“She probably smelled like puke,” Les says.
“Even better,” Taz says.
“Oh, that’s gross,” Maura says.
I look at Jolie.
She frowns.
“I need something to eat,” Raf says. “What are we…”
The door behind Aric and Maura slides open.
Ado steps into the house and nods at everyone.
“Look at you,” Taz says. “You got laid last night. Look at that fucking smile. You’re fucking pathetic, man.”
“Let him be,” I say. “He’s happy.”
“He’s on a sex high,” Raf says.
“From five minutes ago,” Ado says. “Right outside on the deck.”
“Did you hose it all off?” Aric asks.
“I was with someone,” Ado says. “She can hose herself off.”
“I don’t even know what that’s supposed to mean,” Les says.
And then in walks someone else.
I smile when I see who it is.
It’s the girl from last night.
The one who used Ado to get to me. The one who was kissing me in front of Jolie.
“This is Carly,” Ado says.
“Oh, we already met,” I say. “Remember?”
Carly looks my way.
Jolie looks at me.
Her cheeks are blushing again, but not a full blush.
I don’t say anything.
I’m not sure if I can say anything.
It is what it is.
Jolie lifts her coffee cup to her lips and takes a sip.
“So, what are we-”
Ado doesn’t get the question out before Jolie stands up and throws her coffee into Carly’s face.
Carly lets out a scream and jumps back.
The coffee is scalding hot.
I hurry to get around the counter, but I can’t get there in time.
Jolie slams the coffee cup off Carly’s head.
She drops it and the cup breaks.
“What’s your fucking problem?” Carly asks as she starts to cry.
Jolie bends over and picks up the piece of the broken cup with the handle.
She lifts a jagged edge toward Carly’s face.
“I’ll cut your lips off if you ever try that again,” Jolie says. “Got it?”
“She’s crazy,” Carly says. “Ado, help me. Help me, Ado.”
I grab Ado’s shoulder.
He has to just stand there and watch this happen.
“Maybe you should apologize,” Taz says.
“Yeah,” I say.
“That’s a good idea,” Jolie says.
“I’m sorry,” Carly says. “Okay? I’m sorry. I didn’t… I shouldn’t have… I’m just sorry.”
“Walk the fuck out of here,” Jolie says. “Stupid bitch.”
Carly backs away.
I shove Ado to go with her.
He hurries to put his arm around Carly and get her out of sight.
Jolie slowly turns, her hands shaking.
“Well then,” Les says. “I stand corrected on you, Jolie. That was pretty fucking awesome.”
Taz starts to clap.
Then everyone claps for Jolie.
I smile at her and nod.
She drops the broken coffee cup and reaches for the door.
She hurries outside.
I step to the glass door and watch as she stands at the top step of the back deck of the house.
Holding her stomach, taking deep breaths.
She’s never been in a fight before.
She’s never confronted anyone like that before.
She’s never stood up for herself before.
“Get me another coffee for her,” I say.
Jolie leans forward.
I keep nodding.
Sometimes in life you have to get crazy to make sense of things.
I hand Jolie the cup of coffee.
She just stares forward.
Taking deep breaths.
I’m not sure what’s she feeling. All I’ve ever known is to throw a fist. Is to attack. That’s my way of handling things in life. It’s gotten me into a world of trouble and that won’t ever stop. It’s just the way I am.
For Jolie…
“Janet Clausen,” Jolie says.
“What?”
“It was third grade, Mac. I had this new dress on. It was a light pink dress. I remember seeing it in a window and I pointed it out. My mother took me right into the store and bought it. I know, that’s probably nothing since I’m just some rich girl, but I never pointed out a dress before like that. I was so excited to wear it to school. My mother had someone come to the house and do my hair, get me ready… it was way over the top.”
Jolie sips her coffee.
She looks at me.
I nod.
“Janet was my friend. Or I thought she was. That day she decided she hated me. Or she decided to tell me she hated me. Had hated me all along. She set me up, Mac. In third grade. I walked into our classroom and she threw paint at me. Everyone laughed at me. My dress was ruined. And the teacher believed Janet when she said it was an accident. Do you know why?”
“Why, sweetie?” I ask.
“Because I never said anything,” Jolie says. “I never stood up for myself. I don’t know why I didn’t. Hurt? Shock? I don’t know. I never stood up for myself.” Jolie looks over her shoulder. “Until just now.”
“And you made your point,” I say. “And believe me, you made it loud and clear. Nobody is going to fuck with you ever again around here.”
Jolie sipped her coffee again. “I want to go home, Mac.”
“Then I’ll take you home, sweetie. Right now?”
Jolie nods.
I touch her back. “Let’s get out of here. Take the coffee with you.”
That makes Jolie smile.
I walk her around the house to my car and cruise out of the BC area with what feels like a heavy heart.
And that’s not my style of living.
I don’t get heavy hearted. Ever.
“So whatever happened to Janet?” I ask Jolie.
She laughs. “She got pregnant at sixteen. Her parents moved her away. Never heard from her again.”
“So you had to deal with her all that time? From third grade on?”
“Nothing else ever happened, Mac. It was just that one thing. That one time.”
“And you carried it all this time,” I say.
“Yeah,” Jolie says.
I rip open the middle console and grab for the gun.
The sight of it makes Jolie gasp.
“Hold it,” I say to her.
“No.”
“Hold it, sweetie,” I say. “Just hold it. The safety is on. Nothing is going to happen. Just hold it. Feel something…”
Jolie reaches with a shaking hand.
She takes the gun and is now sitting in my car with a cup of coffee in one hand and a gun in the other.
She just keeps getting more and more beautiful by the second.
“Nothing needs to hurt you,” I say. “And not just because of a gun or a broken coffee mug or pent up anger. Don’t let anything hurt you, Jolie. I don’t care if you’re a good girl smarty pants… law school… whatever you are. Maybe you’re not like me. That’s fine. But everyone needs to go crazy once in a while.”
“Yeah, well, this is fucking crazy,” Jolie says.
She sips the coffee.
She holds the gun.
And I drive her back to her car.
When we get there, I take the gun from her and put it away.
She puts the coffee cup into one of the cupholders.
We look at each other and I lean toward her and place a kiss on her cheek.
Jolie gets out of the car and walks to the front and stops.
I open my door and step out of the car and just start walking toward her.
She turns and dives into my arms.
I catch her.
Our lips crash together
.
She tastes like coffee.
And freedom.
She hurries to get away from me.
She wipes her lips.
“You’re messing everything up,” she whispers.
“You can change that anytime you want, sweetie,” I say. “Just stop seeing me.”
Jolie bites her bottom lip and walks away.
I catch her looking at me in the mirror.
I light a cigarette.
I’m already thinking about the next time I get to see Jolie.
15
After I shower, I walk down the stairs to find Ado at the front of the house. He looks nervous. I can’t stand when any of my guys look nervous. I don’t care what the reason is, we don’t show nerves or fear. It can literally come down to life or death depending on how you act.
My mind races back to the shit that happened with Cade and Bain.
I had my chance then to take care of Ado.
I know, I keep repeating that shit over and over.
Sorry about that.
“Look, Mac…”
I point at Ado. “Whatever you’re going to say, save it. I don’t really care.”
“It’s about what happened, man.”
“And what exactly happened… man?” I ask Ado.
“Well, your… Jolie… she…”
“What?”
“She threw coffee…”
“Should she have?” I ask.
Ado stops talking.
He finally gets the fucking point.
It was supposed to happen the way it did. It wasn’t our job to get in the middle of that shit.
“So here’s what’s happening,” I say to Ado. “That bitch is holding her hand and mouth hostage from your dick right now. She wants you to get me to do something. And you know I’m not going to do anything. Not my job. What’s done is done. That bitch was wrong. Very wrong. And you’re dumb enough to fall for it? That’s your problem, Ado, you fall in love at the first kiss.”
I open the door and leave the house.
Taz and Les are on the porch waiting for me.
“Raf and Aric?” I ask.
“They went to make some rounds.”
“Maura?” I ask.
“No,” Les says. “Aric isn’t stupid. She’s gone now.”
“Not sure for good, but for now,” Les says.
“And the OD chick?” I ask Taz.
“Molly… is fine,” Taz says. “She and Teddy weren’t even that serious. He’s a pussy anyway.”
“I don’t give a shit about Teddy’s personal life,” I say.
“Right. Shit. What’s wrong with me?” Taz asks.
“We don’t have enough time to answer that,” Les says.
I step between the two. “It’s simple. Make sure Teddy realizes the error of his ways. More than what he’s experienced already. And find out where he’s getting his shit from. We need to make sure everyone around here shops local.”
“Consider it done,” Taz says.
“Where are you going?” Les asks.
“I have meeting with Dean Dickhead,” I say. “He needs to complain about something else.”
“I have something for you,” Les says.
He sticks his hand into his pocket and then hands me a piece of paper.
It’s a phone number.
Les grins at me.
He goes back into the house.
I look to Taz.
“I’m not going to end up with this chick,” Taz says. “You know that, right?”
“I know that,” I say.
I walk down the steps and take out my phone.
The first text could mean so much, right?
Or maybe it’s all just bullshit.
Either way, Jolie is going to be shocked.
Miss me yet, sweetie?
I hustle my way from the sidewalk to the grass, cutting my own path, which seems pretty fucking ironic when you look at my life.
Who’s this?
I laugh out loud at Jolie’s response.
And I have a response of my own.
Right now you have a choice. Keep replying to me. Or go get a new number.
I see Rex coming my way. Not for me though.
He’s with someone.
He’s got fucking Kerri hanging off his arm.
Our eyes meet and he offers a weak smile.
Amazing how some people can’t just let someone go…
But it’s not my business.
Both Rex and Kerri are good and loyal customers to me.
Kerri won’t even look at me.
She’s afraid.
Good for her.
My phone vibrates.
How did you get my number, Mac?
Rex is in the rearview mirror (if I had a mirror) and I’m face down in my phone again.
It’s really not smart.
It’s better to look forward. Ahead. Eyes on everything.
But fucking Jolie… she’s so distracting…
I can’t stop seeing her smashing that coffee mug off Carly’s head.
I think I broke her. Or maybe broke her open.
Does that really matter? You’re replying to me. Which means you want me to text you, sweetie. When can I see you again?
I’m closing in on Dean Dickhead’s office.
I walk up the big, stone steps and pause at the door.
I wait for Jolie to text back.
I want to say never. But I know you’ll just laugh at that.
Jolie makes me smile.
I’ll talk to you later, sweetie. I’m proud for what you did. Always stand up for yourself.
I walk into the building and make a line for Dean Dickhead’s office.
When I open the main office door, Bev jumps up and looks at me.
“Not today,” I say to her.
She doesn’t say a word.
I go right for Dean Dickhead’s door and open it.
He’s sitting behind his desk, fully clothed (thankfully), and on the other side of the desk is Henderson.
My phone vibrates.
It’s Jolie.
You and I should never see each other again, Mac.
I’ll get back to Jolie after this disaster first.
“You showed up on time,” Henderson says.
“Of course,” I say. “Why wouldn’t I?”
“How about showing up somewhere else?”
I look at Dickhead.
Come on, get it over with.
“I believe we have a problem here, Cormac,” Dean Dickhead says. He folds his hands. “Something doesn’t seem to add up.”
I nod.
Like you taking pills from me? You know I can end your career and your life with the snap of my fingers, right?
“I’m tired of the games,” Henderson says.
“Me too,” I say. “We should have a full investigation into the computer systems here. I’m a fucking failure. I’ll admit it. I don’t show up. I don’t try. I don’t give a shit.”
“You heard him,” Henderson says.
“He’s being honest,” Dickhead says. “That has to mean something.”
“What?” Henderson asks. “He threatened me.”
I laugh. “I didn’t threaten anyone. I believe… I know I’m not as smart as you, Henderson, but I believe I would call that… a power move. Right? I’m sure your valuable time and speeches would cover something of the sorts, no? See, I just wanted to offer what I was really doing here.”
“What are you talking about?” Henderson asks.
“Why don’t we find middle ground,” Dickhead says. “I can move some schedules around. Fix this issue.”
“There’s only one way to fix this,” Henderson says.
“I agree,” I say.
He looks at me.
I curl my lip.
His way of fixing this is to get rid of me. My way of fixing it is to get rid of him.
But there’s a very big difference between my version and his version of getting rid of so
meone.
“I’m going to figure this out,” Dickhead says. He senses the tension and hurries to type at his computer. “I’m sending an email over to our IT department. I’m going to rework Cormac’s schedule so that everyone has a satisfying outcome here. I feel it’s best to adapt versus fight.”
Dickhead hacks away at the keyboard.
Henderson slowly stands up.
He fixes his suit jacket.
“Want to know what I think you’ll become in life, Cormac?” he asks me.
“No,” I say.
“And we’re done here,” Dickhead says. He stands up. “Luther, we’re done.”
Henderson looks at Dickhead.
Nobody is happy, but Henderson won’t have to deal with me.
He storms to the door and leaves the office.
There’s a few seconds of silence before I move to Dickhead’s desk.
“I didn’t know what was happening,” he says to me.
Just like that, I’m back to owning him.
“I’m sure,” I say.
I reach into my back pocket and put my hand to the desk.
“For your troubles,” I whisper.
Then I laugh.
I leave the office and look at my phone again.
Life was so much easier when it was just Jolie and I in my bed, you know?
I sit on the top of the steps of the art building and smoke a cigarette next to a no smoking sign. Now if I’m being completely honest, I didn’t see the sign at first. So, no, I’m not trying to sit there and be this badass rebel.
That’s not my style.
But, yeah, I now know the sign is there and I keep smoking anyway.
It’s like a fucking museum… the art building is huge.
I kind of tuck into myself as I wait for good ‘ole Teddy to come outside.
Les is my eyes on the ground.
He gives two quick whistles and that means Teddy is walking out of the building.
I glance back and see he’s with Molly.
I’m assuming she’s part of this setup.
But who the fuck knows.
It’s not my problem.
If she wants some kind of weird love triangle that involves Taz, then good luck to her. Because in that story, there is no good ending. It’ll be one of those horror movies where you think the movie is over but then the killer or monster gets back up again.
I stand up and flick my cigarette to the steps.
I turn and Teddy is right next to me.
Mess You Up (Brooks Crest Book 1) Page 13
