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

Something changed then. The energy around his friend darkened. Jake’s hands were clenched, his body no longer relaxed. The eyes that turned to Cain were flat—emotionless.

“I’m not going back because I’d be a detriment to my unit. The shit that happens over there, it changes you. Makes you crazy. Do stupid things.”

Cain didn’t push it. He wasn’t clear on the circumstance surrounding Jesse’s death. All he knew was what Mac had confided. That Jake had witnessed Jesse’s death, but that was about it. His friend was in a dark place, and considering his feelings for Raine, he wasn’t hopeful Jake would snap out of it anytime soon.

“So, what are you going to do?” he asked instead.

The boys ran along the beach like crazy people, their hands weapons as they pretended to shoot each other. Michael glanced over, and the smile on the kid’s face did something to Cain. His chest swelled with an emotion that was becoming a little too familiar. It was warm and fuzzy and protective all at once.

Shit. This must be some of that consequence Jake was talking about.

“I gotta do something. All this downtime is driving me crazy. Too much time to think.” He paused and then muttered, “Too much time to remember.” Jake looked out over the lake. “I’m thinking of diving into the construction project for the new football field and stadium. They want a state-of-the-art facility, and Dad’s company won the bid.” He shrugged. “I’ve always been a hands-on kind of guy. Mac might be on board to design the thing.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

Jake glanced his way, his eyes narrowed, his mouth tight. “I didn’t think so,” he said drily. “I don’t know what I’m going to do about Raine. She’s stubborn as hell, and personally I think she’s crazy to even consider having a baby on her own.” His eyes darkened, and a bleak look crept into his features. “I don’t know if I can be the one to be there for her.”

Why the hell would Jesse put that on his brother? He had to have known Jake’s feelings for Raine ran deep. Or maybe that was the reason.

“What about you?” Jake asked, the heav

iness of the moment gone. It was eerie how the man could switch gears so quickly. “You gonna tell me what the hell Barcelona was about?” Jake stared at him expectantly. Cain saw no reason to sugarcoat.

“Blake was fucking Natasha.”

“Shit, that’s low.”

“Yeah.”

“You should have given him the boot after decking him.”

Cain leaned back. “Agreed.” He paused. “She called a few hours ago—Nat.”

“What did she want?”

Cain shook his head, still surprised as hell himself. “Said she’d made a mistake about Blake and the divorce. All of it. According to her, I should give her a second chance, ’cause apparently we’re soulmates, she just didn’t know it till now.”

Jake grimaced. “I hope you told her where to go.”

“I did.”

“Good. So what are your plans?”

Plans. The future. Cain had no clue.

“I’m here at least until after the Fourth of July. Not due back in the studio until the fall.”

“So, you’re heading back to LA after the big”—Jake made quotation marks with his fingers—“stadium show?”

Cain’s thoughts turned to Maggie. Was he? Could he leave just like that? Did he even want to? The idea left him more than a little unsettled.

“I’m not sure what my plans are. I need to get some new material written or…” He ran fingers along his temple and sighed.

“Or what?”

“I’m screwed…the band is screwed.”

Jake grinned and slapped him on the shoulder. “Well, you better get your ass in gear and get writing.”