Indian Summer

by Eve L Mitchell

A chair scraping back brought my attention back to them. Matt had risen and hugged Connor too. It was brief but heartfelt, Theo did the same.

  Matt sat back down. “You’ve been a fucking prick for too long. This is your wake-up call,” he wasn’t loud or aggressive and I think the conversational factual way he said it had more impact than it would have had he shouted it.

  Connor slumped back down and nodded. “I know. I just dunno what I was thinking. I’ve thought about it a lot since it happened and honestly, it’s like seeing it as another person. It keeps me up at night just going through what led me there,” he admitted.

  “What was it?” Colton asked. Connor shook his head.

  “I don’t know, I don’t have that answer. I just felt all this anger but I don’t know what I’m angry at.” I saw Matt flick his eyes to Colton and I thought on what Mary Ellen had said in her conversation earlier.

  “Well you need to figure it out,” Theo said, “It’s fucking exhausting and I don’t think I can go through this again.” He rubbed his jaw. “I’m too fucking pretty to be getting punched every weekend.”

  My startled laugh was out before I could stop it. Theo winked at me. “Now what are we going to do with little miss guilty over here?” he grinned at me.

  “Yeah Ari, how heavy are the bags you’ve filled for the guilt trip?” Matt asked with a smile playing about his lips.

  “Really fucking heavy. I’m gonna get charged excess baggage for sure.”

  A snort from Colton in amusement. I couldn’t look at him.

  “You deserve it,” Matt mocked me. My heart clenched but a rough hand caught mine and he brought my hand to his lips. “I’m not sure I wholly agree with how you did it, you broke the trust. But this whole situation was fucked up from the beginning and after what happened at the weekend, well, I don’t think we can blame you for reaching out to my mom.”

  It was a small technicality if you asked me. I had broken the trust. Again.

  Mary Ellen came back out, the guys rose from their seats. “Well they’ve left. Now we wait.” I don’t know who instigated it, but she was suddenly in a tightly packed group hug. She laughed but relished the hugs from her boys.

  “This will not make the punishment and constraints on your freedom any less severe,” she muttered as she extracted herself. Matt groaned. “What you think I can be swayed by dimples? Even if they are my son’s?” She chuckled as she collected her jacket she had left before. “Matthew, you know better than that,” she winked at him.

  “Arielle, let’s go talk to your grandparents.” She held out a hand to me, I rose and we went inside and ascended the stairs to Matt’s room. She led the way and once in his room she gestured to the landline and indicated that I call.

  I wasn’t looking forward to this conversation, but I did as I was told. When I was finished dialling, she took the phone. Oh.

  “Hello? Hello Elizabeth, this is Mary Ellen Landers, Matthew’s mother.” A pause and a smile. “Oh yes Arielle’s fine now. Yes, the sickness lasted a few days, but the boys stayed with her and took care of her.” A pause. “Yes indeed, she had helper’s day and night. I myself have been keeping in touch with Matthew to ensure her care was nothing but one hundred percent.” Another pause. My eyes were saucers, Mary Ellen Landers was covering for me. Holy shit.

  “Indeed. Yes, well they moved her to the main house yesterday. I think they were a bit crowded in her apartment.” Another pause. “You have absolutely nothing to be concerned about, I have it well in hand.” A few non-committal noises later and Mary Ellen was passing the phone to me with the promise to my Gran to keep in touch.

  She kissed my cheek quickly as she left me alone in the room.

  “Hi Gran.”

  “She has the most genteel southern accent I have ever heard,” Gran immediately informed me. “I can just see her on Tara with a huge hoop dress on.” I snorted out a laugh. “Are you better, really better? Food poisoning can be vicious!”

  “I’m fine Gran, just tired still. I’m sorry I worried you.”

  “Nonsense, Colton phoned and set us right. Such a lovely well-mannered man. Any sparks there Elle?”

  Oh my God, she was like a dog with a bone, trying to find me a man all the time.

  “He’s my friend Gran. How are you and Papa?” Desperate attempt to change the subject there.

  “Your Papa’s at afternoon lawn bowls. He was going to wait but we weren’t sure where to reach you and we called earlier but you weren’t home,” she paused “You’re ok aren’t you Elle? There’s nothing to worry about is there?”

  My throat choked up, I shook my head. “No Gran, I’m fine. Honestly.” I swallowed.

  “Ok, you know you can tell me, I may be old but I’m not deaf. Yet.”

  “I promise. Now tell me, did that Cathy lady date that old man from Papa’s club?” That was enough of a distraction for Gran and she then launched into a hysterical story about a doomed pensioner romance. It took the better part of twenty minutes to tell me and my heart was lighter by the time she finished. We then exchanged small talk about life in Scotland and my classes and how I was doing.

  “Well I better get off and not waste the boys’ money,” she said.

  “It’s fine Gran, they won’t mind,” I said softly.

  “No, I know. They are good boys. They’ll look after you Elle.” The warmth in her voice was unmistakeable. I smiled as we said our goodbyes and I assured her, again, that I was perfectly well to attend class tomorrow. Two days off sick was more than enough.

  As I hung up, I turned and started at the sight of Colton sitting in the corner of the room. He was washed and changed into jeans and a white t-shirt. He was composed and looked almost normal again.

  “You startled me,” I admitted. I didn’t rise from the seat. He assessed me saying nothing. He waited. I bit my lower lip, I knew what was coming. What I wasn’t expecting was his focus to fixate on my lip and I hastily stopped what I was doing as a rush of heat flared in my centre.

  He still didn’t move nor speak. His eyes rose slowly from my lips to meet my gaze.

  “I’m sorry.”

  Nothing. OK. I deserved that.

  “Colton, I just…” I sighed and looked at him as I shrugged. “I’m sorry I betrayed your trust,” I said softly. Still he assessed me.

  I couldn’t sit in here with him like this. He was freaking me out, he was too much. I stood and walked swiftly to the door of the bedroom. His eyes followed me like I was prey and I stopped abruptly at the door and looked at him.

  “Anything?” I snapped. Ok I didn’t have the right to be pissed. He smirked and raised that bloody eyebrow.

  “Forget it.” I reached for the door handle and then I sighed. I had no right. “I truly am sorry.” I slipped out the door. My heart was racing as I ran down the stairs, voices from the sitting room drew me in and I went in and sat on a chair beside Mary Ellen. Safer with her. Coward.

  He appeared a few minutes behind me, those eyes laughing at me. Asshat.

  The front door opened a while later. We had all been in the sitting room waiting anxiously. Jake and David entered the room. The room went silent with the tension. David crossed the room and kissed his wife. Jake surveyed his sons.

  “Well?” Mary Ellen demanded, never one to be kept waiting.

  Jake smiled at her ruefully. He removed his suit jacket. “It was interesting.” David snorted as he poured himself a coffee from a tray I hadn’t noticed. Now I needed caffeine. Was it rude to go help myself at this moment? I fidgeted.

  “That’s an understatement,” David added. “It was one of the most bizarre business meetings I have ever attended.” He said as he added milk to his coffee. “I don’t think I can even call it a business meeting.”

  I swear I was listening, but I watched as he raised his steaming cup of coffee to his lips. My inner caffeine monster whined in protest.

  “I’m sorry. One second, we need to feed the beast,” Colton interrupted them with a wry grin.

/>   He crossed the room, poured a cup of coffee and walked over to me. My hands were reaching for it before my brain caught up. Mortified I mumbled my thanks as there was a scattering of laughter as I was served.

  I looked up at Colton and my heart stopped at the playful wink he gave me. I was grateful for once that I was already embarrassed, no one would know my cheeks were on fire from that one wink.

  “Ah yes, the coffee junkie,” Jake commented, I flinched slightly.

  “There are worse addicts to be,” Mary Ellen commented softly she took a sip of her own coffee. Thank you.

  “Quite. Well it seems your businessman knew exactly who you were well before he was on your radar.” Jake said to both of his sons. “He tried to make a business proposition to me, to us, in the meeting just now. Actually, tried to pitch an idea.”

  “It was bizarre.” David repeated. “He’d been keeping the money in a separate account. The first thing he said to us was, you’ve come for the money I was holding for your son,” David shook his head. Connor was looking confused.

  “He was waiting, waiting for us to come and confront him. I don’t think he fully anticipated how stubborn Colton is or how protective of his brother he is,” Jake almost looked proud. “He confessed that he was going to pull the plug on the fighting soon, that he was worried you boys were enjoying it too much.” A scowl for the three of them.

  “I don’t understand,” Theo confessed.

  “He practically led Connor to the meeting, thinking it was his idea. He took the money but did nothing with it. The interest payments are in the same account. He wanted David and I…”

  “Mostly you,” David mumbled.

  “To invest in a business proposal he has.” Jake continued as if he hadn’t been interrupted. “He used Connor as bait for a business meeting,” Jake shook his head in disbelief.

  Colton and Matt looked pissed. Theo was perplexed. I was with Theo.

  “The fighting?” Mary Ellen asked.

  “A bonus for his usual gamblers. Some have been making good money from our three children. Profits are up.” Jake shook his head again.

  “The pitch?” Colton asked.

  Jake and David exchanged an almost guilty look. “It’s a good pitch,” Jake admitted.

  “Seriously?” My voice dripped equal amounts of sarcasm and incredulity. Ooops.

  Jake flashed me a look, much more similar to what I was used too. “It’s a good pitch Arielle. But this man deceived my child and his friends into fighting thugs and criminals. It’s a good pitch, but he will rot in the fiery pits of hell before I do business with him.”

  Ok. Wow.

  “Sorry.”

  A sharp nod in acknowledgment.

  “It’s over?” Mary Ellen asked. Her husband smiled at her and nodded.

  “It’s over,” he confirmed.

  She turned to the guys. “You four though, it’s not over for you. Let’s talk punishment over lunch, I think Mrs Green is ready for us.” Four groans and three distinctly evil laughs.

  As they left the sitting room, I sat back and closed my eyes. It was over.

  There was a lot less tension over lunch, don’t get me wrong, I was happy for them all, their issues were sorted. I could see the weight off Colton’s shoulders. Connor was still subdued but I guess that was to be expected.

  I ate a small amount. Partly because I was so tired but mostly because, once again, I was seated beside Colton and I was pretty sure there would be no under-the-table hand holding this time. He was making me nervous.

  I’d had enough drama. I wanted to go home to my own apartment where I could compartmentalise the whole weekend and feelings of turmoil I had over everything still.

  Much to Mary Ellen’s disapproval, the guys were quizzed about their fighting techniques. I hadn’t realised the extent of the detail that these matches involved. There were weigh-ins, categories, fighting records. It was horrifying. I noted that Connor was getting paler and paler when he realised the extent of what they had been doing in order to repay his debt. A debt he thought they had covered easily.

  As I picked at my chicken salad I looked up and caught their dad watching his youngest son withdraw into himself and with sudden realisation I understood the line of questioning. It wasn’t to revel in their son’s prowess in the ring, it was to make Connor see the reality of his actions.

  “Are you going to eat?” Colton murmured from beside me. He asked me quietly so as not to draw any attention to us.

  “I am eating,” I replied defensively.

  “No, you ate one forkful and you have been chasing that slice of cucumber around your plate for the better part of ten minutes,” he admonished. Wonderful. From scary cold Colton to mocking nagging Colton. My day was complete.

  I stuck some lettuce and chicken onto my fork and thrust it into my mouth. I chewed resentfully. I would not look at him. I would not look. I looked. He met my sullen glare with a smirk. Asshat.

  I shoved another forkful in and chewed mechanically. I could already feel it sitting like lead in my stomach. Sighing in defeat, I put my cutlery down. There was no point.

  I didn’t look at him. Mary Ellen asked if I was finished and I nodded. She frowned but said nothing.

  The front door rang. The guys exchanged looks and Theo, who was nearest the door, rose and left the room.

  A few minutes later he came back into the room. He looked agitated, his eyes immediately going to Colton.

  “Jay’s here for Lil Bit.” Colton stiffened beside me and I felt Matt focus on me.

  “Who is Jay?” Jake asked. Oh God please don’t do this now. I looked at Jake just as Connor decided to ‘out’ me.

  “He’s Ari’s boyfriend.”

  Jake’s focus became razor sharp and I saw the speculative look in his eyes. I didn’t react. I wanted to die but I didn’t react.

  “He’s the younger brother of the guy who has been arranging their fights,” Connor continued.

  Really Connor? You complete Asshat.

  “What does he want?” Colton’s voice was ice. Shit. Shit. Shit.

  I’d had enough. I stood from the table. “Me, I would imagine.” I walked out of the room.

  I heard a chair push back and I didn’t have to look to know Matt would be behind me. Colton wouldn’t come because it would draw too much attention to us. Us. What a joke, there was no us.

  Jay was on the step outside, again. He wasn’t welcome in the house and I think he had always known it whereas I was just realising it fully.

  “Hey,” I greeted softly. He smiled. His hair was tied back, a black leather jacket was over a white t-shirt. His jeans were worn but fitted him perfectly.

  “Darling.” He greeted me. He snagged my hand and pulled me forward. I hesitated and he frowned. “What’s wrong?”

  “She doesn't want you here,” Matt said from behind me. I closed my eyes briefly, this was not the correct way to do things. Who said I didn't want him here? Wasn’t that my decision to make? I gritted my teeth. I turned to Matt.

  “I’m going to talk to Jay outside,” I pushed Jay back a little as I stepped out closing the door behind me. I walked a few steps down onto the drive. There was a beat-up pickup truck sitting on the drive, I headed to it.

  It was on a drive with an Audi R8, a Jaguar and two Toyota 4Runners. Jay snorted as he looked at the cars. “How did you know which one was mine?” He chuckled. I grinned despite myself.

  I walked round to the side of the pickup. I leaned against it and looked at him. His smile was as slow and lazy and delicious as it had been the first day I met him.

  “We need to talk,” I announced.

  His eyebrows rose but he nodded. His hands slipped into his back pockets and he rocked on his heels. “Shoot.”

  So, I did. “Your brother has been part of an agreement to blackmail Colton and the others to fight for him,” I blurted.

  Jay stopped rocking, the surprise on his face seemed genuine. “What the fuck?”

  “Connor d
id something he shouldn't. To sort it out, Colton, Theo and Matt agreed to fight in these underground things you have going on. That are organised by your brother.” He didn’t need the details, he needed the basics. I needed to see his reaction.

  “No. Aaron would never, ok he has some weird business deal with the guy who owns the warehouse, but he would never blackmail anyone.” Jay ran his hand over his head, it shook a few strands of his hair free. He didn’t notice. “I don’t know why they are saying this to you, I know they don’t really like me, but this is messed up.”

  “It’s all true Jay.” My heart was softening, I reached over and took his hand. “Your brother has done it. I don’t know his reasons, maybe he had no choice?” Hang on, why am I making excuses for him? “But it’s been happening. It's over now though.”

  He was looking at me, searching to see if I was lying. He whistled through his teeth. “This is fucked up. This why they have an issue with me?” He looked at me, “Me and you?”

  I nodded.

  “They don’t all think you are innocent in this and the spiked drink,” I confessed.

  Anger washed over Jay. “Seriously? No way did I know that, do I look like I need a fucking drug to get a girl into bed?” He kicked his tyre in disgust and frustration. I jumped at the sudden movement. Matt was out the door, across the drive and in front of me in seconds.

  Jay held his hands up. “I’m not going to hurt her. Jesus. I'm not a fucking animal,” he growled. I placed my hand on Matt’s arm to let him know to calm down. He glanced at me and I nodded.

  “I can’t believe you think I am involved,” Jay said to Matt. Matt glanced at me and I shrugged, he rolled his eyes.

  “You never know what to think in situations like this,” Matt answered diplomatically. Jay snorted.

  “I thought we were ok?” He gestured between Matt and himself. Matt shrugged.

  “Ok.” Jay nodded and laughed low. “All I did was come to see how my girlfriend was feeling. Fuck.” He shook his head. Girlfriend? I was his girlfriend? Well I didn’t get that memo. Did I? “Well I better go. Guess I’m not welcome.”

  “Wait!” I said.

  Matt turned to me with a surprised look. I ignored him. What are you doing? Shut up. Ok I'm arguing with Colton in my head again.