The Summer He Came Home (Bad Boys of Crystal Lake 1)

A flurry of emotion rippled across his features, and he ran his hands through the short crop of hair atop his head. The motion drew her eyes to the tattoos on his arm. They were strange symbols she couldn’t place, but one she knew—Gemini, the sign of the twins.

“I’m sorry, Maggie. I don’t mean to come across like such an ass. I just really want to talk to you about something.” He frowned and pointed to a truck parked up the way. “It’s important.”

Was he going to warn her away from Cain? Did he think she wasn’t good enough for his friend?

“God, I’m screwing this all up.” His dark eyes settled on her with a cold intensity that made her swallow and want to step back. “It’s about Raine and her cock-and-bull idea to get pregnant.”

“Oh.” She hadn’t seen that coming, and for a second was at a loss for words. “I don’t—” She started to shut him down cold, but stopped at the bleak look that crossed his features. Something inside her softened. She wasn’t wholly sure of what his relationship with his brother’s widow entailed, but from what little Raine had said, she knew it was complicated. She also knew his feelings for the widow ran deep, and she wasn’t sure they were all that appropriate. “Jake, I don’t feel comfortable discussing Raine’s personal business with you.”

His mouth shut tight and his eyes glittered. “So it’s true then,” he growled. His hands fisted and he shook his head. “Is she fucking crazy?”

He slowly unclenched his fists and let out a long shuddering breath as all emotion disappeared from his face. “All right then. Whatever,” he muttered.

A horn honked, and his name was shouted from the passing vehicle. Jake smiled and waved, but it was false. There wasn’t anything light or happy in his eyes when they returned to Maggie. “I’m sorry if I came across like an asshole. She just…” He frowned and shook his head. “Raine pushes all my buttons, ya know? And she’s not thinking straight right now. Having a kid is huge. Hell, she can’t even look after a goddamn cat, for Christ sakes. Who the hell do you think has Casper?”

Casper was the large white cat that lived at his parents’ home.

“Why don’t you tell her that?” she said softly.

Jake stared down at her for several long minutes and then shrugged. “Nah, it wouldn’t do any good. Raine always does exactly what she wants, and there’s no one who’s ever been able to convince her otherwise except Jesse. And he sure as hell ain’t around.”

Maggie didn’t know what to say to that. She hoisted her purse onto her shoulder and took a step toward the bus stop. “I’m sorry,” she said simply. “I have to run, Jake.”

“Hey, I’m still good for a lift. Sorry about being all crazy and shit. It’s been a long few weeks.” The sad attempt at a smile tugged her heartstrings, but Maggie shook her head.

“Thanks for the offer, but I like the bus.”

“You sure? Cain would kick my ass if I didn’t ask, or at least he could try.” Jake tried to make the situation light, but it only led to an awkward silence.

“I’m good, Jake, and I hope…” She cleared her throat of all the emotion that sat at the back of it and hoped he knew how sincere she was. “I hope you find some peace soon.”

He cocked his head, dug his hands into the front pockets of his jeans, and shrugged. “That’s something I gave up on a long time ago. But thanks.”

She caught her bus with minutes to spare and walked through the front door of her home into the waiting arms of her child. He’d spent the day at Holy Trinity, the local church, participating in the youth group, and he’d been dropped off an hour earlier. Maggie held her son close, even as he squirmed and tried to wriggle from her grasp.

“Hey, your toes look cool. They’re like the color of Harry.”

She glanced down into his expressive face, and tears filled her eyes as the love she felt for her son hit her in the chest. She cleared her throat. “Harry? My toes remind you of… Who’s Harry?”

“He’s a fish.” Michael giggled. “Tommy’s fish.”

Maggie snorted and ran her fingers through his curls. “Tommy has a fish?”

Michael followed her into the kitchen. “Yep, his name is Harry, and he’s a Chinese fighting fish. He’s so cool, and Tommy’s brother Zachary told me that he can’t have any friends in his tank because they’d kill each other.”

“Oh, Harry sounds just lovely.” Maggie made a face and reached in the fridge for the casserole she’d baked that morning.

“He’s not lovely. That’s a sissy word, Mom. He’s a fighter.”

“Aha.” She spooned some of the casserole onto a plate and threw it in the microwave. “Grab the milk, honey.”

By the time Michael had fetched the milk from the fridge and poured himself a glass, she had a steaming plate of food on the table.

“So, you didn’t forget that I go camping with Tommy tomorrow, right?”

“I didn’t forget.” That was an understatement.

Her son opened up for another mouthful and paused, spoon frozen in midair. “His mom is picking me up in the morning. They want to be at the campsite by lunchtime.”