The Handler by Liv Kingstown & Dani Stowe

Author:Liv Kingstown & Dani Stowe [Kingstown, Liv]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Babe Fuel Books
Published: 2022-10-31T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

MCKENNA

Noah leans forward. “Please tell me you brought a doob.”

Doob?

“I brought a bag,” Jace says. “You’ll have to roll it.”

Oh no! They’re talking about drugs! I’d expect Jace to be the type, but Noah? He’s got six kids. How could he?

Jace slides down in his seat to dig in his front jeans pockets, pulling out a plastic bag filled with weed and a pack of rolling paper, both of which he tosses at his brother.

Naturally, Jace is his brother’s supplier. Err, I should’ve known.

The two sit quietly as Noah adjusts to sit straight so that he may prep the paper across his thigh. My heart aches as I watch small buds of dried leaves get rubbed between his fingers to lay in the paper’s crease. Many times, I’ve dreamt of those fingers on me, knowing well it would never happen. Right now, I wonder why Noah needs to use those fingers to prep his doob.

To prep for an escape?

Surely, Noah has everything he wants—a beautiful family and a job he says he enjoys. So, why would he need to do this?

As Noah licks the paper to seal the weed into the roll, Jace reaches in his pocket and pulls out a polished silver Zippo lighter. Both men lean into one another and the lighter is flipped open as the flint is struck. As Jace stills the flame, Noah leans in to ignite the tip. With one deep puff, Noah inhales, questioning, “Why’d you bring her here?”

Her? They’re talking about me!

My achy heart begins to bleed. I had no idea I wasn’t welcome and I debate whether I should run out to Noah to clarify I was brought here under false pretenses and that it’s Jace’s fault.

Jace flicks the lid to his Zippo closed. “You know why.”

Noah stretches out his hand, offering the doob to his brother, but Jace shies away, declining and leaning back to sink into his lawn chair.

“You wanted her to meet Lana.” Noah squeaks as he purses his lips and blows a puff of smoke.

“I find it odd that McKenna and Lana have never met before,” replies Jace.

“McKenna is my boss. It’s not essential for Lana to meet my boss.”

“What you mean to say is it’s not essential for Lana to meet the other woman you’re in love with because she resembles your first wife.”

WHOOOOA! What did Jace just say? I look like Noah’s first wife and he’s in love with me?

Noah takes another hit and exhales. Slowly this time. “I’m not in love with McKenna. She’s nothing like Isabelle.”

Jace raises a brow. “Except McKenna looks exactly like her. Well, almost.”

Noah claws at his own thigh with one hand, taking a deeper inhale of his joint held between two fingers of his other.

A vein emerges at his forehead. I’ve never seen Noah look so stressed. “She’s so fucking beautiful. There’s not a moment I look at McKenna that I don’t think of Isabelle.”

“Isabelle is dead, Noah.”

“I know!” Noah snaps. “Don’t you think I know that? No one knows more than me that Isabelle is gone.

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