An evil smile spread across the cop’s face. “Yes, I’ve seen you. I’ll be later, to escort you to your apartment.”
In my mind, I counted to ten, then nodded and closed the door, proud of myself for not having slammed it in Mike’s face.
“I don’t like him,” my mother said, twisting a kitchen towel.
“Are you going to be arrested again?” Tommy asked from the middle of the stairs.
I growled.
Mike was only five years older than I was, and shorter and less built, but because of the gun on his waist and the badge he carried, he treated me as if he was the king of Lexington.
Well, to be honest, his problem with me was much bigger. I had slept with his little sister before my eyes settled on Jessica. Apparently, the girl had fallen in love after just one night and didn’t hide it from anyone. As soon as he found out, Mike had threatened to break my face or cut my balls off or something if I ever got close to her again. Thank goodness, I did not intend to do that. Last year, I got out of jail, and he was appointed as one of the officers handling my case. He used every little excuse to make things worse for me.
I knew he was just waiting for me to do something stupid now that Jessica was back in town.
“Now, now.” My mother put her hand on my arm and squeezed it. “Tommy, that’s not a nice way to talk to your brother. Go wash your hands and come down for dinner.”
Without releasing my arm, my mother walked to the kitchen.
“You can let go now,” I protested.
She pulled me closer and put her fingers over her lips. “I would bet money,” my mother whispered, “if I had any, that Mike is going to be on your tail more than usual while Jessica is here. Be careful.”
I stared at my mother’s pleading hazel eyes. She was right. While Jessica was here, Mike would follow me everywhere, Jason would be awkward, and people would whisper and gossip more than before. It would be hell in my corner of the world, but it was only for two and half months. I had endured much more in places much worse. I could do this.
***
Jessica
Wednesday was going by too slowly for my taste.
Every time I looked at the ancient clock on the wall of the studio, only a few minutes had passed.
At least Alan was out and didn’t hover, watching as I transferred the hand-drawn plans into AutoCAD. It was a delicate and snail-paced job, but I never complained about it. Until this tedious day.
There were only ten more minutes for my short shift to end, when Noah appeared at my desk.
“Hi,” he said with a large smile.
I glanced at him and quickly returned my attention to the screen. “Hmm, hi.”
He pulled a chair from another desk and sat down right beside my computer. “I haven’t seen you at the Habit for Humanity site.” He propped an elbow on my desk, and leaned his head on his fist, still smiling.
“Yeah, well, that was a favor to Alan. It’s not part of my job.”
“What a shame.” He patted the wad of paper in his lap. “I’m glad I decided to bring the report here, then.”
What the hell? I stopped the mouse wherever it was and stared at him. If he were a girl, he would be batting his lashes at me right now. But no, he was a guy—a so-not-my-style one—a man, actually, because I suspected he was almost thirty, and the way he was openly flirting with me was downright creepy.
“Alan is not here, but I bet you can leave that in his office.” I pointed in the direction of Alan’s office, hoping he understood the dismissal.
He didn’t.
“That’s okay. I can talk to you while I wait for him.”
I pressed my lips together, holding in a frustrated grunt.
Without sparing him another glance, I closed the program, shut down the computer, grabbed my purse, and fled the studio.
“Wait.” He caught up with me in the lobby. “Where are you going?”
I tried my best not to snap. “My shift is over, and I think where I go is none of your business.”
I spun around and left the building before he could come after me again. I walked to the parking lot and cursed when I remembered Jason had borrowed the truck to take his bike to the next bike show place. However, he promised to be here to pick me up … three minutes ago.
If only I had worn flats instead of my four-inch heels, I could walk the twenty to thirty minutes it took to get home.
A coffee shop on the other side of the street caught my attention. I could use an iced coffee in this heat.
While ordering, I kept my eyes on the street outside, through the large glass windows, watching for my brother. He should arrive any moment. Ten minutes later, I was outside, sitting in a chair around one of the round tables covered by large blue umbrellas, my drink in hand, and still waiting.
I fished my cell phone from my purse, set on yelling at Jason for making me wait, when someone halted in front of my table.
I looked up and gasped. My heart stopped for a quick second.
Caryn. The only thing different from four years ago was that she looked like she was thirty-five, instead of twenty-one. She still wore low-rise jeans, which were at least two sizes too small, a tight top with deep cleavage, showing her fat boobs and her belly, five- or six-inch wedges, and her hair was trimmed to her shoulder, but still dyed a horrible neon yellow. She had red lipstick and chewed her gum like a cow.
“I heard you were back, but I knew I would only believe it when I saw you,” she said. And her voice was still the same too. High pitched and nasally. “And here you are.”
I stared at my drink. “What do you want?”
“Nothing, really. Just looking at you.” She sat in the chair across the table. “Did it solve anything, moving up there?”
I glared at her. “I didn’t invite you to sit with me.” I grabbed my drink and stood.
She stepped in my way. “Oh, the princess is mad.”
“How old are you? Fifteen? But let me tell you, you look forty.”
Her brown eyes became two enraged stones. “You.” She pointed her finger at me, pushing it against my chest. “Who do you think you are?”
I retreated a step. “Jesus, what did I ever do to you? If I remember correctly, it was you who did pretty bad things to me.”
She walked forward. “Of course, the innocent.”
“What are you talking about?”
I glanced around, noticing that people were starting to stare.
She leaned over me. “You weren’t the only one in love with him, you know?”
I had my suspicions, although, at the time, I thought it was more of an infatuation.
We had been at the tracks all afternoon for a race—a professional one. John, Ethan’s uncle, was there with some other big names in the motorcycle racing world, watching the races and taking notes.
That week, Ryan had been so excited and nervous. And I didn’t think he slept the previous night, though he stayed quiet beside me in my bed. This was it for him. He could be discovered right here.
Before the final race, the one where Luke and Ryan had to show everything they had, the guys stood beside the track, talking and waiting. The girls and I were seated on the bleachers, directly behind them, but several rows up.
I was fighting my instinct to go down and kiss Ryan good luck in front of everyone, when Caryn strolled to him and halted by his side. She wore a cheerleader-like outfit and moved her hips in a suggestive way. My stomach rolled with sour envy. Not because of her looks, but because she put her hand on Ryan’s arms and smiled at him, getting a smile in return.
Everyone in town knew Caryn. She was the pretty girl who had taken the wrong path. Some still thought she could turn around. Right now, I couldn’t care less. All I wanted was for her to take her hands off Ryan.
Caryn leaned closer to him, her breasts brushing his arm, and she spoke with her neck stretched, aiming for his ear. Bitch. Meanwhile, Ryan’s attention was on her. However, I couldn’t really see the expression on his
face to know if he was looking at her to be polite or if he was genuinely interested in her.
John ran up to the group and told them to get ready. Ryan stepped away from Caryn, but she closed her hands around his bicep and pulled him back. She kissed his cheek and smiled coyly.
“Good luck,” I read her lips.
He nodded before jogging to join John and Luke.
That night, when Ryan climbed in my window and crawled into my bed, he was so excited about doing well and being invited to a big race the next weekend, I decided not to spoil his happiness and ask about Caryn.
Instead, I chose to ignore the nagging feeling that something wasn’t right and shoved her from my thoughts to focus on the guy beside me.
My mistake.
I shook my head to get rid of that painful memory and turned around to walk away, but Caryn grabbed my wrist and pulled me back.
“Come here, you bitch. I’m not done with you!” she yelled.
I didn’t think, just acted. I threw my iced coffee at her face and chest. Shocked, she released me, and stared down at her top. “I’ll kill you!” she snarled.
I raised my arms to defend from the punch I was about to receive, but strong arms closed around my waist and pulled me back.
Jason appeared between us. “Hey, hey, stop it!”
I looked down and saw the arm still firm around me. My breath caught when I recognized the tattoos on his skin.
“I’ll kill her!” Caryn bellowed, pushing against Jason.
Jason spied over his shoulder. “Take her to the truck.”
Instantly, the arm around my waist pulled me farther back, and I stumbled against his chest. Gently but firmly, Ryan held my arm and helped me turn, aiming for the truck.
“Are you okay?”
I nodded, fighting the shaking wave that was threatening to overcome me.
“Ryan!” Caryn yelled. “She’s a bitch, Ryan!”
“Shut up, Caryn,” Jason hissed.
“I’ll kill her,” Caryn yelled again.
“Ignore her,” Ryan said, his voice low. While crossing the street to the truck, he kept his face low, and I noticed that we had gathered quite the audience. He was hiding, probably embarrassed to be seen with me.
I pushed against his hold and gave a step away from him. “I’m fine.”
He stared at me for a second, and then nodded.
I dashed to the truck and slid inside through the passenger door. In front of the coffee shop, Jason still tried to reason with a neurotic Caryn, while Ryan leaned against the truck and waited.
A few moments later, some worker or owner from the place came out of the building and talked to them, his face none too happy. Jason turned away and left Caryn yelling alone.
I put my hands over my mouth and held back a sob. Jesus, I wasn’t one for crying, not after I moved to Cleveland, but I hadn’t expected such a scene. The anger, the guilt, the disappointment, and all the memories took me by surprised, and I suddenly found it hard not to cry.
Jason stopped by the truck’s door. “Come on,” he said to Ryan.
Ryan shook his head. “You know that’s not a good idea. I’ll walk to my apartment.”
Apartment? What happened to his parents’ house?
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah.”
Jason glanced at me, and I averted my eyes. “All right. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
Nodding, Ryan walked away, in the opposite direction Caryn was headed.
Finally, Jason joined me inside the truck. “Are you all right?”
I glared at him. “It’s your fault. If you had been here on time, I wouldn’t have run into her.”
“Hey, what did you expect?” He inserted the keys into place and turned the truck on. “To come back and not see anyone from your past. Newsflash, but you’ll probably have to face a hell of a lot more while you’re here.”
I let out a frustrated scream, and Jason watched me with disturbed eyes.
“And what was he doing with you?” The question was out before I could make good reason of it.
An eyebrow cocked, Jason pulled the truck into the street and drove away. “He was helping me with my bike. I planned on leaving him at his place before picking you up.”
I bit my tongue before I could ask what “his place” meant. I was too deep in this mess already. I didn’t need to bury myself more and more.
I wiped the unshed tears and stared out the window, not really seeing anything.
Jason’s hand covered mine. “You still didn’t answer me. Are you all right?”
“Not really,” I said, amazed at how honest I was.
“I’m sorry.” He squeezed my hand. “About it all.”
I sighed and returned the squeeze. “Me too.”
Chapter Eleven
Ryan
I heard the truck’s engine roaring to life and driving away as I walked to my place. It was only three blocks away. I had insisted Jason dropped me off before going to pick up Jessica, but he was already late. I had hopes that he would park the car in front of the office and she wouldn’t be there, giving me time to slip out and leave before seeing her.
What I hadn’t expected was to see Jessica and Caryn going at it.
One block from my apartment, I heard her voice and cringed.
“Ryan, wait up,” Caryn said. The sound of her heels clicking on the pavement got closer and closer, until she stopped jogging and walked beside me. “Can you believe that girl? Showing her face in this town after all she did to you?”
I clenched my jaw and fished for my keys, intent on ignoring her before losing my temper.
Giving Caryn my back, I unlocked the garage door then pushed it open. She stepped right in, as if I had invited her.
I suppressed a groan and lunged into work. Working on my Harley always calmed me down. I sat on a low stool beside my bike and started taking some pieces apart.
Caryn leaned against a working table. “How can you even get that close to her like that? Hasn’t she done enough? If I were you, I would even avoid her brother, so not to risk it. And maybe Luke too. After all, they are cousins, and you guys are always together.”
She went on and on, and I tuned her out. It was better than getting angry and yelling at her. It wouldn’t be the first time, but if possible, I would like to avoid it. Most days, I could simply let Caryn be. She would stand by my side, flirt, or talk, but there were days … Shit, she was too clingy, too needy, or just purely annoying.
Like now.
Caryn knelt beside me, her body strategically turned to mine. She ran a finger down my arm. “After all, she was just a game, right? What could an inexperienced child have done for you?” She laughed, her finger sliding down to my stomach. “I, on the other hand, can do a lot of things for you.”
I pried her hand from me and stood. “Leave,” I said simply, not trusting my temper. If I opened my mouth for another word or two, I would say things I would regret.
Her eyes wide, she stood. “What happened?”
I took several steps back. “Just … leave.”
She frowned. “Why do you hate me so much? I have done nothing more than love you. I stood by your side; I was there for you. I am here for you.” She put her hands on her hips and stuffed her chest, jutting her breasts out. “You don’t have to be strong all the time, Ryan. Let me take care of you.” She advanced a step and I retreated another. “You can’t—”
“Caryn,” I said through gritted teeth. My jaw was set and my hands clenched. “Leave.”
She must have seen the anger in me, heard it in my voice, because her shoulders sagged and with a huff, she spun around and left.
Finally.
I reached for the compact fridge and grabbed a Coke, wishing, as I always did, that it was a beer. A beer would have been much better for my tension. After downing my Coke, I walked to the garage door, to close it up and work alone for the rest of the evening, but then, a car drove by. A car driven by a guy I didn’t know. A car wit
h Brianna in the passenger seat and Lindsey in the back with another guy.
Pure anger filled me. What the hell was she thinking? Going out on a weekday with some random guy? He probably got his license two days ago and he was already driving chicks around town?
I groaned and punched the wall. The pain helped. The pain pushed through my rage and made me think a little clearer. A little.
There wasn’t much I could do. Even if I chased them down, what would I do? Throw my sister over my shoulder and take her home? Ground her? That wasn’t my job. I just hoped Mom knew where B was and with whom.
Shit. I was the worst big brother. Great example of that was Tommy. At nineteen, he was going to college, but only two or three classes because he needed time to party.
I closed my eyes and let out a long breath. I needed some fresh air. I eyed my bikes, both of them busted and un-rideable. Good thing too, because I hadn’t ridden a bike in four years and I wouldn’t start now.
I grabbed the keys for my Mustang from the hook on the wall and closed the garage door. Hopefully, lowering all the windows would feel like riding a bike.
Yeah, right.
***
Jessica
After Jason dropped me at home, he left again, probably to meet Ryan. I barely said hi to Mama before locking myself in the bathroom and sinking in the tub for at least half an hour. Keeping my mind blank was hard. The memories rushed to me every single second I was alone.
The day I came home after spending the summer with grandma, Ryan was in the driveway with Jason, Luke, and Ethan, tuning his bike before a race. Shirtless. I stepped out of Mama’s truck, and he looked up, right at me. His eyes widened and his mouth fell open. I swallowed the big grin that wanted to break out on my lips and marched past him, saying a quick hi. He kept his eyes on me until I entered the house.
The day at the park, when he said I was beautiful and kissed me for the first time. The next day, Jason found out about it, punched Ryan, and warned him to stay away from me.
The first time Ryan sneaked into my bedroom window and spent the night with me.
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