The long hand on the clock ticks past the six and our visit will come to a close soon. As much as I’d like to sometimes, they won’t let us spend all day visiting. There are other people in the lobby waiting to see their loved ones.
“Have you heard any more about the rescue dogs?” I ask to change the topic. She and four other women inmates were selected as part of a new inmate dog foster program. So far the process of getting the dogs to the prison has been slow. Before my mother lost her mental freedom to drugs, she was a great mom and I hope fostering a dog will help her regain that.
She gets lost telling me about the ins and outs of the program. Pictures of the dogs they’ve brought in and issues with the program funding. I listen intently for the first few minutes, but then my mind begins to wander. Am I allowing my own pride to push Grant away?
I want to answer with a resounding no, but a piece of me isn’t so sure. As scary as it is, I might be more like my mother than I want to admit. I’ve been so pissed with Grant I haven’t been able to see past my own feelings and realize while what he did is wrong he is attempting to make up for it.
If only he could see I’m not the one he needs to help.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
It was a few short months ago when I first met Marissa, the day her office came to help paint our gym. We spent hours talking while she was unable to help with a hurt ankle. It wasn’t long after she invited me to my first girls’ brunch. Each week since has been a back and forth about whether or not I’d attend, but it’s the first Sunday where I’m dressed and happy to be on my way to one.
Not only have I finally accepted myself as at least a partial member of the RDA gang, but I spent way too much time last night thinking about this whole Grant situation. It’ll be nice to sit back, relax, and have girl talk that doesn’t revolve around boys.
The door to Cosmo’s Comics and Café swings open and Jason the café owner raises a hand in greeting as he stands behind the checkout counter.
“Hey, Clare. You want your regular?” he asks before grabbing a mug and holding it up.
I wave back. “Sure.”
Two ladies turn around to see me from their place on the orange couches at the back of the store. There’s a moment when all the RDA girls and Jason look at me while the Cheers theme song kicks up my head. I’m definitely in a place where everyone knows my name.
Who’d a thought?
“Hey, Chicka,” Aspen says passing me a wrapped tube of aluminum foil. “Marissa approved burritos this morning. I picked you up what you normally order.”
“Thanks.” I latch on to the packet and take a deep breath. Beyond this aluminum foil is the best breakfast burrito you’ll ever eat in your entire life. The sausage, the cheese, the peppers, and the scrambled eggs. They mix together to form this gooey breakfast miracle. If coffee is the nectar of the gods, these burritos are the …. well, burritos of the gods.
I’m not sure why but every time we get burritos for breakfast Aspen takes the time to run it by Marissa first. If she approves it, we switch. I haven’t gathered the courage to ask why.
“So, Aspen, are you engaged yet?” I ask bouncing on the couch twice to get comfortable before I rip open my burrito.
“No, but I promise I will tell you when it happens.” She gives Marissa the side-eye with both eyebrows raised. “Expect to get a text immediately after.”
“Well since Aspen doesn’t have exciting news to share, I’ll share mine.” Simone puts her burrito down and we all stop, overdoing the anticipation. “I’m moving into Trey’s place.”
“That’s expected but nice. Why now?” Marissa asks unwrapping her burrito.
“We’ve been talking about it for a while, but then one of Melvin’s interns needs to move. His roommate bought a cat or something. Honestly I’m tired of hearing about it.”
Melvin is Simone’s favorite employee at Raven Digital Arts, Finn and Trey’s company.
And I say that with sarcasm. She can’t stand the man. It’s settled down over the last few months, but Aspen is always worried Finn will need to call an ambulance one day.
“What’s his name?” I can’t stop myself from asking. The crazy employee with a cat problem seems too familiar.
Simone gives me a questioning look. “Jesse. Why?”
I chuckle for a moment to myself, but the story is way too long and unbelievable to share. “No reason. How are you handling Melvin and the coworker?”
Simone laughs. “It’s nice. They keep themselves entertained correcting one another nonstop all day long. They’re like brothers who are so similar they hate each other. It’s been quite hilarious on my end.”
The conversation continues on about Simone and Trey. Whether she plans to redecorate, needs help packing, and if she’ll be able to handle living with Trey in general. When everyone is satisfied with her answers, we move on to the next person for an update.
Marissa rolls up her burrito wrapper and tosses it on the coffee table in between the couches. “I have nothing. No update this week.”
“Seriously? Ryland hasn’t taken up any new hobbies?” Aspen asks. “Fly fishing?”
Marissa laughs. “Nope and the fish is still alive so everything is hunky-dory. What about you, Amanda?”
Amanda’s face turns a light shade of pink and we know she’s got something good to share. “I went on the third date with Kyle.”
“Ohhhh, the DJ?” Aspen asks leaning into the conversation.
“Yes, Aspen, that one.” Amanda laughs and chooses that moment to take a bite of her burrito so she can’t answer more questions. She’s a smart one. She’s been a member of the group long enough to know her stall tactics. Build suspense.
“Did you follow the third date rule?” Marissa asks.
“There’s a rule?”
“Yes, but none of us seem to follow it.”
“Okay, Clare, it’s your turn,” Marissa says after the conversation lulls because Amanda won’t give more besides promising there was no sex but she’ll update when it happens.
“Me?” I ask and point a finger at my chest because there are so many other Clares here, right? “Nothing major. The house down the street from us was broken into, but they didn’t take anything too valuable. Now Drew is on this kick we need secret knocks.”
“Interesting, but not what we’re looking for,” Aspen says. “How is the living with Grant situation going?”
The one question I did not want to answer today.
“He’s not as annoying as I thought he’d be. I try my best not talk to him. Does that make me crazy?”
An entire chorus of the four girls saying variations of “of course not,” is what I hear but I see Marissa give Aspen a look from the corner of her eye. Simone sees it too and mouths the word no to them.
“What?” I ask.
Simone continues to shake her head. “She’s not fully accepted us into her life as BFFs.”
“Yes, she did. We bonded at the spa.”
I sigh and try to brace myself for wherever this is going. You never know when dealing with an RDA girl. “Just tell me.”
“Well…” Marissa takes the lead and I’m even more worried. While I like her tell-it-like-it-is attitude, sometimes she forgets how to make a compliment sandwich and her helpful advice turns into a bunch of criticism piled into an ice cream cone of criticism. “Grant has been a total asshole. Total.”
“Total asshole,” Aspen chimes in.
“But…” Marissa continues. “Maybe your ongoing punishment is a little harsh.”
“What? I eat the lunch he packs for me every day.” What more do they want from me?
“We get why you broke up.” Simone leans across the space in between couches and puts her hand on my shoulder. “But maybe you give him a chance to explain.”
“I don’t want him to explain.” Sure I haven’t given Grant the chance, but I don’t want to hear any of his excuses. I want him to make the problem better. And since he can’t do that, I don’t know how everyone wants me t
o feel better. “So you think I’m crazy then?”
“Just a little bit.” Simone rubs my shoulder. “But we’ll still hate him with you. It’s a best friend rule. We pretended not to know Marissa had a huge crush on Ryland before they got together.”
“I did not have a crush on Ryland.” Marissa rolls her eyes. “I will kill him for you though. Grant I mean.”
Aspen rubs two fingers across her forehead. “You have to stop threatening to kill people in public.”
Marissa laughs. “I mean in Dragons Reborn.”
“I know that. Hopefully Clare knows that. But the nerds in the store don’t know that.”
“Like they get close enough to hear what we’re saying, Aspen. Anyway the offer still stands. I’m always willing to exact a little vengeance online. Give me the word.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
A shiver causes my body to tense and I wrap the comforter around me tighter. It’s not even cool in the house, but whatever sickness has invaded my body since lunch has decided I’m an icicle. Or burning. My body can’t decide.
It’s possible my immune system is getting revenge for all those times I pretended to have a summer cold. Turns out being sick in the summer really does suck. At least I always faked that part right.
The doorbell chimes for the second time and I groan. I am not leaving my nice warm bed. There must be another person in this house who can answer a damn door.
“Drew!” I attempt a yell, but it comes out much more of a tiny screech barely heard in my bedroom let alone in the hallway.
A third chime of the doorbell irritates me enough I throw back the covers and make the walk downstairs clutching my box of generic face tissues. I don’t have money in the budget for the nice ones with the germ fighting lotion. Whoever dared ring the doorbell better hope the house is on fire and they are here to rescue me. He also better look damn hot in his firemen uniform. I don’t get out of bed for ugly emergency response workers.
My foot clears the last step to a chorus of cheers. I flip my head to the living room in time to witness Drew and Grant high-five one another on the couch.
“Really?” More cars blow up on the TV screen as I scuff my feet the rest of the way to the front door. I’m down here. I might as well open it since dumb and dumber over there aren’t concerned.
Grant jumps up from the sofa. “Are you sick?”
“No, I’m carrying these around for my health,” I say waving the box of rough tissues.
Oh wait. I kind of am. Whatever, I’m too tired and sick to correct myself. Grant won’t notice.
The front door swings open to reveal Aspen standing next to a taller male version of herself. She hasn’t melded with Finn as Marissa worried but the man with her is definitely related from their similarities. Since Aspen only has one relative, it doesn’t take a genius to figure out it’s her brother Ben, the police officer. Sadly, he’s not in uniform but wearing a pair of faded jeans and a dark black polo shirt, the San Francisco Police Department logo on the left side.
“Is everything okay?”
“Hey, meet my brother Ben. We came to do a security check.” Aspen smiles as she does her introduction and then mouths a quick I’m sorry.
There’s no way my expression doesn’t portray how confused I am, but I ask the question anyway. “Security check? For what?”
Seeing my reluctance Ben takes the opportunity to step past me and into the house. It’s not like I would stop him. He’s a cop. “Aspen said you had a break-in,” he clarifies not taking long to walk right past me.
“No, I said they had a neighbor with a break-in.” Aspen follows behind him and I have no choice but to close the door and follow the train. “And this reaction is why I never tell you anything.”
Ben stops inspecting every corner of our house long enough to glare at her. “You’re keeping something from me, then?”
“Oh my god, Ben. I can’t handle you.” The frustration in Aspen’s voice is easy to pick up, but I can’t help but laugh at their exchange. Drew is the closest thing I’ve had to a sibling, but these two have the bond that comes from a lifetime together.
Ben continues walking around the first floor of the house. He stops at every window taking time to admire how they’ve been painted shut after so many coats of white paint.
He stops in the middle of the living room taking a second to check out the game on the TV screen before addressing us. “I have a friend from college. He lives out East now and works at a private security firm in some rinky-dink tourist town in Maine. They do a lot of different gigs but have a substantial market in security alarms. He owes me a favor. I can have him fly out and install an alarm for you this week.”
“I don’t think you should be cashing in favors to get us a security alarm.” I look to Aspen with my best “what the hell” expression but she doesn’t notice.
“How much does an alarm cost?” Grant asks coming to stand beside me. “We do need to make sure everything is safe.”
“This is my fault.” Aspen jumps in, throwing her arms out. “I casually mentioned your issue and he demanded we come right over.”
“Why?” The whole situation is getting out of control. “You’re not my brother.” I remind Ben in case he forgot we have no blood ties between us.
He rears back like I slapped him and narrows his eyes at me. “I’m everyone’s brother.”
Aspen sighs. “Don’t argue it. Just let him get his crazy out.”
Apparently satisfied Aspen gave him the okay to secure our house, Ben starts educating us on the importance of a safe entry and criminal deterrent. I try my best to pay attention, but standing here holding a box of Kleenex and sniffling every two seconds wears me out. I make a feeble but real apology and head upstairs to lie back down. Aspen promises she’ll come and visit me before they leave and I fall asleep waiting for her.
**
A gentle rocking of my shoulders brings me back to consciousness. Grant sits on my bed leaning over a few inches from my face.
“Um, hello.” I push my head into the pillows to gain distance.
He smiles. “Oh, you’re awake.”
“Yeah, now. What time is it?” I ask, my throat scratchy.
Sunlight filters in from my bedroom window casting shadows in the folds of the comforter. I hope I haven’t overslept. My body aches, so getting ready for work is sure to take me longer than normal.
“It’s solidly midmorning.”
“What?” I practically yell at him. I sit up quickly and then lie right back down just as fast. My head swims for a few seconds. “I’m going to be late.”
I push back the covers, but Grant has a solid hold and they don’t budge. “Drew warned me you’d put up a fight. He’s already called in backup for you at the center and I made you a delicious midmorning snack.”
“I’m not sick.” I pull the covers back but again they don’t move. Why does it constantly feel like he and Drew are railroading me into doing what they want?
From his expression Grant isn’t buying my not sick claim. “Clare, I came in here last night to cover you up and you didn’t so much as twitch.”
“You covered me up? Why?”
Grant shakes his head. “You do not get it, do you? I know I messed up. I’m trying to fix it and be the person I was before.”
Against my better judgment and sore throat, I laugh which instantly causes me to cough. “I’m working on ‘getting it.’ I promise.” It’s possible Grant does see where he went wrong.
“That’s all I ask. Are you still tired?”
“No.”
“Good. Let’s play.” He waves his hand at me like he wants me to move over but I don’t budge.
“Huh? I thought you said there was breakfast?” Plus, he should know everyone needs a bathroom break after waking up.
Grant laughs. “Yeah, I lied. I’ll make you lunch. Now move over.” He uses his hands and pushes me to the side, but this time I listen. “I know your kind.”
“My kind?”<
br />
He slides onto my bed pulling the covers over his lap. “Yeah, your type. Hard worker, unwilling to admit weakness.”
“That doesn’t sound like me.” It sounds exactly like me.
“You’ll sneak off as soon as I leave the room or look the other way. I figured we’ll play Dragons Reborn to keep you occupied.”
“I would not,” I say with fake indignation. I so would. “Shouldn’t you be at work?”
“No, I took the whole day off to stay home with you.” He leans over the edge of the bed almost falling off until I grab onto his arm to keep him steady. When he’s back on the bed like a normal person, he places a black laptop on my lap. “You left this in my room the other day.”
It’s the laptop he tried to force on me back when this whole thing started between us. I refuse to take the bait and say anything back in my defense. He knows why I left the laptop on his bed.
“You realize you are still logged in to the system?” he asks opening the top.
I shrug. “Of course. I never log out. It’s easier that way.”
Grant almost snatches the laptop back but catches himself. “You what?”
“Why would I log out? I’ll just have to log back on the next time I use it.”
“For your security.”
“I don’t have anything that needs securing on this laptop.”
Grant continues to shake his head at my answer while putting one hand in the air in a silent plea for me to stop talking. “Please, at least tell me your cell phone is locked.”
“Ummmm….” My words trail off before I come up with a good answer. One that hopefully won’t cause him to have a heart attack. Thankfully the doorbell dings and saves me from having to answer. “You should get that.”
I gently nudge Grant but he doesn’t seem to fall for my distraction technique. “I’ll get this, but we’re gonna talk about this cell phone situation when I get back.”
“I can’t wait,” I say waving to him as he walks out the door.
At least three seconds go by while I contemplate jumping out of bed and getting ready for work. Okay fine. It was like fifteen seconds, but in the end I decide it probably is better for everyone if I stay home and give myself a day of rest. Many working families don’t get paid sick days. If their child comes home sick and then spreads it to the house and they miss days of work, that’s money they can’t recoup.
Quest (The Boys of RDA Book 4) Page 17