Anything For Us

by Lola StVil

  “Hank was my partner,” he offers.

  “Why are you having nightmares about him?”

  “He betrayed…”

  I plead, “Who did he betray?”

  “Everyone.”

  ***

  I don’t push him to tell me more because he says he’s already said too much. Also, I feel like crap knowing how much information he’s trusting me with while I hold back from him. When I go back into my apartment, Kenzy scolds the hell out of me for not telling him. She reminds me that I have had more than enough chances.

  “You know who you are?” Kenzy asks.

  “No idea, who am I?”

  “You’re the woman in the movie who finally gets a good guy and screws it up by pushing him away,” she cautions.

  “I’m not pushing him away!”

  “Oh, you’re right, secrets keep people close,” she says sarcastically.

  “It’s not that simple,” I point out as I grab my stuff and hold the door for Kenzy. It’s too early for her shift at the school, but she is willing to come to work early if it means she can lovingly tell me off.

  “The man told you how much he hates liars; you are just asking for it,” she says as she makes her way down the steps.

  “Kenz, I didn’t take the morning-after pill,” I tell her as we head for the subway.

  “Yeah, I can see that.”

  “Is that stupid?” I ask.

  “No, honey, it’s not. But you’re gonna have to make up your mind. On the one hand, you won’t take the pill, meaning you are okay with the thought of having Cash’s child. But on the other hand, you’re doing everything you can to push him away. And make no mistake about it, that’s exactly what you’re doing.”

  After I’m done with work, I check in with Banshee, and I’m happy to learn that so far, Tyler has been going to school and staying out of trouble. I’m so damn glad because I only have a drop of patience left when it comes to that kid. When I’m done with Banshee, I swing by Shelby’s house.

  I give her a piece of my mind. I make her give me my key back and promise her that if she ever comes by without being invited I will shoot her on sight. She’s not scared or even deterred, the little demon spawn. I swear my oldest brother married her to piss us off.

  Okay, okay, I know why he married her; he loves her. Shelby is tough, relentless, and fiercely loyal. And given her dark past, she had every reason to give up, but she never did, and for that, I admire her. I would never say that to her out loud, but I do.

  I head home, glad that Sky will be there. I gave her my keys two weeks ago and quickly headed to work so she couldn’t find a reason to try and give them back. So for the past two weeks or so, she’s been staying here and only going home once in a while. She goes back to her place to help the old guy next door and to pick up her mail.

  I actually have the next day off, and so does Sky. She informs me that there’s a craft fair in Central Park. I have no interest in that. However, my girl has told me that if I attend this fair, she’ll suck it up and consider letting me take her rock climbing. As we make our way through the park, she goes on and on about her upcoming vacation.

  I’m glad she gets to take some time off. But I’m not all that happy about her going to Jamaica. Yes, she’s my girl, and I hate the thought of guys leering at her on the beach and being nowhere around to stop it. But the main reason is that when people go on vacation, no matter where they go, they tend to drop their guard. But especially in places like the Caribbean, where the surroundings are so breathtaking.

  I happen to like Jamaica. I worked there for a few weeks, and the locals were really cool and laid-back. The beaches and food were fucking amazing. But while it can be paradise, it’s also a country with one of the highest per capita murder rates in the world.

  Sky and Kenzy will be staying at a top-rate all-inclusive hotel in Montego Bay. Four other women, who won the prize as well, will join them. They are staying two to a room, and so they will watch out for each other.

  “I just wish the hotel was closer to some of the local restaurants. I really want to get a feel for the place. I want it to be authentic. I don’t want to go where everyone goes. I would love to get some local color,” she says as she looks at the various craft tables near the entrance of the park.

  “Yeah, I figured that,” I reply, dismayed.

  “And what is that supposed to mean?” she asks with a smile as she leans into me.

  “I get wanting to be with the locals and getting a real feel for the place. All those resort things are boilerplate after a while. But the risk of something going wrong increases when you go off and explore the non-tourist areas.”

  “How about this—I stay home, I don’t go anywhere, and I just stay under my covers for the rest of my life,” she snaps.

  “That’s not what I am saying.”

  “Well then, what are you saying?”

  “Why are you getting so defensive?”

  “Because you act like I’m some dumb airhead who can’t take care of herself. Is that what you think of me?” she asks as she places her hands on her hips and stares at me.

  “I never said that,” I counter as I feel myself getting irritated.

  “Well, you’re acting like it.”

  “I’m not telling you anything I wouldn’t tell Rose.” She looks away and taps her foot lightly. I know it’s wrong but seeing her pissed—at least when I know it’s not a big issue—makes me smile. I step in front of her so that she’s forced to look at me.

  “Babe, I love you. I don’t want anything to happen to you. I just need to know that you will be safe.”

  “I will be. I promise. No exploring unless it’s with a hotel guide. I will lock my doors, and I will remember that while I’m on vacation, thieves aren’t,” she says, smirking as she mocks the host in the video I sent her, a video she said she didn’t have time to see.

  “You did watch the video I sent you!” I grin.

  “Well, I had to. My boyfriend is kind of a security nut.”

  “Wait, am I your boyfriend? I don’t recall agreeing to that,” I tease. She elbows me in ribs. I pretend I’ve been severely injured.

  “Ah, that hurt,” I groan.

  “Liar!” she laughs.

  ***

  Later that night, back at my place, Sky tells me she wants to show off some of the things she bought for her trip. She takes out a shopping bag and shows me her bikini bathing suit; it’s the size of a single strand of pasta. I don’t say anything; I just start looking around the room.

  “What are you looking for?” she inquires.

  “The rest of your bathing suit.”

  “Ha, ha! Very funny.”

  “Babe, that’s…I mean…it’s…” I can’t find the word.

  She puts it on and looks at me, shocked and embarrassed. “Crap, do you think I can’t pull it off? Damn, I’ve been so good about hitting the gym. Do I look bad?” she says.

  “Why do you need to look so damn hot?” I ask, knowing full well that I sound immature as fuck. She faces me and places her hand on the side of my face.

  “Cash, I’m a teacher. I can’t just wear whatever I want. There are clothes in my closet that may never see the light of day. And I have always wanted to have the nerve and the self-confidence to wear a bikini. I’m usually a one-piece kind of girl. But wearing this is my ‘new thing’ that I would like to try. Now, if it looks bad, then I trust you, and I won’t wear it.”

  “Well, it looks awful,” I reply, clearly lying. “Yup, it’s hideous, I can’t bear to look. Someone shield my eyes!” I laugh, and she playfully pushes me away.

  “Seriously, babe, you look fucking amazing,” I groan as she turns to face me.

  “Really? Thank you.”

  “Hey! I’ve got something else you could wear on the beach in Jamaica,” I offer.

  “Really, what?”

  I go inside the hall closet and come back with the perfect item for my girl—a thick winter coat that is fifty time
s her size, but would cover everything. She bursts out laughing. I have no idea what’s so funny.

  ***

  I’m not happy about leaving Cash behind, but I’m glad I get to hang out with Kenzy in such a pretty place. We always said we’d go away together, but life got in the way. Cash wanted me to stay the night, but I had last-minute things I needed to pack, so instead, I went home.

  Now, it’s just past six in the morning, and I’m excited as hell. Kenzy and I will meet up with the other ladies at the airport. We spoke to them, and they all seem laid-back and easygoing. This trip will be so much fun! But first, I have just enough time to go over to Cash’s place and kiss him good-bye.

  I get out of the Ride Share and enter the house. I make my way to the master bedroom. He’s lying in bed tangled up in the covers; his face is flushed and sweaty.

  “You should be at the airport,” he says in between coughing fits into the tissues in his hand.

  “I’m on my way there now, just thought I’d stop to say a final good-bye,” I reply as I gently place my hand on his forehead. “Cash, honey, you’re burning up!” He coughs and shakes his head and then mumbles some nonsense about how he is fine. We both know it’s a damn lie. He’s sick as a dog.

  “How does your throat feel?” I ask. He mumbles something about a porcupine. I ask him if his body aches, and he says it’s probably because of a hard workout he did earlier. And then he buries himself deeper and deeper under the pile of covers, shivering.

  “Oh sweetheart, I think you have the flu,” I inform him.

  He groans. “I don’t get sick,” he says in a matter-of-fact tone.

  “Yeah, well someone didn’t send that memo to your body, you have the flu,” I counter patiently.

  “No, I don’t!” he grumbles. “Babe, you have a flight to catch…go.”

  “I can’t leave you like this.”

  “I’m a grown man; I got this,” he says as he coughs uncontrollably. His cough is deep and sounds like the devil has embedded himself inside his chest. He groans in frustration as he tries to find a comfortable sleeping position. Every position is worse than the last one. Finally unable to stand it anymore, he finds a spot at the edge of the bed and wraps himself with the tail end of the sheet. Seconds later, he runs to the bathroom and throws up.

  I call Kenzy as I gather fresh sheets to remake the bed; I let her know that I won’t be able to make the trip. She’s not happy about it, but she understands why I have to stay. Before letting her go, I run along the list of ways she can be extra safe. I guess Cash is rubbing off on me. I hang up the phone and finish making the bed. Next, I need to make tea for the guy who’s not sick.

  The kitchen has everything a cook could ever need, and since he doesn’t cook, I’m pretty certain it’s his mother’s doing. I have yet to meet this woman, but her taste in kitchenware is fantastic. Everything is high end and meticulously organized. I’m pretty sure Cash doesn’t know what most of these things are for. I fill the stainless-steel teapot with water and turn on the burner.

  The app on my cell makes it easy to order food from the market and have it delivered. So, I pick all the ingredients I need for my grandmother’s coconut lime chicken soup and send out the order.

  When he comes out of the bathroom, he asks what I’m still doing here and reminds me that I will miss my flight. “Agent Hunter, you are no longer in charge. I am. Now get under the covers and don’t make me tell you twice.”

  “Babe, you have to—”

  “Now!”

  He grumbles but ultimately does what I say. He keeps muttering about not needing me to stay with him; I tune him out and focus on finding what I need in his medicine cabinet. There are a number of bottles to choose from. I grab the one for flu and fever reduction. I enter the bedroom and find Cash looking over a file he must have gotten from his briefcase.

  “What are you doing?”

  “I’m fine. Just work. Gotta catch up. Go to airport, babe; I’m—” He starts coughing too much to finish his thought. I take the file away from him and push him back down on the bed. He’s exhausted, and it takes no effort at all.

  “Look, Agent Hunter, you will take your medicine and do what I tell you or else!”

  “Or else what? What are you gonna do?” he says with a small smile as he coughs yet again.

  “If you don’t get under the covers and take the medicine I give you, I’m going to call Shelby and have her come stay with you.”

  “No! No, you can’t do that!”

  “Okay, then. Get under the covers. Now,” I reply as I hold the sheet up so he can get under it. He does as he’s told. I feed him a capful of medicine, then head to the kitchen to get the tea. I sweeten it with honey and sit beside him as he drinks it. He thanks me as his eyes begin to close. Before he falls asleep, he mutters something about planes and how I still have a chance to make my flight. I ignore him.

  ***

  He sleeps for five hours or so before I wake him. He’s groggy and groans when I make him sit up. But when he sips the soup, I can tell he likes it. He tips it towards his mouth and downs the whole thing. I made him some toast and some more tea. He polishes that off quickly and goes back to sleep.

  A few hours later, I wake him again to take his medicine. His fever has gone down, but he’s still running pretty hot. So, I wet a cloth and place it on his forehead, in addition to handing him ibuprofen and a bottle of water. I begin to walk away when he starts to drift off again but he uses what little energy he has to pull on my shirt. He moans with displeasure at the sight of me leaving. “I was going to tidy up the kitchen, but I can stay,” I reply and lie beside him. He places his arms protectively around me and falls asleep.

  It’s five in the morning when I feel him gently shaking me.

  “TV,” is all he manages to say. I smile and shake my head as he drags me into the living room like a teddy bear he can’t be parted from. I bring the comforter with me, so when we lie on the sofa, I have something to cover us both. I place my hand on his forehead, and I’m relieved to find that his temperature has gone down yet again. I turn on the TV, and he tells me what movie he wants to see—Die Hard.

  “From like a hundred years ago?” I ask.

  “Babe, it’s a classic,” he counters.

  “Okay, which Die Hard do you want to see?”

  “All of them.”

  I laugh despite myself and kiss his forehead. “Yes, honey. Die Hard marathon coming up.”

  “And pizza. Can we have pizza?”

  “Okay, pizza,” I reply. I place the order and thank God we live in New York City and we can actually get just about anything round the clock.

  “Oh, and do you have any more of that soup, babe?” he asks.

  “Sure,” I reply as I get off the sofa and head to the kitchen. It’s a half hour later when the pizza comes. We eat almost half the pie as John McClain battles bad guys in New York City. In addition to the pizza, Cash helps himself to more soup, tea, and water.

  “Okay, I can hang with the first three Die Hard films, but that last one in the installment I’m not sure about,” I admit.

  “The quality got bad when…” He doesn’t finish his thought. Instead, he places his head in my lap, then drifts off to sleep. I feel bad that Kenzy had to go without me, but I have no doubt that I’m exactly where I want to be.

  Shelby is enjoying the hell out of the fact that I need her help. She sits across from me in her lushly decorated home office. I didn’t want to come to her, but I knew she’d know exactly how to help me. But first, she is going to make me suffer.

  “Shelby, can you just tell me what I need to get?” I push.

  “Well, that depends. What did you do to Sky that you need to make up for? How bad did you mess up?”

  “Really? You can’t just suggest a nice gift? You need the details?”

  “No, I don’t need them. But if I don’t get them, where’s the fun for me?” she says playfully.

  “Fine. I got the flu the other day, an
d she gave up her trip to Jamaica with her best friend to take care of me. I can’t get her a trip out of town because she can’t leave work right now. But I really want to make it up to her and her best friend, Kenzy. Happy?” I reply.

  She tilts her head and presses her lips together like a proud mom who has just witnessed her kid taking his first steps. She’s beaming, and it’s awkward as fuck. I roll my eyes and shake my head, but all that does is make her gush even more, “That’s so sweet!”

  “Shelby!”

  “I’m sorry, I’m just so proud of Quick.”

  “Her name is Sky,” I remind her.

  “I really do like her for you. In fact, I think I’m going to give it my official seal of approval.”

  “Well thanks, now I can go on with my life—Shelby approves!” I reply sardonically.

  “That is not the tone of a man who wants help!” she cautions.

  “Seriously, how does my brother handle you?”

  “He handles me very well,” she says suggestively.

  I groan as a flash of the two of them in bed tries to enter my mind. “C’mon, just help me already. How do I make it up to her?”

  “Don’t worry; leave your credit card info and I’ll take care of it,” she says.

  “Really?”

  “Yeah, I’m on it.”

  “You sure?”

  “Yes. You want her to get a little taste of the relaxation and ease she would have gotten on vacation without having to go on vacation, right?”

  “Ah, yeah. That’s exactly right.”

  “Don’t look surprised, Cash. I’m more than a pretty face.” I shake my head, give her my info, and head for the door.

  “Cash?” she says as she stands up and comes over to me.

  “Yeah?”

  “Rose would approve.”

  “Yeah, I think she would too,” I reply, and then something comes over me, something I can’t really explain, but out of nowhere, I hug the little demon woman. I love that pushy busybody. And she knows it.