Boyfriends Next Door: A Contemporary Reverse Harem Romance (Boys Next Door, Book 2) Read online

“Well, he is going to be an amazing chef one day,” I say, not hiding my wide smile.

  Caleb sinks down on the sofa. “Who’d want to eat food from the son of an infamous murderer?”

  Both Zane and I freeze, turning toward him. Battle sounds are emanating from the TV, nearly bursting my eardrums, but I’m not focused on that. Caleb’s the only person who holds my attention right now.

  “Caleb,” I start.

  He sits forward, plowing his fingers through his long, blond hair. “It’s going to follow me wherever I go. I don’t even know why you’re sitting so close to me, Lia. You know what my dad did. I share his genes.”

  I rest my hand on his arm. “That doesn’t mean you’ll be a murderer.”

  “Julia and Craig keep telling me the same thing. But you have no idea how similar he and I are. We’re, like, almost the same person.”

  “That’s not true.”

  He shakes his head. “When I think of the future—being a famous chef, well known around the world, wife, kids and all that— everything turns black. Like I’ll never have those things because of the blood flowing through my veins.”

  I’m about to say something, but he goes on, “And even if I don’t end up like my dad, who’ll want to have anything to do with the son of Maxwell the Magnificent?” His hands drop from his hair. “Sorry. I don’t know where this came from. We’re supposed to have a good time. Keep you company and be here for you.”

  “We’re always thinking about the shit in our lives,” Zane says. “Our pasts will stay with us. Maybe forever. It’s hard to forget.”

  He’s right. No matter how many years pass, I doubt I’ll ever be one hundred percent comfortable with a guy. Sure the Armstrong boys have showed me that all guys aren’t jerks, but I’ll always be wary. I’ll always have a hard time trusting boys.

  My mind drifts to the almost kiss I shared with Zane a few days ago. Is that how it’ll be for the rest of my life? A guy will want to kiss me and I’ll flee like he has the plague?

  And the fact that Josh is free from juvie doesn’t help me on my quest to finally, finally let a guy into my heart.

  “But we need to push through,” Zane continues. He scoffs. “Now I’m starting to sound like all those shrinks I went to. But I guess I’d be really screwed up if not for them. Anyway, yeah. So just try to be the best version of yourself. Try to forget the past. And move on.”

  Is that why Zane doesn’t want to talk about his past? Because he’d rather forget it? As much as I want to forget my scars and Josh, I don’t think I ever will. The scars are a constant reminder. They tell me to keep going, to live on, to keep my mother’s memory alive. She died saving my life, and I’ll do whatever I can to live my life to the fullest.

  “Hey.” Zane places his hand on the right side of my face. “You okay?”

  I don’t realize I’m crying until I taste salt on my lips. Zane’s face bursts with concern and I can feel the same from Caleb. Both guys care about me so much it causes the tears to multiply and spill down my cheeks.

  “Yeah.” I drag my shirtsleeve over my eyes. “I was thinking about my mom. About my scars. Josh. Everything. I don’t want to forget the past, because the past is what keeps me going.”

  Zane stares at the wall as he mulls over my words. Caleb’s focused on the TV. He releases an empty chuckle. “I thought today was supposed to be an X-Men marathon. Yet here we sit, talking about our problems.”

  “So much for the distraction,” Zane says.

  I lean back on the sofa. “Okay, no more talking about our problems and worries. From this point forward, it’s all about Jean Grey.”

  Zane turns to me, green eyes wide. “You serious? She’s got nothing on Wolverine.”

  “Wolverine’s got nothing on her.”

  He opens his mouth to argue, when Caleb says, “You’re both wrong. Professor X is the best.”

  We go back and forth, arguing over our favorites, when there’s a knock on the door. I nearly catapult to the ceiling.

  Josh…he’s here.

  Zane must be able to read my mind because his hand slides into mine. Caleb’s gone sheet white. He knows what it’s like to have someone after him. A tremble makes its way through his body.

  Zane slowly gets to his feet. “It’s probably Aidan.”

  My body deflates, my heartbeat slowing to a normal speed. Caleb’s face is still white and I notice his hands, that rest on the sofa, shake.

  Zane gives us a reassuring nod before inching toward the door. The bell rings, and I once again nearly shoot to the ceiling. Caleb rests his hand on my shoulder, his chest heaving.

  “Maybe he found us,” he mutters under his breath. “No idea how, but…”

  “Your dad?” I whisper.

  He nods, squeezing his eyes shut. “I put you in danger. Lia, I’m so—”

  “About time you showed up,” Zane says from the door. “Had fun doing whatever?”

  Aidan doesn’t respond as he enters the living room. As soon as his chocolate brown eyes meet mine, they light up. “Hey.”

  “Hi.”

  He glances at the movie. “Love this part.” He flops down next to me in Zane’s spot and shoves his hand into the popcorn bowl, hauling out a handful. He dumps the popcorn into his mouth and downs it with Zane’s Coke. “Starving.”

  Zane lowers himself on the sofa’s armrest, crossing his arms over his chest, not taking his eyes off his adoptive brother. Did something happen between them?

  We watch the movie, but I can’t concentrate because I feel something between the guys. Zane still hasn’t removed his gaze from Aidan.

  “I think it’s time for that pizza,” I tell them, figuring it might be a good idea to let the guys talk it out. “And I know the best place to order from. They seriously make the best pizzas in the world.”

  As soon as I’m gone, I hear the guys talking. As curious as I am, it’s really none of my business.

  Chapter Four

  Aidan

  After telling Zane and Caleb I’ll catch up with them later at Lia’s, I leave my house and head to the park to meet Blaze, Charlie, Emmet, and Burke. I admit I’m a little jealous that my brother and cousin have plans to spend the day with Lia, but I already promised the guys. And honestly, I want to throw a football around with them. It’s the only time I truly feel alive. Like myself.

  “Yo!” Burke calls in the distance, waving his hands. “You coming or what?”

  I didn’t realize I was just standing there, thinking about Lia and how much I wish I were there. But this is important to me, almost as important as she is. I don’t even know if I could choose one over the other. Both mean the world to me. I might not be playing football with a team or professionally, but maybe that could change one day.

  “Armstrong!” Burke calls again. “Get your ass here.”

  Shaking those thoughts away, I race over to the guys. Burke’s a big guy, but I used to be bigger. Hell, even Zane doesn’t come close to that size, and he’s a pretty big dude himself.

  As we play, I can’t help wondering what Lia is doing right now. Is she having fun with the others, without me? I picture the three of them snuggled on the sofa and my stomach twists in a way it’s never twisted before. A feeling enters my entire being, one I can’t understand. It makes me want to flee over there. Right now.

  But since I can’t abandon the game, I stick it out for about an hour before I can’t take it anymore. I want to be with Lia. Just yesterday she revealed something so private and personal about herself. I need to be there for her. To support her.

  “What’s up?” Blaze’s eyes go to slits as he regards me. “Why do you look like you want to be somewhere else?”

  “I kind of promised my…my friend I’d—”

  “Friend as in girlfriend?” Emmet asks. “She hot?”

  I force a laugh. “She’s not my girlfriend.”

  Burke studies me. “But you want her to be.”

  I don’t respond because I have no idea what to say.
I like Lia. Like her a lot. But she’s been through a lot of shit, and it would be selfish of me to pursue something with her when she’s still recovering from her abusive ex-boyfriend.

  “It’s complicated,” is what I manage to say.

  The guys exchange knowing glances. Burke wraps his arm over my shoulder. “Armstrong, Armstrong. Getting with a girl is so simple. All you gotta do is give her a smile, make her feel like she’s the most important girl in the world. That she’s the sun and you’re the planets rotating around her. And then bam, she’s yours.”

  Blaze scans me from top to bottom. “I bet most girls would want to smash you. Don’t the chicks at your school pounce?”

  “A little too much.”

  Charlie snorts. “Too much? If girls chase you, you’re gold. What more do you want?” He nods to Burke. “He’s got a new girl latched onto his arm every day. Girls dig guys like us.”

  “This girl you want to bang,” Burke says. “What’s her deal?”

  “I don’t want to just bang her and be done with her. She’s not like that.”

  The guys look at one another, intrigued.

  “So she’s special then,” Burke says, and I note the mockery in his voice. “Someone special and different. Someone you want to pour your heart out to.”

  The others laugh, hard and deep.

  “She is,” I say. “More than special.”

  Blaze claps me on the back. “Clearly she’s not into you. You’ve got to decide if she’s worth the work. Because let me tell you man, there are many other fish in the sea. Lots of hot girls in this town.” He tilts his head to the side. “Maybe not at your school, but say the word and I’ll hook you up with girls from the academy.” He whips out his phone and taps through his contacts. “April Wilson…” He lists many names, but I’m not even listening to him. The only face I see floating before mine belongs to one special girl.

  And I’m not with her right now.

  “Guys, I’m heading out,” I tell them, turning toward the exit of the park.

  “Hold up. You should definitely check April out,” Burke tells me.

  “Yeah,” Blaze agrees. “She’s got a nice set of—”

  “I’ve got to go.”

  Burke slides his phone into his pocket. “Bummer. We thought you’d meet J-man today, but looks like he’s late. Like usual.” He rolls his eyes.

  “J-man?” I ask.

  “Our bud,” Charlie explains. “He moved away and is back in town. We can’t wait to show him those mad skills you taught us. You’ll like the guy. A really awesome football player.”

  I twist toward the exit. “Maybe another time.” I make my way out of the park.

  “Keep asking yourself if she’s worth it,” Burke calls after me. “And if you change your mind about April, just hit me up!”

  I shake my head as I march out of the park. These guys are everything I strive not to be. I’m not the kind of guy who uses girls and then tosses them away. But I’m kind of used to it. It was the same with my other friends back in New York. Burke, Blaze, Emmet, and Charlie are the closest thing I have to my old life, and I’m not going to throw that aside because we have different views.

  I reach Lia’s house and Zane invites me in. I can sense the question marks popping up all over him, but I ignore it. Zane’s my brother, but he doesn’t have to be up in my business. Same way I’m not up in his. And yes, it’s true that our family doesn’t keep secrets, but I need to keep this one. Because if anyone finds out I’ve been playing football with the guys, I’ll be forced to stop and then I’ll lose myself all over again.

  After greeting Lia, I sit down near her on the sofa. I’m pretty sure this was Zane’s spot, and for some reason, it feels good to snatch it from him. Kind of like I’m claiming my turf.

  Wait. Claiming my turf? What the hell does that even mean? What’s up with me today? Why do I feel like I’m losing her?

  Lia leaves to order pizza, and only Zane, Caleb, and I remain. Caleb’s eyes are on the paused movie, but Zane’s are zeroed in on my face. He’s been that way since I got here.

  “Had fun?” he asks. “Wherever you went.”

  Slowly, like my neck is made of metal, I turn to my adoptive brother. “I did.”

  Zane’s eyes narrow. “You gonna tell us where you were?”

  “Zane,” Caleb says, but Zane waves him off.

  He tightens his crossed arms over his chest, holding my gaze. “Well?”

  Like I said, there’s no way in hell I’m about to tell the guys the truth. My only option is to lie, something I hate doing to my family, but the occasion calls for it. “I was…out.”

  Zane rolls his eyes. “No shit, man.”

  I take a deep breath. “I went to the park. To help coach little kids.”

  Zane lifts a brow. Caleb’s are furrowed. “Help coach little kids? With what?” Caleb asks.

  I throw my hands up. “With football, okay? I met a college guy who coaches little kids for fun, not professionally. We got to talking and when he found out I used to play, he asked me to help him coach.”

  Caleb stares at me, his mouth slightly ajar. Zane’s eyes are hard. “You swore you wouldn’t touch a football.”

  “I don’t. I just help out the coach. Really, I’m just there to support the kids.”

  “You don’t actually play?”

  I give Zane a look. “Of course not,” I lie. “You think I’m stupid? You think I want another brain injury?” I take a deep breath and slowly release it. “You can’t tell Mom or Dad. You know how they’d feel.”

  “So you’re going to keep this from them?” Zane asks.

  “For now.” I shrug. “It’s not like it’s going to last, anyway. The coach just needs me there for the kids. Why worry Mom and Dad over nothing?”

  Both guys are quiet.

  “Look,” I say. “I swear I’m not touching the ball. You guys don’t understand how much this means to me. I mean, it’s far from the real thing, but it’s the closest I’ll ever get to the sport. So do me a solid and keep your mouths shut.”

  Zane and Caleb exchange a glance. Zane shrugs. “As long as you swear to stay safe, then do whatever you need to do.”

  Caleb nods. “I’m glad you found something, Aid.”

  I nod once, hating all the lies, but at least I’ve gotten them off my back. Knowing Zane, he wouldn’t have let this go until I provided a reasonable excuse. Now I’m free to meet with the guys without my brother breathing down my neck.

  Lia returns a few minutes later, her eyes flicking from me to the others. They’re filled with curiosity—it’s obvious something’s going on between us. But she doesn’t prod.

  “Pizza should be here soon,” she tells us. “They’re usually great with delivering them on time.”

  We nod, then the room goes silent. Zane’s arms are still crossed over his chest, his gaze glued to the TV. I really hope he’ll leave me alone now. Caleb smiles his usual smile when he and Lia look at one another. She returns a small one.

  I clear my throat. “How’s your dad’s friend?”

  “He’s doing better and the doctors are hopeful.” Lia looks like she wants to say more, maybe ask me where I’ve been, but she doesn’t. She must sense that I don’t want the subject raised, and that’s what I love about her.

  What I hate, though, is her worrying about me. So I tell her the same thing I told the guys, once again hating the lies spewing from my mouth.

  “That’s great,” she tells me. “That you have a connection to football again.”

  She has no idea.

  “Yeah.” I force a smile. “And maybe you and I could go to our school’s game next Friday.”

  “Sounds good.”

  Zane sits forward. “We should all go.”

  Aidan lifts a brow. “You? To a football game?”

  He shrugs. “Gonna be lots of people there. What if Lia’s ex shows up?”

  “You think I can’t protect her?”

  “Didn’t say that.”<
br />
  “Guys,” Lia says. “As sweet as that is, I can protect myself.”

  Zane slides his hand into hers. “We know you can. I still want to be there. What about you, Caleb?”

  “I’m in.”

  The pizza arrives and we dig in as we start the next movie.

  Chapter Five

  Lia

  Monday morning, I climb out of the car and meet the guys in the school parking lot. They wave goodbye to Craig, who gives me a wide smile as he drives off. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him so happy in the weeks I’ve known my neighbors.

  “He’s in a good mood,” I say to the guys.

  “Julia has an interview for a job today,” Caleb tells me. “We’re all crossing our fingers she’ll get it.”

  I smile. “That’s great. I’ve got my fingers crossed, too.”

  Caleb’s smile drops. “I feel responsible—”

  “No,” Zane says. “For the millionth time, stop blaming yourself. This is on your dad, not you. Can we please find something else to focus on?”

  “Like me?” a voice says behind us.

  Spinning around, I find Alexis, Sophie, and their friends standing there. Sophie’s eyes lock on mine, then they pull away. Things didn’t end so well between us last week, mainly because Zane pissed her off for ditching me. I have no idea where we stand.

  It doesn’t look like they overheard our conversation about Caleb’s dad, which seems to relax him.

  “Let’s go to class, guys,” Zane says, making his way toward the building, with the rest of us following behind.

  I can feel Sophie watching me and when I whip around, I find her expression unreadable. I’m pretty sure Alexis has poisoned her mind against me. Is our friendship over?

  Alexis grabs Aidan’s arm. “She won’t give you anything,” she whispers in his ear, her eyes flitting to mine. “I can give you everything you want.” She runs her finger down the front of his jacket.

  He flicks her hand away. “I need to get to class.”

  Once we’re inside the building, Zane says, “I wish you’d quit being nice to her, Aidan. You’ll just keep encouraging her. We need to stay away from girls like Alexis. She won’t keep our secret.”