Bulletproof

by Melissa Pearl

So she’d made a mistake; we all did. I hadn’t exactly set the best example for her. I’d been sleeping around, well, ever since the year after Mom left. It was a miracle she’d made it to college with her virginity still intact. It killed me that this had happened to her.

  Indicating left, I waited for traffic and turned into the road that led to our Pasadena home. Jody gripped the handle, her feet pushing into the floor the closer we got.

  “What did you tell him again?” she snapped.

  “Just that I was coming over for dinner.”

  I pulled into our driveway and cut the engine. Unbuckling my seatbelt, I turned to her and kept my voice as soft and soothing as possible.

  “It’s gonna be okay, Jo-Jo.”

  She nodded and unbuckled, sliding out of the car without a word.

  I placed my hand on her back as we ascended the stairs and let ourselves in.

  “Dad?”

  “In the kitchen!”

  Jody swallowed and wound her way through the living room pausing in the archway between the kitchen and dining room. Dad was at the counter, hacking up some carrots. I cringed, wondering how he’d survived this long without me.

  He peeked over his shoulder to give me a smile and did a double-take when he saw his beloved little girl.

  “Sunshine!” He gathered her into his arms for a tight squeeze.

  I noticed the way Jody’s fingers dug into his sweater as if she wanted to cling to him forever, but then he let her go, kissing her cheek with a loud smack.

  “What are you coming to surprise me for?”

  A shaky smile quivered over her lips and she swallowed.

  “What’s the matter?”

  Her blue gaze shot to mine, terror running over her expression.

  “Why don’t we sit.” I swiveled back into the dining room and pulled out the closest chair. As I slid into place, my mind flashed with the worst memory of my life. It was at this very table. A bombshell that destroyed my world.

  The laughter was rich and hearty. Jody was regaling us with one of her school stories. Her blonde pigtails swished as she re-enacted the playground drama with her usual flair. Dad was completely enamored as he watched her, laughing at the silly voice she was using.

  I caught his eye and poked out my tongue, causing his shoulders to shake even more.

  Mom stepped into the room, placing a suitcase at her feet. Her gaze was sad and my belly pinched. It was like some kind of premonition. I didn’t know why I had it, but the second before the words slipped out of her mouth, Jody’s words turned to fuzz, and the only sound I could hear with crystal clarity was Mom’s voice.

  “I’m leaving.”

  Jody’s giggle was cut by an invisible pair of scissors. Dad’s took a second longer to die, his face wrinkling with confusion.

  “Where are you off to, sweetness?” He grinned.

  “I can’t do this anymore.” She gripped the back of her chair. “I’m sorry. I know it’s going to hurt you, but I have to go.”

  “Go where?” I frowned.

  “Vegas.”

  “Vegas?” All mirth had left Dad’s tone. It turned hard, a note of recognition running through it.

  “You know it’s what I want.”

  “I told you, we can go at Christmas.”

  “I don’t want to go there for a holiday, Marshall. I don’t know how many different ways I can say this to you.” Her voice hitched. “This life is killing me, and I need out.”

  Jody looked at me, her blue eyes vibrant as they shone with tears. She knew what her mother was saying. She might have only been ten, but the message was clear.

  “I’ve given fourteen years of my life to this. I’ve sacrificed everything, and now it’s my turn.”

  “You can’t abandon your family.” Dad’s whisper was harsh.

  “You’ll be okay.” She straightened, gazing at me with an agonized smile. “Morgan will take care of you. She’s amazing and capable. You three have each other, you don’t need me anymore.”

  “Yes we do!” Jody shot out of her chair. “Please, Mommy, don’t go!” Racing around the table, she wrapped her arms around Mom’s waist, squeezing tight. The tears glistening in Mom’s eyes finally broke free, streaming down her face as she kissed Jody’s head and pulled her arms free.

  “I have to go.” She stepped back from her youngest daughter then looked straight at me. “I’m sorry.”

  And with that she turned and left. Jody started screaming then, trying to chase after her, but Dad grabbed her into his arms and held her tight against him. I couldn’t do anything. I was frozen by shock, the weight of responsibility landing on me like a ten-ton truck.

  “I’m sorry.” Jody’s wobbling voice pulled me out of the memory with a sharp snap.

  “Sorry for what?” Dad leaned across the table, gathering up Jody’s fingers as she bent her head forward and started crying. “What’s going on?” He glanced at me, his soft gaze hardening at the edges.

  I knew it was fear.

  Since that fateful dinner eight years ago, Dad didn’t take bad news well.

  Clearing my throat, I straightened up. “Jody’s pregnant. She’s seventeen weeks along. We had that confirmed at the doctor’s today.”

  I ignored Dad’s shell-shocked expression and barreled through.

  “Because of her situation, the school has asked her to leave for the rest of this academic year, but they will consider taking her again in August, so Jody’s decided that she wants to see the pregnancy through and then give the baby up for adoption.”

  Dad’s jaw went slack, his forehead crinkling with what I could only describe as despair. Jody’s wailing sobs crescendoed into the silence, making me want to roll my eyes. Her inner drama queen always shone around Dad.

  Letting go of his little princess, he leaned back in his chair, disappointment cresting over his expression.

  “I’m sorry, Daddy. I know it was stupid, and I wish I could change it.”

  “Geez, Jody.” Dad ran a hand over his thinning hair. “Have you never heard of protection before?”

  “It was the first time I’d ever had sex, okay.” Her face flushed pink.

  Yeah, not exactly the conversation you wanted to have with your old man.

  “I didn’t even think you could get pregnant your first time!”

  “Oh give me a break. You are not that naive,” he snapped.

  “It was just this spontaneous, passion—” Her voice died off as she caught Dad’s sickened gaze. She swallowed. “I couldn’t stop myself, all right?” She slumped back in her chair and mumbled, “We were safe every time after that.”

  “Yeah, well, it was a little too late by then, wasn’t it?” Dad slammed the table. “Who the hell is this guy, anyway? And why isn’t he sitting here beside you right now?”

  Jody’s face crumpled, fresh tears running down her face. She drew in a shaky breath. “He’s my dance teacher.”

  “Your teacher? Oh, good Lord, Jody!” He squeezed his eyes shut. “How old is he?”

  “I don’t know, thirty maybe.”

  Dad let out a noise of disgust.

  “We were in love.”

  “Obviously! Which is why he’s...where?”

  Jody swallowed, swiping at her tears. “His job’s important to him, Dad. He’d get in so much trouble if this came out.”

  “Well, he should, damn it! He’s sleeping with one of his students...who’s a decade younger than he is.” Dad rose from his chair and paced away from us.

  “It’s not that big an age gap,” Jody mumbled.

  “It’s big, okay!” Dad rounded on her. “You’re nineteen! You’re an innocent freshman.” He cringed. “You’ve only been at the school five months, which means he must have gotten into those tights of yours pretty damn quickly!”

  “Dad,” I warned.

  “I’m calling the school.”

  “No!” Jody jumped from her seat. “Don’t you dare. This is my decision! I can do this without him.”

 
; “You shouldn’t have to. He’s the father.” Dad pointed at her belly, his voice softening. “He has a responsibility for you and that baby.”

  Jody touched her belly, the fabric pulling tight so we could all see the soft curve. “Well, he doesn’t want it, and he’s too good a teacher to get fired over this.”

  “Jody, this is your life we’re talking about. Why should his career be more important than yours?” Dad ended on a whisper, his expression broken as he looked to the floor.

  We all knew he was thinking of Mom, how much she’d sacrificed so he could start up his little business. As soon as it was really thriving, she left...and he’d never gotten over it.

  “I’m not giving up my career. I’m just putting it on hold for a little while.”

  Dad nodded, his bottom lip sticking out as he stared at the wall.

  “Please, Daddy, I’m sorry, okay.”

  His jaw clenched tight and he wouldn’t budge, even when she rested her head on his shoulder, something that always got a smile out of him.

  I crossed my arms over my chest, squeezing tight to keep it all in. I wanted to shatter, fall into a million pieces and forget this life even existed.

  Dad’s stony silence was unnerving. Jody turned to look at me, desperate panic washing over her face. I shrugged, not sure what she wanted me to do. With a gasping sob, she covered her mouth and raced from the room.

  I expelled a heavy sigh and rose from the table. “Don’t shut her out, Dad, please. She needs us right now.”

  “How the hell did this happen, Morgan?” His round face sagged with sorrow.

  “She made a mistake.” I shrugged.

  “But this was her chance. It’s everything she’s been working for.” He gripped the top of his head. “I want to kill that guy.”

  “Get in line.” I leaned my butt against the table and gave Dad a sad smile.

  He scoffed, his laughter sounding more like a cry.

  “Look, I know it hurts, but we can’t get emotional about this. Jody just needs to get through the next five months, have this baby and then...she can get on with her life again.”

  “You really think it’s that easy?” Dad stepped toward me, gripping the back of his chair. “That was our plan, you know. You were a very unexpected surprise and your mom was set on giving you up. I wasn’t sure, but I loved her,” he whispered. “I would’ve done anything she wanted me to.”

  I hated talking about Mom. I hated the way Dad’s voice softened whenever he referred to that selfish bitch.

  “But then you were born and we took one look at your face.” A gentle smile crested over his lips. “I asked her to marry me right then and she said yes. She was only twenty.” Dad’s voice broke and he pressed his fingers into his eyes, denying the tears.

  I wrapped my arms around him before I could stop myself. He shouldn’t have been crying over her, but I knew his heart would never fully mend. Now his beloved daughter was in the same position, and I could only imagine how sick with worry he must have felt.

  “Jody’s not Mom,” I whispered.

  “She’s exactly like your mother.” He squeezed me.

  “She doesn’t have to be.” I squeezed back, refusing to buy into that lie. Jody was not a self-centered, egotistical cow. She would do what was right for her and that baby. I was sure of it.

  I stepped out of Dad’s arms but kept hold of his shoulders.

  “We’re here to help her, Dad. She’s gonna be okay. We just have to focus on taking care of her and making sure she stays healthy through all of this.”

  “Yeah.” Dad nodded. “Yeah, I know.”

  “Her original plan was to keep this all a secret and stay with me, but my place is too small. She won’t be comfortable there.” I looked to the floor.

  “Fine. She can stay here.”

  “She’s worried that your disappointment will be too much to bear.”

  “What does she expect me to be?”

  “I don’t know, Dad.” I threw my hands in the air. “Supportive.”

  “I can do that.”

  “Without judging?”

  He glared at me.

  “Maybe I should move back, too.” I had to choke out the words. It was the last thing I wanted to do, but it was for the best. I was now jobless, so the ability to pay rent would soon become a problem. Besides, Jody needed my support, and if she was going to stay healthy, I sure as hell couldn’t leave her with Dad’s cooking skills.

  As much as I hated to admit it, I knew they’d fall apart without me.

  It was time to once again shelve my dreams and put my family first. I’d done it once; I could do it again.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  SEAN

  I sang into the mic, but my voice sounded dead. I’d been in the recording studio for just on three hours. I was tired and over it, but I couldn’t leave until I got it right.

  I hit the high note with a cringe, my voice cracking.

  “Shit, sorry. I just...”

  “That’s okay, Sean. Let’s uh, take a break.” I glanced up at the speaker and squinted at the glass before nodding. Pulling off the headphones, I dumped them on the chair behind me and stepped out of the room.

  The last thing I wanted to do was walk around to the sound desk to find out everything I’d been doing wrong, so instead I slumped onto the couch against the wall, resting my head back and closing my eyes with a heavy sigh.

  “Tough day?” Ashlee’s sweet voice made my eyes pop open.

  “Hey.” I grinned, shuffling over so she could sit beside me.

  “Don’t worry about it.” She slapped my leg. “It’s a difficult song.”

  I grimaced. It wasn’t the melody that was killing me, although after my performance today, you’d think it would be. It was the words.

  “Now You’re Gone” by Basshunter. Who the hell chose that song? The writers were obviously out to get me. I nearly died when I got handed the latest script. Sasha, unable to stand Harley’s back and forth commitment, has taken a job. She wasn’t going to. She was going to stay at the school and keep training, but Harley won’t give her what she needs, so she’s splitting. Franklyn Performing Arts School without her is a lonely, torturous place.

  Damn, it was way too close to the bone for my liking.

  Morgan had walked out my door two months ago and yes, I’d done absolutely nothing about it. My anger had kept me silent at first, made me bubble and brew with righteous annoyance. Rhonda had talked me through it, telling me it was for the best. But with each passing week, the anger ebbed, replaced with a deep sadness I couldn’t shake.

  I missed my girl.

  “You’re not loving Harley and Sasha’s story at the moment, are you?”

  I shook my head.

  “I know it’s not my business, but you’ve been really out of sorts lately. Like, angry and sad and just not yourself. Do you need to, I don’t know, talk about it?”

  “Probably.” I scoffed, shaking my head.

  “It’s about that girl you were in love with, right?”

  I clenched my jaw. “She dumped me.”

  “Ouch.” Ashlee rubbed my shoulder. “I’m sorry.”

  “It was probably my fault,” I mumbled.

  “How? You’re like the nicest guy I know.”

  A sidelong glance at her cute expression made me grin. I licked my bottom lip and turned to face her. “She wants me to do something that could put my career at risk.”

  Ashlee’s eyebrows rose. “Why?”

  I shrugged. “She says that if I can’t fight for her, then I obviously don’t want her. The thing is I do. I want her...” I pinched my nose, “but I want this job too.”

  “Why can’t you have both?”

  “Because Travis is an asshole,” I whispered.

  Ashlee snickered. “He can be, but his vision for this show is amazing and look how well we’re doing.”

  “Yeah.”

  “I love working with you, and this show is just...I don’t know, the danc
ing, the singing...I love it all.”

  “Me too.” I patted her knee. “It’s awesome.”

  “You shouldn’t have to give that up. She shouldn’t be asking that of you.”

  I made a popping sound with my lips as Ashlee came back to the same argument I always did. Rhonda had reminded me of this again the week before.

  This show meant the world to me, and I really didn’t want to give it up. Ashlee and I were the stars. This was everything I’d been working toward...and although Morgan didn’t buy into Travis’s threat anymore, it still hung over me like a storm cloud.

  Morgan shouldn’t have asked me to risk it all. It wasn’t fair.

  “I guess at the end of the day, if she really cared about you, she wouldn’t expect you to throw it all away. I think it’s kind of selfish.”

  Ashlee’s soft words fueled my anger, making me feel justified once more. If only they could take away the sadness that had taken root inside of me too.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  MORGAN

  I’d found a job. Well, actually Dad had found it for me. Derek was a friend of a friend and owned a small accounting firm in Pasadena. His receptionist was on maternity leave and he was desperate for a temp. I took it. What choice did I have? With three mouths back in the Pritchett house, we needed the extra cash flow. Jody was now six months pregnant and filling her days with part-time work at a grocery store in Santa Monica. I tried to convince her to find work closer to home, but she didn’t want to bump into anyone she knew. So instead she got up ridiculously early to get there on time and came home exhausted each night. She didn’t want to go out and do anything, so she hung around the house in a quiet stupor.

  To say it was painful was an understatement.

  I glanced into Grandma Deb’s living room to check on my little sister. She was sitting on the edge of the couch, her feet tucked up beneath her butt, her round belly resting against her knees. She looked beautiful. Her long, blonde curls resting on her ample breasts. She said she was starting to feel fat and clumsy, but I’d bet if she had a supportive guy sitting next to her right now, she’d be glowing. Jody’s sunshine had been reduced to a dim ray that was only just visible. It was like looking at her through a thick fog.