Edge of the Blade (Bryant Rockwell Book 4) Page 3

  “Hey, Jude. What are you doing here so early?” He rubbed sleep from his eyes as he answered the door.

  “I slept over at Kat’s last night. We went to see Liam’s band and he called us on stage to back the band for a couple of songs.”

  “Sounds awesome. Come in and tell all.”

  She followed him into the kitchen and he started making tea without prompting. As he clicked the kettle switch to boil the water, she remembered her main purpose. “Later, maybe. Paddy told us about your fight with Jimmy and Dave. I wanted to make sure you were ok.”

  “Sure. I got a nasty kick in the balls – oh, I mean ...” He searched around for a more delicate word but she ushered him on.

  “I was dead annoyed we had to let them go, but they’re both seasoned street fighters, and they had nothing to lose by fighting dirty. Dave, especially, is such a nasty little runt we couldn’t have hung onto him if our lives depended on it.”

  Dramatic overkill much? “I guess if he’s gonna target your crown jewels …”

  Luke shared her grin for a second before getting serious. “I’m only worried about Liv, in case Jimmy goes after her again. Paddy seems to think he won’t, but I’m not so sure. He won’t like being made a fool of.”

  “What do you mean? Surely the only person who made a fool of him was himself?” She watched him add the perfect amount of milk.

  “Possibly. All right, whatever you call it, he doesn’t like to lose. We’ve got to make extra sure she never goes anywhere on her own.”

  “She doesn’t normally; there’s always one of us around. Apart from the last couple of streets from my house to hers.”

  “What about when she goes running? He knows where she runs.” He brought the mugs over to the table and they sat.

  “Yeah, you’re right. I hadn’t thought of that. I could always go with her. Extra stamina training will help with this competition coming up.” She took his hand, her smile rueful. “Listen, I probably won’t be able to see much of you until it’s over. I’ll be practising almost every day, before and after school. And at the weekends.”

  He said nothing, but his expression clouded.

  She’d always known this would be difficult. “I’m really sorry, but it’s only for a few weeks. I’ll still see you at school.”

  “When you’re not in detention or trying to catch up on homework.” He pulled his hand away to grab an extra spoonful of sugar. “Great. We finally get together and within days you have a better offer.”

  She expected this kind of reaction and had her answer prepared. “It would be the same if you had a rugby tour. Except you’d be miles away for at least a week.”

  “True, but it’s not likely to happen for a year or so.”

  As he sipped his tea, she tried to think of something to lessen the blow, but he shrugged it off with a new topic.

  “Wonder how Ray’s getting on today. I bet his ma will have him straight round the physio working out a plan to get him back on his feet again. I’m dead chuffed for him; he must have hated not being able to do any sports for all these months. He was quite a jock you know.”

  “Yeah, Liv mentioned the trophies in his front room.” Jude hadn’t finished with her problem; she wanted him to know she wasn’t deserting him. She’d put some thought into how they could grab some time together. “You could always come along to the rink with me and give me a bit of help. Bernie can’t make all the extra sessions so I’ll need someone to operate the tape and stuff.”

  “Maybe. I can’t wait for him to be fully mobile. He’d make a great quarterback with those shoulders; it’d be good having him on the team.”

  “Bernie would make a great ...? Oh, you’re talking about Ray again. Have you heard anything I’ve been saying?”

  “Sure. You need to do extra sessions so you can’t see me.”

  “Is that all you have to say about it?” She’d hoped for a little more involvement on his part, or at least a sign he’d miss her.

  “Yeah.” A tiny shrug. “What else do you want me to say?”

  That you give a damn. About me. About us. All manner of responses flew around Jude’s head, but she couldn’t manage to voice any of them.

  His eyes narrowed. “Is this about the commitment thing they were pushing in the sports seminar at Liverpool? Are you telling me you want to break it off with me?”

  “What? No. I’m not saying anything of the kind.” As her brain imploded, she took a deep breath, trying to regain control. “Is that what you want? To break it off?”

  “No, I don’t think so.”

  “You don’t think so?” Jude’s rage could have lit candles as her mind equated his lack of interest with that of her dad. Unreasonable rage drove her words. “I come round here to find out how you are and to ask for some help with my training and all you can do is talk about Liv and Ray, and anyone but me. And now you want to quit.” She rose abruptly, knocking the table and spilling her untouched tea.

  “Well, thank you, Luke Harper. It’s good to know what kind of support I can expect from you.” She stomped off back to Kat’s, leaving him shaking his head with a totally inappropriate look of amusement.

  4 Guys = Infuriating

  “So how’s my soulful songbird this morning?” Liam entered the kitchen and swiped the mug of tea Kat had just finished pouring.

  Tutting, she poured another mug. “Fine. I really enjoyed last night. It’s a shame it all had to end so badly.”

  “Those lads? You don’t want to take much notice of them; they were a bit drunk.”

  “No, I mean the thing with Liv and Jimmy Parr. I can’t wait to call her and find out what went on. It’s a bit early; she may not be up, yet.” She sipped her tea. “It was lucky Paul was looking out for her and Luke was home when he rang.”

  “Yeah, what a hero. Flying in to rescue the damsel in distress.”

  Kat looked at him sharply; was he taking the Mick? His voice definitely had a nasty edge to it. No, she must have imagined it. “Mind you, he couldn’t have done it without Paddy.”

  “Yeah, it’s a good job Paddy was at home or they’d never have got there in time. He was supposed to be coming to the gig but he pulled a late shift he couldn’t cancel.” He slid her a glance. “It’s a shame; he would have enjoyed it. He likes some of the Celtic rock stuff we do. Still, he should be able to make it to the next gig.”

  “Of course the one really good thing to come out of last night was that Ray actually stood. Totally amazing. I hope it means he’ll be able to walk again, it would be so cool.”

  “Yep. It’s a good result for the lad.”

  Kat couldn’t imagine why he was staring at her, so she ignored it. “Liv will be ecstatic. Not that she’s ever complained, or dissed him for being in a chair, but they’ll be able to do so much more together: dancing, ice skating – all the things he’s been left out of.”

  “You’ll not be a wee bit jealous yourself, now he’s walking? I thought you had a soft spot for him.”

  “Yeah, he’s a really nice guy and drop-dead gorgeous, but he’s a tad scary. Way too bright for a girl like me.” Before she had time to process his implication, Jude burst in with a furious expression on her face.

  “Why do guys have to be so infuriating?” She glared at Liam and he got up from the table holding up his hands in surrender.

  Kat listened patiently, sympathising with her friend as she poured out her conversation with Luke.

  “It felt like the whole time he never heard a thing I said; he just carried on with his own conversation as though I hadn’t spoken.”

  “Yeah, I know what you mean. It’s as though nothing you’ve got to say could possibly be important, and they carry on with what they’re saying. Rory does that to me all the time.” She told Jude about Liam’s insinuation she’d only fancy Ray if he wasn’t in a chair.

  “That’s an awful thing to say.”

  “He didn’t exactly say it, but it’s what he implied.” With a shake of her head, she focusse
d back on Jude’s problem. “So where does this leave you and Luke? Are you finished or what?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Do you want to finish with him?”

  “No, of course not. He’s the only guy I know who makes me feel like a girl and not like some sort of surrogate lad. Oh God, Kat. What if he thinks it’s over and starts going out with someone else?”

  “Like who exactly?”

  “Oh I don’t know; loads of girls fancy him. Look at Diana, throwing herself at him last month.”

  “As if. But if you’re worried, you should go round and sort it out.”

  “I can’t do that; it would look like I was grovelling. And anyway, I’m still mad at him; he ought to learn how to listen occasionally.”

  “Come on Jude, be fair. He does normally. Perhaps you’re a bit testy, what with the competition and everything.”

  “Testy? What do you mean, testy?”

  “Grouchy, irritable, short-fused. You get very single-minded and focussed. I know it’s what you need to do, but it puts a big strain on you. You’re definitely not your normal, fun-loving self.”

  Jude went quiet for a second; then she got up and left the room.

  Kat sighed and followed her upstairs. “Don’t go in a mood; all I meant ...”

  “I’m not in a mood. I need to go home.” Jude stuffed things into her bag.

  “Paddy can drop you off.”

  “No, it’s alright. I’ll walk; I want to be alone so I can think.”

  “You can think all you like after you get home. But you can’t walk two miles with all that gear.”

  “It’s only my night stuff; it’s not heavy. I’ll manage.”

  Kat hugged her awkwardly. “At least don’t go off in a huff, I can’t bear for us not to be friends.”

  Jude stiffened immediately, then relaxed and hugged her back. “You are a great softy; of course I’m still your friend. You’re right, I do go a bit crazy when I’m training hard; it’s so important to me. The trouble is, Luke is really single-minded, too. I don’t want to lose him before we’ve ... when we’ve only just got together.”

  “I’m sure he’ll understand. It’s not like he doesn’t spend every spare minute playing rugby, football and any other sport, is it?”

  “Yeah, I’m sure you're right. Cheers, Kat, I’ll see you.”

  Kat returned to her tea, trying to wrap her mind around the three fraught relationships. Moments later, a knock sounded. With a smile, she bounded out and opened the door. “What did you forget? Oh. Hi, Luke.”

  He followed her through to the kitchen. “Is Jude still here?”

  “No, she left five minutes ago; insisted on walking home.”

  Shaking his head at the offered tea, he leant against the counter. “So she stomped out on you, too. What did you say to her?”

  “I tried to tell her she was being sensitive because of the competition and you probably ...”

  “No, it was my fault, I should have realised.” Luke owned his part in the spat. “I get a bit like that myself, especially at, like, the end of the season when the pressure’s on. I guess I was still too wound up after last night. It was amazing; Ray actually stood up. I mean, that’s like – almost a miracle.” He shook his head. “I wanted to talk about it, but she kept going on about extra practices and stuff.”

  Before Kat could say anything he carried on, trying to justify his position. “Ok, I know this skating thing’s important to her, but it’s not every day your best friend gets up out of his wheelchair and walks. Even if it was only a step or two.”

  She nodded, completely understanding the massive impact of this incident. “Talking of best friends, I must call Liv and find out how she is. Apart from being eternally grateful to you and Paddy.”

  “And Paul. I’m so glad he came through for us. Reading between the lines, I reckon he regrets the whole Dark Angels thing. Maybe this will give him the incentive to leave.” He prowled around the table like a slightly miffed bear. “He’s been saying for a while how he’s sick of the attitudes of some of them. Especially Dave, he’s much worse since I left; always trying to prove himself as real badass.”

  “Yeah, Paul’s worth so much more than being Parr’s stooge.” Kat waited, but the unusual torrent of words seemed finally to have dried up, and he looked vaguely distracted.

  She tried a subject change. “So, you’re not breaking up with Jude?”

  “No way. I’ll let her stew in her own juices for a while and maybe give her a bell tonight. Or I might leave it ’til Monday at school.”

  “You can’t do that; she’ll be in bits.”

  “No more than she deserves.” His wink said he didn’t really mean it.

  Kat grinned, glad to see his mood lightening. “She’ll probably never speak to you again.”

  “Who cares, I’ll still have my favourite girl next door.” He grabbed her in a bear hug, twirling her around. “Or there’s always Liv; you did say she was eternally grateful.” He plonked a kiss on the end of her nose then released her, disappearing out of the back door with a cheeky grin.

  Liam exploded into the room. “I can’t understand why all you girls are drooling over the big jock; he treats you like shite.”

  “What are you on about?” She reeled from his fury.

  “First he’s two-timing Jude with you. Now she’s dumped him, he’s all prepared to take Liv on as well. And he even has the nerve to tell you about it. What a player. I reckon he must have something powerful stuffed in that box of his.”

  Kat stared in astonishment. “Gross. No need to be so crude. Anyway, you’ve got it all wrong. I’ve never even kissed him – apart from one time before he started going out with Jude. But we both decided we’d rather stay friends.” She frowned. “He hasn’t finished with her, and he certainly wouldn’t two-time her. Especially not with her best friends.”

  “So what was all the stuff about ‘No more than she deserves’ and ‘I’ll still have my favourite girl-next-door?’ And I saw him kiss you.”

  “You were spying on us?”

  “I came to get some water, but I heard you talking and didn’t want to interrupt your little tryst. I peeked in and saw you in his arms; it looked pretty cosy to me.”

  “Luke’s always been affectionate; it’s one of his most endearing traits. But I told you, it’s a brother-sister thing.”

  “So all those times he came over here or you were at his place?” Liam stalked to the fridge and slammed the button so the iced water splashed everywhere but in the glass.

  “Doing homework or rehearsing for Bugsy. Yeah, I guess we were together a lot, but you were there, too, most times. I thought you liked him. You certainly seemed to get on ok when we went to Stratford.”

  He shook the water off his hand and mopped up the spill. “That was the tough bit. I liked the guy and he was no threat, ’cos he and Jude were an item.”

  “No threat? What are you on about?”

  Pouring a glassful properly, he continued as if she hadn’t spoken. “Then you were in each other’s pockets for a while and you were both so touchy-feely I was convinced you were seeing him. But these last few weeks it all seemed to cool down. I figured you’d had a row and broken it off.” He took a long gulp of the water, and approached her, putting the glass down on the counter where she stood. “Until I saw you just now. I wanted to punch his lights out.”

  Kat took a deep breath and shook her head. “I don’t understand. I thought it was all over between us.” She dropped her gaze. “That you weren’t interested in me in that way. You’ve never given a clue until now. Last summer I...”

  “After what nearly happened on your last day, I didn’t dare go near you. It’s called statutory rape if you’re under sixteen. I was prepared to act like another big brother until you were old enough – or ready.”

  “I was ready then,” Kat mumbled.

  He caught her shoulders. “Oh, Kat. You’ve no idea how it’s been eating away at me, seeing you with him a
nd thinking you and he were ...” He pulled her to him and demonstrated exactly what he thought they’d been doing.

  When he finally surfaced for air, she smiled up at him. “I thought you didn’t want anything to do with me because you had someone at college.”

  “I came skating a couple of times.” His tone smacked of justification.

  “Yeah, but it wasn’t like a proper date with everyone else there.”

  “You don’t seem to be getting the message. It’s hard enough living in the same house when you’re like my little sis. Never knowing when you’re going to come out of the bathroom wearing nothing but a towel, fresh and clean from the shower.”

  “It only happened once.” A blush touched her cheek, and so did he.

  “Trust me, that image will stay for the rest of my life. Knowing what your bedroom looks like, I can imagine you getting ready for bed every night and see every detail ...” His face went quite dreamy for a moment.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make your life so hard.” Naughty Kat, the girl she wished she could be, grinned. “Pun intended.”

  “Minx.” With a groan, he kissed her again; this time, short and sweet. Grabbing his glass, he took a gulp of water then led her to the table where they sat. “Think how much harder it would be if we were going out together. What would your mum and dad say, for starters? They’d think I was taking advantage and boot me out of here so fast my feet wouldn’t touch the ground.”

  “So we don’t tell them.”

  “Oh, yeah. Do you think I could look them in the eye if I was besmirching their darling daughter?”

  “Besmirching?”

  “It’s a lot nicer than screwing.”

  “Couldn’t we just like, go out and kiss and hold hands?”

  He looked at her sideways. “Haven’t you been listening? I can barely keep my hands off you now. Sooner or later you’ll be sixteen ...”

  “Not ’til next year.”

  He made a face. “You think I don’t know exactly how many months? At which point I’ll be more than tempted to ask and you might say yes.”