Until We Touch (Fool's Gold #15)(85)

“You really do love him?” Sam asked.

She nodded. “I really do. And he’s not interested.”

She managed to get out the words without crying, although her voice shook a little as she spoke. It was going to be hard for a while, she reminded herself. But then it would get easier.

“I brought my checkbook,” Kenny said. “How much do you need to start your business? Whatever I have, it’s yours.”

“You’re killing me,” she said lightly. “It’s a great offer, but I’m fine. Taryn gave me a severance check that should cover most of what I need.”

“Let me buy the massage table,” Kenny said. “That’ll be the biggest expense.”

“We’ll share the cost,” Sam added. “I want in, too. We’ll get the super-charged one.”

“I want to do this on my own.”

“And we want to help someone we care about,” Kenny told her. “Hey, we learned from the best. When it comes to what we care about, we have to be all in. We’re all in with you, Larissa.”

She nodded because she couldn’t speak. They were so sweet. She sighed, wishing she could have fallen for one of them instead of Jack. That would have made things a whole lot easier. “I’ll send you a link,” she said. “It’ll be after I make arrangements to rent the room.”

“What else?” Sam asked. “We’re going to hunt down Jack next and beat the shit out of him. Want to watch?”

“No. But could you get the last two chiweenies? I have homes for them. I was going to go by later and get them, but it would be easier if I didn’t have to.”

“Sure thing, kid.”

Sam rose and pulled Larissa to her feet, then dragged her against him. He was tall and strong and warm as he held her. She closed her eyes and let the comfort wash over her. Maybe it wasn’t romantic love, but she had love all the same. From so many sources. And maybe, just maybe, that would eventually be enough.

* * *

JACK SAT ALONE in his living room. He’d thought that he would have a steady stream of people stopping by to tell him off, but so far there hadn’t even been one. He’d taken the last two damned chiweenies for a walk earlier that morning, hoping someone somewhere would yell at him, but they hadn’t. He’d marched through the center of town with dogs happily trotting along with him and hadn’t heard a word.

What was wrong with this place? Why weren’t they outside his house with torches and pitchforks?

His front door opened. He sat up straighter wondering if Larissa had...

Sam and Kenny walked into the living room. Jack told himself it was for the better. He couldn’t be around Larissa anymore. Not only had he hurt her—and that was in itself inexcusable—but he didn’t deserve her. She was light and good and he was nothing but a useless shell. She gave and he took up space.

He stood and waited for his friends to approach. They both looked determined. With luck, they would beat him into unconsciousness. Right now not being able to think was worth any price.

“You look like shit,” Kenny said conversationally.

“I haven’t been sleeping.”

“Good,” Sam told him. “Dammit, Jack, what the hell? Is there anyone you haven’t tried to hurt in the past couple of days? Percy is just a kid and Taryn is your best friend. I won’t even mention Larissa whose biggest crime is caring about your sorry ass. You’re a piss-poor excuse for a man.”

The words fell like rain on parched soil. They were a balm. At last, he thought with relief. Someone was going to call him on all his crap. Someone was going to tell him to his face what a useless piece of shit he was. Someone was going to speak the truth.

No one had in such a long time. Not since his brother had died.

“Sam’s right,” Kenny said. “Hasn’t Percy been through enough already? He’s homeless, Jack. He’s got nothing and you’re making him feel worse. Taryn’s looking at the happiest day of her life and you’re trying to ruin it.” The larger man approached, stopping only when he was directly in front of Jack. “You made Larissa cry. She loves you. She cares about you and you hurt her.”

He never saw the fist coming. Kenny had speed and power on his side. One second there was nothing and the next a world of pain exploded in Jack’s face. He heard the crunch of cartilage, but not the snap of bone. He staggered, and then went down on one knee. Probably because he hadn’t eaten or slept in several days, he thought woozily. He struggled to stand, then faced his friend.

“Thanks,” he said hoarsely. “Hit me again.”

Kenny shook his head. “You’re not trying to defend yourself. I’m not going to hit you when you’re down.”

“I’m not down. I’m standing.”

“You’re messed up. You need help.”

Sam walked toward the kitchen. “You’re really stupid, Jack. You know that, right?”

Jack nodded. “You’re not going to hit me again?”

“No,” Kenny said. “You’re not worth it.”

The final blow. He hadn’t seen that one coming. Jack sank back onto the sofa and put his head in his hands. A big mistake when he pressed against where Kenny had hit him. His jaw was already swelling and it hurt like hell.