Breaking the Plan: Mill Street Series #1

by Calla, Jessica

  He handed me the cigar box.

  “Open it,” he demanded.

  I lifted the lid and saw a pile of cash and a white envelope inside. “Holy shit. Did you rob a bank?” I slammed it shut again.

  “No, of course not.” Mom leaned closer and nudged my shoulder with hers. “It’s yours.”

  After flipping open the lid again, I grabbed the bills and fanned them. “There must be a few grand in here.”

  “Ten, actually,” Mom said. “We’ve been saving it up for you since you started NJU.”

  “Oh my God. You didn’t have to do that.” Replacing the money, I closed the box and put it on the coffee table. “I know how much you two need the money. I’d never be able to take it.”

  Mom furrowed her brow. “You will take it, or you’ll insult your father and I, who worked hard so we could give that to you. Do you understand?”

  Her eyes shot daggers at mine. “Okay, then. Yes, thank you.” I put my arms around them and squeezed them close to me. “I don’t know what to say except I don’t deserve you both. I’ll pay back every cent.”

  “Nonsense.” Dad reached for the cigar box and handed it back to me. “There’s an envelope inside too.”

  Taking the envelope from under the cash, I ripped it open. Inside was a set of keys. “Are these the keys to my new mansion?” I teased.

  “No. To your car. Used, but in good shape. Good enough shape to get you to California.”

  I gasped, then looked from the keys to each of them in turn. They looked serious, even Mom with the tears in her eyes. “You got me a car?”

  “It’s nothing fancy,” Dad said. “A 2010 Honda Accord. Good shape. Has air conditioning but not many more amenities.”

  I held the keys to my chest. “Thank you both. This sure beats taking the Greyhound.”

  “We wish we could do more,” Mom started.

  “Are you kidding? I’d have never expected this from you, and it’s too much as it is.”

  I hugged them, feeling freedom as I clutched my money and car keys. Then something hit me. “Wait.” I pulled away. “I still need three more classes to graduate. I can’t leave now.”

  Dad stood and moved to his desk again, fishing out more papers. “You can if you wanted to finish at San Diego University.”

  “What?”

  “We called the Miss Lovely America organization and NJU. Since you only need electives anyway, NJU said you can finish in San Diego and still get the NJU degree, sort of be like an exchange student, representing the organization and the state.” Returning to the couch, he handed me a stack of college-looking paperwork. “If you get there before spring semester starts, you’ll be able to finish up in May, then come back here for graduation at NJU.”

  I blinked as my jaw dropped to the floor. All at once, a million feelings swept to the surface. I could leave New Jersey, go to California, and live on the West Coast. My parents, who hadn’t been able to give me much throughout my life, had just opened my world and handed me my dream on a silver platter.

  There was only one problem. Leaving the six-foot-one, lanky, curly haired nerd whom I’d grown to love. The clock behind my parents said it was close to ten. For all I knew, Violet and Oliver were engaged already.

  I smiled at my parents. “I’m going to do it.”

  Mom clapped and Dad smiled. “We love you, Taryn Michelle,” he said. “We know you will do good things in this world.”

  “I love you both too. If I do anything good, it’s all because of the two of you. Thank you for giving me this opportunity.”

  “Our pleasure,” Mom said. “Now let’s have that coffee.”

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Oliver

  By Christmas night, Violet had gotten the hint that I wasn’t going to propose. She asked me what was going on. My mom passed through and gave me a sad grin and then a curt nod, in her you-got-this, Oracle of Wisdom, silent Mom-language.

  “I thought we were back to the plan,” Violet said, sitting next to me on my couch as our parents congregated in the other rooms. “I know you have the ring.”

  Mom had made me realize that I was at a fork in my road of life and had to be brave in order make good decisions. I also knew that my next words were going to hurt Violet, which made my heart feel like it was twisting into a pretzel.

  “Violet,” I started. “We can’t get engaged, and I don’t think I can go to Cambridge.”

  She didn’t move. The lights of the Christmas tree twinkled, reflecting in her eyes as she stared through me. It was like she hadn’t heard my words. “Vi?” I asked quietly.

  “Oliver,” she said calmly. “If you ever loved me, I’m going to need you to finally tell me the truth. I deserve that much.”

  I nodded. “You do. Absolutely you do. And I will.”

  And I did. The whole damn truth. Taryn might hate me for it, Josh might hate me for it, but I didn’t care because I finally felt like I was being me.

  I told Violet how heartbroken I’d been when she left, how Taryn and I had become friends, how I’d gotten to know her and respect her, and then how I’d eventually fallen in love with her. I even told Violet that Taryn didn’t want me because it would hurt her. How even Josh had tried to protect her. “Your friends love you,” I said, hoping it would give her a sense of peace. “They were willing to sacrifice their relationships with me for you.”

  “My friends lied to me,” she answered. “I’m not sure I’ll ever get over that.”

  “Please, Vi. Don’t blame Taryn. I put her in a bad position. And Josh was trying to cover for us.”

  Vi shook her head. “This is all on me. I broke up with you. I understand that, and obviously, I can understand that you and Taryn could…once you got to know each other. I mean, I love…loved…you both. What I can’t understand is how you all could make a fool out of me by lying. And you especially, by making me think we had a chance.” Her eyes welled with tears.

  “No. Don’t say that.” I knelt in front of her and held her hands. She jerked them away. “I thought we did have a chance. I thought we could make it work again. I love you, Violet. That’s never been an issue.”

  “You just love her more?”

  I shook my head again. “I love her…different.” It was always the word I used to describe my feelings for Taryn. Everything felt different with her. I didn’t elaborate to Violet though, and when her tear fell, so did my heart, right into my gut. “I’m sorry.”

  She stepped around me, pacing. I waited until she finally stopped in front of the tree and fingered an ornament. It was a gold star with a picture of the two of us inside. She pulled it off the tree, looking down at it as it glimmered in her hand, and turned to me. “In the interest of honesty, I should probably tell you something.”

  I stood and took the step to her—amazed that she seemed to be holding herself together and happy she wasn’t throwing things at me. I hoped whatever she’d say would make me feel even a fraction better than I felt at that moment.

  Vi replaced the ornament on the tree and crossed her arms. “Taryn’s leaving.”

  I froze.

  “She left me a note and enough cash to pay her share of the rent through the lease. Said her parents got her a car and she’s following her dreams.”

  A million thoughts rushed through my mind. Thoughts of Taryn leaving, and the thought of never seeing her again. Thoughts of Violet being so selfless, standing in front of me and telling me this news. Was she testing me? I wasn’t sure how to react. All I felt was numb.

  Violet held out a hand. “Well?”

  “Well what?” I asked. “I guess she was able to save enough cash to go to California.”

  Violet nodded. “Her note said she’s packing up the apartment tomorrow and leaving from there. She wants to be in California by the New Year. What are you going to do about it?”

  I raised my eyebrows and studied Violet. She gazed into my eyes with her big, dark ones, waiting for an answer that I didn’t have. “What do you mean?�
��

  She clutched her chest and raised her voice. “If you’re going to dump me and go off plan, then fucking do it right, Oliver. Make my hurt mean something.” Vi never cursed, so when she did it drew me out of my trance.

  “I…” I didn’t know what to say, so I didn’t say anything.

  “Suddenly speechless?” Violet moved to the foyer and opened the coat closet. “I’m leaving. Can you tell my parents?”

  “I’ll walk you—”

  “No,” she barked. “I’d rather be alone.”

  I helped her with her coat, and she turned to me in the doorway. “I’m sorry that I hurt you by breaking up with you. But I’m pissed about what happened behind my back and sad that my future has been turned upside down. You lied to me about getting back together, and Tar…I can’t even say her name—”

  “Vi, don’t—”

  “—I can’t believe that this happened. I don’t want to talk to you, and I don’t want to talk to her.”

  Realizing that Violet was walking out of my life, taking with her both my past and my future, my breath stuck in my throat. Then I reminded myself to be brave. I’d known this would hurt. I kissed her forehead and said, “I’m sorry.”

  She held up a hand, almost as if she were shielding herself from me, and then walked down the front stairs like she had a million times before. Only this time, she wouldn’t be coming back.

  * * *

  Taryn

  Josh helped me load up the car with my few bags of clothes and boxes of books. He’d informed me first thing that morning that Oliver had told Violet everything the night before, and they’d broken up. Violet wouldn’t answer my texts or calls.

  “Take care of Violet for me?” I asked. “Maybe you can put in a good word.”

  He nodded. “I will.”

  “And Ollie…” My voice shook.

  Josh put a hand on my shoulder. “I got his back.”

  “You know how he is. Keep him away from the alcohol. His hand,” I held up mine in demonstration, “it can’t keep getting broken.”

  “I’m on it, I swear,” Josh said. “It won’t get broken again.”

  I grimaced. “I just want to make sure everyone’s going to be okay.”

  “Look,” he said. “I wish you all the best. You grew on me, I’ll admit it. Now go and do your thing, and I’ll stay here and clean up the mess you left.” His wink told me he was kidding.

  Smiling, I stood on my tiptoes to kiss his cheek. “Thank you.”

  I looked at my new, old Accord in the alley next to the store, warming up. The trunk was big enough that most of the stuff had fit in there. Only a couple of suitcases laid on the back seat. “I guess I’m ready to go.”

  “Looks like.”

  The voice came from behind me. It wasn’t Josh’s this time.

  I spun around to face Oliver. He studied the car, his hand to his chin, rubbing his jawline. I looked behind him and caught glimpse of Josh, heading down the alley. He waved to me as he turned the corner. The jerk had set me up.

  Turning my attention back to Oliver, I shivered. Maybe from the cold, but more likely from the electricity of Ollie being there. He stood next to a duffel bag, in a pair of khakis and a hoodie. Did the man own a coat? It was barely above freezing.

  With a huff, I crossed my arms and bounced on my toes to keep warm. “What are you doing here? I’m on a tight schedule.”

  “It’s cold. Sit in the car with me?” He scooted past me and threw his duffel bag in the back seat, then slid into the passenger side.

  “Oh for the love of God,” I muttered as I walked around the front to the driver’s side. The inside of the car was warm. Oliver was rearranging my stuff—my phone, my water, my snacks. I swatted his hand away from my cell phone charger. “Why are you here?”

  “I wanted to talk.”

  “So talk.”

  “Look at me.”

  I wouldn’t. I didn’t want to look at him because I didn’t want to think, for even one second, that I shouldn’t be leaving. He was single now, officially, again, and any sort of indication from him that I should stay could set me off my chosen path. “I’m leaving.”

  “Look. At. Me.” His sharp tone only made me more stubborn.

  I stared at the steering wheel. “No.”

  He chuckled. “You’re afraid to look at me?”

  “I’m not afraid, Oliver. I just hate you,” I lied. “Now get out.”

  “Why do you hate me?” he asked.

  I hated him because I wanted to leave without a look back, and if he said something to me to make me miss him, I’d hate him more. I hated him because when he was near me, I melted inside, overwhelmed with the thought that maybe I was special and mattered. I hated him because I couldn’t get the feel of his lips off of my skin or his smile out of my heart.

  “I hate you because I love you, okay?” I peeked sideways at him. “I know you told Violet the truth. Now she hates me, and I hate you. Since we all hate each other, I’m leaving.”

  “You also said you loved me. I heard it.” Oliver tilted his head. “Do you?”

  “I said I hate you first.” When I met his gaze, his dark eyes penetrated mine. “Don’t you get it, Ollie? Even if I loved you, there’s nothing I could do about it.”

  “There is something you can do about it.” He nodded toward the dashboard. “You can drive.”

  I purposefully banged my head on the steering wheel and then looked up at him. “What?”

  “Go.” He pointed to my feet. “Gas is on the right. Just don’t kill anyone pulling out of the alleyway.”

  The exhaustion started to set in. I couldn’t deal with Oliver playing games with me anymore. “Get out of my car, Ollie.”

  “Can’t. I’m going with you.”

  I laughed. “Excuse me?”

  “I’m going with you. What do you think is in the bag? It’s my stuff.”

  My heart pounded with his words. Had he officially gone crazy? “You don’t even know where I’m going.”

  “Sure I do. I pay attention and take notes.” He tapped a finger on his temple.

  “Did you make another spreadsheet?” I huffed and rolled my eyes.

  “Sort of. A mental one.”

  “In case you didn’t realize, Cambridge is that way.” I pointed north, or at least where I thought north would be. “I’m going that way.” I swung my arm to indicate west.

  He grabbed my finger, and the contact caused a jolt from my hand, up through my shoulder, and into my chest. “Me too. Please. Let me come with you.”

  For a moment, I let myself think he wasn’t kidding. His eyes had that broody, nerdy look he got like when he was reading Moby Dick or explaining his love equation data to me. Then I convinced myself he couldn’t be serious. He was going to Harvard and this was some sort of bad joke.

  “Oliver Stoneridge. I’m going to call the police if you don’t get out of my goddamn car in the next thirty seconds.”

  “Can I have those thirty seconds to tell you something?” he asked. “If you still want me to leave after that, I promise I will.”

  “Hey, Siri,” I yelled to my phone. “Set a timer for thirty seconds.”

  Siri answered, “Setting a timer for thirty seconds.”

  I shrugged at Oliver. “Well?”

  He let out a sigh. “I love you, Taryn Michelle Markos, and I want to be with you. Wherever you go—California, Kalamazoo, Siberia—I don’t care. I’m not going to law school because I’m done being a conformist, and God knows I don’t want to be a lawyer. I decided not to let you hide from me because I could feel that you love me too. So I’m here. We’re in this together. Can I go to Cali with you?”

  The timer rang. He handed me my phone and I shut it off.

  “You’re actually serious?” I asked. My pulse sped up as the reality of his words hit me. He wanted to go with me?

  He nodded. “More serious than anything.”

  “What about school?”

  “I’ll finish in
Kalamazoo.”

  “Your parents?”

  “Mom’s on board. She slipped me a credit card and wished me luck. Dad’s not entirely happy with my decision to leave with five months to go until graduation. He threatened to cut me off, so I may be broke as a joke soon.”

  I cringed.

  “He’ll come around,” Ollie said. “Promise. And I pawned the diamond ring, so we’re good with cash for a while.”

  “Speaking of rings…” My stomach churned, knowing his answer before he said it.

  “She hates both of us.” He touched my shoulder. “But again, I think she’ll come around. We have to give her time.”

  I gulped. “Josh?”

  “Said he’ll miss babysitting me but that he knows you’ll take good care of me.” Oliver winked. “Will you take care of me, Taryn?”

  My insides swirled with butterflies as the realization of what was happening gave my entire future new meaning. But I had to be sure this was what he wanted. I raised my eyebrows. “Please don’t fuck with me. This is major.”

  “Not fucking with you.” His gaze traveled over my face, to my lips, over my puffy coat. “You look beautiful, by the way.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Oliver.”

  “Yes, Bella?”

  Hearing my nickname made me grin. “You want to come to California with me, like for real?”

  “Yep. Very much so. Are we going to San Diego?”

  “That was my plan. I know you love plans.”

  “Plans? You said the magic word. You know what I love almost as much as plans?” He pulled out his phone and tapped the screen. “Maps. Maps save lives, Taryn. I’m going to map out the best route.”

  I raised my eyebrows, watching him swipe away at his phone. “Ollie.”

  “Bella?”

  When he looked up at me, his eyes lit up, and I couldn’t help but smile. “You’re such a nerd.”

  He winked at me. “Heard you’re into nerds.”

  With a long sigh, I put the car in reverse. “Only one.”

  I peeked at him as I turned to back out, glad that his goofy smile matched mine. Little by little I inched the car toward Mill Street, waiting for him to hop out. At the end of the alley, when he was still sitting there next to me, I put the car into park.