Urban Climber 2

by Hunter, S. V.

  Now that, I wouldn’t mind seeing. “About that,” I giggle, “how did they react when you told them?”

  “Much better than I’d thought. We had a very good talk. A long one, just like old times. I know it’s silly, but I kept expecting you to walk around the corner with a pot of tea.”

  I pull a face. A really unimpressed one. “I’m not your maid.”

  “Aw, come on, you know what I mean, doll. Like how you used to when we’d all sit around the table, talking and laughing. You remember those times?”

  I sure do. I loved those times. Sure, my family isn’t dripping in gold like his, but the wonderful times we spent together made up for anything I went without as a child. I remember it all so clearly: soft music playing in the background, laughter, me sitting on Hugo’s lap as we all played cards together. I loved those times.

  “You remember, don’t you? I can see it in your eyes.”

  “Yes,” I whisper, “I remember it all like it was yesterday. What did I miss?”

  “Where do I start? We talked about everything. Your mom’s vegetable garden, your father’s latest car project, and even some of the serious stuff.”

  “Our relationship?”

  “No, doll,” he shakes his head. “You know—your father’s health, the lack of work they’ve both had—that sort of thing.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Surely they’ve spoken to you about it? Jesus, Laura please tell me you haven’t disowned your parents like you disowned me.”

  “Of course not,” I exhale. “They’re my life; you know that.”

  His lips curl downwards. “I guess they were just trying to protect you, that’s all. Forget I said anything.”

  But I can’t. Of course I can’t. They are my life. They were the ones who saved me from going from one foster home to the next. If it wasn’t for them, I don’t know where I’d be. “What did they say? Please, you’re worrying me.”

  “I’m so un-thoughtful,” he sighs. “Please just forget it. This was meant to be a magical night, and I keep messing it up. I’m really sorry, Laura.”

  “It’s okay,” I whisper. “Just tell me what they said.”

  “But it’ll just upset you. And I don’t want to do that again … ever.”

  “Hugo, please,” I whisper. “I need to know what they said. I’m not asking for much.”

  “Okay, baby, I’ll tell you,” he smiles, framing my face with his hands, “but I don’t want you to get upset. Promise me?”

  “I won’t,” I whisper, pulling his hands from my face. “Just tell me.”

  “There’s no easy way to say this, but after the heart attack, your father’s employers didn’t want to keep paying wages for a worker who may never get back to full health again. So they let him go.”

  “What?” My voice splinters. “When? When did this happen?”

  “At the start of the year.”

  “But they never mentioned anything. They said he was on paid—”

  “No,” he shakes his head, patting the top of my hand “that arrangement only lasted a month, and after that, they decided to let him go.”

  “But how will they pay for—”

  “Everything?” He smiles. “Exactly, doll. How are they going to do that? Your mom, bless her soul, is trying to get a second job, but so far, she hasn’t had any luck.”

  “Why not?”

  “Everyone is years younger than she is; she said so herself.”

  “But why wouldn’t they have told me this? I could have gotten a part-time job. I could have sent back money.”

  He shrugs. “I guess they didn’t want to worry you. They just want you to be happy. We all do.”

  “But that’s who I am. I worry about my family and friends. I couldn’t not do that, even if I tried.”

  “That’s because you’re a sweet girl, Laura. Under all this city crap you’ve gotten involved in lately, you’re a sweet girl.”

  “I know that. I haven’t changed.”

  He raises his brow at me. “Haven’t you?”

  “No.”

  “It’s just a shame that your father’s having to go through so much additional stress.”

  “Because of his health?”

  He smiles, bundling me into his arms. “No, if only. They’re very worried what’ll happen if the bank follows through on its threats.”

  “What threats?”

  “I knew it wasn’t a good idea to tell you this; look how upset you’re getting. Just forget all about it.”

  “No, please, Hugo. I have to know.”

  “They’re going to lose the house; it’s just a matter of time.”

  “No.” I squeeze my eyes shut, burying my nose into his shoulder. “Don’t say such things.”

  “I don’t make the rules, doll. All I know is if they don’t get money in the next three months, they’ll lose the lot.”

  “But how could that be true? Surely they’ve got savings in place.”

  He shakes his head. “College is expensive, Laura.”

  “So it’s all my fault?”

  “Of course not. That’s not what I said.”

  “Well, what are they going to do? Did they say? This is the worst news ever.”

  He shrugs. “Hug a few more trees, I guess. Hope that something comes up.”

  “What sort of a plan is that?” I shriek. “They’ll be fucked if that’s all they’re doing.”

  “Of course,” Hugo whispers, cupping my face in his hands, “but …”

  “But what?”

  “It doesn’t have to be that way. Everyone has options.”

  “What?”

  “Husbands like to give their wives very expensive wedding gifts, you know. They also like to look after their relatives. I can speak with the bank, Laura. I can make all their worries go away.”

  “You’d do that for me?”

  “Of course, baby. I’d do anything for you.”

  “What’s the catch?”

  “There’s no catch.”

  “There must be. I’m not stupid.”

  “All you have to do is marry me.”

  “But that’s—”

  “All you’ve ever wanted?”

  “No.” I push his hands away. “That’s blackmail.”

  “How is it blackmail? Do you even know what that means?”

  “Of course I know what it means.”

  “I’m just offering you—you and your family—a solution.”

  “But why would you do that?”

  “Because I’m your fiancé, and I love you. That’s all, my darling.”

  “So if I marry you …”

  “If you marry me, all their problems will go away, and everything will go back to how it was before you had your little tantrum and left.”

  “Can I have that in writing?”

  He laughs. “That fucking place has made its mark on you, no doubt about it. You would have never doubted a word I said in the past, and now look at you.”

  “Will you, or won’t you?”

  “Sure, if you want it in writing, I could get something drawn up. That wouldn’t be a problem.”

  He takes my hand, and my stomach drops to my toes. Hold on a second. What the hell am I thinking? I can’t marry him. Not after what he did. Not after tonight. The guy is scum. Worse than scum—whatever’s below scum. I pull my hand out from his clasp, crossing my arms over my chest.

  “Don’t be like that, Laura. Doesn’t one small part of you love me?”

  “Of course,” I exhale. “We went through so much together; you saved me from myself. Mom, Dad, you … you all did.”

  “Then why are you pushing me away? Why are you making me out to be something I’m not?”

  “Tonight, you’ve acted like a thug. Who knows what else you’ve done or are capable of doing?”

  “The only crime I’ve committed—if any—is the crime of loving you, Laura Hemsworth. And if that’s an offense, then lock me up and throw away the key because
I’m not about to stop.”

  “What do you want me to say?”

  “You don’t have to say anything. Listen to your heart. What is your heart saying?”

  He leans in and brushes my hair from my face, his dark brown eyes dropping down to my lips. “How I’ve missed these. May I?”

  The thought of his lips against mine repulses me. He repulses me. “I need time to think,” I mumble, turning my head before he comes any closer. “I’m sorry, Hugo.”

  “You test me in ways I’ve never been tested. But I’ll give you time if that’s what you need.”

  “Thank you.” I smile weakly.

  “Thank you, what?”

  “Thank you, Hugo,” I mumble.

  “Much better. I think at the core of it all, there’s only one question you have to ask yourself.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Whether you love your parents or not.”

  “Of course!” I turn to face him. “More than anything—you know that. They’re my world.”

  “Then deep down, you know the right thing to do.”

  I cannot believe what I’m hearing. I cannot believe he would even suggest such a thing. I stare out the window, watching as another plane launches into the sky.

  “Laura,” he whispers, grabbing my hand, “everything can go back to how it was. You and your family will never have to worry about anything, ever again. Isn’t that what you want?”

  “Yes, of course. It’s just that—”

  “Shush your lips. It’s been a massive day for you, and you’re tired. Very, very tired. I had hoped that we would fly out tonight on the jet, but I don’t want to rush you into a decision as big as this.”

  “So what? We’re going to sleep in your car instead? I don’t want to lie down; I’ll look like a whore!”

  “Only if you blow me, and I know there’s no possibility of that happening.”

  My skin prickles. “You’ve got that right.”

  He laughs. “You’ve got a bee in your knickers tonight, Laura. Stop being so defensive.”

  “I’m sorry,” I groan. “I’m just really tired, and there’s a lot for my mind to process.”

  “How about I book a hotel room for you?”

  “What will you do?”

  “I’ll fly back by myself tonight. Then you can drive back to Mel’s tomorrow and think everything over.”

  “Really? After all this, you’re letting me go? You don’t expect sex?”

  “If you won’t even let me kiss you, I think the chances of consensual fucking are close to zero. Am I right?”

  I nod.

  “It’s definitely not how I had planned things to go,” he grumbles, his lips pulling into a straight line.

  “Trust me,” I whisper, cradling my swollen face. “All I wanted was a shower.”

  TWO

  40 Minutes Later …

  “Hello?” A weak voice answers the phone.

  “Mel? Mel, it’s me.”

  “Oh my god,” she squeals. “Where are you? What happened?”

  “Slow down,” I giggle. “Please, just let me talk.”

  “Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”

  “I’ll be fine. Everything is going to be fine. Just please tell me you haven’t phoned the police.”

  “How could I have done that? I only just came to now—your phone call woke me up.”

  “Oh,” I exhale. “That’s a relief. So no sign of any cops? I thought someone may have called them, what with all the noise.”

  “I think someone came over ‘cause I remember a lot of banging, but maybe I was dreaming. I dunno.”

  My stomach twists. If he gets arrested over this, I’ll be the one paying for it. Me. And my parents. “How’s your head?”

  “It feels like a jackhammer is lodged into the back of my skull.”

  “Oh, Mel, I’m so sorry.”

  “It’s okay, babe; it’s not your fault.”

  I catch a glimpse of my face in the rear-view mirror and find it hard to believe it’s not my fault. How could he have hurt her and done this to me? It looks like I’ve been whacked across the face with a baseball bat. A knot rises in my throat. “So you haven’t spoken to the police? Promise?”

  “No, not yet. But I’ll call your parents as soon as I get off this call.”

  “Man, you’re such a drama queen,” I sigh.

  “It must run in the family,” she laughs, “even without the bloodline.”

  “True,” I giggle.

  “Anyway, drama queen or not, I’m calling them. That freak has to be reported.”

  “Thanks, but that won’t be necessary,”

  “But you’re so precious to them I don’t think I’ll ever be able to forgive myself for letting him in. I’m so sorry, babe. I was stupid. Stupid and naïve.”

  “You couldn’t have known. How could either of us know that he’d react how he did? He kinda lost it.”

  “Kinda?” she squawks. “Are you serious? My hands are shaking just thinking about it.”

  “He wants to apologize; he wants us to all go out for a meal together. He’s going to take us to The Plaza when he next flies into New York.”

  “The Plaza? He’s going to take us to The Plaza? Big deal! Is that supposed to impress me or something?”

  “Calm down, Mel.”

  “I will not! You need to call the police for what he’s done.”

  “There’s no point. I just want to forget it. He just had a freak-out, that’s all. I want to forget it and move on.”

  “Where are you now?”

  “I’m at the airport.”

  “Why the hell are you at the airport?”

  “Mel, please calm down and listen.”

  She sucks in a big breath and then noisily exhales.

  “Better?” I giggle.

  “No, not better,” she grumps. “This night has sucked.”

  “You’re telling me,” I groan. “But ask me again.”

  “Why are you at the airport?”

  “He’s taken his parents’ jet home, and I’ll drive back tomorrow morning.”

  “So he really was serious about taking you back? Holy shit. What a nut job. How did you escape?”

  “I didn’t need to escape, and he’s not a nut job. He’s just hurting, that’s all.”

  “Hurting? Have you lost your mind? Are you high?”

  “No, Mel. I’m not ‘high’.”

  “Well, what then?”

  I can’t even begin to imagine how I’m going to tell her what happened—or even if I should.

  “Laura?”

  “It’s too late to talk about this now. You get some sleep, and we’ll catch up tomorrow.”

  “Where are you sleeping?”

  “I’m booked into a hotel tonight, and I’ll drive back to your place tomorrow.”

  “So you’re staying with me?”

  “Yes, I’m staying for the moment.”

  “Oh good,” she exhales. “I’m so pleased it’s all over.”

  “Well, I don’t know if it is or not, but I’ll explain when I get back. Okay?”

  “You’re not seriously thinking of getting back with him are you? Please tell me you’re joking.”

  “I’ll see you when you get in from work.”

  “But can’t we talk about this now? I’m really worried about you. Do you want me to drive over and meet you? I could bring pizza.”

  I so love pizza. Pizza with pineapple and cheese and—hold on a second. Why am I even thinking about meeting with her? My face looks like I’ve been run over by a dump truck. She can’t see me like this. I’m afraid to see me like this. My face is so swollen and bruised I hardly recognize myself.