The Keys to Jericho

by Ren Alexander

  Ignoring his dad and still holding on, Dash slides down and throws his feet out, standing on the pole sideways, while swinging around it.

  Pete yells, “Go, you sexy beast!”

  Rio reaches to the bar behind us. “I don’t need to see Douche that flexible. I need another drink.”

  I laugh, and yell, “Rio wants to see your monster dick!”

  Dad says, “For crying out loud, Jared Adam.” He yells, “No, Dashiell!”

  Rio frowns at me before shouting, “Keep that shit to yourself!”

  Dave says, “If he does, I’ll rip that pole from the ceiling and beat his ass with it.”

  Dash finally jumps down and takes a bow, and we promptly boo. Picking up his shirt, he jogs back to the bar, heading straight for me. “Jericho, you’ll take me home tonight, won’t you? Let me kiss those lips before you’re officially hitched?” He puckers his lips to me and I shove his head away.

  Laughing, I say, “Fuck off, Calder. Your hair is a mess. Next!”

  As he brushes it with his fingers, Pete asks, “Where in the hell did you learn how to do that?”

  Dash rolls his eyes and throws his hands into the air, waving to the room. “Really, Pete?”

  Dave says, “You’re going to polish that pole, dumbass.”

  Dash wrinkles his face. “I thought I just did?”

  I say, “Don’t get it confused with your pole, which you sparkle nightly.”

  Putting on his shirt, he again brushes at his hair and sneers, “Fuck you. Your sister likes it.”

  My smile drops and I grip him by the shirt. “And you’ll be carrying a harp while flying through the goddamned clouds.”

  Dad says, “Jared.”

  “Aww, Jericho. No pitchfork for me?”

  Rio says, “Take a seat, Douche. You’re trashed.”

  Overhead, Shell says, “Hang on to your seats, gentleman. Here is Roxanne!”

  Rio says, “Back to it, executioner.”

  The lights go up and we see the back of a girl with her leg hitched up on a chair. She starts shaking her ass when The Police’s “Roxanne” starts. Even her two black and pink ponytails bounce in rhythm.

  When she kicks the chair out, she spins around, still shaking her hips with the beat. Her short, red dress and black fishnet stockings seem to fit the song, but her black combat boots are different. Her mask is also black, but you can see her bright, blue eyes from where we’re sitting.

  “Take it off!” Dash shouts.

  She grabs onto the stripper pole, and swings around it with better agility than the previous attempts by the others, even matching Dash’s ability. The skirt of her dress flares out, revealing red, sparkly underwear. Pete says, “She’s promising.”

  I cross my arms and scoff, “Too early to tell.”

  With her back to us again, she looks over her shoulder, and licks her lips, before letting go of the pole and exiting the stage to do the up-close portion of her audition.

  She marches straight for Dash, tilting his chin up and roughing up his hair. Twirling, she goes to Rio and kisses his cheek. As they gape at her, she sidesteps to me, but touches Pete’s arm, and then covering her mouth as she giggles.

  Finally, her attention goes to me and I narrow my gaze. She spins my Colts hat around, before yanking on my hand so that I’ll get off the stool. Sighing to Rio, I stand as she closely dances around me, running her hands over my back, my abs, and then up my chest. At least this one isn’t wearing a wedding ring.

  When she shimmies against me, I inhale as I roll my eyes at the other guys, who are watching with interest. She tugs on the bill of my cap and brings her face close to mine, teasing me, but then turns her head before our lips touch.

  Suddenly, I put my hands on her hips yanking her closer. Tilting my head, I swiftly lean down and kiss up her neck, stopping at her jaw, where I veer close to her mouth, but don’t kiss her lips.

  Rio clears his throat. “Jare.”

  I look to our audience. “What? Hard-on worthy. Right? This one gets the job.”

  Dash slurs, “Um, I know what I’m seeing isn’t right. Are you falling for a stripper?”

  Pete says, “Jared. Come on.”

  Tony gapes and my Dad says, “Jared, you’ve had a lot to drink.”

  I petulantly refute, “Uh-uh.”

  Pete shouts, “You’re marrying my sister tomorrow!”

  I glance over at him and shrug. “Maybe not. This one’s cute. I like striped hair.” Turning back to her, I say, “Maybe we’ll elope.”

  Her blue eyes widen behind her mask and she stumbles backward, but I hold onto her and whisper, “I love the way you smell. All over. It’s my favorite.”

  She shoves my chest, escaping my grasp and rips off her mask, yelling, “Are you fucking serious?”

  Dash yelps, “Merrick?”

  I smirk at him and then her, but she screeches, “Why are you so smug? You were hitting on a stripper!”

  I nod. “Yeah. You.”

  She throws her mask at my chest. “You didn’t know it was me!”

  “I did, Kit Kat. From the moment you turned around on stage.”

  “Just like when you saw me at my mom’s last summer, right?” My grin fades at the low blow.

  “No! I hadn’t seen you in years and you looked—”

  “You were supposed to not recognize me again, pushing me off you! Instead, you practically propose?” Her fake blue eyes well with tears and she backs away.

  I take a step toward her. “Kat, I knew it was you! I swear it!”

  “You’re drunk, Jared!”

  From the corner of my eye, I see Rio stand, and my dad walking over as I yell, “I’ve had three shots! That’s all!”

  “Oh, so you can drive?”

  “No, but…”

  “Exactly!”

  Spinning on her heel, she heads for the stage and I go after her, skipping the stairs and hopping onto the stage. “Kat, wait!” I snag her arm, whirling her around.

  She jerks her hand from my grip and moves away from me. “How do I know you wouldn’t have cheated on me?” Shit.

  “Your brothers are in the same room! My dad! I also wouldn’t have kissed anyone because I’m in love with you!”

  Dash yells, “That is Merrick, right?”

  Kat crosses her arms and sneers, “You’d just fuck them like you used to?”

  “Jesus! What’s wrong with you?”

  “Me?”

  Dad puts his hand on my chest and says to both of us, “Hey. You’re both strung out. Nerves are on overload. You probably should take a breather and then talk when you’ve calmed down.”

  Shaking my head, I yell, “I told you I’ll never cheat on you! You think I’m lying? I’m not that asshole you were married to or even my—”

  Black makeup drips from her eyes and she mumbles, “You’ll just be the next jerk I’m married to.” She turns to leave and I grab her arm, snagging her, as my dad moves with me.

  He warns, “Jared, don’t.”

  Pulling her back to me, I demand, “Where’re you going?”

  “Home.”

  “That’s it? You came here to get an expectant reaction from me—testing me. When I shock you by giving you a different answer, you stomp off? Didn’t I just prove how much I know you? How far I’ve come?”

  She swipes at the black streaks on her face and yells, “I don’t know what to think! Maybe you’re trying to talk your way out of a big mistake you nearly made!”

  “I didn’t! I knew! Kat! Come on! Fuck! Why don’t you believe me?”

  Again, she twists her arm from me. “Bye, Jared.”

  Dad grabs my arm, holding onto me. When she turns, I try to grab her arm again, but my dad wrenches me back and she escapes backstage. He says, “You’ll only make it worse, bud. Cool down.”

  “She’s leaving me! We’re supposed to get married tomorrow!”

  Grabbing my shoulders, he turns me to face him. “You will. It’ll be okay. You’re both edgy and em
otions are high.”

  “I swear to God I knew it was her, Dad. The way she moved. The shape of her lips. Her perfume. Even her fake blue eyes. I knew it was Kat because I’d never make the mistake of not knowing her again.”

  “I know that. So does she, but do you realize how nervous she is right now, too? She’s not thinking very rationally. She will, though, when she thinks it over more. You’ll both be okay. Once this wedding stuff is over with and you’re on the plane Sunday morning, you’ll remember why you went through all this.”

  Looking to the side of the stage and then back to my father, I plead, “Dad…”

  “I promise, Jared. She’ll be there tomorrow.”

  Determined, I say, “If she’s not, I’ll hunt her down. Remind her why she has to marry me.”

  “That’s my boy.”

  And if she doesn’t remember, she’ll have fucked me in a gazebo in front of an audience.

  CHAPTER 35

  Lying on my bed at Dad’s house, staring at the ceiling, a soft knock on the door doesn’t do much to tear my attention away from the swirled pattern.

  When I don’t bother to answer, I hear the door creak open. “Are you decent?” Hadley whispers.

  Glancing over at her, I see her covering her eyes and I roll mine. “Yeah. Come in.”

  “Why are you in your room? I thought Rio and Dash were staying here tonight?”

  “Rio is. He’s asleep on the rec. room couch.”

  “No Dash?” she asks, and I’m dismayed to hear disappointment in her tone.

  “No. Dad dropped him at his apartment.” Hadley’s here, feeling beyond low and Dash is extremely drunk. Not a good mix.

  Hadley cautiously asks, “Did you guys have fun?”

  Sitting up, I say, “Hang on. You were with Kat tonight. When?”

  “After she surprised you at the club. Liberty and I were going to take her out for some drinks afterward, but...”

  “How is she? She won’t answer my calls or texts. I’ve left messages…”

  “Kat is upset. She wouldn’t go out with us. I was going to stay with her, but she told me to be with you.” That surprises me, and it shows on my face.

  “Why?”

  Hadley sheepishly smiles. “She wouldn’t say. Let her sleep on it. She’ll feel better.”

  “Where is she? Her apartment? Her mom’s house?”

  She shakes her head. “Jared, leave her alone tonight. I’m sure she got your messages. Liberty’s with her.”

  “Fuck.” Heaving a heavy sigh, and shoving my hand into the front of my hair, I ask, “Am I being totally idiotic about this? Her brothers even believe me! They know I wasn’t drunk off my ass! Hell, I sent most of my shots to Pete! They also realized I wouldn’t have kissed some stripper!”

  “I don’t think you’re being idiotic, but I wasn’t there, although you’ve proven yourself worthy of that title before.”

  I frown. “Jesus, Hadley.”

  She sits down on the end of my bed and says, “Please say that you’re telling the truth, Jared. Don’t be that prick who cheats on his girlfriend, especially over something stupid or because of a misunderstanding.”

  I stare at her in silence for a few seconds before I say, “I’m not. I swear. I realized it was her. I’m not…” I shake my head, and sincerely as possible, say, “Christ. I wouldn’t cheat on Kat because I can’t commit to her or because I have deeper issues that have nothing to do with her. I wouldn’t run from this and try to solve my problems with a random fuck, either. I’d fight for her until it killed me, so I’m not that much of a prick.”

  Hadley shakily sighs, looking down to the worn bedspread, and is quiet. When she doesn’t look up for some time, I sigh and touch her arm. “Hadley.”

  She lifts her head and asks, “Did Dad talk to you?”

  “About?”

  “His…date?”

  “Yeah. My mind has been fucked so much today, I don’t know what to think about him keeping her a secret for so long.”

  “I know. I just hope she’s good for him.”

  “He seems to be happier than he used to be. I just didn’t attribute it to a person.”

  “Neither did I. I wonder what she’s like.”

  “Or hope who she isn’t like.”

  Hadley says, “I barely remember her anymore.”

  “It’s more of the principle she left us when she, well, left us.”

  Hadley nods. “I don’t want to see him get hurt, but if he’s happy…”

  “He says he is.”

  “Then I want to be happy for him, too.”

  “I do, too.” I sigh. “Stop changing the subject.”

  “Stop pulling me into that subject.”

  “Hadley, talk—”

  She shakes her head and looks away from me again. “Jared, don’t ever make Kat feel like she’s not good enough for you, because if you do, I’ll kick you in the balls with high heels.”

  I stammer, “She’s more than good enough for me. She’s my…everything. I went without her for so long, and I never want to go back to that place. I don’t even want to imagine my life without her in it anymore.”

  Glancing at me, Hadley’s eyes become glassy and she nods, as she wraps her arms around herself. “Good.” She looks back to the bedspread, and we’re quiet again.

  After a minute, I scratch my jaw and tentatively say, “I’m sorry.”

  “Jared…” She clears her throat and sighs, guessing why I’m sorry.

  “I never got to say that to you.”

  She shrugs and runs her fingers through her long hair, the same color as mine. “No need to apologize.”

  “Someone has to. You’re like a damn robot...”

  Holy fuck.

  She blandly replies, “Maybe because I’m still recovering from the hospital food.”

  Straightening, I say, “I’m not joking, Hadley. What you just went through is fucking—”

  She hurriedly shakes her head and her eyes well up again. “I can’t go there. Please. I can’t.”

  “From my experience, it helps to talk to someone about what you’re feeling, as fucked up as that sounds coming from me.”

  She shifts her gaze to the wall and mumbles, “Not now.”

  “Ever?”

  “I don’t know. Just…” She sighs and looks at me. “Just grab onto Kat and never let go. Love her with all your heart. Anything less is deplorable. Cherish her, Jared. She’s an extension of yourself. Treat her as such. When you’re on a family vacation in 15 years, hold her hand as you look at the children you made together, even if she has scars from giving birth to them. Love her if she gains weight. Love her if she has gray hairs or wrinkles she’s trying to hide. Love her even more because she’s not perfect, but because she’s yours.”

  Tears fall down Hadley’s cheeks and I crawl over the bed to her. She brokenly says, “Don’t you dare let anything come between you. Nothing. Not your fears, your family, friends, enemies, job or…” Covering her mouth, her purple nails catch my eye, before she dissolves into sobs. Reaching for her, I pull her to me, hugging her tighter than I ever have.

  She clutches my shirt as she cries into it, and I whisper, “I’m here for you, Hadley. I always will be. I’ll never let this happen to you again. I promise. When I move to Richmond after I get back from our trip, you’ll be so tired of me watching out for you that you might just want to kick me in the balls with high heels.”

  “I don’t need a bodyguard. I have one.”

  I scoff, “Too bad. He’ll have to move over.”

  “Just worry about Kat. She’ll be your…wife.” Her voice catches and I swallow the tightness starting to choke me.

  As evenly as possible, I say, “I can watch both of you. She would kick me in the balls with high heels if I didn’t look after you.”

  “God. I love her.”

  “She loves you, too… And so do I, Hadley.”

  I feel her smiling against my chest and she sniffs. “You sunk my battleship.�
��

  I smile over the top of her head. “I’ll sink all those motherfuckers.”

  She tearfully scolds, “Watch your mouth, little brother.”

  Hearing a small laugh, I say, “Not a fucking chance, big sis.”

  Hadley wipes her face and mumbles, “Fucking hell.”

  I grin and rest my cheek on her head, holding her tighter.

  Little does she know, I’ll be the one who does the ball-kicking in steel-toed boots.

  “How are you holding up?” Dad asks, straightening his purple tie, as I lean onto the gazebo railing in the corner, trying to get two seconds away from people in my face.

  “Not good. I either want to puke or puke.”

  He smacks my arm. “Shake it off. Man up. You’re about to get married.”

  “Oh, God,” I groan, clutching my stomach as I see his smile growing wider.

  “Like father, like son. It isn’t even funny.”

  “If you ever get married again, I’m going to enjoy watching you suffer.”

  He shrugs and whispers, “My balls are bigger. Don’t be a pussy.”

  “What the hell is up with you, Adam Franklin?”

  Shrugging again, he offhandedly asks, “How come you’re wearing a tie instead of a bowtie?”

  I irritably answer, “Because bowties are for pussies.” From the other side of the gazebo, Tony and Pete wave at me and I stiffly nod in return, afraid if I move too fast, I’ll hurl.

  Dad laughs and grabs my shoulder. “Get a grip. Marry the woman you love. Make me prouder than I already am of you.”

  “Jesus, Dad. Shut up.” I peer around the gazebo, noticing my sister, wearing her light purple bridesmaid dress, hugging someone, while standing with a small group of people, two of whom are Rio and Liberty. Rio and I ate breakfast together this morning and we didn’t say a word. It was calming and says a lot about our friendship.

  Dad says, “By the way, your car is sweet. Thanks for letting me drive it here. I’ll take good care of it while you’re gone. I need to get one of those.”

  I frown. “Not.”

  “I bet people would think I’m cooler than you.”

  I scoff, “Like I give a shit what anyone thinks of me.” Just one person.

  Someone says his name and we both look. He waves over a blonde woman with a side braid, and gives her a kiss on the cheek. Turning to me, he says, “Nora, this is my son, Jared.”