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Flirting With The Enemy

Page 8

by Henson, Sally


  Thunder cracked outside. It’d been raining all day, and I had to walk through it to and from work at the diner earlier. I ignored her question, and asked, “Can I take your car to work tonight?”

  “Do you want to talk about what happened with you and Griffan? Clo said he’s really upset. Still. That says something, doesn’t it?”

  My chest shuddered twice before I was able to put a stop to it. I swallowed and rolled away from her. “I doubt that. He was always going back to Florida. I was just someone to pass the time with.”

  It’d been days since he had left and I could still see him jogging down the beach with his hair slick with sweat and Ray Bans on. But beyond those shades were some beautiful blue eyes that I would never forget.

  “Baby, I know you miss him.”

  I threw back my covers. “No. I don’t.” It was bad enough dealing without Mom reminding me. I reached for my shoes and bag. “I’ll be home after work.”

  I slipped on my shoes and lifted the keys off the counter. The rain poured, but I ran through it anyway.

  After I climbed in and backed out of the drive, I found myself driving to Luci’s.

  The roads were empty.

  The strand was deserted.

  The beach was abandoned.

  The pressure on my chest threatened to cave in. Breaking up with him was supposed to save my heart, not destroy it.

  By the time I made it to Luci’s, I was doing the one thing I swore I’d never do. Crying over a boy.

  I parked in front of her house and got out of the car. Rain poured over my head, mixing with the salty liquid on my face. If I took my time getting to her door, any tear residue should wash away.

  I knocked and peered through the window. No lights were on. I knocked again and checked the street for her car.

  It wasn’t there.

  Maybe she was out buying groceries or something. I went back to the car and decided to send her a message.

  Me: Hey, you going to be around soon?

  It took a minute, but she sent me a reply.

  Luci: Left days ago. I sent you a few messages. You okay???

  Days? I didn’t remember hearing from her at all.

  I let my head thud against the headrest. My only friend was gone, too? The levy holding the flood back cracked a little more. Me: Sorry, I must have missed them. See you next time.

  I tossed my phone in the back seat. Work wasn’t expecting me for two more hours, and I didn’t want to face my mom.

  I drove around town and ended up passing by Griffan's grandma’s house. It was stupid to even be on that street. There was a reason the only places I’d been since we broke up was work and home.

  The best night of my life was on that beach. He’d asked me to be his girlfriend. I was shocked. We spent the whole night talking and kissing, and I wasn't alone.

  The levy finally broke.

  I broke up with him and put on the Jaded masquerade.

  So why did my heart feel like it was dying anyway?

  25

  Jaden

  Everyone who worked at the Star Diner was upset after Hayes’ accident. Without his mom there to keep things moving, it was chaos in the kitchen. I did my best to pick up the slack.

  Needless to say, I was exhausted, especially since I hadn’t been able to sleep. When I walked inside the house, all I wanted to do was take a nap. Tucker was about to get his butt reamed for having the TV blaring.

  As I passed the kitchen, I saw beer bottles and food scattered across the counter. Dad and my brothers were all parked in front of the TV. Tucker saw me first. His lips spread into a thin line. He gave a subtle nod to dad sprawled out on the sofa.

  Ben noticed me too. “Hey, Jade.”

  I folded my arms against my chest, digging my fingernails into my skin. It was a reminder for me not to lose it.

  Dad turned his head to see me. “Jaden, sit down and watch this movie with us.”

  “Who’s mess in the kitchen?” The question was rhetorical. I knew it was Dad because the boys at least cleaned up after themselves. Plus, they wouldn’t dare bring booze in the house.

  “I’ll get that later.” He patted the sofa. “Come be sociable.”

  I spun around and went back to the kitchen to clean it up. Ben followed me. I sealed the food containers and shoved them in the refrigerator. And then I took the lid off the trash can and made a clean swipe of all the bottles.

  Dad turned the TV down and wandered to the bar to watch me. “You’re just like your mom. She couldn’t stand clutter.”

  Clutter? Heat boiled in my chest. I stopped and pointed at the bottles in the trash. “That’s not clutter, Dad. You’re a hog. Every time you come here, you leave crap laying everywhere you go. This isn’t even your house. Why are you here? Shouldn’t you be at work?”

  “I like spending time with my family. Except when you have your feathers ruffled.” He took a long draw off his beer. “Are you still hung up on that Stonebridge boy?”

  Ben came over and put his arm around my shoulders.

  “You didn’t tell me Ramsey was going to the pen.” He chuckled. “I bet they shot out of here like a rocket when the camera crews started showing up.”

  “How’d you know about that?” Tucker asked.

  Dad slugged down the rest of the beer and shrugged. “I might know someone who knows someone.”

  “You called the news media?” Ben spoke up. His voice higher pitched than normal.

  “Did he even say goodbye this time?” Dad walked around the bar to the fridge behind me.

  I couldn’t believe Dad would stoop that low. My stomach soured and churned.

  Dad twisted off the cap of another beer bottle. He tried to make me think Griff was just using me. I bought his lies and held on to a past that was convoluted and skewed because of him, too.

  Ben dropped his arm. I was about to turn and unload on Dad, but Ben beat me to it.

  “Hurting our family isn’t enough for you, so you had to hurt Griffan and his sisters too?”

  “Ben, it’s not like that.”

  Ben cut him off, “Yes. It is. I love you, but you need to go, Dad. Don’t bother coming back until you’re sober, for real this time.”

  Dad slung the refrigerator door open. It rebounded against the cabinet and hit him. He kicked at it, busting the shelving off the door. Everything crashed to the floor, shattering a jar of pickles. He managed to grab what was left of his beer. Fire burned in his eyes when he turned to us and roared, “I never thought I’d see the day when my own kids would choose a Stonebridge over me!” He stormed past us, and out the back door. Even the kitchen window rattled when he slammed the door shut.

  I pulled Ben and Tucker into a hug. “Are you guys okay?”

  “I’m okay,” Ben said.

  Tucker squeezed me a little tighter. “Me too.”

  I groaned, glancing down at spilled condiments. “What a mess.”

  “Jade.” Tucker leaned his head against mine. “I know you don’t want to hear this, but Griffan is a good guy.”

  I squeezed my eyes shut. “It’s just, I was scared he was going to leave, and I’d never see him again. Just like last time.”

  “Just because Dad’s messed up doesn’t mean we have to be,” Tucker said. “I think Griff deserves an apology.”

  “That might be more difficult than it sounds.” I bit my lip and pulled away. “I blocked his number.”

  Tucker pulled his phone out, swiped the screen, and handed it to me. “Here, it’s ringing.”

  I put the phone to my ear and waited.

  “The number you have reached is a non-working number. Please hang up and try again.”

  My hope deflated. “It’s the wrong number.”

  Tucker tried it again but got the same result.

  “Sorry,” Ben said.

  “Me too. I know that was hard for you to say that to Dad.”

  He nodded and gave me a weak smile.

  I ruffled is hair. “Come on. Let’s clea
n up this mess.”

  Dad had been carrying a grudge against Griffan’s family all these years. I’d been holding a grudge against Griffan all these years. As hard as I’d tried to go back to the guarded girl who pretended not to care, I couldn’t.

  The summer with Griff changed me.

  26

  Griffan

  Mom sat at the desk staring out the window when my sisters and I came back to the room with our food.

  Staying in a hotel room was getting old, not to mention having to share a bed with my sister. Living in one room with three females wasn’t fun, but I was doing my best not to complain. I missed Virginia. Missed the small town. Most of all, I missed Jade.

  Mom quickly wiped her eyes, and said, “It smells good.” She stood and smoothed her clothes before she turned around.

  I’d warned the girls before we opened the door to get along. So far, they were complying, but it’d only been like two minutes.

  Mom moved next to Ashlyn and stroked her hair. “What did you get?” Her lips quivered, causing her smile to fall.

  “You two go ahead and eat. Mom and I will be back in a minute.” I guided Mom out the door, down the hall to the elevator, and eventually out the back door.

  The cameras had finally stopped showing up. Which was a huge relief. We couldn’t even leave the hotel when we first got here. Mom tried to put up a front that everything was fine. It was not fine.

  I opened the passenger door, let her get in, and then rounded to climb in the driver's side.

  "Mom." I turned my head against the seat and watched tears stream down her cheeks. “You need to tell me what our situation is. We can’t stay here forever.”

  “You’re still a boy.” She sniffed. "You shouldn’t have to worry about this.” She continued to stare out the windshield.

  “I’m seventeen. Next year, I’ll be on my own. Things have changed, and you can’t fall apart right now. Do we have a place to stay? Do we have money?”

  “I’m not falling apart. I’m trying to find a way to keep my children's lives from being ruined.” She shook her head. “I haven’t been able to find anything we can afford that’s not in a dangerous neighborhood.” Her finger swiped under her eye. “It doesn’t look like you’ll be able to go back to your school. The girls are going to be so upset. Especially, Ashlyn.”

  The only reason I would want to go back to that school was Dev and lacrosse.

  “And Mom’s neighbor called me earlier. She found Mom in her car outside the grocery store and said she had forgotten how to get home.”

  “How could she forget?”

  “I don’t know. Mom’s been going to that store since I was a kid.” She searched for a tissue in the console and wiped her nose. “I’m worried about her.”

  Mom went on to tell me the federal government had frozen all their bank accounts. Even mine and my sisters’. We talked about everything, including a meeting with her lawyer the next day.

  It was settled. We would all go to the meeting tomorrow. The girls would wait in the lobby, and I’d go in with Mom. We’d do it together.

  After we went back to the room, dinner was eaten, and the lights were out, the soft, slow breaths of sleep filled the darkness. Sleep was the last thing on my mind. School would start in a few days, and I had no idea which one I’d be at. If any. Knowing how bleak it really was for us was tough.

  Sterling Beach, Virginia wouldn’t leave me alone, either. I tried not to think about it, but there I was… eyes wide open, staring at the ceiling, and my mind was chasing its tail.

  It finally dawned on me. We did have a safe place to stay. One we could afford. I climbed out of bed to wake Mom up. It might take some convincing, but I knew it was the right thing for us to do.

  27

  Griffan

  Dev was the only non-family member that had my number. After he did me a favor of tracking down Luci, it made two people. She sent me a message.

  Luci: We’re all set. I’ll check in with you when I get in.

  Me: Great. Thanks for doing this.

  “Griffan!” Cara called, running out of the restaurant. Mom and Ashlyn trailed at a normal pace behind her.

  When she reached me, I held my hand up for a high five. My sisters didn’t give me too much grief about calling me Griffan anymore. She climbed into the moving truck with me. Mom and Cara got in the other one.

  Five hours later we pulled up in front of Grandma’s. I sent Dev a message before we got busy.

  Me: Made it in one piece. And my sisters are still alive.

  Dev: My brothers are just as annoying as your sisters.

  Dev: Good luck with your girl.

  Me: Thanks. I’m going to need it.

  I wanted to let Luci know I was in town, too.

  Me: Made it to Sterling Beach.

  Luci: Me too. See you tonight?

  Me: I’ll be there.

  I shoved my phone in my back pocket, filled my lungs with salty air, and got busy unloading the truck. Seven o’clock would be here before I was ready.

  28

  Jaden

  Mom and I backed out of the driveway. She said she had to be somewhere later and needed the car. Mom never went anywhere except work, home, and occasionally the grocery store.

  Tuck and Ben stood at the back door with cheesy grins on their faces. Tuck waved.

  I scrunched my eyebrows together and asked Mom, “What’s their problem?”

  “Who knows about those two.” She put the car in drive and took off.

  Normally, I would be at work this time of day, but last night, Marty told me not to come in. At least Luci came back to town for a long weekend. Which wasn’t something she ordinarily did. Once she left after summer, it would usually be months before I saw her again.

  Wait, had the entire universe been thrown off its axis?

  “I have something for you.” Mom handed me a key. “The locks will be changed tonight. You’re right. Your dad does need boundaries.”

  “Seriously? Are you going to stick with it this time?”

  “Yes. I realize he has to want to get better.” She reached over and squeezed my hand.

  This totally proved my axis point. “I’m holding you to it.”

  We drove a few more blocks and turned on Luci’s street when Mom asked, “How old is this Luci, girl? She is a girl, right? Is this a party?”

  I leaned back against the seat, pursing my lips together. “Mom, please. You know I don’t drink or anything.” I pointed at Luci’s house. “We’ve been hanging out since I’ve been in high school. It’s not an issue.”

  “Okay. I trust you.” Mom pulled along the curb and stopped, reaching her hand to stroke my cheek. I love you, Jaden.”

  “Love you too, Mom. Have fun at your meeting or whatever.” I stepped out, closing the door behind me. Mom was dressed more for cleaning out the garage than a business meeting.

  I rounded the back of the car and headed straight for the front door. Luci answered right away. “Hey, stranger.” She stepped back.

  “What happened to your braids?” I asked as I crossed the threshold and closed the door.

  Her fingers went straight to her head, messaging her scalp. “Ugh, they gave me a headache. I don’t know how you wear them all the time.”

  I followed her to the kitchen. She opened the fridge, pulled out a pitcher of fruity liquid, and poured two glasses. “What made you decide to come back in town?”

  “It seemed like you missed me, and I had a four-day weekend. So here I am.” She flashed me a grin and handed me a glass. “Did you ever get a new board?”

  “That’s a long story.” I took a drink, and was glad there was no bite of alcohol.

  “Come on.” She motioned out the back door and headed that direction. “I have a surprise.”

  As soon as I went out the door, I saw a surfboard with a big ribbon around it. Someone was holding it upright. It had to be either Freddie or a new flavor of the month.

  “Luci,” my hands covered
my mouth for a few seconds. “I… I can’t accept this. Boards cost way too much just to give away.”

  She bumped my shoulder with hers. “Don’t be silly.” She took my glass out of my hand. “Go check it out.”

  It was beautiful. White with an emerald green swirl in the middle that wrapped around the side of the board.

  My finger traced the smooth outline to the guy’s hand. “I’m sorry. You don’t have to sit there and hold this for me.

  His fingers covered mine. I jerked back and turned to Luci.

  She smirked and gave a little shrug.

  I gripped the board to move it when his voice stopped me in my tracks.

  “Jaden.”

  It was absolutely a freak-filled day because my brain decided to play a nasty trick on me. I closed my eyes and tried to flush his voice from my brain.

  When I opened my eyes, Griff had leaned out from behind the board and was staring at me. “Is it okay that I’m here?”

  I took a raspy breath and held it while my heart filled with all kinds of emotions that made my eyes brim with tears. His phone was disconnected. I didn’t know how to reach him. And now he was standing right in front of me? “What are you doing here?”

  “Is that a yes or a no?” He moved the board to the ground and waited for me to answer.

  Was he really here? Was I having one of my vivid dreams that would torture me when I woke up?

  I reached out and touched his arm. “You came back?”

  He nodded. “Look, I’m sorry for—”

  “Wait.” I raised my hand between us. “I tried to call you, but the number wasn’t in service. I—" My eyelids slammed shut. Ugh, I was so… “I was so stupid. I’m sorry for everything I said that day.” I looked up at him. “I was scared that the whole summer was a lie. That you’d go back and I’d never hear from you again.”

  He slid his hands around me and pulled me close. “I thought it was me. Because I wanted to come back and get you that night.”

  I shook my head. “It wasn’t you.” I held on to him as if he would disappear at any second. “I can’t believe you’re standing here.”

 

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