Rattle His Cage: The Baxter Boys #4 (The Baxter Boys ~ Rattled)

by Charles, Jane

  “I don’t paint, or build, or any of that stuff,” Mia warns.

  “I need someone at my front desk. If the three of you could work out a schedule and take turns, I’ll only charge you each seven hundred a month.”

  “What about utilities,” Mia asks.

  “How about if I up it to eight hundred, those will be covered too. Then, I won’t have to list the apartment as a separate place because I’m not sure how all that would work out.”

  “You probably should talk to a realtor or something,” Kelsey says.

  “Or step-daddy,” Mia grabs her phone and punches in the number. After getting up from the couch she wanders in to the kitchen and starts talking to George again. We can only hear part of the conversation. She’s grinning when she comes back. “He’ll take care of everything and make sure you’re protected and not screwed on taxes.”

  “You know, I do have an attorney for the place,” Alex points out.

  “Why pay for one when I have George?” She grins.

  “At least it’s going to be taken care of.” He slaps his hands down on his knees. “Well?”

  I’m biting my bottom lip. “I mean, I could sit at the front in the evenings, and on weekends, but I also have a ton of homework this last semester, and I really don’t know what my schedule for rotations and clinicals is going to be.”

  “I know you guys have other stuff you are doing. Mia has a full-time day job but Alyssa works nights, when she doesn’t have auditions. The desk doesn’t have to be covered 24/7, but a body there most of the time would be great, and you can do your homework. I just need someone to answer the phone and schedule.”

  I look at Mia and she shrugs as if asking what I think.

  “Sure, works for me.”

  She smiles and turns to Alex. “We’ll take it.” Then she grabs her phone again. “I’ll call George and have him draw up the lease and start working on getting you out of yours, Mary.”

  29

  “Where is everyone?” The house is completely quiet. I know people were up this morning because there is half a pot of coffee left and there are dirty cups in the sink.

  More importantly, Mary is gone. She was asleep on the couch when I finally came home last night. I almost woke her and told her to go up to my bed but didn’t want to disturb her either. When someone wakes me, I have a hell of a time getting back to sleep and didn’t want to do that to her.

  I shouldn’t have been gone so long, but every time I thought about coming back, I knew the guys would still be up and would want to talk about what happened. I’m done talking about it, and if I do, I’ll just get pissed. I’m sure Mary told them everything anyway, so there is nothing new for me to share. Except, I didn’t find Nina.

  Once I got to the area around the school, I didn’t know where to start. Knocking on doors had sounded good at first but not the best course of action. Hell, I don’t even know what she looks like. She was six the last time I saw her.

  Still, I stayed out past midnight, waiting for a time when I knew the guys would be out or asleep, and just walked and thought. I had intended on just going quietly to my room, where I assumed Mary slept, and apologize, but I let her be.

  I’ve got to get out of my head. Being there alone does nobody any good, which I’ve learned time and time again, but I still fall back on the bad habit.

  Taking the stairs two at a time, I stop in Alex’s room. Mia is gone.

  I head up to the next floor, but Sean and Christian are gone too. Sean probably had to work, but I didn’t think there was any work for Christian or Ryan right now.

  There has got to be somebody here. It isn’t that late in the morning, is it?

  I check the time on my phone. It’s nine. I haven’t slept this late in forever. Then again, I didn’t really fall asleep until sometime around four.

  Zach and Ryan, who have rooms on the fourth floor are gone too. The last place to check is the attic, but I’m sure Kelsey and Alex are at Just Ink About It. They’ve been practically living there while they get ready for the place to open again.

  Dejected, I go back down to the kitchen and pour a cup of coffee. Where the hell is everyone?

  It’s not like I need them here. Hell, half the time I am the only person here, but at least a few people have been around constantly since Thanksgiving. More than they’ve been before. I usually like it quiet. The silence. But it’s bugging me today.

  I could take advantage of the alone time and write, but my head isn’t in the story right now. I tried last night and nothing flowed.

  Because I’m in my own head, and if I don’t get out of here and get around people, I’m going to stay there. It’s not a good place.

  Besides, where did Mary go? Did she go back to her place because I was a shithead yesterday? I wouldn’t really blame her.

  And, what about Mia? I thought she was going to hide here until the bruising on her face was gone, or her ribs healed a little better.

  My heart rate picks up. Did something happen to one of the guys? One of the girls. Is that why everyone is gone? Why the hell didn’t they wake me?

  Grabbing my phone I text the first person on the list:

  Me: Everything okay

  Alex: Yeah

  Me: Nobody here. Where are you?

  Alex: Work

  Me: Where is everybody else?

  Alex: Moving Mia, Mary, and Alyssa

  Mary is moving? I know she needs to get out of party central, but I was hoping her and Mia would decide to stay in the basement. We can get it finished up in a weekend.

  Me: Where

  Alex: Upstairs. Above shop

  They are moving up to Alex’s brooding apartment? Is that place even habitable? When was the last time it was cleaned?

  That should be the last of my concern.

  I should be boxing shit and helping them move, and instead they let me sleep.

  What the hell is up with that? Have I been such an asshole they are distancing themselves from me?

  They’ve never done that before, but maybe I pissed them off.

  “Get out of your fucking head, Dylan!”

  Thank God that Dylan and I cleaned my room, otherwise it would have taken three times as long to pack up and move. It’s not that I have all that much, but when it isn’t exactly put away, it seems like a lot.

  “This the last of it?” Nelson asks as he picks up a box. Nelson and I have been friends since freshman year when we had English and biology classes together, and he lives in the apartment down the hall. He just got back from winter break and ran into me as I was hauling another box out of the building. He had no idea what was going on during the past few days, or what was occurring in his own apartment, the other party room, which he assures me that he will put a stop to. Not that it makes a difference now. I’m moving.

  I look around and don’t see any more boxes. “Yep, that’s it.”

  He grabs the last one and heads out of the apartment. I stop long enough to leave my apartment key. I’ll hold onto the mailbox key until I can get my address changed.

  Nelson steps over a guy passed out on the floor before he heads out the door. He was a huge help and I owe him big. He didn’t have to help me and the guys haul my stuff out, but after he dropped his own bag in his apartment, he came down, complaining about the mess in his own place and that he was not going to clean up after those asswipes.

  Nelson and I have been meaning to get together for dinner or coffee all semester but never got a chance because his schedule can be as screwy as mine. That’s going to be fixed. The least I can do is to treat him to a meal after he’s helped so much.

  We stop at the back of the moving van and he hands the box up to Christian. Since the rent is cheap enough and we all want out of our places, Mia, Alyssa, and I pooled our funds for a moving van. The plan had been to move this weekend but none of the moving places had anything available. However, one we called said they had a truck that was available today, so we jumped on it, after making sure we had t
he guys to help. The only person we didn’t talk to, or ask help from, was Dylan. The guys wanted to, but I told them not to wake him. He didn’t get home until after midnight and I barely remember him coming in, not that he even knew I was awake, but he stopped by the couch and then headed upstairs.

  I’d hoped he’d want to talk, but he didn’t even try to wake me.

  That is one of the reasons I was glad to get a moving van today. I really don’t want to live in my apartment any longer or sleep on the couch in the brownstone. I don’t know what is going on with me and Dylan, and I’m not sure if things changed after yesterday.

  I do know he needs time to figure out his family and what he’s going to do. He’s not going to be able to settle until he sees Nina and knows exactly where Noah and Jade are, and I get that. But, I can’t help him either. Trying to point out the positive yesterday wasn’t the answer, and I have nothing else to give but support. I’m pretty sure he doesn’t want either. That was clear enough when he left me standing in front of child services to go find his sister, so I’m just going to distance myself until Dylan has things figured out.

  I’m not holding my breath though. Once his family is back in his life, I doubt he’ll have time for me. Not that I blame him. If I had lost my irritating brothers for years, I’d want to be with them over anyone else too.

  “That it?” Christian asks.

  “We’re good,” Ryan says. He and Zach had been adjusting the furniture and boxes so stuff doesn’t shift and break. Not that I have anything that is really breakable, but Mia does.

  My stuff is the last. They got Mia’s first because she has the most furniture. While they were loading the heavy stuff, Alyssa and I boxed her clothing and other personal items because Mia still isn’t in any condition to do much of anything. Then Alyssa and I tackled our own apartments. They went to Alyssa’s next and finally mine, since I had the least stuff and now it’s all loaded, ready to go to our new place.

  I haven’t even seen it, but the area is not bad and it won’t be a horrible subway ride to school or the hospital. I just hope the roommate thing works out. I barely know Mia and only met Alyssa once before we all decided to live together. I’m going on faith that it works out, but it sure as hell can’t be any worse than what I’m leaving.

  Once all of my stuff is unloaded and I figure out what room is mine, I plan on spending the next few days unpacking and getting to know the area. What I won’t do is call Dylan. He needs space and time.

  “Dinner tomorrow?” Nelson asks.

  “Sounds good,” I tell him.

  Christian jumps out of the back of the truck and closes the door then gives us a look but doesn’t say anything.

  “I’ll meet you at Gino’s at seven.”

  “Looking forward to it,” he calls and heads back inside.

  “You dating him?” Ryan asks. There’s tension in his voice that I don’t get.

  “No. We’re friends,” I dismiss.

  “Does he know that?” Zach asks.

  “Of course! I’ve known Nelson since freshman year.”

  Christian glances back to the building. “I’m not so sure,” he says before walking around to where the driver is. “We’re done and will meet you there to unload.”

  The one requirement of renting the truck was also using their driver, not that the guys cared. None of them really like to drive around New York and were happy to give that headache to someone else.

  “Well, let’s head to your new place,” Zach says. “I’m sure the girls are anxious for their stuff.”

  “I wonder if they were able to get the cleaning done that they planned on,” Ryan says.

  Christian snorts. “Since when do either of them clean?”

  “Their places weren’t dirty,” Ryan points out.

  “I guess you’re right.” Christian grins. “Then again, they aren’t used to living with Dylan.”

  I snap a look at him. Are they making fun of their friend? That kind of pisses me off.

  “Relax,” Christian says. “Don’t get all defensive for Dylan.”

  “We aren’t saying anything we wouldn’t say to his face,” Ryan grins.

  “Oh, and you may want to mention Dylan when you have dinner with Nelson,” Zach says. “Let the guy down before it gets started.”

  “A guy and a girl can have dinner without anything going on. We are friends.”

  Christian just looks at Ryan and shakes his head. Why don’t they believe me? They’ve got six girls that are their friends so it isn’t like it’s something foreign to them.

  I just roll my eyes. They know nothing about my relationship with Nelson, and I’m not sure any of us know what my relationship is with Dylan any longer either.

  30

  “Have you ever really washed a window before?”

  Mia is wiping at the glass but leaving streaks behind. Though, how she manages to clean with any type of elbow grease and hold her side is beyond me. She shouldn’t even be out of bed. “You shouldn’t be doing this anyway.”

  “I hate to move into a dirty apartment,” she whines.

  “Why didn’t you wake me?” I take the paper towels from her.

  “Mary said you needed your sleep.”

  This surprises me. “Really?”

  “She said you got in at around two and we should let you sleep.”

  How the hell did she know that? She was asleep when I got in. Or, so I assumed. Was she pretending to be asleep to avoid me? If so, then I really fucked up more than I realized yesterday.

  Shit! I’ve got to fix that. I can’t lose her because I’m an ass. I just got up the nerve to go after something with her and I may have fucking ruined it in the matter of twelve hours from taking that chance.

  “This cleaning stuff sucks for the nails,” Alyssa calls from the bathroom.

  “Try wearing gloves,” I call back.

  She pops out with a grin on her face. “Please, please, please get the stains out.”

  “Out of what?”

  “Bathtub. It’s gross.”

  “I’m sure it’s not that bad.” I walk past her and look inside. “Just water spots.”

  “They aren’t coming up,” Alyssa whines. Of all the girls I thought she’d be the least concerned about hard water spots. After living in such an old, worn, and probably cockroach infested apartment, this is a huge improvement.

  “I’ll take care of the bathroom, the windows, and the kitchen.”

  She throws her arms around me and hugs me. “Thank you. I knew you were my favorite.”

  We each take turns being a favorite depending on what is needed at the moment. For me, it’s whenever something needs cleaned or they want fed.

  “Alyssa, vacuum and sweep before your stuff gets here.” I glare at Mia. “You, sit. You don’t need to be doing any of this shit with bruised ribs and stitches in your back.”

  Alyssa whips around. “You never told me about the stitches. What else did that jackfuck do?”

  Mia levels a look at me. “Thanks.”

  Hell, how was I to know she hadn’t told the girls the details? All of them had stopped in at least once after she’d gotten out of the hospital, not that they stayed long because Mia kicked them out, saying she was tired.

  “Are you going to tell me what really happened?” Alyssa fists her hands on her hips. “Everything!”

  I grab the cleaning stuff I brought and duck into the bathroom, closing the door after me, but with nothing else in the apartment to muffle the sound, I can hear them talking. Even though it doesn’t take much to get rid of the water spots and I’m only running water for a little bit, I wait until Mia is done telling Alyssa everything before I go back out there. It’s not like I don’t know what happened, but Mary was the one to tell us because Mia refused to talk about it.

  “Why the hell didn’t you tell us everything?” Alyssa demands.

  “I just didn’t want to talk about it, okay?”

  “Why the hell not and why are you trying to do
so much? Ribs are bad enough, but your back, ass, and everything else.”

  “You’re making too much out of this.”

  “No, you are not making enough out of it.” Alyssa fists her hands. “If I ever see that fuckwad, I’ll make sure he regrets ever laying a finger on you.”

  “That is exactly why I didn’t want to tell anyone,” Mia says, her eyes boring into Alyssa’s. “We are going to do nothing. We are going to move on, and you will make sure the others understand that too.”

  Alyssa turns to me. “You okay with this shit?”

  “Nope, not okay with it, but I get it and it’s what Mia wants.” I look at her, wishing she’d press charges. “So, we’ve got to get okay with it.”

  Alyssa slumps and looks back at Mia. “Okay, but if you change your mind and want someone to knock his balls into his throat, just let me know.”

  Mia’s lips quirk to a smile. “I’ll do that.”

  “So, where’s the vacuum?” I finally ask.

  “I’ll get it from upstairs,” Alyssa calls and heads for the door.

  “Upstairs?”

  Mia shrugs. “Another apartment, like this, but shit is stored there. Alex doesn’t know what all’s up there, but it has a vacuum and broom.”

  “Let’s just hope it works,” I say as I head to the kitchen area to start scrubbing in there.

  “Hey, you okay?” Mia asks as she follows me, stopping at the counter that separates the kitchen from the living area

  “Sure.”

  “I know you were really looking forward to seeing Nina again.”

  “With any luck, I’ll see her on Tuesday, and that’s what I have to focus on.”

  She nods. “Good, and since I’ll be gone, you’ll have time to get Alex’s room all fixed up for her.”

  She’s right. With Mia moving in here, I can get the room ready for Nina, assuming she wants to live at the brownstone. It isn’t all that far from the school, but she’ll still need to take the subway. What if she wants to remain with her friends, assuming that is where she went?

  Of course, she could have chosen them over the unknowing of who she’d be living with at the halfway house. Hopefully, being with her brother is better than where she is.