Chapter 25

CHAPTER 25

K ane had made love to her in her own bed in her own house after helping her put things right. She hadn't known it, but he'd had new locks put on the doors and windows right after the break-in. She didn't want to think of how it felt more like a goodbye than a new start as Kane left for New York.

"Was I wrong?" Waverly asked Lark. Quad had surprised her by dropping Lark off a short while ago.

"Did he ask you to leave?" Lark asked as they both curled up on the couch.

"No. I have to know that the pressure of the situation wasn't what caused our feelings to grow so fast and so strong."

"You're pushing him away to see if he comes back and to see if you feel the same? I mean, I understand it," Lark told her, "but I wouldn't have done it."

Waverly frowned, but that's why she wanted to talk to her sister. Lark didn't pull punches and Waverly didn't with her either. It wasn't ever done unkindly. It was with love that they were honest with each other. "I did explain it and he said his mind understood it, but he was hurt."

"Shut the front door! You found a sexy, grown ass man who not only would move heaven and earth to protect you, but one who talks about his feelings?"

"And I messed it up, didn't I?" Waverly groaned.

"Nothing that can't be fixed. You need to show him and yourself that you can handle your work and his."

"How?" Waverly asked her younger sister who seemed far wiser in matters of the heart than Waverly was.

"Easy. Communication. You don't want to be a stalker girlfriend, but send him texts when you're thinking of him. Tell him you miss him. Tell him you hope his meeting goes well. Tell him what you're doing. Don't let your worry about messing it up make you mess it up."

"How did you get so smart?" Waverly asked, hugging her sister.

"I had a wonderful big sister growing up who always talked honestly with me. So, text him. Let's send him a selfie. And Waverly," Lark said, more seriously now, "Kane is a great guy. You're not imagining it. He already texted me to let me know about his trip, gave me all his brothers' contacts if I needed anything, and told me to check in on you."

"Is that how you knew to show up tonight? I thought you got here really quickly after I texted that I was back home."

Lark nodded. "A man who is only in the moment doesn't think about his girlfriend's younger sister when he's just on a short business trip. And he certainly doesn't ask her to check on her sister. Not that I needed him to tell me that, but only a man in a committed loving relationship does that."

Waverly swiped at her eyes as tears suddenly threatened to spill. "You're right. I know all of that too. I just have to prove it to myself."

"You're A/B testing your relationship. Your scientific methodic wired brain needs it. I get it. Just don't wait too long to see the results that we all know—you and Kane are meant for each other. Now, let's send your man a picture and let him know you're thinking about him."

Waverly held up the phone Kane had gotten for her and snapped a picture of her and Lark. Spending the night with Lark. Quad dropped her off and is picking her up in the morning. Waverly's fingers hovered over the keyboard. I'm missing you already. Have a great meeting and get your big client! I love you.

Kane smiled at the picture of Waverly and Lark as he drank an old-fashioned with Wilder at Wilder's club, WET.

"That's the first time you smiled since you got here. What is it?" Wilder asked. Kane turned his phone to show the photo Waverly sent. "See, I told you it was nothing to worry about. She's clearly missing you."

"She told me she was."

"Kane, you have to think that Waverly is more like Olivia than Penelope. Olivia likes to deal in facts. So does Waverly. The fact is you two met and fell in love during an extremely intense situation. She wants to make sure that now that the danger is gone, you both still feel the same. She's being smart, one of the things you love about her. Don't give her a reason to doubt you're not a hundred percent in love with her."

"This is the part when I lose them though."

"Lose who?" Wilder asked.

"Girlfriends. I have to take business meetings or fly off to negotiate a client's release and can't give them a specific time when I'll come home."

Wilder snorted. "Waverly is nothing like the girls you've dated before. Nothing. She has her own life, as she's proving to you both right now. But I'm betting that text message is supporting you, am I right? Is she making you feel bad for being here?"

Kane shook his head and read the text to his brother. Wilder was right. She was supporting him. And while she said she missed him, she wasn't pressuring him to come home. She was encouraging his meeting.

"You're also missing an interesting part of the text," Wilder said after Kane talked it out with Wilder and felt better about this new relationship status.

"I am?"

"Yeah," Wilder said, pointing to the text. "Quad is still taking care of Lark."

Brotherly overprotectiveness surged forward. "You're right. He was only supposed to keep an eye on her while Waverly was ‘missing,' nothing more ."

Wilder laughed with a hint of evil amusement to it. "Hurry up and prove to Waverly you can handle her being independent and marry her so we can have another little sister to look out for. Lark needs us."

"Like hell I'm waiting to marry Waverly before looking out for Lark. I'm texting Damon." Wilder laughed but when Kane glanced over at his brother, he saw that Wilder was similarly texting Hunter.

"Let's send a picture back to Waverly," Kane said as his brother chuckled again.

"You will never see me acting a fool for a woman like this, but I'm glad you found Waverly. You two are perfect together. Even a jaded bachelor like me can see that."

Kane and Wilder took a picture and Kane sent it to Waverly. I miss you too. It also seems I need to have another word with Quad about his intentions with my future sister-in-law. The meeting is tomorrow. I'll let you know how it goes. Love you too and can't wait to get home and hear about all the things you've thought up for your own work while I've been gone. Remember, if you ever get stuck on a project I know how to get you to relax ;)

"So, what do you want for a wedding present?" Wilder asked sarcastically before turning to deal with some club business.

A wedding to Waverly would come, but first he was going to prove he could be the best boyfriend in the world, even if he was out of town.

Waverly and Lark had the best sisters' night. They watched movies, ate chocolate, talked about life, school, and love. Future sister-in-law . That phrase had been in Waverly's mind since Kane had sent that text last night. Lark was right. Kane wasn't in it for the moment. He was in this relationship for a future. Why should she wait when she knew it? Was she really just satisfying some stupid idea that everything needed to be tested?

Waverly was clearing breakfast as Lark grabbed some things from her bedroom when a motorcycle pulled into her driveway.

Waverly watched as Damon pulled off his helmet, hooked it on the handlebar, and walked toward her house. Only, he didn't ring the bell. He took a seat on the steps and looked out down the street.

Oh no. Were the DR3 back? Waverly hurried to unlock the door. "Did something happen?" Waverly asked instead of saying hello.

"You could say that." Damon stood as Quad's car pulled into the driveway behind Damon's motorcycle.

Damon strode over to the car as Quad got out. "Good morning, Damon," Quad said cheerfully, his tall frame looming over Damon even though Damon was over six feet tall himself.

"Is it a good morning, Quad?" Damon asked with a hint of aggression and Quad's smile faltered.

"Yes?"

Waverly stood as Damon backed Quad up against his car and crossed his arms. What was Damon doing?

"I don't think it is, Quad. Do you know why?" Damon asked.

"No, sir." Quad was looking a little nervous now.

"It's because you're here. Picking up Lark."

Quad's eyes shot to Waverly. She shrugged, telling Quad she had no idea what was going on either. Quad smartly kept his mouth shut.

"See, my brother loves Waverly and that makes her family and that makes Lark family. You were supposed to be fake dating Lark only to protect her. Now the danger is gone, yet you're still here. That means we have a problem."

Quad straightened to his full height. "You don't think I'm good enough for Lark?"

There was the star basketball player with all the ego and swag she saw him with on the court. However, Damon didn't seem impressed. "Damn right you're not. Have you told her you want more? Have you told her it's no longer fake? Or are you just using her?"

Quad towered over Damon, glaring at him. "I would never use her. I respect Lark and love spending time with her."

"If you loved her, you'd know you're not good enough for her. She's smart, brave, and funny. Plus, she doesn't give a damn that you're the stud player. You should be begging her to give you a chance. Instead, you're just continuing this fake dating scenario without discussing a new, real relationship. Am I wrong?"

Quad froze and Waverly could see the realization that what Damon said was true dawned across Quad's face. "I . . ."

"You're going to make it right and treat Lark with respect and kindness, or Kane will be the least of your problems. You'll have every Townsend after you," Damon growled. "And if you think I'm scary, you should see Pen when she's pissed off."

Waverly's eyes teared up. Damon was being a big brother to Lark. The entire Townsend family had accepted them and loved them. She wasn't alone anymore. Not in life, love, or in family.

"Damon? Quad?" Lark asked, stepping out of the house. "Waverly? Are you crying? What happened?"

Damon smiled at Lark as if he hadn't just threatened Quad. "I was just coming over to see Waverly. How are you doing, Lark?"

"Good?" Lark looked worriedly at Waverly, and she just hugged her sister. "Are you okay?"

"I'm great. I think with Kane in my life, we also got all his siblings," Waverly whispered.

"Isn't it great?" Lark froze. "Or is that's what wrong?"

"No, that's what's right." Waverly pulled back and smiled down at her sister. "Have a great day with Quad and good luck on your test next week. Let me know how it goes."

Before Lark could hug Waverly goodbye, a SUV slid to a stop blocking in Quad's car. Hunter and Stone stepped from SUV. Waverly saw Quad's face fall and saw Lark's confusion. A bubble of happiness left Waverly trying to suppress a fit of giggles.

"Quad, just the man we wanted to see," Hunter said, pulling out a knife and tapping it against his thigh.

"What is going on?" Lark whispered as Stone grabbed his hockey stick before slinging an arm about Quad's shoulders and pulling him away from his car.

"Yes, sir." They heard Quad say, his voice shaking. "No, sir. I would never . . ."

"Waverly," Lark hissed. "Why is Quad looking like he's going to pass out? Did something happen?"

Waverly nodded her head. "Yes. I fell in love with a Townsend."

"What does that have to do with Quad?" Lark asked, then suddenly it dawned on her. "They're—" Lark similarly began to tear up as she whipped her head to look at Waverly.

"Being your big brothers and looking out for you."

Lark launched herself into Waverly's arms and the two sisters cried. There was some sadness in the tears. Sadness for no longer having their parents, but also joy at no longer being alone. It had been just the two of them for so long. Always just the two of them. Now they had a large family who loved them.

"Get off me," Quad yelled.

"You made them cry. I'll kill you," Damon growled.

Waverly and Lark wiped their tears and turned back to where Quad was fighting to get to Lark. "All y'all made us cry," Waverly told them, smiling through her tears. "Because of how much you mean to us. Let the boy go, Damon. If he hurts my sister, I have access to equipment that can make his dick explode." Waverly used her fingers to mimic the explosion and the Townsend brothers smiled.

"Waverly!" Lark gasped. "Quad's doing what Kane told him to and looking out for me. He doesn't really like me."

"Actually," Quad said, standing stiffly at the bottom of the stairs. "I'm doing what Kane told me not to do."

"I don't understand," Lark said as Waverly watched the young lovebirds finding their way.

"Kane told me not to fall for you, but I did. I really like you, Lark. Not to look after and not to fake date, but to have in my life, as my girlfriend. My very real girlfriend."

Behind him, a wall of Townsends formed. Waverly saw Lark look back to them and then to Quad. "That is, if you'll have me as your boyfriend," Quad said, sounding nervous.

Lark jumped from the top of the steps and into Quad's arms. "Of course, I'll have you as my boyfriend."

Waverly realized she had her hands clasped over her heart as she watched Quad kiss her sister. They were so happy and that made Waverly happy.

"That's enough of that," Damon growled as Hunter plucked Lark from Quad's arms and set her on the ground.

"Not until marriage or I'll cut it off," Hunter told Quad.

Lark rolled her eyes. "Sure. I'll wait until marriage for as long as you waited until marriage. Since I'm sure you wouldn't hold a woman to a different standard than yourselves." She smiled brightly at Hunter and batted her eyes at Damon and Stone.

Quad looked ready to pass out. Waverly was biting her lip and trying not to laugh since Hunter, Stone, and Damon suddenly looked very uncomfortable.

Damon cleared his throat. "We wouldn't hold a woman to a different standard, but we do hold our sister to one."

Lark reached over and pinched Damon's cheek. "Aww, I love you too, bro. Now, excuse us," she said, grabbing Quad's hand and pulling him toward the car. "We're going to have wild, unprotected sex and hopefully I'll get pregnant right away. Who cares about school, right?"

"I—" Quad looked ready to pass out in fear.

Waverly lost the fight and burst out laughing. Lark took the distraction and shoved Quad into the car.

"That is not funny, Lark!" Damon yelled.

"We know where you live, Quad," Stone called out as Quad frantically drove across the lawn to get around them.

"Guys," Hunter said with a frown. "I think we're losing our edge. Quad didn't piss himself."

Stone nodded. "We need a new game plan."

"I should have brought the wrench," Damon said with a shake of his head.

"Come on, guys," Waverly said, moving to the front door. "Pancakes will make it better."

"Maybe that was it. We didn't have breakfast," Stone said as they trudged into the house with their heads hung.

Waverly glanced at her phone as the Townsends walked inside.

Heading to my meeting. Have a great day. I'll call you later. I love you.

Waverly smiled and sent a text back to Kane. She couldn't believe how everything came into focus. The love she had with Kane wasn't temporary. It wasn't a causal reaction to external forces. It was love. Plain and simple. And it was a lasting love.