by Len Webster
He leant over and wiped the tears from Josh’s cheeks. “You’re not too injured to watch Iron Man, are you? Tony Stark needs you to be tough.”
Josh’s bottom lip trembled. “I’m tough,” he whispered.
“How tough?” Sam asked, raising his brow.
His son’s nostrils flared, an indication that he was riled up and forgetting the pain he might have been in. “Tougher than Captain America!”
“That’s not that tough.”
Josh scrambled to his feet and flexed his arms. “Tougher than the Hulk!”
Sam played along and pretended to be scared. “That’s tough.”
The young Marvel fanatic nodded and set his hands on his hips. “See, I am tough. I will pick up my Lego and wear my Hulk pjs. I’ll see you in the lounge soon!”
Determined as ever.
“Well, superhero, don’t be too long,” Sam said as he got off the floor. Then he made his way to the door and spun around. He watched as Josh picked up the brightly coloured Lego pieces and returned them to the tub.
He loved the kid.
No one would ever come as close as his love for him.
Once Josh had a handful of Legos in his hand, Sam watched intently as his little hand opened up and the small bricks fell into the box.
He’d build him the Lego table tomorrow.
He’d get Beth to send him the link or whatever he needed to see it on Pinterest.
“I love you, Josh,” he said wholeheartedly.
Josh tilted his head in Sam’s direction and gave him a big smile. “Love you, too, Dad.”
Words Sam would treasure long past forever.
Flipping the manila folder open, Sam picked up the report on community feedback over the intended expansion of the train network out to Melbourne Airport. The Minister for Transport and the Minister for Roads were working closely together on the project. It was one of the reasons Labor won the re-election. The project would cost almost a half billion dollars in taxpayer money, but the state needed the infrastructure. The main problems they faced included several communities not being particularly pleased about having a line going through their suburbs. And they had voiced their opinions through emails, social media, and news polls. More good than bad. Many were in favour of the project, and it appeared the government had community backing. It was up to Sam to give both Ministers and the government the information they needed to address the public—though it would take him all night.
The mini movie marathon of the first Iron Man film had tired Josh halfway through. Sam hadn’t minded as his son fell asleep next to him. As soon as the credits rolled, Sam had inspected Josh’s elbow to see the makings of a fresh bruise and then carefully tucked him into bed. Once Sam had closed the door behind him, he had returned to his office to continue with work.
A knock echoed through the house, and Sam glanced up from the file. He had stilled, listening for another sound. Then he heard them. A series of three, soft and gentle, as if the person on the other side of the door was being polite. No one ever stopped by this late except for Phil. But his best friend knew that his son was sleeping over. He usually never wanted to interrupt Sam’s time with Josh.
Setting the report down on the desk, Sam got out of the chair and then exited his office. On his way to see who was at the door, he had ensured that Josh’s bedroom door was shut. He didn’t want the unexpected visitor to wake him. Once he had reached the front door, he flicked the outside lights on. Opting not to check who it was through the peephole, Sam opened the door.
He flinched in shock.
“Meredith,” he breathed.
He hadn’t seen her since he stopped by her classroom on her first day of teaching his son four days ago. Josh loved her, and his son’s approval had not surprised Sam. Meredith was loved by all. She had this beautiful light to her that radiated warmth to the people she had met.
Sam took her in. Her blonde hair was straight, and she had on a lot more makeup than he was used to seeing her wear. She wore a tight dark blue dress and looked stunning. He knew that she’d only dress up that way for a date. She had gone out with someone, and the thought had his heart dipping. On Monday, she had confessed that she had come home because she was lonely. It was now Friday night, and she had gone on a date. Sam shouldn’t have been so surprised. Any man with eyes could see that Meredith Driessen was the perfect catch. Even if she never realised just how beautiful she was, she could make men do stupid things—Sam included.
“What—”
“I just ran out on my date to be here. Why would I do that?” she asked, appearing mystified, as if she couldn’t even comprehend what she had done. She had asked as if Sam should know the answer.
He blinked at her, unsure of what to really say. “I don’t know.”
Meredith shook her head in disbelief as she stared at her hands. “I ran out of the restaurant and left Tony there. Without any reason or excuse. I just left. Got into a waiting taxi and came here. Why would I do something like that?”
“I don’t know,” he repeated. “I don’t know why you would do that.”
She had let out a sigh before she lifted her chin to face him. Those beautiful, lost, and unsure blue eyes focused on him. He’d been the one to dull their colour. They used to be brighter; they used to sparkle with happiness and warmth. Meredith used to be many things before he tore out her heart and ruined her.
“I guess …” She paused and then took a deep breath. “I guess to see if things between us are finished.”
His heartbeat picked up. Hope fuelled its acceleration and his determination. It was almost painful. But Sam loved the feeling. This was his second chance with Meredith. For the first time in a long time, he thought he could bring her back.
Sam had remained quiet, taking in that uncertain expression on her face. Seven years ago, she had loved him. Seven years ago, he had told her that he hadn’t loved her.
All lies.
All to keep Beth and Josh safe.
“So I’m here to see if things are done. Are we finished, Sam?”
chapter twenty-three
MEREDITH
Eight years ago
“Oh my God, Meredith! Stop being so freakin’ mopey. Samuel Michaels is an idiot for not wanting to be your science partner. You’re hot and nice. You can find any guy inside that party who’ll want you. I can assure you, you will have a waiting line,” her best friend, Margot, explained as Meredith unbuckled her seat belt.
Her cheeks felt hot as she caught Cooper Hepburn staring at her from the rearview mirror.
God, she was ridiculous.
She was pining after a guy who didn’t even want to be her science partner, let alone want anything to do with her. Now, Margot’s older brother could see just how pathetic Meredith really was.
Perfect?
Far from it.
Stupid and an absolute child?
Definitely.
“Margie, leave Meredith alone,” Cooper said.
“What? It’s true! She could get any guy at that party. She doesn’t need Sam bloody oblivious Michaels.” Margot let out a huff and got out of the car.
Cooper turned to face her. He gave her a smile that rid her of her embarrassment. She had always liked Cooper. He’d always been nice to her. She was his little sister’s best friend. He treated her like a sister, too. Though Cooper was older than they were by two years and could drive, he was also out of her league. He was attractive, but she only ever thought of him as a brother.
She did not have those ‘I’m in love with my best friend’s brother’ fantasies about Cooper.
“Don’t worry about Margot, Meredith. I know she dragged you out here even though you didn’t want to come. You’re a great friend to her. You go and have fun tonight. No pressure. You don’t have to talk to any guy you don’t want to. You still have my number saved in you
r phone?”
She nodded.
“All right. Call me when you wanna be picked up, okay? I’ll be at home so don’t think you can’t call me for a ride,” Cooper said.
“I won’t. Thanks for the lift, Coop.”
He winked at her. “No problem at all. Stay out of trouble and have fun tonight.” Then his smile faded. “You mind keeping an eye on her? Phil’s not coming to the party until after his footy presentation or something. She’s still mad that he opted to take his mum as his date instead of her.”
Meredith smiled. “I’ll look after her,” she promised as she reached for the door handle.
“Meredith?”
Her fingertips had met the handle. “Yeah?”
“If Sam doesn’t see how amazing you are, it’s his loss. You’re a great girl. Don’t be upset about it. He’s a stupid kid.”
Her smile deepened at his compliment. “Thanks, Coop.”
He nodded. “You take a shot for me, or I’ll be cross.”
Meredith rolled her eyes and then got out of the car. It was nice having Margot’s brother being there to drive them around. Margot’s older sister, Megan, wouldn’t have. Megan was nice at times, but Margot never went to her. She always sweet-talked Cooper instead.
She got out of Cooper’s car and closed the door behind her. Margot’s brother beeped his horn once then drove off. Meredith scanned the front garden to see that Margot had already gone inside. She let out a sigh. She was sure she didn’t know anyone at this party. Margot was the more social one. The party was held in Hayden Hills, a few suburbs over and just over a twenty-minute drive from Warren Meadows. There were rumours that some of the kids from school would be going, too, but most of their classmates didn’t have their licenses to drive to the party. Meredith and Margot were both sixteen, and Meredith had only just gotten her learner’s permit. They were lucky to have Coop be their driver.
Meredith tucked her curled blonde hair behind her ear and made her way towards the double-story house. It was Shaun Yeller’s house. His father was a doctor, famous in the region for being the best. From what Meredith knew of Shaun, he wanted to become a doctor, too. She’d seen him at a match Phil had played that she and Margot had attended months ago. Wrapping her fingers tightly around her clutch, Meredith made her way up the driveway and towards the grand front door. It was impressively large with intricate floral wood detailing. When she opened the door and stepped into the house, the loud music had washed over her in loud thumps.
The mass of people overwhelmed her. Parties were not her speciality. It made her feel awkward, and it also made her very aware of how anti-social and friendless she was when Margot ditched her. Just like right now. Getting on her tippy toes hadn’t helped because she still couldn’t find her best friend in the sea of faces and bodies. As she had previously thought, she didn’t recognise anyone. With a sigh, she waddled between people talking and dancing, all the while apologising for getting in the way. It took several minutes for her to make it to the kitchen. She found a free spot by the rubbish bin where she could stand and wait for Margot.
It seemed fitting.
With a heavy exhale, Meredith opened her clutch and pulled out her phone. Then she went into her messages and began to text Margot.
Meredith: Where are you?
She waited.
Minutes ticked by.
As she waited, a drunk guy had spilt his drink on her arm. All Meredith had done was smile and tell him it was all right. But it wasn’t. She wished she were a lot more confident to speak her mind.
Meredith: Margot, seriously. I know no one. When is Phil getting here? At least I can talk to him.
Margot: Don’t you dare talk about him to me! I am really pissed off at him.
Meredith: He’s your boyfriend.
Margot: When he wants to be.
Meredith: Where are you?
Margot: Getting into trouble. Don’t look for me.
“Are you kidding me?” She shook her head disappointingly at her best friend’s messages. Getting in trouble meant she was somewhere getting drunk which annoyed Meredith. She hadn’t even wanted to come tonight. She had allowed Margot to drag her all the way to Hayden Hills to stand alone in some stranger’s kitchen.
“Sweetheart, that frown does not belong at my party,” someone said next to her.
Meredith jumped when he took her phone from her. “Hey!”
His green eyes twinkled as the smirk touched his lips. He was a lot taller than she was. Definitely over six foot. He was large in frame with muscles but had a slim face, almost baby-like in comparison. He slipped her clutch from her hand and dropped her phone inside.
“It’s a party. Hasn’t anyone ever told you that you’re supposed to have fun?”
Then he handed her the clutch back. “I was just finding out where my friend was.”
“I can help you look for her if you want?”
“Really?” She smiled. “That would be great. There are so many people here.”
He chuckled. “I told my friends to invite a couple of people for drinks, and I guess word got out.”
My party.
He had said those two words earlier.
“Wait. This is your—”
“Yep. This is my place. I’m Shaun Yeller. You’re Meredith, right?”
Meredith flinched in surprise. “You know my name?”
He nodded with a grin. “I’ve seen you around. What’s your friend’s name?”
“Her name’s Margot. I don’t know where she could have gone.”
Shaun appeared to mull it over as he set his beer bottle on the marble counter. “I got a feeling she’s upstairs if you didn’t pass her getting here.”
Meredith felt her phone vibrate in her clutch. She gave Shaun an apologetic smile as she dug it out. Then she saw Phil’s name.
Phil: Meredith, did you girls get there okay? Margot’s not answering her phone.
She didn’t want Phil to worry about his girlfriend, and girl code had her ensuring that she covered for Margot.
Meredith: We did. It’s so loud in here!
Phil: All right. I’ll be there in about thirty minutes. Getting my cousin to drive.
Meredith: Okay. See you soon.
“Your boyfriend?” Shaun asked.
Meredith glanced at him and saw the curiosity in his green eyes. Shaun had been sweet to her. He knew of her, and he didn’t make her nervous. Shaun was different. And different was new to her, so new that she smiled at him.
“Margot’s,” she answered.
The flash of relief in his eyes had her heart skipping a beat. No butterflies but heartbeat skipping. She hadn’t felt butterflies since Samuel Michaels had taken an F for her in home economics last term.
Shaun took her hand once Meredith returned her phone to her small bag. There was no heat. No spark. There was nothing. That heartbeat skipping phenomenon had left her. Shaun Yeller holding her hand had meant nothing. Then he led her away from the kitchen counter and towards the stairs.
“How old are you?” he shouted over the loud music for her to hear.
“Sixteen!” Meredith replied in her own raised voice.
He squeezed her hand at her answer. Once they’d made it up the staircase, Meredith began to search the faces of all the people they passed.
Still no Margot.
“Do you see her?” Shaun asked. He didn’t have to shout upstairs. The almost deafening music hadn’t filtered to full effect on the second level of the Yeller house.
When Shaun looked over his shoulder at her, Meredith shook her head. “No.”
“Wanna take a break? Find somewhere quiet to talk?”
She wasn’t sure what to say.
She liked Shaun. She wanted to get to know him.
Going against her better judgement, she nodded.
It
didn’t take long for him to pull her into one of the bedrooms on their right. When he let go of her hand to close the door, Meredith took in the room. It was neat. There was a large bed and a desk with books piled on it. On her left was a large TV with several gaming consoles by it. And a basketball next to a doorway that led to a bathroom.
“Make yourself at home,” he said.
Meredith gave him a tight smile as he walked over to his bed and sat on it. Then he patted the spot next to him.
Swallowing hard, she took shaky steps until she sat next to him. Shaun set a hand on her thigh, touching parts of her dress and her bare skin. His fingers began to trail up her thigh and caused her to freeze. Just as she was about to back away, he took her clutch off her and let it fall to the floor with a loud thump.
Not as loud as her erratic heart’s beat.
She wasn’t sure what to do.
She’d never been in a boy’s bedroom before.
In fact, she had no idea why she had agreed to sit in here with him.
Shaun cupped the right side of her face with his palm. It was smooth and gentle. But it felt off. “I can see your mind working. Your eyes continually move around, like little gears. What’s going on in that pretty little head of yours?”
“Nothing,” she lied.
“Are you sure you’re sixteen?”
“Why?”
He dipped his head so that his lips hovered over hers. “So I don’t get in trouble.”
“Troub—”
His mouth on hers had silenced her. Stole her words from her.
He was relentless.
His kiss was awful.
