by Hadley Quinn
The bell jingled at the front door, just as she and Rayne were about to clean up for the night. She was surprised to see Melanie, and she had a giant bouquet in her hands. Not of flowers, though…
Candy.
Melanie set the piece of art on the closest table, a huge smile on her face. Sarah was impressed by how lovely the entire thing was. It was colorful, very professional looking, and had a remarkable assortment of candy shooting out at every angle.
“Wow,” Sarah smiled as she approached. “Are you pitching us a new idea?” she joked. “It’s amazing, so I’m thinking you could have that space right over there just for making candy bouquets.”
“No,” Melanie laughed. “I’m just the delivery girl. This is for you, my dear. Read the card,” she motioned to the front of the arrangement. She headed for the door again and said, “Sorry, gotta jet. Stop by the studio tonight when you’re done.”
And with that, she disappeared out the door.
“Good lord, she must know your candy addiction,” Rayne said as she looked over the entire bouquet. There was everything from packages of M&Ms and Milky Ways to bags of gummy bears and Lemonheads. There were Mike ‘n’ Ikes, Twix, Laffy Taffy, Skittles, and everything in between.
Sarah pulled the card off the front and read the handwritten message.
Thought of how sweet I’m pretty sure you are and figured I’d attempt to match it. I’m sure I’ve fallen way short, but wanted to try.
~Tyse
Sarah stood in silence, trying to decide how she should feel. She barely realized Rayne had been reading over her shoulder until her friend said, “Hm, that is quite the effort.”
Tucking the card quickly into her pocket, Sarah was afraid to respond.
Chapter Twelve
“Haha, oh hell, that’s legit,” Jay laughed.
Tyse only shook his head, but Teague replied, “Please tell me you’re gonna let it go.”
“How can I?” Jay grinned, tossing the tabloid onto his coffee table.
They’d been sitting around Jay’s house watching ESPN while Camryn and Melanie had gone out with Kellie and a few other friends. Jay had little Cade at home to watch, but the baby had conked out two hours ago and was now in his crib. Tyse missed his little nephew, but he was having fun hanging with just the big guys for now.
“So you have a couple of girlfriends on the side, huh?” Jay continued. “I really don’t know why you don’t tell me this stuff. I’m your best friend, bro. You don’t have to hide it from me.”
“Funny,” Teague scoffed.
Tyse picked up the tabloid that someone had given Camryn in hopes to “inform” her that her husband was stepping out on her. “How people can make stories from this shit is ridiculous,” he said, looking over the photo. It was a side-by-side picture of Teague talking to two different women. They were both females from the crew of the movie he was currently working on.
“Too bad you aren’t, you know, standing closer to either of them,” Jay smirked. “Or good God, have a hand touching their arm or something. These pics would have sold for twice as much.”
Teague laughed and shook his head. “Sucks for them, I guess.”
“Looks like you’ve got inside paparazzi,” Tyse stated. “That’s directly inside the stunt training warehouse, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, you’re right, it is,” Teague nodded, peering at the photo again. “It’s fuzzed enough to make it questionable, but I’m pretty sure that’s the hall to the bathrooms in the background.”
“What did Camryn say when she brought it home?” Tyse asked.
Teague slowly smiled and then laughed. “She said, ‘My eyes hurt from rolling them so hard.’ Then she said someone at her friend’s dance studio gave it to her, totally concerned for her.”
“Hm. Or just waiting to get off on some inside scoop on the McCallans,” Jay stated.
“Normally she would’ve just tossed it,” Teague said. “She only brought it home because like you said…she thought the photo was taken at work. Yeah it bugs me, but doesn’t surprise me one bit. Happens all the time.”
“You’d think people could find something better to do,” Jay shrugged. “I mean what is the excitement in obsessing over a family. I get so fucking sick of people thinking celebrities are so much better than everyone else. They are the ones making it seem that way.”
“I wish people didn’t rate a person’s importance based on their income or face time through media,” Tyse said. “It only feeds the beast.”
“Yeah, and it’s never going to stop,” Jay told him. “As long as people give their time and money, it’ll keep stroking the egos. I don’t even work in the McCallan industries but people still find a way to connect me to them anyway.”
“Popular by association,” Teague joked sarcastically.
“Here’s to popular,” Jay answered, sticking a pair of middle fingers in the air.
Tyse and Teague both laughed.
“Well it wasn’t something that I ever planned on,” Tyse shrugged. “When I came to town, all I intended for was to meet my brother and sister. I had no intention of meeting anyone else.”
“Well you know Grandpa couldn’t resist,” Jay said. “New blood, new face to work with. He can’t help it. He hasn’t been able to control us,” he motioned between him and Teague. “Why wouldn’t he want to try with you?”
Tyse wasn’t surprised by the blatant opinions dropped by his brother, but it was somewhat unfair. Grandpa Neil hadn’t been intrusive when it came to Tyse and his life. He hadn’t been pushy at all, and even though Tyse could see some of the subtler tactics that Teague, Jay, and Kellie had warned him about, nothing had seemed ill intended so far. Plus, even the guys had mentioned that Grandpa had seemed to change a little bit in the last year, taking family into account more than money or media.
“Well, Grandpa might have a little bit of remorse because of the past,” Teague spoke. “I’m not saying he could be using you as a do-over,” he smiled to Tyse. “But it’s a possibility. Yeah he used to be a fame-seeking douche like my dad, but unlike my dad, Grandpa has had a little more dignity when it came to dealing with the younger McCallans. He’s always wanted us to be successful and carry on the legacy, but Grandpa Neil just kind of stepped back a little more.”
“Because you already had your dad on your ass nonstop,” Jay smirked. “Grandpa didn’t have much of a chance to make you feel like a worthless piece of shit because your dad did it enough for the both of them.”
“True,” Teague shrugged. “But there were times where I felt Grandpa wanted my dad to just lay off. They had Max to fuss over, you know? And because technically I do work in the movie industry, I think that was good enough for him. Stunt work wasn’t good enough for my dad, but I got a tiny mark of approval from Grandpa. I think he’s always been fine with it.”
“Aww, lucky you,” Jay joked sarcastically. “I’m the spawn of the other McCallan—the one that ruined his life, and the family’s reputation, with drugs and women and then disappeared. I didn’t get that mark of approval, however tiny it was, so I was left off the radar for the most part.”
Tyse studied his brother for a moment, knowing their father really had created quite a mess with the media over the years. But Clint McCallan had become pretty much nonexistent in Hollywood these days while he was living up in Oregon.
Out of sight, out of mind.
“Not to sound like a stupid ass,” Tyse said, “but Grandpa told me that he tried to make it up to you. He said he didn’t want you and Kellie to grow up with that cloud over you; that he wanted you two to have a future despite the mess Clint created.”
Jay gave him a steady look and Tyse couldn’t tell if he was pissed with him or not. With Jay you couldn’t tell sometimes until he opened his mouth.
“Yeah, he did,” Jay finally said. “I don’t deny that. But it was in the form of money. To me it was just the same as a brush off. Guilt money. Maybe I was too arrogant to accept the help, but that’s just
what it seemed like to me. Kellie and I took it, though. She went to cosmetology school and I blew it on gambling and other stupid stuff. Yeah I was a dumb fucker back then and could have used it for better things, but I guess my anger and disappointment in my parents fueled my lack of common sense. Lesson learned.”
Tyse was surprised by Jay’s own self-evaluation, and even Teague raised his eyebrows.
“Wow, man,” Teague smiled, lacing his fingers behind his head to lie back against the couch. “That’s some philosophical shit.”
“Ha, fuck you,” Jay smiled back. “Let’s just say having a couple of smart and beautiful new ladies in the family has pretty much given me no hope to continue being a selfish, arrogant bastard.”
“I agree with the smart and beautiful ladies part,” Teague nodded. “Camryn and Mel have certainly made life better. But you’ll always be a selfish, arrogant bastard. There’s no fixing that.”
“That’s bullshit,” Jay disagreed. “Do you not see how domesticated I have become?” he added with a snooty tone, motioning to himself.
“Okay,” Teague nodded again as he laughed. “Yeah, you’ve learned a little more self-control when it comes to what you say in front of the girls. But you can’t hide from us, idiot.”
“I’m hiding jack shit,” Jay shrugged. “I just try to be more thoughtful now and then. Arrogant bastard? Maybe so. Not selfish, though. I tell you, women are evil. They make us be polite in public.”
“Women are evil? Ha, now that’s bullshit,” Teague retorted. “You are very lucky in that department because Melanie loves you despite all the stupid things you say.”
“You’re right, I hit the jackpot with her. And I would do anything for her, so yeah, I’ve toned it down a lot. Especially with Little Man in my life. I’ve been trying to watch my language more around him. I don’t need bad language in the house.”
“Rawk! Motherfucker!” a voice screeched.
All three guys stared at the parrot across the room until Teague and Tyse busted up laughing.
“You taught him to say motherfucker?” Tyse asked with disbelief.
“Oh shit, Melanie’s gonna kill you,” Teague added, shaking his head. “You can tone down your own bad language in the house, but now you’ve got a dirty mouthed bird to take your place. Good luck with that.”
“Gahhh,” Jay groaned, shaking his head. “It really was funny at the time.”
“It still is,” Teague said. “Because I bet you anything Melanie will get rid of that bird the second Cade repeats something naughty. And she is not going to be happy with you for having to do it.”
“Noted,” Jay replied dourly. “But I’ll just pass him along to Tyse,” he added. “That way Fucktard stays in the family and I will have a less angry woman to live with.”
“Oh hell no, I couldn’t live with that thing,” Tyse answered. “I mean yeah he’s funny, but I’m not a bird person.”
“And you think I am?” Jay scoffed. “Shit, the things we do for women.”
“Oh, I saw you kissin’ on Mel before she left with Camryn,” Tyse told him. “It freaking kills you not to be with her tonight.”
“It’s true,” Teague smiled with agreement. “And for you to admit that you really want to go crash their girls’ night would be very pussy of you.”
“You can’t go that long without her?” Tyse teased. “Ha, yeah that’s pretty un-stoic of you, brother.”
“And you’re not at all interested in spending the evening with Sarah?” Jay raised an eyebrow.
Tyse froze for a moment. “What about Sarah?”
Jay slowly smiled, knowing he had the upper hand. “Your friend Sarah is with Melanie tonight.”
Tyse didn’t know what to think about that, but Jay was right about one thing. He’d be completely interested in seeing her if he had a chance. If Sarah was out with Camryn, Melanie, and Kellie…
“Uh, hey, maybe we should just go see what they’re up to,” Tyse barely smiled. “I mean…I’m sure you guys like to check on your women, make sure they’re happy and everything’s okay, right?”
Teague and Jay laughed. Tyse knew they would not hold back their jesting about Sarah, but that was a small price to pay if he could just see her that night.
“Well I’m definitely up for seeing my wife,” Teague smiled. “What about Cade? Should we wait for him to wake up?”
“Nah, it won’t matter,” Jay answered. “He’s asleep or awake whenever he wants to be, no matter what’s going on or where he’s at.”
Jay stood from the couch and headed for the baby’s room while Tyse felt a little nervous knowing he might be seeing Sarah that night.
What if it backfired and she ended up hating him even more?
Chapter Thirteen
“No way can you come back from that!” Melanie laughed, pointing at her sister. “Ha! I finally beat you in a game!”
“I guess there’s a first time for everything,” Camryn smiled back, rubbing her pregnant stomach. “I felt like it was time to let you have one.”
“Oh no, you are not claiming you let me win this time,” Melanie shook a finger at her. “I heard you swear when you missed that last strike.”
Camryn laughed out loud but shook her head. “Those words are just automatically in your head on repeat because of your who you’re practically engaged to, sweetheart. I have nothing to do with that.”
“I’ll have to agree with that,” Kellie nodded. “My brother is a potty mouth.”
Kellie smiled over at Ali, who continued to sit with the same unhappy scowl on her face. Then she smiled sympathetically at Sarah and continued her conversation with Rayne about the tattoo design she’d decided on.
Sarah sighed, feeling defeated. Bringing Ali was a mistake. She felt guilty that she was putting a damper on everyone else’s girls night. They didn’t have to come to a bowling alley, but they did just for Sarah’s sixteen-year-old crabby neighbor to come along. None of the others sounded disappointed in the least bit, but Sarah felt insecure anyway.
“I think if you at least play a game, you’ll have more fun,” Sarah told Alison as she sat down beside her.
“I hate bowling. I don’t know why I couldn’t just go to the movies with Heather.”
Sarah wanted to roll her eyes and call her out on her lie. She hadn’t planned on going with Heather; Ali wanted to go out with Robby. And whereas Ali was perfectly old enough to do such a thing, Sarah hated being lied to. True she wasn’t the kid’s parent, but it was still frustrating.
“Well I like being with you,” Sarah said. “And Rayne was right, these girls are really fun. You’d have fun too if you tried.”
“You’re not having fun, either,” Ali scowled, looking at Sarah. “Don’t be a hypocrite.”
“I would have fun if you weren’t being such a brat,” Sarah replied. “I told your parents that you’d be with me. I’m not letting you go off with your boyfriend behind their backs. You’re being difficult because you didn’t get your way and I’m not happy about it. I also think you’re being rude to Rayne’s friends.”
“Rude?” Ali scoffed. “What’s rude is forcing me to hang out with people I don’t even know just because you want to babysit me. That’s rude. I’m not a fucking baby.”
“Excuse your language!” Sarah growled with narrowed eyes.
“What, does that offend your virgin ears? Surely you’re aware that I know a few swear words. I am in high school, I am a teenager, and I am around enough adults that say it too.”
“Like who?” Sarah demanded.
“Seriously?” Ali scoffed. “Uh, they’re called parents. And Rayne swears all the time. And yesterday even Nora said ‘fuck’ when she broke a glass at the diner. It is a fact of life, just like sneezing. Everyone does it. Even you.”
Sarah ground her teeth together to keep herself from blowing up at Ali. Normally they got along just fine. Once in a while Ali would be a bit sassy, but that was nothing compared to how she was acting right now.
; “Oh…my…gosh,” Sarah heard Melanie say.
“Wow, they are brazen tonight,” Kellie added, standing up next to Melanie.
“What in the world are they doing?” Camryn asked with a puzzled expression.
Sarah looked up to see what had caught their attention and her heart nearly panicked. At first she thought that Tyse had arrived with Jay and Max. Before she could really flip her shit she realized it was Teague McCallan, not Max, but her heart was already at the bottom of her stomach. Teague and Max didn’t look entirely alike, but they did have the same mouth and chin, and since Teague was wearing a hat like the other two guys, she seriously almost mistook him for Max.
Thank God it wasn’t.
But just the sight of the three of them together was almost a mind fuck. That was the only description that Sarah could come up with. And after getting on Ali about the f-word, she almost felt guilty for even thinking of it. But it truly was a mystifying sight to see the three of them together, walking through a bowling alley of all places. Something about it was commanding, forcing her to stare, and that loss of control seriously messed her up. She didn’t even notice that Jay was carrying little Cade until Melanie said something about him.
“Oh my God!” Alison hissed, sitting up straighter. She grabbed Sarah’s arm and dug her fingernails into her skin. “It’s him! The guy from down the street!”
Sarah glanced at her to gain understanding. “You’ve met Tyse?”
Ali’s mouth dropped open with a scoff. “Uh hell yeah. I have hot guy radar like that,” she snapped her fingers. “And I’ve talked to him tons of times. What’d you say his name was?”
The guys had made their way over by then. Camryn was giving Teague a hug, Jay kissed Melanie as she took Cade from him, and Sarah just stared at Tyse until they made eye contact.