“It’s nice to be able to see you again. I know. I know I have a lot of explaining to do and someday I will, but right now. Right now, I just want to enjoy every moment while I can. Can you understand that, Phoenix?”

I shouldn’t. I should yell and demand for answers, but for some reason, my heart understands and I’m afraid that if I push him he will only disappear again.

“Yeah, I can.” My eyes focus on Kade from across the park as he walks away from Luna and toward where we’re sitting. “I’m not so sure Kade can though.”

His eyes follow mine and I swear I can see a flash of hurt before he shakes it off. “You’re right. He can’t.” He stands up and wipes his hands on his shirt. “Bye, Phoenix. Take care.”

I don’t say anything as he walks away. Instead, I just sit there staring at the chicken on my plate as Kade walks up to me and takes a seat next to me. “What did he want? I’m surprised he’s still here.”

Me too, but I like surprises. Sometimes, at least.

“Nothing much, he just wanted to say hi.”

He clenches his jaw and reaches out for my plate, but I slap his hand. I hate when people touch my food. “Oh no, step away from the chicken. This is the last of it. Touching my chicken is grounds for murder.”

He shakes his head and looks at me funny. “Are you that serious about chicken?”

What you haven’t noticed? “Yeah,” I say matter-of-factly. “It helps calm me down. Is that a problem?”

Awkward silence . . .

“I guess everyone seems to be excited to see Kellan.” He looks over by the game tent where everyone’s playing beer pong and I follow his gaze. “Even Luna kept asking me questions about that son of a bitch. It’s not like he’ll be around long enough to make friends.”

An unwanted pang of jealousy hits me as I watch Luna and Kellan laugh, standing in line to play the next game. “Yeah, I’m sure. He’ll probably be gone before we know it.”

“It’s for the best.” He scoots closer to me and wraps his arm around my waist, pulling me against his body. “He’ll only bring trouble to everyone that loves him if he sticks around too long.” He kisses my neck roughly.

Feeling uncomfortable, I pull away and stand up, not wanting to draw attention to us. Now isn’t the time for flirty little games and I’m really just not in the mood. I don’t want anyone getting the wrong idea. Especially Kellan. “I’m going to go see what’s going on with Jen.” I grab my plate of chicken, planning to devour it as soon as I make my escape. “Are your parents okay? I haven’t gotten the chance to talk to them with all of their friends surrounding them.”

Kade looks up at me before placing his attention back to his brother. “They are for now.”

Chapter Eight

Kellan

I probably shouldn’t be here right now. In fact, I know I shouldn’t be here, but I only have a short time left and after getting a taste of being around my family again, I can’t help but to be selfish. Even if it is for just a short time.

The woman in front of me keeps talking, eyeing me up and down with those dirty eyes of hers, but the only thing I can focus on is the woman to my left.

There sits my brother, running his hands over her body, kissing her neck and probably thinking about doing numerous dirty things to her that my mind doesn’t even want to think about.

Adric would be furious with me if he knew I was letting a playboy like Kade feel up his younger sister and did nothing to stop it. If Kade is anything like he was when he was seventeen then she’s gonna get hurt. That ass hasn’t been faithful to anyone that he has gotten his hands on.

The thought of him touching and f**king her, then going and doing the same to another woman is driving me insane. Before seeing them together with my own eyes, the thought hadn’t even occurred to me over the years.

“So you’re Dale’s son?”

“Yeah,” I say, keeping my eyes on Kade, not wanting to miss anything. “Kade’s older brother.”

She swings her black hair over her shoulder, smacking me in the face. I hope she doesn’t think that’s going to get my attention. At this point, she could be running around naked doing jumping jacks and I wouldn’t be able to pull my eyes away from the show in front of me. My instinct to protect Phoenix is just as strong as it was eight years ago. Kade may be my brother, but he’s always done just fine on his own. He’s never needed me.

“. . . I can’t tell.”

I look beside me, realizing I haven’t heard a thing this girl has been saying. “Excuse me?”

“You and Kade, I mean." She smiles sweetly, while combing her fingers through her hair. “I can’t see the resemblance. You’re both sexy as hell, but look so different. You would never guess you guys share the same parents.”

Feeling bad for ignoring her, I shake my head and run my hands over my face in an attempt to gain control. “Luna, right?" I force a smile just wanting to hurry up and get the chitchat over with. “We’re definitely from the same parents, but Kade takes more of my mom's features and I got dad's darker characteristics." Placing my hands in my pockets, not knowing what else to do, I quickly glance over at Phoenix before turning back to Luna.

Reaching into her purse, she pulls out a cigarette and I can’t help but notice a bright pink vibrator sticking up out of the corner. Looks like someone knows how to take care of themselves. “Yeah, it’s Luna. Crazy name, right? I was conceived during a lunar eclipse and my mom had a sense of humor. Would you like one?” She starts to pull out another cigarette and shoves her vibrator further into something about the size of a diaper bag. At least that’s what it looks like to me. Women and their huge purses.

“No thanks, I’m good.” I watch as she places it back into her purse. “I don’t smoke. I had asthma as a child and could never stand the smell.”

She nods in understanding and faces the other way, placing it to her lips and lighting it. She closes her eyes and takes a quick drag. “I can’t stand the smell either, but for some reason it has me . . .” She turns around clearly undressing me with her eyes. “Addicted.”

It’s not surprising when her eyes land directly on my dick, lingering there for a moment as she runs her tongue over her red lips, eyes glossy, probably imagining all of the dirty things I could do to her.