All while I’d been building my career and trying to figure out what the hell I had done to deserve Leah’s betrayal, she’d offered herself up as a human punching bag to secure her sister’s safety. I was pissed both at the situation and at her. She hadn’t needed to do that. If she hadn’t pushed me away, I could have helped her, then and now. She said she loved me and wanted to be with me, but her actions said otherwise.
“How could you do that?” My voice was low and controlled, and it took a lot of effort to keep it that way. I wanted to lash out.
“I didn’t want Lacey to end up in foster care. But I had to get her—well, both of us—away from him. So I used what I had at my disposal.”
“You risked your safety. He could have killed you.”
She blinked as if that thought hadn’t occurred to her. “It never would have gotten that far.”
“You don’t know that,” I growled. I wanted to rip that man’s limbs from his body, but first, I wanted to beat his face to a pulp. I wanted to mess him up so badly that no one would recognize him.
I slowly counted to ten and breathed deeply, trying to calm my shit. As much as I hated what she’d done, it was in the past. It seemed that if she had her way, it would’ve stayed in the past, and I never would’ve found out about it. That bothered me, but there was another pressing issue.
I looked at Tyler, who had been silently observing the whole time. He looked miserable, but I couldn’t bring myself to care. He’d been in an impossible situation, but he should have told me. Some things were more important than promises of secrecy.
“What does all of this have to do with him trying to blackmail you a few weeks ago?” I asked.
“He was going to take the pictures to the media and claim that you had abused me. I told him off and explained why it would never work. I thought that was the end of it.”
“So let me get this straight. He tries to blackmail you. Then he breaks into your apartment. Then he slashes your car’s tires. And yet you still went to meet with him by yourself?” Leah was a smart girl, but I’d never heard of anything so stupid. “And why did you keep all of this from me?”
It wasn’t fair for me to be pissed about her father’s actions and her responses to them. I knew I shouldn’t judge her relationship with her family. But I sure as hell could be pissed that she’d kept so many secrets. Every time things in her life got difficult, she pushed me away.
“He told me he knew where your mother was.”
That was the last thing I expected Leah to say. Under normal circumstances, I would have been interested to hear more, but these weren’t normal circumstances. I was so angry that colors flashed before my eyes as a migraine started.
“So instead of confiding in me and coming to me about this, you knowingly put yourself in a dangerous situation.”
“He had a picture of her.” With shaking hands, she fumbled with her phone and pulled up an image. She held it out to me, and I took it.
It took me a moment to recognize the woman in the picture as my mother. I hadn’t seen her in over a decade, and she looked like she had aged at least three times that much. But honestly, I couldn’t have given two shits about my mother in that moment.
“You always push me away,” I said, almost not recognizing the sound of my own voice. It sounded hoarse, broken. This girl had put me back together only to break me again. Only this time, I was shattered beyond recognition. “You say you want to have a life with me, but your actions say otherwise.”
“That’s not true.”
“It is, though. You won’t let me in. Whenever you have a problem, you push me away. Hell, I can’t even get you excited about picking out tile for the house I’m trying to build you.”
She frowned. “Is the house really important right now?”
“You don’t get it,” I said angrily. “I’m trying to build something between us, and you won’t let me.”
“Gabe—”
“No,” I said. “This is like five years ago all over again. You push me away, claiming that it’s what’s best for me. Five years ago, you pushed me away so that I could start my music career. And today, you didn’t come to me about this. It was about me, my mother, but you didn’t come to me.”
I stared at her and felt like I was looking at a stranger. “You don’t know me at all. I would never want you to put yourself in harm’s way for me, much less for the woman who abandoned me. We’re supposed to be a team, and we’re supposed to handle life together. But I’m starting to think you aren’t capable of that.”
I expected a protest, but all I got was silence. She didn’t even try to defend herself, and the cracks in my heart that had only recently been cemented over started to fissure and split again.
I stepped back, needing the physical distance between us to match the emotional distance.
“I can’t do this,” I said. “I want a partner in life, but you don’t seem to understand what that is.”
“I’m trying.” Finally—finally, she had something to say. Too bad it was the wrong thing.
“That’s not good enough. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. I’m not going to wait around for a third time.” And with those words, I did the last thing I ever expected to do and walked out on the woman I was in love with.
I drove straight to Aunt Rose’s house and packed my shit. Saying nothing, she watched me with her arms crossed. That was one of the things I’d always appreciated about my aunt—she knew when to keep her mouth shut. After a stiff goodbye and an even stiffer hug, I was out the door.
Before I left Cedar Creek, though, there was something I had to do.
I drove up Route 51, looking for a cheap motel. It wasn’t hard to find. It was a one-story building with doors facing the outside and parking spaces right next to the rooms. That made it really easy to figure out which room Robert Jacobson occupied.
I pounded on the door. The son of a bitch opened it and didn’t look a bit surprised to see me. “I see Leah—”
The man didn’t have time to finish his sentence. I gripped his shirt and pushed him back into the room, kicking the door closed behind me. I pulled my fist back and slammed it into his nose. Once, twice, three times. Blood spurted, and I shoved him away from me. He hit the dresser and slid down it to land on the floor.
“Fuck, man! You broke it! My fucking nose!” He wiped at the blood streaming down his face.
“You’re lucky that’s all I broke.” My voice was hard and dangerous. I almost didn’t recognize it. Hell, I almost didn’t recognize myself.
He climbed to his feet. “Big mistake. The price just went up. Twenty grand, and I’ll tell you where your mom is.”
I wasn’t even tempted. “You will never get a single cent from me. But here’s what I can give you—some advice. Stay the fuck away from Leah and Lacey. If you so much as look in their direction, I will find out. And you will wish to God the cops had come for you instead of who I’ll send.”
He paled. “You can’t threaten me.”
I stepped toward him, and he flinched. “I just did, you sack of shit.”
I wanted so badly to hit him again, to hit him again and again and again, but I’d made my point. Without another word, I turned on my heel and left the room. Then I drove like hell to get the fuck out of Cedar Creek.
Chapter 25
Leah
“Just a sec!” Eddie called over to me. “Let me plate this order and then you can take it.”
I started to snap out an irritated response before stopping myself. It wasn’t his fault the diner was busier than usual and the kitchen was backed up. If it was anyone’s fault, it was mine for suggesting we try a kids-eat-free night.
Sharon eyed me. “Have you taken your break yet?”
“No. We’ve been too busy.”
She took the tray out of my hands. “Take your break.”
“I’m fine,” I protested, wanting to yank the tray back. I didn’t need her telling me how to handle my job.
I blinked at her. Sharon was gruff, but that was harsh even for her. My shoulders sagged. “Okay.”
She sighed. “Sorry, Leah. But you’ve been moping ever since your rock star skipped town. It’s downright painful to watch.”
Gabe wasn’t my rock star, which was the problem. “Sorry,” I muttered. My mood hadn’t been great lately, but my work hadn’t suffered.
“It’s been so bad that I even told Chet no Gabe Gable songs.”
Huh. I’d noticed that none had been playing at the diner, but I’d just assumed I’d gotten lucky for once. I was touched that Sharon had gone out of her way to do that for me. “Thanks,” I said, my tone softer.
Sharon bristled. “I’ll handle your tables. Grab yourself some food and pull yourself together. Eddie,” she called, “make Leah a cheeseburger.”
The blue-plate special was most definitely not a cheeseburger. Damn. I had to turn away so she wouldn’t see the tears gathering in my eyes. I could handle her anger, but her kindness cut me deep. “Thanks.” I dutifully retreated from the kitchen.
On the way to the break room, I stopped by the bathroom to splash some water on my face. Sharon’s advice to pull myself together was good, especially since Lacey was due home for winter break the next day. If my boss could tell I was out of sorts, then my sister certainly would.
Sinking down into a chair in the break room, I rested my head in my hands. I’d let myself wallow for as long as it had taken my face to heal. Then I’d told myself it was time to get over it.
Easier said than done.
I’d unsuccessfully argued to myself that nothing had changed. A few months ago, I didn’t have Gabe, and I still didn’t have him. But I could have. And that was the kicker—I’d screwed it up, and for what? Nothing.
I’d been so damn determined to handle everything life threw at me that I hadn’t stopped to consider if I should. All Gabe had wanted was to love me, to take care of me, and apparently, that had been too much to ask.
Tears started to fill my eyes again. So much for pulling myself together. It was so much easier to be angry. Trouble was, I had no one to be angry at but myself.
Eddie poked his head into the break room then set a plate with a cheeseburger and fries in front of me. Next to the fries, a smiley face was drawn in ketchup.
“Thanks.”
“Of course. Eat up, girlie. You’re getting too thin.”
I looked down at my thighs covered by the horrible polyester uniform. The dress was fitting a little looser these days, but that was probably because I hadn’t been indulging in Sharon’s pies like I had been. I’d actually dropped off some slices of pie for Aunt Rose last week. Big mistake. The reminder was too painful.
After my shift, I headed over to Tyler’s house. He’d bought a fixer-upper in town last year and spent most of his free time doing renovations. He answered the door, covered in sawdust. He stepped back so I could enter.
“What’s today’s project?” I asked.
“Demoing the bathroom.”
“I thought the kitchen was next.”
He cringed. “I’m still intimidated by that. The bathroom is smaller, so I thought I’d use it as a warm-up.”
“Makes sense. I won’t keep you. I just need to pick up the Christmas decorations.” Tyler was nice enough to let me store things in the corner of his garage since my apartment was too small.
“This gives me an excuse to take a break. You want a drink or something?”
“No thanks.”
“Come on. Take off your coat and stay a few minutes. I haven’t seen you much lately.”
I shrugged out of my coat, already trying to think of an excuse to put it back on and be on my way. “It’s the holidays. Busy times.”
Tyler snorted. “Who do you think you’re talking to? Don’t pull that with me. You’ve been avoiding me. I wasn’t going to call you on it until you dished out that lame excuse.”
It was an excuse, and I had been avoiding him, which wasn’t fair. I owed him better than that. It was just that he’d been there when Gabe had walked out, and I was ashamed he’d witnessed that. Also, I’d put Tyler in an unfair position when I asked him to keep things from Gabe. Tyler was the best friend I had, and I’d done him wrong.
“Sorry,” I said. “Just… sorry.” I hoped he understood what I was apologizing for. I couldn’t put it into words without risking waterworks. I didn’t want to put him through awkwardly trying to comfort me. Tyler was a great guy, but female crying unnerved him, and I’d put him through enough of that when Gabe left the first time.
Tyler eyed me. “How have you been?” His tone was soft and earnest.
Fine was on the tip of my tongue, but Tyler was right. I couldn’t—and shouldn’t—lie to him, despite the awkwardness that might ensue. “I’ve been better.”
He pulled a can of soda out of the fridge. “Do you want it spiked?”
I shook my head then reconsidered. “On second thought, yes.”
Tyler grinned and took a glass out of his cabinet. “One rum and Coke, coming up.” He filled it to the top with ice, rum, and soda.
“I really am sorry, Tyler, for everything.” I clutched the glass he slid across the counter and stared at it.
“Have you talked to him? Is he still pissed at you?”
“Yes and no.”
I looked up.
“Yes, I’ve talked to him,” Tyler clarified, “and no, he’s not still pissed at me.”
I nodded. “Good.”
Tyler prepared himself a drink as silence stretched between us. “I noticed you aren’t asking if we talked about you.”
I ducked my head. “No. I’ve finally learned not to put you in the middle.”
He nodded. “I appreciate that.”
“But I also don’t have anyone else to talk to. Am I horrible?” I hadn’t meant to ask the question, but I couldn’t resist. “I mean, what the hell is wrong with me?”
Sighing, Tyler placed his glass on the counter and leaned on his elbows. “When I was a kid and my parents first got divorced, I thought it was the worst thing ever. I thought I’d been dealt the shittiest hand in life. But now, I realize that’s not true. I can’t imagine growing up the way you did and dealing with the shit your parents dished out. Hell, you’re still dealing with it.”
“Not for the last few weeks, anyway.” The cops had arrested my father, and Debra Pritchard of all people had posted his bail. He’d been a no-show at the first hearing, though, and no one knew where he was, not even Debra. There was another warrant out for his arrest.
I wished they’d locked him up the first time and been done with it, but I knew the justice system didn’t work that way. If I never saw him again, though, I’d be perfectly fine with that.
“You’re bound to have some baggage after all that,” Tyler said.
“Yeah, I guess.” But blaming my hang-ups on my shitty parental situation was a cop-out. I should have known better than to expect Tyler to agree that I was totally messed up.
“Did you ever see your dad’s mug shot?” Tyler asked.
“What? No. How would I have seen that?”
“Here.” Tyler tapped on his phone and held it out to me.
Reluctantly, I took it. My dad’s nose was black and blue and twice as big as normal. I frowned. “What the hell happened to his face?”
Tyler smirked. “He told us he fell face-first onto the dresser in his hotel room.”
“You didn’t…” I let my unasked question hang in the air.
“Give me some credit. I am a cop, you know, and police brutality is frowned upon.”
I stared at the image for another moment before placing Tyler’s phone facedown on the counter. My father was a jackass, and it wouldn’t have surprised me if he had enemies or if he’d simply gotten into a bar fight with a random stranger. But Tyler wouldn’t have shown it to me if he thought that was the cas
e.
Gabe had skipped town immediately after leaving my apartment. But perhaps he’d made a detour first. He’d already washed his hands of me, though, so why would he take that kind of risk? I couldn’t even begin to imagine the damage to his career if he’d gotten arrested for assault.
“Do you know who is responsible?” I asked slowly.
“Again, I’m a cop,” Tyler reminded me. “I don’t ask questions I don’t want to know the answers to.”
I was at a loss. “But why would… someone do that?”
Tyler licked his lips and seemed to choose his next words carefully. “Maybe someone will always care, no matter what other someones do.”
My chin quivered, and Tyler backed up, his hands out and waving. “Oh, no. Don’t start crying.”
So much for not making it awkward. Turning away, I wiped my eyes. “I’m not crying.”
Tyler stared at me until he was sure the waterworks had ceased. “Good. Now put these on.” He fished a pair of goggles out of a cabinet and handed them to me.
Taking them, I stared at them in confusion. “Why?”
He grinned. “You’re going to love this. Come on.”
A few minutes later, we stood in his half-demolished bathroom, and I held a sledgehammer in my hands.
Tyler stepped back. “Give it a swing.”
I nervously adjusted my grip and hefted it over my shoulder.
“Don’t be shy,” he encouraged.
I swung the tool at the cabinet, and it made a tiny dent. Still, it felt good as hell. I reared back and swung again, harder this time. The head of the sledgehammer got stuck in the cantaloupe-sized hole I’d made.
Tyler leaned against the doorframe and crossed his arms. “It feels good, doesn’t it? I didn’t realize how therapeutic demo could be.”
“Hell yes.” I adjusted my safety goggles then yanked the sledgehammer free. I swung it again and again, until my muscles were sore and sweat coated my skin.
It felt a hell of a lot better than crying.
I looked at our sad, skinny Christmas tree and attempted to fluff up the branches. There was no helping it, though.
Back To You (In Tune Book 1) Page 22