by Holly Hood
“I can do that.” He’s up for anything and I like that about him. He follows behind me. I tap on the door before letting myself in and the room is dark.
“I’m back.” I announce. But Lee doesn’t say anything. I look at Nash, he stands in the doorway the same look on his face.
“Lee,” I say forcing the words out because I’m scared to know the truth. “I think he’s…gone.” I’m afraid to touch him.
Nash comes to my side. He wraps an arm around me and squeezes me. Doing all that he can to comfort me, because Lee is gone. My grandfather is dead.
And it hurts because I hardly got to know him. I was ripped from his life before I formed that bond and now that bond is gone. The little bond that we shared slipped away as soon as his heart stopped beating.
I press my head against his chest, gripping his t-shirt and cry. He strokes my hair and promises me that despite how bad it sucks things are going to be okay.
I want that to be true.
Nineteen
“What do you mean you’re sure it wasn’t Nash’s dad who did it?” Jackson and Sophie both ask me at the same time.
Jackson rushed over as soon as he found out Lee passed away. Nash dropped me off at home and I thanked him promising to talk to him again soon.
I explain the entire picture thing to them and by the looks on their faces neither one of them are as confident as I am about it.
“Well of course he is going to defend his father. It’s his father.” Sophie says. “I’d probably do the same thing with my own.”
I look at Jackson. He scratches his head and hands over his own explanation. “Savy. This guy is a criminal. I told you about his wrap sheet and believe me it was a wrap sheet.”
“So, that makes him unreliable?” I roll my eyes at his judgment. “That means he couldn’t possibly be telling the truth?” It wasn’t like his father’s life was hanging in the balance over the entire thing. He was never sent to jail. This happened decades ago.
“I’m saying it doesn’t matter if he is telling the truth. He’s not the kind of guy you want to be trusting. Put your faith in something a little safer.”
“What? you?”
Jackson jumps up, scaring the shit out of Sophie and I. “And here we go. Savy doing what she does best, telling me to fuck off when I try to do the right thing for her.”
I shake my head, I can’t even look at him. He’s being ridiculous. “This is not about you and me. This is about my mother being murdered and me wanting answers.”
“And I have been trying to help you with this!”
Sophie waves her hands and stops us both. “You guys I have neighbors. We need to bring it down to indoor voices.”
Jackson hasn’t stopped glaring at me. And I glare right back. “I apologize, Sophie.”
He heads for the door. “I will make it easy for both of you.” He opens the door and leaves, slamming it behind him.
Normally I wouldn’t chase after someone but this time I do. He’s waiting at the elevator when I come outside.
“You aren’t telling the truth about any of this.” I take him by the arm and make him face me. “This is jealousy and not concern for my wellbeing. If you thought he was dangerous you wouldn’t have sent me to do the paperwork.”
And I don’t do jealousy. He’s not allowed to be jealous if we are not in a relationship. “Jackson, I told you this before. This is not the kind of relationship I want to be in. If this is too hard to understand, we can stop this.”
He shakes his head. “What is this?”
“This is starting to become something I can’t deal with.”
He cups my face in his hands and frowns. “I’m beginning to feel the same way.” He forces a smile and presses a kiss into my lips and releases me going into the elevator.
We lock eyes and he holds my gaze until the doors of the elevator close, leaving me alone in the hallway.
Twenty
“And this is my resume,” I tell the man, laying it down on the counter.
He doesn’t pick it up. “This is a bar. I just need a server. A monkey could do this job.” And lifting up my resume he looks it over and then gives me another look. One I know all too well. “You are over qualified. Why do you want to work here?”
“Because I need a job. And I know I could be great at this.” Like he said, a monkey could do this job.
“I need a shots girl.” He folds up my resume and stuff it in his back pocket. “Five dollars a shot, must be able to wear the slutty work attire and plaster a smile on your face at all times. What you make is what you take. Sound good to you?”
I nod. “Sounds perfect.”
I’m relieved to know that I now have another job and I can afford to pay part of the bills at Sophie’s even though she never bothers to ask me for any money.
Eventually my parents stopped paying for my life since it was going nowhere, so I need a way to make things work on my own.
I don’t want to sit at home and worry about my life and what went wrong. And I also don’t want to work for Jackson, considering we haven’t talked since his blow up in Sophie’s apartment.
So I called him and when he didn’t answer I politely resigned from the job hoping he understood why. He never called me back and that’s where things were left.
And it hurts because despite his anger toward me I still really care about him. It could possibly even be love.
***
Tips as a shot girl are good most nights and the work keeps me busy so that I don’t have to worry about much of anything. Now that Lee is gone thinking about my mother has been on my mind more and I don’t like it.
I also don’t want to see my parents because there is just so much there that I can’t talk about. I still haven’t told my father that I know. And knowing that my mom doesn’t want me to, I choose to honor her wishes.
So I have nobody now to discuss my mother with. Jackson is out of the picture. Sophie works a lot and bothering her with my family issues just doesn’t seem fair to her.
And Ryker is so busy with seasonal skateboarding activities he hasn’t called in weeks. He shoots me the occasional texts but I strongly believe he is avoiding me as well.
Things haven’t been the same since I left with Nash between Ryker and I.
I slam the locker shut and give myself one final look in the mirror before going out on the floor. All this smiling every night is starting to make my face hurt.
The bar is packed and full of energy. And I go behind the bar and take the awaiting tray from one of the bartenders and head out onto the floor to pour shots down the throat’s of drunken men and woman alike.
Half my tray is gone before I make it to the other side of the room.
“Over here beautiful,” someone says, a hand landing on my backside.
It’s Ike, Nash’s so called brother. “Five dollar shots.” I lift a test tube with the bar logo on the side and wait for him to hand over the cash. He stuffs it into my side satchel and drops his head back waiting for me to give it to him—literally.
I don’t disappoint, I bring it to his lips and let the blue liquid slip inside his mouth. He licks his lips and looks me over. “What have you been up to? Sad to see you haven’t showed up to anymore parties at the club.”
It’s clear he’s flirting with me. His hand is back on my ass and he is penetrating every part of my body with his eyes.
My fingers round my ear shoving hair out of the way. “I’ve been a little busy with family issues.”
He nods, leaning back in his seat. He motions over a blonde. She takes a seat on his lap. He whispers something in her ear and she leaves.
“If you needed a job I could have hooked you up, sweetheart.” He winks at me offering up his lap.
Just when I am about to provide some lame excuse as to why I can’t be sitting on his lap, Nash is behind me. He relieves me from Ike’s hand on my ass and takes a seat next to him.
“I thought you worked at the office?” He studies my
attire. “Something happen?”
I shake my head. I really don’t want to talk about it. “It just wasn’t for me. I need to get back to work.”
Ike looks at Nash. And Nash speaks up. “I’ll take a shot.”
He hands over his cash and I pluck one free from my tray. “Bottoms up.” I smile.
“Come on, let’s get a little creative,” Ike pipes in snagging the shot from my hand before I can hand it over to Nash.
Nash sits there not moving a muscle to help me any. Ike slips it between my cleavage and throws a look in Nash’s direction. It’s not uncommon for shots to be given this way at this bar. I just don’t like that I am the one giving them out. I worry other men will get the same idea.
Ike taunts Nash into standing up and he comes over to me pushing my hair off of my shoulders to get a better view and angle. My heart comes to a stop as he lowers his face into the crevice of my breast and uses his mouth to pull the shot from them. I can feel his breath against my skin and it sends tingles of pleasures cascading through me. Now I am throbbing with desire.
I watch him throw his head back, concentrating on the muscles in his neck. And when he finishes, his eyes connect with mine and we both share the same equally satisfied connect at the closeness we just shared.
He smirks and shoves another bill down the front of my shirt, licking his lips. I can’t deny I would love to be stealing whatever flavour is left on them with my own lips.
“Have a good night you two,” I tell them. I start through the crowd and Nash is behind me. He grabs me by the hand.
“You need a ride home?” He tilts his head to one side, I think he’s drunk and I think he knows he is in no condition to take me anywhere behind the wheel of a car or bike.
“Actually I think you need a ride home,” I tell him. “You can’t ride your bike like this. How much have you had to drink?”
He shrugs, his hand grazing my cheek I touch his hand. “Don’t worry about me.”
“I’m not worrying about you.” I assure him but I think that I am.
“Then what would you call this?” He holds my gaze, waiting for me to admit that he is right.
“Okay, maybe I am. But that’s just because I’ve been in a car accident before and I know how bad they suck.” I shrug back. “It was just a suggestion. If you’re here in a couple hours feel free to ask for a ride home.”
I give a big smile and go over to the table of guys who want shots.
Twenty one
And just like that we are in the car together heading across town to his house. He’s trashed and it took the bouncers to get him in my car.
“Are you okay?” I look over at him. He’s slumped against my passenger side door hardly able to hold himself up.
“I’m fine.” I don’t think he is but he does want me to believe that he is.
I switch lanes and look over at him again. “What caused this tonight?”
“What’s this?”
“This being you trashed. I didn’t think you were the kind of guy to get so sloppy out in public.” I raise an eyebrow.
He is working himself free from his shirt. I suck in a breath, my mind plummeting to the one place I need to stay away from. “I never am. So shoot me.”
I laugh because he sounds stupid. “Shoot you.” I bite down on my lip. “I wouldn’t want to shoot you.”
“Well you’re one of the few. There are a lot of people out there that would love to kill me.” His sharing is going to a very dark place.
“Why do they want to kill you?”
“They hate who I am. What I am a part of.” He undoes his seatbelt.
“Put that back on.” I grip the steering wheel, trying to focus on the road but the thought of us crashing and what could happen, scares me. “Nash, please.”
He pulls the door handle, thank god it’s locked. “What the hell are you doing?!”
I swerve, righting myself before I drive off into a ditch and yank him towards me. He passed out and I am a mess of emotions. I slap him, coming to a stop on the side of the road once I know I can safely do so.
I jump out on my side and run around to his. “Nash.” I shake him, and he opens his eyes looking at me.
“I’m alright, babe.”
He just called me babe. “Are you okay? I think you just tried jumping out of my car.”
I drop down right there and lean against the car trying to regain composure.
He climbs out of the car and sits next to me nearly falling into my lap in the process. “Would you miss me if I was gone?”
I laugh and he drops his head on my shoulder. “I hardly know you.”
“Maybe you should get to know me better,” he slurs.
“You’re drunk.” I tell him. “And you’re going to regret this in the morning, believe me.”
“I’m honest.” He touches my face, and I know he is trying to be sweet but he’s more like wiping his palm up and down my cheek and nose. “I’m sorry about your grandpa.”
“Thanks.” I touch his hand, stopping him from poking me in the eye. “Thanks for being there. That was very nice of you.”
“See, I’m not such a bad guy,” he shoots up puking all over the grass. I scream, jumping to my feet before he hits me in the crossfire. I stay at a distance, watching him lose it all over the highway.
I pat his back and tell him he’s going to be okay. “Now let’s get you home.”
Twenty Two
“This street right?” I ask, turning the corner on the street that I think is Nash’s. When I see the bikes parked outside I know I found the right place.
But there are more bikes than usual.
“What’s going on?” I ask myself, surveying the house, the sound of music is apparent as soon as my feet hit the street.
There are several guys in the driveway. They all stop working on an old bike and look at me. I politely smile and go around to the passenger side. I really could use the help.
I turn back around and start up the sidewalk. “Hey. I’m Savy.”
The dark haired one is wielding a wrench and he looks like he might use it if he has to. I stay where I am and explain myself. “I have Nash in my car and he’s really wasted. Could one of you possibly help me get him inside?”
The dark haired one grins. Instead of putting down the wrench he grips it tighter. “I’d love to help. Come on guys.”
The three of them start to my car before I can stop them.
“We were wondering when you’d show yourself,” he says, opening the door. Nash falls out on the grass and then somehow manages to stand back up.
I don’t think he realizes where he is. He looks around, trying to make sense of his surroundings.
“You’re making this too easy man,” the blonde one says. He steps forward shoving Nash, he hits the side of my car and slides to the ground.
“Stop it!” I yell at him. “If you’re not going to help me then get the fuck away!” I push him out of the way, bending down to make sure he is alright.
“Whoa. What a mouth she has on her.” He swings the wrench letting it go into the side of my car. This guy is a lunatic, and I know I can’t fight the three of them off.
“How about you show me some respect when you open that pretty little mouth of yours, sweetheart?” He looks at me raising his chin.
Nash stands up. He picks up the wrench and faces the one who threw it. “Don’t talk to her like that.”
“Or what? You can barely stand on two feet right now.” He shoves him again. But this time Nash catches his arm and wrenches it behind his back. He shoves him up against my car.
“Or I use your head to get the dent out that you just made,” he bounces his head off the side of my car and tosses him to the ground in one quick motion.
I’m amazed. But the other two aren’t and they jump on him. One hanging off of his back the other goes for his legs taking him down.
I remember I have pepper spray inside of my purse and run back to my car. I throw open my door a
nd dump the contents on the seat and find the Christmas gift I got from my mother a few years ago.
“Get off of him!” I scream, I kick the first guy in the leg and sock the other one in the side of the head, when neither one of them let go I spray the entire mess of men.
“That bitch just pepper sprayed me!” The dark haired one says, slinging a slew of cuss words at me. He spits and rubs at his eyes, stumbling across the lawn.
The other guy drops to his knees, using his t-shirt as a towel. He tries to rub the spray free from his eyes. “Shit!”
Nash touches my back. “Get me out of here.”
He climbs back in my car and I run around to my side in a hurry to leave before anything worse can happen. I jam the key back into the ignition and speed out of my parking spot and down the road.
I barely stop at the stop sign. I don’t know if they are stupid enough to come back. I know they wanted to hurt him and I am not sure why.
“What did you do?” I ask him, he needs to tell me the truth.
“I didn’t do anything other than try and help my dad. And none of them want me to do that.”
I throw on my blinker. “Buckle your seat belt.”
He does what I ask and runs a hand across his face trying to pull it together. “Nobody wants me to sell that warehouse because they know what it means if I do.”
Selling the warehouse unleashes a lot of secrets that have been hidden for a long time. I’m actually shocked Nash doesn’t care. I wonder why he doesn’t care because if it was me I would care a lot, probably to the point of developing an ulcer.
I’m driving back across town in a state of panic because I am worried about what will happen to Nash.
“Why did they attack you?”
“Because they’d rather use their fist then talk things out.” He drops his head back against my seat and concentrates on the road.
“Well…are you okay?” He doesn’t look hurt. Nothing looks wrong with him. In fact for a person that was attacked by a couple of guys he doesn’t have as much as a scratch on him.
“Of course I’m okay. Why wouldn’t I be okay?” he says rather touchy.
