katy directly to Justin’s house from school per Spencer’s request via her newly acquired phone number, thanks to me.

Anxiety rolls off Miller’s shoulders as he counts down the minutes until Lincoln’s brother arrives. The animosity between the two of them hasn’t changed.

Outside, we hear the crunching of gravel in the driveway. Spencer comes out of her room, and all eyes turn to her. I wish she was wearing more clothes, knowing we’re about to have company, but also, goddamn, does she look edible. Her skin-tight workout pants are a dusty blue color, but her already barely there black sports bra has what looks like three strings holding up one side of her shoulder.

“Smithy, don’t you want to put on more clothes for our guest?” She scoffs at him as she continues to the door. His use of her nickname reminds me that I still need to ask her about the guns I found. I hear a growl and don’t know who it comes from, but I agree with the sentiment. Spencer momentarily disappears in the foyer, and I hear the door open.

“Welcome, Tucker.” I hear a thud, and I’m on my feet in seconds, Lincoln and Miller following me.

“Little Miss.” Tucker has Spencer backed into the wall, hovering over her.

“Stop. Bleiben .” Her tone is stern and every man in the room instantly freezes. I hear Gage growling next to me and realize her command was probably to him, but she got the entire room’s attention. Only Spencer has that kind of authority because I see the determination in Miller’s eyes to finish what he started this afternoon.

Lincoln steps in front of Miller, smoothing his palms down his chest, trying to calm him.

“Get the fuck off her. Did you not get your ass kicked enough earlier?”

“Tucker, be smart,” Lincoln urges his brother without taking his eyes off Miller.

“Down boys.” Spencer easily ducks under Tucker’s arm and I swear I see him pout through his beard. “Today is about me… and the pictures that were delivered.” If she didn’t already have our attention it’s all on her now.

Lincoln looks confused and concerned. “You opened the envelope?”

“I did. I had a feeling I knew what they would be, and unfortunately, it’s much worse than I thought.” There’s a crack in Spencer’s usual stoic face. Her mask is on which is something we haven’t seen much of in the time we’ve been invading her home.

The air in the room shifts. The rage and anger switched to concern and curiosity.

“Can everyone please sit?” This is pre-Katy Spencer and it’s not my favorite.