Hot Commodity (Banks / Kincaid Family #1)(71)

"Oh." She looked disappointed. "So, he’s been home a while and hasn’t called you yet?"

Boston stared at her a moment, wondering where the hell she was going with this line of questions. He shook his head again. "Why would he call me?"

She glanced sadly at the key in her palm. "No reason," she said, holding out her hand. "Can you return his car to him for me?"

Mouth going dry, Boston stared at key she offered him. No. She couldn’t leave Cam. She couldn’t—

"You don’t have to do this," he blurted out. "He can’t…" When he lifted his face, the words died in his throat. She looked like she could start crying any second.

He felt like an ass because as much as he knew how it’d hurt her to stay with his cousin, he still wanted her to go back to him.

"Where’re you going?" he asked.

She couldn’t quite meet his gaze as she shrugged. "A hotel for the time being."

"Which hotel?"

She jerked a frown his way, probably annoyed by his sharp question. He didn’t think she’d answer but was relieved when she finally said, "Some Holiday Inn off I-35."

He nodded. "And how’d you pay for that? I thought you didn’t have any money."

"Alli—" she had to pause and clear her throat when tears glistened in her eyes. "I have some. Allison already paid me to help her plan a party for Chuck’s work."

Wondering what his aunt would think if she learned she’d just helped a woman hurt her own son, he blinked when Olivia thrust the key at him more forcefully.

"So, will you return his car to him for me or not?" Tears dribbled down her cheeks now.

Boston eased the key from her hand. "How’re you going to get back to your hotel?"

She blinked and then stared at him a frozen moment before she let out a wet laugh and wiped at her cheeks. "I hadn’t even thought of that."

"Then let me drive you."

She looked hesitant to accept his offer. "To the hotel?"

"Of course," he answered.

Though she still appeared to be leery, as if she thought he’d haul her straight back to Cameron’s house—which was tempting—she finally gave in.

He escorted her to the Miata, and then drove her to the Holiday Inn. As he pulled to the curb, he asked, "Are you sure this is a good idea?"

Olivia appeared thoughtful for a moment before she murmured, "Actually, I think it’s the only option I have." She smiled sadly at him. "You’ll take care of him, won’t you?"

"Don’t I always?"

She leaned toward him and kissed his cheek. "Thank you."

He wanted to grab her hand and keep her in Cam’s car, beg to her stick around—just a little longer. But this was her decision to make.

Feeling as if she was deserting him—instead of his cousin—he watched her disappear inside the hotel.

As soon as she was out of sight, he drove to Cameron’s.

As irritated as he was with Olivia, Boston didn’t think he could actually blame her. It was hard to watch Cameron when he was down. No woman should have to put up with a man who couldn’t get over the fact he was human and hadn’t been able save a manic depressive.

Boston really didn’t think he should have to put up with it either. But he had no idea how to slap his friend back to reality and tell him to wake up and notice the world around him. Sienna was gone, and Olivia was here.

Olivia was better looking anyway. And she wasn’t creepy-quiet like Sienna had been. Cameron was damn lucky for stumbling across Livy; he should definitely put a bigger effort into trying to keep her around, instead of moping about something that happened a full decade ago.

Boston had lost someone around the same time, and look at him. Had he turned into a bummed-out alcoholic? No. Did he worry the family by plunging into depression? Hell no. He’d picked up and carried on. And if there were some nights when he locked himself alone in a room and filled himself with aching, bitter sweet memories, jacking off until he nearly went blind, well, then no one else had to know about it.

"I’m getting real tired of picking up your sorry ass every time you

stumble," Boston muttered as he parked in driveway. He cut the engine and

stared up at the house for a moment. Letting out another tired sigh, he exited the car and entered the house.

"Cam?" he called into the dim interior. There weren’t many lights on; he fumbled a minute before he found the wall switch.

"Hey, Banks?" he called again and frowned as he started back to his cousin’s den, which was Cameron’s main moping place.

But that room was dark too. Feeling a finger of concern skate up the back of his neck, Boston started up the stairs. He turned on lights as he went, glancing into every corridor he passed.

Not caring for the anxious feeling that washed through him, Boston yelled a little louder, "Damn it, Cameron. Where the hell are you hiding? I know you’re here. All your cars are outside." He hoped his cousin would pop out from somewhere and say, except the one Olivia took, so he could explain that it had returned.

But no one answered. He made a frustrated growling sound. It wasn’t like Cameron to use the silent treatment.

"I know she’s gone," he called, not sure why he was bringing it up. They might be best friends, but neither of them discussed major personal problems. Cameron tended to drink his away, and Boston locked his so deep inside no one knew about them.