Off Beat (Forgotten Flounders Series Book 1)

by J. C. Hannigan

  Harper

  With the pending book signing hours away, I had no choice but to stay on course. I moved through my checklist with a meticulous focus that had intimidated and inspired my shadow, Shelly.

  Earlier that morning, we had moved some displays over and set up a table near the front window of the bookstore. Shelly helped me lay out the crisp white table cloth and arrange Janessa’s books in small stacks. I’d already placed barcode stickers and cataloged each book. All Janessa had to do was sign them. Our store took 5%, but the author made money off each sale.

  I forced myself to take a break for lunch, meeting Cal and the guys at the diner. I’d hoped getting a little fix of him would help me refocus, and it had, but now that the event was a little over two hours away, I was growing more nervous by the second.

  Janessa Wentworth was a well-known local author, and it wasn’t her first time signing in our bookstore. In the past week, the engagement for each social media ad I’d put out about the event had exploded.

  In fact…all of the things I’d posted on social media had garnered way more attention than usual. Our Books & Brews accounts had been tagged a few times by customers, and some of those posts had included blurry photos of Cal in the shop, tagging him, too.

  Then, the adorable photos snapped by the owners of Oscar, the duck tolling retriever, who tagged Calum and ended up in a Buzzfeed article that went viral.

  I was in the pictures with him, which meant I went viral, too. Madelyn had managed to capture four adorable shots of Oscar loving on us. Even though the way he’s looking at me in those photos made me swoon, seeing them splayed out everywhere for everyone to see was unsettling.

  I hadn’t realized the extent of things until I’d gotten to work that morning and actually opened up our page. The past few days, I’d been avoiding my phone and the rest of the world, content to just live in the moment and not overthink the consequences.

  With the articles jumping up about Cal’s mystery woman, and worse, the ones regurgitating his escapades over the last almost decade, I couldn’t ignore the ramifications any longer. The past still hurt, even if the present was good…even if the future was bright.

  Setting my phone down on the small shelf beneath the till I forced myself to take another look around the shop. We were about as ready as we were going to be for this event. Ellery was upstairs, using her incredible kitchen to bake more goods for the event, while Holly tended to their small flow of customers. Shelly was sweeping between the aisles of bookshelves. In one hour, the shop would close to the public, and those with tickets would be able to get in for the after-hours event.

  There were a few people browsing for new reads right now, and just as I was about to go help them out—the shop door opened, and Raina Parsons stomped over with an angry, almost hurt look on her face.

  “What the hell is this, Harper?” She demanded sharply, throwing down a thick white envelope onto the counter between us. Her pale blue eyes swirled with anger, and for the briefest, strangest moment—I was reminded of Calum and Asher.

  “An envelope?” I asked, confused.

  “Yeah, it’s an envelope—of money. A lot of money. Ten grand to be exact. And your boyfriend is the one who left it in my apartment.”

  Everything clicked. When Nik divulged his struggles to Asher, he hadn’t expected Asher would later confide in his father—or that Cal would tell me. He hadn’t said a thing about helping them, but I knew it was something he’d do, and not only for Asher.

  “How do you know it was him?”

  “Who the hell else has ten grand sitting around?” she snapped. “Plus, any time he comes in he leaves a ridiculous tip. Did you…did you say something to him?” She looked horrifyingly embarrassed at the possibility.

  I sighed, motioning to Shelly to take over. “Come on, let’s get a coffee.”

  “I don’t want a fucking coffee, Harper. I want you and your rock star boyfriend to butt out of my business.” She ground out. Beneath her anger, I recognized that she was hurt and embarrassed, so I didn’t react to her lashing out. I’d probably be just as pissed, but I knew Calum had only meant to help—as invasive as the move had been.

  “Come on,” I urged, placing my hand on her elbow and leading the way to a table in the café. She jerked her arm away and sat down, still fuming. Her eyes angry and stormy.

  Ellery caught my eye from across the room, and I lifted my chin at her. She nodded, grabbing two paper cups with one hand, and lifting the coffee pot with the other.

  “I’m really sorry for overstepping, but our sons have been best friends since kindergarten. They talk about stuff, and I guess Nik told Asher you guys were struggling a little bit.”

  Or a lot. The utilities were past due, and she was behind in rent. Nik had told Asher that they started falling behind during the surgery. It got worse when she’d gotten sick with the flu and then pneumonia at the beginning of December and that Raina had been struggling to catch up on all the bills ever since. The whole story had come out last night when Asher asked us what an eviction notice was.

  “That’s none of your business.”

  “I know that, and I’m sorry to have intervened like this. I know Calum didn’t mean any harm by it, he just didn’t need that money, and he knew of someone who did need that money. You can return it to him, but he won’t take it.”

  “Then, you take it.” She pushed the envelope to me. “Use it for your store or whatever. He’s your boyfriend. I can’t—I won’t take his money.” Her eyes were pleading, and tormented, and so god damn familiar.

  Shaking my head, I covered her hand over the envelope and gently pushed it a little closer to her. “I’m taken care of, so please…use it to take care of yourselves, and catch up. There’s no harm in accepting help when you need it, when it comes from a good place. I promise you it does.”

  Raina tugged her hand away, leaving the envelope and letting out a long, weary sigh as she dropped her head to the table onto her folded arms. “You don’t get it. I can’t take his money. It’s just…I can’t.”

  “Why?” I didn’t know what she was talking about, but I could sense from the look in her eyes from the moment she stormed in and her energy about it that it was big and that she considered it bad. Terrible. Horrendously unacceptable.

  She lifted her head, her expression hardening. “Michael Jacobs is my father.”

  “Oh.” I blinked, absorbing those five words. My heart pounded with adrenaline. “How long have you known?”

  She shrugged, averting her gaze. “A while. I’ve only seen him from afar, and I don’t think he knows about me. None of them do. But if I take this money, it will feel wrong, like I’m trying to cash in on family talent or something, and I’m not.” She glared down at the envelope, shaking her head.

  I let her words roll over in my head for a moment. Seeing the break in our conversation, Ellery hedged over, two coffees in hand, and placed them on the table before quickly backing off. I wasn’t sure if she’d heard anything, but she could sense the heavy atmosphere and sent me a quizzical look before returning behind the counter. For a moment, neither Raina nor I moved.

  Then I let out a breath and reached for my coffee and held it, warming my palms. “Have you told him? Michael, I mean.” It was obvious that Calum had no clue—he would have told me, and he would have done a hell of a lot more than leave her an envelope with ten grand in it.

  Raina shook her head slowly, sliding her arms off the table and onto her lap. “No. I came here to do that…to tell him. Originally, I mean. Nine years ago…” She looked beyond me, watching pedestrians pass by the shop. “Dominic—Nik’s dad—he thought maybe, one of our parents wouldn’t be such a waste case, and our kid could have a grandparent and some semblance of a normal upbringing. But I kept chickening out, and it got easier and easier to put it off. My mom always told me he hadn’t wanted either of us and I was afraid of that being true. And honestly, I was happy. I had a family of my own, a home of my own, and it didn’t ma
tter as much anymore. Then Dominic died and…” she trailed off, two silent tears trailing down her cheeks. She wiped them away, almost furiously, as if their presence angered her.

  “I’m so sorry for your loss, and Nik’s loss.” Although the words felt inadequate, I had to try. “But Raina, you have family beyond Michael. A brother and a sister. I know for a fact both of them would want to know about you, and Nik.”

  “Half-brother and sister.” She corrected, still as guarded as ever.

  “There is no half when it comes to this family.” I responded.

  “And Michael? Would that news tickle his joyful heart?”

  I winced a little, unsure of that answer. “Family is more than blood. It’s a choice.” I said. “So you can choose to distance yourself from the toxic ones, and you’re within your right to do that if his reaction is not what you hope for.” I reminded her.

  “That sounds promising.” She scoffed.

  “Don’t worry about that because no matter what…you still have family. You’re Asher’s aunt, and that makes our kids cousins.”

  The tiniest, briefest hint of a smile flashed before it was gone. It was as if Raina didn’t want to allow herself to be hopeful. I couldn’t blame her; she’d experienced so much loss in her life. But now that I knew how deep her suffering truly went, I was determined to break through to her. Even if she wasn’t related by blood to my son and Calum, I would want her to realize that she could have a supportive network; a family by choice. Friends, home, a community.

  “Do you understand why I can’t take this money?” She asked me, searching my face.

  I nodded. “I do. Would you accept an alternative?”

  “Such as?” Her brow furrowed, her lips tightening with strain.

  “Asher and I are moving in with Calum,” I told her; not really on a whim. “I was going to rent my house out. Why don’t you guys move in, and we’ll use this money for a year’s worth of rent?”

  “That’s still taking the money.” She pointed out, her frown increasing.

  “There’s no paper trail on you. Technically, you’re giving it back to me and I’m putting it in my household account to automatically cover the mortgage each month.” At that, she relaxed, her frown slipping away—although she still didn’t smile. She considered my offering carefully as she leaned back in her chair.

  “I’d be responsible for utilities?” she asked, and I nodded again.

  “I’ll email you the bills every month, and you can e-transfer me. I can draw up a rental lease, and we’ll discuss it in greater detail if it’s something you’d be interested in doing.”

  Raina chewed on her lip, mulling it over. “When were you planning on moving?” She tilted her head a little, still weighing it.

  “Next weekend,” I replied before lifting my coffee to take a sip. “You could move in that Sunday, or the following weekend. Whichever you’d prefer.”

  “Okay.”

  “Okay?” I tried to dial back my grin.

  “Yes, okay.” Raina rolled her eyes, but I could tell a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. “Draw up the lease, and I’ll sign it. Maybe I could use the money in emergencies, but I’d like to handle the monthly rent cost myself.”

  “Okay.” I nodded.

  “I need to get back to work now. My break ends in five.” She seemed a little lighter, a little less worried, as she stood from the table, taking her untouched coffee with her. “I really appreciate it, Harper.”

  Standing with her, I followed her to the door. “You should tell Calum soon. Let him help you tell the rest of them.”

  “Maybe. But I’m not ready yet, okay? So please—don’t mention anything.”

  “I wouldn’t. It’s not my place,” I assured her; even though the prospect of another secret made my stomach clench with uneasiness. “But I really do think the sooner the truth comes out, the better.”

  She studied me for a minute as if weighing my words to see how much she trusted them. Nodding, she gave me a small smile and pushed open the doors, heading down the street to the diner.

  Calum

  Harper had decorated the entire store for Asher’s Minecraft birthday party. Two black curtains framed a purple curtain that hung over the hallway to the café’s restrooms, the words Nether Portal printed in the blocky Minecraft type on a gray vinyl sign above it. All of the café tables were cloaked in green table clothes.

  She’d even decorated the storefront doors, hanging a vinyl wooden sign outside that read Welcome to Asher’s 8th birthday party!

  Ellery made a variety of treats; homemade pretzels, the ends dipped in white icing with yellow and orange glitter sprinkles. Chocolate cupcakes with dark green icing and fondue creeper heads, and an activity table with a bunch of different supplies. Twizzlers bounded in paper with TNT printed on it, little blue fish gummies, square chocolates wrapped in silver, and gold for iron and gold ingots.

  The place was jammed—twenty of Asher’s classmates filled the café, and Harper’s family and a couple of their local friends gathered in the space that was usually full of table book displays. Those had been cleared, tucked into the aisles after closing to allow for more space.

  Even Margaret and Ted Watson were there, each settled into a pair of the bookstore’s comfortable arm chairs, watching the children with matching reminiscent smiles.

  Dare and Evan were also present. They’d arrived early to help set up, and I introduced them to Asher as his uncles. While not related by blood, these men were my brothers, forged in music. My family was their family—well, discounting my father. He blamed them for influencing my decisions, just as he’d blamed Gramps.

  Harper skirted past, about to head to the café, when I caught her.

  “Everything looks so amazing,” I told her, my hand slipping around her waist as I tugged her back against my chest.

  “Thanks,” she said, glancing up at me with a smile. “This has been a little bit of a tradition since we opened four years ago. We have Asher’s parties here so that we can include more of the kids.”

  “Well, it all looks incredible. So do you.” I murmured into her ear, tucking a strand of her flyaway ponytail behind it. She was wearing dark denim skinny jeans, and a cream-coloured sweater that complimented her rich brown hair.

  Her cheeks flushed, and she placed her hand over mine, my fingers still splayed comfortably on her hip.

  “Careful, we have a huge audience.” She pointed out, squeezing my hand, most of her attention on her parents. Jack and Caroline stood near the café counter. Jack was half watching the kids playing party games, and half conversing with his wife and Ellery.

  When they’d come in, Jack had shaken my hand and nodded at me, but Caroline had given me a tight smile and averted her eyes. She hadn’t looked my way since.

  Harper hadn’t said anything to me about it, but I got the impression that her mom was not impressed with my reappearance in her daughter’s life. When it came to me, the ice around her heart would take a long ass time to thaw.

  But I didn’t care too much about it, because I had plenty of time to earn her favour again. I was in it for the long run, and she’d see that soon. “You know, once upon a time, your mom really liked me.”

  “She did.” Harper nodded. “She loved how you treated me; how you’d hold the door open for me, how you’d surprise me in little random ways, and tell me it was just to see me smile.”

  “I also scored brownie points for always bringing you home before curfew.” I reminded her.

  “Yeah, but she didn’t know that you’d come back later so I could sneak out in the middle of the night for your midnight dates.” She added with a light laugh. I got lost watching her, soaking in her smile and revealing in her dimples.

  Fuck, I’d missed midnight dates with her. Almost every night during her first summer in Lunenburg, I’d wait for her to text me that her parents were asleep so I could pick her up a block away. We’d go driving, usually to one of the many beaches that dotted the coas
t. The private property ones were my favourite—more privacy for kissing and other fun things.

  Before I could respond, the bell above the door chimed, and we both turned to look. Most of the people invited had already arrived, but we were waiting on a few stragglers. Nik hadn’t arrived yet, much to Asher’s chagrin, and I could see him watching the door too—but it was my parents and Connor who strolled in.

  Mom carried a large wrapped gift, and Connor had one of her own.

  My father carried his perpetual scowl, which only deepened when he saw me standing so close to Harper, my hand resting comfortably on her hip. His eyes narrowed at her. Mom said something to him, slipping her free hand through his.

  He found a smile for her, and one for Connor too, who looked back at him over her shoulder. But when their attention was diverted to the dark-haired, blue-eyed birthday boy—Dad fixed me with a hard look.

  He didn’t want to be here. I couldn’t tell if he was pissed that he was the last one to meet Asher, or if he was pissed because he generally always was when it came to me. Either way, the hairs on the nape of my neck stood up, and I braced myself.

  Connor made her way over to us, her smile bright and radiant. “Hey, Harper!” she said, giving her a one-armed hug that pulled Harper from my embrace. “Where do we put the gifts?”

  “Over there along that table would be great, thank you so much,” Harper replied, directing my sister to a table along the back wall, where presents were stacked neatly.

  Dare and Evan were hanging out near it, both of them looking oddly at ease at a kid’s birthday party, even though it was the first time either one of them had been to one since we were kids ourselves. Evan had used his time helping set up as an opportunity to woo Ellery, making flirtatious comments and giving her his hey baby smiles.

  Ellery seemed flattered by his attention, but she didn’t flirt back or express any interest of her own. He was setting himself up for major disappointment—Harper had mentioned her friend’s boyfriend once or twice—but Evan wasn’t the kind of guy who heeded warnings. He was the kind of guy that chased after what he wanted, even if he knew he wasn’t likely going to catch it. He’d just let the rejection roll off him like water and moved on to the next pretty thing.