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
"What do you mean she's gone?" Keegan was half furious when he got home only to find a note from Mara, telling him that Cody was at Seamus and Charlotte's. In the note, she did thank him for his generosity in taking them in but in the end she was going to let her stepdad find her. Keegan had read the note, then read it, probably a dozen times before he checked the guest bedroom only to find that it was empty. Mara and Cody's belongings were all gone. Keegan looked at the tidy room and found that there was no indication of them having ever stayed there before. "Exactly that, and no, I don't know where she is. She wouldn't tell me anything about her plan only to say that she will let you know when it's time. Look, Keegan, now that you know... why don't you do your best and find her?" Charlotte raised her perfect brow, silently judging him for not doing his job.Keegan grunted, while Seamus just shook his head, telling him silently that whatever he was going to say was going to be share
"B-big trouble?" Mara parroted from the other line. Okay, granted that she hadn't answered or replied to Keegan's many calls and texts, but she didn't want her focus to be sidetracked. Keegan would surely convince her to stay back and waited some more when he had enough."Yes, you ought to be proud of yourself that he has found you. He's in the same building as you.""He is?" Okay, now she sounded stupid for repeating his words. Mara had checked in the motel under her and Cody's aliases and she had been walking around town hoping to get noticed by her stepdad. It was an easy plan and she had nothing to lose, not when she knows that Cody was in good hands. If anything should happen to her, her brother would be taken care of. He was young enough that he'd forget about her when he reached adulthood. But when she heard Keegan's voice, she could hear his anger trickled with worry, yeah...it was clear as day. Mara had recognized and could already have imagined his facial expression. She ha