Read Online Keeping the Beat: An Adrenaline Novel by Morgan O'Hara - Free Book Online Page A

long because I knew Kenzie liked it that way. I was barely able to admit it to myself.
                  “Don’t change the subject,” I muttered, doing exactly that. “We’re brothers Garret. Why wouldn't you tell me about Jared?”
                  My cousin gave me a long look. “Couple of reasons, I suppose.” He took a deep breath and stood from his seat. “Want a water?”
                  I followed him into the kitchen, cornering him when he would have moved around me. I needed answers and I could tell Garret was going to give me the run around before giving them to me. My cousin handed me a bottled water before pushing past me to sit at the kitchen table. His phone chimed next to him and he glanced down at it, a wide smile coming across his face when he looked at the screen.
                  “What?”
                  “Nothing,” he said still grinning. Tucking his phone into his pocket he focused on me again. “You look like you're mad at me.”
                  “I’m fucking pissed at you, Garret!” Trying to calm down I took a few deep breaths before sitting in the seat opposite my cousin. “I’m mad at myself too. I should have paid more attention to what was going on with you, man. I’m sorry for that.”
                  “I wasn't exactly forthcoming with information,” Garret added with a small shrug. “If I’m being honest, I wasn't telling you specifically for a reason.” I felt my brows slam together as I regarded my cousin over the table. “We both know why you have been such a dick to me lately. I was keeping my relationship with Jared to myself partially because of that.”
                  “I’m confused.” I clenched and unclenched my fists beneath the table looking at my cousin’s calm green eyes. “You didn't tell us about Jared because you wanted me to think that you were with Kenzie?”
                  “Not exactly,” Garret began, his hands nervously fidgeting with his water bottle cap. “You didn't see Kenzie when she came home from the tour, Jace.” He shook his head and gave me a look that made me feel like slime. “If you had been in my position, you would have done the same thing.”
                  “Which was what Garret?” I wasn't sure what my cousin’s goal had been, but if it had been to drive me crazy then he’d succeeded.
                  Garret let out a pent up breath and ran his fingers through his recently buzzed hair, “I’m not even sure anymore. I just wanted you to back off. I’m not completely out of the loop when you guys are away. I know what’s been going on lately.”
                  I felt all of the happiness I’d woken up with drain away. “What’s been going on lately?”
                  “Cut the fucking shit, Jason.” My cousin shoved back from the table looking like he was going to lunge across it to strangle me. “You’re not an idiot. You know what you’ve been doing this past year and you know how it’s hurt Kenzie.” I swallowed past the lump in my throat as Garret began pacing around the kitchen. “The three of us know what happened on her birthday and why things went to shit between the two of you, but you and I both know why you’re working so hard to be the bad guy when that’s just not who you are. Why do you think I’m so fucking mad at you?”
                  I thought about protesting but didn't feel like getting into a physical altercation with my cousin in his kitchen which was where this conversation was headed. Garret knew me better than anyone else. There was no doubt in my mind he had seen right through my behavior this past year.
                  “Do yourself a favor, Jace,” Garret’s voice was considerably calmer as he walked around the table and placed a hand on my back. “Either step up and go for it or fucking