by Emerson Rose
“I should have known you’d have a hot pink sparkly suitcase. You’re pulling that one.”
I wiggle my eyebrows; “You might change your mind when you see the others.”
“Worse than that?” He points at my bag when I drag it off the belt.
“Depends on how do you feel about sparkly zebra print or big Hawaiian flowers?”
He rolls his eyes and snaps the handle of the pink case up.
In the truck, we catch up on what’s been going on with the good citizens of Jewel Falls over the past three years. Other than a couple weddings, funerals, and births, it’s safe to say this town is the same, including this diner that we are having breakfast in.
“I remember the morning of my graduation. You brought me here for pancakes to help me relax.”
“You were a mess of nerves that morning,” Jayden reminds me.
“And you knew exactly what was best for me.”
“I’m pretty good at that, you know.”
“Yes, I do. Thank you, I love you, Jay.” I slide my hand across the table and covered his hand with mine. He lowers his eyes to our hands and then meets mine full of confusion.
“What?”
“I don’t know. You seem different.” I pull my hand away, but he catches it and holds it there. “No, no, in a good way. I’m just, I’m glad you’re home.”
“Yeah, so when are you throwing me a party?”
“A party, huh? Well, I think I can do that.”
“I’m kidding. I just want to take some time to figure out my next move. Besides, I don’t have any friends here anymore. Everyone went off to college and got jobs far away from Jewel Falls.”
He sits back in his chair and crosses his muscular arms over his chest. “What do you have against this town anyway?”
I inhale a deep breath and blow it out. “I’m sorry, there’s nothing wrong with this town except that it’s small and limited. My dreams were big and had no boundaries. I always felt like Jewel Falls was holding me back, but I was wrong. I’m the only thing holding me back.”
“Honey, dreams change, people grow. Maybe there’s a reason this happened? Maybe you’re meant for something else.”
I look out into the buzzing diner and blink back tears. I don’t want him to be, but I think he’s right. My dream of making it big is dead. Being a singer is all I ever wanted to do. It’s in my blood; it’s my passion. When I sing every cell in my body comes alive. I can still sing for pleasure, and I will every chance I get but it will be without the hope of making it my career.
“Let’s talk about something else, I’m tired of talking about me. What’s going on with you these days? How’s your love life?”
“Oh no, you don’t. We are not talking about my sex life,” Jayden denies emphatically.
“I didn’t say sex life, I said love life. It’s interesting that you heard it that way.” I lean forward putting my elbows on the table and prop my chin on my hands tilting my head to one side.
“That would be because there is no love going on, occasional sex, yes, love, no.”
“So, what do you do around here for fun?”
“Drake and I usually hang out and have a few drinks on the weekends at a bar near the base called Al’s. It’s not New York, but I like it.”
“You’re damn right it’s not,” I agree.
“Belt up, sis.”
“I never understood that term.”
“Because you were a little girl when we moved to the US. No one ever told you to shut up.”
“I don’t remember.” I fiddle with my fork pushing what’s left of my pancake around on the plate. There is a lot of my childhood I don’t remember. A therapist told me once that I repress my memories to protect myself from the pain of losing my parents. It makes sense, but I wonder if I’ll ever remember my life before age twelve.
“You two get enough to eat?” A curvy waitress with wild blonde curls piled high on her head leans over the table to fill Jayden’s coffee cup but he covers it with his hand.
“No thanks, Mel. I’ll take the check.”
“Oh, it’s been paid, no worries.”
“Paid?”
“Yup, your friend Drake called and had me put it on his tab. Said to tell you to have fun.”
Jay cocks his head to the side and frowns. “He called you?”
“Uh, huh. Must have seen you in here having breakfast. Such a nice man.” Mel swoons with the coffee pot still in her hand. Her eyes glass over for a moment and I consider moving toward the window to make sure I don’t get a lap full of hot coffee. The cook rings a bell like the ones in old movies and hollers “Order up” snapping her back to life.
“That’s me. You two have a nice day. Welcome home, Tiana. It’s so good to see your pretty face around here again.”
“Thank you, Mel. It’s good to be back, I say, smiling.
Jayden shoves my foot under the table and Mel scurries away.
“What?”
“Liar.”
“It’s a white lie to be nice, those don’t count.”
“Whatever, since we don’t have to pay let’s get out of here. I need to call Drake on the way, something’s not right with this. Have fun, sounds sarcastic like he’s jealous.”
“Maybe he is” I wink at him. “Drake is the guy who lives next door, right? He’s a Marine too?”
“Yep, he’s lived there for a few years and he’s older and higher in rank.”
“I never saw him much I guess.”
“Good.”
“What do you mean good?” I ask.
“He’s not the kind of man I want you around that’s all.”
“He’s a Marine, isn’t he? And he’s your best friend. I’m surprised you haven’t booked a church for our wedding.”
“Yes, he’s a Marine and my best friend. That’s exactly why I don’t want you messing around with him.”
“Jealous much?”
“Tiana, stop. Just stay away from him, okay? Promise me.”
“Okay, calm down, Jay. I won’t make you share your friend but I must admit I’m curious now. Why didn’t I ever notice him?”
“You were busy with school,” Jay said.
“You okay? You seem pissed.”
He shifts in his seat and looks around the café. “It’s nothing.” He slides out of the booth and offers me his hand to help me up. We are standing toe to toe and I look him in the eyes.
“Liar,” I taunt him
“It’s a little white lie, it doesn’t count, remember?” I shake my head.
“Take me home, big brother.”
“Gladly, lil sister.”
Chapter 6
Drake
Much to my astonishment, Lexi’s car really had a problem. It wasn’t something she couldn’t have figured out on her own. A big rusty nail had lodged itself into the right back tire and it was as flat as a pancake. It took me all of fifteen minutes to change it.
She thanked me and invited me inside for a glass of lemonade, which I thought was covert for sex until she led me into her kitchen. Sitting at a small round table where two small Lexi look-alikes eating peanut butter sandwiches and watching cartoons.
That’s when I realized she was a single mom working days as a teacher and evenings as a waitress to support her two children. They must have been with their father the nights we tumbled into her bungalow tearing off each other’s clothes on the way to the bedroom.
She lured me here to show me what she was afraid to tell me. She’s interested in more than an occasional kink-filled evening tryst. She knew her tire was flat. Hell, she may have driven over that nail on purpose.
But it was all done in vain. I’m not interested in anything long-term and I think she knew that. If she didn’t, she does now. It was an asshole move, but when I saw the kids I nodded at them and politely declined the lemonade before turning to leave.
She didn’t try to stop me or come after me. She knew it was a long shot. I should give her credit for trying, though.
My personal life is no secret in this small town. Everyone knows that the only long-term relationship I’ve ever had is with the Marines.
In a bar thirty minutes away from Jewel Falls, I sit staring at a pint of beer. I wonder if Jayden is going to stand me up for his new lady friend or maybe to spend time with his sister.
It is her first night home after all. I told him yesterday we could skip our regular night out if he wanted, but he insisted on coming. I lift the condensation-covered glass to my mouth and let half of the amber liquid slide down my throat before setting it back on the bar.
It’s quiet for Saturday night at nine o’clock in the city. It’s looking like this might be a dud night but anything’s better than sitting around at home waiting to go blind.
“Did you think I stood you up, old man?” Jayden’s voice comes from behind me just before he slaps me on the back.
“Well, it wouldn’t be the first time today, who was the hot number you took out to breakfast this morning? I figured you might be busy all day and night taking care of that.”
Jayden stops pulling out the bar stool next to me. I turn to see why and find him glaring at me with narrow eyes and beat red cheeks.
“Jay, you okay?”
“That shit’s not funny, man. I’m serious. I told you not to fuck around when it comes to my little sister.”
“Really? You’re one to talk.”
“What the fuck’s that supposed to mean?” Jayden shoves the bar chair back under the bar and steps back puffing out his chest.
Something’s wrong, Jayden’s usually a peaceful guy. I’ve never seen him pick a fight with anyone, let alone me.
“Whoa, Jay, what’s going on? I never said anything about your sister. I just thought it was pretty shitty to pick her up from the airport and dump her off at home so you could have breakfast with some hot piece of ass you’ve never even mentioned. I’m not a dick, I get it that you need to help your sister but I think she and I both got the shaft this morning when you switched up plans to get laid.”
The crack of Jayden’s fist making contact with my nose bounces around in my head and searing pain slices through my face making my eyes water.
I jump off my seat and back away covering my face with my hand. Bright red blood oozes between my fingers and down my arm onto my crisp white dress shirt. What the hell is wrong with him?
The two-hundred-pound brick-house bartender Al rounds the bar and pins Jayden’s arms behind his back while he screams and thrashes. He’s trying to get in another punch and for what?
“Calm the fuck down, boy, or I’m gonna have to call the law!” Al yells into his ear but he’s a man possessed, he can’t hear, his eyes are full of rage and even Al is struggling to keep him at bay.
I’m trying to make sense of his attack when the lights go out but it’s not the lights in the bar, it’s the lights in my brain. I can’t see. For the longest moment, I struggle to keep my balance until I wobble and feel the bar against my side. I let go of my nose and let the blood flow freely down my face. I can’t let on to anyone what’s happening, it could be the end of my career.
Jayden is the only person who can help me and coincidently, he’s the one currently trying to kill me. I hear scuffling of shoes and chairs and more voices of the people who frequent Al’s bar. They are helping Al keep him off me.
“You fucking asshole, you can’t talk about my baby sister like that! I’ll rip your head off and shove it up your ass if I ever hear you say a word about her again!”
Slowly the room comes back into view, the blurry wood of the bar under my hand, the big screen television glowing above hundreds of bottles of liquor and the curious patrons staring at us.
His sister? Wait a minute his sister and I are the victim’s here, what the hell is he talking about?
“Jay, calm down, I never said shit about your sister, I was talking about the chick you were with at the café this morning.”
“That was my sister, you asshole!”
Now I’m mentally in the dark. The woman he was with at the diner couldn’t possibly be his sister. Her hair was nothing like I remember it. She had curves that went on for days, an ass so sexy and fuckable it made me hard for her five blocks away. She was taller, sophisticated, modern and put together like… like my mother.
It’s an odd thought, but my mother happens to be the most beautiful woman I’ve ever known and to compare anyone to her is a huge compliment.
“What? No, your sister had frizzy black hair, she was short and, and not sexy.”
Okay, so not the smartest response but I’m still struggling to make sense of what he saying.
Jayden lurches forward and comes within millimeters of hitting me again but this time I’m expecting it and I move back, knocking a chair to the ground with a loud clatter.
“I’m gonna kill you, Drake, if you say one more fucking word about my sister. I’m gonna lay you out right here and beat you to death!”
“Alright now, I think it’s time you went on home, Jayden. I don’t know what’s going on between you two but nobody’s getting an ass whooping in my bar tonight,” Al says tugging Jay toward the door. He’s still got his arms twisted behind his back and with a bouncer on either side of him, he won’t have any trouble removing him.
“Wait, so you’re telling me that woman in the tight skirt and stilettoes this morning was Tiana?” I still can’t believe it but it’s the only thing that makes any sense.
“Yes. Why the hell do you think I told you to stay away from her?” He stops talking and leans forward narrowing his eyes as if he sees something on my face. “Stop thinking about her, you already have that look in your eyes!”
“Look? What fucking look, the look of astonishment? Because if that was your sister, I’m floored.”
“No, man, the I gotta have that one look. I never knew a woman you didn’t fuck after seeing that look on your face, but you’re not getting your hands on her, you hear me?”
“Goddamn, Jayden, the whole East Coast can hear you, man. I’m not trying to fuck your little sister and I don’t know what look you're talking about. Shit, you just broke my nose for not recognizing your sister, what the hell?”
“No, I broke your nose for thinking she’s a hot piece of ass.”
Well he’s right on that one, I can’t admit it out loud or he’s going to try to kill me but I can’t deny it for the same reason. I’ve never known anyone so overprotective. Jayden’s borderline psychotic right now, no wonder Tiana ran away to New York and never came back.
I close my eyes and take a deep breath before saying another word.
“Jay, apparently, your sister has changed a lot since she’s grown up. I won’t deny she’s attractive, even from five blocks away facing the opposite direction that was obvious.”
He lurches again but I hold out my bloody hands to signal that I’m not finished.
“But, I swear I had no idea that was Tiana. I would never talk about your sister like that. You have nothing to worry about. A promise is a promise. I’ll keep my distance like I said I would. She’s off limits, totally and completely.”
His shoulders relax and the redness in his face begins to fade. His hands that have been balled up into fists open and he takes a deep breath.
“I think you can let him go, Al, it was a misunderstanding, he’s fine now, aren’t you, Jayden?”
He doesn’t respond right away but after a little jostle from Al he agrees.
“Yeah, I’m good, let me go.”
“You sure, man? I don’t want any more trouble.” Al asks.
“I’m fine, sorry about your nose. I’ll pay to get it fixed.”
I laugh, my nose has been broken so many times I don’t think a plastic surgeon would know how to ‘fix’ it.
“You got a mad right hook, ya know that? I think you missed your calling, you should have been a boxer, not a Marine.”
He reaches out and I flinch. “Relax, I’m done messing you up.”
“You sure abou
t that? You were wound pretty tight a second ago.”
He takes my chin and turns my face side to side. “Al, can I get a bag of ice? Pretty boy over here is working on two black eyes and a broken nose.”
“Thanks to you.”
Al hands him an ice pack he had already been making and Jayden puts it in my hand.
“Nobody disses my sister, man, now you know.”
“Indeed, I do.” I press the ice between my eyes and hiss when the pain intensifies.
“Here, drink this,” Al says pushing a shot of whiskey across the bar.
“Thanks, I think I’m going to need a couple more, though.”
“No problem.” He lines up a few more shot glasses and fills them in one sweep with what I hope is enough alcohol to numb the pain shooting through my face. He tosses Jayden a wet towel and he wipes the blood from between my fingers.
“Maybe we should make it an early night?”
“No way, you don’t get to pummel my face and dip out early. I’m going to need a ride home after I drink all of this.”
“Fair enough, you don’t happen to have a clean shirt back there do you, Al?” Jay asks.
“Will a Drink at Al’s T-shirt do?”
“Yep, toss it over and add it to my tab. Time to melt some hearts, Drake, your shirt’s toast.” Jay’s always giving me shit about my chiseled body, he thinks since I’m an old geezer, as he puts it, that I should take it easy when I work out. Per him, men my age should spend their weekends in a recliner watching football instead of running marathons and pumping iron. He doesn’t really believe that shit, he’s just jealous that I’m five years older than he is and I can kick his ass at anything.
I look down at the formerly white button-down that I ironed to perfection an hour ago. Noses bleed a lot, this shirt’s going straight into the trash. I unbutton it with my free hand and shrug it off. With all the attention we have drawn, it’s not a surprise when several women gasp and one or two squirms on their bar stools at the sight of me shirtless.
I’m not an exhibitionist, but now I know I can’t make it to the bathroom to change with my vision blurring in and out.
“I hate you, man,” he whispers handing me the clean t-shirt.