“Had dinner at Sam’s place, and I’m now heading home. What’s up?”
He chuckled. “And she didn’t invite me?”
My hackles rose. “Why would she?” When we were little, Sam had hero-worshiped my brother. To this day, it still remained a bit of a sore spot for me.
“Relax. I was kidding. Anyway, it seems Mom’s at the airport. Apparently, she brought her European boy toy with her. He was the one who made the call.”
I cursed under my breath. “Why are you telling me this?”
There was that annoying chuckle again. “Because you have to go pick her up.”
“Tell her to grab a cab.”
“No, she’s already expecting you. I’d go, but I’m at a business dinner.”
How convenient for you.
“Okay, but this is the last time, and you owe me.” Before he could reply with another one of his patronizing comments, I hung up on him.
***
Sam
As I snuggled under my blanket, I waited for Phoenix’s text reply. What was taking him so long? I let out a jaw-cracking yawn and blinked sleepily at the glowing screen. Maybe he was hanging out at Rhonda’s place. Maybe he was even making her coffee. Grumbling under my breath, I told myself that I would sleep for ten minutes, and then wake up to check my messages again. After putting the alarm for 9:45 pm, I closed my heavy-lidded eyes.
Sleep came instantly.
Hazy dreams filled my head, and in the midst of it all, one face emerged from the fog to hover over me.
It was Phoenix.
He smiled down at me, his eyes half-open. We were back in the guestroom; the dull moonlight allowed me to see his beautiful face, and I shyly pulled him closer to me.
This time, he didn’t push me away but gathered me in his strong arms.
I made a sleepy noise when warm lips pressed against my forehead.
“Shh. Go back to sleep.” Fine hair tickled my nose. “Let me take care of you.”
I struggled, but the firm hand on my chest stilled me. “It’s okay,” the voice crooned. “You’re safe. I’ll take care of you.”
This time, Jack’s handsome face hovered over me, his hands caressing my body. Again, I tried to struggle against him, but my body wouldn’t obey. He kept whispering reassurances to me, his breath hot in my ear, until they soon faded to nothing more than an echo as I fell into a fitful sleep.
Chapter 6
Sam
Late Sunday morning, I woke up feeling well rested, if a bit bloated around the face. As usual, Jack had gone to play squash with his friends in the morning, which meant I had the house to myself. I hopped into the bathroom for a quick shower and then went down to have a late breakfast.
Around eleven, Phoenix called me as I sat at the island counter munching on dry toast.
“Got plans today?”
“I have two piano lessons in the evening. Why?”
A heavy sigh. “Mom’s back and she wants to see you. Said she brought you gifts from Paris.”
Phoenix’s mom, Catriona, was a very beautiful woman who had a tendency to shower me with gifts. When I was younger, she would wistfully look at me and say loudly for her sons to hear, “If only I had a daughter to pamper and treat like a princess. But instead, I have two boys who constantly have dirt on their clothes and won’t sit still!”
And of course, the two boys would roll their eyes, grab my upper arms, and drag me into the playground, so that I too would have dirt on my clothes at the end of the day. I never minded. If anything, I reveled in the activities and games the boys thought up on a whim. Being an only child, I was happy that these boys even allowed me to play with them at all.
“Sure! I can pop by in the afternoon. But I can’t stay long. Mom’s returning from the spa today.”
It was funny. Mom and Catriona knew each other from social gatherings and such, but from the first moment they met, they’d taken a strong disliking to one another. I’d asked my dad why this was so, confused about their reactions. Chuckling, he’d replied, “Because they’re equally beautiful, honey, and used to being the center of attention. They don’t like sharing the stage.” He’d then gone on to say that one day I would understand.
Now that I was older, I had a better understanding of it, but the whole thing was unreal because it meant that every time I met Catriona, it had to stay a secret. Sometimes, it almost felt like I was cheating on Mom. It was ridiculous.
Of course, Phoenix understood immediately. “Those two divas drive me nuts. Anyway, enough about them.” His voice turned deep and sexy. “What was I doing to you in your dream last night?”
I rolled my eyes, but a shiver still ran through me. Traitorous body. “I was waiting for your text message, you know.”
An annoyed sigh rumbled deep in his throat. “Sean called and asked me to pick Mom up at the airport. And get this. She brought her European boy toy with her.”
“No,” I gasped. This was a first. Phoenix’s dad knew about her dalliances (he too, had many girlfriends overseas), but they had an unspoken agreement never to bring their youthful lovers into their carefully arranged world.
“At least she didn’t bring him home.” Another sigh escaped him, this time exhausted. “He’s currently living it up at a swanky hotel, courtesy of Mom’s credit card.”
A female voice in the background suddenly interrupted him, and I heard a muffled conversation. Phoenix had palmed his phone so that I couldn’t hear.
But it didn’t matter, as I had already caught snatches of their voices.
Seconds later, he removed his hand to ask his original question. “So, when can you come?”
“You know what? Today’s no good. I just remembered that I have an extra lesson in the afternoon. Tell Catriona that I’ll drop by sometime during the week.”
Phoenix seemed disappointed, but I forced out a laugh and made some excuse about having to do laundry before hanging up. I sat there with my unfinished toast, staring out the window. The real reason for not going, of course, was not that I had an extra lesson.
Wanda had been in his house. Talking to him just minutes ago.
Which meant he had been flirting with me while his on-and-off girlfriend had been around.
I rubbed my face, feeling confused and alone. It was times like this when I wished that I had female best friends. In high school, it turned out that most of the girls who’d approached me and offered friendship weren’t actually interested in me, but in snagging Phoenix. They’d hoped to use me to get closer to him. I did become good friends with one girl, Lisa, but she left after gaining acceptance into Princeton.
So here I was, with college acquaintances, but no one I could really talk to. My only true friend was Phoenix, but right now, he was the cause of the dull pain spreading across my chest.
I did the few dishes in the sink and then returned to my bedroom and sat on the bed. I decided to call Dad. After the divorce, he’d accepted a professorship in the archaeology department of one of the top universities in Australia. Probably to get as far away from Mom as possible.
“Hey, how’s my girl?” Dad greeted cheerfully when he picked up my call. My heart ached with longing at his warm, familiar voice.
“Okay, I guess.” My shoulders slumped. “I miss you, Dad.”
“I miss you more, honey.” There was the sound of papers shuffling. He was probably grading papers. “Is Mom going to allow you to visit me this summer?”
“Not likely,” I said with a sigh. Her excuse, of course, was that Jack and I needed time to get used to each other. Which was ridiculous because my plan was to move out on the day I turned nineteen.
We talked for several more minutes, and then Dad asked about Phoenix, which then made me sad all over again. Downstairs, the sound of the front door opening signaled Jack’s return. I told Dad I had to go.
“Honey.” His voice turned soft. “You can always talk to me. You know that, right?”
“I know, Dad.”
“Good. Love y
ou.” And before he hung up, he planted a noisy kiss (mmmwha!) on the phone that he knew would elicit a giggle from me.
It did, and it made me feel a bit better. Deciding that moping around wasn’t going to solve my problems, I picked up my phone again and typed a message.
You shouldn’t have flirted with me when Wanda was right beside –
A brief knock on the door, and then Jack came in balancing two glasses of juice in one hand. I deleted the message and looked up. My stepdad looked handsome in his shorts and polo shirt, his usually stylish hair stuck to his forehead. He must have showered at the fitness club. Grinning, he handed me a glass.
“That’s okay, Jack. I’m not thirsty.”
He sat on my bed, uninvited, and a strong and sudden sense of déjà vu came over me. I stared at him, frowning.
“Is something wrong?” he asked, handing me the glass again.
The man was persistent. This time, I accepted it and took a small sip. “No,” I said, confused by my reaction. “I don’t think so.”
“Your mom called earlier, said she would be having dinner with her friends and not to wait up. So I guess it’s just you and me.”
I forced out another smile and took another sip. “Okay.”
He sat there drinking his own juice, then watched me drain mine. When I gave him the empty glass, he suddenly reached out and cupped my cheek, his gaze unwavering.
“Sam, I want you to know that I’m here for you,” he said, sweeping his thumb back and forth across the skin. “We’re friends, right?”
He was sitting too close. “Uh, sure. We’re friends.” What was this about?
“Good. I’m glad we are. I love you and would never hurt you.”
This was getting very uncomfortable. Not only that, I would be nineteen in a few months. It wasn’t like I was a child who needed reassurance that her new daddy loved her.
I reeeeally need to find my own place. Soon.
He stared into my eyes a bit longer, then stood up abruptly. “I’ll make dinner tonight. Teriyaki salmon and couscous salad, how does that sound?” Flashing another grin at me, he slapped his palm on the door jamb and headed toward the stairs. I could hear him moving around the kitchen, the glasses clinking as he put them in the sink.
Maybe I was overreacting, but it felt like I was spending more time with my stepdad than Mom was with her new husband.
Chapter 7
Sam
When I opened my eyes, the first thing I noticed was the darkness. I groaned and rubbed my face, groggy and confused. A sliver of yellow light from the hallway peeped through the door, and I reached for my phone on the nightstand.
What time was it?
A quick look at the screen had me bolting up in bed, shocked. It was almost eight o’clock. I’d missed my lessons. Another glance at the screen revealed that I had five missed calls. Two from Phoenix, and three from my students’ moms.
Frustrated, I buried my face in my hands. A faint memory lingered in the back of my mind, but I couldn’t quite grasp at it. I turned on the lamp, then froze when Jack knocked on the door and popped his head in.
“Dinner’s done. It’s a bit late, but you were sleeping like a baby! I didn’t want to wake you.” He gave me a dimpled grin. “Come when you’re ready.” He began whistling as he went down the stairs.
Why had I fallen asleep, and for so long? I squeezed my eyes shut, massaging my temples as I felt a headache coming on. A dream-like image of Jack holding either side of my head, his face close to mine, surfaced before me, and I shot out of my bed. Immediately, I grabbed my phone and called Phoenix.
He answered on the second ring. “About time. When you didn’t pick up, I thought you were mad at me or –”
“Can I come over?”
There was silence on the other end. “Sure,” he said finally, sounding bemused. “Right now?”
“Right now,” I confirmed. “I’ll be there in ten minutes.” Then I hung up.
I grabbed my bag and stuffed in some clothes, several pairs of underwear, my wallet, and my phone. I couldn’t stay here. Not if my suspicions were correct. And if they were, I had no plans of coming back, ever.
I needed time to think this through.
When I went downstairs, my stepdad was in the kitchen. I quickly shuffled to the door.
“Jack, I’m so sorry, but I can’t stay,” I called out. The sound of his footsteps drew near, and my heart began racing. “I’m sorry about dinner. Tell Mom I’ll be at Phoenix’s place.”
“Sam, wait –”
“Bye!” I hurried out and went to my car. As I drove off, I glanced at the rearview mirror and saw Jack had come out to the sidewalk, his tall figure getting smaller and smaller. I tore my gaze away and focused on the road, unwilling to look at him any longer.
***
When I arrived, Phoenix was waiting for me on the driveway. Before I had even fully opened the door, he pulled me out.
“Wait, my bag’s inside.”
He raised a questioning brow as his gaze fell on the bulky backpack on the passenger seat. “A bit old to be running away, don’t you think? I mean, you could just move out.”
“Actually, I was hoping that I could sleep over tonight.” Or for two days . . . or a week, I added silently.
He frowned at me, his eyes searching my face. I looked away, nervous.
“Is Catriona home?”
“No, she decided to stay at the hotel with her boy toy. Sean’s at a nightclub, and the housekeeper’s gone for the day. It’s just me.” He reached for my backpack and slung it over one shoulder. “Did you eat dinner? If you haven’t, we can order takeout.”
Relief washed over me. Even if he was curious about my sudden arrival, I knew Phoenix would never push me to talk unless I was ready. At least not yet. Grateful, I linked my arm through his and smiled up at him.
“Sounds perfect. Can we get Chinese?”
Forty-five minutes later, we sprawled on the living room floor and ate spring rolls, shrimp fried rice, and Kung Pao chicken. I ate with a ravenous appetite, but Phoenix ate more slowly, studying me all the while. It made me nervous to have him staring at me like that.
“You knew Wanda was here this morning, didn’t you?”
I choked on my food at the sudden question, but quickly decided not to play dumb. “Yes, I knew,” I replied, reaching for my root beer. “So what?”
He didn’t answer immediately, but just kept looking at me. “She didn’t sleep over, if that’s what you’re thinking,” he said finally.
“I’m not.”
“She just dropped by unannounced.”
“Okay.”
He fell silent again, this time staring at a spot above my head. I shrugged and stuffed two chicken pieces into my mouth when his gaze fell on me again.
“I broke up with Wanda.”
My mouth was full of chicken. “Mphmm.”
A furrow formed between his brows. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Sighing, I put my plate down. “It means you two broke up for now. But give it a month. She’ll be back in your bed in no time.”
His eyes flared up, and I knew he wasn’t happy about what I’d said. But it was the truth. They were always “breaking up.” And frankly, I was getting tired of hearing about it.
He decided to change the subject. “Are we going to talk about why you’re here?”
“Tomorrow,” I said, a little too quickly. “Right now, I need time to think.”
“It’s Jack, isn’t it?”
Was my face that transparent? Was the answer plastered across my forehead, bright like a neon sign? I rose to my feet and stretched, trying to calm my nerves.
“Can I stay in one of the guestrooms?”
A corner of his lips curled. “You can stay in the guestroom.” When I tilted my head, confused, he helpfully elaborated, “The guestroom where we almost did it.”
Why, why wouldn’t he let this one go? Hefting my backpack over my shoulders, I shot him a dirty loo
k and then headed for the room. “Goodnight,” I said, irritated. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
I could feel his eyes boring into the back of my head.
“You can count on it.”
To my ears, that sounded like a threat.
***
After taking a long, luxurious bath, I lay on the king-sized bed, staring out the window. My mind was filled with tumultuous thoughts. Where could I begin? Oh, yes, maybe I could start with the strange memories of Jack touching and kissing me. Or the equally bad suspicions that he had somehow gotten away with it because he had crushed sleeping pills or some other drug into my drinks. There was no other explanation for my comatose state earlier in the day. One minute, I was drinking juice in the morning, and the next, I was waking up in the evening with no recollection of ever having gone to bed.
Was this the first time? If not, how long had this been happening? Since he married Mom and moved in?
My gaze landed on the over-sized pajama top I’d borrowed from Phoenix. I was pretty certain that Jack hadn’t gone beyond fondling. There would have been physical signs if he’d had. Like soreness, for one. Maybe even a few bruises. But this was no guarantee of anything. So far, he had stopped himself, but he would only get more confident as time went on.
Why would he do it? Had Phoenix been right all along? Was Mom not enough for him?
I had no answers to these questions. However, one thing was for sure – there was no way I was going back. But how would I explain my permanent absence to Mom? Would I have to tell her? Would she blame me, or believe me and take my side?
A soft knock on the door disrupted me from my troubling thoughts.
“Come in,” I called out.
Phoenix entered, wearing only pants and looking very, very yummy. I closed my eyes and groaned silently. Maybe I should have pretended to be asleep.
“I knew you’d be awake,” he said, jumping under the blankets.
“Excuse me,” I said, indignant, “but did I invite you into my bed?”
“I don’t need your invitation. This is my house, my guestroom, my bed.”
I snorted at the childish answer. “So sorry. Do you want your pajama top, too, while you’re at it?”
My Friend, Phoenix Page 3
