All That Matters

by E. L. Todd

  “Roll down the window,” he ordered.

  Trinity stirred at the sound of his voice, and when she saw him through the window she screamed. “Oh my god.” She tightened the jacket closer around her and looked relieved to be covered.

  I hit the button and the window came down. “Good morning, officer. How’s it going?”

  He glared at me. “Obscenity in a public place is a felony.”

  “Well…we weren’t having sex. We were just sleeping.” Would that make a difference?

  “Still indecent exposure.”

  “It’s not like there were any kids nearby.”

  “You’re lucky for that.” He wore black aviators that hid his eyes from view. “License and registration—for both of you.”

  “Come on,” I said. “Are you really going to give us a ticket for this?” I didn’t care about the ticket but I didn’t want anyone to know who Trinity was. If he knew we were related to Mike and Sean he would tell them about this incident. Every cop in Connecticut knew exactly who the Preston Brothers were.

  He kept up the bored look. “License and registration—for both of you.”

  Fuck. “Can I put my clothes on first?”

  “No.”

  I kept my growl deep in my throat and grabbed my wallet and registration from the center console. I handed everything over.

  “And hers.”

  I grabbed her clutch then pulled everything out. “Here.”

  He took everything back to the police car parked behind us.

  Trinity covered her face, totally mortified. “Oh. My. God.”

  “Fucking prick.”

  “Why didn’t you drive us home last night?”

  “I fell asleep.”

  “I realize that,” she snapped. “But why did you let yourself fall asleep?”

  “Hey, you’re the one who immediately crashed the second you came.

  “Ugh.” She kicked me in the leg.

  “Hey, this isn’t my fault.”

  “He’s going to know exactly who I am and he’s going to tell my parents. God, this is terrible.”

  “Trinity, we’re married. It’s not like you’re a fifteen year old girl sneaking out at night.”

  “It’s still awkward as hell. My parents are going to think we’re freaks who do it whenever we want.”

  “Like they don’t do the same thing.”

  She kicked me again. “I hate you right now.”

  “Well, I’m still madly in love with you. Take that.”

  Trinity grabbed her clothes and started to get dressed. I did the same thing. “If this gets out…”

  “We’ll be fine, Trinity.”

  “You better hope so. You’re going to be famous, Slade. And I already am famous.”

  “Whatever,” I said. “I’m going to live my life the way I want. If someone has a problem with that, then whatever.”

  “My dad will have a problem with it,” she snapped.

  “Who cares?” I said. “He knows we have sex. What does it matter if it’s in a car?”

  “It just does. You aren’t a girl so you don’t understand.”

  “You’re right. I don’t understand. No one will blink an eye over my behavior, but if I were a girl I’d be a whore. Trinity, stop giving into stereotypes and don’t care what people think. We need to change people’s way of thinking, not confirm it.”

  Her anger disappeared and she looked at me with new eyes. “I wish the world worked that way.”

  The cop came back to the window, a ticket in his hand. “I thought you looked familiar, Mrs. Sisco. Your father just sponsored our Christmas party a few weeks ago.”

  Trinity’s face fell in sadness.

  “Look, can you keep this to yourself?” I asked. “I won’t fight this ticket in court if you do.”

  He headed back to his car with a smile on his face. “Have a good day.”

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Sean

  “It’s not that bad…” Mike stared at the newspaper with his arms across his chest. “I mean, you know…yeah.”

  Not that bad, my ass.

  “Come on,” he said. “The people who do know you will assume this has been photoshoped or something.”

  “It’s pretty damning, Mike.” The picture of the topless stripper on my lap made me look like a disgusting pervert. I let down my entire family by allowing myself to be photographed like that. People were going to think my family-man image was just a hoax.

  “Who cares?” he said. “We all know what really happened. You aren’t a sleazebag.”

  “I just embarrassed my wife and kids.”

  “Scarlet knows the truth. Come on, there’s no way in hell you would ever do something like that freely.”

  “Even so…”

  “You know one good thing about this?” he asked.

  “Hmm?”

  “You’ve always been known as the golden boy. Now I can look good for once.” He tried to cheer me up but it didn’t work at all.

  “Fuck you.”

  “Dude, loosen up.” His phone rang in his pocket and he answered it quickly. “Mike Preston.”

  I stared at the picture on the newspaper and tried not to scream. I knew this would bite me in the ass. It was just a matter of time before the photographer found the right selling price.

  “She did what?” Mike’s angry voice shattered my thoughts. “In the back of a truck? You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.”

  What was he talking about?

  “Are you sure it was her?” He listened to the person on the other line. “Fuck.” Then he hung up.

  It sounded like Mike had worse problems. “What was that about?”

  “Trinity and Slade were caught on the side of the road doing…you know what? They were naked in the truck when the cop pulled over and gave them a ticket. When he ran their ID’s he realized she was my daughter.”

  Damn…that was awkward as hell. “Oh…”

  He rubbed his temple and the vein in his forehead started to throb. “What the hell were they thinking? Are they trying to humiliate all of us? Do they want to get caught? Damn, I’m so embarrassed.”

  One time I spotted Cayson in Skye’s apartment, and judging his lack of clothes and messy hair I knew what they were doing. To say it was uncomfortable was an understatement. “Mike, it’s not a big deal. She’s—”

  “It is a big deal. My daughter is running around like some kind of tramp.”

  “Whoa…calm down.” I knew he didn’t mean that part.

  “To get a phone call like that from an officer…” He shook his head. “Unbelievable.” He took out his phone again. “I’ll give her a piece of my mind.”

  “No.” I snatched the phone away. “Just calm down.”

  “Give me the phone, Sean.”

  I kept it out of his reach. “No. You’re going to call her and say something you regret. Take a few minutes too cool off and then you can call her.”

  “Don’t tell me what to do.”

  “I’m not,” I said. “I’m saving your ass. Remember Trinity is an adult—a married one. Keep that in mind before you spin out of control.”

  “That’s what bedrooms are for.”

  “Mike, we’ve done far worse. Scarlet and I screw in the bathroom every time we’re on an airplane. We’re just as bad as they are.”

  “Well, I’ve never been caught by a cop.”

  “Mike, you’ve screwed Cassandra on the beach, in bars, on rooftops—the list goes on. My point is, don’t throw stones when you live in a glass house.”

  “It’s different. Trinity is a woman.”

  “Even so…don’t scream at her. Technically, she didn’t do anything wrong.”

  “Other than getting caught. Do you have any idea how it feels to have a cop call and tell you that?”

  “In Trinity’s defense, the cop shouldn’t have done that. That was shady.”

  “Whatever.”

  “Now, take a few minutes to unwind before you confront her.
Honestly, you shouldn’t confront her at all.”

  “But she—”

  “Isn’t living at home anymore and she’s going to have her own kid very soon. Mike, I know it’s hard to let them go but we have to. Now is the time where our kids become our friends. We don’t need to teach them wrong from right anymore.”

  He sighed like he didn’t want to admit I was right.

  “If you call her and scream at her, it’s only going to push her away. That’ll get you nowhere.”

  He nodded in agreement.

  “So, just let it go.”

  “But I can’t not say anything at all.”

  “And what are you going to say?” I asked. “Have that awkward conversation with your daughter about her sex life? Neither one of you wants to go through that.”

  “True…”

  “So, just drop it.”

  “Well, I don’t have to say anything to her. But I can say something to him.”

  That wasn’t what I was going for, but it was the lesser of two evils. “I would never talk to Cayson about his personal life with Skye. That would be awkward for both of us.”

  “But I wouldn’t be pissing off Trinity this way.”

  “Until he tells her what happened.”

  “He won’t say anything.” He pulled out his phone. “I’ll make sure of it.” He held the phone to his ear and listened to it ring.

  Slade picked up. “Yo, how’s it hanging old man?”

  “Get. Your. Ass. Down. Here.” Then he hung up.

  I actually felt bad for Slade. “Way to light a fire under his ass…”

  “The anticipation is always the worst part.” He smiled like he was enjoying this a little too much.

  The door to my office opened.

  “Damn, he was quick,” Mike said as he turned.

  Instead of Slade, it was my dad.

  “Dad?” I asked.

  “What are you doing here?” Mike blurted. “Shouldn’t you be golfing or something?”

  Dad marched right up to me then swatted me hard with a newspaper. “How dare you.” He swatted me again and slammed the newspaper down on the desk.

  I was a grown man and my father still scared me. “It’s not what you think.”

  “You’re a father and a husband. This is unacceptable.” He slammed his hand on the desk. “I did not raise my son to be a sick bastard that pays for lap dances. I raised you better than that. You embarrass Scarlet, the sweetest woman in the world, and you insult me.”

  I didn’t even do anything wrong and my dad made me feel small.

  “Whoa, Dad.” Mike grabbed him by the shoulder. “Cool your jets. Sean didn’t do anything.”

  “I may be an engineer but I know that isn’t photohopped.”

  “Photohopped?” Mike asked with a raised eyebrow. “You mean, photoshoped.”

  “Whatever,” Dad snapped. “I know this picture is real.” He pointed his finger right in my face. “That’s someone’s daughter. As a father yourself, I thought you had more class than that.”

  I was tired of being made a fool. “Look, let me explain. You know me better than that. You know I would never do something like this.”

  He put both of his hands on his hips. “Then you better get talking, bastard.”

  “Whoa…” Mike raised both hands. “No need for street talk.”

  Dad never cussed so it was more profound when he did.

  “I had a meeting with Keith,” I explained. “And he wanted to meet in a strip club.”

  “You shouldn’t have gone,” Dad snapped. “End of story.”

  “I didn’t know it was a strip club.” I tried to stay calm because I couldn’t yell at my dad. “I thought we were just meeting at a bar. I tried getting him to come to PIXEL but he wouldn’t budge. By the time I got to the back I realized where I really was.”

  Dad shook his head.

  “I just sucked it up and got through the meeting. But at the very end he forced some girl into my lap.”

  “You should have—”

  “I asked her to get off of me immediately, but some stranger in the dark got a picture before I could get rid of her. I swear, everything happened in a nanosecond. I chased after the photographer but couldn’t find him. I was totally set up. When I got home I told Scarlet what happened and she wasn’t upset at all. She knows me well enough by now.”

  Dad’s mouth remained closed because he didn’t have any further argument.

  “So, that’s the story,” I said. “Mike knew about it, Scarlet knew about it, and now I need to talk to my kids.”

  “They’ll figure it out on their own,” Mike said. “They know you well.”

  Dad sighed and guilt came into his eyes. “I’m sorry I jumped to conclusions…I should have given you a chance to explain.”

  “It’s okay, Pops.” I couldn’t stay mad at my dad if I tried. I admired him more than anyone else in the world. Even now that I had grandchildren, I still looked up to him. “I don’t blame you for getting the wrong idea. The photo is pretty incriminating.”

  “What are we going to do? Publicity wise?” he asked.

  “I’m letting Shelly handle all of that,” I said.

  “How?” Dad asked.

  “I’m just sticking with the truth—even if it drags Keith through the mud. I already got what I wanted out of him. If I ever need anything else, I’ll just figure out another way.”

  “Good,” Dad said. “People will realize it doesn’t add up to your character.”

  “I hope so.” I didn’t want women to start coming onto me because they thought I was a cheater.

  “When are you going to talk to your little ones?” Dad asked.

  It made me feel young when he called them that. I still saw them as my cubs but they were grown adults. They definitely weren’t little anymore. “I’m going to have them over for dinner to clear the air.”

  “Do it soon,” Dad said. “Because the poop is about to hit the fan.”

  “That expression doesn’t sound right when you say poop,” Mike said. “It’s shit.”

  “Hey, watch the language,” Dad said.

  “You just cussed, like, a minute ago,” Mike said.

  “Well, I’m your father,” Dad said. “I get special privileges.”

  Mike rolled his eyes then made a gesture to me that said Dad was going senile. Thankfully, Dad didn’t see it.

  “Since you’re here you want to get lunch?” I asked.

  “Sure,” Dad said. “How about China food?”

  “It’s Chinese…whatever.” Mike waved his arms away. “Sure. I just have to talk to Slade and then we can go. I’m surprised he isn’t—”

  Slade burst through the door, sweaty and panting. He grabbed a stitch in his side and tried to catch his breath. “Look, let me explain…” He bent at the hip and tried to breathe through the pain.

  Dad crossed his arms over his chest. “This should be good.”

  “Explain why you’re screwing in the back of a truck on the side of the road.” Mike’s voice bellowed throughout the office. Even though the door was closed everyone on the floor could hear him. “It’s dangerous, trashy, and most importantly, stupid. What the hell were you thinking? Now every cop in the tri-state area is going to think my only daughter is some kind of whore.”

  “I know,” Slade said. “We fell asleep when we shouldn’t have.”

  “No, you should have drove home like responsible adults,” he snapped. “What if a carjacker tried to steal the car then realized you were inside it? Seriously, I give you my daughter and this is how you take care of her?”

  “I’m sorry,” Slade said. “I’m sorry. I know I messed up and I won’t mess up again.”

  Dad leaned toward me. “What’s going on?”

  “Slade and Trinity were caught having sex in the back of his truck. The officer told Mike about it.”

  “Oh…” Dad cringed. “That’s awkward.”

  “Get your act together or I’ll rip your damn head off
and throw it off the tallest goddamn building in Manhattan. Do you understand me?” Mike’s face was red like a commanding drill sergeant.

  “Yes,” Slade said. “I got it, sir.”

  “Because you’re about to be a dad. It doesn’t look like you’re ready.”

  “I am,” Slade said. “I’m sorry, okay? I won’t mess up again.”

  Mike crossed his arms over his chest. “I don’t want to see you for at least two weeks.”

  “Maybe even longer.” Slade stood up straight now that he caught his breath.

  “Are you being a smartass right now?”

  “No, sir.” Slade saluted him like a soldier.

  Mike raised an eyebrow.

  “I mean, no.” Slade stood straight and didn’t make any gestures.

  “This conversations stays between us,” Mike said. “Not a word to Trinity.”

  Slade bowed.

  “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” Mike snapped.

  Slade straightened up. “Sorry. Yes, it stays between us.”

  “Now go.” Mike threatened him with his eyes.

  Slade turned around and took off as quickly as possible.

  Dad sighed. “Cut him some slack, Mike. He’s a good guy.”

  “I know he’s a good guy,” Mike said. “But he’s learning. I need to make sure he keeps learning how to be better.”

  Dad shook his head. “Your mother and I did a lot of crazy things when we were young. One time—”

  “How about that China food?” If I let him tell this story I would lose my appetite.

  “Sounds good,” Mike said. “I really worked up an appetite yelling at my son-in-law.”

  ***

  Scarlet sat across from me at the dinner table. The food was laden out in dishes, and the chilled wine was ready to be poured. “It’ll be fine.”

  “You didn’t see the way my dad reacted. That would be so much worse if it were one of my kids.”

  “But it won’t be.” She was calm about everything. In her mind, every problem had a solution. I was definitely the drama queen of the two of us.

  The door opened and voices carried into the house.

  “I don’t know what to do.” It was Roland’s deep voice. “I apologized to him and tried talking to him. I can send him candy and flowers but I don’t think it’s going to do much.”