Between the Lines

by KD Williamson

  Haley was still trying to figure out what it was about Tonya. She was smart as hell, funny, and she knew her own mind. And she was hot. Her hair, those curls, they always looked tamed and mussed at the same time. There was the way she smiled. She didn’t do it often, but when it happened, it was always something to see. She was almost as tall as Haley, which pretty much ensured that she would have every curve pressed against her when they were close. Yeah, that was definitely a bonus. Haley took a sip of coffee. Her mouth was getting dry.

  Haley’s thoughts came back around to the kiss. Jesus Christ she hadn’t expected it to feel like it did, like she was in the middle of a flash fire that started from the inside and swallowed her whole. She wanted more. Maybe Nate was on to something with that whole nuclear-winter thing.

  Just thinking about their upcoming date this weekend made the butterflies in her stomach play tennis. She had no idea where to take her. Tonya had money but she didn’t seem to like to flaunt it. Haley got the feeling that something overly fancy would be the wrong move. It was Thursday, so she still had two days to figure it out. Nate and Jen had a ton of suggestions.

  Haley smiled and tossed back the last of her now-cold coffee. They were cute. Nate and Jen seemed like they were almost as invested in this “relationship” as she was.

  Her cell phone started vibrating, dancing around on the coffee table. Haley picked it up quickly.

  “Mornin’.”

  “Good morning.”

  “Dream about me last night?” Haley asked. She was grinning the whole time.

  “As a matter of fact…”

  “Really?” Haley sat up. “Do tell.”

  “You were showing me how to fire a gun.”

  “Aww that’s all? I was hopin’ for somethin’ a li’l more sexy.”

  “Well, you were in uniform.” Tonya was breathless.

  Haley perked up even more. “And you like me in uniform?”

  “Yes.”

  Haley’s stomach knotted. “Mm, at least you got somethin’ out of it.” Speaking of her uniform, she should probably get up and start getting dressed for work.

  “Maybe.”

  Haley tilted her head to hold the phone between her shoulder and neck while she put on her pants.

  “You’re not still in bed, are you? I hear rustling.”

  “No, just gettin’ dressed. I got a little distracted. I guess it’s too bad we can’t video chat since I have an Android. Coulda been a nice show.”

  “I’m driving,” Tonya said, but there was amusement in her tone.

  “And? I shouldn’t be the only one sufferin’.”

  Tonya didn’t say anything for a few seconds.

  “I was your distraction?”

  “Mm, and I don’t mind it at all. Relivin’ the other night, I can’t complain.”

  “Haley.”

  She loved it when Tonya said her name, like she was aching. This was new, and Haley was totally into it.

  Haley hummed in response.

  “I’m driving,” Tonya repeated.

  “What if you weren’t?” Haley was now on a mission to rattle Tonya.

  “Then I’d be walking into a cold shower right now.”

  Haley wasn’t disappointed. “Does that help you? ’Cause it doesn’t do a damn thing for me.”

  Tonya sucked in a breath. “You’re doing this on purpose.” It wasn’t a question.

  But Haley answered it like it was. “Yeah, I am.”

  “Congrats. You won.”

  “Wasn’t a game.”

  “What would you like to call it, then?”

  “I just like the way you make me feel, and I don’t mind showin’ it. Too bad I won’t get to see you in person ‘till Saturday, but I know you like things a certain way. I’m cool with that. Doesn’t keep me from tryin’ to tempt you, though. You could just come over for dinner tonight, but I should tell you about the no pants rule.”

  “Your friends are okay with that?”

  “It’s somethin’ I just started for special guests. ’Course it wouldn’t be just you. I do it all the time. Just want you to be comfortable.”

  Tonya laughed. “Oh, is that all?”

  The laughter broke down some of the growing tension. Haley was okay with that. “Mm-hm.”

  “If you’re like this now, I bet you were a handful as a kid.”

  “’Course I was. I spoke my mind, and if there was somethin’ I didn’t wanna do, I found a way out of it. Used to drive my mom crazy. When I was little, I didn’t like wearin’ dresses. Didn’t feel right. There was some Fourth of July community thing going on and my mom bought me this sundress. It was some weird peach color. She thought it would appease me to let me wear Wonder Woman underoos with it. Once we got there and her and my stepdad’s backs were turned, I came up outta that dress. I think I was able to run around for a full ten minutes in my underoos, white bobby socks, and patent leather shoes before they caught me.” Haley pulled on her shirt and stared buttoning it.

  “Oh. My. God.” Tonya’s laughter was loud and long. The sound brought a smile to Haley’s face. She waited for Tonya to calm down before continuing.

  “If we were doin’ somethin’ I really enjoyed, like skatin’, I could be a perfect li’l angel. Didn’t wanna mess that up. It was one of my favorite things to do.”

  “Really, that was your favorite?”

  “Yeah, that and playin’ house with the neighbor’s Barbie dolls, but only when she let me play house with her too.”

  “You’re making this all up!” Tonya was laughing again.

  “I am not!” Haley paused. “I’m not tryin’ to dampen the mood or anythin’, but I know you didn’t have the chance to do a lot of kid stuff growin’ up.”

  “No, you’re right. I didn’t.” Tonya sounded wistful.

  “I tell you what. I like havin’ fun, so maybe you can consider hangin’ with me kinda like your second childhood. Maybe we’ll play house too.” Haley put on her shoes and gathered the rest of her things before heading back toward the living room.

  “You make it sound so appealing.”

  “It’ll be an adventure for both of us. I haven’t really dated anyone since freshman year in college, and that crashed and burned because I got tired of being sucked into lesbian drama. Everyone knew way too much of my business. She made sure of that.”

  “Sounds like something a little girl would do. I don’t think you have to worry about that with me. I grew up a long time ago.”

  Haley liked the sound of that, especially that last part. “I know. I like that about you.” She paused. “You said ‘with me’. Are you?”

  “I have my fair share of drama,” Tonya said.

  “I know that, but it was there already. I’m only a part of it because I wanna be.”

  “Why?”

  “I got this feelin’ it’ll be worth it.”

  “How would you know? We haven’t known each other long.” Tonya didn’t sound upset.

  “We’ve done nothin’ but talk, and I think it was the best thing for us. I probably know more about you now than I woulda learned in ten dates. I know you, Tonya. I’d like to think you know me too, and you didn’t answer my question.”

  “Yes, I’m with you.”

  Something bubbled up in Haley’s chest. She silently pumped her fist in the air like she was in some corny ’80s sitcom. It was a little embarrassing, and she was glad that she was alone.

  “Haley?”

  She closed her eyes. There it was again. That sound. “Yeah?”

  “I like the way you make me feel too.”

  Haley sat down. If Tonya was in front of her right now, they’d probably be setting the whole room on fire. “Okay.”

  “Okay,” Tonya repeated softly.

  Haley was suddenly struck with an idea. “Don’t worry about Saturday. I got it covered.” She couldn’t keep the enthusiasm out of her voice.

  “Should I be scared? You sound like you did when you were telling the underoos story.�
��

  Haley chuckled. “Well, you’re either gonna love it or think I’m crazy as hell. I’ll pick you up at six o’clock. Don’t wear anythin’ fancy.”

  “That’s…well, okay.”

  Haley locked her front door and headed for her truck. “It’ll be memorable?”

  “I have no doubt.”

  * * *

  Haley shook her head as she stared at Tang. He looked like somebody had run him through the washer a few times, and it wasn’t the gentle cycle. He was kind of clammy and a lot paler than usual.

  “You look like petrified shit and it’s gettin’ harder every day.”

  Tang glanced at her as he started the car. “Well, fuck you very much.”

  “You’re welcome, but seriously? That’s all you gotta say?”

  “What in the blue fuck do ya want me to say? You know the deal. So get off my goddamn back.”

  “No, you’re my partner. I’m doin’ what I have to do.”

  “Well, I got enough shit to carry; I don’t need your useless ass on me too.”

  “Insultin’ me isn’t gonna change anythin’. Are you supposed to be scary? Or just hurt me? You gotta know by now I don’t break all that easy.”

  Tang grumbled.

  “What?”

  “Nothin’!”

  “That’s what I thought. Listen, just take a day or two off and catch up on sleep. It’s paid, and it makes sense. Hell, even do some sick days until you get over the hump.”

  “Yeah, I’ll think about it. That’s actually not a bad idea.” He took a long sip from an energy drink.

  Haley noticed that there was a brand new can of that crap in the cup holder. “And stop drinkin’ this shit too! It just fucks with your brain.”

  To tell the truth, Haley was worried and she was fast becoming a little disgusted with him as well, but showing that wouldn’t help matters any. “I get it. I do. You’re not concerned about yourself right now. It’s all about your uncle, but what about me? The less sleep you get, the worse your reaction time will be. I’m tryin’ to have your back here, but I need to make sure you’re able to cover mine too. This isn’t small-town USA. Shit really goes down here.”

  As he stopped at a red light, Tang sighed and let down the window to pour out the drink, the opened one anyway. It was a start. She stared at him. His face was flushed red. She wasn’t sure if that was due to lack of sleep, embarrassment, or anger. Could be a combination of all three.

  “You’re right. I know all this shit, but I guess I’ve been so blindsided.” Tang glanced at her and then looked away. Haley kept studying him, looking for other clues that he was falling apart. His grip was white-knuckled on the steering wheel. His throat bobbed as he swallowed.

  In the periphery, she saw that the light had turned green. The car didn’t move. Instead of blowing their horns, people just drove around them.

  “They’re not gonna let you ride by yourself. You’re still too green.”

  Haley figured that.

  “I’m not…I’m not gonna come back the next day and find out you put in for a partner change, am I?”

  She was surprised by the question. He barely looked at her, clearly bracing himself.

  “What? No! If I was gonna do that, I would’ve the first two weeks. Trust me when I say I was tempted as hell.”

  It was kind of an emotional moment, and Tang tried to cover it up by snorting. “You and me both, Rook.” The light was green again. Tang drove forward.

  Haley rolled her eyes. “Whatever.” She didn’t speak for a couple of minutes. “I’m not goin’ anywhere. We’d really have to be a fuckin’ mess together for that to happen, anyway.”

  Tang grunted. “So what’s goin’ on with the new panties? Y’all settled on that date yet?”

  “I bet women just throw themselves at you. Don’t they?” She went with the subject change; riding him about this whole thing wasn’t going to fix it.

  He grinned. “I don’t got that name for nothin’. You gonna answer the question or not?”

  Haley smiled. “Yeah, I figured it out. It’ll either sink or swim. No in-between.”

  “You sure you know what you’re doin’?”

  She scoffed. “Hell no. I just know I can’t do the same shit I usually do. She’s different.”

  Tang laughed. “I remember that feelin’. I mean, I hate her guts now, but when me and my ex-wife first met, let’s say she’s the only woman that made me tongue-tied.”

  Haley shook her head. “Would you look at that? Mr. Poontang has a heart, and it might be a romantic one.”

  “I don’t. Shut the fuck up.”

  Haley laughed.

  * * *

  Tonya was soaring toward an unfamiliar high. With everything that was going on with her family, she should have been contemplative, angry, even fearful. Tonya was indeed all those things, but today, right now, those emotions were background noise. At the moment, she was teetering toward happiness. She’d flirted with contentment before: when her mother was alive and close to being the woman she remembered; spending time with Stephanie; and even her job during a time of breakthrough or understanding. However, the feeling was never as palpable as it was now. Tonya could almost reach out and touch it.

  It was hard not to trust something that brought so much warmth with it. Wasn’t it time? Wasn’t it her turn? Tonya wallowed in all the good stuff coming her way. She leaned back in her chair to enjoy it.

  A knock at her office door brought her thoughts to a screeching halt. Tonya glanced at the time. Fifteen minutes had passed without her even being aware of it. She looked toward the window and waved the tech inside.

  Tonya smiled when he entered with a patient in tow. She extended her expression to encompass them both. “Thank you, Marcus.”

  The tech dipped his head slightly before leaving. Tonya gave her attention to the man still standing. He was tall and several shades darker than her own creamy complexion. His head was bald, but his eyebrows, mustache, and stubble were white. He looked to be a man who used to take care of his body. His forearms were corded with muscle that extended underneath his T-shirt, but his stomach protruded over his pants.

  “Have a seat, Mr. Ives.”

  He didn’t look at her or even acknowledge that she’d spoken. Tonya gave him a few seconds to comply.

  He remained standing.

  It was a little strange that Mr. Ives chose to be obstinate about such a small request. “Do you want me to stand up too, or are you okay with me sitting down?”

  He looked at her then. “That’s up to you. I don’t have control over what you do.”

  “That’s true. Would you be willing to answer some questions, Mr. Ives?”

  He shrugged. “That depends on what they are.”

  “Some of them are personal and could be difficult.”

  “What’ll happen if I don’t answer those?”

  “Not a thing.”

  He stared at her. Then his eyes narrowed. “No tricks and no special medicine to put me in a…easier mood?”

  “We don’t do that here.”

  Mr. Ives grunted.

  “Why do you think you’re here, Mr. Ives?”

  He just stared at her.

  “You’re in an adult mental health ward. Do you think that’s where you need to be?”

  He still didn’t respond.

  Tonya studied him. “Do you plan on answering any question I ask you?”

  Mr. Ives blinked.

  Inexplicably, Tonya was agitated. She picked up the assessment paperwork and stood.

  She walked toward him slowly. “How about this? You look over this form and mark the questions you’re willing to answer or just go ahead and write down what you want to say.” She wasn’t above meeting him halfway. Whatever helped the most.

  Tonya held out the paper. Mr. Ives glanced at her and took the form. He folded it and put it behind his back.

  Tonya tried really hard not to sigh out loud. It wouldn’t help for him to know he was get
ting to her. Frankly, she was stunned by her reaction, especially given her recent good mood.

  “I’m here to help, Mr. Ives. I don’t want to take anything from you or force you to accept something you don’t want. I want to work with you, not against you.”

  Mr. Ives brought the paper to his chest and started tearing it to pieces. He stared at her, defiant. Tonya looked at him and analyzed her growing irritation. His attitude, passive-aggressive behavior, and obvious need for control reminded Tonya of her father. She wasn’t the right person to help this man.

  She walked around and behind him to open the door. Mr. Ives turned, and Tonya did her best to smile.

  Mr. Ives looked confused. His face hardened and then went blank as he walked out the door. Tonya motioned for a tech to follow. She glanced toward the main desk. Stephanie was staring at her. She must have seen something in Tonya’s face, her eyes. Stephanie began to move toward her.

  With a shake of her head, Tonya silently stopped her. Stephanie nodded but still looked worried. Tonya tried to smile, but it wasn’t easy.

  Tonya turned and reentered her office. Her anger shifted from the background to the forefront. She was upset with herself, but most of all, she was upset with her father. Tonya couldn’t allow their deteriorating relationship to seep into her professional life. It wasn’t healthy for her or her patients. She had to find some way to deal with it. She looked at the time and pulled her cell phone from her purse.

  She dialed without hesitation.

  “Hey! Pretty good timing. I still have twenty minutes to my next class,” Tracy said.

  “I think there’s a possibility that you can help me with Daddy.”

  Tracy was quiet, but Tonya could practically hear her thinking. Maybe she was trying to come up with ways to let her down easy. Why would she want to damage her relationship with their father? It was damn near perfect as far as Tonya could see.

  “Okay, but I can’t come until after work Saturday night. I got another part-time job so I could start saving money now, but I could be home by eleven thirty or so.”

  Tonya blinked. She opened her mouth to speak, but she had no words.

  “You’re my sister, my family. I want things to be right between all of us.”