Falling for my Best Friend - (Cedarwood Book 1)

Lifeline

Kilian

When my alarm started blaring this morning, all I wanted to do was grab the clock and huck it out the window. It can’t possibly be time to get up yet, I feel like I just went to bed.

My brother, Nolan, got arrested last night. True to form, he used his one phone call on me, his seventeen-year-old kid brother who doesn’t have a job or a car. In its own way, I guess it made sense because my father has been missing in action lately.

Some mornings he’s in the kitchen before I go to school but we don’t talk much. Even when he’s been gone for a week or so, I know he is alive because somehow the house is clean and there is food in the fridge. I’m not doing it and I know Nolan wouldn’t even try. Even though Dad seems to check in, it essentially seems like he has moved out.

Last night when Nolan called I was desperate for Dad’s help but no amount of texts or missed calls were getting through to him. This is the usual routine so it was more frustrating than worrying. I felt trapped; I couldn’t exactly go bail my brother out of jail on my bike with the change in my piggy bank.

Once I gave up on getting a hold of Dad, I called Wren, and I don’t even know why. I think it’s because in all my bad times she was the one who was there throwing me a lifeline. At the same time, what did I think she was going to do for me?

Maybe I just needed to hear her voice so I could breathe. We’ve been through so much together and I just needed her presence. She answered on the first ring and after I spouted out a ridiculous string of words without stopping to think, she told me to come over for dinner.

She assured me over and over again that we would figure this out together. How could I turn that down? Not only is Wren the best friend I’ve ever had but she is the best person I’ve ever known too.

I pulled on my combat boots and was out the door before she even finished her sentence.

It was a short bike ride to her house, past a park then rows and rows of cookie-cutter houses with manicured lawns. It’s a route I know well because I’ve been taking it almost every day since I was twelve.

Wren’s house is like a second home to me. After my mom passed away it was nice to be in a house with a mom, home-cooked dinner, and nice feminine touches around the house like flowers and place mats.

My relationship with my father went to pieces when he waited all of two months after my mom’s passing to come out as gay and start bringing guys around all the time. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t have a problem with him being gay. Maybe it would have been a little less shocking if he waited a little longer to tell me. This probably would have hurt just as bad if he was bringing women around that quickly after losing mom.

So even though I don’t always like the way Wren’s dad treats her and Quin, it is nice to be around a dad too, to be around a family that still seemed, for better or for worse, intact.

Wrenny greeted me at the front door with a quick squeeze and she whispered, “Breathe.”

I kind of forgot to do that, I didn’t realize how flushed my face was or how fast I’d been riding my bike to get there. I let out a long breath I didn’t know I was holding, as I looked into Wren’s saucer-like blue eyes and almost immediately felt better. She’s my best friend, that’s why, it’s not because lately every time we make eye contact I feel all warm and fuzzy. Definitely not.

The house smelled like Thanksgiving; the savory smell of a wholesome meal that makes my belly growl. A warm glow beamed from the dining room as if it was beckoning me to my feast.

Before I could get to the table, Quin wrapped her arms around my waist. She is fundamentally my little sister too. Weirdly, she’s twelve now; I never really thought she looked like Wren but now I see it a little. They both have eyes the color of sapphires and red hair. Wren has been tinting her hair darker since we started high school, but Quin’s is still a more natural ginger red.

“What is going on?” Wren exclaimed, jolting me out of the moment.

Before I could answer, Wren’s mom, Cara, came out of the kitchen and squeezed my shoulders. The McCauley women all sort of look alike I suppose. Cara has the same face shape as Quin and the same red hair.

“Give him space baby, let’s get him fed and we’ll figure this out,” Cara said in a calming way as she ushered us all toward the table.

I loaded up my plate with roasted chicken, green beans, mashed potatoes, and a fresh roll. It was like heaven, no one ever cooks anything at my house besides the occasional frozen pizza, so this is a real treat.

Before I dove into my food, Wren’s dad Shane joined us at the table. He’s tall and slender, wrinkled more than he should be for his age and has tufts of salt and pepper hair on his head.

He is a very religious man; we always have to pray before we eat. I didn’t mind doing it, it’s a respect thing. Everyone grabbed hands around the table and instead of holding onto Wren’s soft hand in the gentle, nervous way I usually do; I shifted my fingers in between Wren’s to entwine our hands.

At first, I did it because I needed more than a limp little handhold right then. Once it happened it felt like things were sliding into place. I felt an electric spark come from her fingers, but there is no way of knowing whether she felt it too. Of course, besides asking her, there is no way I could do that. I’m pretty sure I’m going to hell for getting that excited during a mealtime prayer.

After Shane finished blessing the food, we ate. The meal passed pleasantly and even though I was anxious about my brother, it was nice to take a little bit of time to just exist. I was thankful for the quiet, casual talk and the delicious meal I was consuming.

“I’ve got the dishes,” I said as I stood up and started collecting everyone’s plates.

I don’t mind letting the McCauleys help me out but I won’t be a mooch so I’ll help out with the dishes. I always try to be a good guest when I’m over, and it’s not the first time I’ve offered to pitch in.

“I’ll help,” Quin announced as she followed me to the kitchen.

Shortly after I filled the sink, we were joined by the rest of the family in the kitchen.

“No need, son, you’ve got bigger things to worry about,” Shane insisted as he rolled up his sleeves and herded me towards the bar counter to sit down. “What’s this about your brother?”

Wren joined me at the bar counter and leaned her face in her hands. “It’s okay, I already told them.”

“Nolan is in jail, I can’t bail him out on my bike, and besides I don’t have the money. I’m only seventeen and I don’t even know why this is my problem, but my father isn’t answering his cell.” It poured out of me like a confession, but I felt a weight lifted off my shoulders.

Cara looped her arm around Quin and headed out of the kitchen like she didn’t want her to hear what was coming next, but Shane just looked at me and Wren and without hesitation grabbed his keys, tossed them towards me, and said, “Go get the truck warmed up, I’m grabbing my wallet and I’ll meet you out there.”

The car ride went by in a blur and before I knew it we were downtown. Inside the station Shane did all the talking, and Wren just stood by me. The place was pretty typical, the bottom half of the wall was painted dark green as if to add some color. I suppose it was effective because it’s the only color in the space.

I couldn’t help enjoying the fact that Wren was inching closer every time a shady character walked by. I never know when it’s appropriate to touch her anymore. I didn’t even think about it before but now that I’ve started to feel attracted to her, I overthink it every time.

After waiting for what seemed like hours, my brother was escorted out. Shane had taken care of everything for us. Nolan didn’t know Shane, so I’m sure he was confused when he saw the stranger that had just bailed him out.

Nolan looked tired and disheveled but other than that he was in his typical black hoodie with a sour expression on his face. I met Nolan’s eyes and nodded toward Wren.

“Got your girly friend to fix everything for you, huh asshole?” was the first thing Nolan said.

It made my blood boil. Thankfully Shane and Wren knew his reputation and everything we’d been through. I was hoping maybe they would cut him some slack Even though he was acting like an ass.

“I think you owe Mr. McCauley an apology and a thank you,” I said through gritted teeth while I clenched my fists at my sides.

“Thank you,” Nolan huffed.

“No need, you boys will work it off this weekend, we’re building a gazebo, see you bright and early on Saturday,” Shane said authoritatively.

This made me feel so relieved, I was already trying to figure out how I would make this up to Shane but he had a plan. I love building things with Shane. He’s taught me so much. His father was a woodworker and he has every tool imaginable that has been passed down to him.

However, my relief was short-lived when Nolan piped in, “We’ll see about that.”

My brother outweighs me by at least fifty pounds, and he’s a bit taller than me, just enough to look down on me. Still, I couldn’t believe how disrespectful he was being so I stepped forward and shoved him as hard as I could in the chest.

“Watch it, pipsqueak!” he threatened.

Shane handed his keys to Wren and said, “Wren, take Kilian to the car, you two are in the back, I need to have a word with Nolan.”

There was no room for questioning with his tone. Wren wrapped her hand around my wrist and pulled lightly towards the door. I followed because I didn’t know what else to do. As Shane and Nolan squared off I couldn’t help wondering who would win that fight.