by J. H. Croix
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Graham
“What did you say?” I glanced at Allie where she sat beside me in the passenger seat of my truck. I had just turned the engine off in front of our house.
She looked down, twisting her fingers in her lap, a dead giveaway she was not telling me the whole story. “I said I got in trouble at school,” she mumbled.
“Yeah, I got a message from the principal that you had to go home early one day. She didn’t say why and told me to give her a call. Might as well tell me now.”
Allie’s eyes lifted, looking at me quickly before bouncing away again. “Have you talked to Madison?”
“Ah, no. I just got back this afternoon. Why would I have talked to Madison?”
“I thought maybe she told you.”
“Told me what? I’m confused.”
Allie blinked, dipping her head and mumbling something else.
“Allie, just tell me.” When she stayed silent, I added, “I guess I’ll call Madison since the school is closed, and I won’t get the answer from them until Monday.” I was wondering why Madison didn’t call me, and I was getting angry. I didn’t know where to direct it just yet.
“I got caught smoking,” Allie blurted out, her voice rising sharply at the end. She stared at me with a hard, familiar, and stubborn look in her eyes.
“Smoking?”
“Yes, it’s not a big deal. Madison said it wasn’t that big of a deal.”
“What?”
“That’s what she said,” Allie insisted. “The school had to call her because you put her on the list when she picked me up that day. Grandad and Gram were shopping in Anchorage.”
“Do they know what happened?”
“Yes, they talked to the principal.”
“Let’s call Gram right now.” I’d landed and gone straight to the school to pick Allie up.
I tapped the speakerphone and called. My mom answered, “Hi there, how was work?” she asked, as though she were asking about a regular workday.
I’d been gone for five days. I was exhausted and filthy and couldn’t wait for a shower.
“Fine. Did you talk to the principal about Allie?” I asked, getting right to my point.
Allie gritted her teeth, and I could see a muscle tightening in her jaw. “I certainly did. It sounds like I’m on speaker.”
“Allie’s right here.”
“They sent her home early after she got caught smoking. She had detention, and she’s got to participate in an educational program at the school. She didn’t get to see any friends after school. I planned to talk to you about it this evening. Did you tell him?” my mother asked, directing her question to Allie.
“Of course I did. Why do you think he’s calling you?” she replied, her tone just barely polite.
“Good for you. Need anything else?” my mom asked calmly.
“Not at all. Thank you for handling it.” I hung up and looked at my daughter. “Should I call Madison with you?”
Allie shook her head quickly, and I didn’t have the heart to put her through that. I didn’t want to put Allie on the spot in front of Madison, but I intended to have a conversation with her. It was not cool to tell Allie smoking was no big deal.
“Did you ever get caught smoking at school?” my daughter asked, her eyes flashing.
“That doesn’t really matter.”
“I’m just curious,” she pressed.
I rolled my eyes. “Actually, no, I didn’t.” I wouldn’t have won any awards for being a saint in high school, but I’d been more focused on girls and sports than smoking.
“Whatever.” Allie swung away and flounced out of a car.
I wanted to drive straight over to Madison’s. My shower was calling, but the urge to get this conversation over with was even stronger. I leaned out of the car, calling, “I’ll be back in a few! I expect you to stay here.”
“I know!” she called over her shoulder.
I put my truck in reverse, turning around quickly and driving the short distance from our place to Madison’s. When I pulled up, she was standing at the back of her car with the door open and what looked to be bags of groceries on the back seat. She paused what she was doing, turning to look over at me. I was annoyed, really annoyed. I climbed out.
“Got a sec?”
She nodded, her eyes coasting over my face. That little bolt of heat that happened whenever I got near her sizzled through my body. I ignored it, focusing on my frustration.
“Thanks for picking Allie up when my parents were busy.”
“No problem. Everything okay? I was planning to call you when you got back, but I didn’t know when that would be.”
“It’s fine. I’m just wondering why you would have told Allie smoking at school is no big deal.”
Madison stared at me for a long moment. “That comment in context makes more sense. She was crying, and I was trying to let her know it wouldn’t be the end of the world.”
That made complete sense, but I was still annoyed, and I didn’t even know why. Maybe because I was tired. Maybe because I had a teenager who occasionally pushed my buttons. Maybe because I had the hots and then some for this gorgeous woman standing in front of me. She was a walking complication, and I didn’t like it. All I said was, “Right. Of course it’s not.”
We stared at each other, and nothing about this felt right. “Well, thanks for clarifying.”
“Of course.”
Madison opened her mouth to say something else, but I didn’t wait to listen. I turned and climbed back in my truck, managing to wave as I drove away. Inside, I knew I was overreacting. I knew I was pinning my frustration on Madison, but I didn’t like how easily she distracted me.
When I returned home, Allie’s bedroom door was firmly closed. I lifted my hand to knock but lowered it slowly. We’d already had our conversation, so there was nothing left to discuss.
After a quick shower, I snagged a beer out of the fridge and kicked my feet up on the coffee table, trying to distract myself by watching sports. My thoughts kept boomeranging back to Madison. I’d hated the look in her eyes. I was annoyed with my frustration and with myself. I wished the situation was different. Maybe it was for the best. We were worlds apart. My body didn’t get the memo, though. I went to sleep restless and thinking of her. Too bad desire wasn’t logical.
The following morning, I trudged into Firehouse Café for coffee. Snow dusted the ground, and I tapped it off my boots as I stepped through the door. I heard Madison’s voice instantly. It rang like a bell in my awareness. Looking ahead, I saw her standing at the counter, gesturing with one hand as she talked to Janet. Janet was laughing and leaned over to lightly squeeze Madison’s shoulder affectionately.
I took a breath and kept walking. Madison glanced my way. The second her eyes collided with mine, her smile faded swiftly, and tension lined her face. “Hi,” she murmured, giving me a tight smile.
I nodded. “Hi, how’s it going?”
“Fine.” She stepped to the side.
Janet’s eyes shifted from Madison to me, curiosity flickering in her gaze. I adored Janet, but she was definitely nosy. “What can I get for you?”
“My usual.”
Janet turned to prep the coffee, and Madison called, “Nice to see you, Janet.”
Janet waved, and I resisted the urge to look over my shoulder and watch Madison leave. It took more effort than I wanted to admit. When I turned to Janet, she looked at me skeptically.
“What’s going on?” she asked.
“I’m getting coffee before I go into the station,” I replied, hewing to the concrete.
Her eyes narrowed. “I mean, with Madison.”
“Nothing, Janet,” I finally said.
“I thought you liked her.”
“I do. She’s a nice girl.”
“No, I thought you really liked her.”
“Janet,” I said, my tone a warning.
She shrugged lightly. “I heard about the cigarette th
ing.”
“What about it?”
“Madison had to pick her up.”
“What does this have to do with anything?” I countered, irritation prickling over my skin.
Janet passed me my coffee and rang me up. I took a long swallow, appreciating the bitter flavor because it suited my mood.
“Did Madison talk to you about that?” I asked.
“No, your mother did. She said she thought you were going to be upset with Madison about it.”
“I’m not upset with Madison,” I said quickly, too quickly.
Janet arched a brow. “I think you’re looking for an excuse.”
“An excuse for what?” I sputtered, unable to hide my frustration.
“You are an incredible father, and you have a lovely daughter. But she’s like a shield for you. For what it’s worth, I think you’re a smart man. I don’t think you’ve consciously avoided getting involved with anyone all this time, but you did need to focus on your daughter, and your job didn’t make it easy. My gut tells me you might really like Madison, but you’re so accustomed to doing things on your own that it kind of scares you to take someone else seriously. That’s what I mean. You’re looking for an excuse. That’s all.” She shrugged lightly as if she hadn’t just blasted through all of my well-established defenses about myself and my life.
I had plenty to say, most of it hot air, but I was saved by a group of tourists tromping in through the door. “Think about what I said,” Janet called as I turned to leave after giving her a big tip even though I was annoyed with her.
I simply waved and left. Once I got out to the parking lot, my eyes were drawn like a magnet to Madison. She was standing by her car with one hand curled around the door handle and the other on her phone. Her voice carried to me because my truck was on the other side of hers.
I’d been so distracted when I arrived I hadn’t even noticed I parked beside her.
“Mom, I can’t do that. You have to understand.” Her voice sounded distressed. I saw her head nodding in response to whatever her mother said. She held still and began shaking her head. “No, I’m not moving back to Houston, and I’m not lying for Dad. It’s not happening. I have to go.”
She hung up, and I watched from behind as her shoulders rose with a deep breath and then fell abruptly. As if she sensed me, she turned around. Her cheeks went pink as she stared at me. Without a word, she spun away and climbed into her car.
I watched as she drove away, wondering just what the hell she was talking about. A short while later, I was at the station in the office, eyeing my laptop. Firefighters didn’t need computers, or so I thought. As the superintendent for the crew, I had to schedule training and check in about budget stuff. Occasionally, I even had to check email.
I stood from my chair and then sat down again. Another moment later, I was searching Madison’s name online. Lo and behold, there was a lot to be found. As my mother had already discovered, her father had been arrested for fraud. Madison was considered a primary witness against him. If I’d wondered if we were from different worlds, my little internet search verified it times a million. She came from money, serious money. There were pictures of her at society events in Houston looking absolutely stunning. I knew she had great legs, but seeing her in a fitted skirt that flared at her knees and wearing strappy heeled sandals, sweet Jesus. I didn’t know what to think of any of this.
It broke my heart a little to see the various news stories about Madison. Some of them were just fluff, photos of her at society events and so on. Then her father got arrested. Clearly, he was part of Houston society. As the media was wont to do, they circled like vultures around her family, speculating on her refusal to testify and her tight-lipped silence about the case.
They even speculated on why her engagement ended within two weeks of the charges being filed. Her former fiancé, the fucking asshole, announced he had no idea what had been going on and that they’d grown apart. Whatever the fuck that meant. Fuck you, asshole. You didn’t grow apart. Earlier reports indicated that her fiancé had aspired to benefit from her family connections. They said right in print that she was no longer a benefit to him. The speculation was that what she thought was a love match had never been.
“You fucking asshole,” I muttered as I stared at the computer. Of course, the man had nothing to say in return.
I felt for her, but I also knew we weren’t and could never be a couple. For real. Knowing that, why did my heart burn, almost stinging from the pain?
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Madison
“You’ve got this,” the prosecutor said firmly.
As we stared at each other over the video conference call, her gaze softened. “I know this isn’t easy for you.”
My throat was tight. “It’s not, but thank you for understanding.”
The prosecutor was quiet for another moment before cocking her head to the side and commenting, “I hope you have some support. It’s hard to be a witness against a parent.”
I nodded, swallowing through the tightness in my throat. It felt like a ball of disappointment, regret, and anger with pain tangling inside all of it. I’d never had an amazing relationship with my parents. Our family just wasn’t like that.
I had been shocked when my parents expected me to commit crimes on their behalf or, rather, cover them up, which would’ve made me an accessory. I hadn’t realized how much of my relationship with them relied on me toeing the line and doing what worked for them.
After a sip of my water, I replied, “It is hard, but I’m finding my way.”
“How do you like Alaska?”
I managed a small smile. “Actually, I like it. My grandfather’s home is beautiful. It’s such a change of pace that it’s been good for me.”
“I bet it’s beautiful there. Alaska makes Texas seem small.”
I chuckled. “I suppose.”
“I heard about your new job,” she commented.
I narrowed my eyes. “How would you know that?”
She grinned. “We have to keep tabs on witnesses. No big deal. You’re very good at your job, so I’m glad you’ve found work.”
I was fiddling with a paperclip with one hand, and I paused. “Am I, though? Because I should’ve noticed what was going on.”
“You worked with the numbers you had. Being good at your job doesn’t mean knowing someone else was providing you with false information.” She glanced at her watch. “I have another meeting in a few minutes. Your deposition went very well, and you handled the difficult questions from your father’s attorney as well as could be expected.”
“Do you think I’ll need to testify?”
She tapped her fingertips on her desk. “I don’t know. Your father has a good attorney, and a good attorney gives clients good advice. We have a really strong case. If his attorney’s doing his job, he’ll make your father understand that. It’s a smart move to try to make a deal with us, but I sense that your father can be stubborn.”
I laughed aloud at that. “Absolutely, but he’s also not stupid. I don’t think he’ll enjoy being in jail for too long if he’s facing any time.”
She dipped her head in acknowledgment. “No, I can’t imagine he would. I’ll keep you posted when we have any updates. As you know, waiting for court can be like watching paint dry, so be patient.”
“I will. Please keep me posted.”
We ended the call, and I stared out the windows. Wilbur was asleep at my feet. I stood, heading to the kitchen to get some coffee. I was tired. I hadn’t realized how much tension it would create to sit through that three-hour deposition.
After I started the coffee, I swung my arms in the air to try to loosen up my shoulders. My mind shifted to Graham. He had a dedicated channel, like a television station, in my brain. It tuned to him whenever I wasn’t completely distracted. I felt unsettled about how things had played out. It wasn’t as if we had defined what was going on with us.
I leaned my head back and let out a sigh, m
y throat tightening yet again. I had really started to fall for him. I hadn’t expected it. I hadn’t expected him at all.
Obviously, he didn’t want anything serious. I could even understand why he’d taken my comment to Allie out of context, but I was still annoyed at his assumption.
I heard the sound of Wilbur’s claws on the floor and turned to see him entering the kitchen. My dog remained my best friend, and my heart pinched at the longing I hadn’t let myself truly feel for Graham. I’d wanted more and was so skittish about it.
I hoped this bout of tension would pass, and we could settle into being friendly neighbors. I hated how vulnerable I felt. I hated how much I missed Graham. And how could I even miss him? It wasn’t like we’d had that much time together. I missed him even more than I’d ever missed my ex-fiancé, who’d been part of my life for years.
My treacherous heart skipped a beat, and my belly spun. All I had to do was think about my nights with Graham and his hands on my body. Those times with him were raw and pure—like nothing I’d ever experienced. The memories were branded into my brain and on my body, my cells recalling the visceral feel.
I poured my coffee and returned to my desk. My new job was working out well, and I’d also started doing some small accounting jobs on the side, including for the gallery business Janet had told me about. It felt so good to dive into numbers because they always made sense. I was starting to feel competent again, and I craved that feeling. When I was working, I could forget Graham and forget the simmering tension between my parents and me that I didn’t know how to repair.
Late at night when I wasn’t working and loneliness pierced me, I missed the glimmer of wondering if maybe Graham wanted more than sex with me. Hope was such a tease. Yet it wasn’t rational, and it wasn’t sensible. I shouldn’t have hoped for more with Graham.
All mental lectures aside, I reached for my phone, my fingertips itching to text him. The only thing that stopped me was the time on the clock—midnight.
