Page 57 of Wild King
She taps him on the nose and sternly stares up at him. “I did, but I’m more concerned with this new habit of yours. Since when do you drink at this time of day?”
“Since I was sent into exile,” he answers in a low voice.
I watch, expecting her to chastise him again, but instead she gives him another hug and points toward the refrigerator. “I brought you other goodies too. Be sure to share with Salem, though.”
Happy for the reprieve from her disappointment, Kellen opens the refrigerator door. “Is that lasagna I see? Oh, yeah. This guy is eating well tonight. Cookies and lasagna. I think I’m in heaven!”
“Just remember to share,” Eleanor says, sweetly reprimanding him, almost as if she’s a mother figure to him.
Maybe he wasn’t just saying she was like a member of the family.
Gathering up her supplies, Eleanor starts to walk toward the hall. “Well, I have work I need to do.”
“Thank you for the care package, Eleanor,” Kellen calls after her as she leaves the room.
Alone with me, he grabs a cookie before getting two more beers. “Good news from my brother and treats from Eleanor. Today is a good day. Any chance you have any good news to give me?”
I shake my head, wishing I did. All I have is what I’ve had since I started working on cleaning up his reputation.
A lot of no answers to my requests. But I’m not done. Not by a longshot.
“Not yet, but don’t give up hope yet. Remember, I’m the best in the business.”
As he walks by me to head back out to the patio, he winks. “I know. I trust you, Salem. I was just hoping today might be the day.”
I watch him gobble up that cookie as he walks away and can’t help but admit he can be quite charming. I wish I had better news for him, but at least he and I aren’t angry at one another anymore.
That’s something.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Kellen
Salem wasn’taround when it came time for dinner, so I enjoyed the best lasagna in the world alone since Nathan seems to have disappeared today. Probably for the holiday.
Not that I’m unhappy to not have him around. I’d love it if Matthias would just admit he overreacted by hiring him and send the guy packing.
I know my brother, though. I’ll be lucky if that guy doesn’t shadow me until my dying days.
Seven o’clock and I’m a grown man wandering around his grandparents’ old house in search of something interesting to do. Jesus, that’s a sad indictment of my life.
Tired of sitting around, I head outside for some fresh air. July is always a beautiful time of year around here. It’s finally hot enough to feel like it’s summer, and the nights don’t get so cold that you can’t enjoy doing things outside at night.
Unfortunately for me, it seems no one’s around to do anything with.
I stop in the middle of the sidewalk out to the driveway as I suddenly realize there’s no one here with me. I’m all alone.
How did this happen?
Knowing I better enjoy my time before Matthias realizes I might be having fun and sends his giant watchdog after me, I think about how I can keep busy. I’ve got no car, so it’s going to have to be something close by since I’m not up for dealing with that sickeningly sweet scent of air freshener every Uber and Lyft seem to have.
As I mull over my possibilities, excited at the chance to do something normal again, I see Salem pull up the driveway and park her car. I consider the idea that maybe we can take a ride together, which means we won’t be limited to staying local, but my hopes are dashed when I see another car pull up and it’s not Nathan.
Did she actually invite a guy back to this house?
I should walk back inside and pretend like I didn’t see them pull up and I don’t care who she’s with. The only problem is I can’t seem to get my feet to move. It’s like the damn things are encased in concrete. I even glance down at them as if to let them know it’s time to go, guys.
Nope. They seem intent on making me stay for this humiliation. Thanks, fuckers.