Doubletalk (The Busy Bean)

by Teralyn Mitchell

  “No, we’re not.”

  “But you want to,” he said, and it wasn’t a question.

  Daniel and I were going to have to talk about Mallory and what was going on with him. But not right now, when the game was about to start, and Mallory was waiting for her food. I left Daniel standing in the kitchen and joined the others. I caught the tail end of a conversation and joined in.

  “What’s ‘fluffy shit’?” I asked as I handed Mallory her plate. “What are you all talking about?”

  I sat down beside her, probably too close, but I didn’t move.

  “Ror is trying to convince Malik that I’m not perfect by telling him how I watch too many murder documentaries.”

  “I have to watch princess cartoons and musicals after one of her binges,” Mallory added.

  “And I usually want to blow my brains out after one of her kicks with that shit,” Stacey said, rolling her eyes.

  “I’d watch any of that with you whenever you want,” I said.

  “It doesn’t count as being better than me,” Stacey countered. “He’s trying to get into your pants, Ror. Guard your virtue.”

  “What virtue?” Jocelyn asked. “I think that was missing when she was born.”

  “Screw you,” Mallory said. “Both of you.”

  I laughed. Stacey and Mallory together were hilarious and always made me laugh. They entertained everyone. Well, everyone except Daniel and Kennedy. And Graham, who was too focused on the food in his lap to care about what we were talking about.

  The game was about to start. We chatted casually and ate while waiting. I could feel that Mallory was relaxed despite me sitting beside her. She smiled at me when I said something or laughed if I told a joke. It was nice, and I hoped it meant I was making some progress with her.

  “Where’s Mallory?” Stacey asked me. “The second half is about to start, and she hates missing the start of it. It’s when the game gets good anyway and they start actually playing.”

  “I know. I’ve played in one of these games,” I told her.

  “Right. Do you want some insider information about Mallory?”

  “Sure.”

  “As long as she gets to see the second half of a basketball game, she’s cool. So, even if she tells you she’s excited about a game, you can still get her to do something with you during the first half. She thinks the first half doesn’t really matter. A team can be up by twenty in the first quarter and still lose the game. She claims those comebacks aren’t as dramatic or interesting as the ones at the end of a game.”

  “I don’t think I’ll need to know that.”

  Stacey winked. “Oh, you will. You’re close to getting her to crack, Zeke. So, just know that you can plan a date, but make sure you get her home by the second half.”

  I chuckled. “Then I guess thanks for the insider info,” I said. “She went downstairs to use the bathroom. Tyra was in the one up here.” Stacey gave me a pointed look. “Fine. I’ll go get her.”

  14

  Mallory

  I gripped the counter, trying to compose myself. This was all too familiar. Being at a party where Daniel was present, along with Kennedy, Zeke, Stacey, and my cousins brought to mind a party I went to in high school. Those memories had been trying to make themselves prominent since I ran into Zeke and Daniel at the Busy Bean. I took in a deep breath, counted to five, and slowly exhaled. It was going to be okay. This wasn’t high school anymore, even if I felt like it was.

  I studied my reflection in the mirror, trying to make sure my makeup looked fine. I’d had a heavy make-out session with Daniel in one of the bedrooms upstairs, and he’d kissed my lipstick right off. I opened the door to the bathroom and made my way to the back of the house where the party was being held. I spotted my cousins talking to someone they knew so I joined them. I couldn't find Daniel anywhere.

  “Having fun, cuz?” Jocelyn asked.

  I shrugged. “Not really.”

  “Are you feeling sick? Do you want me to take you home?” Adam questioned, going into big brother mode quickly even though we were cousins.

  “It’s nothing like that, Adam,” I told him. “I didn’t want to come to this stupid party in the first place, but Daniel insisted. Sitting at home watching some movies would have been more my speed.”

  Jocelyn laughed, shaking her head. Adam relaxed. Even though I was an only child, it felt like I wasn’t. My cousins and I grew up together, and we spent a lot of time at each other’s houses. Adam’s friends pulled him back into their conversation, and I listened to Jocelyn tell her best friend, Tina, about some guy she hooked up with last weekend.

  I spotted Zeke walking across the packed room and knew he’d know where my boyfriend was.

  “I’m going to go see if I can find Daniel and have him take me home,” I told Jocelyn.

  The nod she gave me was my only acknowledgment from her that she’d heard me. I hurried after Zeke. I was close enough to see that he’d gone out of a set of French doors that led out to the patio. I headed that way. The door was open a crack, and I could hear guys’ voices. I hesitated when I heard Daniel.

  “Hey, Z,” Daniel greeted his best friend—I wasn’t bitter about that at all, even though my eyes rolled. “Did you find anyone who can give you some action so you can stop moping?”

  “No,” Zeke said, and didn’t elaborate.

  “Speaking of getting any action, are you making any progress with Mallory?”

  I didn’t know who was speaking, and I couldn’t move closer to see who it was since there were no curtains or blinds on the French doors. If I’d been inclined to make my presence known, I wasn’t going to do that now. I was curious about what they were talking about.

  “No,” Daniel responded. “But I think I’m close.”

  “Seriously?” Zeke asked.

  The pit that was growing in my stomach kept my feet planted. Dread was heavy and accelerating my breathing.

  “She likes me a lot so it’s only a matter of time until I get her to give it up. Soon you douchebags will have to pay up. She’s going to give me some, and I’ll be $100 richer.”

  Blood pounded in my ears as my brain processed what I’d just heard. A bet? Is the only reason he’s going out with me because of a fucking bet? My feet were moving towards the doors before I even realized what I was doing. I saw my hand push against the glass panes. Five other guys were standing around with Daniel and Zeke.

  “Fuck,” Daniel said as his icy eyes landed on me. “Mal…”

  “How could you?”

  Daniel hurried to where I was standing and tried to take my hands, but I stepped back. I was breathing so hard my chest was rising up and down.

  “It’s not like that. Whatever you heard, it’s not like that, baby,” he said weakly.

  I could feel the other guys’ eyes on me. My cheeks were burning, and tears prickled my eyes. I needed to get out of here. For some reason, I sought out Zeke. I don’t know what I was expecting. Maybe some kind of comfort or him coming to my defense against Daniel and his friends. All I got was indifference that made the tears want to come faster.

  I spun on my heels and hurried back into the house. I could hear Daniel behind me. He finally caught up to me in the middle of the living room, grabbing my wrist and spinning me around. The stupid tears had won, and my cheeks were wet. All I wanted to do was get out of there and find somewhere safe to cry. Daniel pulled me closer to his chest, his hands sliding down to grip mine.

  “I’m sorry, Mallory,” he said so only I could hear.

  Someone had stopped the music, and all eyes were on us.

  “You’re sorry? The only reason you pursued me so hard was because of a bet. How could you, Daniel?”

  He looked over my shoulder, his grip tightening on my hands. I glanced back to see Adam and Jocelyn making their way over.

  “We’re through.”

  “Give me another chance, Mal.”

  “I’ve already given you one too many,” I said. “Lose my numb
er and never talk to me again. I thought you actually liked me.”

  I don’t know what he saw in my eyes, but something changed in him. He dropped my hands like they were diseased.

  Daniel said loud enough for everyone to hear, “Why would I like a geeky, not even that pretty virgin who’s way more work than she’s worth?”

  Before I could even fully process his words, Adam had gotten between us and punched Daniel square in the nose. “Don’t you talk to my cousin like that. I will kick your worthless ass.”

  Daniel was holding his nose and groaning. Adam took another step toward him, but Jocelyn and I each grabbed one of his arms.

  “He’s not worth it,” Jocelyn said.

  “Let’s go,” I pleaded. My voice was steady, even though tears were now streaming down my face and I was starting to shake uncontrollably. I wanted to leave. Everyone was staring at us. They’d all heard what Daniel had said and now this.

  “You thought we were through before,” Daniel said. “We’re definitely through now. I just regret not getting that $100 first.”

  “Go fuck yourself with a splintered broom handle,” I spat. “You are the lowest of the low.”

  “Come on,” Jocelyn said, pulling on Adam’s arm.

  Adam looked down at me, and I shook my head as the tears seemed to come harder and were turning into uncontrollable sobs. Jocelyn let him go and wrapped me up in her arms.

  “It’s okay, Ror. Breathe,” she whispered.

  “They’re all looking,” I choked out.

  “Ignore them. They don’t mean anything. Just look at me,” she said in a soothing voice. “Look into my eyes, Ror.”

  I did as she asked and took several deep breaths in before letting them out.

  A loud bang on the bathroom door jarred me back to the present and scared the crap out of me. I glanced into the mirror, noticing the wet spots on my cheeks. Damn. I wiped away the moisture with the back of my hands.

  “Give me a minute!” I yelled at the person banging on the door.

  I needed much longer than that after reliving that memory and still having to face Daniel when I went back upstairs. I splashed water on my face, happy I hadn’t worn heavy makeup.

  I pulled open the door, still looking down, and said, “All yours, but learn a little patience.”

  “Patience isn’t my strong suit,” Daniel said.

  My head popped up, and I stopped short. “What do you want?”

  I didn’t give him a chance to respond and headed towards the stairs. I didn’t get far since he grabbed onto my wrist just as he’d done twelve years ago. He spun me around and backed me down the short hallway, pushing me against the wall. I wasn’t a short woman, but he was over six feet tall, and I couldn’t see around him.

  “What the fuck are you doing?” I seethed.

  “You asked me a question and didn’t wait around to hear my answer.”

  “Because your answer is irrelevant, and I don’t give a shit what you have to say. Now get your hands off me.”

  “Still holding a grudge from high school, I see,” he mused. “But you’ve learned how to forgive Zeke.”

  I tried to kick him between the legs, but I was at an awkward angle. “Let me go, Daniel.”

  “Stop trying to kick me. I’m not hurting you.”

  “I’ve asked you to let me go.”

  I tried twisting out of his grip and away from him. I should have paid more attention to those self-defense classes my dad gave me for my birthday a couple of years ago.

  “You know he liked you in high school?” Daniel asked. “Now I want to know if you’re dating him. And what you’ve told him.”

  Daniel’s weight was pulled off me. Zeke pushed him up against one of the walls.

  “What the fuck are you doing?” He looked pissed.

  15

  Zeke

  “We were just talking,” Daniel said casually like he hadn’t done anything wrong.

  I gripped his shirt tighter, pulling him away from the wall only to slam him against it harder.

  “Just talking? I heard her tell you to let her go,” I said in a low voice. “I should kick your ass right now.”

  I glanced over at Mallory who was rubbing her wrist and looking down. She must have felt my gaze on her because she looked up. Her eyes were a little red as if she’d been crying.

  “Are you okay?”

  She nodded but didn’t say anything.

  “You’re choosing pussy over our friendship?” Daniel sneered.

  “I’m not going to let you manhandle someone,” I growled. “And as far as I’m concerned, it’s not even a competition.”

  He had the nerve to look angry, as if he didn’t feel any remorse over what he’d done.

  “She’ll never choose you,” he said low enough that only I could hear him. “She chose me when we were in high school, and she’ll be with someone else before she ever gives you another chance.”

  I gritted my teeth. “You need to go.”

  “OMG. What’s happening down here?” Kennedy asked.

  I noticed the others coming down, and I released Daniel. He straightened out his shirt as Kennedy rushed over to help him.

  “He’s only coming to your defense now because he wants to fuck you,” Daniel said to Mallory. “He’ll throw you aside like he did when we were kids. Remember you don’t mean shit to him.”

  “What I said in high school still stands: go fuck yourself with a splintered broom handle,” Mallory said with enough venom that I was tempted to take a step back.

  “You need to get your ass out of here, Daniel. Now,” Malik stated in a low tone full of malice.

  Piper was talking quietly to Adam, and I knew it was to convince him not to go after Daniel. He’d been ready to beat his ass at that party from our past.

  Stacey and Jocelyn hurried to Mallory’s side. I wanted to check and make sure she was okay, but Adam and Piper surrounded her too, and I was left out.

  I went up the stairs to make sure Daniel left. He was still in the foyer when I made it up the stairs, as if he were waiting for me.

  “One more thing: I quit.”

  “As if it was your choice,” I stated.

  “Screw you, Zeke. You’ll live to regret this.”

  “Doubtful.”

  “My cousin is a pro athlete who can’t ruin his career by beating your ass, but I’m not,” Malik warned. “Get the fuck out of my house and don’t bother coming back.”

  Daniel looked like he wanted to say something but ended up storming out with Kennedy on his heels.

  My cousin's hand landed on my shoulder. “You good?”

  “I will be. He quit.”

  “Good riddance. I don’t know why you even gave him a job, Z. He’s an asshole, and he’ll always be one.”

  “We’re going to head home,” Stacey said from behind us.

  Malik and I turned to see her, Mallory, and the others making their way back up the stairs. I locked eyes with Mallory. I wanted to talk to her, but she didn’t seem in the mood. I nodded at Stacey.

  Everyone started getting ready to leave, including Jeremiah and Tyra. The game wasn’t even in the fourth quarter yet. This night had gone to shit, and it was my fault.

  A beer bottle appeared in my line of vision and touched my shoulder. I followed the arm up to my cousin.

  “I think you need this tonight,” he said.

  I took it from him, twisting the top off and taking a long swig of the cold liquid. Malik sat in the chair on my left and opened his beer. We sat on his screened-in porch, looking out at nothing.

  I wished I’d gotten a chance to talk to Mallory before she left. I hated seeing someone cornering her like that, and for it to be the man I called my best friend, that made it worse. At least she hadn’t left crying as she had twelve years ago. Seeing her so distraught had gutted me, and I’d wanted to punch Daniel just as much as Adam had done.

  Mallory wasn’t the type to show her emotions besides anger and sarcasm, if that
could be counted as an emotion, so seeing her break down at that party years ago—I knew what Daniel had done affected her. She’d liked him a lot. And as much as I had hated seeing her with him, I never would have wished it’d end like that.

  “What’s the story between Daniel and Mallory?” Malik finally asked.

  I gave him the CliffsNotes version because rehashing everything about that night wasn’t something I wanted to do tonight. “Rory doesn’t know that I wasn’t involved in the bet. Since I was standing out there, she assumed I was.”

  “And you never tried to clear that up with her?” Malik asked.

  “No. It wouldn’t have changed anything between us.”

  “Okay,” Malik said. “So, why are you still friends with a douchebag like that?”

  “After that happened, Daniel and I got into it at practice that Monday. We didn’t talk for much of that year even though we played on the same basketball team. I didn’t hang out with him, and I wanted nothing to do with him. Then, during the summer, he sought me out and told me that he’d apologized to Mallory and she’d forgiven him. She didn’t seem to have a grudge against him when the new school year started, so I believed him.

  “Now I’m thinking he never apologized at all, and that explains her hostility toward him. But I asked him about it when we first saw Mallory here in town. He assured—lied—that he didn’t know why she was still so angry.”

  “And what happened downstairs?”

  “I don’t know. When I walked down there, he had her caged in against the wall. I could see that she was struggling and heard her tell him to let her go. She left before I could talk to her.”

  Malik pulled out his phone. I downed another swallow of my beer. Shit was complicated now, and I’d texted my publicist and agent to let them know the gist of what happened and that I needed to talk to them. I didn’t know what Daniel would or wouldn’t do in retaliation if anything, but I wanted them to be prepared no matter what happened.