The Red-Hot Stakes

Chapter Three

Hands shaking, I called Avery. She didn’t answer, so I tried Derek, who didn’t answer either. I was just about to call an Uber when I saw Liam’s name in my contacts, and I hesitated. Oh, what the hell.

“Gina?” he answered.

“You busy?” My words were tentative, since I wasn’t really sure where we stood.

“Never too busy for a friend. Whatcha need?”

The word ‘friend’ sent a jolt of warmth through me, a ray of sunshine in this shit-storm life had thrown me. I explained in short, angry words my situation, as well as my plan to return tonight to move out of Josh’s apartment. My fingers hurt from how hard I gripped the phone.

“I’ll be there in ten minutes.” His voice was nearly a growl.

“Liam?”

“Yeah?”

I hesitated. “Meet me at the Starbucks on Ravine, okay?” It nearly killed me to admit the next part out loud. “I don’t want to wait here.”

“Of course.”

After we hung up, I hurried to the Starbucks, where I grabbed us a couple of coffees. It was the least I could do, with Liam going out of his way to pick me up. I bought a Cinnamon Dolce Latte, my rare treat. I deserved one today.

I didn’t even let Liam park, just hopped in and handed him his espresso. He liked it the same way he liked his beer, dark and rich. Then I set the bag with the donuts on the armrest, glaring at it.

“I have an extra donut too, if you want. The glazed one’s mine, but there’s a chocolate long john.” Josh’s favorite. I gritted my teeth. So much for making up.

Liam frowned. “Shouldn’t I be the one buying you treats?”

“I’d already bought the donuts,” I said woodenly.

With a shrug, he held out his hand for the long john. “Where to?” It was extremely satisfying to watch him tear it apart.

“I don’t know.” I hung my head. “Avery didn’t answer.”

His brow furrowed, shooting me a sidelong look as if I were dumb. “So? It’s not like she’s going to say no to you staying with them. You can hang out with me until they get back.”

I tried to blink away my shock, but I had to clarify. “At your place?”

“Sure.” He shrugged. “Or wherever you want.”

I thought for a minute, wondering if I’d interrupted his busy day at work. “What exactly do you do, anyway?”

His gaze flicked to mine, surprise in it. “I’m an investor.” His broad shoulders bobbed up. “I buy businesses and help make them more profitable, whether through better employee management or actually turning it over to the employees. You’d be surprised how many businesses have a ton of talent at their fingertips.”

“Nice.” I didn’t know what else to say and silence fell between us.

Turning toward the window, I noticed a man with long hair like Josh’s, and an unbidden image of Josh in bed with those women popped into my head. I couldn’t even begin to process it. The scene ran through my head again.

How long has this been going on? Just how many people have been in my bed? Shit.I winced, knowing I needed to get tested. Right away.

“Gina?” Liam asked with alarm. “You okay? You just got really pale.”

My phone rang, saving me from having to spill my guts. Not that I wasn’t grateful for him picking me up, but we weren’t quite on that level. “Avery, hey.”

“Hey, I saw Derek and I missed a couple calls from you. You okay?”

Sudden tears pricked me, then Liam was squeezing my left hand. I stared at his wrist as I answered her in a wobbly voice, “Not really.”

* * * *

“A guy, too? Wow, I never would’ve pegged Josh for being so adventurous.” Avery handed me another tissue, as she tossed her long strawberry blonde ponytail over her shoulder.

I glared from where I lay on the bed in the spare room of her and Derek’s apartment. “Really? That’s what you’re going to say about all this?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know. You were excited when he wanted you to move in with him, and it was definitely an upgrade from our apartment.”

We shared a knowing look, remembering that death trap. One good stomp would have put a person through the floor. Josh had begged me to move in with him for weeks, but I couldn’t leave Avery. I was all she had. Then Derek had come along, with his fake dating proposal and gorgeous apartment.

It was a win-win for both of us, or so I’d thought. At least I hadn’t signed any papers with Josh. He’d already been in the middle of his lease, so I’d moved in, made myself at home. A pang stabbed at me as I realized I had no place to call my own. Not anymore.

“But there was always something…meh about him. I never really understood why you fell for him in the first place.”

The Oreos beckoned, and I shoved one in my mouth, taking a minute to chew it before responding. “Why am I just now hearing about this?”

“Because you’re a stubborn, pig-headed person who never listens to me.” Her green eyes twinkled as she sassed.

I flopped onto my back to stare at the ceiling, huffing as my arm bounced on the mattress. “Right. Remind me to start listening.”

She sighed, lying down beside me and resting her head on my good shoulder. “I really am sorry, G. That was a despicable, shitty thing for him to do.”

Her kind words had the tears welling up again, and I sniffed. “Dammit, Avery. I like it better when you insult me.”

“No, you don’t, but it’s easier that way.”

She slid her arms around me, and I snuggled into her soft embrace. “You’re right.”

“As usual.”

* * * *

A weight settled on my chest as I trudged up the stairs to my—

I cut my thought off since it was no longer my apartment. A sharp pain hit me, but I pushed it aside, recalling my anger and betrayal. I needed to be strong and ferocious in case Josh hadn’t heeded my warning.

Avery and Derek were close behind me, empty boxes in hand. Despite walking ahead of them on the stairs, they were both over five inches taller than me and I felt slightly caged in.

I slid my key into the lock, holding my breath as I pushed open the door. “Hello?”

No one answered.

Some of the tension eased out of me as I surveyed the place I’d called home for almost a year. Next month would have been our one-year anniversary of living together. October eighteenth, Avery came down with food poisoning and, on the nineteenth, I’d convinced her to move in with Derek. Now she was happily engaged, about to be married in November.

And I was moving out.

I swallowed against the lump in my throat, grateful when Avery gently asked where they could start. “My closet is probably the most cut and dry thing. I’ll show you where my suitcases are.” I pointed her and Derek in the right direction.

A knock on the door had me frowning. I warily opened it a crack, startled to see Liam. “What are you doing here?”

He shrugged. “I didn’t know if you had anything big to move, so I brought my truck. Plus I figured you could use the extra hands, what with your arm and all.” He glanced at my bandage.

I stared at him so long he shifted uncomfortably, and I caught myself. “Sorry, you just surprised me. Um, come in.” I stepped back, and he followed me inside.

It was all so overwhelming, having to sort out of my life that had been nicely meshed with someone else’s. There was the coffee pot we’d bought together. And the movies. All the evidence of a shared existence. How am I supposed to split it all up? I sank onto a barstool, tears leaking down my cheeks.

“Oh, shit. Um.” Liam awkwardly patted my back. “Should I go get Avery? I’ll go get Avery.”

He started to shift, but I needed to lean on someone for just a second. He was there, so I leaned into him. My head rested on his big, firm chest, my shoulder on his abdomen. He froze. Then I felt his muscles relax slightly as he sighed. I inhaled deeply, soaking in his cedar and pine scent and allowing it to ground me.

Slowly, one large hand came up to grip my shoulder in the most awkward half hug I’d ever known. And it was enough to stop my tears, turning them to laughter instead.

I shook my head, sitting up. “Liam, you suck at this.”

He smirked. “Hey, I came over here expecting to move furniture and boxes, not be some woman’s snot rag.”

I couldn’t help but laugh again, shoving him away. “All right, grab a box, and let’s figure out what I’m taking from the kitchen.”

We filled Liam’s truck with boxes. I didn’t have much big furniture since most of it was Josh’s. But one dresser and two of the end tables were mine. Two hours later, everything was loaded, and Avery’s eyebrows shot up when I voluntarily hopped into the front seat of Liam’s truck. He seemed a little shocked as well.

I sighed. “I’m tired of Avery’s sympathetic looks and Derek checking on me every five seconds. Plus, they haven’t kissed once since I’ve been around. The tension is building already, so I’m giving them a few minutes to themselves. And we’re stopping for food. How’s Taco Bell?”

“Sounds great.” His truck rumbled to life.

The best thing about being with Liam was that I didn’t feel the need to fill the silence with chatter. We didn’t talk at all, except for ordering food. My thoughts circled around and around, as I wondered how much of this truly was my fault. And how long it had been going on. My gut told me this wasn’t the first time, but I pulled out my phone, needing to know for sure.

Liam’s tone was wary. “What are you doing?”

“Josh has some explaining to do.” I composed what I was going to say in my head.

“Gina, I know you want answers, but the best way to get hurt is to start rapid firing a bunch of pissed-off questions in the heat of the moment.”

I ignored him, typing away, then hit send.

His sigh stretched on. “You should get your ears checked.”

“It’s called selective hearing when a man does it.” My smirk faded when I took in the set of his jaw and the tight grip of his hands on the steering wheel.

My phone dinged. I steeled myself, but it didn’t help as I read my ex’s words. Josh’s response left me feeling hollow.

Our relationship had always been a sham.

An unbidden echo from my childhood bubbled up from the depths of my memories. One word that had haunted me, following from foster home to foster home. Cursed. It had been a long time since I’d thought about it, nearly a year in fact.

But I should have known better than to think I could outrun it.

“Dammit.” Liam slapped on his blinker, nearly cutting someone off before screeching into the nearest gas station. He stormed out of the truck.

I sat there, staring at my now black screen. Josh had cheated the entire time, convinced me to move in even while he’d been with other people. Ice crept through my veins as I erected a barrier around my heart. Josh is dead to me. I vowed not to think about him anymore, not to give him one more second of head or heart space. He didn’t deserve it.

The numbing frost was familiar, like an old friend returning with its frigid embrace. I’d learned early on to coat myself in it so I wouldn’t be vulnerable. The biggest risk was burrowing in too far. In the past, I’d become so cozy there, separated from my emotions, distant from life, it had been hard to come back. Like a bear waking up from hibernation.

But that was before, when I was all alone. I had Avery now. And Aunt Thea, and Uncle David. This time, I’d be fine.

The truck moved under Liam’s weight as he jumped back into the cab. He tossed something cold into my lap, followed by a spoon. “Here.”

I blinked down at the mini carton of Cinnamon Toast Crunch ice cream.

“Isn’t that a break-up thing? Ice cream? I saw cinnamon, and I knew you had to have it.” He backed the truck up.

The ice cream froze my legs, but I couldn’t bring myself to touch it, afraid of falling apart from the sweetness of the gesture. My armor wasn’t thick enough for this yet.

“You’re not going to cry, are you? I swear, I’ll take back the ice cream. And I’ll eat your burrito.”

I sniffed, blinking away the hot press of tears as his threat gave me the strength I needed. “You wouldn’t like my burrito. It has jalape?os.” I picked up the ice cream and opened the lid, digging the spoon into the creamy surface. The cold dessert hit my tongue, making my mouth tip up in a hint of a smile.

“Thatta girl.”

The sweet dessert and the kind gesture kept me from freezing fully. I expected Liam to bring up my almost-breakdown to the others, but he never did. Not during dinner all together in Derek’s apartment. Not when we all lugged my stuff to Avery’s storage unit. Not while we unloaded my things or worked to find places to put each item.

By the time we were done, my arm throbbed in time with my heartbeat, so I rode home with it propped up on the console. As Liam pulled into the apartment complex, I tried to muster some excitement about living with my best friend again. But I couldn’t quite manage it.

“Listen, if you ever need some space, my place is always open. Just a floor away.” Liam’s words were gruff. He didn’t even wait for me to acknowledge them before he hopped out of the truck.

I was too tired to try to figure him out, so I filed the offer away for later as I trudged to the elevator. He stepped in, punching his button first, then mine. The elevator stopped on the third floor, and he strode out, not even saying goodbye.

“Thank you,” I called loudly, determined to make him hear me.

He tossed a hand in the air without looking back.

* * * *

Derek and Avery had been engaged since February. Here it was mid-September, yet they couldn’t keep their hands off each other, though they tried for my sake. While it was awkward and painful to watch them share affection, it was worse seeing them try to hide it from me.

On Thursday morning, I emerged from my bedroom, only for them to leap apart mid-kiss, and I’d had enough. “Okay, I know and you know that you touch each other. You kiss each other. You’re in love, for crying out loud. You don’t need to do acrobatics every time I make an appearance. Seriously.”

Avery frowned. “We just didn’t want to make you feel bad.”

“Well, walking into a room and seeing you two jump apart like you’ve been caught canoodling by your prissy grandma isn’t helping. Just calm down and be yourselves, all right? You’re going to get hurt, all that jerking and twitching.”

Derek snorted, and Avery elbowed him. He handed her a coffee mug, then kissed her soundly. A happy sigh slid out of her when he pulled away.

Even though I’d told them I was fine, even though I wanted them to act normal, pain still stabbed at me as I watched them. I didn’t let it show, moving instead to get my own coffee. The frigid blackness inside me beckoned, and I edged deeper into its embrace. Here, there was no pain.

Here, I was safe.

Avery settled at the table, pouring her usual French Vanilla creamer and swirling it around with a spoon. “Is a hot dog a sandwich?”

I stopped mid-pour to stare at my best friend. I’d forgotten about her goofy morning habit of asking ridiculous questions before she’d had her coffee.

Derek just raised his mug to his lips, then cocked his head. “I don’t know, Cupcake. What do you think?”

It was too early for a debate, so I took my coffee to my room. I had homework to do before work.

* * * *

I was almost late for my shift that night, my first since the accident. I arrived just as the clock hit five, hurrying to punch in.

Sarah raised her eyebrows. “Cutting it a little close, aren’t we?”

Avery’s apartment was further away, and I hadn’t planned for the extra distance. Luckily, the karaoke rush hadn’t hit yet, so we weren’t slammed. I ignored her, rushing off to shove my purse and jacket in my cubby.

I said a quick hello to Wyatt, who beamed. I loved how tight me and my coworkers were. In the few years I’d been here, I’d gotten to know them well.

Voices echoed on the stairwell. I finished washing my hands in time to see Liam emerge with Mr. Weston. What could they possibly be talking about?

After they shook hands, Liam noticed me, and a hint of panic flared in his gaze. “Gina, hey.” He nodded firmly at Mr. Weston, who sighed before trudging back upstairs.

“What are you doing here?”

“Oh, that. Um.” Liam peeked once more at the stairs before he crossed the kitchen. “I was making sure Weston knew how serious I was about that OSHA complaint. He promised to get the floor fixed next week.”

His words were too casual. I followed him to the bar, studying him as he perched on a bar stool. His lips pressed together, and he couldn’t sit still.

“You okay?” I asked, a little worried.

“Me? Yeah. I’m fine, just fine.” He cleared his throat. “Avery and Derek should be here soon.” He drummed his fingers on the smooth surface of the bar.

“Good. You going to sing for them? Let Avery hear that beautiful voice of yours?”

He ducked his chin, and I swore his cheeks tinged with pink. “Nah.”

What is up with him tonight?“Guinness?”

“How about a Bud Light?”

Liam never ordered light anything. Setting my elbows on the counter, I bent forward so my face was level with his, peering at him.

He leaned away, his eyebrows knitting together. “What?”

“You don’t look sick.” I reached out to press my hand against his forehead, and he flinched. “I don’t think you have a fever. So what gives?” I stayed on my elbows, staring him down.

His eyes searched mine, as if hovering on the verge of telling me the truth. Then he sighed, dropping his gaze. “Just get me my beer, would ya? It’s been a long day.”

So much for being friends. “Fine.” I stalked off to get his Bud Light, making sure to leave the extra foam on top to irritate him.

He didn’t even give me the satisfaction of commenting on it. He just slid me his card then walked over to chat with Burt. Who directed him to my section. I muttered to myself as I started him a tab.

“So what was Mr. Green Eyes doing talking to the boss man?” Sarah asked as she filled a pitcher.

“Getting him to actually fix the floor, I guess.”

She blinked in surprise then glanced at my bandage. “How many stitches?”

“Twelve. Can’t get them wet for two weeks, so guess who gets to wash all the dishes?” I batted my eyelashes.

Her groan could have won an Academy Award. “What’d your boyfriend have to say about your mishap?”

Tension gripped my chest, squeezing the air from my lungs. That was the worst thing about a break-up or an accident, the ‘oh, what happened?’ questions that popped up when you least expected them. I started with the trip to the hospital and Josh brushing me off.

When I told her how he’d woken me with his request for a blow job, Sarah crossed her arms. “He did what?”

I nodded, quickly filling her in on the rest.

“Damn, girl. You’ve had a rough few days.”

Her sympathy threatened to pierce through my protective layers. It would undo me if I let it, but I couldn’t fall apart here. I had a shift to get through. I tiptoed deeper into the beckoning void, relieved when the numbness took over once more.

Sarah glanced side to side then lowered her voice. “Did you, you know, go get tested or anything?”

“Yeah, first thing the day after. Got my results back yesterday. All clear.”

“That’s something at least. Don’t need any of those gifts-that-keep-on-giving.” Empathy dripped from her knowing gaze. “Let me know if you need anything, okay?” After I nodded, she waltzed away with her pitcher of beer.

I dropped Liam’s card off before heading to my next table then pasted on my fake smile as more people trickled in. The numbness coated me, a welcome barrier between me and the world as I lost myself in my work, letting the motions take over.