by L A Cotton
“Absolutely not,” I agreed.
“Good then, I’ll email over those reports I need you to take a look at.”
“Great.” My eyes flicked to my bag, willing it to remain silent.
Mr. Howser turned to go but glanced back at the last second. “I didn’t know you have a new babysitter?”
“I’m sorry, what?”
“Your caller? Darcy mentioned he was male.”
“Oh,” it came out strangled. “It’s just Kai, Portia’s brother. Sometimes he helps out if Portia can’t.”
His eyes narrowed suspiciously, but eventually he seemed satisfied at my lie. “Very well then, back to work.” He winked before walking away. My eye caught Darcy’s across the office and she smirked.
Bitch.
She had never liked me.
But I had more important things to worry about. Like why Rob was calling me at the office, when he’d barely called or text in the last couple of weeks. And if he did it was always to ask about Belle, not talk about us.
Tears pricked the corners of my eyes. Rob wasn’t a bad person; he was just an epic screw up. He wasn’t wired for a relationship, for putting someone else’s needs above his own. And the worst of it was, I knew. I knew exactly what he was like going into it with him. I was just too naive to think that he would ever actually hurt me.
Sitting down at my desk, I discreetly retrieved my cell phone from my bag and text Portia.
Me: Can you and Belle meet me for lunch?
Portia: Sure, when and where?
Me: Morello’s in about an hour?
Portia: Sure, Princess Belle can’t wait to see her mama
A photo came through of Belle with a princess filter. The little crown sat lopsided on her head, but it was exactly what I needed to take the edge of Rob’s call and Mr. Howser’s veiled warning.
I was doing this—working my ass off, putting up with crap from people like Darcey—for Belle. To give her a better future. To make up for the fact that she only had me. I wanted to be able to buy her things, to give her the world. And I couldn’t do that working as a waitress at The Shack, the Bay’s infamous diner. No, I needed to make something of myself. To become something. And I couldn’t let Rob or anyone else screw it up for me.
I HEARD BELLE BEFORE I saw her. Portia had her propped on her hip, my little princess screaming as if the apocalypse was coming.
“Has she been like this all morning?” I jumped up, taking Belle from Portia.
“No, she’s been fine. But we bumped into a man outside and she just started wailing.”
It wasn’t the first time she’d had a meltdown over a stranger. “Oh dear,” I cooed at her. “Mama’s here now. Can I get a smile?”
Belle’s cries subsided enough for her to give me a small smile.
“There.” I kissed her cheek. “All better. Have you had a fun morning with Auntie Portia?”
“We watched some Peppa Pig and went for a walk around the park. It’s been fun.
“Thank you,” I mouthed at Portia. She was too good to us. A couple of years younger than me, she should have been away at college studying. But when my Aunt had fallen sick a few years ago, Portia had insisted on staying around to help care for her. Aunt Cathy was all better now, but Portia still hadn’t left.
“What’s up? Your text seemed kind of urgent.”
“What? I can’t ask to have lunch with my favorite cousin and Princess Belle?”
Portia smirked. “I know you better than that.”
“He called.”
“Rob?” I nodded, bouncing Belle on my lap. “And what did dickbrain have to say for himself?”
“I don’t know. It was weird. He kept talking about us and about making mistakes.”
“Ah, he’s entered the phase of regret.”
“Maybe.” The served brought over our drinks and placed them down on the table. I thanked her before focusing on Portia. “I just don’t want him to start causing trouble.”
“But he’s Belle’s father, Maggie. You can’t expect him to never show up again.”
“I know.” But the truth of the matter was, his leaving, although frustrating, had allowed me to get on with life. If—when—he came back to Wicked Bay, things would get messy again, something I wanted to avoid.
“Hey, no moping, okay? We’ll deal with dickbrain,” she lowered her voice, “when he decides to bring his sorry ass back to town. In the meantime, give me all the goss about Vinnie.”
“Portia,” I said, my cheeks heating. “There’s nothing to tell, I already told you.”
“No, you told me you made him lunch and that was it. But I don’t buy it. Not for a damn second. This is you and Vin we’re talking about.”
“It’s like he was never here. I haven’t heard from him.”
“Oh.” Her brows pinched. “Well, have you called him?”
“What? Of course not.”
She rolled her eyes. “Well, do you want to talk to him again?”
“I guess.”
“Liar. It’s written all over your face. You still care about him.”
That was the problem though. I never stopped caring for him. I doubted I ever would. Because although I’d given my heart to Rob, Vinnie would always own a small piece too. I’d just always assumed it was in a platonic way; the way a sister loved a brother, or a mother loved a son.
But I’d been wrong.
So wrong.
What was that saying? You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone. Well, I’d learned the hard way that Vinnie was everything to me.
“I never stopped caring about him. But it doesn’t matter now, it’s too late.”
“Oh yeah?” Her eyes lit up as something caught her eye over my shoulder. “I wouldn’t be so sure.”
I glanced back to find Vinnie standing there. “Hi,” he said.
“Hi.”
“And hello to you too, Princess Belle.” He crouched down to her eye level. Her whole face lit up with excitement as she clapped her hands to go to him.
“I don’t think hello is going to cut it,” I said, fighting a smile, and ignoring the giant knot in my stomach.
Without asking for permission, Vinnie took Belle from me and stood up. “Wow, I think you got bigger since I last saw you.”
“It’s only been three days,” I said.
“Three too many.” His eyes locked on mine, a hundred things passing between us.
“Hi, Vinnie. I’m well, thanks for asking,” Portia sassed.
“Sorry, Portia.” He smiled. “But it’s kind of hard to see anything when this little diva commands your attention.” Vinnie pulled out a chair and sat down, taking the air with him.
“You don’t have to tell me,” she replied, flashing me a knowing grin.
“Behave,” I mouthed at her.
“So...” Portia just couldn’t help herself. “I’ll be over there, looking at those overly-tempting cupcakes.” She smothered a grin as she excused herself and made a beeline for the display refrigerators.
“She’s... subtle.” Vinnie’s lip quirked up. “How are you?”
“Okay.” The tension grew thicker by the second. “You?”
“I’m... Listen, Mags. I’m sorry I didn’t call. I just...”
“I know.” I gave him a sad smile.
“You do?” His brow arched, confusion clouding his eyes.
“Yeah, it’s too much. Belle, what happened before you left, all of it...”
“You really are oblivious sometimes.” The corner of his mouth lifted playfully.
“Oblivious, but I don’t—”
“I didn’t not call because of Belle or the past or all of it.”
“You didn’t?”
“Well, I guess that’s part of it. But no. I didn’t call because I don’t want to make your life any more complicated than it is already. And something tells me if I stick around, that’s going to happen.” He’d leaned in, Belle a buffer between us. His eyes were dark, hooded with lust and intent
ion. It was overwhelming, my heart galloping in my chest.
I’d seen Vinnie look at me with want in his eyes before, but we were younger then; it was different. But now he was looking at me the way a man looked at a woman he wanted. And I didn’t know whether to rejoice or run. Because he was right; if he stuck around it would complicate things.
But could I really watch him walk away again?
“Say something,” he whispered, his warm breath fanning my face.
“I... I don’t want you to complicate things,” I said. “But I don’t want you to leave either.”
Relief washed over him, as if he’d needed to hear me say those words more than anything.
“Good job I’m sticking around for a while then.”
He was?
I wanted to ask for how long, but Portia chose that exact moment to return. “I hope I’m not interrupting anything?”
“Hmm, no.” I cleared my throat, shuffling my chair away from his. Vinnie smirked innocently as he continued to play with Belle, letting her pull on his shirt and chew his hand.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen her so at ease with a guy,” Portia regarded, and this time there was no hidden agenda. Because it was the truth. In the short time they’d known each other, Belle and Vinnie had already developed a bond.
It was both heart-warming and terrifying.
“You two should totally go out,” she added.
“W- what?” My cheeks flamed with embarrassment, and Vinnie cleared his throat. But I was sure I caught a hint of amusement in his chuckle.
“As friends, obviously. But I think it will be a good thing, for both of you. No awkward first dates because you’re... friends.”
“Friends,” Vinnie repeated as if he was testing the word on his tongue. “I think I can work with that. What do you say, Mags? For old time’s sake?”
I slid my gaze to his and smiled. “Just friends?”
“What more could it possibly be?” he asked quietly.
And all I could think was: what more indeed?
Chapter 10
Vinnie
“I can’t believe you’re taking her on a fucking date.” Shaun leaned against the door jamb, glowering at me. “Does Mom know?”
“A, it’s not a date. B, I don’t need Mom’s permission to go out with my friend. And C, stop looking at me like that, it’s starting to piss me the hell off.”
“Okay then, let me rephrase that. Does Lucii know?”
“Lucii? What the hell does she have to do with this?”
“You know she spoke to Maggie at the wake.”
“She did what?” My jaw clenched.
“I thought you knew. Gave her the ‘hurt my brother again, and I’ll kill you’ speech and everything.”
“Did I wake up in some weird alternate reality where we’re all kids again?”
“She’s only worried.”
“I think I’ll be perfectly safe having dinner with Maggie.”
“Will you though?” His brow rose. “Because I don’t think you have a fucking clue what you’re doing.”
I let out an exasperated breath, running my fingers through my damp hair.
“Is that all?” I was surprised Shaun was even talking to me after the other day at the bar, but that was Shaun. He didn’t like to sit on an argument, preferring to move on as if nothing happened.
He held up his hands, backing away slowly. “My lips are sealed.”
“Good, now get the hell out of here or I’m going to be late.”
Shaun’s laughter followed him down the hall. I finished up getting ready and made my way downstairs. “I’ll see you later, Mom”.
“Have fun, sweetheart. Tell Maggie I said hello.” The clatter of pans followed, and I wondered what culinary delight she was whipping up this time. Shaun would have to humor her alone this time, because I had somewhere to be.
THE DRIVE TO MAGGIE’S only took a few minutes. I’d barely rolled to a stop outside her house, when she appeared in the doorway. Fuck, she looked beautiful. Her hair was down, styled in big waves off her face. The sundress she wore clung to every curve and swell of her body. And her subtly made up eyes lit up when she flashed me a megawatt smile. I couldn’t have stopped my eyes from running down the length of her body even if I’d wanted to. Maggie called something into the house before closing the door behind her and making her way down the driveway.
I went to climb out of the car to open her door, but she held up a hand. “Don’t. Friends don’t open the door for each other.”
So it was like that.
Well two could play at that game.
I waited for Maggie to get in and buckle up, before firing up the engine again. “Ready?” I asked her.
“I think so.”
“Well, okay then. Get ready for the best non-date you’ve ever had.” But as I said the words, I knew this wasn’t a non-date. It wasn’t even a date-date. It was something else entirely.
Maggie gave me a timid smile, flicking her bangs out of her eyes.
“You look—”
“Don’t say it.”
“Come on, Mags. A friend can tell their friend they look nice.” I fought a smirk.
The vibrations from her purse interrupted. “It’s probably just Portia.”
“Already? We haven’t even made it to the end of the street yet.” I kept my voice light.
Maggie grabbed her cell phone and read the incoming message.
“Everything okay?”
“Yeah,” she smiled tightly. “Portia just wanted to double-check if Belle needed a bath.”
“It was nice of her to offer to watch Belle while we go on our non-date.”
“Vinnie,” she said. “Are you going to do that all night because it could get a little annoying.”
“I get to keep you all night?” My brow went up suggestively. I was playing with her. Flirting. Enjoying watching the smatter of pink bloom along her neck and into her cheeks.
“Vin.” Her breath caught, her eyes fluttering closed. “You’re not playing fair.”
“Who, me? I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Maggie smothered a smile, turning to look out the window.
By the time we reached our destination, tension simmered between us. But it wasn’t like a black thundercloud this time. It was a sunrise, warm and inviting; a hint of things to come.
At least, I hoped so.
I found a parking spot and twisted to face Maggie. “Remember your thirteenth birthday?”
“We went to the movies and then got milkshakes from Brownies.”
“And you said...”
“It was the best milkshake I’d ever tasted in my life.”
She remembered.
“Well, I hope you still like milkshake.”
“Brownies? Really?”
I knew what she was thinking. Of all the places in Wicked Bay to come, Brownies was the least date-like place around. But I think we both knew this wasn’t a date. And once upon a time, Brownies had been one of our favorite places.
I didn’t go around and open her door, but I did crook my elbow, hoping Maggie might accept. When she hooked her arm through mine, I stood ten feet tall.
“Sounds perfect.”
We made our way inside and I guided us to our old favorite booth. I gave the server a polite nod and waited for Maggie to get settled before taking my seat opposite her.
“I don’t think I’ve been in here since...” She swallowed, guilt flashing in her eyes.
“Hey, don’t do that. Don’t get lost in the past. It’s just me, Mags.” I reached over, covering one of her hands with mine. She didn’t startle this time, and I took it as a good sign.
“Hi, welcome to Brownies.” The server appeared. “I’ve got a strawberry sundae milkshake and a double chocolate brownie.”
“You really remembered?” Maggie’s eyes widened, glittering with surprise.
“Of course I remembered. I’ll take the chocolate please,” I said to the server
, who was watching us with interest.
“Hmm, I guess mine is the strawberry.” Maggie pushed her bangs out of her face, and it was so fucking cute I wanted to say screw the milkshakes and lean across the table and taste her. But I couldn’t rush this.
I couldn’t rush her.
So I’d bide my time, and silently pray that this time, things worked out the way they were always supposed to.
“DO YOU NEED TO TAKE that?” I asked, tipping my head to Maggie’s cell. It had vibrated at least four times in the last hour.
Everything was going great. After her second sundae milkshake, Maggie loosened up, telling me all about her job and Belle while we waited for our food. Her whole face lit up when she talked about her daughter, and I listened intently, greedy to learn about their lives. And when she had asked me if there had been anyone special in LA, I was almost certain I caught her sigh with relief when I reassured her there hadn’t been.
It was perfect.
The most perfect non-date ever.
Except, her phone didn’t stop bleeping and the worry lines around her eyes didn’t stop growing.
“Are you sure?” I added, wanting her to feel as comfortable as possible.
“Nope.” She smiled but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “It’s just Portia checking in.”
“If you need to go, I can drive you home. I know the deal.”
“Deal?” She frowned.
“Yeah, with Belle. She’s your priority, and she should be. So if you need to go, just say the word and we’ll go.”
Maggie gawked at me as if I’d just spewed a load of Latin at her.
“Mags?”
“I just...”
“Maggie?”
My blood turned to ice as I turned to find Rob looming over us. “What the fuck is this?” he ground out. “I haven’t even been gone a month and you’re already fucking him?”
“Whoa, man.” I leaped up and put myself between Rob and Maggie. “You need to calm down.” My hand flattened against his chest and pushed gently.
“Don’t fucking touch me.” His eyes narrowed dangerously as he shoved my hand away.
