by Nicky Shanks
Her mouth twitches into a slight smile. “It’s not, I’ve already checked. But I’m sure you’ll think of something. Thank you, Casey. I knew I could count on you.” Her lips meet my forehead, then she stands up and holds out her hand for me to take. “Let’s go back in and see him.”
I take her hand.
I can’t not take her hand.
Julie Remington is addicting. Ollie’s right.
I follow her into the room and it’s so cold that I shiver. “Here’s the detective on the case—the nurse gave me his card. He would know any details about the wreck that I haven’t been told.” She hands me a small, slick business card. I take it from her and my eyes lock on Oliver’s lifeless body in front of us. Julie makes a small humming noise. “Actually, would you mind running back to Oliver’s apartment and grabbing some things? He’ll want clean clothes when he wakes up, and maybe grab me one of his sweaters?”
I nod my head. “I’ll bring some things. Call me if anything happens, okay?” I take her phone when she holds it out and put my number inside. I take another look at her before escaping the chill of death.
It isn’t until I lock myself in my car in the parking lot when I fully realize what has happened in the past few hours.
Oliver might die.
Julie might like me.
No, that’s wrong.
But I definitely like Julie.
“Dammit,” I whisper, starting the car. “I’m such a fucking loser.”
It’s a little too late to be waking a police detective, so I drive toward Oliver’s apartment so I can get the things Julie asked for. The misty rain covers the windshield before I click the wipers on; the streets are still slick from the rainfall before. The quickest way to his place is through a rougher part of Rockford, but I don’t mind. I doubt anyone will be messing with me the way I’m feeling right now.
I pull up to a stoplight and look around. The reflection of the neon lights on The Tavern shine into my car’s window. There’s a woman walking in a very, very short skirt with her wild red hair matted around her body from the rain. She doesn’t look like a normal hooker around these parts, but she’s headed into a full circle of trouble as a half-dozen rough-looking guys eye her from the end of the block. Within seconds, they swarm her like scorpions on the prowl. I roll down my window and hear one of them say to her, “Hey, pretty girl. This is awfully far from where you should be, don’t ya think?”
A second guy walks around the first and his smile even creeps me out. “I bet she’s lost. Are you lost, little bird?”
Before I can stop myself, I’m opening the car door and stepping out into the dimly lit street. “Hey, there you are.” My voice stumbles from my throat. “I’ve been looking for you—are you ready to go?” I hear the fear in my voice and I hope she realizes that I’m trying to help her. Her eyes meet mine and I can see her lips quiver in shame that she has to be rescued at all. She drifts past the men—careful not to touch any of them—walks to the passenger side of the car and gets in quickly.
The group of men start walking toward me, so I wink and say, “Thanks for finding her for me, guys.” I lock myself in the car and speed through the intersection before they can gang up on me and kick my ass.
“Thanks.” Her voice reaches me once the fear is gone. “I’m Lucy. What’s your name?”
I don’t answer her as I lurch the car toward Oliver’s apartment, not even thinking about what just happened or what I’m going to do with her. I look over at her tall, shivering body and my defenses fall.
Here’s another beautiful woman I’ll mess things up with.
“Are you cold?” I ask her. “Not that someone should be dressed like that in rain like this…but everyone has their reasons, I guess.” I smile at her and turn on the heat so she can get warm. “Do you want to tell me why you’re walking down that road at night dressed like that?”
She bites the inside of her cheek. “I’m not a prostitute, if that’s what you think.”
I scoff. “I never said you were.”
“What? Is that a bad part of town?”
I laugh and turn the heat back down. “You must be new around here. It’s pretty sketchy around that area.”
“I am new here; I moved a few weeks ago, but I work at Rita’s Boutique, a few blocks that way.” She wiggles her toes underneath the floorboard heater and points out her window. I know she wants me to strike up a conversation with her and flirt a little, but I make it a point to keep my thoughts to myself.
I already want someone I can’t have; I have no business starting something with someone I don’t know.
“Where do you live? I can take you home,” I say, keeping my eyes on the road.
She hesitates. “I live in Boxwood.” She looks sick to her stomach, like she’s embarrassed to tell me where she lives. “I just moved here…it was the best thing I could afford.”
I hold up my hands. “I’m not judging you; I have friends in Boxwood.” I turn the car toward the small town outside of Rockford. It’s a community of old Army duplexes that were converted into civilian spaces long ago.
“I’m 304, over there.” She points to a house with a warm and inviting orange light in the window. “Just under those trees.” I bring the car to a stop, making sure I illuminate her front door with the headlights. “Well, thanks for the ride.” She stalls for a few minutes, but I don’t know what to say to her.
I just want to please Julie and make her happy right now—she deserves that little speck of hope in the dark corner she’s been forced into. I look at the girl across from me. Her eyes are trying to catch mine, and all I can think about is someone else’s girl.
“Do you want to come in?”
I feel the hope return to my chest and the cobwebs start to melt inside of me. Lucy is igniting something that Julie started the day before: a flame that I don’t want to put out. “I’ll have to pass, but I’ll wait for you to get inside, okay?”
She snickers. “Thanks for the ride—again.” She gets out of the car, making sure I can see her perfectly shaped ass when she does. Her long fingers push the window down before closing the door, and she leans her face back through the opening to smile at me. “I’m Lucy.”
I laugh. “You said that already. I’m Casey.”
She winks, picks up my phone from the center console, and punches in her number. I hear a faint buzzing from her purse. She called herself from my phone. “There…now I have your number and you have mine. Use it sometime, okay?” Her smile is broad as she pushes herself from the car and makes her way into her house. I don’t waste any time pulling back onto the road. I’m getting tired, and Oliver’s is only ten minutes back into Rockford.
Except that when I get there and lie on the sofa, I can’t fall asleep.
I think about Julie. Her hair looks like sunflowers.
I think about Lucy. Her skin looks tantalizing when wet.
I think about Heather…then Julie.
I think about Nora and her full lips and smooth, tan skin.
I think about Lucy…then Julie.
I can’t stop thinking about Julie.
I don’t want to stop thinking about her.
I have to do something; I pick up my phone from the table next to me and find the number that Lucy had dialed.
Casey: Hey, sorry I just burnt out like that.
Lucy: No worries. Miss me already?
I scoff; she’s almost as cocky as Heather. She isn’t my normal type, either. I like modest women who don’t walk around shady parts of town at night half-naked. I message her back anyway—anything is better than knowing I want someone I can’t have.
Casey: I just wanted to apologize for acting rude.
Lucy: Apology accepted.
I frown at the keyboard in the dark.
Casey: Okay, I’ll let you sleep. Have a good night.
Then, she calls me.
“Phone calls are much more personal.” I can hear her smile through the phone. “You’re my knight in shin
ing armor, after all.”
I blush, thankful she can’t see me. I don’t know what happens to me when women compliment me; I lose myself and do stupid things.
“I’m no knight.” I laugh. “I’m just me.”
She sucks in air and I stop thinking about Julie for a few minutes. “So, what’s your deal?”
“No deal, I’m pretty boring.”
Her laugh is amazing; it’s real and full. “You were going to let me go to sleep when clearly you want to ask me out.”
“Is that so?”
She giggles. “Unless I got the wrong impression…”
“No, you didn’t,” I blurt. “It’s just…my friend is in the hospital right now…that’s where I was coming from when I saw you. He’s pretty bad and messed up, so I need to be there for him and his girlfriend right now.”
Lucy gasps. “His girlfriend?”
“She’s my friend too. She’s pretty upset. He might not make it.”
Lucy thinks for a few seconds in silence before saying anything. “I think that’s nice of you, Casey. There needs to be more compassionate men in the world like you. Is there anything I can do to help you?”
Yeah—you can help me take my mind off Julie.
Because I want her so bad right now it’s killing me.
***
Lucy
There’s no greater feeling than knowing you’ve made several wrong choices in a row.
Going home with Oliver.
Going back to The Tavern to try to find someone else to ease my woes.
Getting into the car with Casey…No, getting into the car with him was a good choice…at least it’s better than the one that had been waiting for me back on that street. I really want to thank him for helping me, but he’s right. I shouldn’t be inviting him in.
When I jump out of the car and give him a show of what he’s missing, it doesn’t bother me that he’s not reaching out for me and grabbing my ass.
I turn and wink at him, grab his phone from the center console, and put in my phone number before calling myself. “There…now I have your number and you have mine. Use it sometime, okay?” I have to make myself leave the open window and race into my apartment before anyone else shady catches me outside. I click the three deadbolts behind me and turn on the lights, scanning the room before stepping any farther.
I’m alone.
Alone and soaking wet.
I strip my wet clothes off and turn on the shower in the small bathroom. It’s cold in the apartment, mainly because I haven’t turned on the heat yet to save a little money. The water is hot when I step into the small shower, hitting my elbows as I turn my body around to put my forehead against the wall and think.
Casey.
He’s pretty handsome.
And chivalrous.
I smile when I think about him not taking me up on my offer to come inside. Most men would want you to repay them for their kindness…but not Casey. To tell the truth, Oliver’s rejection is still swirling inside my brain, and I would have slept with Casey just to make it even in my own mind.
The water only washes away so much guilt before I step out and dress myself. I wonder what Heather is doing—if she’s having money problems or she just gave up on designer handbags. I look at my vanity full of body sprays and makeup from the drugstore and I sigh. This wasn’t supposed to happen to me. I was supposed to come out on top. I think about all the surgeries and money spent on making my body into something I desperately wanted. I was supposed to live a lavish and free life.
All it’s gotten me so far is nearly assaulted and rejected by two men.
For once, my neighbors aren’t arguing or watching loud porn. The dogs at the back of the property aren’t growling at each other or howling at the moon, either. The beats of loud stereo systems aren’t shaking the walls, but I don’t dare focus on all of that much so my peace isn’t jinxed.
My phone dings and I find it on my bed where I dropped it after stripping my clothes off.
Casey: Hey, sorry I just burnt out like that.
My heart jumps and I want to freak out.
Lucy: No worries. Miss me already?
Casey: I just wanted to apologize for acting rude.
Lucy: Apology accepted.
I put the phone down next to me and figure out my plan. He’s playing me hot and cold, like he’s scared to let me in. I think about sending him dirty pictures, but he gets to me first.
Casey: Okay, I’ll let you sleep. Have a good night.
I’m not sure what to do, so I call him. I don’t let him say hello before my mouth starts moving and words fall out. “Phone calls are much more personal.” I smile and hope he can tell. “You’re my knight in shining armor, after all.”
“I’m no knight.” He laughs. “I’m just me.”
“So, what’s your deal?” I twist my wet hair around my fingers.
“No deal, I’m pretty boring.”
I laugh because most guys say this sort of thing because they don’t like talking about themselves…or their feelings. “You were going to let me go to sleep when clearly you want to ask me out.”
“Is that so?”
I giggle and flip my hair, even though he can’t see me. “Unless I got the wrong impression…” I feel embarrassed but I know he can’t see me blush. It doesn’t stop me from getting nervous and looking around with the feeling that someone’s watching me.
“No, you didn’t. It’s just…my friend is in the hospital right now. That’s where I was coming from when I saw you. He’s pretty bad and messed up, so I need to be there for him and his girlfriend right now.”
I gasp. “His girlfriend?”
“She’s my friend too. She’s pretty upset. He might not make it.”
I tap my chin and wonder how someone this great could have been thrown at me like he was. “I think that’s nice of you, Casey. There needs to be more compassionate men in the world like you. Is there anything I can do to help you?”
His breathing thickens. “No, but can I call you later? I do want to take you out…maybe after this whole mess is straightened out.”
I want to jump for joy and do a dance, but I keep my composure. “Of course. Just let me know if I can help you, okay?”
He agrees and we hang up the phone.
Casey is a mystery.
And I like mysteries.
Chapter Fourteen
Brandon
I watch Julie leave with some guy from the other side of the street. Oliver isn’t here—or at least he’s not walking outside with her. I can’t imagine he’d be letting Julie waltz around with another man either. I’m sitting in my car—in the shadows—and I hope her psycho brother doesn’t catch me out here.
Shit. There’s her brother.
He runs out of the house, waving his fist in the air. The guy that Julie is with protects her by putting his arm in front of her as a shield. As they have words on the front lawn, I swear I think her brother sees me lurking, but he doesn’t do anything about it. When Julie’s heard enough, she speeds off with the mystery guy—and even though it’s not the great and powerful Oliver Jackson, I get pissed off. By the time I drive back home, I’m fuming with anger and frustration. I heard everything they fucking said, and I don’t like anything I just learned.
None of the lights inside are on, but I don’t care. I’m so pissed that I make it a point to create as much noise as I can opening the front door, because I want Heather to wake up and fight with me. I need to let everything out on someone.
I make louder noises in the kitchen and I notice her bedroom light come on. I want to fight with her—I need somewhere to put my anger besides inside of me. Heather doesn’t deserve that, but she knew what she signed up for.
When she opens the door, the light billows into the dark hallway, and I smile because I know I’m about to get the satisfaction I’m looking for.
Here it comes.
I grab a beer from the fridge and open it. The liquid is so cold on my lips that
it actually chills my anger for a few seconds. I sip it and try to come to a truthful realization about my relationship with Julie: I don’t have one anymore.
I hear Heather’s small feet walk slowly toward the kitchen and stop. She tries to hold her breath in hopes that I won’t hear her, but I know she’s there. “Come in here,” I demand, seeing her faint shadow jump a little. She peeks her head in through the doorway; her shiny, dark hair falls around her neck like silk strands of black licorice. “I said come in here.” My voice is heavy with frustration.
“Are you okay?” she snaps at me. “It’s pretty late to be making all this noise.”
I scoff. “It’s like ten.”
She crosses her arms and bites her bottom lip, examining the way I’m chugging beer down one by one and throwing the bottles away. She isn’t impressed by how many I can throw back, but I don’t care about anything except my release right now.
“Are you drunk?” she whispers, like drinking is a sin.
I guzzle the rest of the third one, throw it away, and grab another one. “Are you my mother?” I growl, opening the bottle.
Horror paints her face and I feel bad; I want to make her pain go away because I’m the one who caused it. I can see the hurt in her eyes—the same hurt I would see in Julie’s eyes for years whenever I put her down. Julie was always good to me, and Heather hasn’t done anything wrong. I guess I’m just hardwired to be an asshole, and there’s not much I can do to stop it besides try to suppress it.
“I’m going back to bed.” She shakes her head and turns to leave. For a second, I think I’m going to let myself watch her walk away. The deeper I think about it, the more I want control over her. I throw the bottle away and breathe in deep, making sure she hasn’t left yet. I grab her arm and pull her around to face me. Her eyes are scared, so I let her go, but she doesn’t run from me or try to push me away.
