The Curse of Redwood (Ivy Grove #2) - Jaclyn Osborn Page 0,76
not.
“I can’t say, but maybe he’ll eventually tell you.”
“Is it you?” he asked, narrowing his hazel eyes.
“Hell no. We’re just friends.”
Taylor nodded and took a drink.
“What’s it matter to you anyway? I thought you had the hots for Callum.”
“I do,” he answered, the smile returning to his lips. “But he’s not into me I don’t think. It’s cool, though. Doesn’t mean I can’t check him out. The boy’s good eye candy.”
I smiled at the ease in which Taylor admitted that.
“Why are you smiling?” he asked.
“It’s just awesome to hear you talk about it like it’s no big deal.” I looked over as the waitress approached to ask what I wanted to drink. “Coffee, please. Could we also get another one? Our friend will be here soon. Oh, and some hazelnut creamer.”
“You got it,” she said, before heading toward the kitchen.
“Shit,” Taylor said under his breath. “There’s Ben. How does he always look so hot?”
Ben caught my eye and walked through the café toward our booth. His bangs were fixed in a messy style, and his sweater hugged his upper body in a way that used to make me drool. Taylor, apparently, drooled enough for the both of us. He couldn’t take his eyes off the guy.
I suspected he was mainly drawn to Ben because of his fanboy nature. Ben was his hero in a way. Add Ben’s good looks on top of that, and anyone would be smitten.
“Good morning,” Ben said, as he reached us. He slid onto the seat beside me just as the waitress returned with our drinks. Once she left again, he nodded to Taylor, then looked at me. “You going to tell us why we’re here?”
“I’m doing good. Thanks, Ben,” I said, rolling my eyes. “You’re so awesome to ask.”
He pinched the bridge of his nose. “It’s too early for your smart mouth, Carter. I haven’t had coffee yet.”
“Drink up then, buddy.” I pushed his cup toward him. “Because what I’m about to tell you guys will probably shock you.” I looked at Taylor. “Well, more so with you. Ben already knows most of it.”
Taylor nervously glanced between the two of us. “Okay. What is it?”
And there goes my nerve. Cowardly Carter should be my new name.
“Not to keep you hanging in suspense, but is it cool if we order first? I’m starving.”
When the waitress came back around, Ben and I ordered the breakfast platter of eggs, sausage, and pancakes, while Taylor ordered a Belgian waffle and bacon. Once we were alone, I leaned forward on the table, meeting Taylor’s eye.
“Before I start, I just want to say I’m sorry for keeping it from you for so long. I didn’t know how to tell you… or if you’d even believe me if I did.”
And then I told him everything, starting from the night I’d first met Zeke in the ballroom after Ben’s book signing. I skimped over the details of Halloween night when Zeke and I had fucked each other’s brains out in my house, but I explained how I’d started having nightmares and feeling the pull to go back to Redwood.
The waitress brought our food, and I paused the story long enough to eat my sausage links and eggs before I dove back into it.
“I know how crazy this sounds,” I said, after telling them about the incident when Jasper chased me through the mansion with an axe. “But just bear with me. There’s more.”
“I’m still stuck on how you’ve been banging a ghost,” Taylor said a bit too loud, alerting the people in the booth behind him. He then cringed and added in a whisper, “Sorry. I just… I’m struggling here.” He scrubbed his hands over his face. “Wait. You said this Zeke guy is blond?”
“Yeah, and he…” I paused as I started to shake a little. “He knew your uncle. Zeke’s the guy Charlie wrote about.”
“Did you know he was the same guy when you and I talked about it?” Taylor asked.
Slowly, I nodded. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you at the time. Like I said, I didn’t know how to. And I hope you don’t take this the wrong way, but I was also protecting Zeke.”
“I understand.” Taylor bit off a piece of bacon and was quiet as he chewed.
“Are you mad?”
“No.” He expelled a sharp breath and rested his arms on the table. “Just trying to process everything. It’s a lot to take in.”
“What about the rest?” Ben asked. “You said there’s more.”