Overtime(53)

“Yeah?”

“Yeah, you’re good now. You don’t need me, not that I was much help since I really didn’t understand what you were going through.”

“You help me plenty, just being here,” she said fondly, and Kacey smiled.

“Well, thanks, but, er… Would you hire me?” she asked when she realized she needed more money to move out.

“What? Really? Of course, but why?”

“’Cause while my job is awesome and amazing, it doesn’t pay enough for me to live around here, and I want to be close to you guys. I saw some condos down the road, and maybe I could move there.”

Lacey worked her lip as she threw the apples in the bowl before covering them with sugar. “You don’t want to wait for your parents?”

Kacey shook her head. “They are taking too long. And also, I can’t live with them forever.”

“Yeah, true,” she agreed, mixing with a spoon before popping an apple in her mouth. “Why the sudden change of mind? We aren’t making you feel like you aren’t welcome, are we?”

“No, not at all. There really isn’t a reason,” she said breezily, hoping that Lacey wouldn’t catch on, but even she knew she was full of shit. “I just need a change.”

“Or to get away from Jordie.”

She shrugged. “That too.”

Kacey peeked a look at her sister-in-law to find her shaking her head. “Why don’t you just talk to him?”

“’Cause I don’t want to.”

“Then you’ll never get over him.”

“I am over—”

“Don’t you dare lie to me, Kacey Marie King,” she snapped and Kacey’s eyes went wide. “And stop running. You want answers, get them.”

She held her gaze for a moment and Kacey let out a long breath, wringing her fingers together. “I’m scared what those answers will accomplish.”

Lacey shrugged. “I never pegged you as a scared girl, Kacey, or someone who hides. Get your head out of your ass and do what you want.”

She bit her lip and shook her head. “What I want is unattainable. He doesn’t want what I want, but Liam—”

Slamming her hands on the counter, Lacey shook her head. “Oh my God! Let him go. Like today. Please.”

“Lacey!” she gasped, surprised by her outburst.

“What? I’m so tired of watching you try to make something work when it doesn’t. I don’t even see why you are bringing him over here. Your parents will not like him. Especially your dad.”

“You don’t know that!” Kacey argued, her heart picking up in speed. She wanted to believe what she said, but even she doubted that her parents would like Liam. Or that Liam would like them. Lord knows, her dad didn’t know how to control his mouth.

“I do, because you don’t even love him. So why would they? They loved me from the beginning because they knew how much Karson loved me. You know I’m right.”

“You’re wrong. You’ll see,” Kacey said as confidently as she could.

Lacey rolled her eyes just as the door opened and Karl King stepped inside.

Before Kacey or Lacey could welcome him, he hooked his thumb behind him and barked, “Who’s the f*cking dweeb in the Prius?”

Oh, sweet Jesus, Kacey groaned inwardly as Regina King stepped in behind him.

“Karl! He can hear you, plus, I told you about the cussing. The baby is here. Where is my baby?” her mother asked, pushing past Karl just as Karson entered the kitchen with Mena Jane looking adorable in purple.

“I don’t f*cking care. Who the hell is he?”

Lacey glanced over at Kacey and grinned as she said, “Oh, that’s Kacey’s boyfriend, Liam.”

Karl’s face twisted just as Kacey’s stomach did and all she could think was this was going to be a great day.

Not.



“Gorgeous!” Shelli and Posey exclaimed before they held up the mirror for Jordie. Looking at his reflection, his brow rose. They had braided his beard and put little flowers and barrettes in it too. Gorgeous really wasn’t the word he’d use, but the grins on their little faces wouldn’t allow him to use the word he was thinking.

“For sure,” he agreed, moving a piece of hair out of his eyes, taking in their handiwork.

“I think you look handsome, Uncle Jordie. I did the flowers,” Posey said proudly and Jordie leaned over, kissing her cheek.

“Great job. They really bring out my eyes.”

“I did the braid, Uncle Jordie. I’ve been working on it all summer.” Shelli pouted and he smiled before gathering them both up in his arms.

“You can tell. You’re the best braider in the world!”

That had both little girls giggling as they cuddled into his arms, hugging him tightly. In no time at all, the twins, Evan and Owen, were climbing along his neck while Quinn watched from where he was playing with the new train set Jordie had brought over for the boys. Before he knew, which really, he should have expected, it was four against one in a fight to the death wrestling match. For girls, Shelli and Posey fought like men, and it was a bit scary. The twins were little ninjas, but Quinn honestly couldn’t care less. He was too busy playing to worry about them. When Shelli twisted Jordie’s finger back, he hollered out dramatically and all the kids giggled, which made him smile.