The Summer Boyfriend

by Benjamin, Christina

  Hayden allowed himself a few moments longer to wallow in his self-pity, then he climbed out of bed, took a shower and did what he knew he couldn’t put off any longer. He went to find Joy and tell her the news that would seal their fate.

  He tried calling and texting, but his number was still blocked. The only thing he could think to do was call from another number. He tried from his hotel room, but it went straight to voicemail.

  Worried that Joy probably had all unknown numbers blocked, Hayden decided to go to his last resort—Locos.

  The beach bar wasn’t a far walk from the Four Seasons. Hayden pushed through the chipped yellow doors, trying not to think about the fact that this was the place where he’d first felt his heart beat for Joy. But when Hayden walked inside, he noticed how different the bar seemed today.

  Locos was like a ghost town. Hayden had never seen it so empty. Normally, ACE staff and athletes packed the place wall-to-wall on the weekends. Hayden knew this because for the last two weeks he’d hung out there hoping for a glimpse of Joy when she was working.

  But today, the only familiar face was Kendall’s. “What are you doing here?” she asked when he walked in.

  Hayden swallowed, not sure how to start.

  Kendall rolled her eyes. “She’s not here if that’s why you came.”

  “Right. Um, I was wondering if I could use your phone?”

  Kendall nodded to the bulge in the pocket of his shorts. “What’s wrong with yours?”

  “Joy doesn’t answer my calls.”

  “Well that’s probably because she doesn’t want to talk to you.”

  Hayden sighed and sat down at the empty bar. “Kendall, it’s important.”

  “Damn, it must be. You’re bringing me down and I’m on uppers.”

  He wrinkled his brow with concern.

  “Kidding! Christ, lighten up, man. For real, you do look like shit, though. Everything okay?”

  “No, I really need to talk to Joy. I found something out that she has a right to know.”

  “What is it?”

  “She really needs to be the first to know.”

  Kendall cocked her head from side-to-side studying him like she was a bird of prey deciding if she was hungry. Luckily for Hayden, she seemed content to sip from whatever alcoholic beverage she had concealed in her plastic Locos pineapple cup.

  Hayden could smell the booze on her breath as she leaned over the bar and spoke. “Tell you what, I’ll call her from my phone and ask if she wants to hear your mysterious news.”

  He wanted to hug Kendall, but he knew she’d probably deck him and change her mind, so all he said was, “Thank you.”

  Hayden held his breath as Kendall dialed Joy’s number, but he was instantly deflated when he heard the call go straight to voicemail.

  Kendall shrugged. “Guess she doesn’t want to talk to either of us.”

  “Is she mad at you, too?”

  “No, she’s probably just at the street fair tonight with everyone else who’s not STUCK WORKING!” Kendall shouted the last few words to whoever was in the back; probably her aunt or uncle.

  “What street fair?”

  “The one in Maui, duh! If you haven’t noticed, no one’s here. All of ACE went to the street fair tonight. It’s a tradition.”

  Something unsettling began to uncoil in Hayden’s stomach. “Do you really think that’s where Joy is?”

  “She’d better be. Otherwise I’d be making her ass work while I go have fun in Maui.”

  There’s no way you’re out partying in Maui, Joy.

  Hayden may not know every part of her, but he knew enough to be certain choosing partying was not her style. Plus, the past few days had taken their toll on her. Hayden had seen it in her eyes the last time they spoke. “It just doesn’t seem like her scene.”

  Kendall shrugged. “It’s not. But when I was walking Lucas to the ferry this morning, we ran into Brock and he said Jo was supposed to be meeting him.”

  Hold up, Joy.

  Brock?

  Really?

  Now Hayden knew something was up. Joy would never agree to go partying in Maui with Brock. The guy was a snake. And Hayden still couldn’t prove he was the one who sent the text about Kai, but he wasn’t about to ignore the unsettling feeling prickling up his spine. If Joy was really going to Maui with him he needed to see it for himself.

  Before he even realized he’d made a decision, Hayden’s feet were carrying him back toward the weathered yellow doors.

  “So, are you gonna go get your girl or what?” Kendall called after him.

  “Something like that,” he muttered.

  Brock

  Brock finished the last of the tequila in his flask and began rooting around under the sink. There had to be more hidden somewhere. He lived with three other lifeguards who liked to drink more than they liked to surf. That meant they had a stash somewhere and Brock wasn’t going to stop until he found it.

  He needed it if he was going to have any chance of dulling the rage pumping through his veins. The last few hours played through his head on a loop. He’d waited at the dock with his mother, Kai and all of Jo’s family, but she still didn’t show up for the early ferry. She’d made him look like a complete ass, but he played it off.

  Brock Keller didn’t let bitches get the best of him.

  When his mother told him to forget Jo and just get on the ferry with them, he brushed her off.

  “Nah, I’ll catch the next ferry over with my roommates. I told them I’d hang with them anyway. Catch up with you guys later.”

  Brock hadn’t made plans with his roommates. He didn’t even like those guys. He only lived with them because the rent was cheap. But he wasn’t about to share that information with Jo’s family, not when for the first time ever they were leaving her unguarded.

  He charged away from the docks with only one thought in his mind—getting what he was owed.

  But that had been hours ago. Brock had gone home for some liquid courage first, but he was having trouble finding enough of it. Eventually, he kicked down the locked door to his roommate’s bedroom. Locking it had been a mistake. Locks meant there was something to hide. And bingo! Brock found what he was looking for sitting right on the dresser. He grabbed the bottle of Jack, took a swig and headed for the door, grabbing his motorcycle keys on the way out.

  50

  Joy

  Jo woke up with a start. Piper was barking at the front door, hackles raised. Jo was instantly on her feet. Piper rarely went into Cujo-mode, but when she did, Jo didn’t ignore it. A fist pounded against the door right as she peeked out her side window. Brock’s eyes locked with hers and held her there, frozen for one terrifying second before instinct took over.

  She turned and ran for her bedroom right as Brock lunged for the door. He smashed his way in, through the locks and all. Jo was almost to her bedroom when she was yanked backwards by her hair.

  Brock pulled her so hard her head snapped back and her feet flew out from under her. She slammed onto the floor and tasted blood. Jo screamed as she desperately tried to scramble away, but Brock was faster and stronger. He crushed her with his weight, pinning her down.

  “Get off of me you psychopath!”

  “Go ahead and scream. I like it better that way,” Brock taunted. “Besides, no one’s around to hear you.”

  Cold fear tore through Jo as she realized he was right. The whole damn island had gone to the Maui street fair. She was alone and screaming wouldn’t help. Jo went still, trying to get her mind to unfreeze.

  Think, Jo. Think.

  But before she could Piper lunged. She’d been barking at Brock since the moment he busted in Jo’s apartment, but so far, she’d stayed back, awaiting Jo’s command. But the moment Brock turned his back the dog leapt. She went for his throat, her teeth snapping dangerously close to Jo.

  Good girl, Piper!

  The dog’s distraction was all Jo needed to roll out from under Brock. She scurried for the kitchen searc
hing for a knife or something she could defend herself with when she heard a yelp of pain come from Piper. Jo froze, too terrified to stop herself from turning around. She caught sight of Brock slamming a knee into Piper’s side.

  “No!” Jo roared, her voice so loud it blocked out Piper’s howls of pain.

  Jo didn’t even think. She grabbed the long bamboo cutting board off her counter and ran at Brock as he continued to attack Piper. Jo slammed the solid board into the back of his head with all of her force. It made a sickening sound and Brock pitched forward, stunned for a moment.

  Piper shook free of his grasp and moved in front of Jo taking up a protective stance. The dog was panting, but she was still standing. Jo took that as a good sign as she backed slowly away from Brock, keeping Piper close to her.

  He was still on his knees, stunned from the blow she’d hit him with, but Jo didn’t take her eyes off of him. She walked backwards until her legs hit the couch. She fumbled blindly for her phone but she couldn’t find it.

  Jo chanced one quick glance behind her and saw the top of it peeking out, wedged between the couch cushions. She snatched it but it was still off. Shit! She powered it on waiting for what seemed like an eternity for the network symbol to appear.

  Come on, come on, come on!

  A sharp bark from Piper drew Jo’s attention back to Brock. He was back on his feet now and he had a weapon of is own. He wielded her floor lamp like it was a club, dragging it behind him as he advanced toward her.

  “Brock! Stop it or I’m calling the cops. I mean it.”

  An ugly smile slithered across his face. “Go ahead. I’ll have gotten what I came for by then.”

  Jo backed up with Piper by her side. The dog was growling ready to lunge, but Jo wouldn’t risk Brock hurting her dog worse than he already had. Desperate to survive whatever sickness was brewing in Brock’s head, Jo kept moving. She wanted to get to the door but he kept cutting off her angle.

  She’d never seen him so unhinged. Brock looked like a madman, but if he wanted a fight, she would give him one. She would fight until her dying breath if that’s what it took, because it would be over her dead body that she left Kai.

  Jo tried again. “Brock, whatever you think you need to do, you don’t. Just leave now and nothing has to happen. Everything can go back to normal.”

  “Nothing can go back to normal!” He bellowed. “You made sure of that.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “You killed my brother and now you’re trying to take away the last part of him I have left. I’ll never let you do that, Jo. I’ll never let you keep Kai from me. If you move, I’ll follow you. And then I’ll file petition after petition until you lose him for good. It won’t be that hard. Everyone knows you’re a slut.”

  Jo’s mouth hung open in shock. It was hard not to feel the sting of his words. He knew right where to hit her. Kai was her weak spot and saying that he’d take her son away made Jo see red. She’d never let that happen, but right now, she just needed to keep Brock talking until she could find a way to distract him long enough to call 911.

  “I’m not a slut,” Jo growled, trying to keep the conversation going.

  Brock laughed cruelly. “That’s a joke. But it’s not like it’s your fault. Your mother was a slut, too. And everyone knows you spread your legs for anyone, just like she did.”

  Jo wanted to spit in his face, but she choked down her rage. “Anyone but you.”

  Brock stilled and hate disfigured his face into something unrecognizable. She knew the instant she said it that she’d pushed him too far. And now it was too late. Brock lunged for her, swinging the lamp with tremendous force as he ran. But Piper got in the way. The dog leapt up to protect Jo and there was nothing she could do to stop it. For a moment, Piper’s yelp filled the tiny apartment with deafening volume and then . . . silence.

  Piper lay on the floor unmoving and Jo’s heart splintered. She’d finally reached her breaking point. A scream tore from her that she didn’t recognize as she ran toward Brock. “I’ll kill you!” she roared. “I’ll fucking kill you for this!”

  Jo leapt onto Brock, clawing and kicking at him with everything she had. Her fury caught him by surprise but not for long enough. His hands were around her throat, squeezing the life out of her as he forced her onto the couch.

  He had the nerve to try to kiss her. Jo bit his lip and drew blood, spitting it into his face. Brock reared back and punched her in the eye. For an instant everything went quiet and white. When the world came back to her, Brock was kissing her again, tugging off her shorts, tearing her shirt.

  Jo sprang back to life, kicking and spitting as he tried to force himself on her. “Get off of me!”

  “Oh come on, this is how you like it, isn’t it? This is what you do when you’re spending all your time with that ACE-hole.”

  Jo stilled. “What did you say?”

  Brock paused to smile at her. “Awe did you think I didn’t know about you and Hayden? That’s adorable.” He laughed as he grabbed her shorts again. “Who do you think sent him that text about Kai?”

  Jo mustered all the strength she had left and kneed Brock in the balls as hard as she could. His eyes went wide and he made a sound like a tire losing air as he rolled off of her to cup himself.

  Jo raced over to Piper, dialing 911 as she cradled her dog’s unmoving head.

  Hayden

  The minute Hayden walked up to Joy’s apartment he knew his gut had been right. Joy wasn’t in Maui and something was definitely wrong. The lights were on and the door was wide open. He didn’t hear any commotion coming from inside, but he didn’t wait either. He was up the stairs and inside before he could even shout her name.

  But he didn’t have to. His eyes landed on Joy the moment he entered the tiny apartment. He’d barely had time to stop himself from barreling into her. She was huddled on the floor cowering over Piper, using her body like a shield as Brock advanced toward her.

  Hayden wasted no time putting himself between Jo and Brock. The guy had the good sense to stop when he saw Hayden, but something was off. Brock had claw marks and blood on his face. His chest heaved as he tried to catch his breath. When he finally did, he smiled wickedly. It was a sick, twisted sight that made something inside Hayden recoil, but not enough to back down.

  “Hayden, don’t,” Joy warned.

  He glanced back at her and that’s when he saw her eye. It was nearly swollen shut and her lip was bleeding. Hayden’s voice came out deadly calm. “Did he do that to you, Joy?”

  She leveled her furious gaze at Brock, but she refused to answer Hayden’s question. She didn’t need to. Hayden knew Brock was responsible for putting marks on Joy’s beautiful face. He didn’t need anyone to tell him that Brock was a few Froot Loops short of a serial killer. It was written all over his face.

  It’s cute that you want to protect me, Joy.

  But he touched your lips.

  I told you, those are my lips.

  Now I have to kill him, Joy.

  Rage coursed through Hayden as he turned his attention back to Brock, who just grinned like he was having the time of his life.

  “If you think I’m going to let you near her, you’ve got another thing coming,” Hayden muttered.

  Brock’s filthy grin widened. “I was hoping you’d say that.”

  He charged, but Hayden was ready for him. Growing up with a defective heart hadn’t spared Hayden the wrath of school bullies. But at the moment, he was glad for the inside knowledge, because all bullies were made up of the same thing—brawn, not brain.

  Brock was no different. He came at Hayden hard and fast, but his mistake was standing at his full height, which was still nowhere close to Hayden’s. But Hayden knew this move, Brock wanted to intimidate him, but it didn’t work.

  It was Hayden’s turn to grin when he swept low at the last second and cut Brock’s legs out from under him. The guy dropped like a rock, but he was fast, scrambling to his feet to come at Hayden again.


  But stupid is a condition not easily reversed. Brock didn’t learn from his mistakes. He still came at Hayden high and fast, making it all too easy for Hayden to knock Brock on his ass again.

  This time, Hayden kept him down. He anticipated Brock’s quick scramble and locked the psycho’s arms behind his back. Hayden shoved his knees into Brock’s back and his face hit the floor with a satisfying thud. To Brock’s credit, he struggled hard, but Hayden had him on sheer size alone. He was about half a foot taller than Brock, not to mention he was packing an extra eighty pounds of pure muscle. Swimming had its perks.

  “Get off of me,” Brock growled, thrashing beneath Hayden.

  It only made Hayden wrench Brock’s arms tighter. “Sure. As soon as the cops get here, I’d be happy to.” Hayden glanced over at Joy, who was still clutching an all too still Piper. “Please tell me you called the cops, Joy.”

  She nodded her head enthusiastically.

  Good girl, Joy.

  “Too bad you were too late to save your little whore’s virtue,” Brock spat. “Don’t worry, I didn’t ride her too hard. She should still have some left for you.”

  Hayden stilled, his deadly calm returning. “What did you just say?”

  Brock laughed. “That’s right. You heard me.”

  “Hayden, he’s lying,” Joy shouted. “He tried but I fought him off. He’s just trying to get to you.”

  Brock continued to laugh and Hayden felt his grasp on reality slipping. “Joy, I want you to go outside and wait for the police.”

  She started to argue. “But—”

  Hayden kept his voice calm, but firm. “Now, Joy. Take your phone, walk outside, close the door and wait on the beach. Do not come back in until I tell you to.”

  Joy looked between the door and her dog.

  “I won’t let anything happen to Piper,” Hayden assured her.

  “Too late again,” Brock sang.

  Hayden was seconds away from snapping. He knew that was Brock’s goal but Hayden was beyond caring. He wanted to pummel this asshole’s face more than he wanted to take his next breath. But he couldn’t do that in front of Joy, or with the 911 dispatcher recording every sound. If there was one thing Hayden learned from his father’s team of lawyers, it was plausible deniability won every time—or at least when his father’s bankroll was behind a case.