Chapter 10

Jake

As predicted, once we returned home from practice the storm arrived. A wicked wind howled all afternoon and into the night, covering everything in snow. However by morning it had passed, leaving behind a world that was quiet and Christmas card worthy.

"Weatherman says that's the last of it," Cruz says, coming up behind me as a stand at the living room window, taking it all in. The sky is blue, and icicles cling to the rooflines. It's beautiful. Peaceful.

I loved the snow. Growing up in Connecticut, it was hard not to. Some of my favorite memories as a kid were of snow days—drinking hot cocoa for breakfast and playing in the back yard with my sister.

I remember waking up early, floors still cold as the wood burning fireplace in the family room warmed up the house while my sister and I sat at the breakfast nook listening to the radio, waiting for the news that school had been canceled. Man, when those days happened, it felt like we'd won the lottery.

"What a difference a year makes." I shake my head, thinking back to last year at this time, when the weather was nice enough to practice in short sleeves.

"No shit," he agrees, and something tells me he isn't just talking about baseball.

I turn from the window and make my way over to the couch, sinking down onto the cushion. "Any chance Coach will give us a snow day?"

"I don't think he has a choice." Cruz slumps down opposite me and lifts his leg onto the cushion. "Lives up by Dawson's Ridge and I heard on the radio they got two feet of snow. Snowplow probably won't clear the roads up there until later today."

I lay my head back and look up at the ceiling. "I could use a day off."

"Same," he agrees. "Today is one of those days I could crawl back in bed and—"

I hold my hand up to stop him."Come on, I just got up."

"What?" He shakes his head. "I was going to say sleep. I'm exhausted."

I look over at him and note the fatigue in his eyes. "Storm keep you up?"

"Some," he admits. "The rest was my mind."

"Want to talk about it?"

"Not yet. First things first," he taps my arm. "Let's talk about O'Brien."

"What about him?" I close my eyes. "We talked about this already."

Cruz and I talked about what happened yesterday on the way home from practice and came to the conclusion our new team member was trying to rile us up. He may have been a superstar on his old team but at Highland he was struggling to fit in and what he said was his way of lashing out. It just so happened his smart mouth, coupled with any mention of Cal and last summer, was enough to get to both Cruz and me. That was it, words that were too close for comfort, nothing more.

"He sure riled you up," Cruz says with a laugh.

I bring both hands behind my head and squeeze. "I could say the same for you, brother."

"Yeah," he nods. "He did. But we're not talking about me. We're talking about you. Don't think I've ever seen you that way before."

I drop my arms and jiggle one knee. "He got to me," I shrug. "It happens."

"Yeah," he says matter of fact. "And that's my point. You're the cool one. Nothing gets to you. Certainly not a little shit-talking from guys like O'Brien. So what set you off?"

He's right. O'Brien did set me off and it wasn't just because of what he said about last summer. It was also what he said about Jenica.

Cruz didn't say anything to me about O'Brien's comment about the frat party and thank God because I didn't know how I would answer him if he did. If I tell Cruz what happened, that's it. Getting us together is going to become his and Ellery's focus because he knows me and knows that if I found her with O'Brien and cock-blocked him it was for one reason—because I liked her, more than I let on.

Deciding now is not the time to get into it, I cross my arms over my face and exhale into my bicep. "I was having a bad day. End of story. Now you."

"What about me?" he asks.

I drop my arm and turn to him. "Why didn't you sleep last night? What's on your mind?"

He sits back and brings a fist to his chin, thinking for a moment. "What he said yesterday, it may have been shit talking, but it brought up some stuff."

"Elmhurst?"

He nods. "Courtney and Dex Webster, Asher and his sister, Skye Vaughn…their lives were changed when their little society was exposed, and not for the better. You can't tell me they just took that shit lying down. They may be quiet right now, but they didn't disappear. O'Brien's question may have been random, but you can bet your ass those fuck faces are asking a question of their own, and that is how to get my family back for what happened."

When Cruz says family, he's not just talking about his parents and Ellery. He means all of us, Jenica, me, and Marcus.

"Hey." I tap his knee, ignoring the way Jenica being a target of anyone makes me feel. "They're not going to do anything. If they were, they would have already."

"How can we be sure?" He drops his hand to the back of the couch. "Every one of them is loose thread. And they're not the only ones."

Cal I think in silent agreement. He wasn't just a loose thread, but a potential loose cannon. He says he doesn't remember what happened that night. The only the details he remembers being that of his time with Royce and the deal they made. But I know Cruz doesn't buy it. Cal chose money and fame over loyalty and friendship, and that wasn't someone I'd believe, either.

I don't think he's lying, per se. He probably doesn't remember anything given how hopped up he was that night. But I don't think the memory is gone, either. I think it's buried under a haze of drugs and lies, and with a little therapy, could come back to him at any minute and that worries me. Marcus is the only one that still speaks to Cal and I hate the idea of him remembering something and telling Marcus. If he does it could incriminate him and neither Cruz nor I want that.

Marcus is doing great. Scouts have been calling him as well, and he seems to have found someone he really likes. It's best if he believes what he walked in on that night when he found Cruz and I questioning Cal was remnants of the fight they had on the beach—an argument fueled by drugs and booze. There was no reason for Marcus to believe it was anything more. He was halfway across the country by the time the girls got up the next morning and never saw the bruises on Ellery or Jenica's catatonic state.

Cruz shakes his head and grips the back of the couch. "I swear to God, Jake, if anyone tries to grind their ax on Ellery's neck, I will bury them six feet under."

Cruz's eyes are dark. He's not playing around. When it comes to Ellery, every promise he makes is rooted in a primal need to protect. I understand that kind of loyalty and recognized that fierce need to keep someone you cared about safe because I'd seen it myself before.

"Look." I clear my throat, not wanting to give that part of me any reason to rear its head. It was bad enough what happened between Jenica and I had stirred it from its dormancy. I didn't need it coming out now, creating drama where there didn't need to be any. "Everything's going to be fine. The past is in the past. Just focus on the here and now and if anything does come up, we'll take care of it."

He swallows and nods. "You're right."

"Damn straight I am."

"Thanks, brother."

He sticks his fist out and I bump it with my own. "Don't mention it. But, if it would make you feel better, I could ask my dad to check in on those guys. See if everyone is where they're supposed to be, doing what they're supposed to be doing."

My dad was a big help last summer when we were looking into the girls that had gone missing in Cherry Cove. While he knew about the whole Elmhurst society scandal—the story had dominated the news for months and anyone not living under a rock had seen it—he hadn't said anything to me. It was part of his whole, need to know rule. But if I needed him, I could come to him for anything, and I'd happily ask him to look into Ellery's former friends if it would put my best friend's mind at ease.

"Sure," Cruz nods in confirmation. "That would be good. Better to be safe than sorry."

"No problem." I get up from the couch and stretch. "I'll ask him the next time we talk. If he finds anything, he'll let us know."

"Good," Cruz nods and does the same. "Although, it would be better for my blood pressure if he didn't find anything."

"Same, Cabron. Think we hit our quota on drama for a while. Now come," I nod to the kitchen, "I'll make you some coffee."

We amble into the kitchen and I reach into the cabinet, pulling out a canister of the instant coffee I make when I need a caffeine fix and don't want to bother Ellery.

"Now that we've settled that," Cruz hops onto the counter. "How about we talk about you and Jenica?"

"Man." I reach into the cabinet and grab two cups and set them down on the counter. "Give it a rest."

"Girls and baseball," he continues. "Two of your staples since I've known you."

"Don't forget school," I add.

"Yeah, okay, school, too. But strangely, one has been noticeably absent lately. Why is that?"

I grab a spoon out of the drawer and remove the lid from the red, white, and orange striped canister and put a couple of scoops in each cup. When done, I make my way over to the stove and turn on the burner under the kettle.

"Come on." He kicks the lower cabinet with his heel when I don't answer. "Just tell me what's going on with you two. Every time I mention her name you get this look on your face."

I lean against the counter and cross my arms while waiting for the water to boil. "I do not."

"Yes, you do," he laughs.

"Fine." I throw up both hands. "If it will get you off my dick, you're right. I haven't been hooking up with anyone."

"And why is that?" He leans forward.

"Because I haven't wanted to."

"And you haven't wanted to because…"

"Jenica," I bite out. "There. Happy?"

"I knew it," he grins and leans back. "That's why you wanted to knock O'Brien out yesterday. He made a move on your girl, didn't he? At the frat party."

I motion for him to be quiet while stepping out into the hall. Seeing neither Ellery nor Marcus are up yet, I pop back into the kitchen. "Would you keep it down?"

"What did he do?" He lowers his voice.

"Yes, he made a move on her, and no she's not my girl. In case you haven't noticed, she isn't talking to me."

"So," he shrugs, raising his voice back to normal. "Call her until she does."

"I've tried. It doesn't work. It's starting to get a little pathetic."

"No," he says deadpan. "Pathetic would be telling the girl you're crazy about, to have the high school football team run a train on her."

"Man, who the…" I look over at him and he lifts his brows. "Wait, is that the fucked up shit you said to Ellery the night of our party last summer?"

He holds up both hands. "Guilty."

"Dude," I shake my head in disbelief. "No wonder you drank yourself into an oblivion that night. I'm surprised she forgave you because that was fucked up."

"It was," he agrees. "And at the time, the fact she forgave me surprised me, too."

"Well, what happened between Jenica and I isn't about jealousy."

"What's it about then?"

Now I am the one to lift both eyebrows. He hops down from the counter and comes over to where I'm standing. "Wait," he leans in, "did you two…"

"Yes," I whisper, "and she hasn't talked to me since."

"What?" He looks at me like I just told him I'm from the future. "Why?"

"I don't know, man, but it's driving me crazy."

A grin tugs at his lips and I hold up my hand. "Whatever you're thinking, don't."

"I wasn't thinking anything, brother."

"Yes, you were."

The kettle whistles and I turn off the burner, reach for the towel hanging from the oven, and using it to grip the handle, pour water into each cup.

"Just admit you like her," he continues as I stir each cup until the mix is dissolved. "What O'Brien said wouldn't have gotten to you if you didn't. I went after him because she is Ellery's best friend, but you…classic marking your territory, brother. I know that instinct, trust me."

"She's not my girl," I say for a second time.

"The hell she's not. You never get hung up on a girl, which means in your eyes, she's yours. Face it. You're sprung my friend. Welcome to the club."

"I am not."

"Hey," I laugh. "I'd walk on hot coals with a basket of fruit on my head singing "Eye of The Tiger" for that girl upstairs, and do you know what, I'm not ashamed."

"Now that I would pay good money for," Ellery says sleepily as she pads into the kitchen.

"How long have you been awake?" Cruz smiles with a shake of his head.

"Just got up." She makes her way over to him and steps between his legs, tilting her head up. "Morning baby."

He cups her face and leans down, kissing her. "Morning."

Stepping back, she turns and looks at me, yawning. "Morning buddy."

"Morning Ells."

She smiles at the nickname I gave her months ago. "What are you two gossiping about in here?"

"Nothing," he shrugs while giving me a look of understanding.

She looks from him to me, and shrugs. "Alright then. Can I make you two a real coffee?"

He looks over at the cups on the counter and presses his hands together in mock prayer. "Yes, please?"

She presses up on her toes and gives him another kiss. "You got it."

"You're the best."

"I know."

He runs his thumb under her lip and she gives him a wink, then moves over to the silver piece of equipment on the counter that resembles a dashboard on a spaceship.

Thanks to Ellery's love of coffee, we've got a killer cappuccino maker. Only problem, none of us can use it. Give us a ball and a glove and we can teach you baseball in under an hour. When it comes to coffee, however, we're useless. Ellery, however, has perfected each of our favorites—coffee black for Marcus, latte for me, and espresso for Cruz.

"You're a lucky man," I marvel as Ellery works the appliance that looks like it should be on The Jetson's . "Don't fuck that up or I will hurt you."

He looks at her and grins. "Don't plan on it. Now, what are you going to do about—"

"Nothing," I cut him off, motioning for him to shut up.

Surprisingly, he takes the hint and doesn't say another word until Ellery brings over two cups and sets them down in front of us.

"Oh, this is good," he moans in approval while sipping his cappuccino.

"I'm glad you like it. And yours?" She turns to me.

I blow on my coffee and take a sip. As usual it's perfection and tell her as much.

Tapping the counter with a satisfied smile, she turns and heads back to the machine. A couple of minutes later Marcus strolls in, and she holds out a cup to him as he passes.

Grabbing it appreciatively, he gives her a winning smile. "Why, thank you ma'am," he gives her a winning smile. "Man, how did we get so lucky?"

"I got lucky," Cruz corrects.

Ellery carries her own coffee over and takes a seat on Cruz's knee, folding into our conversation effortlessly. We talk about the storm and how much snow we think there is, and how much longer winter is going to last.

When Coach calls later that morning to tell us class and practice has been canceled for the day, Cruz, Marcus and I high-five then run to our rooms and put on snow gear. We spend the afternoon like a couple of kids on a snow day—having an epic snowball fight that makes us laugh until we have frozen snot clinging to our noses.

When we finally come inside, Ellery has hot toddies waiting for us. It's the first time since Jenica's visit that I feel like my old self and I can't help but smile at the irony that a snow day restored my chill.

After finishing our drinks, Marcus heads downstairs to take a shower to warm up, and Ellery gets to work making another round for Cruz and me. When she's done, she sets them down on the counter just as the phone rings.

Surprisingly, I don't flinch the way I have been when someone calls the house. Instead, I reach for my drink and take a sip as she grabs the cordless to answer it.

"I'll be back," she mouths as she heads into the living room with her hand over the receiver.

Cruz and I are nearly done with our second drink when she comes back into the kitchen and returns the cordless to the cradle.

"What's wrong?" Cruz asks, when he sees her standing there, tapping her nails on the counter.

She turns to us, expression wary. "I have news."

"You're pregnant," I reply jokingly, and Cruz shoots me a dirty look.

"No," she drawls, not taking the opportunity to give me shit. "The body in Cherry Cove…they have an ID."

"What!" Cruz and I reply in unison.

"Well who was it?" I jump up from where I'm sitting at the counter and Cruz does the same.

"Apparently, it was some mob informant." She looks up at Cruz as he comes up next to her. "That was Jenica. She said CCPD thinks he was tossed off the pier in Jersey and caught The Gulf Stream straight down to the Georgia coast."

"And the bullet?" I ask, ignoring the flutter in my chest at the mention of Jenica. Damn my body for betraying my hard-won calm.

"Get this," she looks from Cruz to me. "It belonged to a gun registered to a guy with ties to the Petrov Syndicate."

"Shit, really?" He shakes his head.

"Yeah," she nods. "Ironic, right?"

"It is," he does the same.

What's not ironic, however, is why Jenica didn't call me to tell me the news. Considering it was me she called when that same body sent her racing up here a day early, I'd think this update would at least warrant a call.

Ellery fills us in on the rest of the details and when done, Cruz wraps his arm around her and squeezes. It was a long shot that it could be Royce, but there's no denying it was in the back of all of our minds. Her relief is apparent, as is his and mine.

"Alright," I rap my knuckle on the counter. "I'm going to take a long, hot shower. I'll be up later."

Cruz pats me on the back as I turn and head for the stairs, and when I make it to my room and don't check the answering machine, I give myself one as well. Jenica isn't going to call, so there's no need to disappoint myself. Whatever happened between us the night of the frat party clearly didn't mean anything to her. Come to think of it, whatever I thought we were, was just an illusion. It was time to move on and forget the past and focus on the future.