My Brother's Bodyguard (Hometown Heros #1)

by G. L. Snodgrass

  Nana was next door visiting with her friend Mrs. Thompson. The two of them were like peas in a pod. Knowing them, they were probably sneaking a smoke in the garage. And I’m not talking tobacco.

  There was absolutely nothing to do. Instead, I moped around the house, grinding my teeth. A part of me wanted to call him. But that would be just so needy and totally lame. Especially with him at work.

  What was he doing? I wondered. Sitting behind his uncle's desk reading? Maybe he was thinking of me? Maybe he was as bored as I was?

  A slight smile creased my lips as a plan began to form in my brain. It wasn’t perfect, but It might work.

  “Hey Jimmy,” I said as I walked into his room. “What you doing?”

  “Homework,” he said over his shoulder without looking up from his computer screen.

  My brow creased. “I thought you’d already finished the entire years worth of homework?”

  He sighed heavily and pushed back from the screen, shooting me a look of frustration that let me know he wasn’t happy about being interrupted. Tough, I was his big sister, he had to live with it.

  “Don’t tell mom, but this is Stanford stuff. They’re letting me take some classes online. You know, get the easy stuff out of the way.”

  “But, doesn’t mom have to sign papers or something?”

  He chuckled. “I forged her signature. What is she going to do? Get mad at me for learning new things?

  All I could do was shake my head. Thirteen years old and he was both a senior in high school and a freshman at one of the country’s elite universities.

  Taking a deep breath, I waited until his concentration was back on his computer when I said, “So, are you still working out, you know, the boxing stuff?”

  He stopped again and turned back to me, his brow creased. “Yes,” he said, “an hour every day.” His brow continued to stay creased as he tried to figure out what I was up to. The boy knew me too well.

  “Oh,” I said. “Because I was wondering if you wanted to go over to Nate’s uncle’s gym. Check it out. Maybe he could show you a couple of things. I’d be willing to drive you over if Nana lets me borrow her car.”

  His eyes got very big and a smile broke out.

  “But that’s okay,” I added. “If you’re busy, we can do it some other time.”

  “No, no,” he said as he closed his computer.

  I tried not to smile too much. “Hold on, I’ve got to shower and change first.”

  He frowned. “We’re going to a gym. Why do you have to spend time getting all pretty and stuff.”

  Rolling my eyes, I said, “I’ll be ready in about thirty minutes, you can wait that long. After all. I’m the one doing this for you. Don’t criticize.”

  He smiled back at me. I was pretty sure he saw through my ruse. But that was fine. As long as I got to see Nate, then I wasn’t worried.

  I found Nana in the back of Mrs. Thompson’s on the patio. A bottle of wine sitting in the middle of the table between the two of them.

  “Hey Nana,” I said as I held my breath. This was the tough part.

  “Hi, Dear,” she said with a wide smile and a twinkle in her eye that let me know she wasn’t feeling anything but good.

  “Um … Jimmy’s bugging the heck out of me. He has something he needs to do in town. Some weird science experiment thing and he wants me to drive him. Can I borrow your car? We’ll be back by dinner.”

  She looked at me for a long second and I could swear she could read every lie and deceit running through my mind. I thought for sure she was going to call me on it. But, instead, she smiled and said, “Sure, Honey, my keys are in my purse on the dining room table.”

  A sudden guilty feeling ran through me as I gave her a quick hug and got out of there before I told her everything. As I was pulling the door shut, I heard Nana say to Mrs. Thompson, “Have I told you about her new boyfriend, Nate? Oh to be that young again.” Mrs. Thompson laughed and I heard someone refilling the wine glasses. Those two would be having a nice afternoon.

  By the time I’d got ready, Jimmy was bouncing off the walls. He’d actually changed into his shorts and tank top.

  “Come on twerp,” I said as I ruffled his hair.

  He shot me the look of death but he smiled and raced me to the car.

  When I pulled into the parking lot across the street from the gym, my stomach started tumbling over itself as I wondered if I was making a mistake. Maybe Nate was busy. Maybe I should have called first.

  Jimmy sort of killed any chance to rethink my plan by jumping out of the car and rushing across the street without me.

  “Hey,” I yelled, sounding way too much like my mom.

  He stopped on the sidewalk and waited for me, bouncing on his feet like Winnie the Pooh’s Tigger on crack.

  “Listen,” I said to him. “This is Nate’s job. So don’t think he’s going to have a lot of time for you. If we’re lucky we’ll get a quick tour and then that will be it.”

  He laughed, “Sure Elle. Don’t worry. You’ll get your Nate fix.”

  All I could do was stare after him as he rushed up the stairs two at a time. The boy was smart I reminded myself. Either that or I wasn’t very good at hiding my feelings.

  When I joined Jimmy at the top. He stood there, taking it all in. Memorizing every detail. It was just like I remembered it. Even the rank smell was the same.

  It took me a solid two seconds to locate Nate. He was off to the side punching a big leather bag hanging from the ceiling. The sharp smack of leather on leather reverberating through the room.

  He was dressed in black boxing shorts, those high top boxing shoes, and a gray t-shirt. A dark v-shaped sweat stain, and hair plastered to his forehead let me know that he’d been at it for a while.

  Jimmy and I stood there for a second, watching him work. One, two, a shift and duck then one, two, three, punches close together. The man was pure male. Everything screamed it. The way he moved, the way he danced on his feet, the serious scowl of concentration. But most of all. The way his muscles moved.

  My insides turned over as my mouth began to water. I swear the boy was a walking god.

  He shifted on his feet and moved to the left when he caught sight of us out of the corner of his eye.

  I held my breath, waiting to see if I’d made a mistake.

  The smile that erupted on his face relieved any doubt I might have had. Just like that. I knew the world was good and everything would be okay.

  “Hey guys,” he said as he walked over to join us. His silvery-blue eyes focused on mine. Holding me in place. All I could do was stand there and stare.

  When he got to us, Nate started to bend down to pull me into a hug, but then quickly backed off. “Sorry,” he said, indicating his wet shirt.

  I swallowed hard but was able to give him a quick nod. I appreciated his consideration, but truth be told, I didn’t care if he was all sweaty, I wanted a hug. Wow, had my perspective changed. If anyone, a month earlier, would have told me I wanted to be hugged by a sweaty boy, I’d have called them crazy to their face.

  “So what’s up?” Nate asked as he started to pull at the laces of his glove with his teeth.

  “Elle wanted to see you, so she used me as an excuse to come here. I decided to let her because I wanted to see a real boxing gym,” Jimmy said.

  It took all of my self-control not to slap his shoulder. Instead, I blushed and glanced up at Nate.

  His eyes twinkled as he said, “Good, that’s exactly what I would have done.”

  I smiled at him. He always knew the perfect thing to say.

  “Come on,” he said to Jimmy. “Let’s get you some gloves and up in the ring. That’s what you really want. Right?”

  “Really?” Jimmy said as quickly looked at me for permission.

  I shrugged my shoulder. “Hey, don’t look at me, I’m not your mother.” I quickly looked at Nate, silently pleading with him to make sure Jimmy didn’t get hurt.

  “No boxing, not yet. But the
re are some things we can do.” Nate said as he slipped his gloved hand under his arm and pulled it off.

  We followed him to a set of lockers. He opened one and pulled out a pair of gloves. “Here, try these, they should be small enough and they’re broken in.”

  Jimmy slowly took them from Nate’s hand. Looking at the gloves like they were the answer to a new unified theory that would explain the universe.

  After Nate had the gloves laced up, he took us to the ring in the back and held the ropes apart for Jimmy to slip between them.

  Jimmy immediately started dancing around, throwing punches like he’d been doing it his whole life. His face had taken on that serious expression he got when he concentrated on mastering something. An expression that told the world to stay away until he was done.

  “Here,” Nate said as he held up two black pads. “Punch these. How do the gloves feel?”

  Jimmy punched the pad and smiled. I was impressed. He actually almost looked like he knew what he was doing. Those hours of shadow boxing in the garage were paying off. He still looked like a skinny twig out there. But I could see some potential. Not a lot. But some. My little brother was growing up.

  “They feel, big,” Jimmy said as he threw another punch.

  “You’ll get used to them,” Nate said as he slowly swiped at Jimmy’s head, making him duck. “That’s it,” Nate said, “bob and weave, then throw a jab.”

  The two of them continued to work together. Nate showing infinite patience. Letting Jimmy learn at his own pace. Letting him get the feel for things. I had to smile to myself. My brother was in seventh heaven and my boyfriend was a saint for helping him. What girl wouldn’t be happy with the world?

  “Okay, that’s enough for now,” Nate finally said. “Time for the speed bag.”

  Jimmy’s face cracked into a huge smile as he looked around the gym to see if anyone had been watching him. Of course, no one had. They were all concentrating on their own thing. Working with weights, punching stuff. You know. Gym things.

  Jumping down from the ring, Jimmy rushed over to a small bag hanging below a flat piece of wood. Nate jumped down and stood next to me as we both watched Jimmy.

  I swallowed hard. He smelled like a man. Like a man who had worked hard. I was surprised at how much the strong aroma didn’t bother me. There was something about it that seemed right. This was Nate in his world.

  “Take it slow,” Nate said to Jimmy. “Work on your timing.”

  “Thank you,” I whispered. “We really didn’t mean to interrupt you. But Jimmy insisted.”

  Nate smiled down at me and I could tell he knew I was lying.

  “No problem,” he said. “I’m glad you guys came. I was bored out of my mind. Besides, I missed you.”

  I tried not to smile too big.

  “Hey, watch this,” Jimmy yelled across the gym as he pulled an arm back and hit the bag as hard as he could. I felt Nate freeze next to me. Before any of us could do anything. The bag bounced up, hit the board and then slammed back down. Smacking Jimmy square in the face, Knocking him to the ground.

  My stomach dropped.

  “Crap,” Nate mumbled as he rushed to Jimmy’s side.

  Jimmy sat on the ground, shaking his head like he was trying to clear the cobwebs.

  “Wow,” he said. “I didn’t see that coming.”

  Nate laughed. “You’re not the first,” he said as he helped him up.

  “Are you okay?” I asked as I began to examine him. He had a stunned expression as if he was trying to understand.

  “It shouldn’t have bounced back that fast,” he said. “The physics don’t make sense.”

  “It’s on a spring,” Nate said as he stared into his eyes for a long moment.

  I relaxed. If Jimmy was thinking about physics then he probably didn’t have a concussion.

  “Here, let me look at your eyes,” I said as I pulled at his shoulder so he would turn to me. That was when I saw it. The beginning of an ugly bruise both above and below his left eye.

  My stomach dropped to the floor. This couldn’t be happening.

  “Looks like you’re going to have a real shiner,” Nate said with a smile.

  “Really,” Jimmy said with a look of disbelief and more than a little pride.

  “Sure, when they ask, just tell them. ‘You should have seen the other guys,’ make sure you make it plural.”

  Jimmy beamed. Any pain he might be experiencing long forgotten.

  “This is terrible,” I said, unable to believe how bad things had gotten so fast.

  “Hey, it's only a black eye,” Nate said. “it will go away in a week or so.”

  “No,” I said as I turned on him. Furious that he didn’t see the problem. “My mom is going to freak. No way are we going to be able to keep this from her.”

  Chapter Twenty

  Elle

  “You what!” my mom yelled when we told her what happened. Reaching out, she grabbed Jimmy by the chin, twisting his head back and forth so she could examine the damage.

  Both of us had decided that we’d have to tell her the truth. We couldn’t lie to her. Not to her face, she always knew when we were lying. We could keep secrets, but not an outright lie. I guess that sort of makes us failures at being teenagers. But it was the way it was.

  My stomach began to curl up into a ball. I knew that look. We were in trouble. Big trouble.

  “I zigged when I should have zagged,” Jimmy said with a shrug of his shoulders.

  My mom’s eyebrows rose as she shot me a look that demanded a translation.

  “He punched the speed bag too hard,” I said as if I knew what I was talking about. “It bounced back, and caught him.”

  She looked at me like I was speaking in a strange new language.

  “And where was he punching this thing?” My mom asked with more patience than I expected. The kind of patience I knew was a way to allow her to marshal her facts before she exploded.

  “At Nate’s gym. Actually, it’s his uncle’s gym,” Jimmy began. “You should see it. They’ve got a boxing ring, weights, punching bags. Nate let me borrow some gloves. They were great. In fact, I now want boxing gloves for Christmas. I don’t need a centrifuge. I can borrow one if I need to.”

  All I could do was roll my eyes. The boy had no clue how to keep his mouth shut. Nana stood behind Mom, slowly shaking her head. I didn’t know who she was more disappointed in. Jimmy for talking too much. Her daughter for overreacting. Or me, for lying to her.

  “Boxing gloves!” my mom said to Jimmy as if he’d just asked for a spaceship.

  “Yes,” Jimmy said with a sharp nod of his head. Really, the boy had no clue how much he was screwing this up. But if I tried to stop him, Mom would see and it would just be worse.

  “Nate’s been teaching me to box,” Jimmy said as he stood up straighter. I caught a bit of defiance in his voice that I wasn’t used to hearing. Especially when he talked to Mom. He might be cutting some apron strings. But unfortunately, he was throwing my boyfriend under the bus while he did it.

  “And you knew about this?” Mom asked me with a stern voice under extreme strain. Like a stretched wire just waiting to explode.

  My throat went dry as my mind frantically tried to come up with the right answer. Something that would defuse the situation without getting me into too much trouble. Of course, I failed miserably.

  “It was exercise, not real boxing. You said you wanted him to get out more. To exercise. Remember, you wanted him to go to Yoga with you,” I said, knowing it wasn’t going to work as the words left my mouth.

  “Little boys don’t get black eyes in Yoga,” Mom yelled. The force of her words made me cringe and take a step back.

  “Ruth,” Nana said as she reached out a hand to restrain her daughter.

  “I’m not a little boy,” Jimmy said, his hands on his hips. “When are you going to see that?”

  “When you start acting it.” My mom replied with a smug look.

  Jimmy star
ed at her for a long minute, I held my breath. I’d never seen him like this. Red-faced, his jaw tight. Staring at my mother like he hated her. Then without another word, he turned and stormed out of the kitchen.

  “Come back here,” Mom yelled. Jimmy ignored her and purposely slammed the door as he left.

  Oh crap. This was bad, I thought. Real bad. I’d never seen him act this way. Also, I’d never seen my mom this upset.

  “This is all your fault,” Mom said, turning on me like a dog after a bone.

  Why was I not surprised? It was always my fault. Taking a deep breath, I held my tongue and waited.

  “If you hadn’t started bringing that boy around. None of this would have happened. I knew he was trouble the minute I saw him. I thought you had more sense, Elle. I really did. You can do so much better.”

  That was it. I lost it. How dare she blame Nate for this.

  “Better?” I yelled back at her. “Better?” I said again, unable to get my mind wrapped around what she had just said.

  “Yes,” she continued as if it was a serious question. “In fact. You will stop seeing this boy immediately. I won’t allow it. He’s not right for you and he’s a bad influence on Jimmy.”

  My mind went blank, the world stopped spinning and the air rushed from my lungs. Stop seeing Nate. What did she mean? This was impossible

  “You don’t understand,” I demanded. “You are oblivious.”

  She winced and started to respond, but I cut her off before she could say anything.

  “If it wasn’t for Nate, Jimmy would have gotten a lot worse than a black eye. If it wasn’t for Nate, that boy who isn’t right, you called him, your son would have been beaten up more than once. It was Nate that stepped in and protected him from the first day of school.”

  My mom’s brow furrowed as she tried to understand.

  “That’s right, Jimmy was bullied from the start. Just like I told you he would be. Or at least they tried to. But he was so worried you would pull him from school and keep him out of Stanford, he refused to tell you.

  “I asked Nate to protect him. I took the steps necessary to make sure Jimmy made it through high school. That ‘Not Right For Me’ boy risked himself repeatedly to keep Jimmy safe because I asked him to. We only pretended to be dating so those idiots would believe Nate would stick up for him.”