“He’s got a Porsche?” Marilyn breathed.
“You’ve got bikes? Plural?” I asked, staring up at Luke.
“What’s with the suitcases?” Luke asked, ignoring Marilyn and my questions, his eyes on the bags, his mind on a topic he obviously thought was slightly more pressing then the varied options for transport that he owned.
“We’re staying here,” Mom informed Luke.
Luke’s mouth went tight.
“Ava’s sleeping on the couch,” Marilyn shared.
At that, Luke’s entire face went tight and he looked at Mom. “Two choices, either I put you women in a hotel or Ava and me go to a hotel.”
Mom stared at Luke. “But –”
Luke cut in. “I don’t have a lot of time. The one thing I know is, Ava isn’t sleepin’ on the fuckin’ couch. You have to choose, now.”
“Lucas, language,” Mrs. Stark put in and I was pretty certain an hysterical giggle was going to burst forth at Mrs. Stark chiding her son for his language.
“Choose,” Luke clipped and at his tone my giggle died an early death.
“I’m not sure,” Mom said and I could tell she desperately wanted to take Luke up on the offer of a free ride but thought it might appear rude and greedy in front of Mrs. Stark.
Luke could tell too. “You stay here, Ava and me will go to a hotel,” Luke looked down at me. “I get things taken care of, I’ll take everyone to dinner tonight. I don’t and you don’t, I’ll arrange for your family to have a nice dinner and you do what you gotta do.”
“But, we came here to see you and Ava,” Mom protested.
“Ava has shit to do,” Luke replied.
“We came all this way,” Marilyn added.
“Yeah, and you didn’t tell Ava you were comin’ and, I’ll repeat, she has shit to do.”
“But –” Marilyn kept going.
“Take a close look at your sister then take a look at me. Does it look like we got time to drop everything because you hit town with no notice?”
Ho-ly crap but Luke didn’t take any shit. I was impressed more than I was normally impressed.
“What’s going on?” Mom asked, eyes narrowing on Luke.
Luke looked at the ceiling. I tore my gaze away from him and looked at Mom.
“I told you,” I answered. “I have a little bit of trouble. Luke is helping me and we both are trying to sort it out.”
“What kind of trouble?” Mom pushed.
“How many kinds of trouble get you a cut lip and a black eye?” Luke asked, aiming his angry stare at Mom. “There’s only one kind of trouble, the bad kind,” he finished.
“I’m her mother!” Mom, it was clear, had just lost patience. “Why don’t I know what’s going on? Not only is her face all banged up but she’s dating you, of all people. I mean, that George boy I can see Ava with, but you?”
Luke looked at me, not knowing George and I felt the knife that was plunged in my belly twisting. George was serious history, pre-weight loss, pre-Rick-Dave-and-Noah, a sweet guy but a geek and so not in Luke’s league it was sad.
The fact that Mom still thought I was out of Luke’s league hurt like hell. I’d worked hard to be a Barlow Bombshell but that was totally lost on her. For the past week four seriously hot guys had been after me like I was the best thing since sliced bread but in my head that evaporated. Mom thought me doing the impossible – landing Luke – was bigger news than me being “all banged up” and that was killer.
“George?” Luke asked me.
“Her first boyfriend,” Marilyn answered helpfully.
“He wasn’t my first boyfriend,” I mumbled even though he kind of was.
“You and George were cute together. He was all snugly soft. Perfect for you,” Sofia threw in.
“Snugly soft is right,” Marilyn said.
“The soft is right. Dough boy,” Sofia giggled
“This is unbelievable,” Luke growled low, watching the Barlow Super Bitch Byplay with an angry gaze. I could tell his control was slipping and I couldn’t do a thing about it.
“Didn’t he pop your cherry?” Marilyn put in and my stomach plummeted as my lungs seized.
Luke went totally still.
Here we go. They had warmed up and were ready to throw down.
“Marilyn!” Mom snapped, not protecting me, more embarrassed that Luke and Mrs. Stark could hear.
“Well, he did,” Sofia told Mom.
“That’s no reason to share,” Mom went on.
“I knew the minute it happened,” Marilyn stated, so into the Barlow Super Bitch Fest she ignored Mom, Luke’s scary anger filling the room, Mrs. Stark’s horrified, furious gaze and me. “He always followed her around like a little puppy, after he nailed her it got worse.”
“She probably popped his cherry too,” Sofia told Marilyn and they were now holding a conversation like no one else was in the room.
“Can you imagine?” Marilyn bugged her eyes out at Sofia at the very thought of Dough Boy George and Fatty, Fatty Four-Eyes fumbling around popping each other’s cherries.
I was back to wanting to run screaming from the house except I couldn’t seem to get my limbs to move.
“Quiet,” Luke said softly but lethally and all eyes turned to him.
“Lucas –” Mrs. Stark began but Luke kept talking.
“Your sister is standin’ in front of you with a busted lip and a black eye, her man at her side, and you bitches are talkin’ about… whatever the fuck it is you’re talkin’ about,” Luke said, his voice vibrating with anger.
“Did you just call us bitches?” Marilyn asked, her eyes wide and her voice filled with offended surprise.
“You act like a bitch, I’ll call you a bitch and you’re actin’ like a fuckin’ bitch,” Luke answered.
“Oh my God,” Sofia breathed.
“He’s kind of a straight-talker,” I put in quietly.
“You were men, I would teach you some manners. Though growin’ up you never had any so I don’t imagine you’ll start now,” Luke carried on. “Difference is, back then I wasn’t in the position to say what I’m gonna say now. Back, the fuck, down. Ava tells me any more of that shit you just treated us to goes down, you’re both out on your asses and you aren’t comin’ back. Your sister is a memory for you and you two cease to exist for her. Is that understood?”
Marilyn and Sofia stared at him.
“Is that understood?” Luke barked.
They jumped at his tone then nodded, as anyone would.
Ho-ly shit.
Luke looked at my Mom. “It’s up to Ava what she wants to tell you about her troubles. She doesn’t feel like sharin’, that’s her choice. You’ll deal with it. I hear you don’t, it’s not gonna make me happy.”
“But –” Mom cut in, she looked confused, shell-shocked and as if she didn’t know how to feel.
Luke leaned forward a bit at the waist and thankfully Mom went quiet.
“Take your daughter to breakfast,” Luke said in a low warning tone that said he was, quite simply, done. Then he looked at me. “Breakfast doesn’t go your way, beautiful, you call me, I’ll send someone to get you.”
“Okay,” I whispered but I had a feeling breakfast was going to go my way.
His arm got tight and his voice got quiet as he ordered, “Walk me to my car.”
Without looking back, we walked to the Porsche. He turned and leaned against it, pulling me between his legs and into his arms.
“Your fuckin’ sisters,” he swore, his eyes on my house and I could tell he was still angry.
I leaned into him, putting my hands on chest. He took in a breath and looked down at me.
“You’re like a flower that grew through a crack in the sidewalk,” he told me.
I didn’t say a word, couldn’t. I’d forgotten how to speak.
“I want you checkin’ in,” he demanded.
“Okay,” I said, finding my voice.
“We would stay at the loft tonight but –”
/> “I know,” I cut him off.
“After this shit is over, I’ll have blinds put in.”
“Okay,” I repeated.
“You gonna be able to get through breakfast?”
I nodded and told him. “I think I owe you again.”
“Yeah. You’re rackin’ up quite a debt,” he bent his head and touched my lips then his body relaxed and his face went soft. “I like it,” he muttered.
For some crazy reason, tears started to fill my eyes and Luke saw them.
“Babe.”
I put my hands to either side of his neck. “Thank you.”
His arms went tight and his forehead came to mine. “You just paid off this particular debt.”
At that announcement, I melted into him.
“You still owe me,” he went on.
I smiled because I didn’t mind, not one bit. “I think I like it that you protect me,” I confided, don’t ask me why, I just did.
It was a good thing to do.
“Ava,” he whispered, his face soft, his eyes ultra warm, his arms getting even tighter.
“No one’s done that, not like that. Not even Dad.”
“Beautiful –”
“Thank you, Luke.”
“You already said that.”
“I wanted you to know I meant it.”
One of his arms stayed wrapped around my waist, the other hand slid into my hair and his mouth came to mine. “You’re clear,” he said against my lips.
“Clear?”
“You just cleared all your debt.”
Oh… my… God.
“Really?” I asked.
He nodded.
He was The Best Guy Ever.
“You’re still makin’ yourself come while I’m inside you tonight.”
Oh yeah, I was definitely going to be doing that and I was looking forward to it.
I licked my lips which meant I licked his lips and his eyes went ink.
“Fuck, you’re somethin’ else,” he muttered and I could tell he meant this in a good way, a very good way and happy vibes shot through me.
“You don’t think I’m weak and spineless for not standing up to my sisters?”
“Been wanting to say a few things to them for years, so no. I’m fuckin’ glad you gave me the opportunity.”
I love you, I thought but did not say.
Something shifted on his face as I thought this but whatever it was I couldn’t read it. Whatever it was, it was profound, it was raw and it was beautiful. I could swear he guessed my thoughts and he liked them.
My knees gave out and he took my weight without a word said between us.
After a few beats, my voice sounding husky, I said, “You better go.”
“Yeah. Be safe, be smart and don’t let them give you any shit.”
“Okay,” I said again. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” I told him.
“Babe.” He gave me a half-grin, thankfully breaking the moment, right before he touched his lips to mine. I pressed in, my arms sliding around his neck and his lip touch turned into a full on make out session.
Then he let me go, set me on my jelly legs, rounded the car, got in and he was gone.
I walked back into my house and when I got into the living room I knew everyone had been watching.
Mrs. Stark was smiling at me, huge and happy.
Surprisingly, my Mom was too.
Marilyn and Sofia looked jealous as all hell.
That made me smile.
“All righty then,” I declared. “Breakfast.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Manipulate a Macho Man Underwear
Breakfast went my way because Marilyn and Sofia were mostly silent, probably half-afraid to say anything, half-pouting. Mom was silent too at first, but she didn’t seem to be pouting, she seemed to be thinking. For the most part, Mrs. Stark and I gabbed and giggled then Mom joined in and surprisingly I had a great time.
While we were on our last cup of coffee I excused myself and called Shirleen to come and get me. I went back to the table, we left the restaurant, again, Le Peep in Cherry Creek (and granola pancakes, without the bacon this time) and I gave out hugs to Marilyn and Sofia (you could tell their hearts weren’t in it, but then again, neither was mine) and Mrs. Stark (her heart was definitely in it). Marilyn and Sofia wandered away as I gave my house key to Mom.
“I’m worried about you,” she told me.
This statement startled me and my eyes caught hers. She looked genuinely concerned and this rocked me mainly because I’d never seen that look on Mom’s face before.
“I’m fine,” I told her.
She shook her head then put her arms around me. I went stiff because her hug seemed genuine too.
“Ava, I want you to know, I didn’t mention George because… well, because of the reasons Marilyn and Sofia thought I did,” she whispered in my ear. “I mentioned him because he was steady, he cared about you and he would never leave you.”
Erm… what? My Mom cared? About me?
Ho-ly shit.
Maybe I was in an alternate universe.
I felt my throat get tight. “Mom –”
Her arms tensed and she pulled me deeper into her. She held me for a bit then let me go but placed her hands on my upper arms and looked me directly in the eyes. Hers were wet. Because of that, mine got wet too.
Hell and damnation.
“From what I saw today, Luke’s the same way. More,” she said quietly and her hands squeezed my arms. “It’s obvious he’s cut up about whatever’s going on with you. I’m glad. Not that he’s cut up but because you need a man who cares that much. I’m happy for you, sweetie.”
Oh… my… God.
I couldn’t help myself, I pulled her in my arms and held on tight while I deep breathed. She did the same thing.
We let go and she touched my face then said, “I hope Luke gets this sorted so we can have a nice family dinner tonight. I’ll talk with Marilyn and Sofia, it’ll be okay.”
“Thanks, Mom,” I said and, maybe for the first time in my life, I meant it.
She kissed my cheek and then walked to Mrs. Stark, who was looking away but wiping her face and I knew she had heard. I stood and watched as they went to their cars. Mom and Mrs. Stark stood beside Mrs. Stark’s Audi and it looked like they were settling in for a chat.
I left them to it and went to the local Starbuck’s where I had arranged for Shirleen to come and get me and I got myself a skinny vanilla latte. I decided I would think about this latest life revelation later when I had Sissy and cookies drenched in tequila.
Or, better yet, Luke, a warm bed and a dark room.
That thought made me smile as I walked out of Starbuck’s.
Shirleen’s Navigator was at the curb, Tex was in the passenger seat and he jumped out when he saw me.
“Hey Tex, did you win any euchre…?” I stopped talking when he snatched my cup right out of my hand and threw it in a trash bin.
“This family don’t do Starbuck’s,” he boomed and then turned and shouted at Shirleen. “The girl needs coffee! Fortnum’s! Now!”
Eek!
* * * * *
The Rock Chicks all met at Fortnum’s except Indy and Ally who were off to some prison to interview one of Noah’s friends who’d managed to acquire a five year state accommodated stay.
Ally hadn’t gotten “some” info out of Brody, he sang like a canary under the influence of Red Bull and vodka (ee-yikes!).
Unfortunately, Lee and the Hot Bunch knew that Brody wasn’t exactly discreet so they hadn’t shared much. What they did share was that they’d tracked down both of Noah’s buddies, one was in prison, the other one Brody didn’t have information on.
Ally also learned that Noah had a gazillion aliases but the name he was born with was Walter Ellis. He was wanted in Nevada and California and he’d been on the con practically since babydom. For a percentage of the con, Noah’s informant (now wiling away his days fashioning license plates and
likely shivs), would troll legal records pointing Noah in the direction of malpractice payoffs and highish stakes inheritances. Nothing too big so as to fly under radar, but nothing too small that wouldn’t be worth the effort.
Lastly, Brody shared the name of the lady who Noah had conned while he was conning me. Her name was Winnie Conrad, she was seventy-two and had a spine operation go bad when she was sixty-six and it took away the use of her legs. After a years-long battle, she got a payoff for the botched operation which enabled her to buy a decent, handicapped accessible house in a decent neighborhood as well as augmenting her meager retirement money which allowed her to live, and pay taxes and utilities, in a nicer neighborhood. Noah got his hands on what was left of the payoff, which set her back to scraping by but somehow she had managed to keep her place.
Jules had done some research from Command Central and discovered Mrs. Conrad’s address in Aurora.
Shirleen informed me that the Rock Chicks worked hard on my behalf, pumping their men for information. This didn’t work but apparently they had fun trying. Also, they’d all had fun sharing their escapades over coffee while I was at breakfast. I didn’t find any of that hard to believe but I was pretty pissed I had missed out on the gossip.
Tex made me a skinny vanilla latte to replace the one he threw out and we hit the road. Jet, Roxie, Smithie, Duke, Tod and Stevie took off to Noah’s old neighborhood to knock on some doors. Tex, Daisy, Shirleen, Sissy and me took off to pay a visit to Winnie.
We pulled up to Winnie’s and we saw she was sitting in a wheelchair on her porch enjoying the sunny, warm day. She was a round, black lady, hair recently set, dressed in her Sunday best. She had likely just got home from church. She was drinking an iced tea.
Rock Chick Revenge Page 43