“Really?” He raised his thick brows. “Are you still going to keep playing that game. We aren’t getting any younger Phoebe.”
I pulled in a breath. This was hard.
“Okay, I confess I was the friend and Tai was the college boy.”
“I know. I also know, or have some idea of what happened when you last saw him. On your eighteenth birthday.”
Now I was completely embarrassed. “Oh God.”
He held up his hands and laughed. “I don’t know specifics but I can do the math.”
“How’d you know? Did he tell you? My mom was…” I didn’t know how much to say because my mom had been completely vile to Tai.
Vile was the best word that I could have thought of. Truly, and utterly vile.
If I’d been fortunate enough to have a daughter I didn’t think I would have behaved that way had I caught her kissing a boy.
Sure I would have freaked out but the things she said to him were so awful.
She told him he was a meaningless, worthless lowlife who had no business with her daughter. Tattooed freak.
And he stood there and took it. He never answered her. Never said anything.
That was it.
Of course she ended her tirade by telling him to stay away from me.
“Your mom freaked out?” he offered.
I widened my eyes wondering what he knew. “She flipped out. She wasn’t just angry, she was enraged.”
“Yeah. It was her who told me what happened. She wanted me to have strong words with Tai and sort him out.”
“Did you? I was as much to blame. In fact it was more my fault.”
He chuckled. “Phoebe, that all happened several moons ago. No one cares whose fault it was now.” His smile widened. “But to answer your question, no. I didn’t speak to him about anything. I wanted to talk but stopped myself when I saw how heartbroken he was. He didn’t need me to add to his despair.”
Something flickered in my heart. I’d always believed that was the end of the story. Never knowing what happened next, I just assumed Tai must have chalked the whole thing up to something that hardly mattered.
“Really? He was affected by it?”
“Yes. He never said much but he didn’t have to. He came back the following summer and it was perhaps the worst for both of us. It was the first summer for me without your family here and I realized for him it was the first summer he’d had without you.”
It was nice to hear something like that and it made me wonder now if Tai had behaved the way he did the other night because dare I say it I’d made him jealous.
I didn’t think guys like him could get jealous.
After our talk at the cave weeks ago I assumed he would get back with Candace. After all that’s what he was driving at. But his actions spoke differently and I didn’t think it was my place to ask.
“It was a horrible summer for me too. Instead of going to Japan like I thought we were my mom enrolled me for the summer program at Yale. She didn’t even want me to go to Yale in the first place, and she hated that I wanted to do archeology and be like dad. She wanted me to go to Brown’s and do English. Like Emma.”
“I guess for her that was a safer bet.”
“Everything got so messed up after that. I went to the college I wanted and studied what I wanted but everything else was a disaster. She was the one who introduced me to Jason.”
“I know. But thank God you aren’t with him anymore.”
“Mitsuke told me that Tai never knew I got married.”
“He doesn’t know anything like that. He kind of went off the radar for a few years with us when he moved up in ranks in the Marines. He just kept in touch to let us know he was alive. It was probably six years like that. Then one day he just turned up at the center and I gave him a job.” He laughed.
That sounded like Tai.
“He’s good at his job.”
“Yes, he is definitely good. You both bring a different set of skills to the table. That’s what excites me. But that’s work. Want some advice?”
“Always.” I smiled.
“Things aren’t always what they seem. People hide their emotions especially from those they care about most. I think you know that more than most.”
“I’m different now Akito. I have this thing over me that I have to be aware of all the time.” My eyes welled with tears and one ran down my cheek which he caught.
“No, my dear you never head into something thinking about failure first. Think about possibility. That way you enjoy life more.”
“It’s hard. I feel like I have to say to anyone remotely interested in me that they shouldn’t consider anything serious with me because I’ll never be able to have kids.”
“That’s ridiculous Phoebe. There are many women like you, many. And that is definitely not the attitude or outlook to have. I do understand though that must be the sort of understanding you got from that no good ex-husband of yours.”
“It was.”
“You’re in Japan now, a place where you don’t have to see him. And may I point out that if you take me up on my offer you wouldn’t have to see him again.” His smile widened.
“You’re really working this idea of me staying here aren’t you?” I laughed, then sighed dabbing at the corners of my eyes.
“I will try everything in my power.”
“Then maybe I’ll consider it.”
“Fantastic.”
Yeah… I couldn’t help but agree.
Chapter 18
Tai
“You know I’m pretty certain smoking still kills.” Mitsuke said as she walked into the garage.
I lowered my head to meet her on coming gaze and released the smoke that I’d just drew into my lungs.
I took another draw from the nearly burnt out cigarette dwindling between my thumb and forefinger. That was just to annoy her.
She placed her hands on her hips and shook her head. The blunt ends brushed against the edge of her elbow.
“Mitsuke, how was your trip?” her week long trip to LA turned into two weeks. she’d gotten back a few days ago.
“Far tooo busy for my liking.”
To my surprise –although I shouldn’t really have been surprised, she snatched the cigarette from my fingers , tossed it on the ground and stomped on it with her bright yellow heels.
“Why’d you do that for?” I snapped.
“I just told you. Smoking kills.” She tilted her head to the side and regarded me with a sly smile.
“Right now it’s the only thing keeping me alive and sane. Smoking calms the nerves and the soul.”
I picked up the wrench from the tool box at my feet and started undoing a bolt in the hood of this beauty that had come my way last night.
Dante came through and won it. Handed it over to me without as much as a word. Apology accepted.
It just needed some work after the battering it took from last night’s race.
Sometimes we won money, but the best prizes were cars. If we saw a car we wanted we’d wager that.
In the garage right now we had about fifteen cars. These were all for sale once my guys finished working on them.
“Calm the soul?” Mitsuke shuffled around and sat on the little chair I’d placed nearby when I was sorting through the tools I’d need.
I looked at her and smiled.
She never came to the garage to visit me. She told me she hated the smell of cars and grease and that was fine by me since she distracted the hell out of the guys and I’d have a hard time trying not to kill someone.
Today she wore short shorts, a stringy top that looked like something from the seventies and those killer heels. Dressed for the runway as always.
She also knew to call ahead when she was going to come here, and she didn’t.
Something was up and I had a strong feeling it was to do with Phoebe.
Phoebe wasn’t at work again today. Akito was still unwell.
I called him to check up on him but I
didn’t ask about Phoebe. Not like I did yesterday.
Today was me keeping my distance. I worked hard today and I thought I’d come by here to sort this car out. I suspected we’d have to stay over at Akiyoshido tomorrow and since I didn’t want to leave anything important hanging or dragging over into next week I decided to go to Candace’s place first thing in the morning. I’d message first then head over if I didn’t get a reply. Then I’d wait for her to come back. I had it planned that if I didn’t see her then that would be it.
I’d get on with my life and leave her in her stupid game.
“Calms the soul.” I confirmed.
“Sounds like you have women on the brain.” She giggled.
I smiled and turned to face her. “Maybe.”
“Maybe? Like the maybe girlfriend?” She giggled again.
“Talking to Phoebe?”
“Always.”
I picked up a rag and wiped off my hands, then I rested my behind against the car.
“Not that I’m not happy to see you, but you know I’m not a fan of you coming here. What’s on your mind?”
“You. My visit is twofold. I have come here to stick my nose where it doesn’t belong and also to shed some light on a friend we have in common.”
Interesting, but I’d play.
“What do you want to do first?”
She gave me an askance look and raised her perfectly arched brows. “Is that even a question?”
It wasn’t. I should have known that she wanted to stick her nose where it didn’t belong first. She even mentioned that first as a clue.
“What do you want to know?”
“What’s going on with Candace?”
“Nothing.” That was the truth.
“Right because her turning up to the house for dinner the other week meant nothing? I just want to know if my friend should cast her net elsewhere.”
I frowned. “I’m not getting back with Candace, Mitsuke. I wanted to make sure I gave the idea enough time and consideration before I came to that conclusion.”
“Tai, you knew from the first week what you wanted to do.” Her expression grew serious. If you were going to give her a chance it would have happened already. It wouldn’t have taken you over a month to decide.”
“Your right.”
“What are you going to do Tai?”
“I’ve been trying to talk to her all week, and even before that. I didn’t want to hurt her, but she needs to know how I feel and that I tried. I gave the idea time.” I offered up.
Mitsuke gave me a look of awe. “You know you’re a real nice guy.”
“I’m not nice.” Couldn’t have her telling people that.
“You are. You gave Candace more than enough time, and you considered her feelings. Definitely not as scary as you look.”
“You think I look scary?” I laughed.
“You always look pissed off and you have a badass attitude.”
“Trademark.” I chuckled. “So, are we done with part one of your two fold mission here?” I was anxious to get to her second motive. I didn’t know what she was going to tell me about Phoebe.
“We’re done with that. But if you want to talk some more I’m all ears. I mean if it makes you feel better.” She lifted her shoulders and the frays on the hem of her top swayed. “I will say though that you should definitely count yourself as free of her.”
“Noted. I’m free.” I actually did feel free. Talking helped, and I was done talking about Candace.
“It’s been good to get that off my chest. How about we skip to the intel on the friend we have in common?”
She smiled then sighed and her smile faltered.
“So, if you didn’t guess yet the friend is Phoebe.”
“No way.” I gasped and feigned surprise.
“Yes way.” She grinned. Something in her eyes told me she was about to tell me something I wouldn’t like. “She’s been through a lot Tai. A bunch of stuff you don’t know about. Pretty bad stuff.”
“Like what?” I frowned and my mind ran to the subject of Mr. Phoebe.
“She got married to a guy who treated her extremely badly and then they got divorced.”
My lungs… my lungs tightened and squeezed.
Phoebe got married? How’d I miss that.
“How did Phoebe get married and divorced and I didn’t know? Why didn’t anyone tell me?”
I never even got an invite, but then I couldn’t imagine being at Phoebe’s wedding with mommy dearest.
“You were serving and we didn’t hear from you. Tai there was a bunch of years where all we got from you was a one liner saying. I’m alive, hope you’re all good.”
I frowned again. She was right.
“Plus, we thought you’d lost touch with her. I certainly never thought to tell you Phoebe got married when I was so glad to hear from you.”
Mitsuke wrote back to me and sent packages. She filled it with all my favorite things from Japan.
“Do you know what happened? Why they got divorced. Aside from him being an idiot.”
“There’s a lot, but it’s for her to tell you those parts. All I can say is that he cheated on her.”
“Who is this fool?”
“His name is Jason Wainwright. He’s currently Illinois’s Governor.”
Fuck. Well, well, well.
I can see that guy definitely ticking all the boxes for Phoebe’s mom.
And look what happened.
My grip tightened on the edge of the car as my blood heated. I couldn’t believe what Phoebe had been through and Mitsuke was even saying that there was more.
I straightened up and placed a hand to my mouth.
“Tai, are you okay?” she stood up.
“No, of course I’m not okay? I wished that I’d known all that, but I get why you didn’t tell me. That part’s on me. I should have kept more in touch with you guys, but more so I should have kept in touch with her.”
“Aren’t you going to ask me why I’m telling you this now?” The corners of her mouth lifted.
“I can’t deal with riddles Mitsuke. You just dropped a bomb on me.”
“Tai I’m telling you this because Phoebe is back in Japan. Maybe for a few months, maybe longer. Don’t you want to see what might have happened if you guys ever got together. I had to endure the summers of my youth watching you two make eyes at each other. Her sneaking off to find you and landing herself in all manner of ridiculous trouble, sometimes with broken bones just because she was trying to get close to you. Consider this an intervention.”
I grimaced, but had to hand it to her.
“Right. Your intervention has been noted.”
“Cool.”
Dante and Lee walked in at that moment. Both of them with their eyes trained on Mitsuke.
Lee at least looked away when I shot him a glare but Dante didn’t see me.
“Dante. It’s been awhile.” Mitsuke cooed.
I looked back to her and frowned, but she was too busy pushing her lips out into a saucy pout to give a crap about my surprise.
“Mitsuke,” Dante replied, practically drooling.
“Hey, get to work or leave.” I snapped.
“Down cuz, I like this one. He knows my favorite flowers are dahlias. It take some work to find that out.” She floated away from me and sauntered over to him. “You can buy me dinner. Come.”
I folded my arms when Dante looked over to me, as if to check if it was okay for him to leave.
“Come.” Mitsuke said with more insistence.
Of course he followed.
I smirked as I watched the two leave. Mitsuke looked over her shoulder and winked at me.
I swear she was like the female version of me.
At least she knew what she was doing.
I mostly didn’t.
Poor Phoebe. I couldn’t believe she’d married an asshole. I hated knowing that the sweet, innocent young woman that I knew back then had gone through a failed marriage and the distress of
having someone who was supposed to love you cheat.
I pulled in a breath as my mind raced.
It was time to switch things up and stop this whatever it was I was doing.
Mitsuke was right. Phoebe was in Japan for however long. I was curious to see what could have happened next.
Definitely curious.
I thought I’d start with something I should have done a long time ago.
Chapter 19
Tai
Eleven years ago…
The minutes were ticking by.
I didn’t know how today went so fast, but it did. Felt like I’d walked around for most of the day in a fucking daze.
I knew that this would be the last summer that things would be like this. Everything would change.
It was already changing sooner than expected.
Dad called earlier to ask me to come home early. He wanted to oversee my training as a new recruit. My old man was so excited to see me join the Marines that it got the better of him, and he didn’t think.
I was scheduled to leave next week like everyone else, but being asked to leave tomorrow was very different.
And worse, I felt bad to break the news this morning. Of all the days. It was Phoebe’s eighteenth birthday.
There was something special planned for her for the day, but I knew my news put a damper on it.
The whole time as everyone milled around her with their well wishes she masked her feelings with a plastic smile. I could tell the difference. When Phoebe smiled it reached her eyes and they would sparkle. Like when she looked at me.
I pretended for years that I didn’t know how she felt about me. Had to. I was a little over five years older and acting on my feelings would have landed me in prison. Especially with that mother of hers.
I think I first noticed it properly when she was twelve. I would have been asking for trouble at seventeen years old. Her father would have literally killed me, then mine would made sure I was dead, dead, dead.
After that it grew harder for me not to notice her changing, and the beautiful woman she kept growing into. I saw her every summer and had to keep at the forefront of my mind that she was off limits.
Blossoms of The Heart Page 16
