by J. M. Miller
Instead, I called his bluff. “I won’t hold my breath.”
He smiled when he leaned away from my neck. “Let’s just focus on the rest of the day first. You have a conversation with Simone to get through and I need to find out about the party. If we’re having it, we’ll probably start decorating this afternoon.”
“Party?” Spaz asked, perking up at our conversation.
“Are you guys having one this year?” Izzy asked Ben.
More voices invaded my thoughts. “I wish I had the strength to tell him,” a guy’s voice said by the cafeteria door. I closed my eyes a moment and pushed my fingers into my temples. It was getting harder to concentrate.
Ben shrugged at Izzy. “From what Simone told me last year, the property made a few bucks, so I’m pretty sure it’ll happen.”
“Oh! The Halloween party!” Spaz finally caught on. “Killer. Last year’s was insane. Will she hire that temp bartending place again? They hooked us up,” Spaz said.
“Not sure,” Ben replied, stacking the trash on his tray.
“I wish I had…” another voice said from the opposite side of the cafeteria.
“I wonder if the costume place in Lancaster has anything decent left to rent,” Izzy said, biting her nails unconsciously. “What are you going to wear, LJ?”
“I’m not sure,” I admitted. After spending some of my recent paychecks on clothes, using any for a costume didn’t seem like a good idea. Especially since Dad and I were doing so well getting the family back on track.
“As soon as you guys find out, you have to let me know. I’ll call the rental place to see what they have left,” Izzy said.
“I’ll text you,” Ben replied.
The bell rang and everyone jumped to their feet around us. Ben turned his body to me and placed his hand on my cheek. “I’m still trying to think of something so you don’t have to sit here and suffer. I wish this stupid school let us go outside for lunch. That would help a little,” he whispered.
I nodded and pressed my face into his palm. He smiled then kissed me, hard, in the midst of all the cafeteria chaos. Along with the loud voices, rattling chair legs, and shuffling feet, I heard a few whistles directed our way.
“See you in metal shop, lover boy,” Spaz said with a laugh.
I felt Ben’s hand leave my face. He was either flipping Spaz off or waving him away. I smiled against his lips and his hand returned to me, this time settling high on my thigh. As the footsteps and voices faded, Ben pulled back from my lips and smiled sincerely. The corners of his eyes crinkled. “How are you feeling?”
“Okay,” I said, dazed. I knew he was asking about my head, but I was slow to process after that kiss. He laughed as he stood, then reached for my hand to help me up. “What?” I asked at his laughter.
“Nothing, really,” he replied, taking the lunch tray to dump the trash. He waited for me to grab my books and we walked into the hall. “It’s just nice that you let me kiss you that way in a packed cafeteria.”
“Why wouldn’t I? I have to stake my claim, right?” I said with an arched brow, thinking clearly again as the headache dulled.
“If they didn’t know before, they certainly know now.” He eyed me sideways with a wicked grin.
We walked the halls quietly until we reached the shop and art wing. Ben backed me against a wall between a break in the lockers, my head settling inches from a cork bulletin board. He dipped his mouth into the bend of my neck and ran his hands down my sides.
“You’re such a tease,” I joked.
“Mmm,” he hummed below my ear. The light scruff on his jaw brushed over my skin, awakening every nerve and giving me goosebumps. “I love it when you shiver.”
I looked down the hall and met the eyes of a couple underclass girls. They giggled at our scandalous behavior and rushed past. “It’s been happening a lot lately. Maybe I’m sick,” I teased, smiling as he stepped back to look at me.
“You must be. You’re with me,” he said, standing up straighter. His hooded eyes peered down at me in such a seductive way I almost shivered again. He was unbelievably sexy, and all mine.
“Please,” I scoffed.
His eyes darted up, glancing at the hall clock behind us. “We should go,” he said, then leaned down to kiss my lips. I protested by frowning when he pulled away. It was entirely too short after such a huge buildup. “I’ll see you in a bit,” he said, walking backward a few steps before turning.
I watched his long, confident strides down the empty hall. His shirt tightened and shifted across his back muscles as his body moved. Just watching him walk made me smile. The thought of seeing him in private later added to that smile, and made my whole body flush. Tearing my eyes off him, I looked at the bulletin board and noticed a paper with the words Cooperative Work Program written at the top. Co-op. I snatched it off just as Ben yelled, “Move that cute ass, LJ.”
“Yes, sir,” I called to him and shoved the paper between my books.
“So I’m thinking this may solve my lunch problem. What do you think?” I asked after I handed Ben the paper from my backpack. I’d waited to tell him until we were home. The headaches at the end of school proved no better than at lunch so I didn’t want to stick around to tell him there.
With the kickstand down, he leaned his butt back onto his bike to read the paper. “Co-op? You sure you don’t want to think about it first? It’ll cut your credits and that could hurt school applications.”
I glared at him. He didn’t comprehend the situation as well as I thought he would. “It’s not just about my mom screwing me out of tuition anymore. You take a jackhammer to the head every day any time you’re around groups of people and tell me what you’d do!” It came out harsher than I intended, but I needed him to understand since no one else could. There was no end in sight, which meant I had to deal with it whatever way was best for me.
He grabbed my hands and pulled me to stand between his legs. “I’m sorry, babe. It does sound like the best way to get you away from people,” he admitted. “You’ll probably leave before lunch.”
“I would,” I agreed. “I went to the guidance counselor this afternoon during study hall and he gave me the paperwork. I just need signatures.”
“Is your dad going to be okay with this?”
“I’m not sure, but I won’t take no for an answer. I don’t think I can handle it anymore, Ben.” I thought about the pain and let out a long sigh to fend off the tears.
“I know,” he said, rubbing my arms. “Simone will have to sign off too.” His brow scrunched and he glanced over at the event house.
“Yeah.” I knew getting her to agree would be the biggest challenge. How would I convince her to let me come to work earlier on top of asking her to teach me the business? It was a long shot.
He backed me up so he could stand. “You should go talk to her now. You’ll have more luck than you would at the end of her shift.”
“Right,” I agreed. “I’ll meet you outside in a bit.”
His arms surrounded me and crushed me to him. I gladly surrendered my head to his chest and listened to the calm rhythm of his heartbeat. He loosened his grip and leaned down to my lips for a soft kiss. “Good luck with the warden,” he said with a smile.
I shook my head while I watched him straddle his bike. “Which one?”
He laughed, started the engine, and then pulled off around the drive.
My head felt much better after the ride home. It was because of Ben. I was able to numb the pain by concentrating on our connection. His strength also helped. It enveloped me, whether he realized or not. I was so grateful to have the comfort and the escape. I’d probably go insane without him.
After ditching my bag and helmet, I made my way over to the event house. The walk took twice as long. I stopped to look at the papers in my hands a few times then paced back and forth in front of the ten-foot oak doors before finally pushing through one. The mansion was so quiet I could hear something ticking, possibly a light bulb in on
e of the chandeliers. “You can do this,” I said to myself, moving up the curved staircase with renewed purpose. I knew what I was there to do. I needed to be assertive with Simone, yet gracious enough that she wouldn’t quit or feed me to her pet dog, Emily.
The office door was open when I arrived. I leaned against the doorjamb and peeked in. Simone’s high-back leather chair was facing the far wall with no movement. The room was as quiet as downstairs. She never ended her work day before five o’clock so I wondered where she could’ve been. As I turned to go hunt her down, I saw the chair move slightly.
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea,” she said. Her voice was soft and warm. “Well, sure, but—” The person on the phone cut her off. She let out a cute, flirty giggle, which startled me enough that I had to cover my mouth to keep quiet. “I’m serious. No, quit joking. I know, I know. But what if someone finds out?” she asked the caller. “Now I know you’re full of it.” She giggled again then her chair spun around before I had the chance to get out of the doorway.
I pushed my knuckles up to the door like I was just about to knock even though I’d already been caught eavesdropping.
As my presence dawned on her, her relaxed posture straightened. “I have to go,” she said in a clipped tone then hung up before the caller had enough time to say goodbye. “LJ,” she said and waved her hand for me to enter.
“Sorry, I—” I faltered. “I wanted to talk to you.” While I walked around the guest chairs—not daring to sit in either—I could feel the heat in my cheeks and I cursed my body for displaying my guilt.
“Sure,” she replied, busying her little hands by shuffling the papers on her desk. “I apologize that it’s been so long since we’ve talked. Lloyd and Ben both say that you’ve picked up the grounds work very well. They’ve had no complaints so I figured there wasn’t much to talk about.” She was being more courteous than I expected.
I pinched the Co-op paperwork in both hands to hide my nerves. I wasn’t afraid to talk to her, but I was worried what she’d say. Thinking about the topics, I decided which would be the better lead-in. “Well, I wanted to discuss the possibility of working the Co-op program from school.” Before she had a chance to process I added, “I’ll work the same amount of hours, just earlier.”
Her eyes tipped toward the ceiling in contemplation and she leaned back a fraction in her chair. She was wearing her hair longer now, down to her shoulders. Today it held a wavy look, like she’d stepped off the beach. It was a complete contradiction to her business suit, but it looked cute.
“I’m okay with that,” she stated simply after a moment. She motioned for the papers and I handed them to her in shock.
I let out a relieved breath and grinned stupidly. “Really?”
“Yeah,” she said, looking over the papers and filling them out. “Did your father okay this?”
I scrunched my face at the thought. “I’m going to tell him later. He’s at work.”
“This other paper is for him to sign, not me.”
“Oh, sorry.”
She slid both papers across her desk. “As soon as it’s authorized, let me know so I can update the schedule. And I’ll let Lloyd know to expect you earlier.”
“Actually, that’s the other thing I wanted to talk about,” I blurted before I could change my mind. She looked at me, blank-faced, waiting. “Ben told me about the Halloween party that you normally have—”
“The decorations have already been brought out of storage. They are outside for you guys to start on today,” she stated matter-of-factly.
“Okay, but,” I said, pushing past her interruption, “after he told me about the party, I realized that I’ve learned a fair amount about the grounds, yet I don’t really know much about this place. I don’t know the customs or anything business related, and I’d really like to start learning.”
Her eyes widened reflexively and she took a deep breath through her nose. Ben had told me she wanted to buy the estate so I knew this would be a sore subject. Maybe she never intended to let me learn, that way I’d be more willing to sell. After she silently evaluated me for a moment, she said, “Okay.”
“Okay? I mean, all right.” She caught me off-guard again.
“When you’re approved for the Co-op program, you can start working in the office with me.”
“Sounds good,” I said enthusiastically, with a large smile. Possibly too enthusiastically because she eyed me again.
“Don’t think it’s going to be a cakewalk. It’s a good deal of work.”
“No, of course not. I’m sure I have a lot to learn,” I admitted and pinched my lips together tightly, fighting to contain the smile.
She nodded then moved more papers around her desk. “If that’s all, some clients will be here soon. I suggest you go help Ben start the decorations.”
I stood in a hurry, partly afraid she’d change her mind and partly excited because the meeting had gone way better than I’d expected. I moved to the door and said, “Thanks.”
She glanced up, her face stoic with no reply.
I floated down the hall, happily confused with what had happened. She agreed to it all. Whatever the cause, it was all right with me. There was no reason to dwell.
When I got to the top of the stairs, Emily was starting to climb them. She worked only two or three days a week now. I didn’t care enough to know her new schedule. Apparently, I would have to pay more attention now.
Her body stiffened at the sight of me. “LJ,” she said with a sneer, continuing up the steps.
“Emily,” I replied calmly, not wanting to fight. I was on a high from talking to Simone and I wouldn’t let her ruin that. Besides, this was my house. Not hers. She should have enough sense to consider repercussions before starting anything here.
The curved staircase was wide enough to fit us with room to spare, though we were still too close when we reached the same level. I leaned forward for my next step, but her foot shot out and clipped mine, tripping me. Unable to catch myself, I dove head first. The Co-op papers spilled to the floor when I pushed my hands out in front of my face. I still kissed the lip of a stair when I hit. My body slid over the rounded edges of the remaining stairs, only stopping when my palms touched the floor.
Her laugh traveled up the high walls and echoed throughout the silent mansion. “Oops. You should be more careful.”
Without thinking, I rolled to my feet and bounded up toward her before her shocked eyes had a chance to blink. She turned and ran. I was two steps behind her when someone opened one of the front doors. “I think this place is exactly what you’re looking for,” someone said, stopping both of us in our tracks.
Breathing heavily, I looked down to the base of the stairs. Three people stared up at Emily and me. If I had to guess, one was a wedding planner and the other two were the clients Simone had mentioned. I glanced back over my shoulder, meeting Emily’s smirk.
“Uh-oh. Can’t very well attack me in front of clients, can you?” she whispered, backing up the last stair.
I glared at her and pressed my lips tight, feeling a slight sting in their soft skin. “You obviously don’t care about your job.”
She smiled brighter. “You’re right, but it’s not like you can fire me yet.”
“No, but I think there’ll be other things you can look forward to since you’re so eager to stick around,” I said with a smirk of my own. If she wanted to play, we’d play.
The amusement washed from her face as she considered my statement.
I might not be able to touch her in school or in front of clients, but she’d be dumb to think I’d let her get away with something like this again. I tried to stay away from these situations when I’d moved, though I knew I’d inevitably have to face them in some facet. The plan was to be a better person, to rise above the pettiness, to walk away. But that didn’t mean I’d sit still while someone took shots at me.
I ignored the people traveling the stairs behind me and stared at Emily until she retreated d
own the hall. When I finally turned to leave, I pressed myself to the wall so the people could pass. “Hi,” I uttered, trying to hurry past.
“Are these your papers? Oh, dear. Your lip is bleeding,” a tall, red-haired lady with a briefcase said. She had to be the planner.
“Thanks,” I replied, taking the papers with one hand and wiping my lips with the other. As I jogged down the last steps, I glanced at the blood on my fingers. Once upon a time, the sight of my own blood, no matter the cause, might’ve been a concern. Not so much anymore.
Along with all the other event house decorations, the chicken wire displays had been shoved tightly into its cramped basement storage area, which turned them into tangled heaps of metal. I’d pulled most apart by the time I spotted LJ walking around the building. She folded some papers and shoved them into her back pocket with a blank expression.
“It’s about time,” I joked, hoping to lighten her mood since Simone had probably crushed all of her hopes and dreams. “I’m in need of a little help.” When she was a few feet away, I noticed a cut on her bottom lip. “What the…?” I asked, dropping the mass of wire and grabbing her face in my hands.
“I’m fine, Ben,” she said, grabbing my wrists, trying to pry my hands away.
“What the hell happened?” I let her pull my hands down, but I drew one back up and ran my thumb just below the cut.
Her eyes looked everywhere except at me and she sighed deeply. “Promise me you won’t get mad.”
What? Why would she ask that? Unless… “Someone hit you.” I clenched my jaw and my hands, squeezing both until they numbed from the pressure. Emily’s car had pulled in the lot a few minutes ago and I thought nothing of it. I should’ve known better. “Dammit!” I yelled and pushed past LJ.
