Caught in Us (Caught Series Book 4) by Kacey Shea (free e books to read TXT) 📕

By the time I cut the engine and walk through the yard, I’ve convinced myself tonight isn’t the time to come clean.

As I suspected, she’s not in the guest house. I drop my wallet and keys on the counter, then give Paws some love before making my way across the yard to Jill and Cam’s place. “Knock, knock,” I say, stepping through the back door.

“In here!” Jill calls from the front room. She and Julia are seated on the floor around the coffee table, tying twine onto oversized, skeleton keys.

“What are those for?” I lift my brows, staring at Jill. “You buy stock in a fleet of castle doors?”

She rolls her eyes. “No, dumbass.” She holds one up and smiles sarcastically. “It’s the key to my heart.”

Cam struts into the room, clasping my shoulder as he passes me to snag the key from Jill’s hand. “Got it.”

She laughs. “Yeah, you do.”

“Oh, that’s interesting.” He furrows his brow as he studies the tag attached to the key. “It also works as a key to my dick.”

Jill groans as Cam laughs.

Julia sneaks a glance at me and smiles, her gaze filled with interest. “Does it work on brothers? Because I might need to take one of these with me.”

“Not until the wedding,” Jill warns, but there’s humor in her tone. “Fuck. Why did I think it would be a good idea to make all this shit? No one gives a fuck about these mementos, and my back hurts.” She rolls her head from one shoulder to the other.

Cam slides behind her, taking a seat on the couch. “I’ve got you.” He kneads his thumbs into the muscles of her shoulders.

She lets loose a sigh, her eyes closing at the apparent relief. “Yes. Don’t stop.”

“I think that’s our cue.” Julia winks my way, then finishes tying a knot and setting one of her keys into the pile of completed party favors. “Call me if you need help tomorrow.” Julia stands and walks to my side.

“Thanks. I will,” Jill says to her, then looks to me. “And thank you. Seriously, you’re my hero after today.”

“Hey!” Cam whines.

Jill’s shoulders shake with contained laughter. “Don’t worry, babe. I’m still marrying you on Saturday.”

“Night.” I raise my hand, then head out, following behind Julia as she leads the way back to my place. “Did you eat yet?” I ask once we’re outside and out of earshot. “I didn’t know you were coming by tonight, but I can order takeout.”

“No, I’m good.” She walks through my door and holds it open for me. “I ate after work.”

I walk to the kitchen and fill a glass of water just to have something to do with my hands. “Want a drink?” Now that we’re alone my nerves surge forward full force. I swear she can read the anxiety on my face.

“No, thanks.” She pulls out one of the barstools and watches me, staring a little too long. “How’d it go today?”

Kissed my ex. Found out I’m a father. “Fine.” Anything but fine.

“Does Jill have you running errands tomorrow too?” Julia’s gaze is on her phone screen, scrolling through her feed as she waits for my answer.

Worry tightens my throat as I prepare to feed her another lie by omission. I don’t know if Jill needs me tomorrow, but my day is booked. I’m taking my son to a museum. “I think so. We’ve got that movie night at the teen center, so I won’t be done until late.”

“Oh, that’s right.” She nods, her finger sliding along the screen of her cell. “Alicia was nice.”

Fuck. For a moment I think she must know everything, but when she doesn’t say anything else or even meet my gaze, I remember she’s probably just commenting from when she stopped by during lunch. “Oh, yeah.” I turn my back to open the freezer to grab a few ice cubes, and to avoid her gaze.

“You sure the two of you never hooked up?”

I freeze, then peer over my shoulder to see Julia isn’t even looking my way. The casual tone of her words doesn’t scream jealous girlfriend, but one can never be too careful. I infuse lightness in my voice and force a laugh. “Why do you say that?”

I never told Julia about Alicia, or how we hooked up my summer in Kitty Hawk. The only person who knows is my therapist. I think Cam suspected, but he never came out and asked, so I never offered. It would have put him in an awkward place with Jill, and maybe that’s why it always stayed a secret. But the reason I never told Julia? That’s simple. In my experience, girlfriends don’t like to hear about past girlfriends, even when they act as though they’d be okay with it.

“Just something Jill said.” Julia laughs, shaking her head as she meets my gaze.

I study her face but find no alarm or discord. She’s not even ruffled by it. “What’s that?”

She rolls her eyes and laughs, setting her phone down on the counter before standing and walking over to loop her arms around my waist. “Said her little boy looks like a mini version of you. Well, as much as any handsome little boy with dark hair and dark eyes would.” She shrugs, her body relaxed with her smile. “I mean, I know it’s not true, but I’m curious to see him now. Must be a handsome kid.”

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Julia might think it’s a joke now, but she’s not stupid. When she sees Alicia and Matthew at the wedding, she’ll put two and two together. She just will.

My chest feels tight. I can’t relax. There’s not enough air. My thoughts. This house. Julia’s arms around me. They all feel suffocating. I can’t spend the rest of the night acting as if everything’s normal when my entire world’s been turned upside down.

I glance away from Julia and catch the time off the microwave. “I’m going to a meeting.”

“Now?” Julia’s eyebrows lift. She’s supportive of my recovery steps, and is