Reckless Together

  You know how sometimes you can have tunnel vision, even in a crowded room? My eyes went straight to Logan. My heart leaped at the sight of him. Until I saw Amber standing next to him with her hand possessively on his shoulder, laughing and whispering conspiratorially in his ear. My smile froze on my face.

  "Who's the blonde next to Logan?" Mom had seen him and Amber, too.

  "Amber. She's an old family friend."

  "She doesn't look so old to me." Mom's eyes sparkled with the thrill of the hunt, as if she'd just spotted her rival and adversary. As if Mama Bear was going to take care of Baby Bear. "She does look friendly, though."

  "I can handle her myself," I said.

  "You’re my daughter. I should hope so." Mom laughed.

  I tamped down my jealousy and irritation just as Harlan spotted us. He was standing off by himself while Sue huddled near her sons and vied for their attention. I felt a pang of sympathy for Harlan, the outsider of his family.

  "There they are." He wore his intimidating scowl. Until he saw Mom and his attitude did a 180. His face softened. His eyes darkened. And he smiled and made an expression that was almost charming. He was charmed, anyway.

  He was just like any other man—infatuated with my mom on sight.

  Sue and Caleb had their backs to us. When Harlan spoke, they turned to see whom he was talking about. Caleb's expression on seeing Mom was a younger version of his dad's—totally gaga. Sue had been laughing, too loudly, like she wanted attention, like she could win against Amber.

  When she saw us, her face became pinched, like she was trying not to scowl. I thought at first it was because of me. It was no secret she didn't like me. Then I saw her gaze flit between Caleb and Mom and Harlan and Mom and I realized she hated Mom on sight.

  For the first time in a long time, I had reaped the advantage of being with Mom. She had just upset Sue without saying a word. I was suddenly on Mom's side. She wasn't even vying for the limelight tonight. She was actually trying to be good, in her own way. The vindictive part of me would have loved to see Sue's expression if Mom had been in a mood to really sparkle.

  Defending Mom? Being almost proud of her? What was I thinking? I was letting my guard down, and that was dangerous. She was bound to disappoint me sooner or later.

  Logan's face lit up as he spotted me. He shook Amber's hand off and rushed through the crowd to me.

  The next instant, he wrapped me in his arms and kissed me. "You look gorgeous, El," he whispered.

  I smiled up at him. "It's the dress."

  "It's you." He nuzzled me. "But you should have more like it.

  I rolled my eyes. "Mom gave it to me."

  "She has good taste."

  "If you tell me I should go back to letting her pick out all my clothes again, I'm going to get violent with you."

  He grinned. "That sounds naughty. I like that, too."

  "Shut up." I leaned close and whispered in his ear, unable to keep my unhappiness out of my voice. "What's she doing here?"

  He knew I meant Amber. "She had a dinner reservation here for one. We ran into her. It seemed rude to let her dine alone. Dad invited her to join us. I think he did it partly to get back at Mom. They're at each other's throats tonight."

  "Oh, blood sport. This should be fun." I blew into his ear.

  "Don't tease," he said. "I'm turned on enough just looking at you."

  I smiled as I caught Amber scowling at us. "We'd better make the introductions." I put my arm around his waist. "Mom, you know Logan." I almost gagged admitting it. "This is his mom, Sue, his dad, Harlan, and his brother, Caleb. Oh, and this is Amber Ranklin." I liked adding her as if she was an afterthought. "This is my mom, Melissa Carter."

  Mom laughed as she held her hand out to Harlan, who took her slender one between his two meaty hands and held it like he couldn't resist touching her.

  "Sawyer, sweetie," Mom said with a charismatic sparkle in her voice. "I'm between husbands again. You know I always revert."

  She was letting Harlan hold her hand, but she winked at Caleb. Very subtle, letting everyone know how single she was. I shot her a warning look while Caleb looked at her like he wanted her for dessert.

  "Watch Caleb around Mom," I whispered to Logan.

  "Watch your mom around Caleb. Two can take care of himself. But he's used to having groupies and getting what he wants."

  The thought of Mom and Caleb together made me sick.

  Harlan finally let go of Mom.

  She turned her attention on Caleb. "Caleb, the famous major leaguer." Mom let Caleb take her hand and imitate his dad's gesture. "I've never dined with a professional athlete before. This is a pleasure."

  "You're a baseball fan?" He looked like a puppy eager to please. Like her lapdog the way he fawned.

  "I go to a game or two a year. But I could get more interested." She picked a piece of lint off his collar and ran her hand over his shoulder, smoothing a nonexistent wrinkle, subtly letting him know she liked touching him.

  Not subtly enough for either Sue or Amber to miss. I saw their eyes harden.

  Just about the time I thought Sue was going to strangle Mom, the hostess stepped between them, carrying an armful of menus. "Walker, party of seven."

  I turned to Logan and rolled my eyes in relief. "And you thought this was a good idea."

  "Hey, my mom's unhappy. Payback for Thanksgiving." He grinned.

  "You're evil." I leaned my head against his shoulder. "But you're my hero."

  He grinned.

  We followed the hostess to a prime table near the windows, though there wasn't much of a view from anywhere in town. Harlan held out a chair for Sue at the end of the table, then darted to hold a chair for Mom center stage before Caleb could. He took the chair next to Mom, farthest away from Sue. Caleb took the chair next to Mom and his mom on the end. Logan and I sat across from them. Amber was forced to sit next to me and across from Caleb. I could almost feel steam rising off Sue.

  We ordered a round of beverages. There was a dangerous undercurrent of tension running through Logan's family. Sue was practically glaring at Harlan playing up to Mom and Mom playing up to Caleb. Caleb was fixated on Mom. At least it took the heat off Logan and me.

  "What is it you do for a living, Melissa?" Sue opened her menu and perused it without giving Mom the courtesy of looking at her.

  I'm sure she thought she had Mom now, but you don't mess with the mistress of deceit and comebacks.

  Mom laughed in that rich, self-deprecating way that absolutely turned men on and was known to charm the savage beast. "I marry wealthy men and divorce them for big settlements."

  Startled by Mom's response, Sue dropped her menu enough to give us a view of her face. Her forehead creased and her lips curled very slightly at the corners. She was pissed.

  Mom, who could read other women with the same skill she applied makeup, must have seen Sue stewing. But her expression remained sweet and cloyingly innocent. "It's a rough job, always looking for the next ex. But it's been lucrative so far." Her voice was practically a purr, full of humor and charm.

  Everyone laughed but Sue. She glared at me, her gaze bouncing between Logan and me like I was the spawn of evil Aphrodite, a gold digger in the same vein as Mom.

  Mom laughed like she was laughing at herself, but it was clear she was laughing at Sue. "Don't worry. Ellie doesn't take after me. She insisted on going to college and actually learning a useful skill."

  Amber had been unusually silent. She jumped in now, leaning toward Harlan and capturing the stage. "Harlan, how were the business plan competition entries this year? I'm sorry I couldn't make it to judge the early rounds."

  Harlan barely seemed to notice her. "Typical. Some good. Some mediocre. You'll be at finals?"

  "I'll make an appearance." Amber was showing off now, too. "After I give the keynote at the Mom's Weekend breakfast."

  Mom leaned over and whispered something in Harlan's ear. It was noisy in the restaurant. I couldn't hear what she said, but Ha
rlan's eyes lit up. Mom was showing Amber who was queen at this table. Upstaging the former pres of the Double Deltsies. I was proud of her.

  Not to be ignored, Caleb touched Mom's arm to get her attention. Then whispered something in her ear.

  "I hope they're going to pass it on," I whispered to Logan. "I like the telephone game. When it gets to me, I'm going to make up something outrageous."

  He laughed. "This is more fun than watching Collin and Zave try to pick up girls when they're drunk."

  That was the way it went through ordering, appetizers, salads, and entrees. Harlan to Mom. Caleb to Mom. Amber trying to cut in. Sue fuming. Logan and me in our own world, watching the show.

  Just before dessert, I pulled out my cell phone and snapped a selfie of Logan and me and texted it to Tay and Nic. Then I snapped a picture of the table and texted that, too, with the message: Having a bloodbath. The fangs are out. Mom's winning. Great sport. Wish you were here. Ha ha.

  Amber got a phone call. She sighed with self-importance. "I have to take this."

  Like anyone cared.

  She excused herself and left the table to take it. Mom excused herself to run to the ladies' room.

  Logan leaned in and whispered to me, "Shouldn't you go with her? Girls usually travel in packs."

  I was just about to suggest it so I could corner her and tell her to tone it down with Caleb and stay away from him when she subtly shook her head and warned me off.

  Caleb watched her walk away with unveiled appreciation and lust. "I'll be right back. I gotta take a leak."

  "Caleb! Watch your mouth." Sue frowned her disapproval at him.

  "Sorry, Ma." He grinned at her and walked off, leaving the four of us alone in tense, fuming silence. We made awkward, forced small talk for five or ten minutes and fell into stony silence again.

  Harlan finally broke it. He was fuming. "Your mother tells me you need money, Logan."

  I turned to stare at Logan in horror.

  "Ma, I told you not to mention it." Logan glared at his mother.

  She shrugged, her expression unsympathetic and angry. "I don't keep things from your father." She spat the words out.

  "Sue." Harlan's tone was full of warning.

  I leaned in to Logan and whispered, "Logan, you didn't."

  "I asked Caleb and she overheard," he whispered back.

  "Logan?" Harlan said.

  Logan balled his fists in his lap. "It's none of your business, Dad."

  "My son bets his inheritance from his grandfather on a shaky business deal and begs his mom and brother for money and it's none of my business? You're turning out like Caleb."

  "If I was Caleb I'd be rolling in money. There's no way you could stop me from making it short of breaking my arm." Logan's voice was icy. His jaw was set.

  I noticed for the first time that he and Harlan had matching expressions when they were angry.

  "What are you implying?" Harlan said.

  "Oh, can it, Dad. I'm not implying anything. I'm saying it outright—what kind of rumors did you get your buddies at Core Tech to spread to kill my IPO?"

  "What are you talking about?" Harlan continued to glare.

  Logan pushed back from the table and tossed his napkin on it. "Don't play dumb. I don't know how you found out, but you did. You couldn't stand that I was going to be successful on my own."

  "That's a totally unfounded and groundless accusation. I don't know where you're getting your information. When I find out, they'll be hearing from me." Harlan's jaw ticked. "If you weren't my son, I'd sic my lawyers on you and sue you for slander."

  "You sicced them on me already and tried to use them to keep me from testifying. I'm not afraid of them."

  "I'm here supporting you now, aren't I?"

  Harlan and Logan stared each other down.

  "Harlan?" Sue's worried gaze bounced between father and son.

  "Shit! I'm not going to sit here and take this." Logan pulled out my chair and grabbed my hand. "Come on, El. We're leaving."

  "But what about Mom—" I grabbed my purse.

  "Text her to meet us out front." Logan pulled me behind him, squeezing my hand so tightly I felt the blood pulsing in it.

  I almost made a smartass remark, something like "Thank you for a lovely evening." I thought better of it at the last second. My heart hammered. I had expected my mom to be the queen troublemaker this weekend, but Logan's parents were vying for the prize.

  Logan pulled me past the bar, past all the tables of moms and children laughing and drinking. Logan banged the restaurant door open as he dragged me toward the car.

  We both saw them at the same time. Mom stood beneath a parking lot light in the April twilight, leaning with her back against the wall of the restaurant. Caleb stood in front of her, hands cupping her face, his head bent like he was about to kiss her.

  Chapter Nineteen

  "Mom!"

  At the sound of my voice, Mom turned toward us with a startled look on her face.

  "Caleb!" Logan yelled at his brother.

  Caleb jumped back and frowned. "Logan? What are you doing out here?"

  I lunged for Mom and grabbed her hand, pulling her away from Caleb. "What do you think you're doing? With Logan's brother?" I snorted. "Really. And things were going so well."

  "What's going on?" Mom frowned and sounded genuinely confused. "Are we leaving already? What happened in there?"

  "Shit," Caleb said.

  Mom turned to Caleb and shook her head very slightly, warning him off from confronting Logan.

  Logan shoved his brother. "Back off, Two, and stay the hell away from Melissa."

  "What the fuck?" Caleb stumbled backward. "I was helping her."

  "Sure you were." Logan shoved him again.

  "What the hell's the matter with you?" Caleb swore and took a swing at him.

  Logan dodged the blow. "Back off, Caleb. I'm not going to ruin your pretty face. Mom will have my head for beating on my baby brother."

  "Shut up, Logan. Shut the fuck up!" Caleb raised his arm, ready to swing again.

  Just as I was afraid Logan was going to lose control and punch Caleb anyway, Mom stepped between them. "Enough showing off, boys." She touched Caleb's arm and smiled encouragingly to him. "Go back to your parents. I have the feeling they need you right now. I'll handle things here."

  He stared at her a long minute before nodding. He shot Logan an icy look and walked back into the restaurant, pulling down his shirt and straightening his clothes as he went.

  I strode ahead of Logan and Mom to her car, unable to look at her. "I can't believe you came onto Caleb. I cannot believe it!"

  "That's good, because it didn't happen. We were talking, just talking."

  I shook my head and glared at her. "He looked like he was about to eat your face."

  She sighed. "He was helping me get a piece of dust out of my eye. You know the wind here. It kicked up some grit and I didn't blink in time." She looked from Logan to me. "Great. You two just assume the worst and blow the evening up. I don't want Logan's brother. You really think I'm stupid enough to make a mistake like that?" She sounded almost desperate for me to believe her.

  I shook my head, like, Yeah, I could definitely believe it.

  She turned to Logan. "You believe me, don't you, Logan? I promised you I wouldn't cause trouble."

  I frowned, wondering what kind of wonderful promises she'd made him and just how often they'd talked. "Don't drag Logan into this."

  Mom beeped the car unlocked and grabbed my arm. "Nothing happened. Nothing. Happened."

  I shook her off, slid into the back seat, and crossed my arms.

  Mom tossed her keys to Logan. "You drive." She slid in next to me and grabbed my arm again before I could flee. "Look at my eye, sweetie. Look at it! See how red it is?"

  I didn't want to look, but morbidly hopeful curiosity got the best of me. Her eye was watering and red.

  I couldn't believe myself and the control she had over me, but I actually want
ed to believe her story. But I knew her. I'd learned how to lie from her. Learned her mantra—every good lie starts with a grain of truth. Maybe in this case it started with a grain of sand. "What were you doing in the parking lot?"

  Mom sighed and looked suddenly hopeful. "We were both headed back to the table at the same time and bumped into each other. We saw the angry faces and heard the raised voices from the Walkers. Caleb didn't want to be dragged into a family fight. I was trying to give them some space and save everyone a little embarrassment. Caleb and I decided to step outside and enjoy the nice April evening and sunset until things blew over.

  "That's all that happened. You walked out and caught us at the most inopportune moment. But it wasn't what it looked like." She pulled a tissue and dabbed at her eye that was still watering.

  I wavered, feeling almost guilty for jumping to conclusions. "But we saw—"

  "What you were expecting to see." Mom crumpled the tissue in her hand. "I'm sorry for everything I've done to you in the past, Ellie. And I'm not stupid. At least not enough to ruin my only chance to fix things between us. You're all I have."

  I turned from her and stared out the window. She was so convincing. But then she always was.

  Logan started the car. As he put his arm over the seat and looked backward to back out of the spot, he caught my eye and shot me a look that said he was sorry, but he believed her. "I owe Caleb an apology."

  "You believe her?" I shouldn't have been surprised. I had no idea why, but from the beginning Logan had always been willing to cut her slack. They had a bond that scared me. I had to find out what it was.

  "Yeah, El, I do." He nodded at her. His voice was filled with sympathy. "Look at her eye."

  "But, but…" I locked my jaw and turned to Mom.

  She stared back at me, pleading with me to be reasonable.

  I was beaten. Unless I wanted to look like a bitch in front of Logan. "You were flirting with him all evening," I said.

  "Sweetie, I was making conversation." She touched my arm. "Please."

  I couldn't believe the turn of events. I actually felt guilty for doubting her and jumping to conclusions. That was how Mom, the mistress of deceit, could twist things. "I'm sorry." I could have pinched myself the minute the words came out. I sounded like a child being made to apologize.