Lexie felt safe, she hadn't had that sense of security in a very long time. Not since her mom married her stepdad. Having Keegan in her space felt good, she could see the proof in Harley's calm demeanor showing her that her little brother likes him too. Keegan did stay for dinner if only to convince her more to move into his place tonight. "Pack your bags and Harley's too. Come on, it'll be safer than staying here, don't you think? I really don't want to leave you two alone tonight and running away to another city in the dark won't be a wise choice when you have a kid with you." Keegan made her think, and naturally, she thought that he was right though she considered the offer to stay at his place nonetheless. "I'll help Harley get his coat and shoes. Go, get his blankie or stuffed animal anything he needs to sleep for the night. I'll get the rest tomorrow, send in a crew to pack the rest of your stuff. Listen, Mara," Keegan called her by her real name and took her hand in his, he
"The best coffee I've had in a while." "Right?" Keegan grinned, proudly patting his coffee machine before sipping his coffee. He was happy, settled, and his insides never felt so right in so long. Not since the day he left her behind and went back to college.Keegan was twenty-one and was finishing off college at that time. He had his future in front of him, while she was sixteen and way too young for him. But when he did leave to finish his study he got injured while training. The incident terminated his spot in college football and at the same time shut down his chance to play professionally. His parents helped him finish college, but then they passed away in a tragic car accident which somehow directed him to work for Braddock Senior. Since then he never looked back. But tonight everything was falling back into place and he intended to tell her exactly that. "I felt like I've been given a second chance with you." His words were careful, not wanting to sound as if he wanted to ta
The next morning Harley woke up all excited to explore Keegan's place. He had been sitting on the leather sofa, practically bouncing while he waited for Keegan to get out of his room. Until the man finally did, when the smell of bacon being fried entered his room."Okay, this is totally my new favorite way to wake up. Lexie, I am going to keep you forever if you put bacon on the menu for our breakfast. Everyday." He went to her side and instinctively kissed her forehead. He couldn't help himself when he saw her in his kitchen, cooking in her cute pajama attire with pink bunny prints and her hair up in a messy bun.She laughed nervously, but then got sidetracked when her little brother ran up to him with the biggest smile on his face. "Can I please watch cartoons on your humongous tv?" That got Keegan to ruffle Harley's hair and picked him up by his waist and carried him sideways. "Humongous, huh?" Her little brother giggled all the way to the living room sofa where Keegan picked up
Lexie looked nervous when Keegan said that he was going to leave her alone with Harley at his place when he's going to go to work. Keegan noticed that she didn't want to be a burden for him, he knew that she was masking her feelings telling him that she was going to have a movie marathon with Harley. Keegan had no choice but to trust that she was going to do just that."Harley, I'm going to work today," Keegan knelt before her little brother and took his hand in his. "I'm counting on you to be the man of the house and take care of your sister," He smiled and her little brother who then puffed his chest and grinned at Keegan telling him that he'd keep her safe. "I know you will, and to do so I have a new watch for you." Keegan reached out for a little box that arrived along with the booster seats. He had the watch programmed and the GPS activated, he listed his number, Lexie's, and emergency number for the hospital and police. Keegan didn't want to give Harley a phone, he needed a dev
When the doc finally finished stitching up his wounded shoulder, Keegan called the pizza place to order their pizza and a side of bruschetta for Lexie, hoping that she still likes them. And the moment he arrived, Keegan popped the pain pill and the antibiotic before he entered the house with pizza in his hand. He had to take a deep breath, taking in the pain before he continued to walk to the front door. Harley's face lit up when he saw Keegan and the little kid ran towards him trying to help him with the small bag of food while he greeted Lexie with a kiss on the lips, after setting their pizza on the kitchen counter. She blushed a deep shade of red and Harley giggled teasing his sister and then telling Keegan that Lexie never blushed. "There was this one guy, she even pushed him away. I think Lexie likeeeees you." Harley teased after he was settled into his seat. Keegan laughed at his cheekiness, he liked that Harley was loosening up around him. He wanted the kid to be comfortable,
It was almost dawn when Lexie open her eyes and she realized that she was in Keegan's bed. She cursed silently, thinking that it was stupid of her to fall asleep in his arm. There will be no time for her to get close to someone. Not when she was running away from her stepdad. It was not wise of her to risk Harley's life. There was no time for her to seek romance, let alone from Keegan. The man had failed her once, most likely he was going to fail her again. The last time it happened was when she was still sixteen. Back then she barely knew what to do with a relationship, but Keegan was old enough to decide and he had decided to leave her behind. Harley was still asleep when she was back in their bed. It was still too early to start her morning activities so she decided to check on her phone and catch up on her emails which only reminded her of her impending bills, then she browse her text messages. There was only a couple of text that was waiting for her reply, mainly from her friend
It has been two days since the last time they went out. Keegan took them out to the park, they have revert their name to Mara and Cody until they decided on a new name for their new identity. Keegan said it was useless using their fake names since her stepdad had found out about her fake identities anyway. Keegan had pushed Mara's fake ID guy and had found out that it was him who gave out her name and helped her stepdad find Mara at her place of work. The sleazy guy had accidentally recognized her dancing in the club when he visited Babes with a few of his friends a few months back."Mara, can we go out for dinner? I'm bored." Her half-brother, Cody, was getting antsy since their last outing. It has been days since he played with his friends. Mara knew perfectly well that her brother won't ask for more, he knew that they were in hiding and she hated that he had to be subjected in that manner. "I will ask Keegan when he gets back, okay?""Can I call him? he said I can call anytime?"
It was almost ten when Keegan arrived home and Mara was waiting for him in the living room. Looking beautiful as always. He missed her all day, and seeing her looking comfortable on his sofa was a view he could really get used to. "Cody's asleep?""Like a lump. He tried to wait for you though, but you took too long. Busy day?"It was a trick question, he knew, and Keegan was careful in answering just as he'd done before. "Busy, still trying to find your stepdad's whereabouts." Keegan had some leads and he had knocked on doors and used his resources, but it was not something he was going to share with Mara, not yet. He didn't want to worry her when he knew that she was being patient enough with him. "He's slippery, he probably go under different names if he had found me through my fake ID guy. How about the police, wasn't he let out on some kind of probation? there must be some trail, right?" Keegan sighed, knowing Mara was going to be persistent with her questions. It was not lik