by P Mulholland
“No,” I answered, wondering where he was going with this.
“I thought you might since you were living with a bunch of Costa Ricans.”
I sighed searching the club for Nancy. The sooner I got this over and done with, the better.
“I’ve got a date tonight with a Brazilian,” he added. “I wanted to impress her.”
“I hear YouTube videos are the way to go if you want to learn something for free,” I answered, thinking of Jake’s cooking lessons.
He leaned back in his seat and took a strong pull on his cigarette, his dark eyes glued to my face. He was a different type of handsome to Jake, cocky and self-assured with dark blond hair and a square jaw. Whereas Jake had a longer shaped face and dark almost black hair. Even when Jake was being crude, his temperament was sweet. I wondered if Corey had that same trait buried beneath his Dean Martin suit. Jake was also taller than Corey with longer limbs, giving the impression he was athletic. “If she asks you about Jake, what are you going to say?”
“The truth. That he’s my roommate.” Why would I say anything different?
“You’re not going to mention the arrangement?”
“No.” There was no point. I’d rather wade through the mud of the next 4 months and 3 weeks then vanish, once I got my freedom back.
He nodded his approval and took another pull of his cigarette. “You’ve filled out,” he said, blowing smoke from his mouth as he spoke. “You were skinny back then, all arms and legs. A long-legged babe, but a flat-chested one.”
I cringed. I had no interest in talking to him about my teenage years. He and I fooled around a few times when accompanying Farrah to the Austins’ ridiculous mansion in the summer holidays when the kids were at home.
I vaguely remember the first time. Farrah and Mrs. Austin were having coffee together in the kitchen while Corey kindly showed me around the opulent, enormous house behaving like a gentleman. Until the gentleman pulled me into an empty bedroom and asked if he could kiss me. The kiss was warm and soft and wet and I liked it. I also liked his hand traveling places, to my boobs, ass and to the front of my panties.
We met up a few more times, never going further than just kissing and fondling, examining each other’s private parts. I got the distinct impression that I meant nothing more than a snowflake to him that melted as soon as it hit the ground. Forgotten.
Then he went back to private school and I went back to public school and I brushed him to the back of my mind. I was shy at school, the only friends I had were in my swim team. I was a girl too tall, too Californian, too restless and dreamy for the classroom. He, on the other hand had it all planned out for him; high school, college and a job at the firm.
“You turned into a different creature altogether when you hit the water,” Corey muttered, dropping the ash from his cigarette into the ashtray. “We used to think you were half seal, like an escapee from some fucked up genetic engineering experiment lab.”
“We?”
“Are you speaking French, belle fille?”
“I don’t remember you that well,” I said. It wasn’t a lie. I grew curves over that summer break and attracted male attention from all directions when I got back to school. I’m not one of those girls that thrives on a lot of male attention, even now. So when I got back to school and the boys would chase me, my reaction was to avoid, dodge, punch and shove if I had to. My summer fling was soon forgotten. It’s no wonder Farrah called me a lobster.
He shot me a look like he didn’t believe me. I couldn’t care less. He was about to say something when Nancy Applegate breezily arrived at our table. Her lips were painted scarlet and intoxicating perfume that could kill a herd of buffalo rose from her. She held out her hand for me to shake, then did the same with Corey.
“Do you remember me interviewing you around four years ago?” she asked me.
“Yes,” I said.
She smiled, taking the seat next to me and winking. “And have you met up with Aaron Trews since you’ve been back in Chicago?”
“Briefly.”
“Would you like to comment on why you broke up?” she asked.
“No, thank you.”
“Not even for old time’s sake, since it was me who gave him your number when he was trying to hunt you down.”
“No, thank you.”
Corey glanced at his watch again. “Can we hurry this along?”
“Sure,” Nancy said, slipping Corey a wide fake smile. I bet she’d conjured up plenty of those smiles in her career as a journalist. “So let’s start from the beginning. Tell me what happened when the Ocean Warrior crossed into Costa Rican waters?”
“The newspapers have already written articles on all that,” I stressed, noticing Corey shuffle impatiently in his seat.
“Yes, but I want it in your words,” she said calmly. “I’ll have the exclusive on our local environmental hero.”
I shirked at being called that. “I’m hardly a hero.”
“Hurry up and tell the story, O’Neal,” Corey said, flicking his hand irritably, “preferably before Christmas 2029.”
Nancy placed her phone down in front of me and pressed record. I told the story from beginning to end, including how the Austins came to the rescue of me and the crew. She’d stop me now and again to ask questions, then proceed. The whole thing took over an hour. By then it was getting too noisy in Louis’, now packed with patrons, with the band almost ready to start playing.
“I think we’re just about done,” Nancy announced.
I got up to leave, when she halted me, “Sorry, I forgot. I have another couple of questions.”
“Be quick,” Corey bit.
She flicked Corey a sharp look that ran off him like water on a duck’s back. “What is your relationship with Jake Austin?”
“He’s my roommate,” I said flatly.
“Just a roommate?” she asked, cocking an eyebrow.
“Yes. Nothing but a roommate.”
“How did you come to be roommates?”
“Where are you going with this?” Corey cut in.
She smiled again. “It’s good to get a whole picture on the subject, personal life included.”
“My family are friends with the Austins-”
“That’s all we’re going to say on that subject,” Corey interrupted. “Are we done?”
“I think so,” Nancy hummed, swiping through notes on her phone. I stood up, hoping she’d move out of the way so I could get out of the booth. Instead, she stayed put. Then she found something on her phone and cried out, “How could I forget? I have one more question before you leave.”
I looked at Corey who was as eager as I was to leave. He nodded and I sat back down.
He held up a finger. “One more question and that’s it.”
She cleared her throat. “Are you aware Brydie, that AGI partly owns the fishing company Neptune Fisheries?”
“Stop!” Corey snapped. “Print that and your entire career will be pulled out from under your feet in two seconds flat.”
“Tut, tut,” she smirked at Corey.
“Wait,” I said. “Who’s AGI?”
“Austin Group Investments,” Nancy answered swiftly.
“Neptune Fisheries owns the fishing trawler that lay the driftnets?” I asked. My head was spinning.
“Oh dear, I see you didn’t know that fact,” she said, beaming. “Kind of makes it awkward that you’re living with an Austin, doesn’t it? I mean, what will your activist friends think?”
“Austin Group does not own any part of Neptune Fisheries,” Corey stated.
“I beg your pardon,” Nancy said sarcastically. “How stupid of me. Did own. They sold their share the day you got arrested, Brydie.”
“Do I need to remind you who owns the fucking Tribune?” Corey warned.
“You don’t own 100 per cent,” she bit back snidely.
Nancy stood up to leave as Corey was still firing threats at her.
“I’ve had enough of this,” I said
. I left the booth and headed for the door.
Corey grabbed my arm as I stepped outside into the darkness. “I’ll give you a ride back home.”
I shook his hand off me. “No, thank you.” I ran across the road and disappeared into the night.
Chapter Seventeen
Jake
Corey: Let me know when O’Neal gets home
Me: Where is she?
Corey: Don’t know
I rang him. “What do mean, you don’t know?”
“Applegate told her that AGI owned Neptune Fisheries. She wasn’t pleased and did a runner.”
“Fuck. I’ll ring Farrah.”
“Already did. She’s not there.”
“But it’s dark,” I exclaimed.
“No kidding, Elmer. Go to the top of the class. I’ll try and get Trews’ number.”
“Why would she run to him?”
“A process of elimination. Besides, they’ve been seeing each other.”
“Are you sure?” It didn’t make sense. I’m sure she would’ve said.
“She admitted it to Applegate. Sorry to break it to you. I know you’re sweet on her.”
“Not that sweet,” I lied.
I heard the clicking of the door. “Wait. She’s just come home.”
“Now the spitting cobra is your problem,” he sniggered.
I ended the call and watched from the couch as she stepped inside. I had to read her mood before saying anything. She looked unhappy and her eyes were red raw, like she’d been crying. When she spotted me she paused to take a breath.
“Did it go alright?” I asked.
She shrugged.
“Were you with the Bear?” I had to know.
Her unhappy expression turned to one of perplexity. “No.”
“Corey said you were seeing him again.”
She sighed. “No. I bumped into him last Sunday. That’s it. I don’t know…your brother’s an asshole.”
“No kidding.”
“Did you know your family owned Neptune Fisheries?” she asked, looking at me from under her lowered eyebrows.
“Partially owned,” I corrected her. “And we don’t anymore and…I didn’t know it was one of Neptune Fisheries’ trawlers that…” I trailed off. “Until Corey told me recently.”
“You didn’t even know you owned this building,” she added. “You don’t seem to know much.”
“No. I don’t deal with the real estate side. And I’ve been in rehab and hospital and stuff, so I was kind of preoccupied with trying not to die.”
She snorted. “I find dying most disagreeable,” she said in a posh English accent, probably a line from a Regency movie. “I was planning on packing my bags and leaving because I can’t bear to live with the enemy.”
I said nothing.
“I used up the rest of my money getting a taxi ride home to avoid sitting next to your brother.”
“Others have done worse.”
“I don’t even have enough money left for a bus ticket to the end of the street.”
“In normal circumstances I would offer you money, but I don’t want you to leave,” I said truthfully.
We fell silent. She was still standing by the door in a non-committal manner, half in, half out. She’d wanted out from the day she arrived. “Why does your brother call you Elmer?”
“Fudd,” I answered. “Don’t ask.”
She laughed. Every cell in my body tingled when she laughed.
“Do you want to watch a movie with your enemy?” I asked her.
She covered her face with her hands and let out a soft growl of frustration. “This is not cool,” she said. “Everything I live for is being destroyed by your family.”
“Not anymore,” I argued. “We sold our share.”
“I know, but if I wasn’t arrested…”
“It highlighted the illegal practices being undertaken,” I stated, “at least by that one trawler. If we knew about it, we would’ve dealt with it accordingly.”
“Really?” She didn’t believe me. I didn’t believe me.
“We can’t make money from the ocean if there’s nothing in it,” I said, then realized how lame I sounded.
She shot me a look.
“Come and watch a movie with me,” I tried to convince her. “I’ve got chocolate. Fish-free chocolate in fact.” I held up a chocolate marshmallow fish. “Ooops sorry, I tell a lie.”
She rolled her eyes and slowly walked over to the empty couch, not the one I was sitting on, even though it was in a better position in relation to the screen. She kicked off her sandals, stretched out on the couch and snuggled into the cushions. Then she reached out a hand for some chocolate. My happy place was right there at that moment. Just me and Brydie alone, hanging out. We didn’t even have to be touching or talking and I felt my entire body lift.
“You’re still the enemy,” she bit.
“Yeah, but I’m a hot one.”
“That’s debatable.”
“No debate needed. The jury has already decided.” I propped my feet up on the coffee table and just watched her for a few moments. Her nice round boobs rising up and down as she breathed, her long golden hair falling about her shoulders, her tanned legs and feet crossed over at the ankles. “Brydie?”
She looked over at me.
“Can I sleep in your bed tonight?”
“Ummm…”
“Just in case you have another nightmare.” I was quickly putting my case forward.
“Sleeping with the enemy,” she muttered. “What next? An indecent proposal?”
‘For fifty shades of gray,” I laughed.
“Not!”
“Fatal attraction? Hand that rocks the cradle?” That time she laughed but I failed to see the funny side.
“Babysitter humor, is it?” I asked. “Why not add Child’s Play to the list, Chucky?”
“Ew!” She shuddered, then bit into a chocolate bar and some chocolate flakes landed on her tits. She brushed them off with her hand.
I took steady deep breaths to contain my urge to go over there and kiss her. Pennywise, Pennywise, Pennywise. Chucky, Chucky, Chucky. Dog shit, dog shit, dog shit. Pus-filled boils on Croyden’s ass. It wasn’t working.
“Fuck it!” I stood up.
She turned and looked up at me. “What’s the matter?”
“You’re the matter,” I said. I dropped to my knees by her couch, took her face in my hands and planted a kiss on her soft rose lips. It was only a short, no tongue kiss, just to test the waters. But it was nice, really nice, and no surprise that she tasted like chocolate. What was surprising was that she didn’t push me away. Instead she gazed at me in that state of bewilderment I’ve become accustomed to. When I make dirty remarks and say how much I want her, that’s the look I get. Bewilderment.
Still tongue tied, she touched her lips and I found myself diving back into her soul. This time I went in open mouthed with tongue, soft, moist, chocolate. We kissed. Our tongues tussled like lovers in each other’s mouths. I was massively turned on, so I pressed down harder, more passionate with more fire. Our tongues danced and fought and she moaned. Then when it got even more intense, she pushed me off her and cried out in horror, covering her mouth with her hand.
“Twenty one!” she shouted.
“So? You kissed me back.” I got up and limped back to my couch, covering my erection with a cushion.
“I was just competing,” she said.
“If I knew I was in a kissing competition, I would’ve tried harder to win.”
We fell silent. Her face was flushed and she kept placing her palms on her cheeks to help cool them down.
“Got wet panties?” I asked.
“Dry as a chip.”
“Prove it.”
“Don’t need to. Besides, it hard to check ’cos there’s so much hair down there. Ex-con, remember? That’s how we roll.”
“Need a comb to part your beard?”
“My whiskers are perfectly fine as they are, thanks.
”
“Tie a little ribbon in it? Maybe some hairclips?”
“You’re cruisin’ for a bruisin’.”
“Says the Malone.”
She shot me a look then, like darts flying out of her emerald eyes. Merely poking her limits with a stick, that’s all.
I couldn’t take my eyes off her lying there in recovery from kissing the enemy. “You’re a damn nice kisser.”
“Shush,” she hissed, “watch the movie.”
“It hasn’t started yet,” I said amused.
“What’s this then?”, pointing to the TV.
“Lovecraft Country,” I answered. “A series.”
“Cool.”
Chapter Eighteen
Brydie
The kid kissed me.
The kid kissed me and I liked it. I haven’t been kissed like that since Aaron. I wouldn’t expect much from a twenty-one year old, due to lack of experience and the fact the experience he’s had was with girls he picked up in the club. Quick and rough, I imagined. I started to wonder if he was that good at kissing, how good was he in the bedroom?
I quickly brushed that thought aside and took a seat on the shore of Lake Michigan to be hypnotized by the movement of the water. The last time I was sitting there Aaron appeared next to me. I was hoping that might happen again. Once was fate. Twice was planned. He won’t show.
I fell asleep on the couch while the movie played last night. Jake shook me awake and I headed to bed. He wanted to join me and I blurted, “Bad idea.”
“I won’t try anything. I’ll just sleep, that’s all.”
He kept his promise last time, so I let him stay. We fell asleep with our backs to each other, although there was one point in the night where I woke to find I was lying on my back holding his hand. I lay there for several moments listening to him breathe. I wanted to lay my head on his chest and feel his heartbeat against my cheek. But he’d get the wrong idea, so I released his hand, turned on my side and drifted back to sleep.
The next time I awoke it was morning so I got up, changed into my swimwear, wrapped my beach robe around me and went down to the pool. Jake was still in a deep sleep when I left. He looked so cute snuggled down into the sheets, eyes shut tight, mouth open. I wanted to give him an affectionate kiss on the forehead but worried that I might wake him, so I let him be.
