by LS Anders
Turning to go back to her artist room, Rayna’s step faltered as she met the faces of everyone in the shop. Evana had her hands covering her opened mouth. Gabriel backed out of her way, dropping his eyes as she passed by him. Cale was doubled over laughing so hard, he was beyond making any sound. Avie was biting the inside of her cheek to keep her grin from taking over her face. Jason was the only one that rushed to help Andrea up off the floor.
Her hands were shaking as she shut the pocket door to her room. Had she just done that? Looking at the skin that had rolled back on her knuckles, she imagined it was Andrea’s teeth that had cut her skin. Andrea’s blood was splattered on her hand and arm. Panicked, she sprayed her raw knuckles with the stinky lemon disinfectant spray and cleaned the blood away, sucking in a harsh breath as the cleaner stung her skin.
This was starting out to be a long, sucky day.
“We are looking for a Ms. Rayna Nichols. Is she on the premises?”
Rayna could not believe she was hearing that leering voice again. This time it wasn’t from the dream she always dreaded when she closed her eyes at night. Standing statue still, she strained to hear what was being said about her in the lobby.
“And, who are you?” Avie inquired.
“Officer’s O’Malley and Shultz,” the familiar pervy voice announced.
“What do you want with her?” Avie defended.
Rayna knew Avie was stalling and didn’t want the girl to get into trouble. She knew why they were here, and she couldn’t really blame Andrea for going to the police. She should have just told her to leave and walked away.
Gathering her purse, she made her way to the front before Avie pissed off the police.
As soon as the red-headed cop saw her, he wasted no time raking his eyes over her in that same lewd way he had done before. Suddenly, she was back in her apartment, clutching her robe closed around her as he molested her with his eyes.
It was déjà vu at its most vulgar.
“Well, well, well. Ms. Nichols, we meet again.”
She didn’t comment, just looked from one to the other before handing her purse to Avie. “Would you mind looking after this for me?”
“Sure,” Avie said, giving her a small smile and holding the purse in her lap.
“Is that the douche bag cop that gave you a hard time when Brent died?” Evana whispered the question in her ear before she even realized the woman was standing behind her.
“Yep.”
“Honey, I’m right behind you,” Evana promised.
ID in hand, she listened as Officer O’Malley read her her rights. She nearly cried when the handcuffs clicked into place.
This was nothing like the last time she had ridden in the back of a police car. Her anxiety wasn’t from the anticipation of viewing a dead body or what questionable substance might have been on the seat. Nope. This time was all about her going to jail. Buildings passed by in a blur as her mind churned out all the possible outcomes of yet another mess she had allowed her emotions to get her into.
Processed and finger printed like a common criminal, she was placed inside a cold, impersonal holding cell. Keeping her eyes downcast, she felt everyone’s gaze on her as she found a vacant spot on a worn bench against the wall.
The few hours she was there felt like years before the barred door opened with a clunk and a female cop announced she was free to go. Wasting no time, she bolted for the exit, silently thanking Evana for bailing her out.
Coming around the corner, she was shocked to see Tegan. He stood a little straighter when he locked eyes on her. Never in a million years did she think she’d find Tegan waiting for her. Where was Evana? Then a man in a suit came forward with an outstretched hand. Someone she didn’t recognize, but was familiar none the less.
“Ms. Nichols, I’m Joseph Satterfield, from The Satterfield Law Office. All the witnesses from the studio have given their statements to the police. I know you’re anxious to get out of here, but it would be in your best interest if we spoke before you left.”
Numbly she followed the lawyer into a room off the hallway. Tegan just gave her a firm nod and resumed his lean against the wall, going nowhere fast.
“My father called and asked if I would represent you in this case,” the lawyer said, once they were behind closed doors.
“Judge Satterfield?”
“Yes, that’s right,” he nodded to her.
“How did he know I was here?” Rayna looked at the man confused.
“I’m not sure, but he wanted to make sure you were taken care of. I have read all the statements given by the witnesses at Exotic Ink Tattoo Studio. It would seem you were merely defending yourself as Andrea Noles attacked you first and—”
“I’m sorry, what?” Rayna’s brow creased.
“Let me be very clear, Ms. Nichols. Your statement and the statements of your colleagues must coincide.”
“No, but—”
“So, Miss Noles pushed you and drew back a fist as if to strike you. Your knee jerk reaction was to defend yourself,” Mr. Satterfield repeated, nodding his head. “Self-defense is our best course of action in this case and given her involvement in your husband’s death will help you that much more. Plus, it was mentioned that Miss Noles has attempted to confront you on several occasions. Is that correct?”
Rayna merely nodded, unable to push words past the lump in her throat. Everyone at the shop had lied for her in order to give her the best chance at a defense for her actions. Her friends were such incredible people to stand by her. Even though it went against the grain for her to lie, she was going to have to go along with what they had already planned.
Completing her business with the attorney, Rayna made her way over to where Tegan was waiting.
Beginning to move past the hurt, she had entered into the pissed off stage over Tegan’s treatment of her. Still mad and confused, he was the most wonderful sight she had seen all day.
“Hi.”
“Hey.” Tegan looked her over as if to reassure himself she was alright. “You’re okay?”
“I’m okay,” she answered.
“Let’s get you home.”
Rayna nodded and followed along next to him. “Wait, I don’t have my house keys. I left my purse with Avie.”
“I already saw her, and she gave me the key,” he said, digging the keys out of the front pocket of his jeans.
“She was here?”
“They all were. The whole shop came in to give their statements to the police.”
“Why are you here?”
“E called and told me about that shitty cop. I came to bail you out and make sure you get home safe where you belong.”
Well, that explained it. He might be a hardheaded prick on the outside, but he had already shown his true colors. If someone would have asked for his help, he wouldn’t hesitate to give it. His presence had nothing to do with her, it was about a favor called in by their boss.
She had half a mind to tell him to go the hell away, but her nerves were raw and she needed the company. Stepping out onto the curb, Tegan hailed a cab and typed out a text. Her stomach twisted, wondering if it was a woman who he had sent the message.
Reaching her building, Tegan asked the cab to wait while he escorted her to the lobby door. Tegan held open the way for her but didn’t offer to follow her up to the seventh floor.
Turning to thank him, his eyes had softened much like they had before. She wondered what was going on with him. She wanted to demand answers from him to the questions that had been eating away at her sanity for the past week. Wanted to know who he had just sent a fucking text to, but she had no right to question him.
Whirling away, she needed to distance herself from him and not let her emotions rule. She had already gotten into enough trouble, because she had allowed that to happen. What she needed was a shower and some time alone to contemplate this latest catastrophe.
Rayna’s soft voice perked up his ears. He hadn’t expected her to come into work this morning
after all the drama from yesterday. He’d heard she threw a mean right hook. He would have loved to have seen her in action. It was all anyone could talk about, and he could only imagine how far she’d have to be pushed to actually strike someone. He felt guilty that part of the reason she had lost her cool was because of him.
Pfft, what should he have said to her?
Gee, Rayna, it’s just not gonna work out between us. You’re too good for me, and I’m too big of a pussy to try and make a go of it and risk getting hurt. Plus, I gave everything I have over to my wife and am living, once again, off the charity of my friend.
Yeah, not a conversation he was ready to jump into.
Evana had called him in a panic explaining about the perverted cop, and that she was worried the man might do something terrible to Rayna. Pervy cop or not, he was not about to leave her alone in that jail.
Setting up for his first client, he pulled open the drawer where he always kept his aftercare supplies and noticed the antiseptic ointment was strangely absent. The spot looked naked where he always kept it.
Shaking his head, he opened every drawer and turned in a slow circle checking every available surface. Nothing. The shit was gone, and he didn’t remember running out of the stuff from his last client or moving it to a new location. The other people in the shop wouldn’t go through his shit. They might be annoying sometimes, but he trusted them not to take something without asking.
Making his way to the storage room, he figured he must just be losing his goddamn mind.
Feeling as though he were being watched, he turned his head slowly to peer over his shoulder. He didn’t expect anyone to be there and was startled by Avie’s presence. How the girl could keep from making the tiniest of sounds in high heel shoes on a marble floor was beyond him.
Her huge whiskey colored eyes took him in all at once. Today her amber locks were plaited, one braid laying on each shoulder. With her tiny stature, she looked almost childlike, but she exuded an air of cognizance that made her appear older, which was creeping him the fuck out the longer she stood there looming in the doorway.
“I think you need to have a talk with Rayna and work out whatever differences you two are having.”
Recoiling, he took a moment to process what she had just said to him. “Avie. As much as I respect you, I will only tell you this once. Stay out of my business.”
Giving him a sly smile that made the hair on the back of his neck prickle, she stated, “Well, you might want to hurry it up, Sport. You only have about thirty-seven weeks left to pull your head out of your ass before you become a father.”
The contents of the box he was holding spilled out all over the storage room floor. “What? What are you talking about?”
“Oh, and congratulations,” Avie said, shutting the door behind her.
Staring dumbfounded at the back of the door, he must have stood there with his mouth hanging open for a hundred years before his muscles released from the shock of the pint-sized fortune teller’s words.
Thundering down the hall to Rayna’s space, luckily, he found her client free. The pocket door clicking into place had her turning around to face him.
“You’re pregnant.” There was no question, and he couldn’t drag his eyes away from her middle.
“How would you know that? Who told you, I haven’t told anyone, not even Evana,” she hissed.
“Avie said—”
“Avie! I never said anything to her th—”
“I love you,” he blurted out.
“I love you.”
The words she had wanted to hear tumbled from his lips, but she dared not believe him. He didn’t love her. He felt an obligation because that’s who he was.
Every hair on her body suddenly felt electrified as she thought back to Avie’s insightful smirk as she’d delivered crackers and ginger ale daily ever since her morning sickness began. Even the doctor’s appointment she had booked for her was with the gynecologist instead of a family physician.
Studying his face, she wondered if he somehow had guessed her secret. But that was impossible. She hadn’t told anyone, and the only other people on the planet that knew were Dr. Howard and some nameless person at the lab that was handling her blood sample.
Pushing her way past Tegan, she disregarded his false proclamation of love and marched to the lobby for some answers.
“Come with me,” Rayna grabbed Avie by the arm, dragging her off the chair at the reception desk. Pulling the girl along behind her, Avie bounced down the hall having to double time her steps to keep up with Rayna’s long strides.
Tegan was where she had left him, rooted to the same spot in her artist room.
Rayna wasted no time as she slid closed the pocket door. “Avie, who told you I was pregnant?”
“No one.”
“Then how did you know?”
“Oh, I’m so happy for you guys.” Rayna’s question was ignored as Avie clapped her hands together excitedly. “I can’t wait to go baby shopping. I’ve already found the cutest dresses online. We have to have a shower for you, too.”
Rayna and Tegan exchanged a perplexed look. “Avie listen. I’m not ready for everyone to know. Please don’t tell anyone until I’m ready to share this news. Promise me. That goes for you too, Tegan.”
“Why are you waiting?” Tegan’s brows dropped low over his eyes.
“Dr. Howard said that the first trimester, especially if it’s your first baby, can sometimes result in miscarriage. If that happens, I don’t want to have to go back and explain to everyone. It would be difficult enough without all that.”
“Alright, Rayna. I won’t say anything,” Avie agreed and switched her attention to Tegan who had turned two shades lighter than a sheet of paper. Patting his arm, she indicated Rayna’s still flat belly before leaving them alone. “Don’t worry. She’s going to be just fine.”
Rayna could only stare at the now empty space Avie had just occupied, wondering if the clairvoyant receptionist had just told her the sex of her three-week old fetus. Which was impossible, but then again, it was Avie.
“Pfft, baby dress shopping? What if it’s a boy?” Tegan crossed his arms over his thick chest, chewing on that tidbit of information. Visibly shaking himself, she did not appreciate the narrowing of his eyes. “When were you planning on telling me about this?’
“I’m still waiting on the blood test results. I should be getting a call from the doctor any time now, and I didn’t want to say anything until I was a hundred percent certain.”
“It’s mine.”
“Whose else’s would it be, Tegan?” Rayna yelled at him.
“I was making a statement, I wasn’t implying that the baby wasn’t mine,” Tegan raised his voice to match hers. “When is your next O.B. appointment?”
“Why?”
“Because, I’d like to go,” he said.
“Why?”
“Because I have a vested interest in the life you’re carrying, and I love you and want to make sure the two of you are alright.”
Blinking back tears she refused to shed at his words. “You don’t love me, Tegan. If there’s one thing I do understand about you, is that you are a good person and would never shirk your responsibility. I don’t want you claiming that you love me just because you think it’s the right thing to do.”
“I wasn’t. I’m not,” he denied, leaning forward with his hands on his hips. “That’s how I really feel.”
“Oh, really? Is that why you’ve been ignoring me? Why you’ve been treating me like a leper until now? You wouldn’t even answer my calls and barely responded to my text messages while you were away. I was worried. I thought something had happened to you.”
“Look, I have a lot of shit going on at the moment, and I didn’t want you involved in it. It has nothing to do with you,” he argued, visibly frustrated. “I just don’t know what I’m supposed to do with someone like you?”
“Like me? By that, you mean inexperienced?” She continued on even thou
gh he was vehemently shaking his head. “That’s exactly the reason Brent found me so unlovable. Why he turned to other women.”
“Fuck no, that’s not why. That’s one of the things I find attractive about you, is your innocence. There isn’t another woman on this planet that I would rather be with.”
“You are such a liar, Tegan,” she screamed, indignant that he had the audacity to blab such bullshit to her.
“Excuse me! I might be a dick—”
“You’re right about that!” she fired back.
“Pfft,” he huffed. “I have never lied to you.”
“Please just leave,” she said, pointing toward the door. She had heard enough.
“When Rayna? When have I lied?” Tegan wasn’t budging.
“Leave!”
“Not until you can tell me when I have ever lied to y—”
“Remember when you met me at the subway on Easter, and we walked through that group of thugs? You said you would never let anyone hurt me.”
“And, I haven’t,” he countered.
“Yes, you did. You hurt me, Tegan. You! When you pushed me out of your life and cut me off. I lay awake wondering what I had done to cause you to treat me so horribly. Why, Tegan? Why do you make it so hard for people to love you?” He noticed when her bottom lip began to quiver, which pissed her off even more. “Now. Get. Out.”
It stripped him raw to know that he was the cause of the pain welling up in her eyes. Every emotion in him surfaced at once and was being slung out with every tear that rolled down her cheeks, leaving him cold and empty.
Feelings had never been discussed between them, and he was pretty sure he had meant nothing more to her than friends with marvelous benefits. The way she was acting now had him reassessing what he thought he knew. She was obviously more into him than he had thought, even though she hadn’t returned his endearment. To hear her say “I love you” back would have been amazing, but he knew he wasn’t worthy of her love.
She deserved better than the likes of him, and she sure as fuck didn’t deserve to be mixed up in his bullshit. But now that a baby was involved, she wouldn’t have much of a choice.