Deserved

by Victoria Johns

  “If you’re here to shout, I’m not interested,” I said after I’d opened it.

  “Nope, I’m here for breakfast,” Jake said, and pushed past me in the direction of the kitchen. His hungry, bottomless belly was only concerned with the pancakes he could smell.

  That was all I needed, all three of the haters around the one table.

  “Morning, Lacey, how are you feeling?” Lottie asked, filling a mug of coffee for me.

  “Tired. You?”

  “Same,” she replied, raising her eyebrows to tell me she didn’t have any clue what was going on either.

  “Help yourself to food, Jake,” Oli began. “I figure I owe you an apology.”

  “Nah, it’s all good now. Although you should know, Lacey’s my best friend and even though I wasn’t happy about the lies and stuff, I did what she asked in order to give her some space to work through everything. She probably still needs that space.”

  “I appreciate you being there for her. Then and now, she’s lucky to have you as a friend.”

  Honestly, this show was pathetic.

  “Stop treating me like a child,” I snapped and slammed down my mug. Carter was already at school and Sam, Oli and Lottie’s son, was in his playroom.

  “I invited Jake over to say sorry for last night. No one is treating you like a child.”

  “Hey, apology accepted. It will make a great pick up line. I, Jake Griggs, had a rumble in the jungle with the Oli Hart.” He laughed, rubbing his bruised jaw.

  “Yeah, well, that rumble wouldn’t have happened if you’d respected my wishes and left it alone. I will not keep apologizing for my mistakes. I made them. I’m owning them.”

  “Eventually,” mumbled Lottie around a slice of toast.

  “Do I ask you what you do in private? No. Do I need your permission to go about my life? No. Honestly, this is just ridiculous. Tommy may have been an asshole and a whopper of a mistake, but it was mine to make. I’m dealing with enough without being ambushed at breakfast and feeling like the guilty party, so if that’s how things are going to be, I’ll either take back my old room in the kids home or find somewhere else altogether.”

  I pushed my chair back and walked away from the table, hearing Oli mumble, “And that wasn’t childish at all. Jake, jelly for your toast?”

  I had to get out. I needed to get some fresh air. I was just getting to grips with the loss of a baby and the blood I was still passing was enough of a reminder without them throwing Tommy in my face. Deciding to hang around long enough to brush my teeth, I headed outside and immediately lowered the roof on Tula. Fresh air was the prescription and she was going to give it to me in droves.

  Less than a mile down the road, my cell started to ring. There was no chance I’d hear while driving like this so I pulled the car over and grabbed it.

  “Hey, Carly, how’s things?” I answered.

  “Not good really. Can we talk?”

  “We are, aren’t we?” I smiled.

  “I mean can you come over?”

  Shit, this was not what I needed right now. I absolutely did not need to be anywhere near Tommy or his house at the moment. “I can meet you at MudJoe’s? I’m just on my way into town.”

  “Urrgh, I don’t fancy that. Can you come here? Tommy’s out and will be for a bit. It’s girl stuff.”

  I had no choice but to say yes. I couldn’t let her down. She was my friend and I still felt responsible for her. Lottie might have been formally dealing with her case until it was completely closed, but I couldn’t let what had happened between me and Tommy drive her out of my life completely.

  “Be there in ten, okay?”

  “Thanks, Lace, you’re a life saver,” she breathed down the phone and hung up.

  Ten minutes later, I was walking up Tommy’s drive, feeling a heck of a lot of relief at his car not being there. I went to knock on the door, but I didn’t need to. Just as I raised my hand, Carly appeared and snatched the door open.

  “Thank God you’re here.”

  “Whoa, okay. What’s up?”

  “I think there’s a boy at school who kinda likes me.”

  “Right… And?” I wasn’t sure this was the epic drama I’d first believed it to be, but we’d see.

  “Well, I’m not sure. I thought I’d ask someone for an opinion.”

  “And you couldn’t ask your dad?” I queried.

  “Are you kidding? He’s already making jokes about getting his old school baseball bat out of storage, you know, just in case.”

  I smiled at that. I loved that Tommy was fiercely protective of her. He was a good dad. No. Stop. Do not think about Tommy’s parenting potential.

  “I hope this isn’t interfering with your school work, Carls. Why do you think he might like you?”

  “Well, he’s mean to me, but I catch him staring at me. If I’m nice to him, even though he says he doesn’t want to be friends, I catch this look in his eye that says, ‘what if?’ and he’s cute.” I watched as she grabbed a couple of soda cans and took them into the living room.

  “If he’s mean to you then maybe he’s just mean.”

  “Yeah, I thought that at first, but don’t boys pick on those they really like? You know, that reverse psychology stuff?”

  Lord above, if she was trying to figure this stuff out now, Tommy was in for a world of hurt in a few years time. She was pretty now and filling out in all the right places. In a couple of years, she’d be a knockout. Before I could answer, I heard the front door open and slam shut. My heart raced in my chest and I felt like I needed to flee immediately. I only came because Tommy was out. Our text conversation was supposed to be it and I’d planned on not seeing Tommy until… well, never again!

  “Where are you, Carly?”

  “Living room, Dad. Lacey’s just visiting.” For a split second I thought about getting up and shushing her, but expecting her to stay quiet in her own house, with her own dad, was just stupid.

  Before I had the chance to flee for the door, he rounded the corner into the room and even though I was expecting him to look like a washed up drunk after the state he’d been in last night, he didn’t. Tommy was wearing long cargo shorts and a vest top, the tattoos on his calves and arms visible and his skin glistening. He was wearing a ball cap to shield the bruising on his face and I could just see a peek of his eyes underneath the rim. He looked lush and a little dangerous, and still made parts of me quiver that I knew should absolutely not be quivering again, let alone for him.

  “Lace’,” he said gruffly.

  “Tommy,” I stumbled. “I need to, uh, be somewhere. We’ll catch up another time, Carly.” I fumbled and hopped up out of my chair, heading for the door as Tommy’s shoulder touched mine on his way to sit next to her. I inhaled his familiar scent and immediately regretted it. When I got outside the front door, I stopped and shut my eyes, willing myself to calm down. “Shit,” I hissed, turning and wandering back inside. “Uh, Tommy, could you move your cab? I’m blocked in your drive.”

  “Sure thing,” he replied, and then waited until I led the way outside. I could feel him following me. It was like being stalked by a hunter. When I stopped to open Tula’s door, I saw his hand take hold of the top of the door. “I really did want to talk to you last night.”

  I leaned my front into the car door, hoping I’d be able to complete my escape without much more interaction. “There’s nothing more to be said.”

  “I think we both know that there is.” As he finished the sentence, he stood flush behind me, pinning me between his body and the car.

  “Tommy…” I gulped. “What you are doing? Someone will see.”

  “There’s no need to hide anymore,” he whispered, and I felt his lips touch the bare skin of my shoulder at the base of my neck.

  I froze at the contact. A short while ago I would have been thrilled with that statement. Now it made me feel queasy and terrified me.

  “I need to go,” I pressed, stepping back sharply so he had to step with me,
and before I could get any deeper with him, I opened Tula’s door fully and climbed in. With shaky hands, I pulled myself together enough to start the engine and acted like he wasn’t there. I acted like he hadn’t just turned my world upside down.

  I spun my head to look behind me, down the drive, and heard him say loudly, “You’re still mine, Lacey,” and began to reverse in a panic.

  My nerves were shot, my feelings were in turmoil and I knew I couldn’t blame my body and its hormones for the emotions I was feeling.

  I knew that blame was all on Tommy because it was the way he always made me feel.

  Tommy Sevens

  I felt revived.

  Apparently, I was the norm, the average, the god damn cliché like so many of my species. Fall for a girl you absolutely shouldn’t—check. Hurt her so badly that the guilt eats away at you—check. Piss her off so much that she comes to her senses quickly and decides she wants nothing to do with you—check. Let’s face it, they’re supposed to be the mature sex so it’s not surprising she got pissed off first. Change your mind like a fickle guy—check. Begin the chase and kick off the game of reeling her back in—check, check, motherfucking check.

  I should have listened to my body a long time ago. Standing behind her yesterday was electrifying and in truth, it was probably a good job she took back the control. I could feel all the blood and fluid keeping me upright surging towards my cock, and it must have been obvious to her. In that instant, she became ‘little Lacey’, the girl who loved to be shown what she was capable of, and I prayed that my plan with Carly would at least give me that opportunity again.

  To say I operated for the rest of the day and into the next with a bounce in my step was an understatement. When I walked back into the house, Carly declared action plan number one a resounding success, and when I couldn’t answer her for smiling, she mumbled, “Yep, you’ve got it bad, Dad,” under her breath and went to her room.

  I decided not to let too much time pass between my attempts to get her to submit to my will. I tried not to think of it in that respect, but that’s what I needed—her submission. The times when Lacey had submitted to me in the past were some of the best nights I’d had and I was prepared to work my fucking ass off to get another chance at something real with her.

  Carly explained that Lacey was jumpy when she arrived and that meant she wouldn’t fall for a second request to come to the house. This time, I decided, we were going public. If taking my plan out in the open was the way to show her I was truly serious then bring it on.

  I made the call first thing in the morning, sure she wouldn’t answer. I was right, but I was prepared to wait her out so I continued to ring her cell phone again and again until she caved and answered.

  “When a person doesn’t answer after thirteen times, people usually get the message,” she snapped, all snarky down the phone.

  “Yeah, well, I’m a desperate person. I need some help with Lacey.”

  “Then call Lottie,” she snapped again and hung up. I shouldn’t have been pleased, but it was great to know I could still get under her skin. I had to gather myself before I tried again. I couldn’t afford to let her hear the pleasure in my voice.

  Dialing her number again, on the third retry, she picked up. “Seriously, take a hint!”

  “Don’t hang up,” I begged. “It’s Carly… I think she needs some female assistance.”

  “And?”

  “Well I’m asking because it’s kind of personal and I know she’d be unhappy talking about this shit with Lottie. They don’t have that kind of connection.”

  “I’m busy…. But what shit?”

  I had her interest piqued and it made me smile, a smile I had to work hard to keep out of my voice. It was wrong of me to play on her feelings for Carly, but I was beyond feeling guilty. I was on a mission.

  “Ugh, you’re going to make me say it, aren’t you? Girl problems. You know, the monthly kind.”

  “She’s twelve not stupid, Tommy. She knows what those are?”

  “Yeah, but she needs some supplies and I’m ill equipped to deal with that challenge.”

  “You’re pathetic.”

  “I know. Listen, if you go to the pharmacy for me and get what she needs, I’ll meet you in MudJoe’s for a handover. Please, Lacey,” I begged. “She’s resting in bed with a hot water bottle and I don’t want her to worry about me coming home with the wrong shit.”

  The phone call went deathly silent. I knew she’d be dragging her teeth across her top lip trying to figure out how to tell me to go to hell without feeling like she’d let Carly down.

  “Forty minutes. MudJoe’s,” she said dejectedly and hung up.

  “Carls, she fell for it. Come on.” Carly jumped up, clapping her hands together. If nothing else, this was a bonding experience for both of us. Probably not one that Lottie or Lacey would approve of either. “I’ll drop you at the cab office with Tara while I go and work my magic.”

  Twenty minutes later, I was striding with intent through the doors of the coffee shop. I ordered a drink for both us and went to the table furthest from the doors. I didn’t want to give her any opportunity to dump the goods and escape with ease. I was banking on her not wanting to cause a scene in public. Hopefully, I’d have a few minutes of her time where I could put my case forward. I still hadn’t decided what I was going to say. I was hoping the words would come to me when I needed them.

  The old fashioned bell hanging over the door chimed and in she walked, looking sulky yet amazing. It was cruel of me to play on her need to make sure Carly was okay, but I was a desperate guy and pretty much prepared to do anything.

  “Here,” she said, dumping the paper bag at my feet. “That should be enough to start her off. Have you at least talked to her about it?”

  “What? Are you crazy? Maybe you could come and do that?” I asked, hoping for a third opportunity to get my feelings across.

  “No. Man up. I’m not her mother. She’s your responsibility so try acting responsibly and deal with it.”

  “I wish you were,” I told her quietly, and when she stopped in shock at the words that’d left my mouth, I realized she wasn’t the only one who was surprised. I was shocked that I’d admitted that, but as soon as I said it, I knew I meant every word. Before she could answer me, Joe appeared with a tray of drinks and put them down on the table.

  “Please, talk to me. Just a drink, that’s all I ask.” Lacey was still recovering from the epic words I’d said. “Five minutes,” I pleaded.

  “I can’t do this, Tommy. I can’t let you play me again.”

  I wanted to deny that was what had happened, but if anyone else had told me the history of our… whatever, I would have warned the girl, urged her to run a mile and told the guy he was being an asshole.

  “I’m not above begging, Lace. I don’t care where we are. If I need to follow you around until you talk to me, I will. If I have to say those words in public, in front of an audience, than I will. Just… please,” I said, gesturing for her to take a seat.

  “Does she even have her period yet?” she asked, sitting in the chair, figuring out my ruse immediately.

  “Ewwww, don’t. Even at my age it’s never fun hearing that word.”

  “Well?” she pressed.

  “No, I don’t think so. If she has then she hasn’t asked for my help. And in the spirit of open honesty, she’s in the cab office with Tara right now, not home sick so please don’t worry about her.”

  I saw it before she could cover it up, but she was relieved that Carly was fine, then in an effort to continue with the theme of her irritated mood, she got a serious and stroppy look on her face. “It was never me who needed to be honest about things. I know you think I deceived you over… the… you know, but I never did. I was just trying to get my head around all that happened.”

  “I don’t think I’ll ever be able to convince you that I regret the way I’ve acted over a lot of things.” I watched as a look of disdain crossed her face. “I
know there’s nothing I can say, so I’ll just have to prove it to you.”

  Lacey looked horrified by my statement. “Look, see it as a lucky escape, fate or divine intervention. Let’s just leave the past where it belongs—in the past.”

  “You don’t believe that, or want it. I know you don’t, please…”

  A shadow fell across the table and forced us both to look up. “I thought I’d made my feelings clear on you two,” said the shadow in the voice of Oli Hart.

  Fuck, I just wanted five minutes. Why couldn’t the universe just give me five minutes?

  “Oli, this doesn’t concern you,” Lacey answered.

  “The hell it doesn’t. Has he not hurt you enough?” he whispered in her direction, and I saw the feisty, defiant streak I adored take centre stage.

  “It’s not your business.”

  “You heard the lady,” I crowed. “This doesn’t concern you.” She shot me a glare, indicating in no uncertain terms that stoking the fire of the argument was not needed or welcome.

  “Shouldn’t you be out in your cab, Tommy, picking up women your own age.” It was a low blow and I hated it. If I was serious about kick starting something with Lacey, I needed to let that shit wash over me… but I just couldn’t.

  “Oh, I dunno, Oli, what’s that phrase? You’re only as old as the person you’re feeling.” I waggled my eyebrows at him, knowing it would push him closer to breaking point.

  “You… I should punch your fucking lights out again,” he hissed, reaching across the table to where I was sitting.

  “Enough!” Lacey shouted, drawing the attention of the MudJoe’s crowd. “You,” she snapped, pointing at Oli. “Stay out of my business. I meant what I said. I will pack up and move out.” I was impressed by her balls. She wasn’t taking any shit from him and I couldn’t help the smile of admiration I knew I was beaming. “And you, forget it. Forget all of it. Done means done.” With that, she grabbed her purse and stood up. The smile on Oli’s face completely pissed on my good mood and I wasn’t having it.