Never Say Never (Resetter Series Book 2)

by Brenda Barrett

A newspaper article fell out of the book as he put it back on the side table. He saw that the folded pages was an article by Oswald King entitled, Resetters are Real. He rubbed his hand over his eyes and turned off the light. His mind was even more stimulated than when he started reading.

  The main question in his head was, What if it were true? What if it wasn't just fiction? What if resetters were real and that the lady who wrote the diary, Oswald King and Sky weren't just living under some grand delusion?

  What if he could go back and this was not just some fantasy?

  It was the last thought on his mind as he drifted off. He didn't even hear the alarm as it went off for him to go swimming.

  Chapter Twelve

  "Are you okay?" Sky asked him a couple of nights later. She had her eyes closed, a lone textbook opened on her chest.

  "How was your exam today?" He glanced at her and then back at his computer screen.

  "Terrible." Sky opened her eyes to a slit and glanced at him. "Your exam that is, the other one was easy."

  Travis smiled. "It was multiple choice. How can multiple choice be terrible?"

  "Hardy-har." Sky closed her eyes again. "One exam to go and then I am seriously going to vegetate after I go shopping with Monica for work clothes."

  "Getting along with your step mom?"

  "She suggested it." Sky grunted. "They are so excited that I am going to be working in Kingston. My dad has no problems with me staying with you. Apparently, he thinks you are harmless."

  "I do off a harmless vibe. Travis grinned. "It's the wheelchair."

  "You didn't answer my question though," Sky turned on her side and looked at him, "As absorbed as I have been with the books these last few days I can tell when you are not okay."

  "I am okay." Travis turned away from the folder filled with old photocopied newspaper articles from Oswald Kings. "When you are done with all your exams, we talk."

  "We talk now," Sky said eagerly. "I could probably do Financial Management in my sleep. You are so much more interesting, Dr. Jefferson." She batted her eyelashes at him and then laughed.

  Travis grinned with her. He liked watching her laugh. She was dressed in an oversized heather gray dress with a hoodie. Her hair was in a topknot and her face bare of makeup. She looked adorable and carefree and he loved her.

  The realization was like a sucker punch to his gut. He knew he liked her... but love? He had gotten her that job so that he could have her close that summer. He offered her a place to stay in his apartment because he wanted to see her everyday. He never wanted to let her go, to let her out of his sight.

  How did this intense feeling come about?

  He inhaled ruggedly and tried to clear his head.

  "I read Mrs. Gwendolyn Fisher Campbell's resetter book. Fantastic stuff."

  "You did!" Sky sat up and her dress rode up on her legs.

  "And I read the article from Oswald King, and then I went to the library and photocopied all of the stories he wrote for the Daily Paper."

  "And," Sky was practically bouncing on the seat in excitement.

  "And it is disturbing." Travis wheeled closer to her until they were knee to knee.

  "Good," Sky said smugly.

  He reached out and tucked a tendril of hair behind her ears. "It would be ironic that I am tempted to go back to the past when the present is finally makes sense for me now."

  Sky leaned into him, until they were almost touching nose to nose. "Really now? What is it about the present that is so fascinating?"

  "You," Travis said huskily.

  He caressed the nape of her neck and brought her even closer to him. "You are still my student. Well, until I hand in your final grades."

  He kissed her lightly on the lips and then released her.

  Sky was having none of that she moved off the settee and sat in his lap putting her legs over the chair.

  "You have an erection." She murmured in his ear. "I can feel it."

  "They don't last long," he whispered back hoarsely. "I can't believe I am telling you this."

  "Who else would you tell?" Sky pulled back and smiled at him.

  "We wouldn't have a normal sex life." He looked at her seriously, "Sky, we can't..."

  Sky placed a finger on his lips. "Normal is overrated."

  Travis looked at her solemnly. "No it is not. Normal is making love to you properly; normal is not feeling guilty while I burden you with my limitations. You are young and gorgeous and you have your whole life ahead of you. Normal at your age should be important."

  Sky rested her head on his chest. "My cousin Addi said that in 2017, twenty-one years from now, I killed myself."

  "What?" Travis asked incredulously. "Why?"

  "Because I was unhappy." Sky murmured. "I was apparently a high powered business woman with a heavy bank account and all the lovely things the world could offer. Apparently, I found out that the guy I spent a good chunk of my life pining over was paid by my mother to kill my father."

  "Oh, that story," Travis gripped her tighter.

  Sky clutched him tighter and sighed. "We stopped the plot to kill him in its tracks and so he is still alive."

  She looked up at Travis earnestly. "The point is, in my previous life I was unhappy. I don't want to be unhappy this time around. The truth is, you make me happy. I don't care that you are in a wheelchair or that your erection may not last more than a couple of seconds."

  Travis grimaced. "It hurts when you say it out loud like that."

  "All I know," Sky looked at him seriously, "is that I love you. I don't think this is a crush either or some fleeting feeling based on teenage hormones or even sex drive."

  Travis clutched her closer to him after that speech, his heart feeling as if it was going to burst in his chest with gratitude and hope.

  He kissed her in her hair. "I love you too, Sky."

  ****

  One week after exams and one day before her new job and Sky was spending all her time with Travis in his apartment, mostly in bed, sometimes without. It was only natural that when the doorbell rang early on Sunday that she pulled on one of Travis' shirts and opened the door without thinking.

  "You!" Amelia Perkins screeched.

  Sky blinked at her blearily. "Keep it down Travis is sleeping."

  "For goodness sake!" Amelia looked livid. "You live with him?"

  "Not really." Sky leaned on the doorjamb. "It feels like it sometimes. I stay over here more than my own apartment."

  She watched as Amelia's ears reddened about three shades darker.

  "He is going to lose his job over you." Amelia hissed. "Because I am going to report this. This is way beyond the pale. There are rumors and then there is this...evidence. I have seen with my own eyes that Travis is having a relationship with his student. This is wrong!"

  "Okay, keep it down," Sky muttered groggily. She had been up late into the night watching old taped movies with Travis.

  "Did you stop by for something in particular?"

  "I came to personally invite him to my nieces christening." Amelia sputtered, "but he can forget that now. I am through with Travis Jefferson. He obviously has no morals. He is sleeping with a student."

  Sky rolled her eyes. "You said that already."

  "Deny it," Amelia said beseechingly, "do something to at least save his reputation. Because I am not joking when I say I am going to the university president with this. You might be a little remorseful too, you will cause a man to lose his job."

  Sky raised an eyebrow. "But I am not the one running to tell."

  "What do you get out of this?" Amelia asked. "We all know that in a few weeks you'll be leaving him for someone else, someone whole. Young people have the attention span of a gnat and you look as flaky as the best of them."

  "What I don't understand," Sky retorted, "is why you keep trying to insert yourself in his life every chance you get if you hold Travis in such low esteem and think he is so unlovable. I might look flaky but I love him and I am not going to leave him fo
r anyone else, as far as I am concerned he is whole."

  She closed the door before she said something else rude to the woman who was going to be teaching her Macro Economics that summer. She turned and bumped into Travis. He was right behind her shirtless; his hair tousled; his eyes still sleepy.

  "You look good in my shirt." He took her hand and pulled her down on his lap.

  "I have her for Econ in my second summer session," Sky whispered mortified as Travis cupped her naked breast under the shirt.

  "Forget her," Travis whispered. "This is going to be a good morning for you."

  Sky's squeals could be heard through the closed apartment door.

  Amelia stopped on the landing and clenched her teeth in anger.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Travis' apartment in new Kingston was on the top floor of an eight-story building that was wheelchair friendly.

  "My father built it." Travis explained when he was wheeling down the spacious hallways toward his apartment. "He amended the designs to accommodate persons with disabilities because his son was suddenly a cripple. Funny how our perspective change when we are faced with situations like these, huh."

  Sky nodded. She was pulling along her suitcase beside him, suddenly feeling apprehensive and a little overwhelmed.

  Travis was in a strange mood ever since they arrived in New Kingston. He had gotten more solemn. He was stony faced when they approached apartment 315. There were six apartments on the top floor, all of them occupied by family members who worked at the firm.

  He pushed a key in the door and wheeled inside before her. "Welcome."

  He gave her a genuine smile and Sky exhaled in relief. For a minute there she was wondering if she was in trouble or he was rethinking having her around.

  "Thank you." She walked past him and into an open plan apartment that was large, airy and very luxurious, with a white and gray décor. There were red vases with plants, which gave the room some color.

  A bank of glass doors opened up to a large patio where there was a table and chairs.

  "Wow." Sky whispered looking around. She headed to the patio, and saw the view of the St Andrew hills in the distance. Gorgeous.

  "Mr. Travis!" a female voice said behind her. Sky spun around and saw a Grace Jones look-alike in a white crochet dress and broad hat approaching Travis with a smile.

  "June," Travis said pleasantly. "I didn't expect to see you here today."

  "I am just coming from church," June said glancing at Sky. "You must be Miss Skyler. I am June."

  She came closer to Sky and held out her hand and Sky took it.

  "If you folks are hungry I have baked chicken in the fridge, glazed sweet potatoes and rice and peas."

  "Thank you June, we'll help ourselves," Travis said waving her off. "It's your time off. Where's Milly?"

  "Milly disappeared two days ago," June said heavily, "I was hoping she would be back by today."

  Travis sighed. "Really, why didn't you tell me?"

  June looked contrite. "Her mother came to visit and they had a fight."

  "What about?" Travis muttered. "Why would Marla fight with Milly when she is in a fragile state of mind?"

  "I think it was supposed to be a friendly visit," June said heavily, "and the next thing I know they were fighting about her irresponsibility, her drug use, her friends...Milly broke a couple of your figurines throwing them at Marla. I had to hide out for a time, while she vented her anger on the place."

  "Good grief." Travis looked pained.

  "This family has more trouble than a whore going to church on Sunday," June muttered, "and to think that y'all are rich."

  Sky stifled a giggle.

  June turned around and looked at her. "It's true Miss Skyler, the Jefferson's are not blessed with peace and tranquility. Money can't buy this family happiness."

  "I have to find Milly." Travis wheeled toward the phone on the center table and ignored both Sky and June.

  June looked at Sky. "Well let me show you to your room. No need to just stand around while Mr. Travis searches for his sister."

  Sky looked at Travis with concern but he was already talking to somebody from a security company.

  "Mr. Travis loves his sister," June said heading down the hallway and opening a door to a spacious bedroom in blue and white. "Milly is just five years older than he is you know. They practically grew up together."

  Sky nodded. "So she's a drug addict?"

  "Yes ma'am, got into the habit as a teenager. She was a functioning addict for years until Mr. Travis got into that accident. She got worse, doesn't handle grief well. It's a wonder she is still alive. She has been in one scrape after another and on the brink of death time and again."

  "So what does Mr. Jefferson do about it?" Sky asked, "Her father?"

  "He pays for her rehab and then ignores her," June opened the patio doors to the room. "He doesn't handle crisis well, he keeps his head in the sand. He likes when the women deal with the home life.

  "He ain't gonna get no father of the year award." June snorted. "They had an article in the papers the other day about how he was an exemplary father. I laughed until I cried.

  "The oldest daughter, Beth, doesn't speak to him, the second one, Carol, is more interested in her sons getting ahead in the company than a relationship with him so she sucks up to him. You can see she hates it.

  "Mr. Travis is crippled and rejected the business all together. They haven't spoken in years. Milly is a druggie and the illegitimate son, Duke, is obviously a user. He might be the worst one. You can just take one look at him and know that he is up to no good. He has revenge in his heart."

  Sky sat on one of the blue armchairs her eyes wide. Wow, Travis didn't tell me the situation was so er...dire."

  June shrugged. "People don't like speaking ill of their folks but you should hear it, aren't you going to be working with Mr. Miguel for the summer?"

  "Yes." Sky swallowed. "I am."

  "Then you should know what kind of man he is." June warned. "He may be good with the dollars but with his own family he has no sense."

  ****

  By Monday morning Sky was pretty nervous. She twisted and turned in the mirror to get a better look at her dark blue suit.

  Her eyes strayed to her hair; maybe she should have put it in a bun. Wearing it out seemed a bit too casual.

  "This is not your first job, is it?" Travis asked sleepily from the bed as she looked into the mirror one more time to make sure that she looked presentable.

  "I have only ever worked for family," Sky said pulling the brush through her curls one last time. "How do I look?"

  "Gorgeous," Travis said, "so good in fact that I am rethinking you working for my dad."

  "Is he a womanizer?" Sky asked widening her eyes.

  "No," Travis murmured. "It's the young execs you need to look out for, the ones who will be swooping in and out of the office. They will offer to take you out on dates. They'll act like little kids in a candy store when they see you."

  Sky laughed. "Don't worry, I only have eyes for you."

  She kissed him on the forehead. "Love you babe."

  "Love you too." Travis held her hand when she was about to leave. "I'll have June move your things in here, it's ridiculous to pretend that you are sleeping in the guest room."

  "Fine." Sky looked at him contemplatively. "Last night you didn't sleep much."

  "My sister is on the streets." Travis sighed. "I am worried. When the security company finds her I am going to put her under house arrest."

  "I am looking forward to meeting her," Sky said standing up. "Got to go."

  "I might come by today, around lunch time." Travis ran his fingers through his hair. "Say hello to my dad, maybe we can go for lunch."

  "Sure thing." Sky nodded. "See you soon."

  ****

  Miguel Jefferson's office was not a typical office; Sky thought it looked like a mini apartment. It had a desk, a mini golf course a leather couch, a conference table and was ca
rpeted in a plush brown carpet that looked like it would be hell to clean.

  The man himself was tall, dark brown complexioned and fit looking. He looked familiar like she had seen him somewhere before.

  She mentioned this out loud after the introduction to him when she was alone with Betsy, his personal secretary, and she laughed.

  "I think it's because he looks little like Harry Belafonte, don't you think?"

  Sky shook her head. "No."

  Betsy shrugged. "When you figure it out tell me."

  And thus her orientation into the world of Jefferson Pharmaceutical began. Betsy was a pleasant lady who looked to be in her mid fifties or something. She was on a first name basis with her boss and ran a tight ship that much was obvious. She was also very thankful for the summer help.

  Sky was given her own desk in Betsy's office, which was Mr. Jefferson's outer office and was assigned a months worth of filing, but first she had to arrange the files according to dates.

  She was given a crash course on how to answer the telephone and what Mr. Jefferson liked for breakfast, lunch and dinner. She was introduced to quite a few persons who had appointments with Miguel Jefferson. Men and women who looked like high-powered movers and shakers.

  They all treated Betsy as the gatekeeper of the inner sanctum, all except for one particular imposing gentleman who came to the outer office. He was as tall as Miguel Jefferson. They had similar looking square jaws.

  Betsy was on the phone when he stopped by so he ignored her and looked at Sky.

  "Is the old man in there with anyone?"

  "Not that I know of." Sky shrugged, and went back to her filing.

  She could see from the corner of her eye that he narrowed his eyes. "What's your name?"

  "Skyler Porter," Sky said unsmilingly. She was getting a bad vibe from this guy. He was handsome, and clean-shaven. He had light brown eyes and he was cold.

  He had an arrogant look and a twist of distaste to his mouth like she was the manor maid who had just sassed her overlord.

  He folded his arm over his chest and raised an eyebrow. "And this is your first day?"