Forever After All by Kaylee Ryan
Chapter 11
Rip
“What crawled up your ass?” Corbin asks, pointing a fry at me before shoving it in his mouth.
“Nothing.” I pick up my burger and take a bite. “It’s just been a long week.” That’s not entirely untrue. It has been a long week of me waiting for more time with McKenna. Last night was the best night I’ve had in, well, ever. I had her all to myself, and got to spend time kissing her, which is now my favorite pastime. She dozed off in my arms, and I wanted nothing more than to carry her upstairs to my bed. I would have, too, had it not been for my sister calling her phone and waking her up. I wanted to hold McKenna and wake up with her. I wanted to be able to compare it to the first time I held her all night. Compare the two and dissect this crazy intense need I have for her.
“I hear you.” He nods, eating another bite.
Shaking out of my thoughts, I pull my head back into the present. “The homeowner still giving you shit about the budget?”
“Every damn day,” he sighs. “How hard of a concept is it? You change the design, the materials change, which means the price changes.”
“You think any more about hiring someone to deal with them?”
“Yeah. Colby and I talked to Dad about Laramie taking over the office, and he and Mom agree that it’s a great idea.”
“Have you talked to her about it?” My sister is strong-willed. Always has been. When she graduated, my parents and I offered her a job working for the family farm. She refused and said she wanted to forge her own path. I personally think it had something to do with her best friend leaving for college, leaving her behind. That was five years ago, and I have a feeling she’s going to be joining James Construction. It might take some persuasion, but I think she’ll take it. That’s fine, as long as she’s happy. There will always be a spot for her at Callahan Farm, and she knows that.
“Mom’s having us all over for dinner tomorrow night, and the four of us are going to gang up on her.” He laughs.
“Ah, so your brother knows his future wife pretty well then.” It’s going to take some convincing for Laramie to believe that she’s needed, and the job isn’t just being handed to her.
“No offense, but we all know that your sister is bull-headed.” He shrugs.
“True story.”
“What are you two gossiping about?” my sister asks, appearing beside our booth.
“Nothing much. What are you doing here?” I look around the bar for McKenna. They’re supposed to be hanging out tonight.
“Stopped to grab some wings to go. We’re having a girls’ night at Mac’s.”
I nod. I guess she doesn’t know that I already knew that information. I texted McKenna today and asked her if she had plans. I had no qualms canceling on Corbin to see her.
“What’s my brother doing?” Corbin asks her.
“When I left the house, he was ready to fall asleep on the couch,” she says with a smile. “He works too hard.”
“We need help,” Corbin says. This conversation couldn’t have played into his hand better if he tried.
“Yeah, I hate seeing him drained like this. Oh, not to change the subject, but have you seen the forecast? Thunderstorms all day tomorrow.”
My stomach falls. We were supposed to spend another day at the lake. “No. I hadn’t heard.” I try not to let the disappointment show. At the same time, my mind is racing with ideas to see McKenna. “We should just get together at my place anyway.” Normally, I’d keep up on the weather for my job, but all I can seem to focus on is McKenna. Thankfully we have excellent farmhands to keep the place in line while I’m distracted.
“You sure?”
I shrug as if I’m indifferent when I’m anything but. “Why not? I have the spare bedroom, and the couch in the living room, and the recliner. I can even dig the air mattress out if we need it.”
My little sister gives me a knowing grin. “Sounds like a plan. I’ll spread the word. You two be safe. Call me if I need to give either of you a ride home.” With a side hug for each of us, she’s out the door.
Corbin grins. “She didn’t even know I was planting the seed.” His smirk tells me that he’s proud of himself. It’s good that he mentioned them needing help without coming out and suggesting she do it.
I just shake my head. “That’s what it’s going to take. At least she sees Colby exhausted, and I’m sure he’s complained about the office work. You all might just get lucky. It might not be as hard as I originally thought to get her to work for you.”
Corbin nods. “She’s family. She belongs there as much as Colbs and I do.”
Call me sentimental, or maybe it’s all of these feelings seeing McKenna and spending time with her has brought to the surface, but his words pull at the strings of my heart. I love my little sister, and my best friend, and his brother. They’re family to me too. Knowing my sister is marrying into a family who’s going to be good to her and treat her right is comforting.
We finish eating and shoot the shit for another half an hour or so before we both head home. Alone. I want to call McKenna just to hear her voice, but I refrain. Instead, I curl up in bed and drift off to sleep, thinking about her.
* * *
“Well, gang, it’s been fun, but I gotta bounce,” Corbin says, standing from his spot at the dining room table.
“Where are you headed?” Colby asks.
A glance at the clock on the wall tells me it’s just after ten on Saturday night. The forecast was correct, and it’s been pouring rain since early this afternoon. Everyone arrived a little before six. My sister and McKenna made a ton of snack food, and it looks more like we’re having a Super Bowl party rather than a casual get-together. Every surface of my kitchen is covered with food.
“Hot date.” He wags his eyebrows.
“Come on now,” Colby gives him shit. “Let’s call a spade a spade.”
“Fine. I might be meeting up with Sara to keep her company.”
“Is that what the kids are calling it these days?” McKenna teases.
Corbin aims his index finger at her. “You’re lucky I’ve missed you,” he says with an easy smile. “Besides, everyone is coupled up.” He motions to where Laramie and Colby are snuggled on the love seat, and McKenna and I are on the couch. We’re not cuddled up, but we are sitting closer than two people need to on this big couch. “Now, unless you need me to perform another wedding….” He glances around the room, wearing a cocky grin.
“We’re working on that,” Colby replies.
“I’m only getting married once,” I tell him. It’s true. I want to settle down and do it right.
“Well, you’ve already fucked that up. You married Mac twice now.”
“Hey! Are you saying I’m a mistake?” McKenna asks, barely holding in her laughter.
“No, but you could have chosen the better-looking of the two of us.” He taps his hand to his chest.
“And what would Sara think?” McKenna teases.
“Well-played, Mac. Well-played.” He winks at her. “Anyway, Russ bowed out. He’s working on his truck, and Josh is out with Stephanie at her sister’s wedding. So, yeah, fifth wheel.” He points at his himself. “I’m out.” He waves to all of us as he turns for the door.
“You good to drive?” I call after him.
“Yeah. Only had two beers, and that was hours ago, and a whole hell of a lot of food later.”
“Call me if you need a ride.”
“Oh, I think Sara can handle that.” He wags his eyebrows, and then he’s out the door.
“Well now, since it’s just the four of us, why don’t we play some cards?” Colby suggests.
“I suck at cards,” Laramie complains.
“Let’s just watch a movie,” this from McKenna.
“That. Let’s do that.” My sister nods and points at her best friend as if the idea is the best one she’s heard in her entire life. “I’ll grab some more wine, and you pick,” she tells McKenna, tossing her the remote.
“Me? I don’t care what we watch.” She then tosses the remote into my lap.
“No,” Laramie whines dramatically. “They’re going to make us watch some thriller or shoot-’em-up movie.”
“Come on, it won’t be that bad,” McKenna says.
“Yes, it will!” she calls over her shoulder from the kitchen.
“Choose wisely, my friend,” McKenna says with a smile for me.
“Please, choose wisely,” Colby pleads. “You know she’s more opinionated when she’s been drinking.” While he says the words, there’s a soft smile playing at his lips that’s always there whenever my sister is involved.
Laramie comes back with her hands full. She passes me a beer and then does the same with Colby. She tops off McKenna’s wineglass, which is almost running over, and does the same to hers before setting the empty wine bottle on the table, taking a hefty drink, and then sitting on Colby’s lap.
Lifting my arm in the air, I’m ready to launch the remote to the love seat my sister and Colby are sitting on. A loud crack of thunder so loud it feels as though it rattles the house strikes, and then the lights go out.
“Shit.”
“Well, that makes the decision for us.” McKenna laughs.
“I’ll dig out some flashlights, candles, and a lighter.” I stand to go searching for what we need. “I have a couple of oil lamps too,” I tell whoever happens to be listening to me ramble on in the darkness of my living room.
“I’ll help,” comes from Colby as he turns on the flashlight of his cell phone and follows me into the kitchen. Using my phone light as well, I rummage around in the drawers until I find the lighter I used to light the candles for my dinner with McKenna’s Thursday night. Then I make my way to the dining room and snag them from the table.
“When did you get those?” my sister asks once the candles are lit and sitting on the coffee table.
“I’ve had them.” It’s a lie, and we both know it, but she doesn’t call me out on it either. “I have a few more. I just need to dig them out.”
“Where are the lamps?” Laramie asks.
“On the mantel.” I turn around and, with the light of my cell phone flashlight, grab them and light both, which fills the room with a soft glow.
“It’s either ghost stories or bed,” Laramie suggests.
“Ugh. I vote bed if those are our only options,” McKenna groans.
“Fine. Party-pooper. You guys keep a lamp, and we’ll keep one.”
“I should probably go home and check on my grandparents,” McKenna says just as her cell phone rings. With the dim lighting, I watch as she pulls it out of her pocket and answers. “Hello.” She listens quietly. “Yes, the power just went out.” More listening. “Oh, okay. That makes sense. All right, I’ll see you tomorrow.” She taps her screen and lays her phone on the couch next to her. “That was Gram. I guess the alarm system on the house alerted them to a power failure. She called the electric company, and they’re saying five to six hours before power is restored.”
“We should go get them and bring them here,” I say immediately.
“Oh, they’re still in Jasper. They’re just going to grab a hotel room and make a night of it.”
“Well, you can’t go stay there by yourself.” My sister speaks up, and I make a mental note to buy her a really good Christmas present.
“I’m a big girl, Lara,” McKenna says gently. “I’ve been living on my own for five years now.”
“I don’t care. I hate the thought of you staying there all alone with no power.”
“I’ll be fine.”
“Kenna,” I say, moving to stand next to where she’s sitting on the couch. “We’re not debating the topic of you taking care of yourself. However, you’re already here, and we’re all staying. You should stay.” My tone is gentle, despite a storm very similar to the one raging outside roaring inside me. I want her to stay. I want her in my bed, in my arms. I just… I need her to stay. I won’t sleep knowing she’s staying at her grandparents’ place all alone without power. Yes, she’s an adult, but damn it. I want her here.
“Fine,” she concedes.
“I’m going to go change.” Laramie stands from the couch on wobbly legs.
“I’ve got her. I doubt we’ll be back down,” Colby says, grabbing one of the oil lamps and leading my sister upstairs to the guest room.
“Come on. I’ll give you something to sleep in.” I hold my hand out for McKenna, and without hesitation, she takes it. I pull her with a little too much force, causing her to fall into my arms. That’s my cue to wrap her in my arms and hold her close. “I’m glad you’re staying.”
Tilting her head back, she peers up at me. “You sure you don’t mind me sleeping on your couch?”
Gently, I push her hair back out of her eyes. “You’re not sleeping on the couch, Kenna. You’re sleeping with me.” I press a kiss to the tip of her nose. Releasing my hold on her, I blow out the candles and lock up the house. I turn off the light switches so that the house won’t be bright when the power does come on. Grabbing the oil lamp, I place my hand on the small of her back and lead her upstairs to my room.
She doesn’t protest, and part of me thinks I’ve rendered her speechless. The other larger part hopes it’s because she wants to sleep next to me just as badly as I want her in my bed.
In my room, I dig out a T-shirt and boxer shorts for her to change into. “I’ll turn my head,” I say, handing them to her. “We only have the one light. I promise I won’t look.”
“It’s not like it’s not something you’ve never seen before,” she replies with a nervous laugh.
That’s where she’s wrong. I’ve never seen her before. And I know without a shadow of a doubt that woman… no, McKenna, would make all the difference. Swallowing hard, I fist my hands at my sides and will myself to stand with my back to her as I hear her changing.
“Okay,” she whispers.
Slowly, I turn to find her in my T-shirt. The boxers are still in her hands. “All set?” I croak.
“Yeah. This is long enough, so I don’t need these.” She hands me back the boxers. “Can I set my clothes here?” She points to the top of the dresser.
I want to tell her that she can clean herself out a drawer. Hell, I’ll buy McKenna her own dresser, but I refrain. “Sure.”
“Your turn,” she says, turning her back to me.
“I’m sure it’s not something you’ve never seen before,” I volley her words back to her.
“Something tells me this would be different.” She speaks my earlier thoughts aloud, and it takes every ounce of restraint that I have not to kiss the hell out of her.
