“Excuse me,” I whispered, bumping into Dylan as I passed him in the doorway and squinting at the brighter poker room.
“No worries,” he said in return. “Who is that?” I heard him say from behind me.
I couldn’t hear Zach’s response, but as the door to the poker room closed, I heard Dylan ask, “That was Emma? Oregon Emma?”
There was a Holiday Inn Express on the Costa Mesa Highway with a somewhat affordable room. I crashed on the bed and finally retrieved my phone from my purse. Oregon Emma? What the hell did that mean?
Seven missed calls from Mom. And three texts. I called and she answered before it rang a full time.
“Where are you, Emma? You said you’d call when you got there.”
“I’m sorry, Mom,” I said, crashing onto the bed. “I left my phone in my purse and forgot to check it. I’m sorry for worrying you.”
“Have you seen him? Are you sure this is a good idea? This is more for his parents to handle, not you sweetheart.”
After a long, ragged breath, I said, “I don’t know Mom. I saw him, but we haven’t had a chance to talk.” He was too fucked up to have any type of conversation and I doubted he would even remember I was there.
“I don’t like this Em. I just don’t. You were hurt for so long after he left.”
“I know. You told me that before I left. All I can say is that it’s something I felt like I needed to do.” Though now I wasn’t so sure. What would I say to Mrs. Owens? ‘Hey, yeah I saw him…post blow job and high or drunk as could be!’ That would make her feel much better.
“I’m going to rest for a bit. I found a hotel with a $79 rate so I can afford a couple of days. I’ll keep you posted.”
She hesitated. “Emma, be safe please. Use your head.”
“I will, Mom.”
Parked nearly a block away, I could see the comings and goings of the house. The moment I saw Sam outside the next morning, I took the chance and drove past at a near crawl. Even with her sunglasses on, she followed me with her eyes and kind of lifted her chin. I parked around the corner and waited, watching my rearview mirror.
It only took a minute for her to pull up next to the Rover with her passenger window down.
“Follow me,” she said, and I nodded.
The alarming way she zipped in and out of traffic amazed me, and I breathed easy when she finally pulled in at a Starbucks.
Her face was make-up free and her hair wrapped up into a messy bun.
“What the hell happened at Panchas last night?” she snapped.
Caught off guard, I stuttered, unsure what to say, totally not expecting that greeting.
“I’m sorry, Emma. He destroyed his room last night when he got home. He broke a glass in the sink. He ripped the shower curtain off in the bathroom.”
“What?? Why?”
She pushed her sunglasses up onto her head, and her eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. “Why? You are asking me why?”
Stuttering again, “I don’t know. I went to Panchas. Hank buzzed me in to a backroom. They were playing poker…well he wasn’t. He was in the back room getting a blowjob from Sophia.”
I spoke louder than intended and a lady behind us crinkled up her nose. Sam eyeballed the lady and said, “It happens! Maybe you should try it!” Then she turned to me, “Maybe we should talk outside.” The lady gasped, and I couldn’t help but laugh at my-new found friend.
We each ordered and went to a table out front with an umbrella.
“Sophia, huh?” she asked.
“Yep. She resembled a Greek goddess. Is that his girlfriend? Are you his girlfriend? This whole thing is pretty confusing.” I burned my lip when I took a sip of my hot chocolate. “Why are you even being nice to me? You don’t know me.”
She propped her ASICS tennis shoes up on a chair and took a deep breath.
“Slow down woman! Here’s the deal. I feel like I know you. I met Zach his freshman year at USC. He was hot and built and everything all the girls wanted. We ended up having two classes together and just started hanging out. He told me about you. He told me about the trial at the time, more because he had to miss school and needed my notes from classes.”
I hadn’t thought about Paul Talley since Cooper had been released from prison three years ago. “That was a long time ago.”
“Yes. It was. I kind of thought that maybe Zach and I would hook up.” She shook her head “No such luck. Little things happened along the way. He had a way of finding things out about you. He knew when you graduated. He knew where you were going to college.”
“Ryan,” I whispered.
“Who’s Ryan?”
“My brother.”
She shrugged. “Maybe. I’ve only seen him this upset a couple of times.”
“Over me? What are you talking about? I’m so confused.”
“It’s not that I mind telling you. But I can’t really tell you what it was about for sure,” she was eating her scone, and I loved that she didn’t mind talking with food in her mouth.
I watched her, waiting, for something.
“Well. Dyl and I knew about you. We knew your brother was quarterbacking for the Ducks, and believe me; we couldn’t miss a freaking Ducks game…ever! Zach’s most recent setback was seeing you when your brother was selected in the draft.”
“He was there? What do you mean setback?” I asked really freaking out.
“No dipshit he wasn’t there.” She shook her head laughing, which made me laugh. “We watched it on TV at Panchas. He was hoping he’d get picked by the Raiders.”
She shrugged and continued. “So, Dyl and I have dealt with this for a while so we knew shit could hit the fan. The camera only flashed across your family and that was all it took. He stood, excused himself and walked to the bar with his fingers laced and behind his head. Truly handled it like a champ.” She took a long sip of her drink.
I raised my hand. “Dipshit is not following. What did he handle like a champ?”
“Well, history indicates any news related to you is…upsetting to him.”
What the hell? Why would that bother him? “What do you mean?”
“For example, back at school, on campus. He broke a window when he threw a beer can right through it. It had something to do with an auction? No one understood. But you won a bid on some guy.”
“Austin…” I barely said.
“Austin?”
“Yes, it was a fraternity auction. You bid on the frat guys.”
She finished her scone and took a long drink. “Sounds yummy. Then there was one time when you rented some apartment up in Oregon. He heard you were living with some guy.”
I ran my fingers through my freshly-washed hair, trying to process all the things she was saying. It was still about Austin. He didn’t want Austin to have me. Clearly the competition between them, he had never let go.
“Tell me why he hates Journey?” she asked.
“Journey…like the music group?” I asked, puzzled.
“Smashed the shit out of Hank’s Jukebox at Panchas when somebody played a song.”
My head spun trying to wrap my brain around all that she said. I never knew a violent Zach. Ever.
“They sang one of our songs,” I explained. He hated me that much? I had seen a glimpse of that last night through his near drug-induced coma.
“Last night, he was high. Why? What is he using? Why does he do that?”
She took the lid off her drink and swished it around.
“The guy with him last night, Dylan…he’s my brother. We all live together. He’s second year med school. I don’t know what to say really. They get shit sometimes and they try it. Not very often, but on occasion. Buuut, Sophia is bad news. She brings him illegal shit. Last night she brought X.”
I had no clue what X was? “What is that?”
“Ecstasy. It’s bad.”
The silence grew between us…neither knew what to say.
“You’re birthday is coming up. May is always h
ard for him. Dylan and I know that. We sort of prepare.”
My mouth fell open on that one. My birthday? The things she was saying made no sense to me. None. I didn’t understand why May would be hard. I needed to talk to him. I needed answers. His mom needed answers. “Sophia is his girlfriend?”
Sam shook her head as she finished her drink. “Hell no! Zach hasn’t had a girlfriend as long as I’ve known him. He gets off on occasion with some girls, but its nothing more than that.”
Jealousy reared its ugly head again. Why did that bother me?
“Why are you so nice to me when he’s your friend?” I couldn’t help but love this girl. She treated me as if she had known me forever.
She grabbed her keys and motioned for me to come. “It’s because he’s my friend that I’m nice to you. Plus, if he ever found out that I wasn’t…I think I’d lose my best friend and room mate.”
My heart melted knowing she took care of him. “Does he go to Panchas every day?”
She looked up at the sun. “It’s summer. They will surf first. Then they will probably wind up at Panchas. Did you come here for him?”
I ignored her question. The reason I came had become blurred with why I wanted to stay.
“Emma?”
I really liked this girl, and I hoped that she would call me a friend because I already considered her one. But at this moment, I didn’t know what to say. “His mother misses him.”
“So that’s why you’re here?” Disappointment dripped from her question.
“Yes,” I said, though there was a hint of a lie in that one word.
She released an exaggerated long slow breath.
“You’re gonna make my life difficult little missy,” she joked.
“I’m not trying to. Can I get your cell number? I may need help. I have a half-assed plan.”
Back at the hotel, I firmed up my plan for that evening and sat in a chair out by the pool. I’d never been to Newport Beach and wanted to head down to see this southern part of the Pacific. For now, I laid my head back letting all the things Sam had said today rake through my brain. I didn’t understand why he hated me so much. Destroying jukeboxes. Throwing cans. Breaking windows. And what was Ryan thinking telling him about the fraternity auction? Telling him anything about me? But especially Austin!
That fraternity auction was the end of our whirlwind romance. After Zach left me, Austin and I only had one date…at my house. We stood on my deck that spring, looking out over the Siskiyou mountains, his nose nuzzled into my neck, and there was a part of me that felt whole again for just a moment. Our last kiss had been months before back in Cannon, the anticipation, the feeling of being wanted again beat everything. When our lips met in the familiar way I remembered, I was suddenly lost in my desires. When my father turned on the blinding floodlight and Austin darted away breaking the speed of light sound barrier—it brought back the reality of me being 16 and he being 20. My overbearing father turned off the light, glared at Austin and returned to the kitchen.
Austin shook his head at me with a knowing grin that I knew in my heart wasn’t good.
“What?” I asked my lips still damp from his kiss.
He kept the distance between us. “My grandpa used to watch a game show on TV called Let’s Make a Deal. He’d sit me on his lap and we’d watch together. Then he’d explain to me the gist of the show. There was door 1, door 2 and door 3…the host would offer people in the audience the chance to buy what was behind one of the doors then…negotiate of sorts…for a better deal. Sometimes, the prize behind door 2 sucked and they should have stuck with door 1 or door 3 was the best, but they didn’t try for door 3…and…”
“Austin! What’s the point of this story? I get the game.”
He drew in a long, slow breath then released it as he strolled toward me. “Em,” he said as his fingers skated up my arms, and I unconsciously flinched from his touch, maybe preparing myself for his oncoming words. My dad had killed the kiss, the moment and us.
His eyes closed when I pulled away; his hands found his pockets.
“Since I have you beat in age, by four years… I am the host in this little scenario and you are the contestant. How lucky are you??” he asked the rhetorical question with a wink.
“I’ll tell you how lucky I am when I know what’s behind door 1, 2 and 3. Tell me.”
“That’s the spirit,” he smiled and pecked my lips.
I quickly wiped his kiss away. “You are not Austin Falsone. You are Monty Hall and I didn’t think he was attractive. Keep your lips to yourself.”
His brows rose high on his forehead. “She knows the game and the host. Bravo.”
“I had a grandma that watched. I preferred Price is Right or $25,000 pyramid. What’s behind the doors?”
The cocky grin that crossed his face gave me hope. “Door 1—For one year you have to date others…in high school.” He accentuated the last two words. “Not one of them can be your brother’s friends.”
“What the hell? I choose door 2!” I yelled shoving him backward. He chuckled. I didn’t.
“Door 2. This summer we will keep it 100 percent platonic. You’ll be 17, Emma. You’ll be a junior slash senior. One more year of high school, and if we are both still wanting this, I’ll make it happen.”
Completely stunned, I stood staring at him. He turned on the flashlight on his phone and shined it in my eyes, I assume checking my pupils. I swatted his hand away.
“Door 3?” I managed to squeak out.
His big hands gently cupped my cheeks and his lips brushed over mine so quickly I wondered if it really happened. I liked door 3.
“There is no door 3, baby girl. And for that, you get the consolation prize of both Door 1 and 2. Monty Hall didn’t really make deals. And this deal isn’t open for discussion.”
My phone dinged signaling a text bringing me out of that memory. It was Sam. Zach was at Panchas, and if I was going to do this, the time was now.
Chapter 3—Prisoner
Walking into Panchas, I knew what to expect this time. Hank smiled when he saw me.
“Miller Lite bottle?” he asked.
My birthday was in three days and I still wasn’t 21, but he didn’t ask for ID.
“Sure. Thanks, Hank.”
After twisting the cap off, he slid me the cold beer and four quarters. My brows came together unsure what the quarters were for.
“Sam told me your plan. He broke my jukebox once. He paid for it all, but I don’t want it broken again.” He nodded back behind me. “My friends Tom and John are having a beer right there near it. They’ll stop him.”
I picked up all four quarters and my beer, winked at Hank and said, “Hopefully they won’t have to.”
The jukebox sat in the corner behind the pool table with Tom and John perfectly and comically flanked on each side. I’m not sure who was who, but one tipped his beer at me.
“Sure this is a good idea little lady?”
I offered him a smile and shrugged. “I guess we’re about to find out.”
As I fed the quarters into the brightly lit machine, I eyed Hank, who was peeking between two fingers from the bar. I loved that he wore a trace of a smile. The front door opened and in walked Sam. She hopped up on a stool at the bar with Hank.
“What?” she said loudly. “I wasn’t going to miss this.” She and Hank clinked glasses and seemed to be toasting this occasion.
Refocusing on the jukebox, I pressed G41 and listened to the machine click. Music started:
Just a small town girl…living in a lonely world…took the midnight train going anywhere.
Nothing yet, but it was louder than I’d anticipated. A disjointed rhythm found my heart.
Just a city boy…born and raised in South Detroit…took the midnight train…
The door behind the bar exploded open. I’d never seen him look like this.
“Zach stop!” Dylan yelled.
The anger in his eyes was frightening. I glanced at Sam who was cracki
ng peanuts and popping them in her mouth like she was watching an afternoon matinee at the local theater. Zach began to storm toward the jukebox; Tom and John rose to their feet.
I knew the moment it registered in his head what was happening. His brows lowered and his eyes softened…just a bit. His direct line toward me was menacing, but I raised my chin even higher. As he neared me, his angry eyes searched my face.
He glared down at me with a near-threatening intimidation. My head at not quite a 90-degree angle, I glared right back. As his hands gripped my shoulders, the overwhelming feeling of melting under his touch took me back four years. And when he moistened his lips like he used to when he’d kiss me, I could barely speak.
“Hey,” I literally squeaked.
His mouth closed and his jaw clenched. “Leave.”
“No.”
“No?” he repeated, releasing me and walking toward the wall, unplugging the jukebox, killing the music.
I guess that was better than killing the jukebox. His once chocolate eyes seemed black but not clouded like last night. I think he was sober. His glare was clear.
“Let’s ask the bar. Does someone here want Emma to stay?” he asked loudly. Now the entire bar was witness to this exchange. He looked around daring someone to speak up.
Sam’s arm shot high in the air; then she threw a peanut at Hank and motioned for him to raise his hand. He did, but then scratched his head with the raised hand.
“Stop it, Sam!” Zach said. “I should have known you were in on this.”
I winked at her, where he couldn’t see of course, and he flipped back around to face me.
“Fine, I’ll leave,” he whispered under his breath.
“Go ahead. You walked out four and a half years ago too…then left again after the trial four years ago. You’ve got leaving down. How about trying something new?”
Sam started gnawing on her thumbnail as Dylan joined her and Hank by the bar. Zach stopped in his tracks facing away from me.
“Your mom would like to see you. They miss you.”
Just One of the Guys 3 My Someday... Page 2