Bad Boy Brother

by Chance Carter

  Paul spoke with classic surfer enthusiasm. Meadow nervously walked up behind him, and I knew I had a new best friend job to do.

  “That’s awesome. I’m glad to hear it. Did Kane head back at the same time as you and Jason?”

  I looked at Paul and then back at Meadow. Her eyes thanked me.

  “No. Kane didn’t end up coming. It was just Jason and I,” Paul said.

  Meadow and I gave each other the same confused look. She made her way behind the counter and picked up a cloth to look busy.

  “Really? Kane didn’t go? For the entire week?” I said, making sure I’d heard correctly.

  “No. You guys haven’t seen him around?” Paul said, now almost as confused as we were.

  “Nope,” I said.

  “He texted me to say he wouldn’t be able to make it. I was out on the water so didn’t respond. I just figured when he got to the shop, he realized there was more work than he thought and he had to stay to get it done. You guys really haven’t seen him in here or the brewery?”

  “No. No sign of him,” I said as Meadow continued to wipe the same spot on the counter.

  “At all?”

  “Not at all,” I said.

  “That’s weird. I wonder what happened to him?” Paul said, starting to look worried.

  I left Paul to look over the menu and gave Meadow a sympathetic rub on the shoulder. Suddenly Paul slammed his menu down on the counter, making us both jump.

  “Oh, Meadow, there’s something I wanted to tell you.”

  “What?”

  There was an undeniable hint of fear in her voice. Even I got tense wondering what he was about to say.

  “I called that buddy of mine with the apartment.”

  “Oh, right, the apartment,” she said with a sigh of relief.

  “He said it’s totally empty right now. You can move in as soon as you want.”

  “What? Really? Are you serious?” Meadow asked, shocked by the good news.

  “Serious. He said I can bring you by tomorrow night to check it out.”

  “Oh, Paul, that’s so amazing to hear. I thought when I hadn’t heard from you that it meant it was a no go. Thank you so much. I’d love to check it out. I’m sure it’s perfect.”

  Meadow went around the counter and this time gave Paul a much less awkward hug.

  After the hug she said to us, “Hey, you guys, watch this.”

  She picked up a copy of the daily paper and put it under her arm. Paul and I looked at each other, very confused. She grabbed a glass of water and the pot of coffee. We watched her walk away, toward Mr. Mathers sitting in his booth.

  When Paul and I figured out what we were supposed to be watching, we looked at each other and laughed. She confidently put down the water and paper and started to fill up his coffee cup. It wasn’t until we saw Mr. Mathers reach out and insist she sit down with him that we both dropped our jaws. Not only had Meadow learned what to do when Mr. Mathers came in, but he had already taken a shine to her and was now talking her ear off. She looked over at us and winked.

  “Geez. That didn’t take long,” Paul said.

  “I can’t believe it. It took him months to warm up to me like that. That Meadow is quite the little charmer,” I said.

  Paul watched her and smiled. I went back to check with the kitchen on an order I was waiting for. Before we knew it, all the tables were full again. Paul hung around at the counter while Meadow and I did our thing. When the last table finally left, Paul followed behind them to flip the sign and lock the door. Then, he pitched in with the cleanup so we could all get out quicker.

  “There. We’re all done. Thanks for helping out, Paul. We should buy you a beer,” I said.

  “Hey, no problem, but I’ll pass on the beer. I’m pretty wiped from the trip.”

  “Rain check then,” I said, giving him a hug.

  “How about you Meadow? Shall we have our traditional after work beverage?” I asked, sure she’d say yes.

  “Actually, I’m pretty exhausted too. I think I just might call it a night,” she said.

  “Well then, I guess I’m having wine for one at home tonight,” I joked as we all walked out of the restaurant.

  Meadow stopped on the spot and stood on the edge of the sidewalk as she looked up and down the street.

  “Where’d you park?” Paul asked her.

  “I can’t remember. I swear I was parked out front, but it’s not here. Where did I leave it?”

  She was confused and deep in thought as she tried to remember where her car was parked. She walked to the corner and looked up the side street. Paul and I started talking and then she called back to us.

  “You guys. I know I didn’t park on the side street. I remember so clearly parking out front today.”

  She looked at me and I could tell she was worried.

  “You sure you drove?” Paul said.

  “Yes. For sure. I’ve been driving every day. I get here so early that there’s always parking on the main street. My car was here and now it’s gone,” she said, now speaking louder and with distinct panic in her voice.

  “It might have been stolen, Meadow. I swear, if your car was actually stolen I will be so pissed off. Who steals cars? Shitty people, that’s who. I can’t believe it. This is unacceptable. I’m calling the police.”

  I fished through my purse to find my phone. I was furious that someone would do that. Car theft was rare in Pismo Beach, but every now and then some asshole would show up. Meadow continued to nervously pace up and down the street, searching for her car. Suddenly she stopped and looked back at me as I was on the phone waiting for someone at the police station to answer.

  “Sandra, hang up.”

  “What? Why? Your car was stolen. We need to report it as soon as possible so they can catch the bastards.”

  “Seriously. Please hang up. Please don’t call the police,” she insisted.

  I was confused. I looked at her and then at Paul who shrugged and was clearly as confused as me.

  “My car wasn’t stolen. I’m so embarrassed,” she started to say with a nervous laugh.

  “I just realized what happened. I remember exactly where I parked now. It was down the street, over there, right by that fire hydrant. I must have parked too close to it. I’m such an idiot. I clearly hadn’t had my coffee yet.”

  She was standing on the street and pointing to the hydrant.

  “If you park even an inch under fifteen feet from a fire hydrant in this town, you’re getting towed. They’re ruthless. I’ve learned that lesson more than once,” Paul said.

  “I’m sure that’s what happened. My car is fine. I just made a silly mistake and I was towed,” Meadow said with an embarrassed smile.

  “I’ll give you a ride to the impound lot,” Paul said. “I know exactly where they take them. There’s only one place in town.”

  “Oh no, that’s okay. You guys go home. I’ll deal with it tomorrow.”

  “Dude, it’s no trouble and it’s easier just to get out out of the way now,” Paul said.

  Meadow finally caved and accepted his offer. I gave them both hugs before they hopped in his car.

  CHAPTER 42

  MEADOW

  I got into Paul’s car and fastened my seatbelt.

  “Before we go to the impound, I’m going to swing by Kane’s place, okay? It’s weird you guys haven’t seen him around,” Paul said.

  “Oh, Kane’s place, sure. Are you worried?” I asked, trying desperately not to show how worried I was.

  I was still shocked Kane hadn’t gone to Big Sur. If he wasn’t there, and he wasn’t in town, then where was he?

  And why didn’t he go? Wouldn’t that be the perfect thing to do after a crazy woman terrorized you in your own home? I’d gone through the entire week thinking he was with the guys, now that I found out he wasn’t, I was really scared.

  I looked across at Paul. He seemed worried too. At least he had no clue of what had happened at Kane’s place. I wanted to keep
it that way. I felt responsible enough for Kane’s sudden disappearance as it was.

  And I was still so embarrassed. Embarrassed at how I’d reacted when I saw Carolyn’s picture. Embarrassed I’d slept with Kane first chance I got. I tried not to ask any questions about Kane in case I came across as too interested.

  So I sat there silently. I could have saved us some time by saying I knew Kane wasn’t home. I knew he wasn’t there because I checked earlier that morning before work, and the morning before that, and the morning before that. I’d been by, every day since the day I stormed out. I went back to check if he was home, but he never was.

  I had heard nothing from him since that morning. I wished more than anything that he’d at least respond to my text so that I’d know he was okay.

  “If he’s not there, where do you think he could be?” I said, looking out the window and twirling my hair in my fingers.

  “Not sure. Kane is a creature of habit. If he’s not at home, he’s at the shop, and if he’s not at the shop, he’s at the brewery,” Paul said. “If he’s not at any of those places, then I really have no idea.”

  Now I was really getting worried. I’d been by all three of those places multiple times and there’d definitely been no sign of Kane all week.

  I knew Kane wasn’t in town. It was a small place and I’d have seen him. I desperately wanted to know where he was. Maybe when we got to the house, Paul would have a key or something or would get more ideas as to where we could look.

  We got closer to Kane’s house and he slowed down. Paul parked in the driveway and got out.

  “I don’t see his Jeep, but I’m just going to run up to the door and check,” he said.

  And that’s when I realized!

  Oh my God!

  My letter.

  My stomach twisted as I watched Paul walk up to the front door. I prayed he’d just go up, knock on the door, and then we could be on our way. He knocked and peeked in the window when there was no answer. He called down to me and said he was going around to check the back. That’s when I flung my door open and leapt out.

  “I can check the back. How about you check the workshop?” I said, running to catch up to him.

  “Sure,” he said, turning for the garage.

  Relieved, I slowed down and caught my breath as I walked up the stairs to the back door. When I got to the top, my heart sank when I saw my note was still exactly where I left it.

  Where was he?

  When I wrote that note, I’d been desperate to speak to him so I could apologize. Now, I was more desperate than ever. I heard Paul behind me and grabbed my note, shoving it in my back pocket.

  “No sign of him back here either,” I said to Paul.

  “Oh well, I don’t know what else to do,” he said. “I’ll try calling him and I can swing by his shop in the morning. For now, we might as well go get your car.”

  It was a fifteen minute drive to the impound. We didn’t speak much, and I knew we were both thinking about Kane.

  When we got to the impound I climbed out of the car.

  “Paul, thank you so much for the ride.”

  “No problem. I’ll wait to make sure you get your car back.”

  “Oh no, there’s no need.”

  “Don’t be crazy, of course I’m waiting,” Paul insisted. “I’m not leaving a woman here alone at night.”

  “No really. I can already see my car there at the back,” I said, pointing toward the lot. “I’ll just pay up and be on my way.”

  “All right,” Paul said, still unsure, “if you insist.”

  “I do insist,” I said, grabbing my purse.

  I gave him a friendly wave as I turned to walk towards the office and he pulled out of the lot.

  CHAPTER 43

  MEADOW

  As I walked away, I listened to Paul’s car reversing behind me. The office was around the corner in a small trailer. A light was on inside. I heard Paul pull back onto the road and turned to watch him go. He gave me a couple of short honks and waved through the back, then he was gone.

  I let out a sigh of relief.

  When I’d pointed to my car, I couldn’t actually see it. I just pretended to so Paul would feel comfortable leaving me. I had no idea if it was there, and deep down, I was sure it wasn’t. I didn’t actually believe it had been towed.

  At first when I saw it was gone, I thought the same thing as Sandra, that it had been stolen. Then I thought maybe I just forgot where I’d parked. Then I turned back and saw Sandra calling the police.

  That was when it hit me. My car had been stolen. I’d stolen it. From Matt! It was in his name. In his classic style, he’d ‘given’ me the car without ever signing it legally into my name. It was the way he liked things, always in complete control of everything.

  I was screwed. And too embarrassed to tell Paul and Sandra the truth. I hadn’t counted on Paul taking me all the way to the impound.

  Despite knowing my car wasn’t there, I popped into the office to check anyway. Just as I’d suspected, the guy confirmed they didn’t have it.

  With every ounce, I knew Matt had taken it back. Somehow, he’d found me, and figured out one more way to screw with my life.

  The second I realized it was gone out front of the café, an awful feeling came over me. It almost made my skin crawl. I’d looked around, but it wasn’t for my car, it was to see if Matt was still there, watching me. And then, in the car with Paul, I remembered the GPS anti-theft protection my car had, which allowed Matt to look up it’s location whenever he wanted.

  I’d never escaped him, not as long as I was driving his car.

  I was so naive. I’d thought blocking his phone number was all I needed to do to get him out of my life. I should have known better. Pismo Beach wasn’t far enough away to escape him. Nowhere was.

  But what could I do?

  I called a cab on my cell and paced around the parking lot in front of the office as I waited for it. I wondered if Matt was still in town. Maybe he just came to reclaim what was his and left when he had it. But was that me being naive again? Was that too simple?

  I’d parked right in front of the café. He easily could have looked inside and seen me working there. I felt sick at the thought. Maybe he’d sent someone to get it for him. I hoped he had. He was probably too busy fucking random women to do his own dirty work. But the thought that he’d been in town was definitely very disturbing.

  The cab driver pulled up outside the motel and I paid him. I should have told him to swing by a liquor store so I could buy a bottle of gin. I could use a drink to clearthe thoughts that were swirling in my head.

  I walked past the motel office and saw the same cute surfer girl that had been working the night I checked in. I went inside.

  “Hey, any chance you have a large envelope to spare?”

  She rummaged around under her desk and came back with one.

  “I’m pushing my luck, but do you have stamps too?”

  She smiled and handed me an entire sheet of stamps.

  “Really? You don’t mind?”

  “Anything for a customer,” she said, making a joke.

  I laughed and thanked her. When I got into my room, I saw a plate of fresh cinnamon rolls and a note sitting on the desk.

  “I hope you’re enjoying your time in Pismo Beach. If you liked my muffins, you’ll love my cinnamon rolls.”

  It was official, the old lady who ran this place was the best hotel matron in history.

  I took a bite from one of the rolls and shut my eyes as I savored the sweet taste. I licked the homemade icing off my fingers and bent down to unlock the safe in my room. I took my envelope of cash out and tossed it on the bed. I picked up a pen, pad of paper, a second cinnamon roll and sat down at the desk and started writing.

  Matthew,

  You’ve got your car, and now you’ve got your money back too. You have what you want, and I’ve realized I no longer need any of it anyway. Please respect that we are over and leave me alone to liv
e my life peacefully. I’m making a life for myself without your help or the help of anyone else. You were wrong about me. You knocked me down, but you can’t break me. I am stronger without you. If you get a divorce agreement drawn up and sent to this motel, I’ll sign and return it and I won’t ask you for a penny.

  Goodbye Matt,

  Meadow

  I folded the letter and put it in the envelope with all the cash. It was a lot of money to let go of, but I didn’t want it. I knew I had to send it back. If he was coming here to get his car, I knew he’d be sniffing around for the money too. It was fine by me. He could have it. I wanted to cut all possible ties to him.

  I addressed the envelope and put my shoes back on to walk a few blocks to mail the letter. It was odd, I didn’t feel anxious at all. I felt nothing as I wrote that letter to him. I wasn’t mad. I wasn’t sad. I was just done. What I knew for sure was that I was doing the right thing. I felt strong and confident. I knew I’d be fine.

  I got to the mailbox and lifted the envelope to lick it. In that moment I remembered that Paul was showing me that apartment the next day. If I wanted it, I’d have to put down first and last month’s rent and likely a damage deposit too.

  I shook my head. Independence, sure, but within reason.

  I reached into the envelope and pulled out a few thousand. He’d never miss it.

  I licked the adhesive strip and stopped again to take out an extra twenty dollar bill. My next drink would be on him! I’d earned it!

  CHAPTER 44

  KANE

  Diary Entry

  I miss you so much it hurts.

  I’m coming back for you soon, and when I get there, I’m going to do something to you I only ever dreamed of.

  Want me to tell you what boys really want? Want to know what we think about in our deepest, most private moments?

  Are you sure you can handle it?

  I don’t know. Maybe you’re going to read this someday and get shocked. Maybe it’s too much for you. I’ll tell you what. If you can’t handle it, stop reading. Stop reading right now and never pick up this diary again. Because this diary is the truth. It’s what’s inside a man’s mind. It’s what we want from you, what we demand of you, and if you can’t say yes to absolutely everything your man demands, then you can’t read about it either.