Getting Played

by Mia Storm

  The phone is close enough to my ear that I hear Bran’s voice clearly, fast and panicked. “The cops were here, Marcus. They wouldn’t tell me why, but it’s bad.”

  The euphoric sex tingle is instantly gone and my insides fill with dread.

  “Whoa, Bran,” Marcus says, pulling away from me and sitting up. “Okay…again. Slower. What did they say?”

  “Nothing, but they didn’t buy it when I said you weren’t home and they searched the apartment for you. They’re coming for you, man.”

  Marcus’s whole body stiffens. “I’ll be home in an hour and a half.”

  “No!” he says, an echo to the scream in my heart. “Don’t come home. Just stay wherever the hell you are for a few days while we figure out what the fuck they want.”

  But Marcus is already tugging his briefs up his legs. “I can’t hide out and hope it goes away. It’s not going to. I’ll see you in a while.”

  He disconnects and looks at me. I can’t even imagine what my face looks like if it at all reflects the panic churning my insides into chaos. “It’s going to be fine,” he says.

  And right then, I know he’s lying. He’s never used that word—the universal lie—with me through any of this, but now it’s bad enough that he’s got nothing else to fall back on.

  He stands and untangles the pile of clothes on the floor, handing me mine. We dress silently and he ushers me to his truck.

  “Is he right?” I ask as he drives. “Are they going to arrest you?”

  He shoots me a glance. “I don’t know.”

  So at least we’re being honest again. That’s something. I feel totally numb as he pulls up to the school and drops me at the curb. School got out an hour ago, but this is still the best place to drop me. The only thing that could make this worse is if Dad saw him here.

  “You’ll be okay?” he asks me.

  “I’ll be fine.” Just as much of a lie out of my mouth as his.

  He pulls me against his chest and kisses me, one last slow, desperate kiss. “I’ll call you as soon as I can.”

  I slide out of the truck and close the door. He looks at me a second longer before putting it in gear and pulling away. And as I watch his taillights disappear around the corner, in my heart, I know that’s the last of Marcus I’m going to see for a while.

  The next morning, I call the Sam Hill office for Vicky. She’s the most direct pipeline I dare tap to Marcus. “Hey,” I say when she answers. “I think I left my favorite red sweater there. Did you find it on the hooks?” It’s a total lie. I’m wearing my red sweater, and it’s not my favorite.

  “No, honey,” she answers. “Sorry.”

  “It’s okay. It probably got lost in the move, or maybe it’s at Aunt Becky’s.”

  “We miss you here, Addie.”

  I lay back on the hard slab that passes for my hotel mattress. “How is everything?”

  “Haven’t hired your replacement yet, but everything here is mostly under control.”

  “Marcus brought me my check,” I say, feeling my whole body tense. “Did he tell you he was coming here?”

  “He told me he was going to try.” I hear her deep breath bluster through the connection. “He’s at the county jail, Addie. Seems like there’s a full-on witch hunt under-way.”

  I’m frozen. The South Pole just opened up and swallowed me whole. I feel so cold, but I’m frozen too solid to shiver. “They arrested him?”

  “They did. Last night.”

  My stomach cramps. “How can they do this? Nothing happened with Corinne.”

  “That’s not what she’s saying.”

  “But she’s full of shit,” I spit.

  “Listen, Addie. I know you and Marcus are close, but I think, for his sake, it might be best if you just lay low and let him ride this out.”

  I know she’s right, but staying away from Marcus is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. “Thanks, Vicky.” I try to sound like my whole world isn’t caving in all around me. “If you see my sweater, hold onto it for me.”

  I disconnect and curl into a ball onto my bed.

  The only thing I can do to help Marcus is the one thing I’m not sure I can bear. But I have no choice.

  Chapter 25

  Marcus

  They held me for two days while we waited on my preliminary hearing and arraignment. Bail was set at fifty thousand. Vicky fronted the deposit for the bondsman and they sprung me a week ago pending trial. I appreciate her effort, but to me, it feels like I never left jail. Because if I want to get through this, I can’t see Addie.

  The last place I want to be right now is at the courthouse, but there’s also nowhere else I can be.

  Blaire is here talking to the District Attorney about what happened with Nate, and I promised her she wouldn’t go through this alone.

  I’m waiting on the marble steps in front of the ancient brick building, bundled against the November chill, when Blaire and Caiden arrive.

  She rushes into my arms and I crush her in a bear hug. “Hey. You okay?”

  She draws away and her eyes are red-rimmed and terrified. “No. Caiden had to talk me off a ledge to get me out of the car.”

  I tug her back to my shoulder. “I’m here, Caiden’s here. You’re so not alone in this, Blaire.”

  “I know,” she says, squeezing my waist tighter. “You’re the best.”

  Again, I feel regret take a bite out of my stomach. Because I’m not the best. I let her down. If I had been looking out for her, none of us would be here right now.

  “Come on, love,” Caiden says, hooking his hand through her elbow. “They’ll be looking for you.”

  She peels away from me and Caiden wraps her snugly under his arm. I let them get a few steps ahead before I follow. He kisses the top of her head as they walk and whispers something in her ear. She looks up at him and I watch her whole stance visibly soften.

  And I finally get it.

  Blaire told me who you fall in love with is completely out of your control. There’s no doubt that Blaire’s heart and soul belong to Caiden, and she has his in return.

  I trot up the stairs behind them. Inside, she’s directed by the D.A. to an interview room. She holds onto Caiden for an extra moment when they tell him he’s not allowed to stay with her. When she lets him go, we find a bench in the hallway and sit.

  “Thank you,” I say, my eyes tracing the edges of the black and white tiles on the floor.

  “For?” Caiden says.

  “For helping her when I couldn’t.”

  In the corner of my eye, I see him look at me. “None of this is your fault.”

  In his voice, I hear his anguish. After everything that’s happened with Addie and me, I understand his motivations a little better. He went to jail for loving Blaire. When he got out, there was a restraining order. Had he violated it, he would have gone back to prison for much longer. And Blaire was already “with” Nate when he got out. He thought she was happy. None of us realized the truth.

  “It’s not yours either,” I say.

  When the door opens an hour later, Caiden is on his feet before Blaire’s even out of the room. It’s Caiden’s comfort her eyes seek, and for a second, I’m jealous. But then it occurs to me that sometimes I catch Addie looking at me the same way. I want to be for her what Caiden is for Blaire. The calm in the eye of the storm. Safe haven.

  Blaire’s eyes are swollen and by the time she falls into his arms, she’s crying again.

  “He’s going away, Blaire,” I tell her, bile choking my words. I hate that I’m the reason for this—that my best friend did this to her.

  “It’s out of her hands now,” Caiden says, stroking her hair as she sobs into his shoulder. The voice of reason. “She’s done everything she can.”

  That’s what this was about. Blaire’s version of what I told Addie about letting herself live. She needed this to feel okay about herself.

  “You are just about the bravest fucking person I’ve ever met,” I tell her.
>
  She blows out a laugh along with some snot as she peels herself off her husband’s shoulder. “Not so much, but thanks.”

  Blaire and Caiden keep an arm tightly wrapped around the other’s waist as we walk to the parking lot, but Blaire reaches for mine with her free hand. “Any word on your trial date?” she asks.

  I shake my head. “Diaz is still rounding up fake witnesses. That takes a while, I guess.”

  “She made my life hell,” Blaire says, squeezing my hand, “but it was different with Caiden. They had video and we got, you know, sort of caught in the act, so…”

  I haven’t told Blaire everything because she asked me not to, in case Detective Diaz decides to question her. They have a history, after all. But she knows anyway. Which is why she gave me the key to her apartment and told me if I ever needed “alone” time it was all mine.

  “Corinne’s still sticking to her story that I coerced her into having sex with me, and Deanna is backing her. I may as well have been ‘caught in the act.’”

  Blaire shakes her head. “But you weren’t, so they won’t be able to prove anything.” She pulls me into a hug. “And you know our apartment is still available if you ever need some private time,” she adds low in my ear.

  I smile. “Aiding and abetting.”

  She shrugs. “Causing trouble. It’s what I do best.”

  Caiden offers his hand. “Good luck, man. If you ever need to talk or whatever, I’ve been there.”

  I give him a nod as we shake. “Thanks.”

  They climb in their car and I watch them pull away. They got their happy ending. It’s going to be the fight of my life for mine.

  When I get to my truck, I fish out my phone. As desperate as I’ve been to talk to her, I haven’t called Addie. So far, no one’s come after my phone records, and if they do, I’m screwed. But right now, I need to hear her voice.

  I dial the hotel and when the desk clerk answers, I ask for Addie’s room. A woman with a heavy accent picks up.

  “Um…is this room eighteen?”

  “I think so.” I hear rustling as she covers the phone and yells the question to someone. A male voice comes back with an affirmative.

  “Did the…there was a girl there.” All I can think is I somehow got the wrong room, but they’re saying no. “When did you check in?” I ask, my head clearing enough to figure out what I need to know.

  “Yesterday.”

  “Fuck,” I say, disconnecting.

  I go to the call log. I must have missed a call from her telling me what’s going on. I look for the hotel number. For any number that doesn’t look familiar.

  Nothing.

  “Fuck!” I say again, standing and pacing the parking lot. I shove a hand into my hair, trying to think of any other way I might be able to contact her.

  I lean against the truck and fist a hand in my hair, because the only thing I can think of is a trip back to Roosevelt High.

  She just left the hotel. She’ll call. She has to call.

  But if she doesn’t, I’ll risk what I have to and find her the only way I can.

  Chapter 26

  Addie

  I get off the bus and start up the Oakland street toward the apartment where Marcus rocked my world. I don’t really know why I’m here, except Marcus’s sister has been through this once already, and I need to talk to her. And, even though I’ve cut myself off from him, I need to know he’s okay.

  It’s been a month since I was here with Marcus. A month since I’ve seen or spoken to him. A month of hell.

  Dad found a job at a small software startup and is doing better since he’s been working, so that’s something. Every day he seems to find another piece of himself. I still haven’t found the courage to tell him I know about him and Becky, though. I don’t want to be responsible for setting him back when he’s just getting his bearings again.

  The first thing he did with his paycheck was to move us out of the fleabag hotel we were living in to an apartment in San Jose. I’m on my third high school of my senior year, and my new counselor is very concerned about the effect that will have on my college applications, but there’s nothing I can do about it. I didn’t call Marcus to tell him, because right now, all I can do is make things worse for him.

  I pull my sweater tighter around me against the cold December drizzle and walk faster. Last time I was here, my whole world hadn’t turned as gray as the spitting sky. I was windblown and chapped from our sailing lesson on the Bay, but I was warm inside from an entire day in Marcus’s presence.

  Now, I’m nothing but cold.

  I find the place and step up to the door. There’s a row of five buttons on the wall. I try to remember what number was on his sister’s door, but my only clear memory of the landing at the top of the stairs is Marcus kissing me. It was the first door we came to, so I push 2A. When there’s no answer after a minute, I lift my hand to press 2B.

  “Um…excuse me,” a voice says from behind me, and when I turn, I’m staring into Marcus’s cinnamon eyes set in a pretty female face that is so like his.

  “Blaire?” I ask, my voice shaking.

  She sets down the grocery bag in her hand, her expression a mix of curious caution. “I’m sorry. Do I know you?”

  “I…um…” I take a deep breath. “My name is Addie Grace. I’m a…friend of Marcus’s.”

  Her eyes widen. “Oh.” She just stands there staring at me for an awkward moment before she seems to remember herself. She extends her arm. “It’s nice to meet you, finally.”

  I shake it and she picks up her bag and keys the door open.

  “Come up,” she says, holding it open with her foot.

  I follow her up the narrow set of stairs and she opens the door at the top. When I step inside, the memory of being here with Marcus is like a kick to my stomach.

  She sets the bag on the floor near the refrigerator. “Go ahead and sit.”

  I find a seat on the couch before my legs give and watch her unload a few things into the fridge.

  “Something to drink?” she asks when she’s done.

  I shake my head.

  She comes over and sits on the other end of the couch. “As of this morning, Marcus didn’t know where you were, so I’m guessing he doesn’t know you’re here.”

  I shake my head again, realizing this is a wasted trip if I can’t find words.

  She tips her head at me. “Can I ask you…why are you running from him?”

  I blow out a shaky breath. “He’s already being charged with sexual battery. I don’t want to make things worse for him.”

  “I can respect that,” she says with a nod. She leans back into the corner of the couch. “I can remember having some of those same thoughts.”

  “That’s why I’m here, I guess. Marcus said your husband went to jail.” I fist a hand in my hair. “You’ve been through all this, and I just…I’m not sure what to do.”

  “I think what you do is just keep the faith, Addie. Believe me, I know it’s hard, but my biggest regret is that I didn’t wait for Caiden. My whole life would have unfurled differently if I’d just believed in our love.”

  I close my eyes as those words roll through my brain. I do believe in our love. More than I’ve ever believed in anything.

  “His charges don’t have anything to do with you,” she continues, “so when the smoke clears, I think you’ll be fine.”

  “But what if it doesn’t clear?” I say, finally brave enough to voice my gravest concern. “What if he goes to jail for something he didn’t do?”

  “The prosecution has the burden of proof. He didn’t do what that girl says he did, so there’s no hard evidence—DNA or whatnot. I’m convinced they’ll ultimately have to let him go.” Her gaze deepens and I see even more of Marcus in her. “And when they do, he’s going to come looking for you. I know my brother and I’ve never seen him so hopelessly in love.”

  My heart shatters into a million pieces. “You think?”

  She smiles. “I kno
w.” She picks up her phone. “Do you want me to call him? I know he’s going over the bend worrying about you.”

  God, yes. I need so badly to talk to him—to hear his voice and know he’s okay. But I don’t dare right now. Because what I know beyond a doubt is that I couldn’t resist anything he asked for. If he begged me to come to him, I would. And I’m not going to be the card that brings the house down.

  I shake my head. “Not until it’s over.”

  She takes a deep breath. “Fine, but at least take my number. I want you to call me for updates, or if you just need to talk.”

  “Okay,” I say, for some reason feeling a huge sense of relief that I have a connection back to Marcus, even if I can’t really use it.

  She looks at me expectantly, and when I realize she’s waiting for me to type her number into my phone, I grimace. “I don’t have a phone. Can you write it down for me?”

  She smiles. “Of course.”

  She gets up and finds her grocery receipt, then riffles through a drawer for something to write with. She comes out with a sharpie and jots her number down, then hands me the receipt.

  “Thanks,” I say, looking at the paper.

  “My man went through this without any support. Marcus needs to know he has you in his corner, Addie. I could get him a note for you, or even just pass a message along.”

  When I glance up at her, she’s giving me a look that tells me how important she thinks it is. “Tell him…” I take a deep breath as I think this through. What if he does something stupid if he knows I was here? I shake my head, setting my resolve. “Not yet. Please don’t tell him you saw me. I just…I’m afraid he’ll come here looking for me, or…”

  Her eyes narrow and I’m suddenly afraid I’ve made a huge mistake coming here. She nods at the paper. “I’ll make you a deal. I won’t say anything as long as you promise to check in with me every week. I need to know you’re okay.”

  I take a deep breath and nod. “Okay.”

  She pulls me into a long hug. “Don’t give up on him, Addie. He loves you.”

  “Never,” I say, swallowing tears. “I can’t. He’s all I have.”