Part 19 (1/2)
He and Bro chortled together, and Lacey realized then that apart from Bradley, Bro didn't have a lot of close friends. In fact, he knew a lot of guys, but they were teammates or chums, not bosom buddies, so to speak. Perhaps Bro was simply longing for male companions.h.i.+p, a bonding of like minds, and Eddy fit the bill.
G.o.d knew Lacey had entirely different dispositions and pursuits. She was far from the kind of masculine ideal a man was supposed to be, while Bro personified the all-American jock from head to toes.
Did Bro want a career in football? Lacey wondered. He'd said so a couple of times, but college could change a person's plans. So far, though, Bro seemed into the sport. But did he want to make it into a living? Because if he did, he would be in for a rough ride if he was openly gay. Especially if he was in a relations.h.i.+p with a feminine boy like Lacey. But if Bro were with someone like Eddy, a muscular sports G.o.d, they could snuff out a lot of misconceptions about h.o.m.os.e.xuality. Sure, some people would still ask who was the man and who the woman because they were ignorant idiots, but others would see it as more natural in the sporting world than a player with a girlish boyfriend.
And that was the first time since she and Bro had gotten back together that Lacey began to feel maybe the two of them would go on to lead completely different and separate lives. And maybe that was for the best for both of them.
Lacey's chest constricted in pain at the mere idea of a future without the man she loved with all her being. Unshed tears brimmed in her eyes, and she lowered her gaze, fighting back the waterworks. The ache inside was born of doubt and fear, and those things were difficult to quell once they got a hold of you.
”Are you okay, Lacey?” Irwin asked, concerned, his voice low enough to be m.u.f.fled by the rapid-fire talk between Bro and Eddy.
”Yes, I'm fine.” She dug into her meal, faking high spirits. ”Mmm, this is good.”
Irwin was unconvinced of her apparent cheerful mood, and his grim gaze took in Eddy, then Bro, and finally landed on Lacey. ”Eddy's a flirt. He wouldn't try to steal your-”
”No, no, of course not. I'm not worried. I had, um, music stuff on my mind.” Lacey hoped she had been rea.s.suring enough. She was his guest and did not want to go about accusing his son of being too friendly with her boyfriend.
Irwin and Beth seemed to be communicating without words, with eyes only, and then Beth said, out of the blue, ”Okay, who's ready for some apple pie? Eddy, would you be a dear and fetch it for us?”
Startled by the sudden address, Eddy blinked a few times and then seemed to get his head in gear. ”Yeah, sure, Mom. Coming right up.” He got up and disappeared into the shadows of the RV.
”I hope you've all saved room for pie,” Beth said with levity, chuckling as she picked up the dirty plates and replaced them with new ones-all paper.
”Who wouldn't want pie?” Bro said with incredulity, a mock shocked expression on his face, and Lacey had to smile. ”Honestly.”
”How silly of me.” Beth went along with the joke, adding a self-deprecating comment and shaking her head. Irwin laughed heartily.
Eddy returned with a dish of apple pie. There was no steam, so it must have been made earlier and simply reheated. Lacey wouldn't have minded eating it cold. ”I brought vanilla sauce too, Mom,” Eddy said with a grin as he set the tray down, took the transparent plastic top off, and put a slice of apple pie on everyone's plate. He placed a tiny carton of vanilla sauce in the middle of the table and then sat down with the others.
”Dig in, everybody,” Beth said happily.
”Is there any left for me?” came a voice from down the path, and TJ came into view.
”Always, honey,” Beth replied sweetly as TJ joined them at the table and greeted their guests with quick nods before devouring his piece of the pie and sipping a cup of coffee. ”Easy there, or have you turned into a hungry, hungry hippo?”
”More like a bear,” Eddy needled and growled loudly.
TJ ignored his mother and brother and turned to Bro and Lacey. ”I got a report from another park ranger. Miles has gone into the woods. We have no idea where he's gone. If he tries to camp out, we'll find him.”
Bro frowned. ”You're doing a whole Dr. Kimble manhunt 'cause that d.i.c.khead-um, guy-couldn't keep his bigoted mouth shut?”
TJ shook his head and swallowed down his pie before speaking. ”Nah. Since we've been keeping an eye on him, we saw him vandalize a vehicle at another car park nearby. He went off into the woods before he could be apprehended. That guy's bad news all right.”
Lacey was worried, and she bit her lower lip, anxious. ”Is he dangerous?”
With an increase of pressure, Bro kept a fierce hold of Lacey's hand. ”I won't let him hurt you, babe. Not in a million years.”
”Should we get a room at a motel, or something?” Lacey knew she sounded like a frightened child or, dare she say it, a girl. The trouble was she had history with physical abuse, and violence made her shudder deep down inside, even after all this time of being safe with Bro and his family. Their Their family. ”Bro....” Her voice trailed off. family. ”Bro....” Her voice trailed off.
With that one word, Bro obviously knew how she felt, even though he usually wasn't the type to back down. ”If it'll make you feel better, we can check into a lodge nearby.”
Why was violence, from family or strangers, always going to ruin her life? No way, not this time, she decided. ”No, it's all right. This is our vacation. No one's going to make me tuck in my tail and run. Not anymore.”
Irwin frowned. ”I take it there's a story behind there.” When neither Lacey nor Bro had an explanation to offer, he simply nodded. ”TJ will take care of you, no matter what you decide.”
Lacey was grateful. There were still good and decent people around, though it was hard to remember sometimes. ”Thank you kindly.”
”No need to thank us,” Beth said with a smile. ”You've given us the gift of music, and I for one couldn't have imagined a better way to spend the day.”
WHEN Lacey and Bro returned to their car and drove back to their tent, the evening was well under way. They had spent the whole afternoon with the Hudson family, sans TJ, who had to return to work, and it had been a great day making new friends. Lacey and Bro returned to their car and drove back to their tent, the evening was well under way. They had spent the whole afternoon with the Hudson family, sans TJ, who had to return to work, and it had been a great day making new friends.
The moment the tent flaps opened and Lacey was able to climb inside her sleeping bag, she fell into a stupor of exhaustion. Thankfully, Bro remained to guard her, or so she thought when she felt the covers being drawn up to cover her back as she lay on her stomach.
She dreamt of feverish images of romps through the woods with a naked Bro giving her chase, a maddeningly smug laughter echoing through the lush, tropical vegetation.
When she awoke an hour or so later, she was confused, and not in the least because she couldn't recall if the gigantic G.o.d of muscle-bound delight called Bro had caught her in the dream and rammed his gargantuan d.i.c.k inside her.
In any case, she was a sweaty, trembling heap as she sat up and stared around with bleary eyes, searching for her guy-who was nowhere in sight.
”Bro...?” Lacey called out, but no one answered. Though slightly concerned, she was sure she was overreacting. He must have gone to take a shower or something. Lacey was certain he would be back soon.
Groggy and stiff all over, she groaned as she got out of the tent and straightened up, pressing her hands on her lower back to help with the task. The stars had risen, and she checked on her cell phone, tucked into her pocket, and saw the time was 8:33 p.m. There was a light mist hanging above the ground and woven into the foliage.
”Hey.”
She turned around, expecting Bro, but came face to face with Miles, the bigoted jerk.
Stunned into silence, Lacey backed up a step instinctively. ”W-what do you want?”
Miles grinned, and his gaze wandered over her body. ”What's the matter, little girl? The company of a real man scares you?”
Lacey felt her belly tighten into a heavy knot, but her rage also stirred inside her, the spark kindling into a flame. ”Funny. I don't see any real men when I look at you.”
Miles's smile vanished, and a vicious snarl replaced it. ”Watch that f.u.c.king mouth of yours, little she-boy.”
”Make me.” Lacey wasn't as tall or heavy as Miles, but she was fast and strong in a way that violent man could never understand. To get up, dress up like a girl, and leave the house every day to face ridicule, hate, and even the threat of violence was a feat few of these so-called real men could do. Oh yes, Lacey was as powerful within as they came.
Closing the gap between them in a flurry of movement, Miles made to grab at her arms. Lacey's foot came up swiftly and she kicked him in the knee. He fell down on the other knee, shouting vehemently.
”You f.u.c.king b.i.t.c.h!”
What Lacey kept to herself was the martial arts training she'd received from Jordan. With that in mind, she could hold her own for a time in order to facilitate running away.