Chapter 18
Eighteen
Chip sat amongst his friends for one last night at Maynard’s before their road trip recommenced in the morning. Though Sarah worked behind the bar, too busy to join the group, Dean wasn’t, and Jamie held her wide-eyed stare on him, her mouth still agape. “So Chip wasn’t joking when he said a crime ring kidnapped his sister?”
Dean shifted his gaze to Chip, his prolonged flat stare asking if he really did have to answer Jamie’s question.
More awkward silence passed before he let out a sigh and turned back to Jamie. “The Syndicate were out to get me for leaving and hurting Sarah was part of their revenge. Except, she never had any real contact with the Syndicate.”
Jamie frowned at Chip. “You said they held her hostage in a freezer?”
Chip shrugged and took another sip of his beer. “Sure did, but Dean’s friend, Ramos, infiltrated the Syndicate and ended up being the guy holding her hostage.”
“Ramos? So, he kept Sarah safe.” Jamie’s lips bowed further, and she focused on Dean. “Does he live in Harlow too?”
“No, Ramos is back in L.A., at least for now anyway. He does still sometimes slip Syndicate information to me, but that’s getting harder to find since the showdown with Luciano folded the Syndicate’s West Coast branch. Last I heard, the feds are now focusing on the East Coast arm.”
Chip set his bottle down on the table with a light thunk , tension drawing high in his belly. “That sounds ominous.”
“In that the Syndicate still exists? You bet.” Dean, a real roll-with-the-punches-and-don’t-sweat-the-rest type, showed no true concern on his face, although he did twist the brown-glass neck of his beer bottle between his fingers. “The East Coasters are harder to nail down. Far more sophisticated. Less blatant thug, more stealthy corporate shark. Even in my days at the Syndicate, the East Coasters already had plans to shift toward a more legitimate facade of making bank, buying up large companies and the like. Though, I doubt their hands will ever stay clean.”
Dean’s warning settled like a lead ball in Chip’s brain, and he blew out a hard breath, the man’s description of the Syndicate a million times more menacing and insidious than anything he’d experienced. Not that he had any experience with crime rings. “I don’t know how you kept yourself and Sarah safe that day.”
Dean shook his head, clearly still blaming himself for Luciano’s inability to leave well enough alone. “All I know is, I’ll do anything to stop something like that happening again. And believe me, knowing the Syndicate, I can’t, in all honesty, say their beef with me is over now that Luciano is gone.”
Silence befell the table, and Chip stared down at his drink until a bottle top pinged to a stop before him on the table. He glanced up at Greg, now jabbing his chin toward the entrance. “Isn’t that your girl over there?”
Sure enough, Ally stood before the doors wearing a floaty, knee-length dress speckled with giant sunflowers, her gaze quick to meet his, her habitual smile slipping the moment her attention hit Dean. Still, she padded over, her fingers digging into the leather of a small, violet clutch that acted as a barrier between her and everyone else.
Jamie pulled out the empty seat beside her and offered it to Ally, while Ally’s greeting to Chip was no more affectionate than a simple and overly safe “Hello.”
He tilted his head to one side and sent her a What gives? look, although his actual words were far tamer. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”
The tension over her face faded, and she at least didn’t shy from giving him a direct stare. “I felt bad about skipping out on you yesterday and wanted to see your friends again while I had the chance.”
In an apparent peace offering, she smiled out to the others at the table, her joy once more drying when she got to Dean. His presence a seemingly sad reminder of what had passed between the two. Even if Dean made no sign of being bothered. Though, once again, not all that much bothered Dean.
“Hey, Ally”—Jamie nudged her with an elbow—“hope these two didn’t upset you too much yesterday spilling Chip’s news like that.”
“News?” Chip narrowed his eyes at Jamie. “What news?”
Though Jamie opened her mouth, Ally’s giggle interrupted any potential reply, and she swatted a hand in a gesture to let the subject go. “No, it’s fine. It was just a surprise. That’s all.”
Her reaction, plus the fact he still had no answer, had him glaring at the guy most likely to defy all social cues and speak. Greg. “What news?”
“Dude.” Greg gave a condescending grimace, one that said he thought Chip was slow on the uptake. “Your Encode grant.”
Chip’s world stilled, and he looked to Ally. Her quick exit yesterday and sheepishness today made a whole lot more sense.
“You got the grant already?” Dean’s question pulled Chip’s focus away.
“No, I’ve only—”
Ally’s lips parted in Dean’s direction before she spoke. “You knew?”
But her attention didn’t stay on him long, her gaze flicking to Chip with a small and incredulous shake of her head. “ He knew?”
Her clear disappointment brought a pang to Chip’s heart, and he groaned, pressing his hands to his face and adding in his own head shake. “No. He didn’t know any more than you. And no, there’s no money.”
Though he dropped his hands, ready to ask why his news even upset her, Matt took his turn to interrupt.
“Here we go again.” Matt huffed out a big, exasperated sigh. “You’re playing yourself down, Chip. Making these finals is a huge deal. If you get it, there’s a huge target on your back as a tech genius in the making, and you’re set for life. If you don’t get the grant, well, pretty much every other tech company out there will at least be interested in looking at your ideas.”
He flared his eyes at Matt, a non-verbal order for him to shut up before Chip’s attention instinctively turned to Ally again, her lips pressed into a tight line and her bare shoulders rounded. The shift of her gaze away from his made his world slow, a new understanding taking over.
He hadn’t told her. He’d slept with her but hadn’t revealed this part of his life. Why? Right there and then, he wanted to explain, but any explanation would bring up personal details neither his friends nor Dean needed to hear.
“The way Sarah talks about you I’m sure you’re a shoe-in, man.” Dean gave Chip a congratulatory clap on the back. Chip jolted from the impact but couldn’t pry his attention from Ally.
She still clutched at her purse in her lap, although now, her gaze drifted to Sarah behind the bar. He reached under the table for Ally’s hand, her stare hitting his, only to bounce to Dean and then back to Sarah. Just before she pulled her hand away.
Maybe he should have questioned her move, but in that moment, he wasn’t all that sure he deserved to. Or that he blamed her. What assurances had he given? Not that he had any to give, not with where his chance with Encode would take him.
He’d move up and move on. Meanwhile, she’d stay in Harlow and deal with the million-and-one questions and comments the townsfolk would have about this brief relationship.
He peered back at the bar, momentarily wondering how much of Ally’s aversion had to do with her quarrel with Sarah. How much had to do with her past feelings for Dean?
Even if Dean was a decent guy, undeserving of jealousy, the reminder of Ally’s infatuation alone left Chip’s stomach churning and an angry heat boring deep into his chest.
Focus on Ally.
So, he turned to her again and pretended he didn’t mind her keeping her distance in public, even though he did. “Want me to get you a drink?”
Her gaze snapped from the bar back to him, the strain around her eyes only easing slightly with her small nod. “White wine. Thanks.”
She moved to open her purse, but he left before she could offer any money.
Quick to make his way to the bar, Sarah soon leaned against the counter, her easy grin pointed at him. “What’s your poison now?”
“Just a white.”
An expected silence took over, her fading grin hinting at her recollection that white wine wasn’t his usual drink. As expected, her stare skidded to his table, no doubt quick to find Ally.
“Oh, for Ally?” She blinked up at him now, new wrinkles forming over her brow. “She’s welcome to come over here and ask for the drink herself, yah know? There’s no reason to keep avoiding me.”
He gave a light shrug, even though his sister’s clear and lingering animosity made him feel anything but light. “Maybe for you.”
Giving a small snort, she went about pouring the drink anyway. “Funny how she’s fine to sit with Dean though. She hasn’t been to Maynard’s for months but—”
Halfway to sliding the wine his way, she paused, fingers still clutching the glass’s thin stem, the lines on her brow returning. Like she didn’t miss much, her mind already searching for reasons behind Ally’s sudden visit.
So, of course, he made quick with trying to distract her. “Ally’s being awkward around Dean too. You’re not so special.”
Sarah raised a brow and finished handing him the drink, one side of her lip creeping upward. “Why is Ally here tonight, anyway?”
Her attention washed over him, and all the lightness in her expression collapsed, suggesting he didn’t need to answer. “Say it isn’t so.”
He gave another disingenuous shrug. “How about I just say nothing?”
“Oh, Chip.” The weakness in her tone denoted concern over anger, concern the more unnerving emotion that prompted him to step away.
Whatever warnings or doubts she had, he already nursed his own. The last thing he wanted was to hear those doubts spoken out loud.
“I’ll speak to you later.” He swept up the wine glass in his hand and made to leave.
“Let me talk to her.”
Sarah’s offer left him pausing midstep before he eventually found the ability to keep his back to her and lengthened his retreat. “You’re a good egg, Sarah Overton, but not today. Just not today.”
Things with Ally already stood rocky. Maybe that rockiness didn’t matter. He was leaving, after all. So, perhaps this latest issue was a good thing. Still, he didn’t want issues, much less his sister enlightening Ally with her hot takes on life.
Back at the table, Ally leaned closer to Jamie, Jamie’s backpack open in her lap and her laptop open on the table.
“What are you two doing?” He handed Ally her drink and sat beside her—yet more “fake casual” from him now that he also kept Sarah’s knowledge about them a secret. On top of what he’d withheld about Encode.
Jamie spun the screen toward him, the laptop alight with her editing program and one of her Japanese style princess drawings on the screen. A princess striking a combat pose. “Ally showed me some photos of her clay work, so it seemed only fair I’d show her my anime art.”
“She’s amazing.” Ally flashed her famous wide grin, and he felt like he could finally breathe again. “I’ve tried and failed at digital art many times, but Jamie here is a total gun.”
“Well if you ever want to try again, you can always hit me up on the socials for help.” Jamie pressed her laptop screen closed and peered over to Chip. “And while my art exists only to take my mind off coding problems, your girl here is the real deal.”
A wicked smile pulled at Dean’s lips. “That’s the second person tonight to refer to Ally as your girl , Chip. You move fast.”
Though Chip’s jaw slackened from the shock of another person confronting him over private affairs, Ally cut in with the loud clearing of her throat, her nose crinkled at Dean in a playful expression. “I’m nobody’s girl, thank you very much. And way to draw attention from my professional efforts and onto more personal stuff.”
Dean held both hands up in surrender. “Well, sorry. Please do share more on your professional life.”
While Chip scrambled to acclimate to the dissipated tension since his time at the bar, Ally laughed and sat a little taller. “Well, aside from I coming here to see off Chip’s friends, I also wanted to celebrate receiving some potentially exciting news of my own.”
Matt laughed and pulled a fry from the table’s share plate. “Don’t tell me Encode wants you on the payroll too?”
“Close, but not quite.” Ally stabbed a finger in his direction, her eyes glittering and her cheeks holding a rosy glow. “My friend, Emilia, has a client interested in distributing my pots to an East Coast chain store.”
“No way!” Jamie nudged Ally with an elbow. “Ally, that’s great.”
Ally held a hand up, indicating she wasn’t finished just yet. “It’s still early days, and the Argyles have only asked for samples, but it’s a start, right?”
“Holy shit! The Argyles?” Jamie grabbed Ally’s raised hand and closed her fingers around it in an excited grasp. “My mom shops there all the time. Argyles is her go-to place for housewarming gifts. You should see my apartment. It’s full of their groovy pots. I’m pretty sure Mom would set up a tent and live at an Argyles if she could.”
“Really?” Ally did a little dance where she sat and turned her joy-filled beam to him. “I knew they were big, but I had no idea.”
The muscles in his throat became suddenly too thick, and he struggled to pull his gaze from hers. Not that he wanted to. Only, his news and her news combined to bring his heart to a slow and reluctant beat. “I’m happy for you. I’m really happy for you.”
And really, he was. Even as he reached out and stroked the pad of his thumb over her cheek. His way of holding on to her when he knew he couldn’t. Even as her smile dimmed, and her attention homed on him like he was the only person in the room, a reminder of just how much it would hurt when they’d have to let go. Again.
Caught in the moment, he let himself forget about the others. She had a chance at her artistic dreams. To have money and, therefore, independence. Perhaps one day, she’d travel the world. Just as she wanted.
As much as all those things would lengthen their divide, she didn’t pull away from him like she had before, and so he dared to lean in and drop a quick kiss to her lips.
“Wow!”
He turned to Sarah standing across the table with a tray of plates in one hand, her mouth agape. “Onto public displays of affection already? You move fast.”
Dean barked out an uncharacteristic, hearty laugh and slapped his knee. “That’s what I said.”
“I just…” Ally directed a wide expression to Sarah, her ivory skin somehow markedly paler, her jaw wavering like she didn’t know how to finish her sentence. A plodding silence held before she shook her head as if to awaken from a nightmare. “This is way more than I planned on for tonight. I’m just going to go.”
“No.” She winced at his insistence, like just the chance of being convinced to stay brought real physical pain, but he didn’t want this rift between Ally and his sister to linger without an attempt to reconcile. “You’re both going to talk.”
She stood, chair scraping against the floor, her strained attempt at a reassuring smile looking more like a grimace. “No, really, it’s fine. I’ll see you tomorrow or something.”
She took a step away, but he stood and grabbed her hand. “Stay and talk, please.”
The skin under her eyes bunched, and her burrowing stare fixed on him before flicking over to Sarah. To his surprise, she gave a rigid nod and so did Sarah.
Ally’s hand found his, albeit in a tight hold. Meanwhile, Sarah turned to the neighboring table, serving out the meals on her tray and then twisting back with a tilt of her head for Chip and Ally to follow her.
On the brisk walk to the kitchen, Ally lagged behind, hand still in his even as they crashed through the swinging doors leading to the kitchen.
A mild wave of heat engulfed him. Gordon, Maynard’s chef, spun away from the stove. “Hey, what’s this about? My kitchen isn’t a meeting roo—” A slow smile overtook his face, and he pulled at the tea towel tucked in his apron belt, wiping his hands. “Chip, buddy. I haven’t seen you since high school.”
If he’d planned to shake Chip’s hand, that didn’t happen. Though Sarah kept her back to everyone, whatever look she shot Gordon, had him returning to his stove, shaking his head while muttering something inaudible under his breath.
Sarah changed direction, stalking for the narrow passage leading to the backdoor. But rather than continue, she spun around and paused right there, as though she intended to lead this exchange. Only it was Ally who cut in and spoke first.