Pieces (Riverdale #1)

by Janine Infante Bosco

  “Cara, it’s not like I never kissed you before.”

  “We were always drunk!” She said quickly. “This was different.”

  “You’re scared.”

  “No! Yes! I don’t know.” She pulled her hair back and tied it up in a messy bun with the hair tie that was resting on her wrist. “The only thing I know is that you are everything to me, and I don’t want to mess that up. I won’t mess that up.”

  Jake sat up, throwing his legs over the side of the bed. He stared up at her. He was completely calm and that infuriated her. She was a bundle of nerves and emotions and he was completely unaffected, aside from the bulge between his legs. “You think I want to mess things up between us? That this thing between you and me,” he motioned back and forth between them with his hands. “Doesn’t mean just as much to me as it does to you?”

  She swallowed the lump in her throat and bent down to pick up her boots. She knew very well that their relationship meant a lot to him. She looked back at him when he stood up from the bed. He didn’t advance towards her, he just stared at her.

  “I’m not suggesting we jump into bed together or even explore whatever the hell just happened here. What I’m saying is we don’t have to pretend it didn’t happen. We can just accept it and move on. The most important thing is that we don’t let it come between us.”

  She stared at him. He was right, and she knew it. So they kissed; big deal. So what if she couldn’t remember the last time she was that turned on? They slipped up, a one shot deal. They could sweep it under the rug and go back to the way things were. “You’re right.”

  “So we’re good?” He asked hopefully, still standing in the exact same spot.

  She nodded, “We’re good.” She let out a deep breath and the cocked her head to one side and looked at him. “I really did come up here to check on you and tell you dessert was on the table. Are you okay? You kind of left dinner quickly,” She tried to make her voice sound casual, normal, or even concerned.

  “Yeah, I’m fine. I was just tired.” He gave her a crooked smile. “So what do you say we go see if those scavengers left us any cheesecake?”

  “I spotted some tiramisu in the fridge too.” She wiggled her eyebrows, knowing that that was his favorite.

  He grinned and wrapped his arms around her shoulders, escorting her out of the bedroom. “They better have left me some of that.”

  And just like that, he made it okay for her, typical Jake.

  The following day, Luke and Nick had jumped right on into things, at Lanza Automotive. Almost as if the last six years had never happened, and they had stuck to their original plan to be business partners. They were crouched over the engine of pick-up truck when Jake pulled into the parking lot, on his Harley. In between racking his brain over his and Cara’s escapade in his bedroom, he had been thinking about the conversation over dinner, and how they were going to restore classic cars. He wanted to run his idea about restoring bikes to Nick and Luke. He really believed in the love of a beautiful piece of machinery, and knew there was a good market out there for it. Living upstate New York, the three of them would go off-roading with their dirt bikes, especially when it snowed.

  Nick and Luke walked out of the garage to meet him. Nick was eyeing his bike, obviously in love. “When did he get that?” Nick asked, leaning into Luke.

  Luke shrugged. “About a year ago, thinks he’s a hard ass with a Harley, now.” Both men laughed as Jake took off his helmet.

  “I heard that, shithead.” Jake replied. He got off the motorcycle and placed his helmet on his seat. He ran his fingers through his tousled hair. He settled his gaze on Nick. “She’s a beauty no?”

  Nick nodded, appreciating the Harley. “She sure, is.”

  Jake grinned, “If you’re a good boy, maybe I’ll let you take her for a ride.” He wiggled his eyebrows. “I may even be able to coax my sister to take a ride with you.”

  Nick rolled his eyes. “Funny. So not only are you a hard ass on a Harley, but you’re a comedian too.”

  “What?” Jake said innocently. “Like that wouldn’t make your year. It’s quite amusing.”

  “You’re the only one who thinks so.” Luke told his brother, shoving his hands in his pockets. Nick looked beside him at Luke, who was scowling. He raised an eyebrow sensing his disdain at the possibility of him getting involved with their sister.

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” Nick asked, testing the waters. Jake eyed the two men, trying to read where this was headed, and thought it might be best if he kept his mouth shut. It was one thing to joke around about it, but it seemed like Nick had actually grown a set, and was going to confront the green eyed monster.

  Luke looked at Jake for a moment, but Jake gave him nothing. Truth was, Jake would be fine with Nick and Sam as a couple, and he knew it was only a matter of time. However, Luke may feel different, and he was entitled, no one knew Nick and how he went through women better than Luke. They were best friends, they knew all one another’s secrets, still; Jake believed Nick would be different with their sister. He watched Luke like a hawk, his wheels were turning and when he turned to Nick and measured him up, Jake knew this conversation that was about to take place, was long overdue. And so, he settled up for the match between friends and jumped on the bed of the pick-up truck and made himself comfortable.

  “All it means is I’m not as amused as my brother, about this little cat and mouse game you and, my sister are playing.”

  “Fair enough,” Nick said thoughtfully and glanced down at his work boots. “I think we need to talk,’ and looked between both brothers. Jake raised his eyebrows, he had his attention.

  Luke sat down on a crate, relaxed. He spread his arms out, as if to motion, Nick had the floor.

  “I’m all ears. Go ahead.” Luke said.

  “You’re really going to make me say it?” Nick asked his eyes pierced Luke.

  “I think it’s overdue.” Luke said calmly.

  Jake looked dumbfounded as he looked back and forth between Nick and Luke. “This is like a fucking ping pong tournament.” Wishing Nick would just spit it out, Luke could have his say and Jake could give his blessing, and then tell them the reason he was here.

  “Okay.” Nick nodded, accepting his fate. He stared at Luke. “I have feelings for your sister.” He paused. “It’s nothing new, I don’t remember a time in my life when I didn’t.”

  Jake turned his attention from Nick, and looked at his brother incredulously. “You’ve been waiting for him to admit that? Are you blind?” He hopped off the flat bed of the truck. He lit up a cigarette, for a smart man, his brother was clueless.

  Luke tore his eyes from Nick to look at Jake. “Shut up, Jake.” Luke said and turned back to Nick. “Jake is right though.”

  Jake threw his hands up, and sighed. He was better off, shutting his mouth, he decided because his brother probably wouldn’t like what was about to come out of it.

  Ignoring him, Luke continued. “We’ve all known that there was something between you and Sam. Even before the two of you did.”

  “Then why make me say it?” Nick asked.

  “Because it’s real once you say it.” Luke said confidently.

  Nick let out a breath; he hadn’t even realized he was holding. He swiped a hand down his face. Jake felt bad for him, and at the same time he admired him he didn’t have the courage to admit what he was feeling for Cara, so as far as he was concerned it took a real man to speak up, especially to Luke.

  Nick nodded and looked back at Luke. “I have a question for you.” Nick said.

  “Shoot.” Luke made himself more comfortable.

  “If you knew this whole time, why wait until now to bring it up?” He leaned against a wall. “I’ve been struggling with this shit for years, man. Part of the reason I never acted on what I was feeling was because of you.” He glanced at Jake. “No offense.”

  Jake held up a hand. “None taken,” he said.

  Luke stood up and walked over to Nick
standing in front of him. “Bullshit.” He stared him down. “Don’t blame the fact that you were a coward on me.” He pointed to him. “You didn’t go after what you wanted, because you were scared.” He put his hand up to stop Nick from interrupting him. “And before you say, scared of me, and what I would say, I call bullshit again. You ran the fuck out of town when you realized Sam was more than just my little sister.”

  Angrily Nick straightened his shoulders, rising to his full height, “Yeah, because of the respect I have for you and your family. I wasn’t ready to accept what I was feeling for her. I knew one way or another I was going to have to make a move, or that witch of a mother of mine would ship me out of here. Where would that leave Sam?” He pushed past Luke and stared out across the lot of cars. “I didn’t know if I was coming or going, but there was your sister, looking, like my saving grace.” He turned back and looked at Luke. “Should I have ruined her life too? At the time, I felt like I had to go. Do you understand that? Would you rather I had been selfish and had taken her away from you guys? Because she would of came. You know she would’ve.”

  They were silent for a moment. Nick walked over to the little fridge and grabbed a beer.

  “Yeah, she would’ve. What happened when she came to see you?” Luke asked.

  Nick turned abruptly. “Came to see me? What are you talking about?”

  Jake flicked his cigarette into the lot, and turned around just as abrupt as Nick. Finding out that Sam had gone to Seattle to visit Nick was news to him. How did his brother know and not him? “Yeah, what the hell are you talking about, bro? When did Sam go to Seattle?” Jake asked.

  Luke looked directly at Nick, which infuriated Jake. She was his sister too, and he wanted answers. “We’re going to play this game?”

  “I don’t give a shit about the game you two are playing right now, Talk Luke. When did Sam go to Seattle?” Jake spat, his patience was just about done with these two clowns.

  Luke studied Nick’s face, not paying much mind to Jake, who was two seconds from throttling him, brother or no brother. Realizing Nick was being sincere and that Jake was probably going to snap, he fessed up. “When she graduated, mom and dad sent her to California. They thought she was visiting Uncle Johnny. We all did.” He nodded toward Jake, and then looked back at Nick. “But I was the only one home, when Uncle Johnny called and said she never got there. I called the airlines and found she traded in her ticket, for a one way to Seattle.”

  “Why the fuck didn’t you tell anybody?” Asked Jake, he could feel his blood pressure rising, as his head began to throb. “What if something had happened to her? We thought she was in a completely different state!”

  “Because, I knew she’d be with him!” Luke yelled back at his brother. “He wouldn’t have let anything happen to her. Besides, I thought, maybe they’d finally stop dancing around each other and why should any of us stand in the way of that.”

  Nick sat down, taking in Luke’s words. Jake lit another cigarette, wishing he had a shot of whiskey instead. “She never came to me.” He looked up at Luke.

  “She called me the next day after she landed. Asked me to put money in her checking account, claiming she spent all her cash on Rodeo Drive.” He shrugged his shoulders. “She needed the cash to buy her return ticket. Guess she chickened out.”

  Jake shook his head, exhaling a cloud of smoke. “Nah, she don’t, chicken out for shit. She’s got more balls than all of us put together.”

  “He’s right.” Nick said dully. “Why didn’t you call me and tell me she was in Seattle, after she called you?”

  “Nick, I didn’t know what you were doing with her. But like you didn’t want to lose us, I didn’t want to lose you either. I stood out of it.” He put his hand on his shoulder. “Look at me.”

  Nick lifted his head and looked at his friend. “You can’t change the past, you can only make good on the present. I’m only going to ask you once, and then I’m going to give you my blessing, and pray for the fucking best.” He paused. “You seriously want to give it a go with Sam?”

  Without skipping a beat, Nick replied, “Yes.”

  Jake rolled his eye; his brother was torturing the poor bastard, but he didn’t say a word.

  “Then figure shit out and go for it.”

  Nick nodded, swallowing. “Thank you.”

  “I love you, Man. Be good to her, though.” Luke said sincerely.

  “Ahem.” Jake cleared his throat. “Can I make a request?” Both men turned to him. “No locker room talk about, our sister?”

  Nick laughed slightly. Jake looked at him seriously. Hell, he would give his blessing, lord knew he was going to need it, if he was going to reel their firecracker of a sister, in, but he wasn’t kidding about hearing the details.

  “Deal,” Nick said and grabbed Luke and pulled him into a hug. “I’ll be good to her.”

  “I know you will.” Luke said, sure of it.

  Jake blew out a breath and broke the two of them up and shoved Nick a little, kidding around. “Now you just have to get her to look at you without staring daggers at you. Good Luck brother, you’re going to need it.”

  Luke laughed at him, “Well, I’m sure you’ll be there adding your two sense in the whole way.”

  Jake shrugged. “Naturally.” He grounded out his cigarette with the heel of his shoe and threw his hands up exasperated. “Now that that’s cleared up, can we go grab a shot or two or three,” To hell with the reason for him coming here, he’ll discuss it another time, right now all he wanted to do was pull up a stool with his favorite girl and thank god their friendship was the way it was.

  “Sounds good to me, I wanted to talk to Rudy about renting that apartment Cara was talking about.” Nick said.

  “I’m out, have to pick up Ava.” Luke said. “You two have fun and try not to get into any trouble.

  “I can’t make any promises.” Jake said and straddled his bike. “I’ll meet you over there, Foti.” He revved his engine, and without giving his brother or Nick a chance to say another word, fearing his headache would return, he peeled out of the parking lot.

  Chapter Five

  Cara was muddling through her shift at Rudy’s, she couldn’t wait to get out of there, just so she could go to bed. She hadn’t slept at all the night before and it was finally catching up to her. To her dismay, she still had another six hours left of her shift. All the espresso in the world wasn’t going to help her. Even exhausted, she still couldn’t stop thinking about the kiss, she shared with Jake the night before, or how her body had responded to him. She scolded herself, because she was supposed to drop it, and let things go back to normal, but she didn’t trust herself to do just that. How was she supposed to drop it, when it’s all she thought about? If she dared to close her eyes, it would be as if she was right back in his bed.

  It was times like this she wished she had girlfriends. It killed her when Sam walked into the bar, because when she sat down, the first thing Cara wanted to do was tell her what had happened. Sure, she considered Sam to be her friend, but she couldn’t just blurt out that she crawled into bed with her brother and they had kissed each other senseless. Especially, not after she told her she didn’t see Jake in that way, just last week. Cara sighed and walked over to where Sam was sitting, she couldn’t avoid her. She would just have to keep her big rambling mouth shut, fat chance of that happening.

  “Hey Sam,” Cara said, trying her best to be her cheerful self.

  Sam raised one perfect eyebrow at her as she shrugged her jacket off. “Nice to see you too.” She laughed when Cara frowned, apparently her façade wasn’t working.

  “Sorry. It’s been a shitty day. I didn’t sleep last night and I keep staring at the damn clock. I have another six hours before I get off and I feel like I’m going to fall on my face.” She wasn’t rambling too much.

  Sam grinned. “Hot date? You little vixen! What did you do when you left last night, ‘Miss I’m beat guys, thanks for dinner.”

  Cara
’s eyes widened. “No I really was tired! I just went home and I couldn’t sleep. Please, I wish it was because of a hot date and mind blowing sex, instead I took an ice cold shower.” She covered her mouth with her hand. “Oh my God, I did not just say that.”

  Sam laughed. “Oh yes you did! Girlfriend needs some action!”

  Cara shook her head and was sure her face was as red as a tomato. She busied her hands and took two shot glasses from beneath the bar. She poured one shot of whiskey for Sam, and one for herself. She rarely drank while she worked, but right now it seemed necessary. She pushed Sam’s in front of her, but before she could even lift the glass, Cara threw hers back.

  Eyes wide, Sam did her shot and placed the empty glass back on the bar. She shook her head as the liquid fire burned her throat. She shook it off and turned to Cara. “Ok, so the way I see it, is you need to get under a hot guy, or on top, however you prefer.”

  Cara moaned for she could not believe she was having this conversation. What made it worse; was as Sam spoke the words, there was only one body she picture above hers, and it was Jake’s. She could see his sly grin spread across his face as she begged for more.

  “Hello? Earth to Cara,” Sam said as she waved her hand in her face. “I can’t help you, if you’re a million miles away.”

  Cara shook her head, hoping that she shook her thoughts away. “I’m sorry. What did you say?” Then she remembered what Sam had been saying provoked her little vision of hot sweaty sexy Jake. “Wait, on second thought, don’t repeat that. Is it hot in here?”

  Sam giggled, and Cara looked at her sharply. Aware of her stare, she watched her friend try to muffle her chuckle. “Cara you work in a bar for God’s sake. This place is crawling with hot guys. Just make nice with one, and have a little fun.” Sam leaned back against her bar stool, looking back at her smugly, like she had just invented the cure for cancer or something.