Hopelessly Broken

by Tawny Taylor

  He almost looked convincingly upset. “I hope you’ll let Logan visit me and Cojack.”

  The nerve of this jerk. First he agreed to help her. Then he backed out. But he had the gall to ask if Logan could come and visit? Why? Why did he want to spend time with a little kid, anyway? That wasn’t normal. “I don’t know.”

  He nodded. Turned.

  She cursed under her breath as she watched him head for the stairs.

  She’d been wrong about Aeron. So wrong. Here she’d begun to think he might be a nice guy, trustworthy. Willing to help someone out he barely knew.

  No, he was right--he wasn’t a hero. He was an asshole. A selfish, chicken-hearted jerk who made out with a girl and then dumped her.

  As her front door slammed behind him, she bid him good riddance, forever. And then she sat down with her phone and tried to come up with Plan B.

  She needed someone to stay with them for a while. Someone over eighteen.

  Someone who wouldn’t blink at the notion of deceiving a representative of the state.

  Someone who didn’t mind bending the rules for the greater good.

  Someone who wouldn’t say yes and then turn around a couple of days later and leave her stranded like Aeron had.

  Who could that someone be?

  She paged down her through her contact list. She hadn’t talked to any of these people in so long, months--the friends who had once been such a huge part of her life. Their lives had all gone on like normal while hers had veered off in another direction. It was January, the beginning of a new semester. Most everyone she knew would be in high school, the majority still too young to be Logan’s legal guardian.

  There was one. Only one. But the chances of him agreeing to help her were just about nil. After her parent’s death, he’d shown her exactly what kind of person he was. He didn’t help a friend in trouble. He didn’t support someone as they grieved. He ran.

  Just like Aeron.

  But, dammit, there wasn’t anyone else. She had to at least try.

  This was going to go one of two ways. Either Bobby Fuller would tell her no, or she would get her stand-in guardian…but at what price?

  Eight

  “Why did you leave so soon, Aeron? Did they finish the work on your house?”

  “Work?” Aeron echoed, confused.

  It was Monday afternoon, a day after he’d snuck out of Logan and Jennifer’s house. Logan was standing on his front porch, his backpack drooping off his shoulders, his nose red, and boots caked with snow.

  Knowing he was about to be interrogated, Aeron opened his front door to let Logan inside.

  “Jenny told me you had to stay with us because the guys were working on your house and you couldn’t live here until they were done.”

  “Oh. That work. Yes. They finished early.”

  “What did they do?” Looking around the room, Logan kicked off his boots, the flick of his feet sending snow and water spraying all around him. “I was hoping it would take longer. I sort of liked you staying with us.”

  “I know you wanted me to stay longer, Logan. But it’s better for everyone if I stay at my house. Cojack’s back in his room. I’m sure--”

  “Are you coming over tonight?”

  “No.” Logan wasn’t going to let this subject drop. Aeron could tell already. Hoping to distract him, Aeron jerked his head toward the bedroom. “Come on. I’ll help you find Cojack.”

  “Tomorrow? Are you coming over tomorrow?” Logan asked as he tromped after him.

  “No.”

  “Why not? I thought you loved my sister.”

  “Love? No, no. I don’t love her. I told you--”

  “But I saw you smiling at her. I saw you touch her. That’s what people do when they love each other. That’s what my mom and dad did.”

  “Maybe that’s what some people do when they love each other.” Finding Cojack napping in his dog bed, Aeron scooped him up. The dog yawned. “Adult relationships are more complicated than that. Your sister and I like each other. We’re friends.”

  “Jenny’s been so sad since you left. She loves you.”

  “No, she doesn’t love me.” Feeling like a complete asshole, Aeron handed the sleepy dog to Logan. “Come on. I’ll get my coat and Cojack’s leash and we’ll take him for a walk.”

  “Yes, Jenny does love you. I know it. Will you come over and have Saturday morning breakfast again?”

  “Maybe. Sometime.” Aeron led Logan back down the hall toward the living room to get his coat and boots.

  Still holding Cojack, Logan gave Aeron some squint eyes as he stomped his feet into his boots. “Aeron, are you staying away from Jenny on purpose?”

  “No. Why would I do that?” he asked as he shrugged into his coat. He pulled on one boot then the other. When he was ready, he snapped the leash on Cojack’s collar and pulled open the front door. “Okay, let’s go.”

  “Come over. Tonight.” Logan begged, crunching over the snow, ahead of Aeron. He set Cojack on the sidewalk. The dog immediately lifted his leg, whizzing into the snow. “Come for dinner. Please. It was nice when you were staying with us. It felt…normal. Like a real family.”

  God, he wasn’t going to give up. “I can’t, Logan.”

  “Please? Just for dinner.”

  “No, Logan. How far are we going to walk Cojack?”

  “That way. I need to go home. I promised Jenny I wouldn’t come over here and bother you. She made me promise.”

  Damn. Of course she had told him not to come over. She was hurt. She was angry. She wasn’t going to allow Logan to hang out with him after he’d run out on her.

  “I guess you’d better go home then. I’ll walk Cojack.”

  “Will you walk me home? I can say I had to stay after school to finish some work, and you were walking by when I left. You can have some hot chocolate at my house.”

  This kid was persistent. He had to give him that. “No, I won’t have hot chocolate at your house.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because.” Aeron let a big sigh slip up his throat. If there was any hope of Logan giving up on the idea of him and Jennifer falling in love, he was going to have to come clean and tell the truth, at least a little of it. “Listen, Logan. Your sister and I had a problem. That’s why I had to leave. She’s upset, and I’m sure she doesn’t want to see me or talk to me right now. I’m trying to do the right thing and stay away from her.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “It’s complicated.”

  “Grown-ups make everything complicated,” Logan grumbled. “It shouldn’t be complicated. You like Jenny. Jenny likes you. Come over to my house and talk to her.”

  “I can’t, Logan. I’m sorry.”

  “Fine.” Logan shoved Cojack’s leash into Aeron’s hand and stomped several feet ahead of him. He stopped, twisted to glare at Aeron over his shoulder, and said, “If you won’t come over, then I don’t need to be your friend either. Bye.”

  Great.

  Wonderful.

  Now this case had completely gone off the tracks. He had lost Logan’s trust. And if he couldn’t get it back in time, Logan would suffer the consequences.

  Somehow, he had to regain it. Quickly.

  * * * * *

  Why, oh why had Aeron put her in this position? The bastard. It was only two weeks. Two weeks. Why couldn’t he have stayed? Why?

  So they kissed.

  So he touched her down there.

  So she was a virgin? So what?

  She was a big girl. She could handle it. He didn’t want any strings. She got it. They could have come to some kind of understanding.

  Now, she had to deal with worse.

  I can do this.

  Bobby was sprawled on her couch, one thick arm draped across the back, a foot resting on the opposite knee. “I was surprised to hear from you. It’s been a long time. Over a year.”

  “Yes, it has been a long time.”

  “How’s school?” Bobby asked. “Weren’
t you taking some AP classes this year?”

  “I…quit.”

  His eyes practically bugged out of his head. “What? Quit? You?”

  “I know. Shocking, right? A lot has happened since…last time you saw me.”

  “Wow. Well…you look good.” He said that to her chest.

  This wasn’t a good idea. Not at all. Being two years older than her meant Bobby was legally old enough to be Logan’s guardian if DHS came in to investigate. But that also meant he might expect certain things. Those expectations, along with his lack of commitment, were what had led to their breakup last year. In a nutshell, he had wanted to have sex, and she hadn’t been ready. So, he found someone else. It seemed, by the look in his eye, he was thinking she would be ready for sex now.

  And she was. But not with him.

  “Thanks.” She crossed her arms over the objects of his admiration. “Look, I’m not going to play around here. I invited you tonight because I need to ask for a favor.”

  His gaze jerked up where it belonged. “What kind of favor?”

  “A big one.”

  His lips curved. A brow lifted. His gaze flicked to her tits again. “Big?”

  Jenn had always known Bobby’s brain resided in the gutter most of the time, but couldn’t he drag it out for just one minute so they could have an adult conversation? “Please, Bobby. Would you just listen?”

  “I am listening. Sheesh. You invited me here for dinner. I wasn’t expecting a lecture.”

  “I’m sorry. I’m just…upset.” She glanced at the stairs, wishing she could just run up there and hide and forget all about this. “I need someone to stay with me and my brother for a while.”

  “Stay here? Why?”

  “To keep DHS from taking my brother away and putting him in a foster home.”

  “How will I stop them from doing that?”

  “You would be his temporary guardian. Just until I turn eighteen.”

  Once again, his eyes bugged out. “You want me to be responsible for your little brother? Me?” He shook his head. “That’s crazy. You know what kind of--”

  “I know.” She let out a huge sigh. “I wouldn’t ask but I’m desperate. I can’t think of anyone else.”

  Now it was his turn to look around them. What he was searching for? It wasn’t like she’d hidden away a cousin twice removed around the corner. “What about family? Don’t you have an aunt or grandparent or someone who can stay here?”

  “No.”

  He took a step backward. “There must be someone—“

  “There’s no one.”

  “Well sorry. I’m not the guy for the job. There’s no way--”

  “Please.” She caught his arm before he ran out the door. “I know this is no small favor I’m asking. But it wouldn’t be for long. Just a couple of weeks.”

  His gaze flicked to her hand. “Jenn, you’re hot. I came over here because I thought might…you know, we might hook up again. But...” He pushed past her, heading for the door. “I always knew you were a little crazy, but I had no idea you were this nuts.”

  “It isn’t crazy. It’s called desperation,” she shouted to his back.

  “Whatever.” Shaking his head, he practically dove out the door.

  There went her last resort. Plans B, C, D, through Z.

  There was nobody else to ask.

  No one.

  Wondering how long she could hold off the caseworker, she dragged herself up to bed.

  * * * * *

  The next morning was ordinary.

  As usual she got up, woke up Logan, and downed half a pot of coffee while making sure Logan got out the door on time, fully dressed, and with everything he needed for school. Finally, after over an hour of chaos, she was able to settle down to work.

  And of course, that was when someone knocked on the door.

  Almost one hundred percent sure it was the case worker, she quietly dashed upstairs to check the driveway--and to hide.

  She peered between the slats of her blinds.

  No car in the driveway.

  No car parked in the street.

  A second series of knocks echoed through the house.

  Who the heck?

  She skipped back down the stairs quietly and peeked through the window in the door.

  Aeron?

  She yanked open the door.

  He smiled. “Hi.”

  “Hi.” Confused, she stood there like a nitwit, waiting for him to say something.

  He motioned with his head. “Can I come in?”

  “Sure.” Still thoroughly confused, she stepped aside to let him in then shut the door behind him. “Coffee?”

  “No thanks.”

  She led him to the living room and sat.

  He sat across from her, in the big, old recliner that used to be Dad’s. As he sat, it tipped slightly to the right. The leg had broken the day before the accident. Jenn hadn’t had the money to fix it. But she hadn’t wanted to throw the chair away either.

  Aeron looked funny sitting in it now, leaning slightly while pretending he wasn’t. “Were you busy? Am I interrupting something?”

  “Oh, that’s okay. I’m not on a deadline right now.”

  “Deadline? Ah, you’re a writer?”

  “I am.”

  “That’s cool. I’ve done a little writing myself. I…I have downtime during assignments sometimes. And some of my assignments are really rough. The writing is good therapy. Sometimes I think I might go nuts if I didn’t have writing.”

  “Oh, I know what you mean. I live through my stories. They’re all I have now, except Logan. I don’t have any friends anymore. I don’t leave this effing house.”

  “That sucks. Why?”

  “Because I can’t. What if someone finds out we’re here alone? What if someone reports us? We’ve been living like this for months, since my aunt left and didn’t come back. It sucks. I used to have a normal life. I used to hang out with friends. I used to laugh. I used to do a lot of things.” She blinked. Tears were not burning in her eyes. No, they were not. “Now…all I do is write and dream about when things will be normal again—if they’ll be normal again.” She blinked several more times. No, she would not cry. She would not, dammit.

  “Look.” Aeron jammed his fingers into his hair. “I came over this morning to say…I’m sorry I left, but after…what…almost happened that night. I couldn’t take the chance of you getting the wrong idea—“

  “That’s my fault. I’m lonely. There. I said it. I’m so freaking lonely that I thought I saw something between us that clearly wasn’t there. I scared you away.”

  He didn’t respond at first. She took his silence as a silent acknowledgment, fearing that if he said the words aloud, she might cry or something. “Jennifer, I—“

  “You don’t have to explain. I get it. You don’t feel the same way I do. It’s okay. I’m a big girl. I can handle the truth.”

  “That’s not what I’m trying to say.” He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, gaze locked to hers.

  “Then what are you saying?”

  “I’m saying...what the hell am I trying to say?” He rammed his fingers through his hair again. “I don’t know.”

  “All I want is the truth, whatever it is.”

  “You deserve the truth.” He stared down at his feet. “The truth…is…I’m lonely too. Maybe that’s why I made you think I…I kind of misled you.”

  What did that mean? How had he misled her? “I don’t understand.”

  “For me, it’s my work that stands in the way. I have this job that I hate. I move around so much I never get the chance to make a single friend before I’m on to the next place. I’ve been living like this for years, not having anyone to talk to, to share my life with, to laugh with. For a while I was okay with it. If I got lonely, I found a girl…we would hook up for the night and that was enough.” Finally, he looked up. His eyes. They were full of emotion. Intense, raw emotion. “That morning, in the kitchen, when we were throw
ing flour at each other like a couple of two-year-olds was one of the best times in my life. I’ll never forget it. I wish I could have more times like that. A lot more. But I can’t.”

  “Why don’t you just quit that job and get a new one?”

  His sigh was audible. “It isn’t that easy.”

  “Why not? I’m sure you could find another job. What do you do?”

  “This boss doesn’t let you quit.”

  “What do you mean by that, won’t let you quit? Slavery was outlawed over a hundred years ago.”

  “It isn’t slavery per se, but I still can’t quit.”

  What the hell?

  “It’s complicated,” he added, as if that might clarify the situation.

  Strangely enough, it did. Somehow. “Ah, did he make you sign a non-compete clause? I’ve heard about those.”

  Once again his gaze fell to the floor. “Um, kind of. The fact is I won’t be sticking around here much longer. And I didn’t think it was fair to lead you on, make you think there could be something between us…” His words trailed off as his gaze slowly climbed up to her face. When it reached her eyes, it locked there.

  The air became energized again. Dammit, this sucked. There was chemistry between them. Intense chemistry. Just her luck, it was with a guy who lived like a gypsy. “How soon will you be leaving?”

  “Before the end of January.”

  The end of January? That wasn’t long from now. Her heart twisted. “Where will you go next?” Would she see him again? Or would he be moving too far away? Might he come back someday?

  “I won’t know where I’m going until the day I leave here.”

  What kind of job was this? How horrible, to not be able to settle down, to have any kind of stability. “That seems a little unreasonable that they wait until the last minute to tell you.”

  “It’s been that way since the first day.”

  “Then I feel for you.” Reaching across the space between them, she inched her hand toward his, allowing the tips of her fingers to barely touch his skin. His gaze dropped to their hands, and she moved hers closer, curving her fingers over his. He twisted his body to face her. “You’re a sweet girl. I wish things were different.”