Beyond Reason

Chapter 8: Suspicions

~Keenan~

I don't know what I was doing when I walked into this kitchen, knowing fully well that Joey was in here doing dishes and that I'm supposed to be staying away from her this period.

I can't get the look I saw on her face out of my head. I have no idea what I want from her right now, but I definitely didn't come to get water, so I stand for a few seconds before finally speaking.

"Hey."

"Hey, Keenan."

Alright, fuck it.

I grab her hand and tug her to the end of he kitchen behind the large fridge. I need to get this apology off my chest before I get a stroke.

"What are you doing?!" She whispers, "Aren't you supposed to be out on a stroll?"

"I am. I just wanted to tell you I'm sorry." I rip the bandaid off. "I couldn't apologise earlier because I haven't been able to get you alone."

It's been hard dodging her all day, from when she newly showed up and said hello, to when she sat at the kitchen island, reading smut out loud for her friends, to when she sat outside to eat and I couldn't get my eyes off her for longer than five minutes.

Her eyes soften as the words leave me, and she seems visibly relieved as she nods. "It's okay, it's all in the...past."

Okay, good. She forgives you. Now walk away.

I truly never meant for her to get hurt. I don't know if I'd have been pissed if anyone else had been on the other end of fresh GHB, but it's Joey I'm talking about. The same girl I've imagined being in this exact position with since day one: our foreheads several inches apart due to height differences, but the distance between our eyes seeming to grow less and less with every second we spend beside this extra large fridge. To complete the dream so real, this feels like déjà vu, I lift a hand and tuck a lock of her blonde hair behind her ear. "Goodnight, Jo."

I can take advantage of watching everything she does like she's a never ending movie, but whether I like it or not, it's all we are. She's the jewel in the secured glass cabinet, and I'm the thief who can gaze at it all day but can only ever dream of having it.

"Yeah, goodnight," she says, her top lip shivering slightly, whether with nerves or fear, I'm not sure.

I pull back and let her go, remembering my words to the others to be right out. If I waste any more time here, they'll either leave or hurry me up, both of which will lead to suspicion. If it were anything else, I wouldn't care, but the last thing I want anyone here thinking of Joey is that she's sneaking around with me, or that I have any kind of designs on her.

It won't be a hard impression to build, considering Brett, Wyatt and Vincent look at Joey like she hung the moon, and those who don't have designs on her are either her family or close friends.

When I return to the guys, they're leaning on a wall, blowing smoke and waiting.

"Ready?" Brett asks.

"Where are we going again?" I ask, throwing the hood of my jacket over my head.

"The house across the Lake is occupied. We're gonna go check for any nice tits in there." Brett winks at me.

"Don't be an asshole," Tayo says. "Gentlemanliness from all of us or we might end up scaring them away."

"Speak for yourself," Kevin says from Vin's other side, adjusting his button up. "I'm not scary in the slightest."