It was a hard hit to my stomach, being reminded of the charade I was forcing upon myself, but I was not going to let anyone know what Walker had done, even if it meant lying. I had no idea where he was or what was going on, and right then, my heart broke again. I missed him and hated him all at once. I was split down the middle, and the inner conflict was almost too much to bear. All of my problems had been tossed to the side when I saw Cali’s black eye that morning, and as selfish as it was, I was happy for the break and to be dealing with someone else’s shit for a while. Now it was all falling back onto my shoulders and it just flat-out sucked.
At that point, Cali and I were both just staring at our beers, still the first ones that we had been served over thirty minutes before, barely even half empty. I could feel the reality starting to sink into my bones again, and it seemed like Cali was feeling the same way. We were both kind of going through the same thing. Our lives were completely spinning in directions we’d never thought possible with no emergency brake or seatbelt in sight. I was ready to be grounded and see straight again, but I knew the only person who could kickstart that was hiding from me. There was going to have to be a point where I just moved on or obsessed so much that I broke. I was just waiting to see which direction my life was going to take me next.
A shriek came from Todd’s direction, pulling me from my deep thoughts, and he threw his arms around a lanky, college-aged guy who had just walked up to our little group. Todd kissed him right on the lips and smacked his butt hard, making the boy-toy blush and giggle.
“Toddy, I told you not to do that in public!” the boy-toy teased, shoving Todd playfully on the shoulder. “You’re embarrassing me!”
Todd rolled his eyes and flung his hands in the air. “I cannot help that you’re the cutest thing ever, booky-bear! I want to introduce you to two of my favorite badass barflies.”
“Hi, ladies!” His voice was deeper than I had been expecting from his boyish face, which was blushing at Todd’s flirtations like a schoolboy about to get lucky on prom night. “I’m Xander. Todd has told me so much about you!”
Cali and I both got up to hug Todd’s flavor of the week like we had done every time we’d seen him in here on his off days. But this one seemed different. Or maybe it was how Todd looked at him. I really hoped that he had finally found love. Todd had been looking in all the wrong places before.
Xander seemed to be just about six foot, overly skinny just like Todd, with bleached-blond hair that was in a messy-neat fauxhawk that Todd kept playing with while leaning on the bar and making googly eyes at him.
“So…Xander”—Cali leaned her elbow on the bar top to twist in Todd’s and his lover’s direction—“how’d you and Todd meet?”
The shades of red that poor kid turned could not have been healthy as he shyly but seductively bit his lip at Todd, nudging him with his elbow. “Oh it’s so silly. Todd hates when I tell the story.”
“I don’t hate it. It just doesn’t paint me in a good light.” Todd made a dismissive wave of his hand in our direction as he interjected, kissing Xander sweetly on the cheek. “Love, Cali asked you a question. If anyone isn’t going to judge us, it’s these two!”
Cali and I both awkwardly giggled and exchanged glances at each other and then at Todd, silently asking, “What was that supposed to mean?” Before Todd could spit out the words rattling around on his drunken tongue, Xander was excitedly driving headfirst into his memory pool filled of booze and drugs the night he met the “love of his life.”
“You see, ladies,” he started in an overly giddy tone, scooting his chair right up against Cali’s. “It all started a few weeks ago when Todd came to Swinging Pickles after he got off of his Friday night bar shift.”
While Xander cleared his throat and took a moment to catch his breath, I glanced at Todd, who was grinning awkwardly while nursing his beer.
“I am one of the—oh wait! I was one of the nude dancers there. That is until Todd told me he didn’t want anyone else to see the goods. Ya know how jealous and possessive he can be.” Xander paused to get reassuring glances and head nods from both of us before continuing. “So while I was taking a break from one of my sets, I walked into the bathroom, where this tall drink of man water was snorting some white lightning off the back the handicapped toilet. We shared his coke and a few rounds of drinks and he convinced me to let him take me back to his place. The fireworks that flew that night melted me right into believing in monogamy for the first time in my life, and he is branded on my heart. I stopped doing drugs and dancing for him.” Todd and Xander were now lost in their own little world, making goo-goo eyes at each other and giggling about who loves the other more.
After finishing our only beers of the evening, scarfing down a plate of chili cheese fries, and witnessing too many of Todd’s overdramatic stints of public displays of affection with Xander, Cali and I decided to call it quits for our outing. She’d started to get a headache and had forgotten to bring her meds with her, and I’d started to become overwhelmed.
Todd and his lover boy escorted us to my car, all of us holding hands and giggling all the way through the darkened parking lot. Cali broke the chain to dig for her phone to take down Xander’s number so we could plan a dinner with him and Todd.
“Oh, it will be so much fun to have you over to Mitch’s one night! See? Mitch worried for nothing. We’re safe and had a great evening!”
“I am so thrilled to have met you too, loves! And dinner would just be fantastic! Since I don’t party anymore, I need to have some good, clean fun every once in a while!”
I hugged Xander after Cali finished taking his number and then freed my keys from the bottom of my messy purse. The keyless entry beeped and unlocked the doors as my eyes locked on a piece of paper flapping under one of the windshield wipers.
“Ugh! I hate when people put shitty ads on cars! It’s so an—” Cali grabbed the note and went white, shooting her hand out to stable herself on the car as her knees noticeably buckled. Her body started shaking and tears streamed down to her open, trembling lips.
“Cal? What is it?” I rushed to her side and ripped the note from her grasp. It took everything in my power to hold it together as I read the scribbled statement:
I hope you enjoyed your outing, ladies. Be more careful next time. You never know who might be watching. –K
Todd read the note from over my shoulder and grabbed both Cali and me by the hand, dragging us along at a trotting speed in one swift motion. He and Xander ushered both of us back inside and called Mitch on speakerphone once we were safely locked in the manager’s office.
Mitch’s voice came through right after the first ring. “Hey, Mags. Everything okay?”
“Mitch, it’s Todd. You need to come to Charlie’s right now! I have the girls with me in the office. But Kyle knows they’re here.”
“Shit! Fuck! Damn it! I told them to hang low. I’ll be there as fast as I can. Please keep them safe, Todd.”
Without waiting for a reply, Mitch hung up, and the phone beeped and locked again. His station was not too far from Charlie’s, and he and one of the guys from his platoon were on their way in a matter of minutes. We did as he’d instructed and stayed inside the back office of the bar, away from windows.
Not even ten minutes later, Mitch came flying into the office with the same officer that had taken our statements at the station in tow. Cali and I were holding each other, sitting on folding chairs, just waiting for them. It was crazy to me how scared we had become, shaking, crying, and so scared of someone who, just weeks before, Cali had been in love with and sleeping next to in bed. I felt the pattern of lover’s betrayal turning into a sick joke in our little world. The feeling of being stalked and violated like we were was so awful, and again I found myself wishing that I had Walker’s arms wrapped around my body. But with the same breath, I wanted to punch him in the gut for contributing to this vicious cycle we had found ourselves in.
The officer nodded to both of us. “Ladies,
I’m sorry to see you again under these circumstances. Mitch explained what happened over the phone. May I see the note please?”
Cali unclenched her fingers from the loose-leaf page and handed it to him. The officer looked it over as Mitch came and helped both of us to our feet.
He took Cali into his arms, kissing right under her ear. “You’re safe now. He’s not going to hurt you. Promise.”
She nodded into his chest, starting to fall apart again.
There was a warrant out for Kyle’s arrest for violating his no-contact order. The officer, with a kind face, reached into his pocket. “This is my personal cell number. Please call if you need to. And ladies, please stay safe.” He shook Mitch’s hand. “We’ll do our best to keep your family out of harm’s way, Mr. Katz.”
“Thank you, sir. I’ll be doing my best to keep them safe too.”
With a swift wink and a head nod, the three of us were left in the office.
Through a deep scowl and a furrowed brow, Mitch sat in the folding chairs in a huff. “What am I going to do with you two?”
Cali got down to look at him at eye level. “Mitch, I’m sorry. I just can’t stand feeling like he controls my life. I just needed to keep my mind off of everything for a little while. It’s all my fault.”
“Come on, Cali. You know none of this is your fault.” I rested my hand on her back and stroked her messy blond hair.
“Mags, you’re right. I’m not mad at the two of you. It’s Kyle. He’s such a dirtbag, and I am just pissed we didn’t see it until it got to this point.”
“It’s scary thinking that I was sleeping next to a monster disguised as Prince Charming for so long.” Her voice broke, making Mitch react swiftly. He scooped her right up onto his lap to hold her tightly.
“Come on, ladies. I’ll call the station and get someone to cover my shift. They all know what is going on. Let’s get you home.”
The entire car ride went by in slow motion and silence. Cali fiddled with the hem of her shirt and twisted strands of her blond curls around her finger. Mitch chewed on the inside of his cheek, and whenever we got to a stop light, his hand shot from the steering wheel to hold Cali’s or to wipe a tear from her cheek, but he never looked at her directly. Sitting in the back seat, bathing in the uncomfortable silence, I witnessed Mitch’s raw emotion for Cali. Right then, it was evident that he did not think of her as just a friend, but in Cali’s clouded mind, she had no idea.
Six
Cali was noticeably shaken from what we’d found at Charlie’s. Once we got back to the Katzes’ home, she bolted for the bathroom and locked herself away. Buck was still going to be at the office for at least another few hours, so it left me and Mitch to entertain ourselves.
Many times, when Walker and Randy had been reporting for different orders and while they had been deployed, Mitch would keep me company, so being alone with him was somewhat comforting to me. Mostly, he and I would go out to bars and I would “wingman” for him. Once he found a girl to latch on to for the evening, I’d take his truck home and he’d end up getting a ride to his evening’s entertainment’s home. It was always interesting to get the call the next morning with the address of where to pick him up. Especially the ones who would follow him outside to get a peek at his driver. A few times when they saw me, Mitch got slapped. He would just brush it off as a learning experience and make sure to never call them again. “I hate jealous girls. If they can’t handle a friend of mine picking me up, even if they so happen to have a set of tits, then screw them.” I chuckled to myself, recalling Mitch’s speech, which I had heard on several occasions while driving his hungover ass to get coffee.
I was brought back to the present by Mitch’s actual voice breaking into my thoughts. “What’s so funny, Mags?”
I slid down onto the couch next to him, curling up in a fluffy red and blue throw that had been sitting on the armrest. “Oh nothing really. Just remembering your man-whore days. You learned too much from Walker when you were in college!”
His face went red as the corner of his mouth turned up just slightly. “Those days were fun. But they’re all behind me.”
“Oh really?” I shot him a knowing glance and watched the faint blush burn into a blazing crimson that even covered his ears and neck.
His voice hushed as he leaned a little closer to me. “Is it obvious?”
Man, he is easy to crack! I matched his tone and put my hand on his shoulder. “To me, yes. To Cali, hell no. She’s in a little world of her own right now. You’re good, little brother.”
Mitch’s rigid back and facial muscles softened. I grabbed him and we hugged on the couch for a few minutes. Through everything, Mitch had been so wonderful to me, and over the last couple of months, I had put our relationship on the back burner. My familiar loathsome foe crept back into the pit of my stomach—guilt.
Mitch pulled out of my arms, sniffling softly. “Mags, I can’t help but hate him.” Mitch’s voice shook as the words broke free, relief falling into his pained brown eyes.
“You have every right to feel that way, honey.”
Mitch nodded and shoved up off the couch, extending a hand for me. “His parents’ names are Bev and Chet Waylett. They live somewhere in the southwest part of Georgia.”
I stood, grasping his hand, catching flies. Mitch had never lied to me before, especially about something so important to me. “But…?” I did not know how to form the words.
He locked his eyes on the floor, letting go of my hand as he started towards the kitchen. “I was scared before to know the truth and for you or Cali to ever be hurt again, and that was selfish. I knew you wouldn’t know their last name. Walker told me a few years ago how much he hated his stepfather and refused to take his name when his mom married the lowlife. You deserve to know the answers to your questions if you want to.”
I threw my arms around his neck and leapt onto his back, tackling him to the ground. “I love you, Mitchell Rebel Katz, but you better swear to never hide something like that from me ever again!” I was tickling him unmercifully as he squirmed and laughed under me.
“Okay! Okay! I swear! Now. Get. Off!” He shoved me off him, panting with a goofy grin plastered on both of our faces.
It was so wonderful to be joking around again, and then it sank in—I had the first clue I needed. I knew my mind was about to start obsessing over my newfound information, but I forced it to the back of my consciousness. For one evening, I needed to let myself be happy, calm, and free from the burdens of my current situation, not so much for me, but to be strong for Cali.
The door from the bathroom slammed and the one from the guest room creaked open without another peep from Cali other than a sniffle.
“Do you think I should go check on her?” The thoughtfulness in Mitch’s gaze was mesmerizing, but if I knew anything about my best friend, I knew she needed to have a little bit of space.
I shook my head, shoving up to my feet with Mitch’s help. “How about we cook some dinner instead? It’s getting pretty late, and the smell of a good meal will coax her out when she’s ready.”
Mitch’s face turned even more into a frown as he shrugged and agreed. “Yeah. Okay.”
Taking his hand, I led my moping host into the kitchen to get dinner underway. It did not take long for us to be teasing and playing like two siblings would carry on in the absence of parental supervision. Once most of the meal was in the final stage, I heard Cali’s squeak of excitement echo through the thin walls.
Mitch and I were cooking up a storm of skirt steak, mashed potatoes, corn on the cob, and green beans. He and I were having a blast, goofing off, and making a mess out of the counters and each other. When Cali’s loud sound of elation traveled down, I was standing opposite Mitch, a spoon loaded with mashed potatoes ready to fire away. We both turned to look at her as she slid into the kitchen, practically bouncing, ready to erupt with giddiness at any moment.
Mitch grinned at her. “Well this is a pleasant mood change!”
He reached for her, but she bounced right next to me without even glancing in Mitch’s direction. “Mav’s flying me to Chicago!” Her voice was almost too high pitched to hear as she shrilled again. “First class! I’m leaving in two days!”
Mitch and I just stared at her, both of our mouths hanging half open. I shot Mitch a quick glance, and I could see each muscle start to get rigid with jealousy, a look I was still trying to get used to on his face. His jaw hardened as he puffed his chest out, smacking the metal bowl full of steaming, buttery potatoes and sending it crashing into the backsplash, half of them flying up under the cabinet. In a huff, he was out of the room and slamming the front door.
Cali’s eyes were as wide as her gaping mouth as she stood in the entry of the kitchen in complete bewilderment. “What the hell got into him?” She popped her hip out, crossing her arms over her chest as my cheeks burned. I knew she could see right through me.
“Let me go talk to him.” I held my finger up to her, hoping that she would stay put and give me a minute to cool Mitch’s raging temper tantrum, which I knew was booming around the front yard.
I flew out into the cool, dew-dampened air to find Mitch pacing in his ex-stepmother’s petunia beds, kicking at all of the flowers, cursing under his breath. I coughed to get his attention and his eyes shot up to meet mine.
“Go back inside, Mags! I need to cool off.”
I sat down on the first step of their stoop, signifying my defiance quickly. “Yeah, I know. But the thing is, if I go back in there, Cali is gonna ask all sorts of questions. I like my odds out here are far better. She sees right through me, man.”
He stopped dead in his tracks. “Spit it out, Mags. What are you saying?”
I got up, putting my hand on Mitch’s forearm and pointing to my nosy best friend peeking through the windows at us. “I’m saying that the cat is out of the bag, little brother. She at least knows something is up from that little display of yours in there.” I chuckled at him as his eyes stayed locked on Cali’s through the window. “I think this is the part where you tell the pretty girl how you feel, Mitch.”
Falling Back Together Page 5
