Keeping the Beat: An Adrenaline Novel Read Online Free Page A

no if he asked me to stay and disappointed because he didn't care enough to bother.
                  “Who is going to help me with my homework?” Simon asked as he sat next to me at the kitchen table. He looked so much like his dad and uncle, it was easy to imagine what a handsome man he was going to become. “Don’t say dad will. He doesn’t know as much as you.”
                  “I don’t think anyone knows as much as Little One does, son.” Lucas frowned in my direction, his eyes crinkling in concern. “The boy does have a point though. What if his school work suffers because of this?”
                  “That’s not fair,” I glared at both of them when they pouted at me. Setting the book I was reading down I gave them my full attention. “Simon, of course I will still help you with your homework, either here or you can come see me in town. Maybe we can make it a regular date and get ice cream after.”
                  “Yes!” Simon exclaimed, clearly won over by my sugar incentive. As he turned away to grab a plate I stuck my tongue out at Lucas. He flipped me the bird discreetly behind his hand.
                  “Knock it off, Lucas,” Mrs. Cooper gave her son a swat on the back of the head. “That goes for the rest of you too,” she continued giving everyone around the table a hard stare. “Leave Kenzie be.” As she turned away, the guys all started muttering under their breath, stopping when she turned around, her eyes flashing in warning.
                  Reece hid a smirk as she picked up her water glass, laughing outright when Wyatt received the same swat his brother had gotten a moment before.
                  “Hey!” He exclaimed indignantly. “I didn't even say anything.”
                  “You were thinking it,” Mrs. Cooper clucked her tongue in disapproval.
                  “How does she always know,” Wyatt murmured rubbing the back of his head. He turned to eye his mother warily over his shoulder.
                  “A mother always knows,” Mrs. Cooper replied serenely as she sat at the head of the table.
                  I went back to reading my book as everyone sat down, glancing up when the back door opened. Garret and Jace walked in looking larger than life, kicking off their shoes before grabbing plates. Garret moved fast taking the empty seat next to me earning a scowl from Jace. I looked at Garret to see what that was all about but he only smiled and tugged on my hair making me swat his hand away in annoyance.
                  “This is amazing, Mrs. Cooper.” Reece grinned as Jace slammed his plate down on the table with a huff.
                  “You think all food is amazing,” Wyatt commented with a roll of his eyes.
                  Declan shot him a look but Reece only laughed and stole a french fry from his plate. “That’s because I’m eating for two, you ass.”
                  The annoyed look faded from my brother’s face shifting to one of pure adoration as he watched Reece. Leaning forward he pressed a kiss to her temple and grabbed all the fries from Wyatt’s plate placing them onto hers. Wyatt grumbled in disapproval but he gave Reece a smile before standing from the table to refill his plate.
                  When everyone had finished eating I offered to do the dishes. Reece had basically fallen into a food coma along with Simon and Mrs. Cooper had done the cooking. Wyatt and Garret skipped out right after Mrs. Cooper had gone to bed, no doubt knowing they were going to be selected for clean up duty. As I watched my brother carry Reece out the door after Lucas and Simon I suddenly realized that I was alone with Jace.
                  “You really don’t have to help.” I started gathering the empty plates from the table into a neat stack that I