Unbroken -Part One - A Second Chance at Love Romance: The Collective - Season 1, Episode 1

by Riley Edwards

  I felt his breath fan across my lips, so close, his lips were so close to mine.

  He wanted us safe.

  Chapter Eight

  Friend’s List

  Reid

  With her forehead against mine, I could feel her every exhale. I was literally breathing her in. The fresh scent of lavender filled my senses and my body hardened. The visceral reaction was unstoppable. This was not the time or place, but in all the years I had known Ava I had never touched her, not like this. Not in any intimate way.

  My hand on the back of her head fisted her beautiful blonde strands. It took all of my self-control not to tilt her head back and take her mouth. I was desperate for her. The reality of this moment was so much better than my nightly fantasies.

  She was trembling, and I could feel the war that raged inside of her. She wanted to melt into me, but she would resist. The cinderblock walls she lived behind would need to be carefully chipped away. Not so fast that she would lock up and run, but fast enough she wouldn’t be able to patch the cracks I made.

  “Reid,” she started.

  “I am going to ask you to trust me. I know this is hard for you. You are the most independent, self-sufficient woman I know, but you need help. Let me keep you safe.”

  “I don’t understand what is even happening. Do you think Jimmy will hurt us? Maybe we should just go to Texas for a while.” Her voice was low and soft, but she didn’t try to pull away.

  “That is the worst thing you could do. I need to find out what went down in Texas that made Jimmy run to California. I don’t know why he is here yet. Do I think he’ll hurt you? Not on purpose, and not him directly. But whoever followed him to San Fran wouldn’t bat an eye at hurting you to get to Jimmy. We have a few options. I have a safe house in Ventura or a cabin up north…”

  “No,” she interrupted. “You have cases. I can’t pull you away from your work. You need to be close to your office.”

  “My cases are not important. Besides, you do realize I have employees that can handle my business in my absence, don’t you? You and JJ are more important.”

  “I can’t ask you…”

  “You’re not asking. I’m offering. More than that, I’m not taking no for an answer.”

  Was she nuts? Did she really think that my caseload was more important than her safety? Than JJ’s?

  “Thank you,” Ava whispered.

  “You keep saying that. Sweetheart, there is no need to thank me. I would do anything for you and JJ.”

  Her tears were my downfall. I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her to me. She burrowed in, tucking her head under my chin. She was a perfect fit. I held her tight and let her cry into my chest. No words were needed.

  The front door opened and Mac walked in, followed by some uniformed cops. Great, the whole fucking nosy block would be talking about this before lunch. The neighbor to Ava’s right was a busybody. I’d be surprised if she wasn’t out there already in the skimpiest nightie she owned, trying to get information from the cops. So much for keeping this low key. Ava was not going to be happy about being the gossip of the day. If I was smart, I could use it to my advantage to get her off the block and somewhere safe for a few days.

  Ava lifted her head and stiffened in my arms. Our moment was ruined and reality rushed back. Before I could stop her, she was out of my arms and marching across the room towards Mac.

  Oh, shit! She looked like one pissed off woman.

  “Mac, I am going to try and say this the nicest way I can. Back the hell off! I know you’re trying to help, but you way overstepped this morning calling Suzie. Del Mar’s is my business. Mine, not yours. You had no right making arrangements for my café,” Ava shouted, her hands flying out to her sides.

  Oh yeah, she was pissed. Mac glanced my way, his eyes pleading for help. I shook my head and looked down, admiring Ava’s newly refinished hardwood floors. Payback’s a bitch. He was on his own.

  “Ava, I was trying to help. This morning has been jacked. I didn’t want you to have to worry about Del Mar’s. Michael is on duty this morning. He knew about the vandalism, so I didn’t think I was breaking confidence by asking your best friend and manager to open so you could handle your house and JJ,” Mac tried to explain.

  Bringing up JJ was smart. It normally worked. If Ava was the slightest bit mad, you could turn the topic to JJ and she would normally relent. Not today. Manipulative? Sure it was. But with women, especially this woman, you had to use every tool you had to your advantage.

  “Not cool. Don’t do it again. You should’ve asked me. I didn’t like hearing it from Suzie. One more bonehead move and you’re off my friend's list!” Ava seemed to calm down.

  “I’m sorry. You’re right. Lance is here to ask you a few questions about Jimmy. It shouldn’t take that long. I’ll call the insurance… I mean, would you like me to get the adjuster out here to look at your car and the front of the house?” Mac caught himself at the last second.

  “Baboon,” Ava whispered under her breath. “Yes, thank you. Jenny’s number is in my phone.”

  “I’ve got it in mine,” Mac chuckled.

  Of course, Mac had it. Mac had the number of every semi-attractive woman in a fifty-mile radius. I had no doubt he knew Jenny… in the biblical sense.

  “Mom? Breakfast?” JJ yelled from the kitchen.

  Every man in the room laughed at JJ’s outburst.

  “Crap, I forgot breakfast. Lance is gonna have to wait.” Ava started to walk into the kitchen.

  I cut her off before she could get very far. “You handle this. I’ll get JJ. Breakfast burritos okay?”

  She stared at me and her eyes said it all. She was overwhelmed. The stresses of the morning had taken their toll on her. That was completely unacceptable.

  I lowered my forehead to hers, so only she could hear me, and whispered, “You’re not going to like what happens next. I apologize in advance. I asked you to trust me, this is one of those times.”

  I straightened to my full height and tucked her in close again. This time when I held her, she was stiff as a board. I didn’t know if it was because we were in a room full of police officers or if she just didn’t want me to hold her. I was hoping it was the former.

  “I’m shutting this down. Ava’s done. I’m taking her and JJ to get something to eat, then to my office. Lance is welcome to come there to interview her, but give us a few hours.”

  Is there something stiffer than a board? Whatever that was, Ava became it after my declaration.

  “Copy that, Reid. I’ll bring Lance over when I come for my brief. I’ll handle Jenny and lock up. Just a suggestion, you might want to go out the back.” Mac turned to the cops, “You guys take off.”

  “Don’t I have a say?” Ava asked.

  “Nope,” I replied.

  “But I want a say,” she continued.

  “Not this time. You’re exhausted. You need coffee and little man needs to eat. Both of you need out of this house. There will be plenty of times when I’ll ask your opinion or you’ll have a say, but this is not one of those times.”

  “I don’t think I like that. No! I know I don’t like that. I am not happy about being bossed around and told what I am gonna do,” Ava huffed.

  If she didn’t like that, I’d bet my savings she wasn’t going to like what was coming next.

  “I’m sorry you’re not happy, but sweetheart, right now I don’t give two shits if you’re mad at me or not. I am more concerned about taking care of you.”

  “Mom! I’m dying I’m so hungry,” JJ whined.

  I waited for one of Ava’s witty comebacks. I loved listening to her and JJ’s banter. It was a thing of beauty when they were together.

  Nothing. She remained quiet, just staring at me.

  “Hey, little man, get your stuff. We’re headed out to breakfast and to my office for a little while.”

  “Cool. Can I play Minecraft when we get there?” JJ’s face lit up. All thoughts of dying of starvation were forgo
tten.

  “That’s up to your mom.”

  “Oh goodie, I get to make a decision,” Ava sassed. “JJ, we don’t have time to unhook your Xbox to bring with us.”

  The kid threw me under the bus. “We don’t need mine. Reid bought me one for his office.”

  “He what?”

  Jesus H. I couldn’t catch a break this morning. Every time I put out one fire a new blaze was lit.

  “It’s no big deal. There have been times when I had JJ and had to stop by my office. I didn’t want him to get bored while we were there. I got the Xbox and a few games. Before you ask, there are no shoot-em-up games,” I tried to explain.

  “Mom, it’s awesome. Reid made me my own office. I have a desk for homework, too. He said that I was an honorary member of the crew. He said that since I was a member of the crew all the guys had to watch my back and I had to be a receptacle man. I want to be receptacle.” JJ was bouncing up and down as he told Ava all about his space in my office.

  “Respectable. You want to be respectable,” Ava corrected.

  “Yeah, that. I want to be that. Can we please eat now? I’m still dying.”

  “Yes. Go get your stuff,” Ava directed. As JJ ran up the stairs she turned to me. “You bought him an Xbox and gave him an office?”

  “I did buy the Xbox, yes. His ‘own office’ is a bit of an overstatement. I had one of the guys bring an extra desk into my office and gave him a corner so he could do his homework. I didn’t like it when he was in the conference room and I couldn’t see him. It’s really no big deal.” I didn’t know which way this was gonna go.

  “Thank you. I’m sorry you had to go to all that trouble. I guess I never really thought about how much I asked you for help. I’m really sorry I put you out so much.”

  I didn’t like the far-a-way look in her eyes. Guilt.

  “You’re pissing me off, sweetheart. You’ve never put me out. Having JJ with me is not an imposition and he is never any trouble. I love having him with me. And honestly, I would be mad if you didn’t ask me.”

  “Ready!” JJ came to a skidding halt in front of us.

  “Let’s go out the back so we don’t bother Uncle Mac,” I suggested. “Where should we eat? Pinkcos? They have your mom’s favorite vanilla coffee.”

  “Yes! It’s Mom’s favorite,” JJ agreed.

  Chapter Nine

  Basketball and Pancakes

  Ava

  Reid knew my favorite coffee. He had watched JJ so often that he had bought my son a video game system.

  Where had I been? How did this happen, me relying on Reid for so much? Sure, he asked to take JJ to play basketball almost every Saturday I had to work. And if I couldn’t get out of the restaurant in time to get JJ from school, Reid, more often than Mac, would watch him until I could leave. I just never realized how much I had asked.

  I thought back over the last week. Shit. Reid had JJ three times. It was only for about an hour, but three times Reid had left work to get JJ for me. I was a horrible mother.

  After…well, after I became a single mom, I opened the café so I could make my own schedule. I only served breakfast and lunch so I could close in time to get JJ from school. Me! I was his mother. I should be the one to get him from school. I should be the one to take him to play basketball. Me. Not Reid.

  I was failing. I realized I couldn’t do this on my own. Too many things came up after I closed; late deliveries, things that needed to be repaired, cleaning, the list was endless.

  Much to my mother’s dismay, I had used most of Jacob’s life insurance to pay off my house and buy the restaurant. She had her financial advisor and investment banker friend try to council me on the error of my ways. She had him plan out my financial future, my investment portfolio, and explain why I needed my mortgage interest as a tax write-off. Blah, blah, blah. I ignored their advice and did what I felt was right.

  Maybe I should’ve listened to them. Between my family trust fund and the life insurance, I wouldn’t have had to work. At the time, I thought I needed something to keep me busy. I couldn’t stay home. I would’ve sat and dwelled on all I had lost.

  “Ava.” Reid startled me. “We’re here.”

  “Right.” I quickly unbuckled and looked in the back seat. JJ was vibrating with excitement, his smile infectious. I couldn’t help but return it. “You ready for some chocolate chip pancakes?”

  “I love Pinkcos’ cakes. But don’t tell Dale. It will hurt his feelings. And he makes me special chocolate chip cakes on Sundays.” JJ was referring to the retired police detective who worked in the café on Sundays. He jokingly said it was to give his wife a ‘Dale free day’, but I’m sure he was a little bored in his retirement. He was also the handyman I used around the café.

  “Your secret is safe with me, kiddo. I wouldn’t want Dale to stop making you cakes.”

  This kid!

  Thankfully, Pinkcos wasn’t that busy and we were seated immediately.

  Just as we settled into our seats a spunky, twenty-something waitress came bouncing over. “Hey, Reid. Nice to see you on a weekday,” the woman beamed.

  “Hi, Melanie,” Reid said, giving her a wide smile.

  I narrowed my eyes at Reid, then glared at the woman through squinted lashes. Who the hell was she and why did her spunk piss me off so badly?

  “What can I get you all to drink?” Miss Bouncy asked.

  Before I could answer, Reid ordered for us. “A large vanilla latte, a hot chocolate with extra whip and chocolate sprinkles on it, and a black coffee.”

  She jotted down our order and flounced off, adding a little extra sway in her hips. All for Reid’s benefit, no doubt.

  My mouth dropped open at his audacity. “I can order for myself,” I hissed. Yes, I actually hissed at the man.

  “No need, I knew what you’d order,” he answered.

  “What if I wanted hazelnut today? Sometimes I like to change things up.”

  “Would you like hazelnut today? I’ll ask Melanie to change the order.”

  He was missing the point. “No need to bother Melanie. Vanilla is fine,” I huffed.

  Reid threw his head back and laughed. Jeez, he had a beautiful smile. His dimples were on full display. I had never seen them up close before. They only appeared when his smile was wide and deep. In all the time I had known him, how had I missed how handsome he was when he laughed? He was downright gorgeous. No wonder Melanie was swaying her hips like a cat in heat, trying to get his attention.

  Reid leaned close to me and whispered, “You alright this morning?”

  “Yes, I’m fine. Why do you ask?”

  “Oh, no reason at all.” He chuckled again and turned his attention to JJ.

  Crap. I had forgotten JJ was sitting across the table from us, listening to me carry on about drink orders. Where the hell was my head today?

  “Have you thought any more about joining the rec basketball team? Summer tryouts are coming up,” Reid asked.

  “No. I haven’t asked Mom yet. If I go to summer camp again this year I won’t be able to make practices,” JJ answered.

  Summer basketball? I silently chastised myself for not knowing my son wanted to play basketball. What else was I missing out on? When did I become this mother? The one that had no clue what her own child was doing? Was JJ a latchkey kid without the key?

  “I didn’t know you wanted to play rec ball.”

  “I really like playing when I go with Reid, and the coach says I am getting really good. It would be fun but…”

  Melanie the hip-swayer came back with our drinks, not allowing JJ to finish his thought.

  “Here you are. Do you all know what you’d like or do you need a minute?” Melanie looked around the table.

  Reid put his hands out in front of him like he was trying to ward off an attack. Smart man.

  I put down the menu. “I think we’re ready. I’ll have the ham and cheese omelet, extra bacon. JJ will have an order of chocolate chip pancakes with extra bacon as well.�
�� When I was done, I glanced over at Reid. It was his turn to have his mouth hanging open. “What?”

  “You know how big that omelet is?” he asked.

  “Yes. What are you trying to say?”

  “Nothing, sweetheart, just wondering. I’ll have…”

  Miss Know-it-all hip-swayer interrupted, blurting out, “Your usual three egg whites scrambled, hash browns, sausage links, and bacon. With an everything bagel toasted. Got it.”

  There she went, swishing her ass for all to see.

  Trollop.

  “Isn’t that sweet? Little Miss Melanie knows your order,” I said before my brain re-engaged and I thought better of my snarky comment.

  “Why Ava, is that jealousy I detect?” Reid spoke directly in my ear so JJ couldn’t hear.

  “As if!”

  Wow! That made me sound like a silly teenager. Jealous? Was I jealous of the beautiful, twenty-something waitress? There was no way, not that I could even remember what jealousy felt like. Reid must’ve had a screw loose.

  “Anyway, please continue what you were saying before we ordered.” I motioned for JJ to continue his thought.

  “Oh, nothing. I forgot what I was gonna say.” JJ looked down at the table and started ripping little pieces off his napkin.

  Reid honed in on JJ’s habit of picking at things when he was nervous. “It sounds fun, but… That’s where you left off. But what? Are any of the boys giving you a hard time at the Y? Is there something I should know about? I know all of the dads there.”

  “No. All the guys are great, their dads too. It’s just that, there’s this fundraiser at the beginning of the season. It’s a big one. All the rec teams get together.” JJ continued to pick at the napkin.

  Had I neglected my kid so much that he thought I wouldn’t make time to help with a fundraiser? “Okay, what do I need to do? Bake cookies? Sell those candles or Joe Corbis pizza kits? Whatever it is, if you want to play, I’ll help with the fundraiser.”

  I did this. I had never hated myself so much as I did at this very moment. I was the worst mother in history. I was failing.