“Daniels!” A male voice shouts, and I turn, looking into the crowd as the bodies merge into nearby buildings. Must have imagined it. The thick scent of coffee drifts from Hallowed Grounds, and I start heading in that direction. Just before I duck inside, a heavy hand falls onto my shoulder.
I turn to find the unwelcome mug of one of the Edwards brothers. Bryson. Next to him is his mirror reflection, Holt, with an equally pissed look just for me.
“What’s up?” I nod toward the growing line inside. “You guys want some coffee? I’m buying.” It’s a friendly gesture on my part, but judging by their long, hardened faces this isn’t a friendly visit.
“No thanks.” Bryson does a quick sweep of the campus. Half the staff at the Black Bear attends Briggs. I’m assuming he’ll want to keep the witnesses to a minimum when he slaughters me.
Holt nods to the parking lot, and we walk over in silence, me like a prisoner headed to death row. Hell, I won’t make it to death row. They’ll probably shank me before they speed the hell out of here.
I stop just shy of the forest adjacent to the lot. That’s it. I’m not giving another inch. If they want to pummel me in the bushes, they’ll have to drag me there first.
“Let’s have it. What’s this about? You want my balls on a platter? Tell me what the hell for.”
Holt comes at me and shoves me hard into the trunk of a pine.
A shooting pain knifes through my back as a branch impales me just below the shoulder.
“Shit.” I shove him the hell off me. I’m through with playing nice. I’m fucking pissed. I don’t really care if these idiots and I ever get along. “I’m not anybody’s bitch so hands off. Got it?”
“Yeah?” Holt laughs at me through squinted eyes. “What’s Annie to you? Is she your little bitch?”
Something in me stills. “What the hell’s gotten into you? Don’t talk about her like that.” I try to push past them, but Bryson stops me cold.
“What does Olivia Cameron mean to you?”
My heart stops. I don’t bother taking my next breath. Shit.
I hold my hands up. “What do you think you know?”
Bryson gives my shoulders a hard shove until I’m pressed into the tree again. I glance up at the sky as if it were Benji himself. I’m not sure why, but I wish he were here. Not to double-team the Edwards brothers, but to help me to get the twisted truth out.
“What do we think we know?” Bryson spits the words over my face. “We had a nice long chat with your ex-girlfriend—but she’s not really your ex is she? I mean she’s having your kid, so things aren’t that far in the past—are they?”
I swallow hard trying to process what comes next. Shit. I should have told Annie last night. I should have told her weeks ago.
“Let me tell her.” I don’t even bother trying to make them understand what’s happening between Olivia and me. There’s too much hate in their eyes, and I’m starting to understand why.
“No can do, buddy.” Holt looks as if he’s about to draw back and deck me, instead he closes his eyes and shakes his head. “So Annie doesn’t know.” He doesn’t hide his disappointment. “Shit. This is big, Blake. I thought for sure she knew and was hiding it.” He looks to Bryson for a second. “That’s what I get for defending you. Look, this isn’t little stuff that you can slip under the bridge. Olivia says she’s having this kid in just a few weeks. When were you planning on telling my sister?” His voice rises through the forest. It threads right through the branches as it spikes to the sky. I hope to God Benji is listening in—watching how fast my life has managed to unravel itself. A selfish part of me would really like for him to take part in this shit storm. “What were you going to do? Take her on a date to the hospital one night? Oh, by the way, Annie? See that kid? That’s mine.”
The rage in his eyes, both their eyes, makes me feel lower than worm shit.
“No.” I shake my head, my voice barely audible. “I was going to tell her today.”
“Bullshit!” Bryson gives me another hard shove. “You’re a fucking conman—a player who’s stringing Annie along for the ride. Dude, did you touch her? Why are you messing around with her? Can’t you see that Annie is special? She’s different.”
“Annie is special.” A rage brews in me because, all of a sudden, I want to knock their block heads together. “And not in the way you’re implying.”
I glance away for a moment, and one of them growls at me.
“Annie isn’t the fragile flower you pretend she is.” The words come out with a mean edge. “She’s a beautiful, grown, intelligent woman.” I lean back into the tree and watch as my breath plumes out with the fog. “I’ve really fucked things up, haven’t I?”
“Yes, you have.” Holt gives me a light sock to the arm. “Just when I was starting to like you.”
“And now?”
“And now you stay the hell away from my sister.”
Bryson pulls Holt back as they turn to leave. “Tell your band they can thank you for ending their run at the Black Bear. Tell them we’re sorry—but, as for you, the only thing we’re sorry about is the fact you met Annie. She doesn’t have room in her life for a pile of shit your size.”
They take off in the direction of Annie’s English class and sit on the steps outside the building like a couple of watchdogs. Then it hits me with the clarity that comes on a cold night when you realize that morning is on its way and there’s nothing you can do about it. I thought my life had fractured for the very last time when my brother died, I was wrong. There would be no coming back from this.
“Now what.” I look to the sky and wait for an answer.
But it doesn’t come.
Rock and Roll with the Punches
Annie
Tristan is animated as the class wraps up. I let him know Kaya would be in town next week for Thanksgiving and that she’s dying to meet him. True as God. Wouldn’t that be weird if they turned out to be soul mates? I guess it would be amazing. Maybe then Kaya would transfer to Whitney. I know Marley would get along great with her as well.
We’ll double date. I sign just before I stuff my things back into my book bag. It’ll be fun. I’ve always wanted to do things like double date with Kaya, and, now, Tristan, of all people, will make that possible. Who knows, maybe it’s destiny. Maybe he traveled all the way from France to meet his Mrs. Right, and that person just so happens to be my bestie. Maybe they’ll really hit it off, and Kaya will move back to North Carolina where we can reconstitute our shopping-fu as she called it. Kaya and I knew how to hit the sales rack like nobody’s business. I sure miss those gossip-filled shopping sprees. Those were exhilarating times. Blake is everything to me, but he can’t replace Kaya and her panache for late night trips to the sales rack. I doubt he’d want to. Speaking of Blake—I’d better hurry up. I bet he’s been accosted by six different girls by now.
Double dating sounds good. Tristan keeps his eyes on the door. Hey, do you know those guys? They keep looking in this direction.
Half the class has already cleared out, and it’s not until the bustle of bodies drain that I spot Bryson and Holt at the mouth of the room.
A horrible feeling grips me. Those are my brothers. I speed toward the exit with Tristan by my side.
What’s wrong? Is everything okay? Did something happen to Mom or Dad? I’m so panicked I can’t swallow past the fist sitting in my throat.
They’re fine. Bryson glances quickly to Tristan. Baya says you’re all through with classes for the day. Can we go somewhere private?
Sure. By the way, this is Tristan. He’s my interpreter and tutor. The university paired us through the students with disabilities program. He signs. A scowl takes over without meaning to. The only reason I threw that last part in was to ward them off from saying negative things about Blake. I already know Blake is the reason they’re here. They must have found out I didn’t go home last night and want to lecture me on STDs—either that or slap a chastity belt on me.
They share a
quick hello with Tristan before whisking me off toward the parking lot. We hop in Holt’s truck and drive a few minutes to the Black Bear where I’m expecting the place to be in ruins or burnt to the ground. This secret rendezvous is increasingly morbid. I have no clue why they’re being so covert. They could hate on Blake at Whitney as easily as they could here.
We get inside to find Laney, Baya, and Izzy waiting at a table near the back. A thick feeling of dread lines me. I’m starting to wonder if this is shaping up to be some kind of intervention in hopes to preserve my virginity. Too late.
What’s this about? I’d like to imagine this might be happy news like another wedding or a baby, but my brothers have steam shooting from their ears and haven’t really bothered to hide it.
Is this about Blake? I cut to the chase, taking them in, each with their sorrowful expression.
“Yes, it is about Blake.” Bryson both signs and speaks for the benefit of those around. “There’s something you need to know about him.”
I can’t believe this is happening. Is this really happening? I want to bang my head against the wall just to orient myself to reality.
Holt tenderly bears into me with a horrific sadness in his eyes as if this entire show is killing him.
“He’s not who you think he is.” Holt closes his eyes. “There’s someone else in his life that you don’t know about.”
Blake’s crazy father comes to mind. Is that what this is about? Maybe he did something completely insane last night like stagger in here demanding to see me, and, now, my brothers think I have a stalker on my hands. But something in me says no, this isn’t going to have an easy solution that we can all laugh about later.
Just say it! I sign so hard my fingers strain from the effort.
Baya and Izzy hop to their feet and stand on either side of me like bookends.
What? I demand from my brothers.
“Annie”—Bryson swallows hard as if he’s about to cry—“has Blake told you about a girl named Olivia?”
Olivia? I blink back stunned. Yes. I answer back with just as hard a stance. I don’t soften in the event they think they’re off the hook for pigeonholing me like this. Today is the last day that Bryson and Holt Edwards treat their little sister like a porcelain doll. I’m through with their overprotective bullshit. I know everything there is to know about Olivia. Are you satisfied? Blake has a past—big fucking deal. I’m the one who’s with him now, and nothing is going to change that.
Holt’s lips move as he gives a quick interpretation to the girls.
He takes a breath. “Do you know that she’s having his baby?”
Sucker punch. The ground jolts beneath my feet. The wind gets knocked out of me so fast I think I might pass out.
This is low. I give a wild look to everyone in the vicinity. Cole and Roxy step into our circle, and I see Baya filling them in. I would never think that you two would come up with such outrageous lies against the first boy—the first and only man that I’ll ever love. I try to get my bearings. Do you understand what I’m saying? I’m in love! Their faces fill with pain. I wish you could understand how much I care for him, but you just can’t seem to get it through your stupid, thick skulls! I hone in on Bryson. And while you’re interpreting this, I want you to add the words—I am an ass for tormenting my sister this way!
Roxy comes up and rubs my shoulder. I take a few steps back just to pull myself together.
“Annie.” Bryson and Holt come over. “We promise, we are not making any of this up. This isn’t some manufactured bullshit. It’s real. I’m sorry.”
Holt touches his hand to his chest. “We know how much you care for this guy, that’s why we waited until we were certain. We spoke with this girl ourselves.”
Really? I’m almost amused. And where did you find her? How do I even know she exists? If you want me to believe that Blake is a liar then consider yourselves on an even playing field because I am not believing a word either of you say! My heart hurts because I can’t imagine why you would make something like this up. Don’t you know all I have to do is ask Blake myself? I’m sure he’ll take me straight to this girl and prove you’re both wrong. Can’t you see the only relationship you’re damaging is the one between the three of us?
Bryson steps in. “The last thing we want is to damage our relationship.”
“Too bad, it’s done!” I scream so hard my throat feels as if it’s on fire. I’ve never wanted to use my voice so much before in my life. I hope I’ve stung them in the most intimate way possible.
Bryson cups the side of my face with a pressing hurt in his eyes that I hope never goes away. “We knew you wouldn’t believe us, Annie. That’s why we brought Olivia here, so you can speak with her yourself.”
I stagger back. Do I even know these people anymore? Just how far are my brothers willing to take this charade? What did they do—hire some actress to play the part of Blake’s ex-girlfriend? I bet she’s wearing one of those maternity cushions over her stomach. I bet she’s some size two actress that’s strapped one on just for the role. My heart thumps unnaturally because, on some level, this is starting to feel real. My brothers have wrapped their words around my neck and are choking me with their lies.
“She’s in the back room.” Holt nods behind the bar. “We’ll go with you.”
A train could hit me. I wouldn’t feel a thing.
No. I glance around at the sea of concerned faces. I’ll take Roxy. She’s the least connected to the situation, and, in truth, I don’t want anything to do with my brothers or their significant others at the moment.
We head back with me leading the way. I’m feeling brave—perhaps foolishly so. God, what if they’re right? How could this be? It couldn’t be because it’s all bullshit.
The small staffroom reeks of whiskey because Holt and Izzy broke a bottle last week while they were getting frisky. Or at least that’s the story he fed us. God knows if either of my brothers know what it means to tell the truth anymore.
A girl sits in the dark corner, and it’s not until I come upon her do I notice her huge belly. It looks real. She looks real. She’s pretty in a throwback kind of way with her crimson washed hair dipped in a large curl in front, the rest pulled back in a low bun. There’s a pillbox hat planted square over her head with black netting that shades one side of her face. Her eyes are wildly overdrawn, and her bloated lips scream a bright fire engine red. She stands and holds out a cigarette to the side like she’s some actress in a 1950’s movie. A bad one, considering she’s smoking and looks as if she’s about to drop a newborn right out her ridiculous looking poodle skirt.
It looks like it was slim pickings at the costume department.
How much did my brothers pay you? I hold out my phone so close I nearly slap her in the face with it. Believe me, I want to.
“Hold it there, Sleeping Beauty.” She takes it from me. “Oh wait,” she sneers a sarcastic smile. “Sleeping Beauty wasn’t deaf, she was dead.” This is one person whose lips I wish I couldn’t read. She brings the unlit cigarette to her lips and takes a slow imaginary drag before typing into it. They didn’t pay me shit, much like that boyfriend of yours. BTW, he owes me some serious cash.
She starts to head out, and I pull her back. “Tell me this is fake. That the baby you’re having isn’t Blake’s.” I try to steady the words, to annunciate, but I probably ended up shouting in twelve different octaves.
Roxy claps her hand to her mouth as tears pool in her eyes for me.
The girl looks from Roxy to me. “I’m sorry, sweet cakes, but this baby is more his than it is mine.” She’s speaking slowly, probably shouting right back at me. “Look, I don’t know your crazy ass brothers from Adam, but they tracked me down and said he was breaking your heart. I’m not sure what that means, but they insisted a little time with me could set you straight.”
Tears blur my vision. I don’t want to see her lips anymore. I don’t want to see her anymore. My thoughts detonate in a pool of chaos like a fireworks d
isplay gone wrong.
That’s not Blake’s baby. Why are you doing this to me? I thrust the phone in her face.
Her shoulders sag as she takes the phone back. I’m not that good an actress, hon. Blake is my baby daddy. Deal with it. She scowls to Roxy. “Can I leave now?”
My fingers punch into my phone as fast as they can.
Do you love him?
“Hell, yes, I love that boy.” She bears into me with those wild, unreasonably cruel eyes before snatching away my phone. Do yourself a favor and forget about Blake. He’s mine, and he always will be. Personally, I’m shocked as hell that he’s been two-timing me with a waif like you. No offense, but you don’t look like his type.
Roxy leans in. “You’re still together?”
It never occurred to me to ask.
“Hell, yes, we’re still together.” Her hand curves over her enormous belly. “Blake and Livey till the end.” She spears me with black hatred before pulling out her own phone. You’d better back off, little girl. Blake has other things, other people who are going to be occupying his time in a very real way. Why do you think he quit school? He’s saving up for diaper duty. This is me doing you a favor. Find yourself a nice little boy to play with. Someone your speed. Perhaps a blind man. You’d make quite a pair.
My hand flies across her face without giving it a second thought.
“Oh my, God,” I whisper. What’s happening? I just hit a pregnant woman. I stagger to the door, and Roxy pulls me back.
“I’m proud of you.” She over annunciates and gives a thumbs up.