by Hadley Quinn
Without words he headed for his front door, and that’s when he noticed the car in the driveway and the light on inside. A few different possibilities mingled in his head, but he entered the house before any of them could develop.
Melanie was putting a vacuum cleaner away (he didn’t realize he had a vacuum cleaner) in the entryway closet and looked completely rattled when she saw him.
“I had no idea you’d be home this early, I’m sorry,” she rushed quickly. “I thought for sure you’d be out for a couple more hours and—”
“What the fuck happened,” he stated, looking around his house. The living room actually had furniture in it—a couch, a loveseat, and a coffee table. There was even a bookshelf by the window.
“Well,” Melanie answered, glancing into the room with him. “You needed furniture and I found some that was not only perfect for you, but almost brand-new and very inexpensive. I told you I was good at this stuff,” she added with a smile. “When me and Cam moved in to our own place, my Uncle Tim helped us get a few of the important things. But after that I thought it was kind of fun to shop for stuff and found a lot of cool things that way. There are also a few other things in the garage for now. I wasn’t sure where you wanted them or if you would.”
“You had help with this, right? Someone delivered it?”
“Yes,” she chuckled. “And because you don’t lock your garage door, I didn’t have to break into your house.”
“Hm, much appreciated.” He exhaled and shook his head at his new living room. The couches were dark brown leather and the coffee table and bookshelf looked like black walnut. It was actually pretty badass, and Jay was impressed. “So why did you think this was perfect for me?” he asked, motioning to the furniture.
Melanie smiled at him as she headed for the kitchen. “Because leather is tough and cold at first, just like you.”
That made him smile, especially when she started to laugh. He ventured to the kitchen where she finished off a glass of water. He leaned against the entry and watched her place the glass in the dishwasher when she was done. He hadn’t seen her all week yet here she was in his house, furnishing the damn thing without even being asked to. But it wasn’t just the nice deed that made his night better…
It was just nice to see her.
“Well I’d better get going,” she said as she came across the kitchen. “Like I said, I didn’t know you’d be back from your date so soon or I would have already left without cleaning. You have a vacuum now, by the way. And some other cleaning supplies.”
“How’d you know I was on a date?” he asked, basically tuning out the last part of what she said.
“Um, Teague mentioned it when I asked him for your spare house key. Don’t worry, I knocked like crazy just to make sure you weren’t here. I mean the house was entirely dark so I didn’t think you were, but just wanted to check.”
“If you’re talking about me having girls here,” he said, waving it off, “I don’t do that.” He turned away from her just so he didn’t have to look her in the eye for some reason.
“I know you don’t bother to bring them home,” she answered softly, and she passed by him for the front door.
“Melanie, wait,” he called.
She stopped and picked up her purse but didn’t face him. “Goodnight, Jay. Get some sleep. You look really…worn out.”
“Hang on a sec,” he said, coming across the room.
When she looked at him, he wondered if she was tired, as well. Then a couple of thoughts caught up to him and he felt like a complete asshole.
“How are you feeling?” he asked, glancing down at her baby bump. “You shouldn’t be here cleaning my house, Mel. I mean I appreciate it, but you need to take care of yourself instead.”
She looked at him for several long seconds, and it was as if the depths of her green eyes could convene his time fooling around with her earlier in the week with the time he’d just spent with Sophia. It was like an instant faceoff of stupid decisions and he felt totally mind fucked because of it.
“I’m feeling fine, Jay,” she answered quietly. “Thanks for asking.”
How he ended up less than two feet away from her was beyond his understanding, but Jay realized his hand was against the wall by the front door and he was leaning into her. She was looking him right in the eye, and there was a vulnerability there that kept inching him closer. And those damn lips of hers that he couldn’t stop glancing at were also his weakness.
An image flickered in his head again, and it had to do with the limo fifteen minutes ago. It ended his moment of weakness in a fucking flash. There was no way he would kiss her after that…
Jay pulled away and opened the door for her as he distractedly ran a hand through his hair. “Drive safe, okay? Text me when you get home.”
Melanie paused for a few beats and then nodded her head as she passed by. When she was on the porch she turned around and said, “By the way, I knew what you meant the other day about me using your shampoo.” He lifted an eyebrow for further enlightenment and she added, “When you smell like perfume, I don’t like it either.”
She’d rendered him speechless, and all he could do was watch her walk to her car, get in, and drive away.
Chapter Eleven
It was almost ten o’clock on a Sunday night, and Jay was just stepping out of his shop to head inside. He’d been putting in twelve-hour days for the past two weeks—working his regular hours with Beck and then a few more on his own projects whenever he had the chance. He now had the Boss pulled into his detached garage and had moved the Chevelle to Beck’s. Progress with the Chevelle had gone effortlessly and they’d probably be able to put it up for sale in a few days. The Boss, however, had been second in line as Jay’s personal project, but even though he’d already been working on it in bits and pieces for the time being, he couldn’t wait to fully delve into it like he wanted to.
As he turned for the house, something caught his eye at the corner of the driveway. It was dark out, but not too dark he couldn’t see a figure headed across his lawn. Jay made his way to the house and crept along discreetly to peek around the corner. His porch light wasn’t on and the front of his house was dark, but he could definitely see a body lurking in front of his place. He watched for a minute, wondering who the fuck was casing his house. It wasn’t like he had a lot to steal. In fact, the real goods were out back in the shop.
The figure was leaning forward, peering into a window. He then stood straight and looked around the neighborhood, possibly for anyone watching him. As far as Jay could tell, it was a guy, but he hadn’t made any attempt at breaking into the house. Jay continued to watch him for another minute as he tried to decide if he should make his presence known or not. For all he knew, the guy could be armed.
Finally the perpetrator left the front of the house and was headed Jay’s direction. Jay waited until he passed him at the corner and then grabbed him from the back of his sweatshirt to slam him up against the house face first.
“What the fuck are you doing?” he growled at him from behind.
The guy made a move that Jay was not expecting, completely taking away his advantage. The two of them were now tangled on the ground, fighting for control, but neither one of them seemed to be able to keep it. Jay was used to scrapping with Teague all the time, so he was pretty familiar with some of the moves this guy was pulling, but this fucker was also just as strong, quick, and seemed to know how to avoid or counter everything Jay did.
Finally Jay just clocked him in the damn face, gaining him a slight advantage. He punched him again in the same spot, just for good measure, and when the guy punched him back, Jay could swear he heard him laughing.
“Get the fuck off me,” the guy said, shoving Jay off enough he could jump to his feet. He was facing the neighbor’s porch light now and Jay actually looked at his face for the first time. There was something there that caused him to pause and look closer as he got off the ground, and now the two of them were four feet apart,
looking the other over.
“Who the hell are you and what the fuck are you doing casing my house?” Jay questioned him. The guy didn’t answer right away. In fact, his smirk pissed Jay off so much, he wanted to deck him again. “I asked you a fucking question. What the hell are you doing here?”
“You’re Jay,” the guy stated. It was a fact. He obviously already knew.
But Jay didn’t confirm it and said, “Answer my damn question. What the hell are you doing? And who the fuck are you?”
“I’m Tyse,” he replied.
Well that didn’t ring a bell. “Okay, Tyse,” Jay replied sarcastically. “What do you want?”
Tyse took a deep breath and slowly let it out. “I came to see you. Sorry it’s so late, but I just got to town. I knocked once but it didn’t look like you were home, so I wasn’t sure what I should do.”
Jay tilted his head with confusion and then shook it. “Uh, okay. So am I supposed to fucking know you?”
There was a slight pause and Tyse shifted his stance. “No, I assume you don’t.”
Jay looked at him for several seconds, trying to decide what to say. It didn’t make sense that Tyse suddenly looked uncomfortable around him.
“Look,” Jay finally said. “I don’t know who the hell you are so you’re gonna have to tell me. You apparently know who I am, so just get to the fucking point.”
“My name is Tyse McCallan. I’m your brother.”
Jay could only stare. The world around him was completely still and silent. He heard the words, but they didn’t register. Finally he shook his head and answered, “I don’t have a brother. Get your damn facts straight.”
“Yeah, you do,” Tyse said, pointing to himself. “My dad is Clint McCallan. I know that’s your pops too, so that makes us brothers.”
What the hell…?
“Can we go inside and talk for a bit? I’ll explain as much as I can to you,” Tyse said.
“You want inside my house?” Jay asked sarcastically. “Nah, sorry, try again. This is obviously some kind of fucked up joke because I don’t have a goddamn brother.”
“You do, and if you’d give me a minute, I’ll prove it.”
“Prove it? Just show me your damn i.d. first. Let’s start there, huh?”
Tyse slowly reached for his wallet and pulled it out, not taking his eyes off of Jay. He slid a card out of it and handed it over. Jay took it but had to use the light from his phone to see it better. Sure enough, the guy’s name was Tyse Matthew McCallan. It was an Arizona driver’s license, but the picture looked like the same dude that was standing in front of him. The strangest part of it all was the fact that this guy actually looked like a McCallan. He had the facial structure of his dad, and a nose like his grandfather. He even had what looked like Kellie’s mouth.
Jay glanced at the DOB. “You’re older than me?” he stated more than asked. According to his driver’s license, Tyse was going to turn twenty-five in a few months.
“Yeah, I’m eighteen months older than you,” Tyse answered. He paused, waiting for Jay’s response, but Jay honestly didn’t even know where to begin. “Please, can we go inside and just talk for a bit?”
“Fine,” Jay replied with a sigh. He motioned for him to follow him inside, but this was so not how his night was supposed to end. He was exhausted and really didn’t know if he had the patience to listen to anything that had to do with his dad.
When they stepped inside, Jay flipped on a light. That first moment he got a good look at Tyse pretty much trampled his doubts entirely. He looked so much like his dad in his younger years that it was ridiculously obvious. He even had the same eyes. He was also about 6’1”, clearly built well, and had that damn McCallan stance that was casual yet confidant.
Jay’s mind was blown.
“This is just as awkward for me, you know,” Tyse said after a few seconds of looking each other over. “I’ve known all of five days that I have a brother and sister.”
“Half brother and sister,” Jay corrected for some reason. “My mom isn’t your mom, right?”
Tyse barely paused and then shook his head. “No, we don’t have the same mom. My mom’s name is Gloria Harris, but she was married to your dad for a short time after I was born.”
“My dad was never married before my mom,” Jay shook his head.
“I know you might not know these things, and I’m trying to put myself in your shoes, but I’m not here to lie or deceive you. I just… I found out I have a brother and sister and wanted to meet you.”
“And what is the back story here, huh? Give me some fucking details.”
“Can we sit down?” Tyse asked, pointing to the couch.
Jay exhaled his impatience, but just found a seat as his answer.
Tyse sat on the couch perpendicular to him and said, “Well, my mom and Clint were together years ago; it was kind of hush-hush apparently, since your dad was with someone else at the time. They split up just before my mom found out she was pregnant, but they’d kind of gotten back together a couple of times until I was born, and sometime after that—I was about six months old, I think—they secretly got married and then broke up for good six months after that. My mom moved back east where her family was and raised me as a single mom until about five years ago when she remarried.”
“Ha,” Jay scoffed. “So I was most likely conceived when my dad was still with your mom. Nice. How typical.” He shook his head as he took a deep breath. This information was not surprising, but he really did not need this shit in his life right now. “You were born here in California?”
“Yes. My mom was a waitress at the Bingham Lounge. That’s where she met Clint.”
Jay couldn’t hold back his sarcastic laugh. Clint McCallan used to be a notorious womanizer at the Bingham Lounge in his younger days, right along with his brother Craig. Clint had gotten in with the coke snorters and gamblers in his day whereas Teague’s dad had mainly stuck to the women. The whole scene had really turned Jay away from the family at a young age.
“I don’t know a lot about you personally,” Tyse told him after several seconds of silence. “But my mom has told me enough about Clint for me to know that it wasn’t a life she wanted me to be a part of. I know that the McCallans are legends over here, but my mom didn’t want any of it. Especially after she found out Clint had been cheating on her. She already knew she had once been “the other” woman when she met him, but my mom believes in karma big time and felt she deserved it. But whatever…that’s her issue. She didn’t want us to be around all of that. I know that doesn’t mean things were that way for you, but that’s why she left it all behind. That’s why she never told me who my biological father was.”
“No, it doesn’t mean history repeated itself, but it sure as fuck did and then some,” Jay replied. “And to be honest, you have no fucking idea what being a McCallan is like, so consider yourself lucky. However, it makes me wonder why you go with the last name that you do.”
“McCallan? It’s on my birth certificate. Was I supposed to change it? My mom’s last name was still McCallan for years after they split. She didn’t get remarried until five years ago, but I was already an adult and on my own.”
“Fine,” Jay waved it off. He didn’t necessarily care, but in a way he did. If he could have changed his name years ago he might have. “So…what is it that you’re here for?” he asked. “I’m obviously going to talk to my grandfather about all of this to get the truth, but what exactly are you wanting to accomplish?”
“Your grandfather? Why wouldn’t you ask your dad?”
“For obvious reasons that you should already have figured out. He’s an asshole and I avoid him as much as I can. Besides, he doesn’t even live here; he lives in Oregon. Anyways… So? What do you want?”
Jay knew he was being a dick, but holy shit, combine talk of his dad and finding out he’s got an older brother… Surely it was understandable, right?
“I wanted to meet you and Kellie,” Tyse answered. “Like I
said, my mom kept a lot of things from me until recently. Whether it was the right thing to do or not, I’d like to make that call on my own.”
“Kellie,” Jay said. “You haven’t seen her yet, right?” It was more of a statement since he knew that Kellie would have called him immediately if some stranger had claimed to be her brother.
“No, I wanted to come to you first. Kind of…protocol, I guess, since she’s your younger sister.”
Well Jay had to respect that, as much as he didn’t want to. It wasn’t that he had anything against this guy just yet, but it was all way too fresh to form an opinion on so quickly. Plus he’d seen what Teague had gone through over the years after his mom died and his dad brought him into the McCallan family. Teague never got along with his dad, but he also had Max as a half brother and there had been a combination of things that had transpired from that.
“Well I appreciate that,” Jay said honestly. He wasn’t the type to offer any leniency without it being earned, but anyone that respected his sister or best friends was deemed worthy of it. “So you pretty much know the makeup of my family, right? My grandfather and my Uncle Craig’s side of the family?”
“I know who is who, yes. And I’m familiar with Max and Teague. Like I said, my mom didn’t fully admit the truth until a few days ago, and even though I know of the McCallans through TV and stuff, I did do a quick re-check on the family layout before I came.”
“I have to say…you look a lot like my dad when he was younger,” Jay said. “Have you ever seen pictures of him from then?”
“Not until recently,” Tyse answered. “But there have been a couple people that have asked if I was related to the Hollywood McCallans.”
“And you said, ‘Fuck no, don’t insult me like that,’” Jay smirked.
Tyse smiled for the first time, and it was so fucking weird that it reminded Jay of his sister.