by C. C. Snow
“It’s good to see you, too. Mom sends her love. She’s…um…she already made plans when you called.” I felt bad about lying to him, but I had no choice.
“I understand. It was so last minute. I wasn’t supposed to be at this law enforcement summit, but one of the guys had a family emergency.”
We sat down and the server took our order.
“How long are you in town for?” I ask, trying not to fidget.
“I have to leave the day after tomorrow.”
“That’s perfect. I’m in a new production of Romeo and Juliet that opens tomorrow night. You have to come see it.”
Even with his ability to hide his emotions, Sean couldn’t prevent his eyes from twitching. “Uh…I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” he said in a deadpan voice.
I burst into giggles. “You’re such a liar! And there’s no play. I was just messing with you.”
He dropped his forehead into his hand. “Thank GOD!”
Fighting my laughter, I kicked him lightly under the table. “HEY! Not nice. What’s that supposed to mean?”
He looked up, his blue eyes twinkling. “It means that you should not pursue a career in acting or singing.” He paused. “Or dancing. Remember Grease?”
Since it was all true, I didn’t take offense, but I felt compelled to defend myself. “Well, the chair wasn’t supposed to be in the middle of the stage.”
He laughed. “The image of you tripping over the chair and knocking Rizzo into the back scenery would be seared into my brain forever.”
I winced. “I felt so bad. Caroline was limping around on her sprained ankle for weeks.”
“Well, if it makes you feel better, the audience was practically asleep up to that point. They got a good laugh out of it at least.”
“If it makes you feel better, I stopped auditioning after that disaster.”
The server brought our burgers and shakes and we started to eat.
“So if you’re not going into acting, what are you planning to study in college?”
I hesitated. I had a full academic scholarship to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, but I wasn’t sure if I would be attending in the fall.
He looked at me quizzically. “What’s wrong?”
I forced a smile and said, “Nothing.”
“Don’t give me that bullshit. You’re a terrible a liar just like your brother. Tell me what’s wrong.”
My chest tight, I folded and unfolded my napkin.
“Maggie,” Sean said sternly, using his cop voice. I could imagine criminals spilling their guts when he interrogated them.
“I’m not sure I’m going to college,” I blurted.
“Why the hell not?” He stopped eating and placed his burger on his plate.
“I’m tired of school.”
He snorted in disbelief. “Try again, Ms. Four-Point-O.”
“Can we talk about something else? How’s your summit? Did you learn any new ninja moves to bring down bad guys?”
“Don’t try to change the subject.” He placed his elbows on the table and studied my face intently, blue eyes trying to unearth all my secrets. “What the hell is going on with you? If you won’t tell me, I’ll have to call Cael.”
At the mention of my brother, my pulse jumped. “Don’t!” I realized too late that I had overreacted. The resolute expression on Sean’s face had only sharpened.
“Spill, Maggie.”
My throat got tight and itchy.
“If you don’t tell me, I’m going to use my sources in CPD to do some digging. They will have access to every record with the Jackson name on it.”
“You can’t do that! That’s illegal.”
“Try me.” There was no trace of softness in his voice.
I dropped my eyes and started to pick at the jagged edges of my nails. “Mom’s sick.”
His inhale was audible. “Define sick.”
I closed my eyes against the sting of tears. “End stage renal disease.”
“Jesus.” His voice was hoarse and strained. “Is she on dialysis? Can she get a transplant?”
I shook my head slowly and divulged the rest. “She also has liver disease and is not a good candidate for transplants for both organs. The doctors think her organ failures are due to the years of exposure to industrial strength cleaners from when she worked for that office cleaning company. Neurotoxicity, they call it.” I felt like I was talking about someone else—not my mom.
“FUCK! There’s got to be something we can do.” His fingers combed through his golden hair, making the strands stand on ends. There was a wild look in his eyes.
“She’s already in the advanced stages.”
“When did you find out?” His hands clenched into fists.
“Four months ago.” It felt like a lifetime.
“Why didn’t you call me earlier? And where the FUCK is Cael?”
I felt the heat of his anger like a blast of a blowtorch.
“He doesn’t know. Mom doesn’t want anyone to know.” I didn’t realize I had started to cry until Sean’s thumbs wiped the wet drops off my cheeks.
“You have to tell him, Maggie.”
“I can’t. She won’t let me.”
“You have to go against her wishes. Cael will never forgive you both if you keep him in the dark.”
I bit my lip, trying to figure out the right thing to do.
“Call him or I will.” His expression told me he wasn’t going to compromise.
The tension in my chest loosened when I made my decision. “Okay. I’ll call him tomorrow.”
“Good girl.” Blue eyes regarded me with sympathy. “I can’t believe you’ve had to go through this shit alone.”
I hunched my shoulders. “It came on so fast, I haven’t had time to process it. It still feels surreal, you know?”
He took my cold hands and rubbed warmth into them. “Tell me when you found out. And what can I do to help?”
And when he spent hours comforting me in that shabby booth, my crush blossomed into adult love. Hopeless, impossible love.
I put in a call to Cael the next day. He was out on a mission so I left an urgent message for him.
Sean spent the next night with my mom and me at the house. He brought over a variety of different foods, hoping to tempt her to eat something. And she tried for his sake, but at that point, she had no appetite. To my surprise, she wasn’t upset with me for revealing her secret. In fact, she looked relieved and I wished I had done it sooner.
Cael called a week later and several weeks after that, he was discharged from the army. He had been so angry with Mom for hiding her illness from him. Less than three months later, Mom died peacefully at home.
We found out afterwards that Sean had quietly taken care of all the medical bills. Cael wanted to repay him, but Sean had adamantly refused. That was the first time I’d ever seen them fight, but in the end, Cael conceded. It was Sean’s way of showing his love for our mom. His considerate gesture made me love him even more.
Of course, I knew the idea of us as a couple was preposterous. A gorgeous son of a senator, who himself is worth billions of dollars, fall in love with a poor, redheaded girl whose only claim to beauty is her unusual eyes?
No. I knew it was just a fantasy. A fairytale. In this story, Sean may be the prince, but I wasn’t his princess.
I haven’t seen him in years, partly due to coincidence, partly due to a conscious decision on my part to avoid him. Distance has helped somewhat, but as evidenced by the warmth in my cheeks, I am still far too susceptible to him.
What you’re feeling is just nostalgia. Once you see him again, you’ll realize you’re over him.
Reassured by my logical reasoning, I walk toward Cael’s room, wanting to let him know about my call. After graduating, I moved back home, not bothering to look for my own apartment when I knew I would leave for school again in a few months.
I draw up short at the sound of loud, angry voices coming from his room. “Shit,” I mu
tter, remembering that his girlfriend, Rachel, came over this morning. Not wanting to eavesdrop on one of their frequent fights, I start to pivot around when I hear my name. I know I should have walked away, but I don’t, too curious to find out why they are talking about me.
“Don’t bring my sister into this!” Cael’s rumbling voice is laced with irritation.
“How can I not? Ever since she’s moved back here, everything fucking revolves around her. I’m not allowed to stay over because God forbid the delicate flower finds out that people have sex,” she says mockingly. “I have news for you, Cael. Your sister’s a grown-up. She knows about the birds and the bees.”
I’m not a Rachel fan, but I nod my head in agreement with her. My brother has always been protective, but this is a whole new level of absurdity.
Her tirade continues with her voice getting shriller and more petulant. “You wouldn’t come to my opening night because your sister had a cold. We missed my birthday dinner because her car broke down. That restaurant had been booked for months in advance and you had no idea what favors I had to call in to get a table! I’m tired of competing for your time, Cael!”
I flinch, remembering both occasions clearly. A month ago, I caught the flu and had to stay in bed. Cael made me soup and babied me, never letting on that he was missing out on his aspiring actress girlfriend’s performance. Then two weeks ago, my car died when I was visiting a friend. If I had known he had plans, I would have called the tow company. Despite what Cael thinks, I’m more than capable of taking care of myself.
Sympathy rushes through me. No woman wants to play second fiddle to a man’s sister. I could almost smack my brother for being such a dumbass.
“What the fuck does that mean?” Cael roars.
“You fucking figure it out.”
Stomping footsteps start toward the door and I sprint back to the living room, arranging myself on the sofa as if I had been lounging the whole time. Pretending to be on my phone, I look up at her noisy entrance into the room.
Face pinched with anger, Rachel starts to march stiffly toward the door.
I contemplate not saying anything, but my manners are too ingrained. “Uh…bye, Rachel.” At the look she throws my way, I wish I had held my tongue.
When she walks determinedly toward me, I press my back against the sofa in alarm. We’ve never warmed up to each other, but the look in her light blue eyes is pure dislike, borderline hatred.
Resting one hand on the arm of the sofa, she bends down, her sleek, straw-blonde hair falling forward. “You’re nothing but a parasite on your brother. He may fall for your helpless act, but I see right through you. You’re nothing but a selfish brat who wants all of his attention.”
I pale at the whisper-soft, venomous words. Rationally I know she’s talking out of frustration with my brother, but I nonetheless feel flayed by the heat of her wrath. I always considered myself an independent person, but maybe I wasn’t seeing the situation clearly. I glance in the direction of Cael’s bedroom, praying for an intervention.
Her icy eyes harden and her lips curl sardonically. “Looking to big brother for a rescue again? If you ever want your brother to be happy, you’ve got to stop being such a spoiled and needy baby.”
She straightens, regarding me with contempt. Without another word, she spins on her heels and leaves, slamming the door behind her. Until I see my trembling hands, I don’t realize how much the encounter with her has shaken me.
His face like a thundercloud, Cael strides into the room, his hand scrubbing the top of his short, black hair. He scans my face and narrows his eyes. “Did Rachel say something to upset you, Mags?”
Her words still echoing in my brain, I shake my head vehemently, not wanting to be the source of more dissension between them. Guilt already sits heavily on my shoulders that I was the cause of their fight.
Am I a spoiled brat who always expects my brother to come to my rescue? Have I been preventing him from living his own life?
I breathe deeply, attempting to eliminate the tingling at the back of my nose. If you cry, Cael’s going to go ballistic, Maggie.
Expression easing, he sighs and sits next to me, the sofa sinking under his weight. “Good.”
Pretending ignorance, I ask, “What were you guys arguing about this time?”
“Nothing. She’s just being a diva because I forgot our three-month anniversary. Who the fuck celebrates three months of being together? It’s not like we’re married and I forgot our golden anniversary.”
Romantic my brother is not. “Girls like that kind of stuff. It shows them you’re thinking of them.”
He scoffs, light green eyes flashing with irritation. “I’m not going to feed into that crap. There are already too many damn dates men are expected to remember. Birthday. Valentine’s day.”
“That’s a whopping two dates,” I point out dryly. “And you could easily have your phone notify you.”
“Not going to happen,” he says bluntly.
“If you like Rachel, you’re going to have to compromise,” I say, mentally rolling my eyes at his bad attitude. I’m not surprised his relationships don’t last longer than six months if this is how he treats women.
He grunts and I sigh in defeat, knowing it’s the end of the discussion. “Since my date with Rachel is off, what do you say we go grab some food at Fung Chow’s?”
My mouth waters thinking about the delicious homemade noodles at the mom-and-pop restaurant. You’re nothing but a selfish brat who wants all of his attention. Her words stab like sharp needles under my skin.
“Cael, don’t you think you should go after her and make up?” I don’t think Rachel is the right woman for him—she’s a little too cold and stuck-up—but if she makes him happy, I’d slap a grin on my face and pretend she is my favorite person.
“No. She’ll get over it. Besides, you’re going to be moving to New York in a few weeks. It’ll be nice to spend some time together before you go.”
“Cael—”
“No, if I talk to her, we’re going to end up fighting again.” He leans back and smiles at me. “Have I told you how proud I am of you?” he says gruffly, putting his arm around my shoulders.
Immediately, there’s a stinging sensation in my eyes. My brother rarely talks about his emotions so his praise means more than anything to me. “Thanks, Cael,” I say in a choked voice and hug him back.
“Come on, let’s go out and celebrate. I’ll even let you have my fortune cookie.”
“Okay, let me go get changed,” I say, getting to my feet. Once I’m in New York, maybe Cael will be able to reprioritize his own needs ahead of mine.
And I won’t bother him with any of my petty problems.
Chapter Three
Sean
As I pull up to the curb at the terminal, my eyes restlessly scan for a redheaded sprite. When I don’t see Maggie, I get out of my car and stand on the walkway. At six one, I can see above most of the fray. The traffic at JFK is always crazy, but it seems everyone has decided to travel to New York today.
My gaze peruses the crowd. A boyishly slender figure draws my eye, but it’s a skinny teenager with a red baseball cap. I check my phone to verify that I’m at the right terminal.
My eyes sweep the area around me and latch onto the sight of a woman bent over her luggage. A corner of my lip hikes up in appreciation at the sight of her luscious ass tilted in the air. I have seen my share of derrieres, but this one is spectacular. Under the stretchy material of her navy skirt, I can make out round, firm globes. By my estimation they would more than fill my big hands. I never considered myself an ass man, but this pretty backside would make me into a convert.
My cock throbs with interest and I grimace. The contrary fucker hasn’t shown any life in weeks and now it’s lusting after a random woman at the airport. I shake my head in self-disgust.
The woman bends deeper, digging for something in a side pocket and her skirt rides up further, displaying smooth, creamy thighs. Blood rushes
to my dick and I know I will be sporting a semi if I don’t do something quickly.
I jerk my gaze away, willing my body to behave. Cael will kill me if I greet his baby sister with a boner.
At least you know you don’t need the little blue pill.
“Sean!”
I hear my name a fraction of a second before a slight, but powerful weight crashes into my middle, driving an “oomph” out of my mouth. Slender arms wrap tightly around my middle, pressing soft breasts against my ribs. Reflexively, I place my hands on the woman’s small back, feeling the supple flesh under my palms.
The most delicious scent wafts up to my nose and I take in a lungful. Cinnamon and sugar. It makes my mouth water. On the heels of my fantasies about the mysterious woman, my cock hardens.
I look down to see a mop of dark red curls dancing in the breeze and my jaw drops in horror.
Fuck me. I shift my hips away.
“Freckles?”
Laughing happily, she pulls back and tilts her head, green eyes sparkling. Cael’s green eyes, I think with a spurt of guilt. Pink lips part to reveal small, even teeth. “Don’t call me that awful nickname!”
I blink to make sure I’m seeing clearly.
This woman can’t be little Maggie! Last time I saw her, she was a skinny awkward teenager. Her eyes were too big for her little face and her limbs were too long for her body.
The woman in front of me is gorgeous. The years have softened the angles of her cheeks and jaw and her eyes are still large, but now they make a man want to dive in and plumb their depths. Her orange-red hair has darkened to auburn. The wild curls have been tamed into a chin-length cut that makes her look like she just rolled out of bed. She is still slim, but her body has rounded out in all the right places. The little waif has turned into a siren with porcelain skin and subtle curves that tease and tantalize a man.
“Wow! I didn’t recognize you.” I ease away from her and gulp when I see what she’s wearing. A stretchy navy skirt.
Fuck me. I just ogled and lusted after my best friend’s baby sister.
Maggie smiles widely. “I haven’t changed that much!”
