He gives me a sad smile. “Dad made the call, and they politely told him their prestigious reputation couldn’t be tainted by dirt, regardless of how much money my dad is making. He owns three shops now and has made some smart investments. Well, you know how the rest of that story goes. I still can’t believe I told you to pretend we didn’t know each other. I finally find you after all these years, and I panic over a stupid scholarship. I’ve never seen Dad so disappointed in me. I’m so sorry, Jo. In my defense, seeing you after all these years was a punch to the gut. I’m surprised I could string any words together. I had so many emotions running through me, but I was shocked by how much you’ve changed and where you’re living. Nothing could have prepared me for either of those things.”
I narrow my eyes and ask, “What exactly do you mean by that?”
It’s his turn to look at the water as he speaks, and I watch a muscle jump in his jaw before he does. “You’re living in possibly the biggest house in town, and your new family owns half of it. I was mad because I thought maybe that’s why you and your mom stayed here. It hurt to think that you’d moved on and never looked back. I thought you forgot about me because your new life was so much better. Hell, you even have a brother now. I didn’t see where I would fit into this life of yours. Maybe that’s why I said what I did. Plus, you’ve grown into a knock-out and I wasn’t blind to all the looks you were getting. I had a picture in my head of what you might look like, but I wasn’t expecting the pin-up version. You’ve no idea what you did to the innocent image I’d been expecting. It messed with my head, and other parts of my body too.” He looks over at me with pink cheeks and a half smile on his face.
I grin and bump my shoulder into him. “You’re not exactly what I pictured either, you know.”
He bumps my shoulder back and gives me an impish smile. “No? Do tell.”
I laugh but tell him, anyway. “I remember a boy with the deepest blue eyes and a mop of unruly black hair. You were about the same height as me, but you were skinny and somehow appeared taller. You were smart too and always seemed wiser than me. I guess I pictured you as this tall, skinny boy who was serious and shy.” He makes a sound of disgust in his throat and I laugh again before continuing. “When I realized it was you, I almost swallowed my tongue at how hot you’d become. Your hair isn’t unruly at all now, and when I look at you, I want to run my fingers through it. You’re definitely not skinny anymore. The rumors at school about your body were pretty accurate.” My cheeks heat as I tell him that, but I push on. “Your eyes though, they’re even more beautiful than I remember, and I can still see you staring back at me through them. You’re the whole package, and every girl at school has been drooling over you since you arrived.”
He reaches up and grabs a strand of my hair, tugging on the end. “Every girl? Even you?”
Swallowing my nerves, I say, “I’m not immune to the way you look.”
“Yeah?” His smile is devilish and so damn sexy.
I lean in with a playful smirk, “Am I drooling?”
He leans in too, and whispers close to my lips, “Maybe I should check.”
My skin pebbles with goosebumps as I reply, “Maybe you should.”
Cruz closes the last inch between us and kisses me. This kiss feels like an apology and a promise. He worships my mouth with his own, and I feel everything fall away around us, as everything inside me falls into place.
This boy and this moment are mine to cherish.
A Real Brother
Reality comes crashing back down by Monday morning.
I don’t know what to expect at school as far as reactions go. Hell, I’m not too sure how I’m expected to act now. Cruz said he wanted to “date” me, but what does that make us? Am I allowed to tell my friends? Will he mention it to anyone? I’m almost dreading what’s coming in that respect. I’m sure Dean will feel deceived, and that was never my intention. I should probably tell Byron myself because I’m not sure how he’ll act once he knows. I mean, we have this truce between us now, but that doesn’t mean he’ll be cool about me dating one of his new friends. I also don’t know how much of our past Cruz wants people knowing about. He’s still the new golden boy and I don’t want to ruin that for him.
My biggest fear is Tisha Lawrence. I can’t even go there in my head, so I block it from my mind for as long as I can.
Carla is picking me up, as usual, and I’m standing outside with my bag and a case of nerves. Byron strolls out and gives me a side-eyed look, then halts beside me and pretends to stare down the road in fascination, while I know his car’s in the garage and the opposite direction. “Hey, sis. Did you have any trouble with Dad this weekend? I, um, stayed at Riley’s and never thought about checking on you.”
I have to fight back an overwhelming urge to thank him. In his own way, he’s trying and showing he worries about what happens when he’s not around. I clear my throat of the emotions clogging it. “Nothing I couldn’t handle. I’ve been deflecting him for over a year now.” Not exactly true, but I don’t want him asking questions.
He turns and faces me fully, all pretense of mild curiosity gone. “You shouldn’t have to!” His face is a mask of anger now and I take a step back from the animosity there, even knowing it’s not directed at me. He heaves a heavy breath and says, “He thrives on power and control. I thought the shit-kickings he gave me over the years were bad, but what I saw with you? All this time I thought you were the one seducing him. When I think back to all the heated looks he gave you, I realize they were one-sided. I assumed you were avoiding him and his looks because you didn’t want me knowing, and I guess that’s true, but not for the reasons I thought. I never suspected he was the predator. That’s beyond anything I imagined him capable of, and I’ve imagined some harsh things. I can’t believe I share blood with him. To prey on a girl he’s raised in his house and called his daughter? I actually don’t have words that are fucking foul enough.” His eyes shine with emotion. “You must hate me. All those things I said to you, and all along my dad was... he’s been… he’s tried to...” He spins away and I watch his shoulders shake subtly.
I feel my lip quiver and move closer to the boy who is finally acting like the brother I always wanted him to be. This could be a cruel trick, but I need an ally here and I'm tired of being alone inside these walls. I place a hand on his back, and he stiffens. I speak before he can react further. “You couldn’t have known, and I didn’t tell you, so that’s my fault too.”
He whips around and takes my arms, gently, anguish clear in his wet eyes. “God, even now you’re taking the blame for how I treated you. Can you stop being, well, you, for one minute? Tell me I’m an asshole or curse at me. Slap me, punch me, do anything but remain this sweet girl who I’ve done my best to hate and punish for the last six years! I’m a fucking douche for the way I’ve treated you and the things I’ve said. Tell me you hate me!”
There are tears in both our eyes now. I reach up and rest my hand on his chest. “You’re my brother. We’ve fought and you’ve hurt me, but you were hurting too. I did hate you, but realizing we both hate the same person even more, changed things. I'm tired of fighting, aren't you?”
He sucks in a stuttering breath, then hauls me against his chest. “I guess I am. You deserve better from me, and I deserve your hate, but I’m a greedy bastard and rather beg your forgiveness. Even now, I’m a jerk for taking anything from you when that’s all the Mason men have ever done.”
I tentatively reach my arms around his waist and hug him. I feel him trembling against me. I stifle my sniffles before I say, “You’re not taking anything I’m not offering, but if you really want to repay me, I have something to ask you. It’s important you tell me the truth.”
He pulls back, releasing me, and rubs his hands down his face. When he looks at me again, he seems in better control of his emotions. “Anything, Jolene.”
“When you threatened me with my mom’s reputation, what did you mean?” This could be the moment I uncov
er the secret to Victor’s blackmail and I’m almost afraid to hope.
He blows out a breath and shakes his head. “It was something my dad said to her once. I overheard him telling her he would ruin her name and everyone she cared about. I don’t even remember what they were arguing about. I only said that to you because I thought maybe you knew what it meant, and I gambled that you would cower like she did when that threat was tossed around. See? You should hate me. It was a shitty thing to do and your mom isn’t even alive anymore. How horrible is that?”
The ball of hope bursts into particles and blows away on the breeze. My shoulders slump and I want to cry again, but in despair this time. I look down at my clenched hands. I will never learn the secret and Victor will always have the upper hand. I wipe the tears from my face, angrily. I’m not wasting my tears on him. Glancing back up to Byron, I look him in the eyes and ask, “If you ever hear him mention something, I want you to tell me, even if it seems trivial.”
“I promise. I’m sorry I couldn’t help. That’s the theme of my life. I even prayed for your mother when she got sick. She was so kind to me, and I was a bitter, selfish kid who just saw her as a woman trying to replace my mom. When she had to be hospitalized, I realized how much I needed her kindness, and that she’d gotten past my walls. I even went to see her; did you know that? No, she probably didn’t tell you.” He makes a noise of self-disgust. “At first, I acted mad at her for getting sick, but I was mad at myself. I wasted the years I could’ve let her into my heart. As it turns out, she was already there, and then I was losing her. I was pathetic and fucking bawled all over her. She had the most peaceful smile on her face, stroking my hair, and thanking me for telling her. She fucking thanked me for something I should have given freely! Then she asked me to watch over her little girl. That was when I had to leave because I almost blurted out that her little girl was warming my dad’s bed in her absence. Can you imagine? And here you are, forgiving me my sins like a damn saint. I’m not fucking worthy, Jolene, but I swear you’re not alone anymore. I will do as your mom asked and protect you.” He searches my face and watches the tears I thought I was done shedding, spill down my cheeks.
I launch myself back into his arms and this time he hugs me back just as tightly. “She would be so proud of you. You’re not your father’s son, Byron, and I’m glad you’re my brother. I’ll protect you too,” I whisper into his ear. He chuckles and wipes his face against my sweater. I try to lighten the moment. “Did you just wipe your snotty nose on my clothes? Gross, bro!”
He laughs harder, giving me one last squeeze and pulls back. “What’s the saying? A snot-nosed brother? I’m just playing my role, here.”
I laugh with him, enjoying the moment. I never thought we’d ever be like this, which reminds me, “Um, I wanted to tell you something before we get to school.”
His eyes light with excitement. “Something juicy? Is Steph ready for a ride on this stallion?”
I screw up my face and say, “Ew, no! I don’t want to think about you and my best friend like that. No, just, no.”
He pouts playfully. “Way to crush a guy’s ego and ruin his fantasies.”
I giggle. I giggle at something Byron says! My day feels made just by that alone, but I need to get this out. “Actually, I wanted to tell you that Cruz and I are kind of dating now.”
It’s his turn to screw his face into a look of distaste. “Cameron? Did you hook up with him? Aren’t you with that hockey guy? Way to play the field, Speedy. Even I don’t go through chicks that fast.”
“No, I mean, yes. Yes, I was talking to Dean and went to the football game with him, but I wasn’t with him, really.” I mumble, feeling my cheeks heat. He’s right. It doesn’t sound good at all.
“So how did you and Cameron get together?” He looks like he’s drawing all the wrong conclusions.
“Can I tell you something and you promise not to say anything?” I’m going out on a huge limb here and placing a lot of trust in someone who was one of my least favorite people.
“I’ll ask again, is it juicy?” He definitely thinks the wrong thing.
"It's not like you’re thinking. Let me ask you something first, then I’ll tell you. Do you remember what I was like when your dad first brought us here?” I wonder how much he remembers.
“Sure. You were a whiny little girl who dressed like a boy and glared at anyone who even looked in her direction. Why?”
“Do you remember me crying for my best friend?” I’m betting he does, since I did it a lot, but not the name.
“Yeah, but what does this have to do with how you got with Cameron?”
I can tell he’s getting frustrated so I’m just going to say it. “Cruz Cameron was that friend.”
His face is blank for a moment, then realization hits him. His mouth makes a comical “oh” and his eyes widen. “Cameron is the kid you pined for? He comes from the other side of the tracks too?”
I give him an annoyed glare. “Yes, and that’s not something I want you repeating. If he wants people to know, he’ll tell them. The point is, we reconnected as friends over the past week, then this weekend we realized we feel differently now we’re older. Does that make sense?”
“I get it. You guys aren’t kids anymore and now you’re hot for each other. You didn’t bone him already, did you? I don’t want to hear him bragging about doing my sister while we’re in the locker room or on the field.” He makes a disgusted face and shakes his head.
“Really? Is that what you think of me, or does your mind always lurk in the gutter?” I’m betting on the latter.
“Not always. Okay, most of the time, but I still don’t want to hear about it.”
“I didn’t have sex with him!” Honestly, this conversation is beyond embarrassing.
“All right, I believe you. Calm down. I’m only joking with you. Mostly. So, you guys are an item now, is that it?” He shoves his fingers through his hair, leaving it sticking up in places.
I sigh and admit, “Something like that. We’ve got a lot of catching up to do, so we’re going slow and getting to know each other again. I don’t know what that means exactly, but I wanted you to hear it from me.”
“Fine. Consider me told. Just do me a favor and let me know if, or when, you plan on doing the nasty. I don’t need to hear about that shit from him.”
My mouth drops open. “I am NOT telling you that!”
He rolls his eyes. “Relax, princess. I didn’t mean I want the details. That’s gross. I just meant I don’t want to hear from him what you’re like in the sack.”
I’m offended on Cruz’s behalf, but remind myself that Byron brags endlessly, so he assumes all guys are the same. “He’s not like that.”
“I’ll have to take your word on it. He had no problem talking about what he did with Tisha, though. You might want to have a chat with him if you don’t want all the guys at school knowing what he does with you.” He lifts his shoulders in a careless shrug. “Anyway, I’m running late. Are you waiting for Carla?”
I nod my head, too stunned and sick from what he said. I knew Cruz was having fun with her, but I never thought I’d have to hear about it. I assumed it was maybe kissing and stuff. I also never pegged Cruz as the type to talk about it. It seems I don’t know the older version of my friend as well as I thought.
Byron walks off to the garage for his car and I’m left standing with my stomach in knots, again, but for a completely different reason.
This day is going to suck.
I make it to lunch before the proverbial shit hits the fan.
Cruz had been waiting for me at my locker, but that wasn’t new. He’d been hanging around my locker for the last week just to talk and see how I was doing. There were no lingering looks or inappropriate touches, so the morning went by without incident or comment. I admit that I was still upset about what Byron told me, so I wasn’t overly chatty. Cruz noticed and asked if I was okay but left me alone when I said I was fine. I could tell he didn’t believe m
e, but I was not having a discussion with him about Tisha. That would be beyond painful.
I’m just sitting down in my usual spot across from Steph when I see Dean making haste in my direction. “Shit,” I whisper under my breath.
Steph raises an eyebrow at me, and I nod over her shoulder in the direction he’s coming from. She casually looks around, then snaps her head back with wide eyes. I told her and Carla about what happened between me and Cruz and the awful phone call with Dean.
He stops right beside my chair and I have to crane my neck to look up at him. His face is giving nothing away as he stares back at me. “Hey,” is all he says.
I muster a polite smile and say, “Hey,” back.
He shifts on his feet and glances down the table at the popular crowd we sit with. He looks back at me and asks, “Can we go somewhere and talk?”
Just then, Cruz is walking away from the lunch line with his tray in his hands. He smiles but sees Dean standing beside me and his smile disappears, replaced with a scowl. He doesn’t waste time reaching us, and stands on the other side of me, watching Dean with narrowed eyes. “Everything okay?”
Echoes of Us Page 15