Julian didn’t. But there were those strings… I heave a sigh. “Screw Julian. You don’t need him. There has to be someone else. Or some other way. We can find your money somehow.”
“There’s no one left. I feel like an idiot, Chastity. You’ve had a front row seat to my failure. I fucked everything up. Right in front of the woman I love.”
My heart opens wide for him, a blossoming in my chest that sweeps through me in a warm comforting wave. I cup his stubbled cheek with my palm. “Don’t be an idiot, you gorgeous man. You just made everything right.”
I snuggle into his arms and we kiss. Lips, tongues, everything is perfect. When I’m breathless from the exhilaration of it, I hold him tight. “I love you, Lance. Love you, love you, love you!!!!” I squeal with glee and shake a little happy dance in his arms.
He chuckles and hugs me hard.
That’s when I realize I’ve been wanting to tell him I loved him since the day he moved in next door. At first, I thought it was just infatuation. Nothing more than a girlish crush. I mean, I was an innocent kid back then. I still am, but I know I can trust my feelings because he feels the same way.
I am on Cloud ten thousand right now, which is way way high up in heaven.
Lance grins at me, his eyes bright. Not with his devil’s grin. This grin is different. This grin is innocent. Angelic. He combs his fingers through my hair. He whispers, as if he’s afraid to say it out loud, “I love you too, Chastity.”
We make love and the world is perfect.
Chapter 26
CHASTITY
“I can’t believe I had to sell the air hockey table,” Lance says morosely several weeks later. “I’m gonna miss this place,”
“Me too,” I sigh.
Movers roll furniture outside on dollies. Lance’s downtown office is half empty already.
“How long were you here for?” I ask.
“Two years.”
“Wait, didn’t you move here from Vegas a few months ago?”
“I didn’t. Dad did. But I was back and forth between here and there all the time, keeping tabs on him. It got to a point where there was too much bullshit for him in Vegas and I knew it would be easier with him here. So I moved him. He didn’t care. They sell booze in LA too.” His face is grim.
“Oh.” I say thoughtfully. “It seems like he’s doing better.”
He shrugs. “It’s hard to tell. He hides it so well. I never know for sure and I can’t babysit his ass twenty-four seven. He’s not dead, so that’s something.”
“Yeah,” I mutter. I can’t imagine having to deal with Mr. McKnight like Lance has for who knows how long.
Considering we spend so little time at the house, there’s no way of knowing what Mr. McKnight does when we’re not around. It’s not like he’s a prisoner. He comes and goes whenever he wants and pedals to who knows where on that mountain bike of his. I don’t really want to think about it because this day is dreary enough as it is. I look around the office for something that might cheer up Lance. “You know, we never got to have sex on the garden patio outside your office.”
“Yeah,” he says, depressed.
I wink, “We still have time.”
“Let’s wait till the movers are gone.” He doesn’t sound into it.
I try not to worry. We’ve made love every day since he told me he loved me. Not sex. Not crazy on stage fucking in front of crowds. We made love. Tender, wonderful love. Every single time. And we’ve told each other we love each other so many times I’ve lost count.
Despite the demise of this office, I am in heaven. As long as I have Lance by my side, the world could be crumbling around me and I’d be okay. Not that it is.
For the most part, things in my life are okay at the moment.
Charity has started high school. She seems to be adjusting. Things are mostly back to normal with her and Mom. Since I’m next door, I see Charity almost daily. She’s holding up. I think half her problem is being in high school for the first time. I remember how hard my freshman year at North Valley was, and how long it took to get used to it. Charity will adjust. She’s strong.
As for Mom, I avoid her. I talk to her now and then, but I feel like I’m done with her. Now that I’m eighteen, maybe I sort of am. Am I going to miss seeing her? I really don’t think so.
“What now?” I ask Lance.
“After everything is sold or back at the house, I need to regroup. Figure out what the fuck to do next. You should probably look for a job.” It pains him to say it.
“Do you think Mr. Molton would hire me back?”
He snorts, “I doubt it.”
“I was just kidding. I’m done with serving ice cream.”
His devil’s grin curls. “You miss the hot caramel sauce, don’t you?”
I flash back to the memory of our ice cream sundae Sunday sex. My first time.
“You’re blushing,” he chuckles.
“I guess I am.” I try to only think about the good parts. Not the disaster that followed. Whir. “Can we talk about ice cream later?”
“Sure,” he grins. “I’ll have my banana waiting for your split the second you’re ready.”
“Your what for my what?” I giggle.
“Bananas? Splits? I think you can figure it out.”
Despite the down mood of the day, I can’t help but get wet.
Lance is perfect.
No matter what happens with his music career.
I’m never leaving him.
++++8++++
CHASTITY
“Mom is crazy!” Charity screams, barging right through Lance’s front door, which apparently was unlocked. She slams it behind her.
“Jesus!” I jump off the couch and the course catalog from Pasadena City College that I was reading tumbles to the floor. “Please don’t do that.”
“Sorry.” She’s furious.
I pick up the rumpled catalog and set it on the couch. “What happened?”
“I can’t do it, Chaz.” She throws her hands up and lets them slap against her legs. She starts pacing, shaking her head and making her long blonde ponytail wave down her back. “I can’t wait for Dad’s lawyers. I have to go to Illinois now.”
“Calm down, Chair. Sit down. Tell me what happened.”
Lance comes walking out of our bedroom, which is now our office. Actually, office is a bit of an exaggeration. We added a folding table and a folding chair for each of us next to our mattress. It’s cramped but it’s cozy. Lance says, “Is everything all right?”
Charity throws her arms in the air again. “My mom is insane!”
Lance chuckles, “What else is new?”
Charity smiles and turns to me, “See? He knows.”
I’m grateful Charity has stopped blowing her top. I hope she’s just here to vent. I pat the cushion next to me. “Sit down, Chair. Whatever it is, I’m sure we can figure it out.”
She slumps and trudges to the couch and plops down next to me. “Mom is so annoying.”
“What happened this time?”
“I was studying in my room, listening to Katy Perry. NBD, right?”
“Right. I mean, if Mom didn’t hear. Did she?”
“Maaaaybe I had the music a little loud…” she rolls her eyes and flicks her tongue on the L in loud.
I wince. “You know how Mom is about pop music.”
“I know! But it’s stupid! Katy Perry isn’t Satan! I mean, what the fuck?”
I repress a laugh.
Charity catches it and smiles. “See? Mom is ridiculous!”
As long as Charity is smiling and not having a meltdown, that’s all I care about. I would hate to think what would happen if she ran away again. Something tells me it would end much worse than last time. “Maybe you should wear headphones. So Mom doesn’t know.”
“Yeah, but then she asks what I’m listening to. I’m sick of lying and saying it’s gospel music. I shouldn’t have to lie about something so stupid.” She spits out the word stupid. “You kno
w?”
“Oh, I know.”
“I can’t deal with her any more. What’s taking Dad and his lawyer so long?”
I sigh. “I don’t know, Chair. It takes a while. Dad told me they have to get everything ready before they talk to Mom’s lawyer. Cross their T’s and dot their i’s. You know she’s going to freak when she finds out.”
Charity groans. “I know. I wish we could just get this over with.”
I don’t. The sooner it happens, the sooner I’ll be forced to make a decision between her and Lance because something tells me Lance needs to stay in LA to resurrect his music career, not move to the midwest. I sigh, “You just have to be patient, Chair.”
“You should talk. You live here. With the cool people.” She grins at Lance.
He sits down on the armrest next to her and smiles back, “Don’t forget to count your sister.”
Charity cocks her head to the side and narrows her eyes, “She’s only semi-cool. And that’s only because of you.”
I roll my eyes and shake my hair.
She swats my knee. “JK.”
I laugh, “No wonder Mom is sick of you.”
“She’s so sick of things, she’s sick of herself.”
“I never thought of that.” I stop and stare at my kid sister, marveling at how smart she’s getting. “But you know what? You’re right.”
Lance nods, “I’ve said it before. That woman needs to get lai—” He stops short when he realizes what he’s saying in front of Charity.
“That’s for sure,” Charity sighs.
He chuckles nervously, “I meant, loosen up.”
He’s right on both counts. I sigh. “If only she would.”
Bing-bong!
The doorbell.
“That’s probably her,” Charity groans.
Whir.
I hope Charity’s wrong.
“I’ll get it,” Lance says, hopping up from the armrest.
Charity and I stare at each other, listening to the sound of the door opening.
“Hey,” Lance mutters in the entryway.
“WHERE IS SHE?!” Mom shouts outside. “I KNOW SHE’S HERE!!”
“Who?”
“My DAUGHTER!! THAT’S WHO!! WHERE IS SHE?!!” Clicking heels on the floor tiles.
Here she comes.
Whir!
Mom marches up to Charity, her face boiling with rage, and shoots a finger at her. “You get back in the house RIGHT NOW!! You’re GROUNDED, young lady!!”
Charity’s face pinches into a scowl. “NO!”
“Get back in the house! RIGHT!! NOW!!!!” Mom is furious.
WHIR!!
My entire body vibrates in response. I think it’s the adrenalin kicking in because I know Mom is primed for a huge fight.
“Calm down, Mrs. Shields,” Lance says quietly behind her.
She whirls around and shoots him with another finger. “YOU shut up!! I don’t want to hear anything from YOU!!!! YOU made this mess!! Every bit of it!!!!”
Lance is shocked silent.
Mom spins back on Charity. “Get back in the house before I make you!!” Her face twists in a horrid knot. She ignores me, which is good, because I barely recognize her.
“NOW, CHARITY!!!!” she shouts.
Charity stares at Mom, her face red, eyes wide, lips tight. “No!! Get out of here, you BITCH!!”
Mom’s eyes pop with rage. “What did you call me?” Her voice is low and dangerous.
“You’re a BITCH! Now leave me alone! I HATE you! Get out of here!!”
Mom lashes out and claws at Charity’s arm. “You do what I say, you little MONSTER!!”
“NO!” Charity shrieks. “Let go of me!” She flails on the couch, kicking her legs at Mom.
Mom recoils, her face scrunched as she avoids Charity’s Skechers. “Stop FIGHTING me, Charity!!”
I can’t take it any more. “STOP, MOM!!”
She doesn’t even hear me.
“STOP!!!!”
Mom wrestles with Charity, holding on tight to her ankles.
I dive between them.
Charity kicks me in the face, on accident. I see stars and clap my hands to my face. I fall back on the couch cushions.
Lance grabs Mom from behind in a bear hug, surprising her. When he pins her arms to her sides, she releases Charity. He walks her backward.
“Let GO of ME!!” Mom screams.
Charity is tipped back on the couch cushions, her feet still cocked to kick, breathing hard, teeth bared, ready to fight for her life.
“Ow!” I moan. “My nose!” I pull my fingers away and they’re covered with blood.
“YOU LET GO OF ME!!” Mom shouts. Lance doesn’t. She kicks the air, but she can’t break free of his grip.
“Relax, Mrs. Shields! Everybody just relax!”
I touch my nose carefully. “I can’t feel my nose!”
Charity’s eyes goggle. “You’re bleeding!”
“You kicked me!”
She winces. “Sorry.” She reaches over to touch me.
I pull away instantly. “Don’t! I think it might be broken.”
“I’m so sorry, Chaz!” Her eyes are wet with tears. “I didn’t mean it! Mom was—!”
“Put me down, GOD DAMN IT!!!!” Mom screams and everyone freezes. She stops kicking, but her legs dangle off the floor because Lance is so tall.
He says quietly, “I’ll put you down if you promise to stay calm.”
“I will promise NO SUCH THING!! And the moment you put me down, rest assured I am CALLING THE POLICE!!”
I scoff, “For what?”
“For EVERYTHING!!!!” She screams in ragged voice. She’s not making any sense. But she’s desperate because she lost control of this situation and herself. I can’t believe she said God damn it.
She has never sworn in my entire life.
Something tells me today is doomsday.
“You’re INSANE, Mom!!” Charity screams from the couch, crying out every word. Tears stream down her face. “Look what you made me do to Chaz!! I can’t live with you anymore!! I can’t wait to move in with Dad!!”
Mom’s face explodes, yet she doesn’t say a word.
I’m paralyzed with fear.
In a friendly voice dripping with dangerous calm, Mom says, “You can put me down now.”
Lance releases her and takes a step back.
She smoothes her jeans and stares at the couch. Not at me or Charity, but the cushions between us, like she doesn’t want to meet our eyes. “Have you talked to your father about this?” Her calmness is the scariest thing ever.
“Yuh-huh-yes,” Charity stutters, sniffling more tears.
Mom nods slowly and smiles creepily. “Okay then.” She still isn’t looking at us, just smoothing her blouse. “I will be at home. I have to make a few phone calls. Charity, please come home for dinner at six.” She turns and walks silently out the front door without looking back.
I don’t even hear the door close.
I knew it.
Doomsday.
And I’m stuck in the middle of it.
++++8++++
CHASTITY
“I’m so sorry, Chazzy Wazzy,” Charity says sincerely. “I didn’t mean to do it.”
“It’s okay,” I sigh. “I blame Mom. But I still can’t feel my nose.”
“You will tomorrow,” Lance grimaces.
“Great,” I groan.
“I don’t think it’s broken,” he says as he leans over the couch and delicately touches the bridge of my nose. “And believe me, I know broken. This looks like it’ll be okay in a day or two.”
“How swollen is it?” I ask anxiously, still holding a wad of bloody tissues under my nostrils.
He grins, “Looks like a bent red banana stuck to your face.”
“More like a sweet potato,” Charity adds. “All crooked and warty.”
“Stop!” I giggle.
“You’re laughing, aren’t you?” Lance grins.
“I don’t
want to laugh,” I pout and roll my eyes at Charity. “Does it look like a red banana or sweet potato or whatever?”
She giggles. “No. Sort of. Maybe a little?”
“Where’s a mirror?!” I grumble, jumping up from the couch, which makes my nose pound.
“You don’t wanna see it,” Lance warns ominously.
Charity grimaces, “It looks terrible, Chaz, seriously…”
“You guys!” I whine, heading toward the bathroom. I’m almost afraid to look in the mirror. I slowly pull the bloody tissues away.
“See?” Lance grins behind me, his arm around me. “Straight as an arrow.”
“It does not look like an arrow!”
Charity giggles, “I think Katniss used one just like it to kill Marvel from District One after he speared Rue.”
“What?” I gasp, horrified.
She shrugs, “I just re-read Hunger Games.”
Even Lance gives Charity a funny look in the mirror. After a moment, he turns me around and kisses my forehead. “It doesn’t look like an arrow or a spear or a hot dog.”
“Hot dog!” I whine.
Charity giggles.
Lance grins, “Don’t worry. It’ll be fine in a few days. But in the mean time it might feel a little better with some ketchup and mustard.”
“Don’t forget the bun,” Charity snickers. “And the relish.”
I growl, “I hate you both!” But I’m laughing, which makes me feel a little better about all of this.
Lance hugs me again. “Your nose is fine. I promise.”
I sigh. “I hope so. In the mean time, we better call Dad and warn him about Mom. Who knows what she’ll do now that she knows.”
“Yeah,” Charity shakes her head. “I wish I hadn’t said anything to her.”
“Too late now.”
Whir.
The first thing Dad says when I call is, “Take a picture of your nose.”
“Why?” I ask.
The Bad Boy Next Door: Lance & Chastity Page 29