Keep It Safe

by Olivia Snow

  I have turned into my mother, a woman who was willing to hurt the people around her because she was hurting.

  Chapter Ten

  Ava

  After Mr. Stellen Webb left the apartment, and Vanessa stomped into her room, I decided to call it a night and go to bed early. I was hoping to be refreshed with a full ten hours of sleep for my meet and greet with Aidan and his parents the next morning, but to my dismay I was restless.

  My brain wouldn’t shut off regardless of how hard I tried. It was around three in the morning before I finally fell asleep. When the alarm clock on my phone buzzed, my fingers burned to throw it against the wall. I needed more than three hours of sleep to function.

  This is going to be a crappy day. I pitied whoever who had to deal with me before I got some caffeine into my system.

  After jumping into the shower, I found myself waiting for Vanessa to walk into the bathroom for one of our talks. But it never happened. It would probably never happen again.

  After meeting Stellen, I could tell he was from money. Not Saint John millions, but billions. I could smell it on him. He reeked of wealth and riches. Cynthia finally hit the jack pot. Greedy bitch. I guess a part of me had been hoping Vanessa would pop into the bathroom to tell me all about him.

  Once I was out of the shower, I pulled on a simple black dress that wasn’t too form-fitting, and it had a collar that I thought looked more professional than causal. I fastened the buttons that lined the front of the dress, then buckled a dark brown belt around my waist.

  Grabbing my only pair of flats—the black ballerina slippers Zia Teresa had bought after I complained of walking everywhere in Sicily with my heels—I brushed my hair without bothering to blow-dry or straighten it. For some reason, perfecting my hair in the morning didn’t seem as important anymore.

  I kept my make-up to a minimum, just mascara and peach flavored lip-gloss. I walked around bare-faced just like I felt—bare and weak. I was always searching for pieces of the old Ava, the girl I’d been before Babbo died, but I didn’t know where to start looking.

  I walked out of my bedroom and into the kitchen to make some coffee. As I poured the water into the machine, I heard the soft click of a door opening as my cousin emerged from her room.

  “Oh, you’re awake.” Vanessa was clad in navy colored shorts, an orange and white checkerboard button-up blouse, and dark brown Top-Siders. Her hair was perfectly curled at the ends, and she looked like she was ready for breakfast at the country club, not her first day of college. How quickly she went from funky hair color and a pierced face to Yacht Club Barbie.

  She looked as if she hadn’t been expecting to see me. I turned my attention back to the machine, desperate for some caffeine.

  “Yeah, I got a job as a baby-sitter, I’m meeting the kid and his parents this morning.” I rambled through it without even breathing. I was afraid she would say what she wanted to say and leave without giving me a chance to speak. She didn’t respond, but I still felt her presence behind me.

  I turned to face her. She was holding the carton of cream, gripping it as she stared down at the floor. The urge to run away was suddenly suffocating me, but I pushed it down. You want your cousin back? Then deal, don’t run.

  “Van? We need to talk.” I was prepared for her to say something along the lines of ‘go to hell’ but when she nodded yes I almost fell over. “Tonight?” I suggested. “I’m off from work, and I’ll be here all night.”

  “Okay,” she whispered, still looking at the floor.

  “Okay.” I turned back to the coffee.

  We both stood in the kitchen in a sort of comfortable silence, waiting for the coffee to finish. It was good to have something to look forward to, some damn progress for once. I guessed by the way she exhaled, she felt the same.

  ***

  The Gallagher house was roughly a seven-minute drive from the apartment. That’s awesome. All I needed was in the vicinity of a three-mile radius. I parked in front of the South Corona street house, which was a brown and tan bricked bungalow with an English Ivy covered porch. I am in love.

  I’d always been a huge fan of older homes. Getting out of the car, I climbed the six concrete steps, then walked the long sidewalk that curved slightly to the porch. Ringing the doorbell, I waited patiently as I looked at the architecture.

  There was a wooden porch swing with red cushions hanging on the opposite side of the front door. I imagined swinging on it as the sun set, and my chest ached at how easily I was able to feel relaxed and at home here. I was desperately trying to find somewhere to fit, and this sure as hell was not the place. This was just a job. That was all.

  The morning August sun was already beaming down and I was wearing black, so I was starting to sweat. What the hell is taking them so long?

  Just as I reached up to ring the doorbell again, the door flew open. All at once I took in the sweaty naked torso in front of me, my gaze shamelessly wandering down to the trimmed patch of hair that ran past the black workout pants, settling on the impressive slope between his legs.

  “Holy bulge Batman,” I muttered under my breath.

  Wow.

  No words.

  None.

  “Excuse me?” The rough male voice startled me. I looked up and I wished I hadn’t. How is this possible? Black wavy hair, raven colored beard, and piercing eyes. Dark Smolder looked at me like I was some sort of crazy stalker. By his expression, it seemed he was thinking of covering his chest with his hands in awkwardness.

  “Mr. Gallagher?” My voice changed in intervals and I was sure I sounded like a twelve-year-old boy going through puberty. His face fell into a confused state, no longer hostile or fearful.

  “Yes?”

  “Hello, my name is Ava, Ava Veneziano. I’m the babysitter.”

  “Excuse me?” he asked in disbelief.

  “The babysitter…for Aidan?”

  “You?” he barked, and I winced a little.

  What the hell is this dude’s problem? Just because I work as a bartender at night doesn’t mean I’m an unsuitable caretaker.

  “Yes, me.” I replied a little too defensively. I gaped at him as he did me. I wasn’t going to make the first move. He didn’t intimidate me—much. If he was going to fire me before I even started, he could have the balls to say it. I wasn’t backing down.

  “You’re the babysitter?”

  When he asked again, I nodded, not trusting myself to speak, because fuck off was on the tip of my tongue.

  “Dad?” a sleepy voice called from behind him. “Who’s that?” He pushed his dad aside. Little man was a carbon copy of his father, just with light brown hair—and no beard, of course.

  Aidan wore pajamas with the Broncos’ emblem in the middle of his chest. He rubbed the sleepiness out his eyes before looking up at me.

  “I’m a big Broncos fan also,” I said. “Who’s your favorite player?”

  “Peyton.” He wasn’t sleepy anymore, and his smile was adorable.

  “Dude, Peyton Manning is the best, but I gotta say I do love me some Prater.”

  Aidan’s eyes widened as he looked up at his dad in awe. Mr. Gallagher sighed heavily as the disapproval melted from his face. Aidan was already accepting me and there was no way he was saying no to his son.

  “Come on in, I guess.” He opened the door wider so I could step inside. I brushed by Dark Smolder, licking my lips without even thinking it when I saw the sexy trail of hair that led past his waistband. Mio Dio. Once in the middle of the living room, he extended his hand to me.

  “Ava, My name is Maxwell Gallagher. Not Max or Mac, it’s Mr. Gallagher, Professor Gallagher, or Maxwell. Understood?”

  He was a professor, hot damn. No wonder he had the whole authoritative voice down. I fought the urge to roll my eyes, nodding in acknowledgment instead.

  “Pleasure, Mr. Gallagher.” I shook his hand firmly. Then I turned my attention to the cutest little boy I had ever seen in my life.

  “Hi, Aidan, my name is
Ava.” Aidan shook my hand, blushing a little as he averted his eyes.

  “Aidan, go and get dressed, son.” Mr. Gallagher beamed at Aidan. Then he turned and looked at me with distinct displeasure. He was still shirtless, and I was having a hard time keeping my stare away from his amazing pectorals that still glistening with sweat. I will not falter. I can work for a Greek God, yeah, no problem…

  “You’re also a bartender?” He crossed his arms over his chest, his muscular arms bulging.

  “Yes,” I squeaked. I cleared my throat before adding, “Yes, sir.”

  “Does that not interfere with your school work?”

  I was confused for a second before I realized what he was saying. “Uh, no, sir…I’m not attending college.”

  “Oh, you’ve graduated. What year?”

  “I haven’t graduated either.” I scrunched my nose under the third degree he was giving me.

  “Dear lord, are you in high school?” He spoke with a hint of disgust, and I wondered why it mattered to him.

  “Ah, no, I’ve graduated high school. Nothing will interfere with my schoolwork because I’m not in college. As in, I have not and will not be attending.”

  His frown deepened. “How old are you?”

  “How old are you?” I fired back. His frown remained, but there was a sparkle of amusement in his eyes.

  “Ladies first,” he replied.

  “Nineteen.”

  “Nineteen? How are you a bartender?”

  “In the state of Colorado, you’re allowed to bartend if you’re over eighteen.”

  “I see.”

  “So?” I probed him to answer my question.

  “Twenty-nine,” he said in a sigh. Twenty-nine with a six-year-old? Poor bastard.

  We were silent for a moment, my gaze wandering around the room with its wooden floors. The homey feel of the house brought me back to my childhood home.

  My moment was interrupted by the sudden burning smolder of his stare. I didn’t look his way because I knew those black pools were burning into my skin, and I didn’t want to break that. I couldn’t help but lick my lips, and as soon as I did a hissing sound brought my attention to him. He snapped out of whatever he was thinking and cleared his throat.

  “Excuse me.” He left me there in the middle of the room.

  Moments later, Aidan came flying out of his room dressed for the day in jeans and a black and gray t-shirt with the word dude print across his chest. He grabbed my hand and pulled me down to the sofa.

  “Are the Broncos your favorite team?” he asked, pulling his legs under him.

  “Of course they are, I bleed orange and blue. What about you?”

  “Me too.” He grinned, and I couldn’t help but smile back.

  “What grade are you in?”

  “I’m starting first grade.” The way he talked and presented himself, I would’ve guessed this kid was a lot older than his six little years. “What’s your name again?” He shifted to cross his legs.

  “Ava.” I stuck out my hand to shake his little one once again. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Aidan.” He showed off his missing front tooth when he smiled while firmly taking my hand.

  Professor Dark Smolder entered the room moments later, and it was unfair how edible he looked in a simple gray shirt. He sat directly across from me on the other sofa.

  “You came highly recommended by Aidan’s grandparents. Their friend spoke well of you.”

  Ah, the good doctor. I nodded, watching as he rubbed his face with his gigantic hands as if he was frustrated. Jesus, what’s this guy’s problem?

  I wondered if it was because I didn’t give him the time of day at the bar. Or maybe he was trying to pick up a girl that night, and he was married, and he’d gotten caught. But he wasn’t wearing a wedding band then, and he wasn’t wearing one now. He hadn’t mentioned a wife, and I sure as hell wasn’t asking. If he hadn’t brought up Aidan’s mom, there must be a reason.

  “I’m sorry, Mr. Gallagher, correct me if I’m wrong…but I’m getting the impression you’re unhappy with me being here.”

  He looked up in obvious surprise, not expecting me to be so straightforward.

  “Aidan, brush your teeth.” He didn’t break eye contact with me. I looked over at Aidan and saw a disappointed look on his round little face. Placing my hand on his knee, I patted it in reassurance. Aidan smiled weakly, as he clambered off the sofa, obeying his father.

  Once he was out of the room, I said, “Listen, if this has anything to do with that night in the bar and how I rejected—”

  “Whoa, whoa, you didn’t reject me.”

  “Oh, no of course not.” I recovered, shaking my head, knowing my words had been a blow to his ego. “No, that was silly of me to say.” He straightened, nodding in agreement. I clamped down on my lips in an effort to keep from laughing. Men and their egos.

  “I, uh, apologize if I’d made you feel unwelcome.” He sighed in annoyance, or possibly defeat. “This is all new to me. I’ve never let anyone other than Aidan’s grandparents watch him. But they trust their friend’s judgment, and I trust them, so…” He leaned in, placing his elbow on his knees and clapping his hands together. “Can you start today?”

  “Yes, I can,” I said, and instantly we heard a very happy and excited yes from the back of the house. The professor and I let out a chuckle.

  “It’s nice to know he approves already.” Mr. Gallagher appeared genuinely relieved, and for the first time in a long time I felt a spark of contentment.

  Chapter Eleven

  Vanessa

  After Ava left the apartment, I felt good, almost satisfied. After the talk I had with Mallory, it was all put into perspective. I could move forward with my cousin. It wouldn’t be easy, and we couldn’t fix things overnight, but there was finally a consensus between the both of us of what we wanted. I was nervous, but looking forward to tonight.

  This morning I had two classes back to back, and then one in the afternoon. Stellen and I shared Writing and Rhetoric. It was nice, I guess, to know someone else in this enormous intimating school. Declan had lessened his course load in order to work with Daddy, so I doubted we would ever bump into each other. After my first class, Stellen was waiting for me right outside the door.

  “You don’t have a class to go to?” I asked after breaking away from his quick kiss. I felt a sense of pride when some of the girls in my class looked over and gawked at my boyfriend…or whatever he was. It was nice to be admired.

  “I dropped it.” He draped his arm over my shoulder as we walked in the direction of our next class.

  “Why?”

  “Because I wanted to sleep in.” He gave my arm a squeeze.

  During class, my phone buzzed constantly to the point where the professor glared over at me, telling me with his stare to turn it off or get the hell out of his class.

  “You’re popular this morning.” Stellen had his arm on the back of my chair, invading my already minimal personal space.

  Annoyed, I grabbed my phone from the bottom of my purse, reading multiple texts from my parents. The last one was from my father.

  Come over to the new building after class. Bring Stellen with you.

  I showed Stellen, and he nodded yes. It was nice to know someone else knew the sort of life we were forced to live. Stellen had been raised to be a game player, and was being sweet about our togetherness. He was thoughtful and charming.

  There were times when he could come off as a creep, but I was beginning to see it was all a facade he put up, just like the one I was creating. Even though I got along with him nicely, my heart belonged to Gabriel. There was no room for anyone else.

  ***

  After class, we hurried across the street to Daddy’s newest residential building. Outside the unfinished building, Daddy stood with Finn, his architect, both wearing white hardhats.

  “Hello, Daddy.” I greeted him with a kiss on the cheek.

  “Princess,” he replied warmly, giving me a quick hug
, and Stellen a firm handshake.

  “Finn, it’s been a long time.” I shook his hand.

  “Well, hello Vanessa, you’ve grown into a beautiful woman. I haven’t seen you since you were what, sixteen?” Finn held my hand a little longer than I preferred. In a territorial gesture, Stellen placed a hand on my hip, causing my father to grin in pride, which in turn made me feel queasy. I was nothing but a prize to him.

  “Now, who’s this?” Finn asked, condescendingly arching his eyebrow.

  “This is Stellen Webb, Vanessa’s boyfriend.” My father practically sang the words.

  “Stellen Webb, as in Bloomberg and Webb?”

  “The very same.” Stellen’s face turned smug. Gag. I wanted to vomit.

  “Um, daddy, where is the bathroom?” I asked, and he verbally directed me to the only finished bathroom inside the building before handing me a white hardhat. I unclenched from Stellen’s grip and put on the hat, grimacing inwardly about how it would mess up my hair.

  I left the two older men to kiss my much younger boyfriend’s ass, disgusted by the entire display. Making my way inside, I soon realized I must have taken a wrong turn because this space looked nothing like how my father had explained it. The hardhat was too big for my head, and I had to constantly lift it up to see. Mumbling to myself about the hat, my hair, my dad, Finn’s creepiness, and Stellen’s weird pissing contest, I was startled when I heard a very deep male voice speak with a very sexy southern drawl

  “You lost, darlin’?”

  I squeaked, turning around to find long well-defined arms covered with tattoos, dark dusty jeans with well-worn yellow construction boots. Lifting the hard hat to see better, I was pleasantly surprised to find the smooth vibrating voice had big broad shoulders covered in a white t-shirt that stretched out nicely, outlining his hard pectorals. My gaze shifted to his face, but it was covered by the shade of his baseball hat. What I could see were his ears, the lobes decorated by small solid black gauges, and a strong chiseled jaw with luscious pink lips. Noticing my gawking, he licked those lips and I gasped.