Unexpected Attraction

by Stella MacLean

  “Agreed.”

  “Have a good time, and say hi to Kyle for me.”

  “You mean for you and Jake, don’t you?” There were animated giggles on the other end of the line. “Kyle and I compared notes tonight. Have a good evening, Mom. I love you.”

  Those words pierced her worry. “I love you, too.”

  “You were great,” Jake said, smoothing her hair away from her face. “And you did the right thing. Shannon needs a chance to prove herself to you, and she will.”

  “I hope you’re right.” She glanced at him. “Why is there always something to worry about? Why couldn’t they come back here?”

  “They’re young. They’re barely aware of how their behavior affects us, and there’s nothing malicious in it. You must remember that need to be cool, to be with your friends?”

  “I do.” She put her hands in his, allowing his touch to soothe her. For some reason he had relaxed and wasn’t so fearsome.

  “What if they meet up with Stuart and his buddies?”

  “You have to trust your daughter.”

  “And if he—”

  “Andrea, don’t do this.”

  “That’s easy for you to say, you’re not a parent, you don’t have a meddling ex waiting to accuse you of being a poor mother—”

  He took his hands away, and the loneliness created by his action wrapped her in misery and self-doubt. She was once again being rejected for something she’d done, something that was totally not intended.

  “Oh, Jake, I’m so sorry. What a stupid thing for me to say. I didn’t mean it. I wasn’t thinking.” What made her comment so much worse was the loss of the wonderful moment between them.

  Was the intimacy between them so fragile, so easily broken? Did he know so little about her, was his trust so shallow that he didn’t believe her when she said she was sorry? Or was what she believed they had going between them a figment of her imagination?

  “Andrea, you’re overwrought. You need to get a grip here. Shannon has to take responsibility for her actions, whatever they are.”

  His words sounded so familiar, so condescending, so much an indictment of her shortcomings as a mother and a woman. They were words plucked from her past. A past she’d vowed to overcome, whatever it took, but she clearly had a way to go before that happened.

  She wrapped her arms around herself, seeking the only comfort truly available to her. Regardless of what Jake believed about her, she would never relinquish her promise to Shannon and herself—that they would be there for each other. She didn’t need Jake. She didn’t need anyone. She’d proven that over the past four years, and she’d prove it again.

  She would never allow anyone to make her feel inadequate. Not ever again. From now on, it would be her life that mattered—and Shannon’s, of course. “It’s time for you to go.”

  * * *

  WHATEVER HE’D EXPECTED her to say, that was not it. He almost didn’t believe his ears. He started to reach for her but stopped at her cool expression. “Andrea, please don’t worry about Kyle and Shannon. They’re good kids. They won’t let you down.”

  For one exhilarating moment he’d truly believed that he’d found someone special, someone who understood him, who could appreciate him and how much he needed her. Admittedly, he hadn’t been able to put into words the caring and connection he felt. So that responsibility was on him. Still, given Andrea’s distancing behavior, perhaps it was just as well he hadn’t bared his soul. For the life of him, he couldn’t figure out what in hell was going on with her—one minute she was warm and alluring, the next she was ready to pick a fight.

  He struggled with what he could say that would ease the impasse between them. He didn’t want the evening to end this way. He wanted to stay with her, to wait for Shannon to come home so they could be convinced giving her latitude was the right decision. He wanted to reassure Andrea that he cared a great deal for her.

  At the hospital after her accident, when he’d seen her and the reality of what might have happened to her hit home for him, he’d faced the fact that he loved her. So why couldn’t he say it to her now, or at least find some words to reach her?

  Did he need her to be the one to say it first? Was he that insecure? If he said those three words, there would be no backing out for him.

  Yet given how this evening had started, he sure as hell hadn’t expected to find himself sitting on the outside looking in where Andrea was concerned. “You want me to leave?”

  “I’m not sure what I want. Time, maybe, to get my head straight...”

  “And you want to do it alone.”

  “I’ve been—It’s always been just me.” She rubbed her eyes.

  “Andrea, you don’t have to go it alone.”

  “It’s how I do things,” she said, exhaustion lacing her words.

  He could see the struggle in her eyes, the uncertainty she was coping with. “I want to be here for you—”

  “Please don’t. It’s better this way.” She turned away.

  “Why?” he asked, searching for the old control that had shielded him from his emotions for so long.

  “Because this way no one gets hurt.”

  He almost reached for her but thought better of it. “Gets hurt? I’m not going to hurt you.”

  “You might not mean to.”

  “How can you possibly know anything about me when you keep pushing me away?” he asked, completely exasperated.

  “Please. I don’t need any more pressure. It’s been a very emotional week. I’m not ready for this...for us.”

  “Will you ever be?”

  Her eyes widened. She hugged herself as she stood there staring at him.

  He saw his words had hurt her. He hadn’t meant to. His words came from his frustration and need. But it was too late to take them back.

  So maybe she was right. He might not mean to, but he could still hurt her.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  JAKE HAD BEEN RIGHT. Kyle had dropped Shannon off a few minutes before twelve, and Shannon breezed in and kissed Andrea as if she didn’t have a care in the world. The next day Shannon came home from school excited by the news that the police had interviewed Stuart and Eric.

  Over the next few days, life returned to what passed for normal. Normal except where Jake was concerned. Andrea hadn’t heard a word from him—not a phone call or an email. It was as if he had disappeared. Of course, after the way their last evening had ended, there was really no reason for Jake to call. She’d blown him off, and he’d taken her at her word.

  She missed Jake so much more than she’d ever imagined possible. He’d gotten into her life and under her skin, proving her defenses were not as formidable as she’d thought. Even while she waited for him to call, she consoled herself with the idea that her attraction to him probably had more to do with the highly emotional time they’d shared than anything else. She’d even tried to convince herself that wanting to see him was her loneliness talking rather than any genuine feelings for Jake.

  The longer she waited for him, the more she recognized how wrong she’d been about everything. Missing Jake was about how he made her feel and the bond that had formed between them.

  As the days dragged on, she couldn’t get thoughts of him out of her mind. She’d thought about calling him several times, but she refrained for two reasons. She didn’t want him to feel he owed her something—she hated the idea that he’d take her call out of pity. And she felt that letting her guard down, accepting her feelings where he was concerned, would only lead to disappointment. She’d convinced herself that she didn’t have the energy to be involved with someone. If Jake really wanted a relationship with her, he’d have to figure it out. And if he wanted to see her, he could call.

  Thankfully it was Friday, the end of her workweek. She wasn’t on call thi
s weekend, had come home early and she planned to go out with Gina for a well-deserved drink and dinner tonight. Gina had vowed there would be no work or family talk. Andrea wasn’t sure if they’d be able to meet that goal, but she sure wanted to give it a try. She rinsed her cup in the sink and was about to put it in the dishwasher when the doorbell rang.

  “I’ll get it,” she called to Shannon as she went to the door.

  When she opened it, Chloe stood there, clearly distraught. “Chloe, honey, what’s wrong?”

  “I need to talk to you and Shannon.”

  “Sure, come in. I’ll get her, and you two can talk.”

  “No, please. I need to speak to both of you.”

  She gave the teenager the once-over, thinking there was only one reason Chloe would want to speak to both her and Shannon—Stuart.

  Andrea led Chloe to the kitchen. “Shannon’s in her bedroom. I’ll get her.”

  She hurried to Shannon’s room. “Chloe’s here.”

  “I don’t want to talk to her.” Shannon’s stubborn pout told Andrea she was determined.

  “Look, Shannon. I’m aware Chloe hasn’t helped you and hasn’t been a great friend, but I think you need to hear what she has to say. It took a lot of courage for her to show up here.”

  Shannon didn’t say anything for a long time. Eventually she stopped pouting. “Fine. If you insist, I’ll listen to her.”

  They returned to the kitchen. Chloe hadn’t moved from the spot where Andrea had left her.

  “What are you doing here?” Shannon demanded.

  “Let’s hear what she has to say,” Andrea said quietly. While Shannon’s wounded feelings were completely justified, her attitude would accomplish nothing.

  Chloe looked at Shannon then Andrea, tears hovering on her lashes. “I made a bad mistake. I was with Stuart the day he knocked Shannon down on the sidewalk.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me this?” Andrea asked Shannon.

  “I wanted to give Chloe the chance to do the right thing. I thought we were friends, that she would come forward and tell the police what had happened. I was wrong.”

  “I couldn’t! Stuart wouldn’t let me.”

  “You mean you really didn’t want to. You do have a mind of your own, don’t you?” Shannon’s tone was harsh, judgmental.

  Andrea decided to intervene. “I don’t understand. Why would you go out with someone like Stuart, Chloe? You know his reputation. Everybody does.”

  “At first I hung around with him a bit. This sounds really stupid now, but I kinda liked being with him. He made me feel special, and when he asked me out on a real date I was thrilled. No one I liked had ever asked me out before.”

  “What did your mother say?”

  “Mom warned me away from him. So I didn’t tell her.”

  “You didn’t tell me, either, and we were supposed to be best friends,” Shannon said, the hurt evident in her tone.

  “But, Shannon, you would have told me to drop the deadbeat. That’s what you called him.”

  “Chloe, all the kids at school know what he’s like. Why didn’t you?”

  “I guess because I wanted to believe what he said, that I was special, that I meant something to him. Then he told me he loved me.”

  “And you believed him.” Andrea smothered a sigh when she saw the pained expression on Chloe’s face. Chloe was a sweet, gullible teenager who’d been taken advantage of by someone with no scruples.

  “My mom says I owe an explanation to you about what happened.”

  “You were with Stuart that night downtown as well, but you didn’t go to the police,” Andrea said.

  “No. Stuart would have been so angry. Shannon tried to talk to me, but I wouldn’t listen. Even when she and Kyle went to Mrs. Chapman, I wouldn’t go with them. Shannon, you’re my friend and I hurt you. I let you down.” More tears coursed over her cheeks. “I’m sorry. I want to make it up to you.”

  “You can make it up to me by telling my mother the whole story.”

  “The whole story?” Chloe winced.

  “Did Stuart cause my mother’s accident?” Shannon demanded.

  “Yes.” Chloe’s whisper was barely audible. “We were driving around when he saw your mother in the lane beside us. I said something about it being your mother.” She turned to Andrea. “When Stuart saw you, he laughed and said something about getting you. I thought he was kidding, but then he swerved and suddenly hit you. I yelled, but he and Eric just laughed at me.”

  Chloe studied her trembling hands. “I never felt so bad in all my life.” She began to sob. “I’m so, so sorry. I never meant for any of this to happen.” She took a shuddery breath. “I told him I couldn’t go out with him anymore after he hit your mom’s car.” Chloe shook her head. “Then he got real angry and said that if I told anyone about what he and Eric had done, he’d get me. He’s a bully. He bragged about bullying you. Now I’m afraid of what he’ll do to me.”

  Andrea hugged Chloe and wished with all her heart that none of this had ever happened. “Chloe, thank you for telling us. This was the right thing to do.”

  “I feel so awful. I hurt so many people. Shannon begged me to tell, but I couldn’t. When you got hurt, I just knew I had to do something.” Chloe pulled away, wiping the tears from her eyes as she did so. “You’ve always been so good to me. I never meant any harm to either of you. When he hit your car, I knew you were hurt, but he wouldn’t stop. I’m going to the police and telling them everything.”

  “You mean it?” Shannon asked, her tone skeptical.

  “I do. My stepdad overheard my mom and me talking about you. He said I shouldn’t snitch on Stuart and Eric.”

  “You stepdad is wrong,” Andrea said.

  “Yeah, but it doesn’t matter. I don’t care what he thinks. He and Mom are fighting all the time anyway.”

  Shannon put her arms around Chloe and they stayed that way for a few minutes. Andrea couldn’t help but smile. Her girls, she’d labeled them years ago, and it was still true.

  “Will you both go with me to the police?” Chloe asked.

  “What about your mother?” Andrea asked, wondering at the same time whether she should ask Jake to go with them.

  Face it. You want an excuse to call him.

  Chloe chewed her lip. “Mom would like to come, but she’s... She doesn’t want to upset my stepdad.”

  As much as Andrea wanted a night out, getting this mess straightened out once and for all took precedence. “I’ll call Officer Winters and ask to meet him. Then I have to make one other call.”

  The officer was available and said he’d be waiting for them. She called Gina. “I’m not going to be able to make it tonight. Something’s come up.”

  “What?” Her friend’s voice held concern.

  “I’m going to the police station with Chloe and Shannon. I’ll explain later. Can we do this tomorrow night?”

  “Sure. I’m coming over to go with you. Wait for me.”

  “You don’t have to do this,” Andrea protested.

  “No, I don’t, but I’m going to. See you in a few minutes.”

  When they arrived at the police station, Officer Winters was waiting for them and got right down to business. Gina sat in one of the chairs at the back of the office.

  As Chloe talked, crying at times, and the officer took notes, nodding occasionally and asking questions for clarification. Chloe told him what she’d told Andrea and Shannon, including the fact that Shannon had tried to get her to come forward.

  “Chloe, I’m glad you’ve come here to speak up on your friends’ behalf,” the officer said.

  “But I made it worse by not coming forward sooner, didn’t I?”

  He nodded.

  “What happens now?” Chloe asked.

 
“With your testimony, Stuart will be charged with leaving the scene of an accident under the Michigan Motor Vehicle Code. You will have to testify.”

  Shock darkened her eyes. She bit her lips. After a few minutes, she whispered, “I will.”

  Office Winters closed his notebook. “In any bullying situation, people like you, bystanders, have a huge responsibility. If you’re willing to come forward and talk about what you witnessed, there is a better chance to get the bullies to stop because they are exposed for what they’ve done. With the help of the school, Stuart might have been stopped before he hurt Mrs. Taylor.”

  “But I was afraid...and what if I am bullied for coming here?” Chloe asked, trembling.

  “Chloe, what matters is that you’ve done the right thing now,” Shannon said, hugging her.

  Andrea was so proud of her daughter for being willing to forgive her friend. “Officer Winters, the girls have been through a lot. Can I take them home now?”

  For the first time since they’d arrived, the officer smiled. “Of course. I’ll be in touch.”

  “Thank you,” she said, turning to the two teenagers.

  “We’re ready, Mom,” Shannon said.

  “Can I dare to hope that this is finally over?” Andrea asked Gina as they made their way out of the police station.

  “Sure.”

  “Sound more positive than that, will you?”

  Gina laughed. “Yeah, it’s probably over.”

  When they arrived at the house, the phone was ringing. “I’ll get it,” Shannon called, heading for the kitchen.

  “Probably a telemarketer,” Gina said.

  “Want coffee?” Andrea asked, following her daughter.

  “That would be great.”

  “Mom, the phone’s for you,” Shannon said, a strange smile on her face.

  “Who is it?”

  “You’ll see,” she said, passing the phone to her mother before whispering loudly to Gina. “It’s Mom’s boyfriend, Jake.”

  “I don’t have a boyfriend,” she whispered back as she took the phone. Thrilled that Jake had called, but aware that Gina and her daughter were listening intently, she tried for a cool tone. “Hello.”