by Nia Arthurs
“Let me tell you something, James,” Dad mumbled. He flapped an arm over his stomach and closed his eyes. “The world is a frightening place. You have to be the best to have the best. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
“Uh…”
“Now this music thing.” He shook his head. “It’s not going to work out for you. Music is an industry that swallows you whole and spits the bones out.”
I cringed at the imagery.
“Only one in a million ever make it and there’s always someone clamoring to be at the top.”
“That’s the same for business,” I pointed out.
“No, no.” He waved a hand. “That’s not true. I can teach you everything you need to know. No son of mine should be a starving artist.”
I arched both eyebrows. Was he referring to me or Alex?
“How long ago did you know about him?” I asked.
“Who?”
“That other guy.”
Dad clamped his mouth shut.
I raised my voice. “How long, Dad?”
“It’s been three months.”
I let out a breath. No wonder he hadn’t been giving as much trouble lately. He’d been too busy sorting out the truth of his former affair. “Was it your idea to tell us or his?”
“His.” Dad’s chin hit his chest. “He came into my office. Threatened me…”
“What? Wait, he threatened you?”
“I have to get ahead of this.” Dad’s eyes burst open. He swung to a sitting position and planted his legs on the floor. “I have to make sure no one ever knows.”
“Relax.” I pushed him back into the chair. He breathed heavily and I clipped my nose to keep from inhaling his stench.
Dad curled into a ball and moaned. “My life is over.”
I stared at him, hating the sympathy that unfurled in me. When Marissa told me that she was pregnant, I’d been devastated. Like Dad, I thought my life was over, so I could understand where he was coming from.
Awkwardly, I pat his leg. “You’ll get through this.”
“Darius?”
Dad and I looked up.
Mom bounded down the stairs, her hair fell around her shoulders while a section of it was bound up in a bun that looked more like a hornet’s nest than a hairstyle. Her robe flapped around her pink nightgown as she rushed toward him.
Dad sat up and opened his arms.
Mom hugged him.
I turned away. What was this? Were they making up?
“Where were you?” Mom demanded. “I was worried sick!”
“Natasha, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay.” She smoothed a hand down his cheek.
My stomach roiled. I took steadying breaths so I didn’t throw up.
I always thought Dad missed his calling to be an actor. He had Mom wrapped around his little finger. All it took was a broken voice, a few forced tears and a long-winded apology to make her stay. Didn’t matter how hard he punched her or how many places he bruised.
I spun. “What are we going to do about Alex?”
“That’s something for your mother and I to discuss,” Dad boomed.
“People make mistakes.” Mom shot Dad a loving stare. “What matters is that they learn from them and grow.”
“Dad kept it from us for weeks.”
“Did you expect me to burst in here and admit I had a son I never knew about?”
“Exactly.” Mom nodded.
I glared.
Dad took her into his lap and kissed her. “I promise you’ll never have to hear about another woman, Natasha. You’re the only one who’d put up with me. How could I leave you?”
“Darius…” Mom swooned.
Unable to stand it anymore I stormed out of the living room and up the stairs. It looked like Mom had chosen not to hold Dad’s past against him.
Which was fine.
I shouldn’t be throwing stones given the mistakes I’d made. But that didn’t mean I was okay with this.
Alex was Dad’s son by blood, but he and I would never be brothers.
10
THE TALK I CAN’T HAVE
Monique
“JAMES? JAMES!” I waved my hand over his face and smirked when he blinked rapidly.
“Huh?”
“What’s up with you? That’s the second time you’ve blanked out in fifteen minutes.”
“I was paying attention.”
I folded my arms over my chest. “Okay. Tell me what I just said.”
“It was about English.” He massaged his forehead like a fortuneteller seeing into the void. “It was something long… and boring.”
“Very funny.”
“Sorry.” He dropped his hands. The zippers on his leather jacket rasped against the table. “I’ll try to pay more attention.”
I snapped the English textbook closed. “New plan. Let’s talk.”
“About what?”
“Whatever’s going on with you.”
“Nothing’s going on. I’m—”
I stuck my pencil up. “James Sawyer, if you dare say ‘I’m fine’, I’m going to lose it. It’s clear that you’re not okay so give me the truth.”
For a moment, I sensed he would try to deflect my question. A strange pain clawed at my chest. After everything, did James still not trust me with his wounds?
“It’s...” He ran a hand through his hair and pushed out the words like they hurt. “My mom decided to stay.”
“You mean she and your dad worked it out?”
“Yup.”
“Well,” I glanced to the side, “it’s not like he cheated on her.” When James slanted me a look, I tacked on, “I mean, I know he’s cheating on her, but back then they weren’t together. It must have been hard for your mom to forgive him, but it’s not so much of a stretch.”
His eyes sharpened. “You don’t understand.”
“Then help me understand.”
He glowered at the window. “After everything he’s put her through, that night was the first time I saw her standing up to him, calling him out. I thought she was finally ready to walk away and leave everything behind.”
“But she didn’t.” I gripped his hand. “I’m so sorry, James.”
He lifted a shoulder in a half-hearted shrug. “It’s my own fault for getting my hopes up.”
“It’s hard to give up on someone you love.”
“I can’t stand the way he uses her. It’s been years and she just won’t listen to reason. I’m tired of standing on the sidelines, waiting for her to wake up.”
“Your dad won’t divorce her?”
“And ruin his perfect reputation?” James snorted. “Please.”
“What do you want to do? Should we launch a campaign to break them up?”
He laughed, his brown eyes moving over my face. “Where is this coming from?”
“Everyone has a dark side.”
“Oh yeah?” He looked intrigued. “I thought you were the exception.”
“No way. Stick around and you’ll see what I can do.”
“Wow.” His brown eyes sank to my lips. “I’m suddenly excited.”
I held him back with a hand. “Uh-uh. No kissing during working hours. That was the deal.”
“Okay.” He swept the English book aside and dragged the bottom of my chair closer. The legs scraped the ground and moaned loudly as he pulled me flush against him. “Then tutoring is officially over.”
“Are you sure?” I whispered.
He smirked and leaned in.
I sprang up and grabbed my backpack. “Cool. I promised Lauren I’d stop by Pandora’s today so…”
“You’re leaving?” James groaned. “Now?”
I shoved my textbooks into my bag and nodded. My heart was skittering out of beat. I wanted to kiss James, but lately, I got the feeling he was interested in more than just making out. We needed to have the ‘sex until marriage’ conversation, but I was too afraid to broach the topic.
James was impor
tant to me. I didn’t want to lose him over something like this. Until I was brave enough to have an honest conversation, I’d do my best to tame our embraces and keep the vibe between us warm and cozy rather than hot and heavy.
“I’m meeting Harley at Pandora’s.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Harley’s waiting for you?”
“Yes. He went ahead.”
“Oh.” He blew out a breath. “I thought he was in the parking lot.”
I zipped my bag up. “I’m catching the bus.”
He pushed his chair back and stood. “Let me take you.”
“It’s okay.”
“Alex will be there, right?”
I froze, realizing what he was really after. “I don’t know. Lauren didn’t tell me if he was staying over at her place or not.”
“I’ll just take a look around.” He gestured to the door. “After you.”
I slung my backpack straps over my shoulders. “You know, I don’t remember seeing Alex around today. Do you think he skipped?”
“I checked with the office. Apparently, he called in sick this morning. The principal was pissed. It’s only his first week teaching here so it’s not a good look.”
I arched an eyebrow. “How do you know all that?”
“I’m down with Felicia.”
“Felicia? You call our school secretary ‘Felicia’?” I gaped. “How ‘down’ are you?”
He smirked, threw his arm over my shoulders and kissed my cheek. “Enough.”
I smiled, but inside doubts wriggled in my stomach. Was he insinuating he’d had a sexual relationship with her?
Had James slept with all the adults at our school too? Where did the list stop? Was it just the secretary? Teachers? Custodians?
I shook my head.
James never said he slept with her. Stop freaking out over nothing.
“What are you thinking?” He touched the wrinkles between my brows. “Felicia’s happily married. We get along because she went to school with my father back in the day and thinks he’s a jerk, unlike the rest of this town. That’s it.”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“You didn’t have to.” He stepped ahead of me and blocked my path. “I can read you like a book, Monique Hughes.”
“Stay out of my head.” I pushed him.
He laughed and escorted me to the car.
On the way, James talked about the progress he’d made on his new song and I told him about my dad’s reformed behavior.
“And you know the best part?” I chirped.
James shot a quick look at me, laughter in his eyes. “What?”
“We bought a new fridge.”
“Oh… wow!”
“I heard the sarcasm.” I narrowed my eyes. “But it’s alright because you’re rich and you don’t get it. My mom’s wanted a new fridge since forever, but Dad was always gambling our money away and she had to use her savings to bail him out so we could never afford it.”
“Congratulations,” James said. “I mean that.”
“Thank you. Mom plans to invite you over. Don’t feel pressured. She just wants to show off her new appliances.”
“No problem. I’ll be there whenever.”
I nodded and looked outside. A boxy brick building with large glass windows and a fading sign appeared.
“That’s it.” I pointed.
James parked in front of the store. We both climbed out and trotted to the sidewalk.
Harley was sitting in the nook where we used to read together before I started my shift at the bookstore. He glanced up and saw us. A frown marred his face. One that was aimed at James.
I looked over my shoulder and saw my boyfriend glaring right back.
Seriously, the testosterone with those two…
“Come on, tough guy.” I yanked James’s arm. “Let’s go inside.”
“How often do you and Harley sit together in that window?”
“Often. Why?”
“From now on, sit on the opposite end of the bench.”
I snorted. “Are you seriously getting jealous right now? Its just a bench.”
“Should I break it then? Since it’s just a bench?”
“You’re insane.”
James chuckled.
The moment we walked in, the scent of coffee and old books overwhelmed me. I sucked in a deep breath, my eyes fluttering closed. It had been a while since I’d visited Lauren. After she let me go, I started tutoring James. Then I started dating James. And I had very little free time.
“Monique!”
“Lauren!”
A nearby cat meowed, adding its own greeting.
Lauren sped around the counter and wrapped me in a hug. My old boss was a mousy woman with brown hair, large glasses and a wardrobe that treasured comfort over style. Lauren proudly embraced her status as ‘cat lady’ and her army of felines backed it up.
Despite the way we’d ended our boss-employee relationship, I still considered Lauren to be one of the sweetest, most genuine people on the planet.
“Let me look at you!” She grabbed my cheeks and turned my face left and right, inspecting me like my grandmother did when we visited her for Christmas.
“I haven’t changed that much. It’s only been a couple months since we last met.”
“You lost so much weight!” She gasped. “Are you skipping meals?”
I opened my mouth to answer when James spoke up. “No ma’am. She eats as much as a truck driver.”
I glared at him.
Lauren released me, her jaw dropping. “Um… who are you?”
“This is my boyfriend.” I gestured. “James Sawyer.”
Lauren adjusted her glasses. “My, you’re very good-looking.” She reddened and ducked her head so her long brown hair fell lifelessly in front of her face. “Please don’t be offended. I tend to speak without thought.”
“It’s fine.” James smirked.
Lauren pulled at the front of her shirt. “It’s suddenly very hot in here. Monique, would you like an iced coffee?”
“Two please.”
I watched as Lauren scooted behind the counter and started throwing things into a blender. Her comment was innocent enough so I wasn’t bothered. James was extremely handsome and I’d seen much older women act far more indecently than Lauren did.
It just came with the territory.
James casually slipped into one of the iron stools. “Is your brother around?”
“Who? Alex?” Lauren yelled to be heard over the whirring of the blender. “No, he’s not home.”
“Why didn’t you tell me Alex was coming to town?”
“I didn’t know myself.”
“Did he tell you what he was here for?” James asked.
Lauren moved toward us, wiping her hands on a towel. The blender was still going off in the background. The loud whirr filled the building. “Sorry, could you repeat that? I couldn’t hear.”
“Alex,” James said, his eyes dark, “what did he tell you when he came to town?”
“That he missed me?” Lauren raised both eyebrows.
To deflect her suspicion, I laughed. “Alex is our new music teacher. We’re just curious about him. That’s all.”
“Music teacher? What do you mean?”
“Didn’t Alex tell you he’d gotten a job at Pine Hill High?”
“No.” Lauren looked shocked. “I thought he was only here to visit for a couple days while he figured out what his next move would be.”
James leaned forward. “What was Alex doing before he moved here?”
“He didn’t move here,” Lauren corrected. “And he was a freelance musician. He played for studios and clubs whenever they needed someone to provide music for events.”
“Had he visited Pine Hill before?”
“No. Alex moved around a lot, but he didn’t like small towns. There aren’t many job opportunities in places like this. He preferred big cities.” Lauren glanced from me to James. “Why does it feel like this is a poli
ce investigation? Did my brother do something wrong?”
“No, no he didn’t.”
I nodded. “We’re just asking.”
The blender stopped.
The room fell into thick silence.
James sat with his fingers curled into fists, staring into the air. I couldn’t begin to imagine what was running through his mind. His bias against Alex was strong. He’d take any sketchy details and blow them way out of proportion.
Lauren frowned. I could tell she was confused and worried.
Hoping to assure her, I smiled. “Did you get a new cat?”
“Yes, I did!” Like the flip of a switch, she brightened and fixed our coffees while prattling on about her newest addition, Mr. Paws. I listened, nodding in all the right places, while shooting curious looks at James.
He sat still and coiled, jaw clenched.
I’d give a million bucks to know what he was thinking.
11
FELINE ROBBERY
James
“WHAT?” Monique hissed. She pulled on my arm and yanked me out of my seat. “What do you mean you want to break into Lauren’s house?”
“Not ‘break in’. I just want to look around for a bit.”
“Without her permission. That’s the part where it turns into breaking and entering.”
“Semantics.”
She huffed. “Why are you so interested in Lauren’s house?”
“I want to snoop around Alex’s stuff. See what I can dig up about why he really came here.”
“We know why he came here!” Monique’s eyes flashed. “To see his father.”
I flinched.
Would that ever become easier to hear?
I licked my lips, knowing I needed to tell her the full truth if I had any hope of convincing her to help me. “When my dad came home last night, he was mumbling about how Alex had visited his office and threatened him.”
Monique rolled her eyes. “Wow.”
“It’s true.”
“Were you there? How do you know it’s true?”
Footsteps thudded. I glanced up and saw Harley approaching.
Urgently, I swooped closer. “Help me. Please.”
She glowered. I knew—if it wasn’t for Harley nearing us and Lauren emerging from a back room with two plates of cookies, Monique would haul a book off the shelf and whack me with it.