“Layne.”

“Roc.”

Their stare down was interrupted by Tripp coming to get his wallet and Layne handing it over intensified Rocky’s glare when his eyes returned to hers.

“Close the door, Pal,” Layne called, his eyes locked to Rocky.

“Right,” Tripp muttered and Layne heard the door catch.

Then Layne chose option two to end a stare down. He rolled her to her back and kissed her and when he was done, he shoved his face in her neck.

“Love you, baby,” he whispered against her skin as his hands slid up her sides.

“Love you too, Layne,” she whispered back and her arms got tight around him.

Then Layne’s arms wrapped around her, his face still in her neck, he rolled them to their sides and he expelled a breath, a breath it felt like he’d been holding for decades.

And, Rocky in his bed, in his arms, her arms tight around him, it felt good to let that breath, finally, go.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Meant to Be

Layne left his room, walked through the weight room, rounded the stairs and stopped dead when he looked down to see Vera and Devin sitting together three steps from the top.

When Vera sensed him, her neck twisted, her head went back and she put her finger to her lips.

“You have pictures?” Layne heard Tripp ask from downstairs and Layne’s attention shifted to listen.

“Yeah, Tripp,” Rocky answered.

It was Sunday morning, after Vera’s pancakes but the TV wasn’t on. Layne couldn’t be sure but he was guessing Tripp and Rocky were on the colossal, cushiony sectional that was a connected square that looked part-bed, part-couch and all comfortable and now sat in the corner by the front window taking up nearly the entirety of the front space.

“Was she pretty, like you?” Tripp asked and Layne pulled in a breath and his neck muscles got tight.

Tripp was asking about her mother.

Devin turned his head too and shook it at Layne.

“No,” Rocky replied. “She was beautiful.”

“So,” Jasper put in, “like you.”

Layne closed his eyes and his hand went to the top of the post at the stairs, his fingers curling around it, holding on.

“That’s sweet, Jas,” Rocky said softly.

“Yeah, I’m sweet, Keirry says so,” Jasper returned arrogantly and Layne opened his eyes and smiled.

“You’re also full of it,” Tripp told him.

“Watch and learn, Tripp-o-matic, and you’ll hook Giselle deep,” Jasper noted.

“Giselle’s already hooked deep, dude, she totally digs me,” Tripp replied.

“That’s because you’re sweet too,” Rocky said.

“Yeah?” Tripp asked, sounding like an affirmative answer meant everything in the world.

“Yeah,” Rocky answered softly, with one soft word, giving his son the world.

There was silence then Tripp remarked, “I’m fourteen.”

“I know, Tripp,” Rocky replied.

“I turn fifteen next month,” he told her.

“Yeah? What do you want for your birthday?” Rocky asked.

“Milky Way cake,” Tripp answered.

“That can be arranged,” Rocky stated.

“You were fourteen too,” Tripp noted and Layne watched Vera’s hand shoot out and clutch Devin’s knee, she knew what he was referring to, they all did.

Layne’s body went alert, ready to move in case this went bad.

“Sorry, honey?” Rocky asked.

“When it happened… uh, with your Mom,” Tripp answered.

“Tripp,” Jasper said low, a warning.

“It’s okay,” Rocky whispered. “Yes, Tripp, I was fourteen.”

“Dad was shot,” Tripp announced and Layne started moving but Devin’s head jerked around again, he shook it sharply as his arm went around Vera.

“I know,” Rocky said softly.

“So, um… I just want you to know, uh… well, it wasn’t the same but… I know,” Tripp stated and Layne, down two steps, dropped to sit on the landing mostly because, f**k him, his legs couldn’t hold him up anymore.

“I guess you do,” Rocky replied.

“It’s not the same,” Tripp told her something she already knew.

“Yes, that doesn’t mean it wasn’t bad,” Rocky returned. “I was there and I saw you were worried. I know how that feels. My Dad was shot too.”

“You were there?” Jasper asked. “You were at the hospital when Dad was shot?”

“You didn’t see me but, yes, I was there.”

“Wow, totally missed that,” Tripp muttered.

“Dad says that him getting shot tweaked you,” Jasper remarked.

“Yes, Jas,” Rocky confirmed and Layne could tell she was smiling, “it tweaked me.”

“’Cause you were into him, even though, you know, you guys had broken up,” Jasper stated.

“Yes, Jas, I was into him,” Rocky confirmed.

“All these years, right?” Jasper pushed.

“Does that make you feel weird?” Rocky asked.

“No, it’s cool. I’m a dude but girls say Dad’s hot,” Jasper answered. “So, I can see that’d make you stay into him.”

“Yes, your father is hot and that’s part of why I stayed into him,” Rocky now sounded like she was trying not to laugh. “Though, just an FYI, Jas, you look like your father, you’re very good-looking but that isn’t the reason why Keira likes you.”

“It isn’t?” Tripp asked.

“Nope,” Roc answered.

“Why’s she like him then?” Tripp asked.

“We already talked about it,” Rocky answered, “because he’s sweet.

“No, she digs my six-pack,” Jasper informed them and Layne pressed his lips together as he saw his mother’s back go straight and Devin’s back start shaking with silent laughter.

“Jasper Layne, I do not want to think of why Keira Winters would know you have a six-pack,” Rocky stated severely.

Jasper, always quick, replied, “She saw me at a pool party last summer.”

This was not true. As far as Layne knew, Jasper didn’t attend a pool party last summer.

“I hope that’s it,” Rocky muttered.

“What I don’t get is,” Tripp started, obviously helping his brother out changing the subject, “shit happens for a reason.

“Sorry?” Rocky asked.