Keys and Kisses: Untouchable Book Three

by Long, Heather

  Frowning, I glanced down. Ian’s jealousy. “Are you jealous?”

  “Me?” Jake said, grinning. “Nope.”

  “Not even a little?”

  He shook his head. “Told those knuckleheads that last night. I meant it when I said I wanted you—wanted to see you—date you. Make out with you. I don’t mind if you’re seeing them. Just them though, no one else.”

  “Like I have time for anyone else.”

  He grinned again. “Good. Also—Bubba told me about Sharon.”

  Heat rushed to my face. Seriously, they were talking about me. Wasn’t that weird?

  It all felt so weird.

  “I wish I’d seen it.”

  “I kind of felt like I was kicking a dog.”

  “A rabid one,” Jake pointed out. “And you didn’t start it. But I’m proud of you.”

  That really shouldn’t have made me as warm and fuzzy as it did. “Jake… I know the last couple of Wednesdays you’ve come over, but do you mind if I see Archie tonight?”

  “Not at all. Not that I won’t miss you terribly and be waiting for my good morning kiss on Thursday. Let me tell you, I think Coop is on to something with that. But you’ve been with me the last couple of nights, and all of us were there Friday…” He winced at the reminder.

  “It’s okay. I have to learn to deal with it right. We gotta make it normal. Cause Ian’s still our friend.”

  Jake stared at me steadily, and then he lifted my hand. After kissing my palm, he said, “You can do anything. And yes, see Arch tonight if that’s what you want. We have all day tomorrow—though you should probably pay special attention to Coop. Birthday boy and all that.”

  “Yeah,” I told him, fighting a small smile and a surge of affection for how easy he was making this. “Because we should set a precedent with your birthday and Archie’s still to come.”

  “That would be good, too,” Jake said, almost too innocently. As our smiles faded, Jake tucked a strand of my hair behind an ear. “You know it’s going to be all right, yes?”

  “I want it to be.”

  “Then it will be.” The confidence there was mind-blowing. Battered and bruised, lip still puffy, he remained upbeat. “I promise.”

  “Don’t make promises you can’t keep,” I warned him. “We can’t control everyone.”

  “No, we can’t,” Jake agreed. “But there’s lots we can do and I will do.”

  After class, he walked me out to where Coop waited before giving me a scorching look that suggested all the things he’d like to do but couldn’t. Then he was off to meet Ian to sit on the bench for practice. Coop got me home and got a few more kisses in to end his seventeenth year—or so he claimed—before I pushed him out the door so I could get ready for work.

  I was almost ready to leave when Mom and ‘Eddie’ got home.

  Life had tough bits, easy bits, and then the complicated bits in between. School had been a lot easier than I expected. The complicated bits with Ian had been tough, but we’d muddled through. The really tough bits…coming face to face with my mom—the cheater—and her very much married boyfriend/fiancé.

  “Don’t look so forlorn,” Mom told me as she breezed in. “I’m just here to pack some things. Eddie and I found a place.”

  Wait.

  What?

  I pivoted to where she’d disappeared, but she’d closed the door, leaving me with the boyfriend.

  Ugh.

  Turning, I faced him. It was hard to look at him. Not just because he was having sex with my mom—seriously I never want to think about that, bad meatloaf, bad meatloaf, bad meatloaf. No, the problem here was he looked like Archie.

  Too much like him.

  Wearing the same faint smirk Archie used when he anticipated delivering uncomfortable news to someone he wanted to knock down a peg, ‘Eddie’ said, “I think your mom is trying to take your wishes to heart. But I would like you to reconsider.”

  “Funny, if she was taking my wishes to heart, she’d dump you before she gets hurt.” You know, that just kind of popped out.

  The faint smirk vanished, and he frowned at me. “Do you hate me that much, Frankie?”

  “I don’t hate you at all, Mr. Standish.” I wasn’t calling him ‘Eddie.’ It wasn’t happening. “You’re married. You’re one of my best friends’ dads…”

  “Well, we both know Archie is a lot more than just your friend,” he said, folding his arms and giving me a stern look. “If you want to call it like it is, then I see no reason to not be as blunt with you.”

  “Fine, he’s more than a friend, it doesn’t change the fact that you’re cheating, and you’re the reason my mother is a cheater.” My mother, who seemed to want to live any life except the one we had.

  “The heart wants what it wants.”

  “Does the heart plan on getting a divorce, or is it just taking a vacation?” Yep. That was me. “Because whatever happens, Mr. Standish, if you break her heart, I will find a way to get you back.”

  He raised his eyebrows.

  Maybe my mom deserved it. But she was still my mom.

  “Maybe your mother is right,” he said after a moment. “Maybe you are never going to support her in this.”

  “Nope,” I said firmly. “I’m not. I’m definitely not on Team Bad Meatloaf.”

  Confusion clouded his expression.

  “I have to go to work. Don’t lock my cats up. Don’t touch them. Are you planning to stay here tonight?”

  “No,” he said. “We have plans…and I’m going to have my secretary send over the address for the new place and a key. You are welcome.”

  Wait. “New place?” They’d said something earlier.

  “You were right about moving your mother into the house. It’s where Muriel still lives. Archie wouldn’t enjoy it. So I got your mother and I a different place. There’s room for you.”

  They were serious.

  “Or you can stay here.” He looked at me expectantly. “But you’re always welcome with us, and I was serious about the car. It’s already purchased for you. Your mother told me about your plans for Harvard. I could help with that…”

  My jaw locked for a moment, but I shot a look at the clock. “I have to go. My shift starts soon.”

  He didn’t move, and it was like a standoff. If I wanted to get to the back door, I had to squeeze past him.

  Fuck that.

  Not calling goodbye to Mom, I pivoted and went out the front. It was a longer walk to the car. I didn’t care.

  So, she was going off with Eddie to live in a new place.

  Fine.

  When I got back tonight, I was parking in the fucking carport.

  In the car, I did my best to ignore my shaking hands as I turned it on.

  Work.

  Work, and then I could see Archie.

  That was the plan.

  Fix You

  Archie: You know, Bubba, part of fixing this

  is showing up.

  Bubba: I know. Be there soon

  Mom and Dad wanted to talk to me.

  Coop: That can’t be good.

  Bubba: Technically still grounded.

  Jake: Technically, you’re 18.

  Archie: Point.

  Bubba: Home. Then I’ll be there.

  Coop: K. Arch and I are here.

  Jake: Practice just got out. How

  is she?

  Coop: She looks good.

  Archie: Real good. Hey J…

  Jake: Yup?

  Archie: She talk to you about 2night?

  Jake: Yep. All good.

  Coop: What about tonight?

  Jake: OMW

  Later…

  Coop: Problems?

  Bubba: Dad’s on a tear.

  Coop: Your dad is so chill.

  Define tear.

  Bubba: We’re talking relationships.

  Coop: Ahh…

  Bubba: Told him I wanted to meet

  everyone over there.

  Coop: ETA?

  Bu
bba: 15 – 20, I hope.

  Coop: The grounding a problem?

  Bubba: No. He’s talking CPS again.

  Coop: See if you can stall that.

  Something else is up.

  Bubba: Trying.

  Still later…

  Bubba: She hates me

  Coop: She doesn’t

  Jake: Can’t really blame her, can you?

  Bubba: Thanks.

  Coop: Guys

  Jake: NP.

  Bubba: She barely looked at me.

  Jake: Dude, you said ‘hey’

  and that was it.

  Coop: She smiled.

  Jake: Besides, you deserve it.

  Bubba: What happened to helping?

  Coop: Guys…

  Jake: Did you make a decision?

  Coop: Seriously?

  Bubba: I think I should stay home

  tomorrow.

  Jake: It’s Coop’s b-day.

  Don’t be a dick.

  Coop: *sigh*

  Jake: Sorry man, just keeping

  it real.

  Archie: B. You’re going. J. Leave it alone.

  C. Tell them to shut up. Going DND. Don’t

  need us. Pls. Edward and her mom were here earlier.

  Coop: Shit.

  Bubba: Is she okay?

  Jake: Probably not.

  Bubba: She didn’t say anything earlier?

  Coop: No, she wouldn’t though.

  Jake: Yeah, she sits on it all.

  Bubba: Dammit. Can she catch a break?

  Coop: Yes. You would be a good

  start.

  Jake: I’m knocking out hw and the sisters

  are being annoying. Later.

  Coop: Ltr.

  Later…

  Bubba: U know I care.

  Coop: Yes, I do.

  Bubba: How do you reconcile it?

  Coop: Nothing to reconcile.

  Bubba: ...

  Coop: Dude, the only one who can

  answer is you. Frankie is worth it to

  me. She always has been. J has the right

  idea. If we end up all breaking up or only

  some of us… we adjust. I’d rather remember what

  we had than regret never trying.

  Bubba: I’ll talk to her tomorrow.

  Coop: About that…

  Bubba: Right, your b-day.

  Coop: Yeah, just be you. Don’t overplay it.

  Bubba: Easy for you to say.

  Coop: Ha.

  Bubba: What?

  Coop: Everyone thinks I never worry. You’re wrong.

  I’m always worried. Tomorrow, just relax. We’re

  gonna have fun.

  Bubba: Happy early birthday

  Coop: Thanks. See you tomorrow…

  Chapter Fourteen

  Pictures of You

  Archie was there when I got home, waiting with take out from the Japanese steakhouse he’d taken me to for dinner and his overnight bag. That meant he was also there when I found the door to my mother’s bedroom open, for the first time in ever.

  I told him about the parents’ earlier visit before I went to work as I studied the room. Mom’s half-empty closet and the partially open drawers told me when she said she’d come by to pack up a few things, she meant packing to move out.

  The stack of mail had been cleared off. Some of the knickknacks that she’d had most of my life and I’d never been allowed to touch were also gone. The bed had been stripped down to the mattress—that was something—and even her bookshelf had been emptied.

  The most telling piece? Tory sat in the middle of her bed, looking like a queen.

  Aware of Archie’s presence at my back, I pushed the door inward to her bathroom.

  Everything was gone. Cosmetics, hair products, everything.

  It was a mess and needed to be cleaned, but anything and everything she used regularly had been removed.

  “Frankie…”

  “Well,” I said, blowing out a breath. “I guess they were serious.”

  When he wrapped his arms around me, I leaned back against him. “We’re going to figure this out,” he promised. “I can get some people over here and clean this all out whenever you’re ready.”

  Clean all of this out?

  “You don’t think she’s coming back.”

  “At the moment,” he admitted. “I’d be more worried if she did. Especially about you.”

  Staring at her bedroom, I tried to work out what I was feeling. Particularly when I stared at the one photo she’d left behind. It was on the far side of the bed, on the other nightstand. It was me and Mom at Scarborough Faire. We’d gone there a few years back…like forever ago. She’d woken me up early one morning.

  Vivacious in her excitement, she’d rushed me to get dressed, and then we’d driven for over two hours to get there, making it just in time for the opening. Inside, she spent a small fortune on outfits for the day, and we spent it as roaming elves. It had been—magical.

  She’d left that photo behind.

  Guess my not being supportive really sucked for her.

  I let Archie pull me from the room. We ate in the kitchen and made a fuss out of the cats. I didn’t have to look to see her favorite coffee mugs were gone. Little things were missing from the kitchen. A magnet she’d liked. A picture that used to hang over the stove that said Live. Laugh. Love. The irony had never been lost on me.

  She’d been a terrible cook, but we always managed.

  “Hey,” Archie murmured, sliding his fingers through mine and giving my hand a squeeze. “Talk to me?”

  “Just…I don’t believe she packed and left. That she waited to do this on a night I was supposed to be at work.” I should believe it, but somehow, I couldn’t wrap my mind around it. “If they’d gotten here five minutes later, I wouldn’t have seen them at all.”

  His expression tightened. “You’re going to be okay,” he said. “We’ll figure out the bills and make sure the rent is covered.”

  “Your dad already told me he was going to have his secretary email me the address, and that I was more than welcome to move in with them.”

  Not that I had any intention of taking him up on that offer.

  “Edward likes to staff out his problems, family ones included.”

  “You know, I told him if he broke her heart, I’d find a way to get even with him.” I blinked back tears. “Why do I care so much about what happens to her when she doesn’t seem to care about me?”

  “Because she’s your mom,” Archie said roughly. “Muriel’s a stone-cold bitch most of the time, but she’s still my mom, and Edward’s still a dick for treating her badly. We can’t help it, but want them to pick us…to be better.”

  “Wow, we really won the lottery with parents, didn’t we?”

  Pressing my hand to his lips, he kissed it. “I got two shitty ones to your one, though. I guess I win.”

  “Except now you have to share one of them with me,” I pointed out, and Archie let out a harsh chuckle.

  “Of all the things I’d share with you, babe, Edward is definitely not one I would have picked.”

  A huff of a laugh escaped. “You know…I never told her about my scholarship.”

  “Well, it’s none of her business,” he said bluntly. “Not anymore.” Drumming the fingers of his free hand against the table, he frowned. “Have you ever considered getting emancipated?”

  “Emancipated?”

  “Yeah, as an Emancipated Minor, you don’t have to rely on her for anything. There’s still a ton of stuff you’re going to need from her, but the emancipation could help…”

  Panic clawed at my insides. “Student loans.”

  “What?”

  “We had to fill out all that FASFA stuff, she was supposed to cosign my loans, as the parent.”

  “Don’t worry about it,” Archie told me.

  I sagged in the chair.

  “Frankie, I mean it. Don’t worry about it. I’ll call Mr. Wittaker tomorrow.”<
br />
  “Who’s Mr. Wittaker?”

  “Family attorney. I called him in for Jake, I can call him for you. We’ll figure out what we need to do to get you emancipated. Then your mom has no control over anything anymore.”

  But she’d really moved out… “You know she isn’t the devil.”

  He studied me for a long moment. “Never said she was.”

  “I mean...she can be distant, and she can be hyper focused elsewhere.” His mouth tightened at that description, but he didn’t contradict me. “But she’s also the same mom who would wake me up some mornings and we’d just take a road trip. You weren’t here, but when I was in fifth grade, she took me to Colorado the week of my birthday. No reason, just woke up one morning and said, get in the car. Let’s go. I saw snow for the first time…real snow. It snowed on my birthday, and it was awesome.”

  I’d almost forgotten that.

  “One time she came home, she’d gotten a raise at work and she bought that laptop I use. It was a random day, but it was sitting on my bed with a bow on the top. Just because.”