Damaged Hearts - Monica Murphy

  “You don’t know this girl, Rhett. You might think you do, but how long have you two been together, hmm? A few months, tops? She can tell you whatever she wants you to hear and you’ll believe it. I know, because I see just how enamored you are with that girl. She could tell you clouds are made of pink cotton candy and you’d totally believe her, as long as she still sleeps with you every night.”

  “Jesus, Dad.” I scrub a hand over my face. I hate it when he talks like this.

  “What? It’s true! Not that I don’t have any faith in you, son, because I do. I sometimes think you might be the more capable son of the two, but I also know both of you are just like me. Always led by your dick.” He waves a dismissive hand when he sees my grimace. “I’m just watching out for you. This girl is most likely after our money and hell-bent on revenge. You need to cut her off. Now.”

  I blink at him. “It’s not—it won’t be that easy.”

  He seems shocked at my answer. “Why not?”

  “I’m in love with her.” The moment the words leave me, I know they’re true. I’m totally in love with Jensen. Yeah, our relationship has been down more than up, but I believe her. I believe in her. I believe in us.

  I just need to talk to her, find out what she was doing, have her tell me she feels the same way. I’m sure she’s just as in love with me as I am with her.

  Thinking like this probably makes me a fool. Right?

  Well, fuck it. I’m a giant fool then.

  “Please. You’re not in love with her,” he snaps. “You’re just pussy-whipped. You can find someone else easily, son. You’re a catch. Rich. Good looking. You come from a good family.”

  Did he seriously just say that?”

  “You’ve got it all,” he continues. “You just need to find a respectable girl who’ll understand her place in our family.”

  Understand her place? Talk about barbaric.

  “I don’t want anyone else,” I say firmly. “Only Jensen.”

  He sighs and hangs his head, staring at his still clasped hands resting on the table. “Son, you don’t mean that.”

  “Yeah, I actually do.” I study him, nerves making my stomach twist. I could tell him.

  Tell him about Diane. And Park.

  Tell him about his brother, and what he tried to do to Jensen.

  There are so many things I could say that will change his perspective on…

  Everything.

  “Dad.” He lifts his head, his gaze meeting mine. “I have something to tell you too.”

  We remain quiet for a moment, and I can see the silence, the not knowing, is already driving him insane.

  “Go ahead,” he says. “Spit it out.”

  Rhett

  “Diane is having an affair.” I pause for a moment, trying to spill my secrets slowly so they’ll be less painful, but he speaks up before I can continue.

  “I already know.” Dad shakes his head, suddenly looking weary. Older beyond his years. “She’s been having little affairs off and on for years. Just like I have.”

  That he can let that slip so easily is mind blowing. “Yeah, but she’s been having a long affair with someone specific,” I say. “And it’s—”

  “My brother. Yes, I know about that too, but they aren’t together anymore. Diane promised it was over.”

  My mouth drops open. Holy shit, that was information I wasn’t expecting. “Diane’s having an affair with Uncle Craig?”

  He appears taken aback at the surprise in my voice. “Isn’t that who you were going to tell me about?”

  “No.” A ragged breath escapes me. “Dad, she’s been sleeping with Park for years.”

  “What? Park?” His shoulders slump and he buries his face in his hands like a man facing utter defeat. “Are you sure?” he asks quietly.

  “I didn’t know how to tell you, so I kept my mouth shut for a little while, but it kept eating at me. Since Addie’s dinner at Cheesecake Factory.” Dad lifts his head, his gaze meeting mine. “Remember when they argued and then they both took off? When I went looking for them? I found them outside behind the building, in each other’s arms. Kissing.”

  It hurts to tell him. I can see the flickers of pain in his eyes, the way he flinches when I say the word kissing, like I just hit him. It sucks, having to say it, but he needs to hear the words. He deserves to know the truth.

  “Did they see you see them?” he asks.

  “Yes, and they both demanded I keep quiet and not tell anyone, especially you. Then they go off and make a big deal about Jensen working at City Lights, calling her a stripper that night during Addie’s party. It was such bullshit and their lies could’ve blown up in their faces if they didn’t watch it, but it was like they didn’t care.” I study him closely. “You knew Jensen worked there, right? I’m sure Diane told you.”

  “Before the investigator brought me that information, yes. Diane mentioned it to me. I always wondered how she found out,” Dad murmurs.

  “Through Uncle Craig.” At my father’s confused look, I continue, “Or maybe Diane found out on her own at first. Supposedly she keeps tabs on me and Park to make sure we don’t do anything awful to mess up the family name.” Isn’t that ironic? Everyone in my family is messed up. Definitely more messed up than I am—save again, for Addie. “Diane sent Craig to the club one night to scare Jensen, and he paid ten thousand dollars to meet with her privately. Then he tried to rape her.”

  “Are you serious?” Dad’s expression is horrified. “Craig paid ten grand to spend time with Jensen and then tried to rape her?” He reminds me of a parrot, but I’m guessing he’s trying to absorb all the crazy.

  I nod. “Jensen admitted everything to me, about how this man named Greg attacked her at City Lights. When we were leaving Addie’s birthday party, we got separated, and when I went out to the car, she was waiting for me, in near hysterics. Telling me how she saw Greg inside your house. When she described him, and where exactly she saw him in the house, I knew who she was talking about.”

  I pause. This is the part I don’t like admitting. “She was referring to Craig. I—I didn’t believe her. Not at first. I didn’t want to believe her, didn’t want to think my uncle, a man I’m related to, someone I looked up to my whole life, could do something so fucking awful.” Now it’s my turn to hang my head in shame. “But she wasn’t lying, Dad. It’s true. All of it. And now it’s all a complete mess.”

  “Good Lord.” I glance up just as Dad rises to his feet, kicking the chair back. “I should go.”

  I stand as well. “Where?”

  “I need to talk to Diane. To Park. To Craig.” He starts to laugh, but the sound lacks humor. “I don’t know who I should start with first.”

  “I’d go with Diane,” I suggest quietly.

  We walk together to the front door, and he turns to face me before he leaves. “You should go find Jensen.”

  “You told me only a few minutes ago I needed to cut her off.”

  “I changed my mind. Talk to her. Find out the truth. That girl lacks the sophistication to pull off a giant revenge scheme, and you know it. If anyone is out to screw me over, it’s my wife. And quite possibly my oldest son.”

  With that, he walks out of my house, shutting the door behind him.

  Chad came home soon after my dad left and he let me borrow his car. I drove aimlessly through town for a while, cruising Savannah’s apartment complex looking for my car in the lot, then parking and marching up to their door so I could knock on it.

  No answer.

  No surprise.

  I call and text Jensen, but she won’t respond. I drive around campus, hoping I can spot her, but it’s like I’m searching for a needle in a haystack. I always thought that old cliché was stupid, but now it’s apt.

  Jensen is nowhere to be found. But I don’t know where to look for her, so that’s part of my problem.

  It’s just past five and the sky is dark when I pull into the City Lights parking lot. There, parked near a light post, is my BM
W.

  Triumph surges through me and I park Chad’s car, then head for the entrance. I push through the double doors and burst inside, the bouncer appearing directly in front of me, his thick arms crossed in front of his massive chest.

  “Where the hell do you think you’re going?” he asks.

  “I’m looking for Jensen.”

  He frowns. “Jen? She doesn’t work here anymore.”

  “Her car’s right outside.” I don’t bother explaining it’s actually my car.

  He turns to one of the topless cocktail waitresses who just happens to walk past. “Is Jensen here tonight?”

  “She came in with Savannah,” the woman says before heading for the bar.

  “It’s your lucky night.” He holds out a meaty hand. “That’ll be forty bucks.”

  “Forty bucks?” Like a dumbass I reach for my back pocket and pull my wallet out. “What for?”

  “Cover charge.” He laughs, the sound booming from his chest. “Rich dicks looking for their girlfriends gotta pay up.”

  Figures he would know about us. I slap two twenties in his palm. “Where’re they at?”

  “I don’t know.” He shrugs. “That’s on you.”

  He steps aside and I walk into the club, thankful it’s not crowded, but it’s a Monday night so I’m guessing that’s typical. I check everywhere in search of Jensen, or Savannah, but neither of them are anywhere to be found.

  Deciding I need a drink, I go to the bar, where the older bartender offers me a sympathetic smile. “You looking for your girl?”

  What, does everyone here know I’m with Jensen? “If you mean Jensen, yeah. I am.”

  He nods, grabs a shot glass, and pours me a drink without asking what I want. “She’s a good girl. Sweet. Quiet. She doesn’t belong here.”

  His words surprise me. “I agree.”

  The bartender pushes the shot glass full of amber liquid in my direction. “Take a drink. Then I’ll take you to where she’s at.”

  I down that shot so fast, I barely feel the fiery liquid slide down my throat. “What do I owe you?” I ask, my voice scratchy from the alcohol.

  “On the house. Just—get her out of here once and for all. Wish I could say the same for her friend, but she’s a smart one. She’s on her way out on her own. But yours? She’ll get sucked in if she doesn’t watch it.” He nods once. “Good luck.”

  I appreciate the speech, but… “Where is she?”

  “Oh, yeah.” He chuckles. “Follow me.”

  Jensen

  “You can’t hide out forever,” Savannah says as she paces the length of the dressing room. Her shift starts in fifteen minutes and we got here early at my urging. I didn’t want to linger at the apartment any longer than we had to. I didn’t want Rhett to come around, and I definitely didn’t want to have him stop by while Savannah’s at work.

  So I solved that problem and drove her to City Lights in Rhett’s fancy BMW. Savannah oohed and ahhed the entire drive, running her hands over the leather interior, begging me to go faster. I sped up a little but not too much, scared I might wreck Rhett’s car and then he’d really be mad at me.

  Though truly I’m the one who’s mad at him. No, I take that back. I’m not mad, I’m hurt. He had to have known his uncle was really Greg. Yet he didn’t tell me. I don’t know how he could keep such a huge secret from me.

  Right. And you’re just hiding from him that his stepmom is your real mom. No big deal.

  Ugh. I have no room to judge.

  “I can hide out tonight,” I tell Savannah, settling into a chair. “I’ll stay back here while you work.”

  “Don will probably beg you to come back.” Savannah wrinkles her nose.

  “He’s not here tonight; I already asked around.” I smile, though it feels forced. “Dodged that bullet.”

  “Lucky you.” Savannah’s tone is heavy on the sarcasm. She plops into the chair next to mine. “You need to return his car.”

  “Tomorrow.”

  “You need to talk to him.”

  I wave a hand. “Tomorrow.”

  Savannah sighs. “You need to tell him the truth, once and for all.”

  Once I got to Savannah’s apartment last night, I cried on her shoulder, and then I told her everything. All of it. Every last sordid bit of my true story, my connection to Diane, my reason for seeking out Rhett. How my original plan had been to destroy him, but then I realized he was actually a decent guy.

  A sweet and sexy guy too.

  “I will,” I finally say, though I feel like I’m lying. I can’t imagine telling him the truth. “When I’m ready, I will.”

  “Jen.” We both turn so we’re facing each other and she grabs hold of my shoulders, giving me a shake. “You will never feel ready. There will never be a right time. You just have to…gain some courage and tell him. It’s the only way. Like ripping off a Band-Aid. The anticipation is killer, but once it’s done, it’s so worth it.”

  The tears spring to my eyes and I tilt my head back to prevent them from spilling. “I’m so scared he’ll hate me,” I admit.

  “He won’t hate you.” Savannah shakes my shoulders again, and I glare at her. “I promise. He had a secret, and yeah, it was a shitty thing he did, keeping that from you. But your secret is pretty big too.”

  “Thanks for making me feel so good,” I say sarcastically, and she shushes me.

  “Let me finish.” I press my lips together, remaining quiet before she continues. “I’m just saying I think he’ll be understanding. You both have secrets. You found out his, and it’s a biggie, I can’t deny that, but I have faith you two can work it out. So now it’s your turn to tell him yours.”

  “His secret was awful,” I whisper.

  “I know.” She wraps me up in a quick hug before she pulls away from me again, her hands still on my shoulders. “And I’m sorry everything happened the way it did. But you should probably come clean with him. I know you care about Rhett a lot.”

  “I do,” I admit, biting my lower lip.

  “I believe he cares about you too. Whatever you tell him, he’s going to be understanding. You just need to be open with him, okay? Stop holding on to all this hate and tell him the truth,” Savannah says.

  I’m kind of irritated with her, but maybe I need this dose of reality. “Can’t you just let me wallow in my misery for a minute?”

  “I did that last night. Now you need to woman up and talk to your man. Make this work.” Savannah squeezes my shoulders before letting them go. “Maybe you should go see him right now.”

  “No way.” I shake my head. “I’m staying here tonight.”

  Savannah sighs and stands, resting her hands on her hips. “You’re ridiculous.”

  “Thanks.”

  “I’m gonna go clock in.”

  “Have fun.” I grab a magazine I snagged from Savannah’s coffee table before we left the apartment, and open it. “I’ll be sitting here waiting for you.”

  The moment she’s gone, I close the magazine with a sigh, tilting my head back so I can stare up at the ceiling. I don’t want to sit here all night, but I feel like I have no choice. Where else could I go? Sitting around the apartment, waiting for Rhett to possibly show up, sounds like pure misery.

  Though I miss him. I miss him like crazy. I’m just scared to face him, scared to see his reaction to my truth, scared to hear his reasoning for protecting his uncle.

  This entire plan was a huge mistake. I should’ve never gone after him. I deserve all of this and more for trying to get revenge on my real mother. It may look like Diane is living the perfect life, but she’s absolutely miserable. Having an affair with her stepson, always fighting with her husband, unable to get along with her stepchildren, constantly trying to make herself look prettier and younger by spending all sorts of money on cosmetic procedures…it’s awful.

  I didn’t need to ruin her life. She’s already done that to herself.

  “Hey.” I glance over my shoulder to see Chuck the bartender sta
nding in the doorway, a faint smile on his face. “You gals decent?”

  “I’m the only one in here, Chuck.” God knows where the strippers are tonight. Mondays are notoriously slow and they don’t start the shows until closer to ten. “And of course I’m decent. I don’t work here anymore.”

  Chuck laughs, shuffling his feet. “You got a visitor.”

  “Who’d want to see me? Oh…” My voice fades when I see who appears next to Chuck.

  It’s Rhett.

  My stomach churns. My heart races.

  “I’ll leave you two be,” Chuck murmurs before he ducks out of the room.

  “Jensen.” All he says is my name, and hearing his deep voice, seeing him standing in front of me looking so fucking miserable, makes my heart ache.

  I glance down at the crumpled magazine in my hands and toss it on the chair next to me. “You found me.”

  “I need to talk to you. Explain some things.” He scratches his forehead, tunnels his fingers through his hair. He looks unkempt, even a little sloppy, words I would never use to describe Rhett. It’s like the guilt and the worry over me, over us, has put him through complete torture.

  In the past, the old me would’ve thought this was great. I would’ve thought he deserved it. Instead, now I realize I’m just as miserable as he looks.

  “You want to talk now?” Please say no, please say no.

  “Definitely. If you’ll listen to me.”

  Damn it.

  I point to the chair next to me and he enters the room, scooting the chair a few feet away from me before he settles into it. I realize I have to do everything Savannah told me to do. I need to woman up, grow some courage, and tell him the truth. Pray to God and anyone else who’s listening that he won’t hate me when he finds out my real story.

  “You look…” His gaze searches my face eagerly, and I decide to put him out of his misery.

  “Terrible,” I finish for him, making him smile faintly. “If you told me I look good, I would’ve called you a liar.”

  “I’m just glad you’re here. Sitting with me.” He looks ready to grab my hands, but he doesn’t. “There’s so much I need to tell you.”