Chapter Fifteen
One Week Later
Bella
I’ve avoided this conversation for the past week, but now it’s time. If I’m taking charge of my life…. I’m taking charge of my life.
I walk into the living room where my parents are reclining in their chairs and clasp my hands in front of me. “Mom. Dad. I need to discuss something with you.”
“What?” My dad’s face goes white as he snaps the footrest into place and fists his hands on the armrests.
“Dear, calm down.” My mom gives him a stern look but also joins him in an upright position.
“You, calm down.” His eyes are narrowed into little slits. “A young girl doesn’t come in to say something to her parents if it isn’t a big deal.” He snaps his head around to face me. “Are you pregnant? Is that Brock kid the father? I knew it was a bad idea to let you go out with him, and now, you’re saddled with him for the rest of your life.” He launches out of the chair and paces the floor.
“I’m not pregnant.”
“Thank God.” He rakes a hand through his hair. “If you aren’t pregnant, then what’s going on? Are you using drugs? Lord, I thought we did everything we could to ensure you kids didn’t go down that path.”
“Lee!” My mom rises from her seat and clamps a hand on my dad’s arm. “Bella isn’t using drugs. Could you, for once, calm down and wait until she tells us what’s going on? I’ve never met a more dramatic man in my life.”
“These are my kids, and I want the best for them. And until they’ve completed college and gotten solid jobs, I’m going to worry. Even then, I’m going to worry. It takes a lot to pay for things these days, and not having a solid plan in place is irresponsible. It’s my job to ensure they all have the best lives possible.”
Guilt settles in my gut. I know it’s ridiculous that my dad blows a gasket about everything, but he loves us kids and worked 80 hours a week for years to save up money for our college expenses. Shit. He’s right. I owe him to finish my college degree. That way, when I get my cosmetology license later, I’ll have a solid understanding of accounts when I operate my own business.
“Dad.” I walk forward and grab his other arm. “I’m not pregnant. I’m not even dating anyone. I’m not doing drugs. I’ve never even experimented with anything. And school is fine. I shouldn’t have come in here like this and upset you.”
“Dear….” My mom looks concerned. “If something’s wrong, you can tell us, despite your fathers’ dramatics.” She gives him an exasperated look. “We love you and your brothers, and we’ll always be there for you.”
“I know that.” Warmth floods through me. They’ve been my rock my entire life, and I owe them for all their sacrifices. “It was nothing. I was just going to tell you I’d be out late. I’m meeting the girls in town for drinks, and no, I won’t drink and drive. If I happen to have too much to drink, I’ll call an Uber.”
“That’s fine, sweetheart. Thank you for telling us.” My mother beams at me and then smacks my dad in the chest. “See…. You were acting like an idiot for no reason. You need to get ahold of yourself and stop acting like the kids aren’t adults who make sound decisions.”
“You’re right.” The color returns to his face, turning it a shade of crimson. “Bella, I apologize. I know you’re a good girl, and I shouldn’t question whether you’ll make the right decisions.”
“Thanks.” I give him a quick hug and exit the house to my car. Well, that went well.
As I near my car, I squint trying to make out something tucked under my windshield wiper. Probably one of those ‘You’re a horrible driver’ business cards. Except I’m parked in my driveway so that would be a bit extreme.
I drag the piece of paper out from under my windshield wiper and unfold it.
You thought changing phone numbers would deter me? I know where you live. I know where you go to school. I know everything about you. So why hide from me? I’m going to get you back if it’s the last thing I do. You should’ve accepted my drink the other night, and we’d already be back together.
My heart pounds erratically against my ribs. He was at the bar. And the drink…. Did he put something in it? When I shoved the drink to the end of the table, it bubbled. Shit. I know to watch drinks carefully, but would Brock stoop to that level?
No, he wouldn’t. Would he?
****
Callahan’s Bar
Forty-five Minutes Later
“You won’t believe it.” I slide into the bench seat across from Ruby and Emily with the paper clutched in my hands.
“What is that?” Ruby points at my hand.
“This was left on my windshield at the house. I found it when I came outside to come to the bar.” I unfold the paper and lay it out for them to read.
“What in the fuck?” Emily snatches the handwritten note off the table with shaking hands. “It’s from Brock, right?”
“Yes.” I clutch my hands together. “It’s his handwriting.”
“What’s this about the drink?” Ruby leans over Emily’s shoulder and points to the passage that has me freaked out.
“I know.” I glance around the bar, looking for him. “I’m not going to lie. I drove around the parking lot four times before coming in to make sure his vehicle wasn’t in the parking lot. I think he spiked my drink the other day. I remember when I shoved it to the end of the table that bubbles rose to the top. I think he was hoping to drug me, and then drive me home.”
“That’s repulsive.” Emily drops the letter on the table like it burned her hand.
“You should take it to the police.” Ruby leans back into the cushions, holding her aqua-blue drink with a death grip.
“And tell them what?” I wave my hand dismissively toward the letter. “He didn’t say anything incriminating. He’s too smart to do that.”
“You’re right.” Ruby shakes her head and takes a drink. “We need to stay on high alert so that he doesn’t get close to you.”
“And we all need to watch your drinks.” Emily motions for the waitress to bring us a round. “Starting, right now.”
“I’m not going to let him ruin our night. I’m not getting back together with him, and the sooner he figures that out, the better off he’ll be.” I scan the bar again, keeping an eye out for him as the bartender fills our drink order, and the waitress returns to our table.
“Did you tell them?” Ruby retrieves her drink from the waitress as I pay her for the order.
“No, I’ve not talked with anyone else about the letter until now.”
Ruby taps her fingertips on the table. “Did you tell your parents about school?”
“No.” Fuck. With all the drama about the letter, I forgot that I chickened out about school. Here goes another lecture. “I’m going to wait.” I fill then in on my dad freaking out before I got the chance to tell them about my plans.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Ruby glares over the top of her glass. “You were all set to start classes, and now you’re putting it off? Indefinitely? And all because your dad lost his shit? You know better. You should’ve gone to your mom in private and explained it to her. You know that.” She slaps her hand on the table, causing the aqua-blue liquid to splash over the top, and crosses her arms over her chest. “You did that on purpose. You were self-sabotaging.”
“No, I wasn’t.” I jerk upright in my seat as the band takes the stage. It’s a new group I haven’t heard before, and I was looking forward to hearing them, but not now.
“Ruby, don’t be so hard on her. This is a big adjustment.” Emily pats my hand. Great. It’s good cop/bad cop.
I lift my drink and suck down the icy slush, gulping until my brain screams from brain freeze. Son of a bitch. I close my eyes and brace against the pain.
“Yes, you did. You knew your dad would flip the second you said you needed to talk. He always does. He did when you asked him to go to your first dance. Your first concert. Hell, he probably did the first time you asked to ride a tricycle.”
Words. Her words are as annoying as the brain freeze. I inhale and slowly exhale as the pain ebbs.
“Are you going to do it?” Emily tilts her head. “Are you going to keep putting off your dreams to make other people happy? I realize it’s a big deal to drop out of some of your classes or to drop out altogether, but if you wait until you get your degree before starting Cosmo, it’ll be four years or more before you’re licensed. Maybe you won’t even do it by then.”
Okay. It’s bad cop/bad cop. I slowly open my eyes and glare at them.
Their eyes flash with a mixture of anger and concern. I don’t have to see Ruby’s foot under the table to know she’s tapping it. While Emily drums her fingertips on the scarred wooden table.
Fine. I sag into the cushion with a woosh. “You’re both right. I know how to deal with my parents.” I shrug as smoke from the cigarette of the guy behind them swirls above our heads. “Maybe I’m scared to give up my safety net and jump into another career. What if I don’t like it? What if I’m not good at it?” I throw my hands into the air. “What if I can’t support myself?”
“Thank you.” Ruby smiles and waves the waitress over. “Now we’re at the real issue. You don’t believe in yourself, and I do. You’ll do amazing.”
“Less ice. And double the vodka.” The waitress takes our order for another round of Blue Bayous.
When we’re alone again, I ask, “Do you think so?”
“Yes, I do,” Ruby says while keeping an eye on the bartender.
“We both do,” Emily pipes up. “You’ve been doing makeovers since we were ten.”
“Your father means well, but he’s made you question yourself with his overprotectiveness.” Ruby lifts her drink to finish the remnants before our next round arrives. “You need to move forward with your plan. Talk to your mom to get her on your side and take charge of your life.” Her eyes gleam. “And I know just the perfect elixir.”
“And what’s that?”
“Oh, here we go.” Emily laughs as her cheeks pinken with amusement. “We all know where this is going.”
“Get drunk, proposition the hottest guy in the room, and get banged like a screen door. That’ll give you the confidence to trust you’re worth it. You’re already almost there. You applied for beauty school. You got a makeover. You walked straight into Dominic’s tattoo parlor and yanked your pants down.” She laughs as the waitress drops off our drinks.
Emily shoves mine in front of me. “You’re primed and ready for amazing things.”
I lift the drink and inhale the fruity scent. It tickles my pleasure centers. It felt good to do what I wanted for a change. Why not do more of it?
My gaze travels across the bar to land on Dominic. Is that why I always come here? In hopes that someday he’ll notice me and ask me to dance? To kiss me? To ask me on a date and declare his undying love for me?
The brunette woman next to him slings her arm around his waist and lays her head on his shoulder. He laughs at something she says. Nothing is ever going to happen between us. He doesn’t share the same feelings I do. His eyes meet mine, and everything snaps into place. It’s never happening. I’ve got to forget him.
“You’re right.” I dismiss him with a flip of my hair. “I’m done. I’m done playing life safe. I’m ready to make my own choices, and that starts with school. And men. I’m done moping over Dominic.” I sip the alcohol slowly, this time to avoid the brain freezing.
“Thank God.” Emily waggles her eyebrows. “It’s time to make him jealous.”
“No.” I shake my head. “I’m done worrying about him.”
A dark-haired guy three barstools over from Dominic winks at me, stands, and weaves his way through the crowd toward our table.
“Girl, it’s time to put your money where your mouth is,” Ruby smirks.