“Hi, I’m Carmen Spencer, from Child Protective Services. I wondered if I could meet with Luke for a few minutes?”
Luke nodded for us to go.
We went and found seats in the lobby area, while Carmen took Luke into a room off the emergency room. I glanced at Mom. “What do you think will happen?”
“I don’t know, sweetie. I’m sure they’ll be okay with the boys coming with us for tonight, maybe even tomorrow. But they’ll likely be looking for something more permanent for them. They’ll attempt to get in touch with some of their family members, see if anyone can take them in while they investigate their mom.”
My vision blurred as tears welled. “Mom, I didn’t know they had it so bad. The way she yelled at them, the things she said…”
Mom hugged me. “I know, sweetie. All you can do is be there for them. We’ll get them through this. Luke is lucky to have you.”
Then why did I feel like the world’s biggest asshole? After tonight, I was done with the whole blackmailing thing. If Luke wanted to hang out, we could hang out, but I wouldn’t force him any longer. He had a shitty life, and I wasn’t going to make it worse for him. And besides that, I actually cared about him. I’m not sure when it happened, but I didn’t want the blackmail thing hanging between us anymore.
A while later, Carmen came out and asked to speak to my parents, while Landon and I sat waiting some more. After a bit, my parents came back out with Luke and Carmen. His eyes were rimmed red, as if he’d been crying. I wanted to go to him, to comfort him. But instead, it was Landon who rushed into his arms.
“I’ve gotten an order faxed over from our judge allowing for Luke to have medical treatment. And this order is placing the boys with you for the weekend,” Carmen said, holding up a piece of paper and handing a copy of it to my dad.
Dad nodded and said, “Okay, we’ll take good care of them.”
“We’ll set an emergency hearing for Monday morning up at the courthouse, if you could make sure the boys get there. In the meantime, we’re going to try to get a hold of some of their family.” She handed both my parents and Luke business cards. “If you need anything before then, just drop me a line.”
I knew Luke’s grandparents lived in town, but by the sounds of it, he and his brother weren’t close to anyone on their dad’s side.
Once Carmen left, Mom brought Luke up to the desk. She helped to fill out his paperwork while an attendant came out with a wheelchair.
Dad took Landon from me. “Hey, what do you say we go get some hot cocoa from the cafeteria? Maybe we can find a cookie, too.”
Landon nodded. “Okay. Will Luke be all right?”
“He sure will. Ayla and Mrs. Hawkins will go back with him.” Dad propped Landon up on his shoulders, telling him to duck down every time they came to a doorway.
As they wheeled Luke back, I followed close behind until we came to a curtained area. They slid the long, blue-green curtain out of the way, the metal clips clinking as they went.
A nurse helped him onto one of the beds. Dr. Lipman, or so his name tag indicated, scooted in behind her and took the cloth Luke had been using to keep his head from bleeding.
“You’re gonna need some stitches. It’ll likely leave a little bit of scarring when it heals up. But the girls like the scars,” the doctor teased.
Luke glanced at me, and I smiled. “Yeah, you’ll be way hotter with a scar.”
He snorted. “Well, that was definitely what I was going for.” But his tired eyes softened, and I moved to sit in the chair next to his bed. He reached his bloodstained hand out to me, and I held tight to him while the nurse numbed him up and the doctor proceeded to sew his wound shut.
The doctor talked to my mom for a minute about getting him a low dosage of painkillers to help him through the next couple of days and explained to her about keeping the area dry.
When Luke was done, we all headed back into the lobby together. Mom left first, while the rest of us piled into the backseat of Dad’s car. Landon sat in the middle, buckled in between me and Luke. He leaned against Luke, resting his head on his chest, while I rubbed his back.
Over his head, Luke met my gaze and held it until we got to my house.
Dad parked in the garage, and we ushered everyone inside to get them settled in. Since we had extra bedrooms, Dad let Landon have first dibs. He picked the one across the hall from my parents, the one that overlooked our backyard and pool. And, coincidentally, the tree house.
Luke took the one next to mine, which was down the hall from the others.
Together, we tucked Landon in. “Ayla, do you think you could maybe sing to me?”
I smiled. “I sure can. What song do you want to hear?”
“I don’t know. You can pick one.” He yawned, pulling the blue-and-gray comforter up under his chin.
Luke tucked his stuffed Yoda under his arm and kissed his forehead, while I sat on the edge of his bed.
“How about a song from the musical I’m in?”
“Okay.” He nodded, closing his eyes.
So I sang “Suddenly Seymour” from Little Shop of Horrors. And when I finished that one, I sang a couple of Irish songs my grandma had taught me when I was younger. Finally, Landon dozed off, and Luke and I crept from the room.
Instead of going to bed, we wordlessly both made our way into the backyard and climbed up into the tree house. We sat on the deck of it, staring at the stars. Without saying anything, he took my hand in his. He held it for a long time before finally turning to face me.
“Thank you for helping with everything tonight. I don’t know what Landon and I would’ve done if you hadn’t called your dad…I can never repay you for this.”
My throat thickened with emotion. “You don’t have to repay me for anything. This is what friends do for each other.” I dropped his hand, then reached my fingers up to stroke his face. “Whatever you need, I’m here, okay?”
He raised his palm until it covered my hand, then he leaned closer, until his chin rested against my forehead.
“I’m done blackmailing you,” I whispered. “I don’t care if I win the election or not.” I knew that it might mean my future and possibly the futures of some of my friends. But maybe there’d be another way to save the paper, in case I didn’t win. I just couldn’t go on doing this to Luke. He didn’t deserve it.
He pulled back slightly and grinned. “Just so you know, you’re not real great at blackmailing anyway. The only thing you’ve done this whole time was show me the video and tell me to help you. You’ve made no other demands. Besides, everything I’ve done, I’ve wanted to do.”
My mouth gaped open. “Everything?”
“Yes.” He moved closer, his thumb trailing down my jawline. “You don’t need to blackmail me into liking you, Ayla.”
“I don’t?” I stared at him, loving the way his blond hair flopped over his forehead, hiding the bandage. The way his eyes glittered when he was teasing me about something.
“No.” With that, he leaned down until his lips brushed mine.
Fire shot through my veins as if someone had thrown lighter fluid on a bonfire. The way his mouth moved against mine—how gentle the touch of his fingers was along my face and the back of my neck as they clasped hold of me. His breath made a trail over my skin as he kissed my chin, then my neck and once again found my lips. I pulled him down next to me until we were pressed together, his arms wrapped around me, keeping me molded against his chest.
He let out a low groan. “God, you have no idea how beautiful you are. How much you make me want to be a better person.”
“Hmm…then my magic spell must be working.” I laughed, smoothing his shirt down. Beneath the fabric, I felt the contours of his muscles. The solidness of him.
“We should probably head back in soon. It’s almost two in the morning, and I think my meds are starting to kick in.” He tugged lightly on my sweatshirt string.
“What, you don’t want me to have to carry you into the house?”
This was the kind of kiss you gave to someone when you were promising them something.
I touched his cheek, feeling the light stubble beneath my hand. My gaze held his, and I realized in that moment, I’d fallen. Fallen so hard. So fast. And there was no going back for me. Somehow, through this whole blackmailing thing, I’d fallen for Luke Pressler. Not the one everyone else saw at school. But this one. The nice one. Responsible. Caring. Hardworking. Adorable Luke Pressler. The guy who put his little brother before himself. Who’d endured his mom’s wrath for who knew how long in order to keep them together. But how did I know he felt the same? Maybe it was the drugs talking, or maybe after this blew over he’d realize I wasn’t right for him. I tried to push the doubt from my mind.
Luke had let me into his life, and I never wanted to let go.
Chapter Nineteen
Luke
Ayla sat across from me in the restaurant as her dad took the stage with his band, Bollocks and Beer. I picked up a fry and dipped it in ketchup. I’d never seen a live band play before, but Ayla assured me they were really good.
Landon took a bite of fish, then grinned up at me. “This is so good. I’ve never had this kind of fish before. Only those stick ones in the box.”
I dipped mine into the tartar sauce and nodded. “You mean you don’t like my fish sticks?”
Landon wrinkled his nose. “No. You always burn them.”
Ayla nudged me. “What? I thought you could cook. Don’t tell me I’m going to need to give you some lessons.”
Her eyes twinkled, and I had the sudden urge to lean over and kiss her. However, with her mom and Landon sitting right there, I resisted.
Ayla took a sip of lemonade. “I asked Dad to play ‘Molly Malone’ first,” she said. “It’s one of my favorites. The band does a lot of traditional stuff.”
“I don’t know if I’ve ever heard any Irish music,” I said.
“Not even ‘Danny Boy’?” Her brows raised.
“Okay, maybe that one.”
“Does everyone have enough food?” Mrs. Hawkins asked. “If you want, I can have them bring another basket of fish and chips. Or maybe some chicken strips.”
“We can have seconds?” Landon asked, his eyes wide.
“Yep. And you better save some room for dessert, because I hear they have sundaes tonight.” She ruffled his hair.
A slight twinge went through me. This was what a real family should be like. Sitting around, having a meal together, talking, relaxing. Ayla’s mom was so good with Landon. She knew the right things to say when he asked crazy questions. Ayla’s dad had spent two hours earlier in the day letting Landon show him how to play a video game. They’d made us welcome in their home, giving us our own rooms, letting us pick out the type of cereal we wanted at the store, and not the off-brand kind, either. Mr. Hawkins even asked if there was anything Landon or I needed, then proceeded to take us to get some new clothes.
My throat constricted. How many nights had I longed for something like this?
Mr. Hawkins sat on a stool beside four other guys. They introduced themselves, and everyone cheered. He adjusted the microphone in front of his mouth. “Now, I promised my daughter I’d sing ‘Molly Malone’ first tonight. I hope everyone’s okay with that,” he said.
People clapped louder, whooping and hollering.
Ayla turned to me. “Come on.” She held her hand out to me.
“Where are you going?”
“We’re going to dance. It’ll be fun.” She waggled her fingers at me until I followed her onto the floor.
Several older couples joined us as the guitar chords filled the room, along with what Ayla told me was a penny whistle.
She rested her head against my chest while we swayed back and forth. I closed my eyes, letting my chin set on top of her head. The soft music seemed to wrap around us. I heard Ayla sing along, and it broke something inside me.
“I could listen to you sing all night,” I said against her hair.
“If you want, I’ll serenade you beneath your window at two in the morning, then we’ll see how much you like my singing,” she teased as she twisted to peer up at me. “So, are you enjoying your first experience watching an Irish band?”
I grinned. “Yeah, but I thought there’d be more drinking.”
“If you want, I could tell everyone to grab another pint or something.”
“No. I’m good.” I loved the feel of her against me. The way she fit perfectly in my arms. How one smile from her could make my insides rattle. Were we officially dating yet? I hadn’t really asked her out. But it might be weird to say something now. Last night she’d said she wasn’t going to blackmail me anymore, yet I wasn’t sure if that meant we were dating or not dating. “So where do we go from here?”
“Well, you did kind of move in with me. And you’re pretty good at kissing…”
“Pretty good?” My mouth twitched.
Her cheeks turned pink. “Maybe better than good. Okay, you’re great.”
I chuckled. “Um, you kind of make my kissing sound like a cereal commercial.”
“I like cereal.” She ran her hand along my neck, sending chills clear to my spine.
“Only cereal?”
“And you,” she whispered.
“You don’t know how badly I wish we were alone right now.” My voice came out hoarse.
“Why’s that?”
“So I could give you one of my infamous cereal kisses.” I wrapped my arms tighter about her waist until our chests were pressed together.
“We could always sneak out to the tree house later.”
“And have your dad or mom catch us? Last night we were lucky they didn’t. I don’t want to tempt fate.” And I really didn’t want to screw things up with them, not with all they were doing for Landon and me.
“You’re right. Maybe we can just sit in the backyard for a few minutes.”
“You do have a nice porch swing out there.”
“Not quite a tree house, but it’ll work as a backup.” She smiled.
When the song ended, we headed back to the table. Landon and Mrs. Hawkins decided to dance to the next song. As I watched them move around, I caught Ayla’s hand and brought it to my mouth. I could really get used to this. But I wasn’t sure I dared to. Everything in my life always fell apart; did I really want to drag Ayla down with me? What would happen when she realized I was nothing but a hot mess? Like everyone else in my life, would she walk away, too?
The band played for a little over an hour, and when they finished, we headed back to the Hawkinses’ house. When we got there, there was a large, expensive-looking SUV in the driveway.
“Who’s that?” Ayla asked.
That’s when I saw the man dressed in a blue suit on the porch. My dad.
I stiffened. What the hell was he doing here?
He came out to the Hawkinses’ car. Dark rings circled his too-blue eyes. His once blond hair had a spattering of gray in it now. When he saw us in the backseat, his eyes welled.
Mr. Hawkins turned off the engine and climbed from the vehicle.
“Hi, I’m Lars Pressler, Luke and Landon’s dad. I got a call this morning that the boys had been removed from my ex-wife’s house. The worker said they were staying on with you?”
Mr. Hawkins nodded. “Why don’t you come inside? We can talk in there.”
Landon grabbed tight to my hand, his gaze focused on our dad as if he was some sort of movie star or maybe a fairy-tale character.
The Hawkinses moved toward the house, but my legs suddenly turned to cement. I hadn’t seen this man since fourth grade—other than one small photograph I kept in my dresser that I’d shown to Landon just so he’d know what he looked like. Or maybe it’d b
een to keep me from forgetting what he looked like. What the hell was he doing here now? Where had he been all these years when we’d needed him?
It was Ayla who snapped me out of my stupor as my anger welled.
“Luke, come on. At least hear him out,” she said, wrapping an arm around my waist and forcing me forward.
Of course she was right, but that didn’t mean I wanted to do this. Shit. If we’d been like ten minutes later, we might’ve missed him all together.
“Did Carmen explain what happened?” Ayla’s dad asked him.
“Yes. You don’t know how horrible I feel about this.” My dad got choked up.
But was it an act? He glanced between me and Landon.
“You boys have gotten so big. I can’t believe how old you are.” He held his hand out to Landon, who hesitated only a moment before rushing to him. He hugged my brother tightly.
Landon sobbed. “Daddy, you came back for us. I knew you would. I kept wishing you would.”
Landon had always held out hope Dad would come back. I was the one who showed him the picture we had of him. I was the one who tried to keep him alive in his mind, when he was already dead in mine. All Landon had ever wanted was to know him. So he was more forgiving than I’d be.
Dad turned to stare at me, and instead of going to him, I rushed out the back door and into the Hawkinses’ yard. I fisted my hands against my eyes. What the fuck? Did he come just because of CPS? Did he really not know what was going on with us?
I heard the back door open and close. “Luke, can we talk?” Dad said. His voice was soft, as if he was scared he might spook me if he spoke too loud.
“You want to talk? After all these years? You fucking left us—you didn’t call, you didn’t visit, you didn’t even bother to send money. I’ve been working my ass off to make sure Landon was taken care of…that was supposed to be your job, not mine.”
Dad gently caught my arm and forced me to look at him. “I tried to see you. Your mom said you didn’t want anything to do with me. She said you were angry with me. The last thing I wanted to do was make you and Landon more miserable. And I sent money through the courts. They took two thousand a month from my checks.”
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