“Yeah, uh, thanks, Owen.”
He hung up and I pressed my hand to my head and slumped into the back of the couch. Worry and fear about how the heck I was going to pay my bills shredded through me like a hundred tiny biting piranhas.
“What now?” Jonah entered with two cold ones in hand. He gave me one and I sucked back a long drink trying to cool my frustration at my predicament.
“My boss at Tracks says if I don’t go in tomorrow, they’re going to fire me.”
“The fuck you say?” He growled, his face turning to granite.
“He’s been as cool as he can be with me missing work. I need to go in.”
“You’re gonna have to quit, babe. You can’t go in. It’s unsafe.”
I shook my head and stood up to pace the room. “Tracks is my primary source of income. As it is, I’m going to need to find a new place to live. And since I’m not going to give any notice, I’ll lose my entire deposit. I’m going to have to move back into Kerrighan house again which is already a huge embarrassment. But if I don’t make money, I can’t pay for my coursework. I’m already behind on the fees. I’ve tried financial aid before but at my age and my lack of income coming and going with any real consistency, I never get approved. I’m going to need to get a new car, again, which I don’t have any money for, and I only had the required liability insurance on it, and it wasn’t worth much to begin with. I don’t have insurance to replace the car. The flower shop was my gas and food on the go money.”
“Simone, relax. Sit down with me and we’ll discuss.”
I ignored him. “You don’t understand. Not having my own safety net financially is the worst. I try and work my fingers to the bone, but something always comes up. Then my sister has to step in as my big knight in shining Prada and pay off my debts so I can crawl out from under water.” I blew a harsh breath from my mouth trying to let go of the anger and frustration coating my every thought.
“Do you have any idea how pathetic and demeaning that is? I swear, I can’t catch a fucking break. And I’m tired, Jonah. I’m so fucking tired of working my ass off for pennies and even then, I can’t hold on to them. And if I didn’t take help from Sonia or Mama Kerri I’d be sleeping under a bridge. I don’t want to sleep under a bridge, so my pride gets to take repeated kicks and I’m the loser of the sisterhood.”
Jonah stood up and hooked me around the waist mid-pace and slammed me against his chest. “You’re not going to sleep under a bridge. And you’re not a loser. No one who works as hard as you do could ever be mistaken for a loser.”
I sulked and cupped my cheek.
“I’ll help you get back on your feet…”
White-hot anger boiled under the surface of my skin. I shoved out of his arms. “No way! Have you even been listening to me?” I grumbled.
“Simone, come on. Be realistic about this…”
I barely stopped myself from stomping my foot. “No, you be realistic. We’ve known each other days, not years. I’m not going to be your kept woman, and I’m definitely not going to take any of your handouts.”
He frowned and placed his hands on his hips. I moved in front of him to put mine on the wall of his mighty chest. His T-shirt was so soft. A beautiful contrast to the warm, hard muscle underneath. I lifted my chin and looked into his eyes. “I’ll figure it out. Though part of that is me going to work tomorrow. I’m sorry. I know you don’t like it and Sonia’s head will likely explode, but I have to work. I just have to.”
He scowled so intensely I got more nervous. “If you’re working, then I’ll be sitting at the bar while you do it.”
“You don’t need to do that…”
He wrapped his arms around my body. “We starting something here. Me and you?”
I smiled softly, hope coating my response. “I think so, yeah.”
“Well, I know so. That means if my woman is working slinging drinks in a bar filled with people and is at risk, my ass will be on a stool in perfect view while she does it. I’m on leave. There’s nothing more important I need to be doing than keeping you safe.”
I slumped against him. “I’m sorry my life is so jacked up.”
He rubbed his chin along the crown of my hair. “I’m sorry mine is too. How’s about you and me put our jacked-up lives together and work together toward making something beautiful?”
I kissed him over his heart. “You keep being so nice and I’m never going to let you get away. You’ll be stuck with me and my crazy sisters and wild ways for the rest of your days.”
He hugged me tighter. “Maybe that’s not so bad from where I’m standing. Especially if it means I get a warm, cuddly Simone in my arms regularly.”
“You’re so swoonworthy.” I lifted up onto my toes, clasped my hands behind his head, and kissed him. He tasted of beer and the rich taste that could only be Jonah. A flavor I was becoming obsessed with.
As was our luck, Ryan took that moment to enter the house, his loud footsteps clomping on the wood floor. He entered and grinned.
“I’m starting to make bets with myself on the various states of libidinous behavior I’m going to see upon entry to my own home.”
Jonah looked at me and then back at Ryan and we both cracked up laughing, me pressing my face against his chest and letting loose.
It felt good to let go and laugh.
Ryan held up two white bags of what smelled like Chinese food.
“At least this time I come bearing gifts and updates!” He grinned and set the lot on top of the kitchen counter.
“Food first. Updates after. Especially if they’re going to be icky. You can tell Jonah all the freaky stuff while I’m showering if that’s cool with you.”
Ryan’s lips twitched and he nodded. “Noted, gorgeous.” He winked.
Jonah groaned but didn’t say anything. It seemed as though Ryan loved to get Jonah’s goat as much as he could. With things being so uncertain, this must have brought a bit of consistency to his life during this situation that felt totally out of control.
Ryan pulled box after box out of the bags and laid three plates down next to them. He let me dig in first. I piled my plate high with the feast and waited to start until both men had their plates loaded and we were all sitting down at the small table.
“I don’t have long, just enough time for dinner and to grab a change of clothes. How’s everything going here?”
Jonah updated him on my need to work. Ryan glared at his plate, his jaw hardening. Seemed he didn’t like the idea of me going back to work either but frankly, I didn’t have a choice. I had to live even if it meant risking my safety for a period of eight hours a night a few nights a week.
Using this as happy time, I told Ryan about the idea that Jonah’s dad had about me checking out their workplace.
“Wow. Yeah, that would be cool but what about uh, you know…the other partner who works there?” Ryan asked trying to be sly about not saying Luca’s name.
“He was here today. Luca. Came to see if I was okay,” Jonah offered.
“Are you fucking kidding me? I’ll kick his ass for you.” Ryan scowled and poked at the chicken bites on his plate so hard the tines made a loud clanking sound.
“It’s fine. He said his piece.”
“Yeah, and what did you say?” Ryan asked. Clearly, they talked about the serious shit in their lives. Something I genuinely appreciated, because I had that with my sisters by choice too.
“Told him I needed more time.”
Ryan nodded. “Took some serious balls to come here though. Especially as it pertains to Helen. The fuckwad.” Ryan angrily scooped up some rice, half of it falling off his fork with his jerky movements.
“Yeah.” Jonah sighed and leaned back in his chair running his hand behind his neck.
“You okay?”
“It’s hard, you know? I’m still so angry at him but not because I lost Helen. Mostly because it was him that was the catalyst. My own brother betrayed me. Drink or no drink, how does someone get over that?�
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Ryan shrugged as I ran my hand up and down Jonah’s back wanting to show my support as he worked through this with his best friend.
“I guess it’s a matter of do you believe it was the booze that did it or do you think there was more to it than that?”
“He never had a thing for Helen before. She’s not even his ideal woman. Tall and lean, athletic build. I mean, Simone is more his type.”
Ryan grinned at me. “Simone is every heterosexual man’s type,” he teased and smirked at me.
Jonah punched him in the shoulder hard enough for him to wince and rub at it through his laughter.
“You set yourself up for that one, bro.”
“Whatever,” Jonah grumbled, and bit into an egg roll.
“Thinking back on it, I saw Luca around Helen a lot. He never so much as looked at her twice.”
“He claims she seduced him. They were drunk, she came on to him. He’s gotten help for his alcoholism, yada… It doesn’t really matter because it’s over. My marriage ended and she’s now dead.” He tossed his fork on his plate and pushed it away from him barely half-eaten.
Ryan reached out and grabbed Jonah’s wrist. “It does matter. Luca is your brother. I’ve known you a long time and I know how tight you two were before it all went down. And he was sauced all the time, man. You even told me how worried you were the last time you and Helen went out with him and Tiffany. He got so shitfaced that he made a huge scene in a restaurant knocking over a table. Remember?”
Jonah sighed again and nodded.
“He drank all the time. More than I think the family realized. Tiffany was constantly complaining at the family dinners I went to that he drank too much.”
“Yeah. So?” Jonah bit out and yanked his arm out of his friend’s hold.
“I’m just sayin’ if he’s an alcoholic and got help this past year, then maybe you oughta give him a little bit of your time now and again. Allow the family dinners with both of you there. Start small. You love your brother and I know you miss him…”
“He fucked my wife.”
“And she fucked him. That says a lot about where she was at in your marriage. And worse, she blamed it on you. Never took the fall for her actions. Never apologized. From what I’m hearing, that’s all Luca’s doing.”
“What are you trying to say? That I’m being unreasonable?” Jonah sneered.
I watched while Ryan eased back against his chair, wiped his mouth, and crossed his arms. The man’s blond hair was a bit ruffled but sexy as ever. His jawline had a good two days of scruff that absolutely added to his appeal and his light eyes were searing with intensity. I so needed to get him around my sisters again when they weren’t worried about my safety. See if nature could take its course with one of them. Though Blessing was my first choice.
“No, I don’t think you are. Though I do think it’s time you took the first step toward healing your family. You love Luca. I know you better than I know anyone, Jonah. You’ve been a little lost this past year without him in your life.”
“I was dealing with losing him and ending a seven-year marriage. I had a lot on my mind.”
“And obviously during that time he was taking the very hard steps toward healing the divide. Getting help for alcoholism is not easy. I watched one of my parents go through it. It was brutal. Nothing but hills and valleys, highs and lows, but eventually he came out on top and it sounds as though your brother is trying to get there as well, by making amends. Admitting he has a problem. Staying sober the last year. I’m not saying that what you went through wasn’t hell on earth because I know it was, I was there during it. What I’m saying is that people do change if they want to. If they put the work in. And if he’s changed, I’d hope you were the kind of man I know you to be, and could find a way to forgive him, or at the very least allow him back into your heart and the family fold.”
Jonah clamped his mouth shut and I could tell he was clenching his teeth by how hard his jaw was, the skin stretched tight over his chin.
“I’ll think on it,” Jonah finally stated, rather low and under his breath.
“That’s all I can ask. And let me know if you need an ear to bend. You know I’m here.” His gaze swept to mine. “Though it looks like you’ve got a new source to share with too.”
Jonah looped an arm across my shoulders, leaned to the side, and kissed my temple. “Yeah, I do, but it never hurts to get hit with the honesty from my best friend.” He held his other hand out and Ryan clapped it and held it for a moment before letting go and standing.
“Hate to eat and run, but I’ve gotta get back. The coroner is doing an all-nighter. The case is leaking to the media and it’s a nightmare out there with the connection to Senator Wright. She already has a lot of play in the media for being a looker and the youngest female Senator in history not to mention her having a unique take on politics as an Independent. Now her sister is entangled with a serial murderer.”
“Damn. I haven’t been following the media or watching anything on the news. It usually bums me out to be honest. I had no idea Sonia was dealing with more because of me.” I sat back in my chair and pressed my fists to my eyes. “I wish I could just wake up tomorrow and it all be over.”
Ryan took his plate and as he walked by, he ruffled my hair. “Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered, girl.”
I pushed my food around the plate, melancholy and sadness drifting over me like a black cloud.
Jonah got up and took our plates to the kitchen. He whispered some things to Ryan, but I didn’t care. I was lost in my own pity party for one. I got up and headed to Jonah’s room. I ran a super-hot bath and got in to soak away my troubles.
Turns out I was exhausted and slipped into a deep sleep within minutes of entering the bath.
The next thing I knew the water was stone cold and I was being hauled naked and shivering out of the bath and wrapped in a soft towel. Drowsily I allowed Jonah to lead me to the bed where he grabbed a clean shirt for me. He tugged the scrunchy holding my hair in a loose bun on the top of my head, and my dry hair came tumbling down around my shoulders. I lifted my arms dutifully and he put the shirt on over the towel. Then he stood me up and snagged the towel, yanking it off from under me, but allowing me the moment of modesty. It was cute because I was one of the least modest people in my family.
Then he pulled the covers back and I slipped in, but he surprised me by entering right behind me. One of my legs cocked up and he pressed his pajama-clad one right up against it. He pressed his face to the back of my hair and locked an arm around my waist.
“Mmm… I thought we weren’t going to sleep together.”
“Simone, I’m tired. Beyond tired. You fell asleep in the bath. My mind won’t stop unless I’m lying right here. So, shut it and go to sleep, yeah?”
“I knew I’d get you to sleep with me.” I snuggled back and yanked his arm up between my breasts and rested my lips against our clasped hands. “Not exactly the way I’d hoped, but I’ll take what I can get.”
He chuckled against my hair and yawned. “Goodnight, baby.” He kissed me on my neck right under my ear.
I shivered and sighed, content as a kitten. “Night, Jonah. Things will get better tomorrow.”
“They will if my woman would close her eyes and get some shut eye.”
I snickered but pressed my lips to his fingers and kissed each one. I did this until his breathing got more consistent and I could feel his body weight turn heavy. When I knew for sure he was asleep, I closed my eyes and prayed.
I prayed to God that he’d let Ryan and the team find the man hurting us.
I then prayed to my parents for strength and the ability to see this through.
After, I prayed to Helen. Telling her I was sorry about what happened to her and asking her to watch over Jonah. Maybe put in a word with the big guy on his behalf.
Then I went back to God and did round after round of the “Our Father” prayer until I fell into a deep sleep, letting it all go for anot
her day.
When I woke the next day, he was already out of bed. Which sucked. Big time. I’d hoped to finagle a little bed play. The gentlemanly behavior was starting to grate on my nerves. Every ounce of my being screamed to connect with every ounce of his. And yet, I also understood where he was coming from and why he wanted to take things slow. He hadn’t had relations with a woman since he and his ex-wife ended their marriage. Now the woman was dead, and I had a sneaky suspicion he was adding that blame onto his already weighed-down shoulders.
I glanced at the clock and saw it was only eight in the morning. Today was going to be a long-ass day since I didn’t go in for another twelve hours, and I was scheduled from eight in the evening to three in the morning. And Friday nights were always packed. I’d make some serious cash tonight, God willing.
My phone rang on the side table and I reached over to grab it. I saw Sonia’s name as the caller.
“Good morning, SoSo,” I chirped. I pressed up and leaned against the headboard. Just as I got settled the bedroom door opened and an already dressed and showered Jonah entered with steaming mugs of coffee in both hands.
I smiled wide at my beautiful man. He was wearing a simple pair of dark wash jeans that had some faded areas at the thighs and a tight-fitting, black T-shirt. His hair was wet and slicked back a bit. He handed me one of the mugs and I sipped the heavenly brew and whispered my thanks.
“Operation relocate family was a success!” My sister’s voice rose in happiness.
“Excellent. Where is everyone?”
“Quinn and Niko have Liliana and Charlie, but they’d only do it if they got their own rooms. I have Blessing and Addison, and Quinn was able to secure the use of the fully furnished apartment by my biggest donor so Mom, Genesis, and Rory can spread out a bit. We’re all using that place as home base.”
Wild Child (A Soul Sister Novel Book 1) Page 14