Forever Moore (Moore Family Book 1) Page 4

  Chapter 6

  Matilda

  As I open the doors to Moore Books and Coffee, it feels as though I haven’t been here in ages. I know it has only been a week, but it seems like a lifetime ago. I guess, in some ways, it was. The last time I was here, dad and I were working together on inventory. Although dad still worked at the shop, he ultimately passed it down to me years ago. He knew that out of the four of us, this was my dream.

  As a little girl, I used these books to travel the world, explore different time periods, and visit different planets and universes. I have lived many lives, have had many loves and many heartaches within the pages of this store. Jax and I always had that in common. Except he wanted to escape and see this world, while I wanted to escape and live within the ones these pages offered.

  I have lived hundreds maybe even a thousand different lives. And yet, when the book shuts, I am ultimately alone. I had my parents. I have my brothers and Letty. But it really isn’t the same. While I love my fantasy worlds, I understand they are just that—fantasies. They are not real. I’ve had a few boyfriends over the years, but not as intense as Jackson. Then again, can anything ever truly be as intense as your first love? Or should I say—my only love, besides reading, that is.

  The bell chimes overhead, signaling the front door has opened. I can smell her Victoria Secret Love Spell body spray before she is even near me. Not that it is a bad smell, but Letty has been wearing the same body spray since junior high. I remember she bought a bottle on our first trip to the Mall of America, and has not worn anything different since. The next time we went to a mall that had the store, she ended up buying eight more to ensure she would never run out.

  I feel her arms wrap around me. “Oh my god, Tilly, I have missed you sooooo much.”

  I turn around and embrace her as well. “You know I saw you yesterday, right?” I sigh, “I missed you too, Letty. Thank you for helping at the shop while I was… well, you know.”

  “Absolutely, I would do anything for you. Even tolerate Jake for a whole week,” she says, winking at me. Those two have always had a love-hate relationship. I think they are both jealous of each other.

  “Anything interesting happen while I was gone?” I ask as I start walking around the store, tidying up.

  “No, not really. The sales were pretty good. We sold a couple of the higher priced collector books to some tourists passing through,” Letty mentions, while taking a sip from her tumbler.

  “Oh, that is good. Those rarely sell,” I reply while adjusting a few books on an endcap.

  “Yea, so how are things with you?” Letty inquires, her voice laced with concern.

  “I don’t know.” I pause and think about how to explain this. “I am still grieving and stuff but, I guess, today feels like the first day I have truly taken a breath since everything happened.”

  “Oh, hun. No one expects you to be one-hundred precent right now. Grief takes time. How much time—well, it is unique to each person. But just know I will be with you, and do everything I can to help you along the way.”

  I give Letty another big hug. “Thank you, Letty. I love you so much.”

  “I love you too, Tilly. Now, speaking of love, how was last night? I noticed you and Jax seemed pretty cozy.” Letty waggles her eyebrows at me.

  I can’t help but blush, thinking of last night. It was absolutely amazing and exactly what I needed. Letty and I have never shied away from sharing our sex lives with each other. So, we sit down behind the counter drinking coffee as I recall each dirty detail.

  “He must have a magical cock,” Letty announces, a little too loudly for the shop.

  I can’t help but laugh and shake my head at her. “What do you mean magical cock?”

  She pauses thinking about how to explain her thought process, something Letty and I both do. “How do I explain this without hurting your feelings?”

  “It’s okay, Letty. You won't hurt my feelings.” Growing up with three brothers who teased and tormented me relentlessly and, not to mention, my dad who was always joking with me—well, let’s just say, I have developed Kevlar skin.

  She sighs, but then resumes. “Well, Tilly, since the hospital… you have been almost catatonic. That first day we brought you home, I was scared because you shut down, and I feared I would never see you again. Then, at the funeral, it was like you were not even there. For fuck’s sake, you didn’t even notice Keith’s grubby hands on you. So many people tried to talk to you, but you shut everyone out. I was surprised to see you at the bar, but then I noticed you slowly coming back to us. I figured the alcohol was allowing you to lower your guard a bit and let us back in. When you asked Jax to walk home, I was so happy for you. You were finally reaching out to someone—even if that someone wasn’t me. Then, hearing about your awesome sex last night and seeing you this morning, it is almost like his cock gave you CPR or something. He breathed some life force back into you.”

  I cannot help but smile, and I burst out laughing at her explanation. I fold over, holding in my stomach. It hurts to laugh, but I can’t help it. Letty starts laughing hysterically as well.

  “Whose cock can give CPR? I think this is a specialty I might want to get certified in. You know I am all about saving lives.” Jake casually stands in the archway that connects the bookstore to the cafe.

  “Sorry, Jakey. I am not sure you have the proper equipment for this type of life-saving. But don’t worry, saving kittens from a tree is honorable too.” Letty dismisses Jake, which she tends to do whenever she can.

  “Jakey” (clearly offended by Letty’s comment) starts unbuckling his pants. “I can show you just how proper my equipment is. Probably the most proper equipment within the county. Heck, the state even. If any cock is capable of life-saving, it is mine.”

  “Oh. My. God. Jake, stop undoing your pants. I do not want to see your ding-a-ling.” I shiver in disgust.

  “Fine, sis.” Jake re-buttons his pants, walks over to the counter and leans in before whispering in Letty’s ear, “Just so you know, Letty, I have seen Jax’s equipment and I can assure you that mine is bigger and better.” Jake steps back with a shit-eating grin.

  “Jake, get out of here before I throw up. You have now given me too much of a visual when it comes to your equipment.” I pretend to dry-heave at the comment.

  “Well, this makes up for listening to my sister have, what was it? Three? Oh no, I am pretty sure that it was four orgasms last night.” Jake counts on his fingers.

  I sit there in complete and utter embarrassment at the thought of my brother, or brothers, hearing Jax and me.

  Jake walks over and pats me on the back. “No worries, sis. I will make sure to give Jackie-boy a few pointers. Four orgasms is little league. If someone is going to bone my baby sis, he should at least be playing in the majors and offering her six per go.”

  “Jake. Get. Out. Now,” I seethe.

  Jake holds his hands up, as if he is innocent and not sure what he did wrong. “What? It isn’t a big deal, Tilly. Siblings talk about orgasms all of the time. Not to mention, we are twins. Our minds are linked. So, when you get some, you send wavelengths to my brain telling me all about it.”

  “I think I am going to be sick,” I say as I put my head between my knees.

  “Seriously, Jacob, what is wrong with you?” Letty asks, completely offended on my behalf.

  “Oh, come on, you guys. It is not fair to discriminate against me.”

  Letty starts laughing, “Are you joking?”

  “No,” Jake says, puffing out his chest. “Tilly, you only don’t talk about your sex life with me because I am a boy. If I was your twin sister, I am sure you would talk to me about sex, no different than how you talk to Letty. And just like Scott, Robbie and I talk about our sex lives.”

  “Damn, Tilly. I hate to admit it, but Jakey-poo here, does have a good point. I am sure if he was your sister, you two would talk about sex all of the time.”

  I cannot believe these two. I look at both of
them in shock and horror.

  “Okay, you both need to leave. I have work to do.” I’m over this conversation.

  “Oh, come on, Tilly. Don’t be such a sourpuss because I am right and you are wrong. Like always,” Jake mocks.

  “You are not right, Jacob.” I cannot help but lash out now. “The fact that you are my brother and related to me at all makes thoughts of you, in any sexual manner, disgusting to me. Just like my sex life should be disgusting to you. I do not have a sister, but envisioning any of my siblings and sex is simply nauseating, and I doubt I would talk to a sister about it either.”

  “Well, that’s not true considering you fucked Jax,” Jake proposes.

  “What. The. Fuck. Are you talking about, Jacob?” I say with venom dripping from my voice. But Jake was never the smarter twin—because he doesn’t know when to back down.

  “Well, dear sister of mine, Jax is our brother. He has been with our family since we were both born. I am sure, at one point in time, he has likely even assisted Scott or Robbie in changing our diapers, while helping out mom. Then, and not to mention, our parents took him in as legal guardians when he was what, twelve? And we were eight? So, for all intents and purposes, Jax is our brother. We might not share the same DNA, but he was raised alongside you, and no differently than Scott, Robbie, or I.”

  My anger has me too stunned to respond. I cannot believe my brother would put this shit into my head. Then, he decides to take my silence as agreement and adds the cherry to this shit-covered sundae.

  “Also, Jax and Scott are practically identical twins. Even though he might not be your flesh and blood, you are still essentially fucking Scott.” I want to incinerate the shit-eating grin he is sporting right now.

  I grab the first thing within my arm’s reach, which happens to be a stapler. Then, I chuck it at his big stupid head. It smacks him right in the cheekbone, and he stumbles backwards, holding onto his face.

  “What in the actual fuck, Tilly?” Jake asks, looking down at his hand to see if he was bleeding.

  “Leave. Now. I do not want to ever see you again,” I demand.

  “Come on, Tilly, you don’t mean that. I am your favorite brother.” Then, the fucking bastard grins that evil grin. “Well, I guess besides Jax, that is. I guess, technically, he is your favorite brother.”

  For the next few moments, I must have blacked out. Because the next thing I know, I am sitting on top of Jake, punching him repeatedly in the face as he cries—just like the kid in that Christmas movie.

  Suddenly, I feel strong arms wrap around me, pulling me off of Jake.

  “What the hell, Matilda?” Scott asks, while helping Jake off the floor, Jax still holding me back.

  “You are dead to me, Jake.” I give him my ultimate death stare. “Dead. To. Me.” The words feel like ash in my mouth as the weight of what I said sinks in. I consider apologizing or taking them back, but as I look from Jake’s stupid face back to Jax’s—the rage bubbles up.

  Scott, realizing this is a serious matter, asks if Letty can walk Jake out.

  “Sure thing.” Letty takes Jake by the arm. “Come on, you big duffus. I gotta go start prepping the bar for opening. Why don’t you come with me and I can get you some ice for that pretty face of yours?”

  “Can I have a beer too?” Jake asks innocently, allowing her to lead him out of the shop.

  “See you later, hun.” Letty waves as she exits.

  “What the fuck, Tilly? Why were you beating Jake into a bloody pulp in the middle of the store? Customers could see you from the cafe. Everyone came running when they heard the sounds of a small child wailing.” Scott was obviously disgusted with the level of sibling rivalry that was displayed in our place of business.

  Jax turns me in his arms and lifts my chin with his hand, forcing me to look at him. Fucking Jake. Now, as I stare at Jax (with the exception of his cerulean eyes and some other minimal features) all I can see is Scott. Did Jake seriously ruin Jax for me? The one and only man I have ever loved? Just like you love your brothers, my internal bitch adds. I cannot even look at him anymore… without feeling the need to vomit.

  I push out of his arms. I notice the hurt and confusion on his face. But I cannot deal with this right now. I know this is just all of my emotions going haywire, because of grief—Jax is not Scott. He is not my brother. But Jake’s ridiculous comments are too fresh.

  Also, what future do I even have with Jax? He is going to leave me again. He will never stay. So, maybe Jake just did me a favor. Maybe, by opening my eyes to this non-incestual-incest, I can finally move on from Jax and find someone who will actually stick around to love me.

  “I think you should go, Jax,” I say pulling away from him.

  “What? What happened? What did I do?” Jax’s tone is laced with hurt.

  “I’m sorry.” I give him my catchphrase of the week, before walking to the backroom.

  I hear him try to follow me, but Scott stops him—telling Jax to give me some time and to let me cool off.

  But when it comes to Jax and me, there is no time, because it is always running out.

  Chapter 7

  Jackson

  What the hell just happened? What did Jake do? Last night (even just this morning) I had my Tilly back again. She was looking at me—happy and in love—like she always used to. Then, I come into the shop to see her and offer to take her out to lunch (or at least bring something in) and I find her on the floor assaulting Jacob. It wasn't the play fighting they used to do as kids. She was absolutely fuming. She almost looked rabid as she foamed at the mouth. I have never seen so much fury inside of her before.

  I realize her emotions have been all over the place this week. But rage like that was never Tilly’s style. I know Scott said to give her some time, but I need to know what the hell Jake said to enrage her like that. Especially because (whatever he said) it had her looking at me with shame and disgust. A sudden shift, which makes no sense to me. Jake was literally giving me the thumbs up this morning. I mean, did things change so much over this decade that now they don’t even want me with Tilly anymore?

  No, that can’t be it. I know Scott had a weird look on his face this morning. But Jake and Robbie were practically giving me high-fives. I need to find Jake and make him tell me what he did to piss off Tilly like that—then maybe beat him up a little more. Because I am certain he deserves it.

  “Hey, man, where are you going?” Scott asks as I start to leave.

  “Going to find Jake, and make him tell me what the hell he did to Tilly,” I respond.

  Scott starts to say something, but I don’t hear it—I am already out the door and walking to the bar. I must look as furious as I feel, because as I stomp my way up Main Street, everyone parts for me like the Red Sea.

  I reach my destination and violently push open the doors. The few patrons in here all look at me. It feels like the Wild West right now and everyone is waiting for the showdown. I spot Jake sitting at the bar with one hand holding ice and a towel to his face, while the other holds his beer.

  I take a seat next to him. Letty offers me something cold from the tap. She seems to know that I am going to need it. “Don’t go too hard on him, okay?” I raise my eyebrow at Letty, so she elaborates. “Jakey here, was being a dumbass and took it too far. I am pretty sure he knows that he fucked up and is now feeling the sting of regret.”

  I turn to Jake. “What did you do?”

  Jake tries brushing it off with a shrug of his shoulders. “It was nothing really, just a misunderstanding. I forgot Tilly is a little touchy right now. She will calm down in a few minutes and come begging me for forgiveness.”

  “Ouch!” Jake yelps after Letty hits him over the back of the head. “What the fuck, Letty? Come on, you are supposed to be taking care of me. Not causing more damage,” he wails, rubbing the back of his head.

  “Don’t you dare, Jacob Andrew Moore. I know you and Tilly like to joke around. But this time, you took it way too far. The only one in this sc
enario who should be doing any groveling or begging for forgiveness is you. Not only to poor Tilly, who we both know is going through a lot right now. But you also owe Jax one hell of an apology as well.”

  Oh no. “Jake, what did you do? Why do I deserve an apology as well?”

  Jake finally looks guilty, as if his actions are now starting to settle in. He refuses to make any eye contact with me.

  “Jacob, you tell him now. Or I will not only tell him myself, but I will cut you off from this bar indefinitely, and hold you down while Jax kicks you in the balls,” Letty threatens.

  Jake lets out a huff. “Fine, but I’m serious. This is all just a simple misunderstanding. I was only joking with Tilly… I thought joking around with her, like normal, would help her with her grieving.”

  “Jake, stop making excuses, tell me what you did?” I’m done with his attempts at beating around the bush.

  “Okay, so I came into the shop to get my morning coffee order for the guys at the station. I like to bring them some even on my days off, because I am a good guy and all,” Jake says, brushing non-existent lint from his shoulder.

  “Get on with it, Jake,” Letty scolds.

  “Fine. Anyway, I walked in and those two were sitting there talking about how magical your CPR penis is. Then, Letty went on to tell me how my cock wasn’t sufficient equipment to give CPR. So, I told her how I have seen your equipment and mine is much, much bigger and better,” Jake says matter-of-factly.

  “Okay, so? I am not sure why this would make Tilly punch you, or make you owe me an apology. I am comfortable with the size of my dick. My dick is a fucking champion, and there is such a thing as too big.” I glance down at my groin and shake my head. Yea, no way will I ever feel insecure in that department.