by Amber Garza
"Isn't it?" I spew out. "It's who you thought I was. I saw it in your eyes."
Her bottom lip trembles and she bites down on it. "I'm sorry. I never should've doubted you."
"And yet you did. And not just one time. You did it multiple times." I groan, running a hand over my face. "God, I even started to open up to you. I'm such an idiot."
"No, you're not. I'm the idiot." She takes a couple steps toward me. "I knew better. I knew all along. It's just that when Bud started telling me about how you'd been in juvie..." her voice trails off and she shakes her head.
"Once you knew I was a criminal you decided that I must be the one who robbed you, and of course I must have stolen that hundred." I smile sadly. "It's okay. I'm used to people believing the worst. You're no different."
"But I am different. I know you can't see that now, Colt, but I am. I care about you. A lot. Hell, I'm crazy about you."
"You'll get over it." I shove past her, not able to be this close. It's hard enough not to touch her, not to sweep her into my arms. Frankly, it's killing me.
"No, I won't. And I don't want to. I know you. And you aren't this person. I don't care about your past."
I whirl around to face her. "Well, you should. Everything they said about me is true. I have been to juvie. I do have a criminal record. I hurt people. It's what I do."
She stands taller. "If you're trying to scare me away, it's not working. I've already been manhandled and shoved up against a wall today, and by someone a lot scarier and meaner than you."
This kills me. "Oh, God, Paige. I just want to break that little twerp in half. How could he hurt you like this?" I rush to her, running my fingers over her bruises.
"See? I told you. You're not the monster you're pretending to be." She presses her palm to my chest. "You have a big heart."
Releasing her arm, I pull away. Facing the wall, I take a deep breath. "My big heart is always getting me in trouble." I swallow thickly, not sure why I'm about to share all this. I have no idea if I still want to be with Paige, but for some reason I want her to know my story. I want her to know the real me. "My parents are drug addicts. They always have been. Sometimes they clean up for a short period of time, but then they go right back to using again. Every once in awhile it gets so bad that we end up going to live with other family members. But eventually my parents’ either come to get us or the family member gets tired of us and pawns us off on someone else. But while we're with my parents, life is pretty tough. They don't eat regular meals, and they rarely shop for food. So I've had to steal so that I can feed Zander. It kills me to see him hungry." I bite back unwanted emotion and continue on, staring at my shadow against the wall. I can see Paige's shadow behind mine, but I don't dare turn around. I won't be able to continue while looking at her. "After my mom had Bristol she just couldn't handle all of the crying and everything, so she sent us here. Aunt Callie is my dad's sister. She's literally the only family member we haven't stayed with before. But I swear to you that I haven't robbed or stolen anything since we got here. I haven't needed to. Callie takes care of us."
I flinch when Paige's hand falls on my shoulder. "I'm so sorry, Colt. For all of it. You deserve so much better than the life your parents have made you endure."
"Not all of us get a charmed life. It's all a crap shoot." I shrug.
Her arms wrap around my waist. I don't fight her off, but I don't respond to her either. "Let me help you. Let me be here for you the same way you were for me."
"I want to. I really do." I pry her hands off. "But I just can't."
Her face falls. "Why not?"
"What happens the next time someone accuses me of something? Will you doubt me again?"
"No." She shakes her head vehemently.
"I want to believe that, but history tells me otherwise."
"History doesn't always repeat itself."
"But it usually does. I'm sorry, but I just can't do this."
"But, Colt." She speaks so softly I can barely hear her. "I need you."
"No, you don't. You'll be fine without me. You have plenty of people who love you."
"What about you? Who do you have?"
"Don't worry about me." I skirt around her, knowing I have to get her out of here fast. I won't be able to keep up my resolve much longer.
"But I do worry about you."
"Well, stop." I open my bedroom door and sweep my hands out. "I don’t want to be mean to you, so please just leave. You know the way out."
She nods, her gaze dropping to her feet. When she reaches me, she glances up into my eyes. "You know where to find me if you change your mind."
"Don't hold your breath." When she passes me, I whisper, "McAllistor."
I see the hopeful smile that passes over her lips as she quickly walks forward, and it makes me feel guilty. Why did I feel the need to add that?
TWENTY-FIVE
PAIGE
I don’t tell my parents about my confrontation with Jon. If I do, I’m certain they’ll never let me go back to work again. And that’s probably smart. I shouldn’t go back to work. But I have to. It’s my only hope of proving that Colt is innocent. I’ve got to somehow obtain proof that it was Jon who stole from Bud’s.
In the movies the girl always seduces the guy into telling the truth, but I know that won’t work. I ruined all that by flaunting my feelings for Colt to him. Jon may be an idiot, but he’ll never believe me if I suddenly come on to him. Besides, I don’t know if I can stomach it. After having him pin me to the wall yesterday, I’m quite certain I never want to feel his hands on me again. They felt vile and disgusting, so unlike how it feels when Colt touches me.
My stomach drops when I remember how angry Colt was with me when I showed up at his house. It seriously killed me the way he kept pushing me away. I know I deserve it, but it doesn’t make it hurt any less.
When I show up for my morning shift, I’m actually surprised to find Jon there. I mean, I knew he was on the schedule, but a part of me had hoped that Bud had taken my allegations more seriously than he seemed to.
“You’re still here,” I quip after walking in the door and tossing my purse under the counter.
“Where else would I be?” He furrows his brow.
I shrug. “Fired. I mean, that’s what happens to people who steal from their work, right?”
Jon glares at me. “I didn’t steal anything. Besides, even if I did, my dad owns this place. It’s not like he’s going to fire his own son.” He turns to the shelf and sets down a bag of coffee beans on it. “No, I have a feeling he expects me to work here until I die.”
The last words are spoken so softly I have to strain to hear them. Even then I’m not sure they were meant for my ears. I walk toward the back room to get my apron. I’m glad that Jon is out in the front, and I’m hoping if I hurry I can grab my apron and get back out here in a matter of minutes. The last thing I want is to get cornered again.
“I’m actually surprised you showed up. Dad and I weren’t expecting you,” Jon says.
I whirl around. “What?”
“Yeah, after your erratic behavior yesterday we assumed you weren’t comin’ back.”
“Like quitting?” I ask. “I didn’t say that. Your dad asked me to leave and I did.”
“I’m not sure he was asking you just to leave for the day, Paige.”
My face heats up. “He was firing me? But I didn’t do anything wrong.”
Someone knocks on the door, startling me. We’re not even open yet. Jon looks startled too as he stares over my shoulder.
I spin around. A tall, lanky guy in jeans and a t-shirt raps on the window.
“Um…I’ll go talk to him.” Jon races past me and opens the door. The strange guy shoves past him and walks inside.
Memories of the way the robber burst in flood me, and I gasp.
“We’re not open yet,” I say in a shaky voice.
“That’s fine. I’m just here to see Jon. We have something to discuss.” There is someth
ing ominous in his voice that causes chills to skitter down my spine.
Jon’s face pales. “What are you doing here?” he asks through gritted teeth.
“I think you know,” the guy answers darkly.
What the hell is going on?
“Fine. Let’s go talk in the back,” Jon says, and the guy nods. The lanky guy swings his arms from side to side as he walks, and my eyes catch on his arm, on the black tattoo covering the lower part of his arm. I feel the air leaving me, and I clutch the countertop. When the guy turns back to me, we lock eyes, and I know instantly who he is. His eyes are so familiar. They’re the same eyes that stared at me through the mask the night I was robbed. Bile rises in my throat, and moisture fills my mouth. My stomach cramps and I take deep breaths to keep calm.
Jon hurries past me with the strange man. I can’t even look at either of them. I just stand there clutching the counter and trying to decide what to do. What I should do is get the hell out of here. Why is Jon meeting with the robber? Was he in on it? It doesn’t even make sense. Why would Jon rob his dad’s shop? My head is spinning with questions. And then I start to doubt myself. I mean, it’s all too crazy. Could it be that I’m mistaken the same way I was when I thought Colt was involved? I mean, if I keep going around accusing people I’m going to be like the boy who cried wolf. No one’s going to listen to me anymore.
My head snaps up when voices and footsteps near me. Jon walks the strange guy to the door, and then locks it behind him. I stare at the man as he leaves. As I watch him walk, I’m even more convinced that I’m right. His walk is identical to the robber’s. So is his build and height. After Jon closes the door behind the man, I take in his white, drawn face, and there’s no longer a doubt in my mind.
Angry, I rush toward him. “How could you do this?”
Jon holds up his palms and looks at me like I’m insane. This only succeeds in angering me further. “What the hell are you babbling about now?”
“It was him.” I point out the window. “He robbed the place. I recognize his eyes and the tattoo.”
Darkness flashes in Jon’s eyes. “You really are crazy, you know that.” He pushes past me. “I’m actually glad you ended up with Colt. I don’t do crazy. I should thank the guy for helping me dodge a bullet.”
“I’m not crazy, and you know it. That guy robbed this place. Why did he come in to see you?”
Jon spins around, the vein in his forehead throbbing. “Look, I’m sorry that your boyfriend ended up being a criminal, but that doesn’t mean you get to keep running around accusing other people all the time. It’s not helping him.”
“I know you took that hundred dollars, and I know you’re working with the guy who robbed this place. And I’m going to do everything in my power to prove it. Even if it’s the last thing I do.” I turn around and unlock the door, fully expecting to hightail it out of this place.
But Jon’s hand circles my wrist and he forcefully yanks me toward him. “It just might be the last thing you do.” He sticks his face right in mine, his rank breath sweeping over me. “So just stay the hell out of this. You have no idea what you’re getting involved in.”
“So you admit it?”
“I’m not admitting to anything.”
“But you’re threatening me?”
A slow smile spreads across his face. “Maybe. You have no idea what I’m capable of, Paige.”
“I think I’m figuring that out.” I try to wiggle out of his grip, but he tightens his hold.
“I’ll let you go if you promise to just let this go and move on.”
I think about Colt’s words. “I don’t make promises.”
“That’s unfortunate,” he snarls, grabbing my other arm too and pulling me forward.
“Why did you do it? That’s the part I don’t get.” I say as he drags me.
“That’s because you don’t know anything.” He shakes me. “You think I want to work in this shithole the rest of my life? Like my only aspiration is to make coffee for a bunch of rich snobs every day?”
“So quit.” I say, still trying to wriggle away.
“So quit? That’s your advice?” He lets out a stilted laugh. “Wow, why didn’t I think of that? Did you know that Dad was planning to sell this place just a couple of months ago?”
I shake my head, glancing around. I need to keep him talking. Maybe if I do he’ll talk until we open and then someone will walk in and he’ll have to let go of me. “No, I didn’t.”
“I kinda figured if he got robbed maybe that would seal the deal, make the decision easier for him.”
Man, Jon is even more of an idiot than I thought.
“But he didn’t sell it. In fact, for some reason it made him want to keep it even more. Not only that, but he became hell bent on finding out who did it. When I overheard you talking to Officer James, I realized that I had the perfect out – Colt. When I found out he had a criminal record, I knew it was perfect.”
“So you thought you’d frame him, so all suspicion would be on him?” It all makes sense now in a twisted, stupid way.
“Bingo.” He yanks me forward until our faces almost bump. “But then you had to waltz in here like freaking Nancy Drew and start investigating.”
“Just let me go, Jon.” My teeth rattle as he shakes me again. His fingernails dig into my flesh.
“I believe she asked you to let her go!” A voice crashes over us, demanding and hard. I recognize it, and sigh with relief. I think about how grateful I am that I unlocked the door.
“Oh, look who it is?” Jon sneers. “It’s your knight in an orange jumpsuit.”
“That’s pretty funny coming from you, Jon,” I say sourly, “since you’re going to be sporting an orange jumpsuit pretty soon.”
I knew it was a mistake the minute the words left my mouth. Rage flashes in Jon’s eyes and then he raises his hand. I close my eyes, ready for it. But instead, I hear the scuffle of feet and then I’m tossed to the ground. When I open my eyes, I see Colt on top of Jon. He pins him to the ground and strikes him in the face.
“You will never lay hands on Paige again. You understand?” Colt says, his muscles bulging. I know I shouldn’t think this, but it’s pretty hot.
“Okay, that’s enough!” I swing around to see Bud standing in the doorway leading to the back room. His gaze lands on Colt. Desperation blooms inside of me.
“Colt didn’t do anything wrong,” I say, knowing exactly what this looks like. “He was just protecting me. Jon attacked me.”
Bud shakes his head, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I know. I heard the whole thing.”
“You did?” I scramble up.
“Yeah, I came in the back way about fifteen minutes ago.” Bud glares at his son. “I can’t believe you would do this, Jon.”
Jon shakes his head, shoving Colt off of him. Blood leaks from his nose. “This guy’s the criminal. Not me.”
“I never stole from this shop,” Colt grinds out, as he stands up.
“Just admit it. We all know you did.” Jon holds his nose, blood trickling out of his splayed fingers. His voice sounds nasally.
“You can cut the act, son. I heard everything you said to Paige,” Bud says sternly.
Jon’s face pales.
“So you’re the one who stole the money?” Colt asks, his face hardening. I can see the rage returning, so I hurry to Colt’s side. Taking his hand in mine, I thread my fingers through his. He doesn’t pull back, and I’m grateful. My arms still hurt from where Jon grabbed me.
“I called Officer James. He’s on his way.” Bud’s eyes droop, looking sad. He heaves a resigned sigh.
“You called the cops on me?” Jon whines, still holding his nose. He heads to the counter, grabs a rag and presses it to his face.
“Paige, I’m really sorry about all this,” Bud says to me, ignoring his son. “You too, Colt.”
“You’re apologizing to that guy?” Jon is incredulous.
“Just shut up, Jon!” Bud snaps at his son. A
police cruiser pulls into the lot. Bud turns to me. “You two might need to stay. Officer James will probably need your statements.”
I nod while Bud heads over to talk to his son. Turning to Colt, I study his face. His fingers graze my arm, his expression sad.
“What made you come here?” I ask.
“After seeing those bruises on your arms, I just couldn’t get the picture of that guy with his hands on you out of my mind. I had to come here and make sure he didn’t hurt you again.”
I reach up, running my fingertips over his lip ring. “So what I hear you saying is that I’m still your only?”
He hesitates, staring into my eyes. The gesture stings. I hate knowing that he has to contemplate this. “Yeah, I guess you are.”
“You don’t sound too happy about it,” I observe sadly.
“I don’t know what I am, Paige. I just know that it was pretty shitty being without you.”
My heart squeezes. I rest my hand over his. “Colt, I won’t ever doubt you again. I pro-”
“No,” he cuts me off. “Don’t make me any promises, McAllistor.”
I cling to that last word. McAllistor. “But I want to. I want you to know that I will trust you and that I won’t leave you.”
“Don’t promise me it. Just do it. You don’t need to tell me, you only need to show me.”
I nod. “I can do that.”
“I hope so, because I’m not sure I can give you my heart only to have you stomp on it again.”
Tears prick my eyes and the back of my throat burns. “You’re giving me your heart?”
“It actually wasn’t my decision. My heart went unwillingly to you a long time ago.”
“Mine too,” I whisper, running my fingers over his jaw line.
After giving our statements, Officer James allows me and Colt to go home. When we leave I can hear Jon sniffling in the corner. His whining sounds even worse with the injured nose. I feel a little bad that I find it funny.
“You okay?” Colt turns to me when we get to my car. I rest my back against it and stare up at him.
“I am now.” I wrap my arms around his neck. “Thank you for saving me.”
