Stay- Book One The Full Circle

Trust and Truths

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Chapter 23
Trust and Truths

Adult content readers advised

Jeremy

He thinks this is all real funny. Like Adrienne and her spawn are a fucking joke. Trent spent so much time teasing me about the kid, I couldn't tell him what I knew last night. Then blondie came out and interrupted us and any chance of telling him the details was gone.

She took his priority

Trent's so brainwashed that blondie is it for him, he doesn't want to see she's gonna hurt him. Worse than Adrienne because the guy's a complete goner over her. I don't believe in love. I don't believe that there's such a thing as a soul mate. I don't believe that women tell the truth.

Not when I grew up knowing differently

Blondie was convincing, I have to give her that. She looked like shit. Bloodshot eyes, tear streaked face. Trent didn't even notice how bad it was, if he did, he made no mention of it and simply brushed me off to take care of her. Riding into the rescue like some fairytale prince.

Like she's more important than what I've got to say.

At least I got his attention long enough for him to know Adrienne did more than kill our friendship. I swear on my life, I'm gonna make up for the pain I caused him. He's all the family I've got and I'm not going to let him get burned again by Adrienne or anyone else.

Trent has called a meeting this morning before we open to finish this. He wants all of us aware of what Adrienne is doing. I guess that's smart given her past mistakes between all of us. So with coffee and bagels on the bar, we wait for Trent to come in.

Fixing my coffee, I watch Harper come in, more quiet and broody than normal. The kid's got a cob up his ass again. Not that I can't figure out what his problem is. She walked in right behind him with every bit of an attitude as he has. Avoiding eye contact and snipping at her brother.

"Will you leave me alone! I don't want to talk about it!" Frankie plops down in the back booth to stew.

"Fine! Excuse me for caring!" Mitch rolls his eyes going to the opposite end of the bar. "I really wish she'd quit PMS-ing."

Chuckling as I doctor my coffee as Harper narrows his eyes at me. "What's so funny?"

"Frankie's working your nerves again, isn't she?" The glare of death I'm receiving answers my question. "I told you to tap it and move on. She's only going to keep stringing you along until you do."

Harper bites into his bagel with a growl. "Maybe you should go back over and have a tea party with Zoe. Maybe the kid can teach you some fucking manners!"

"Yeah, I heard you and Zoe had a good time yesterday. You're her new favorite babysitter." Cole teases joining in the conversation. "Hey Jer! You've finally made a friend! I guess she's too young to account for taste. Hey maybe she can teach you some manners!"

"I'm not her friend! I am not going to be watching that kid again!" Grumbling under my breath, I walk away from the refreshments. "And I don't need to take any damn lessons from a kid."

The fact that the runt wormed her way into these guys' hearts pissed me off even more. Has everyone lost their damn minds around here? Am I the only one that can see this bullshit for what it really is? They're all a bunch of suckers falling for Adrienne and her offspring. I'm not even getting into blondie and now Frankie tying Harper into knots.

Am I the only sane one left?

"Okay let's get this started! Jeremy you said that you think Adrienne had something to do with the fire that killed my parents. Explain." Trent comes in clapping his hands together with a grimace on his face. Matching perfectly the rest of the idiots in the room.