Chapter 37
James Alistair wife
I hit enter, and immediately the Google screen populates with search engine results. Unfortunately, all I find are little bits from the wedding announcement my mother made a point of sending out to the local papers. Everything I’m finding has to do with her, but she’s not the one I’m interested in.
I can’t forget about that picture. I can’t forget the way Nix and Colt reacted to it the day I found it in James’s desk.
I need to find something I can use against this man, and she’s what I keep coming back to.
There’s something very wrong, but I can’t figure out what it is.
I hoped a little digging around on the internet would help, but I keep hitting dead end after dead end.
I stare at the ceiling, pursing my lips.
I wish I could remember her first name, but there were so many coaches over the years.
It’s all a blur. I only remember her face and how kind she seemed.
I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around that part.
How somebody so kind, so warm and maternal, birthed two monsters like her sons.
Even thinking that to myself makes me frown and shake my head. I doubt they were born that way. James must have somehow found a way to twist them up.
Instead of putting James’s name in there, I type Alistair gymnastics death. I mean, there’s got to be something about her team mourning her, her accomplishments with them, something. The woman could not have disappeared off the face of the earth.
Still, I don’t get anything worthwhile. Nothing that mentions her. Was her name even Alistair, or did she keep her maiden name? This time, I type in gymnastics coach dead.
Nothing. I mean, there are lots of articles and blog posts about various gymnastics coaches who died, but when I pull up images related to the links, none of them are her.
“Hey. Class let out early. You wanna go get some dinner?” Piper hasn’t fully entered the room, only poking her head in from the hallway.
I turn to her, tapping my nails against the desk with one hand. “Question. Did Colt or Nix ever tell you anything about their mom?”
She comes in and closes the door, then leans against it. “It’s funny, but now that you mention it, no. I really don’t think so.” I can tell she’s thinking about it, too, frowning, staring toward the windows. After a few moments, she shakes her head with a shrug.
“That’s really weird, isn’t it? She was supposed to have died, right?”
“I think that’s what I heard back when they first came to town, yeah.”
“I heard it was a car accident.”
She nods. “Yeah. Now that you mention it, I remember hearing the same thing.”
“So why can’t I find anything about her online? No obituary. No anything. It’s like she never existed.”
“That’s really weird. What do you think it means?”
“You’re going to think I’m crazy.”
“I doubt it.”
“I think James did something bad and covered it up. I really think that.” It would explain why he freaked out when I mentioned her at dinner that one night.
Why the guys are so guarded when it comes to her, telling me I could never mention her.
If he did something to his wife, he wouldn’t want me bringing her up, even in casual conversation, would he?
I’m sure he would rather pretend she doesn’t exist, just gloss over the whole thing. As if such a thing could be forgotten.
And if that’s true? No wonder his sons are the way they are. They never had a chance.
“Come on,” Piper urges. “Let’s get something to eat. You need to let this go for a little while. Be around people.”
I lift my eyebrows. “That’s an interesting choice of words.”
“Why?”
“Because I was invited to a party. One of the girls in my lit class lives off campus and is having a little casual thing. She must have repeated that part like a million times. They’ll order some sandwiches and some pizza, and we’re just going to hang out.
I was thinking of going, and it would be really cool if you’d come, too. ”
“You’re the one who was invited.”
“So what? I don’t think they’ll check a guest list at the door. It sounds pretty chill, but I would feel a lot better if you were there with me. No pressure,” I add at the last second. “I’m not trying to guilt you or anything, I promise.”
She scoffs, rolling her eyes. “I didn’t think you were. Yeah, if you don’t think it would be weird for me to go, I’d love to. Let me get changed and stuff.”
I need to do the same thing. This is the first party I’ve been to in… I can’t even remember how long. I don’t count the party the guys forced me to. That was more of a shit show than a party, one I’d rather forget about forever.
Back when I was popular, and people actually wanted to talk to me, I didn’t have time for parties because I was too busy training. Then I lost all my friends and all my social standing.
I have to remind myself nobody knows who I am here.
I can start fresh. That’s an empowering feeling, and my confidence climbs as I get ready and put on a little makeup.
Piper puts on music and even dances around, which lifts my spirits even more.
It’s times like this I understand how much I missed her, even when I didn’t realize it.
By the time we’re walking across campus, I feel like I can actually handle this party.
“I do hope it’s as quiet and low-key as it was described,” I fret to Piper because I can’t help it.
I don’t need to end up in a drunken frat party with a bunch of guys who will only remind me of the two I want to forget but can’t seem to.
When we enter a large, comfortable apartment, my hopes climb.
I recognize a handful of people from class strewn around, hanging out on sofas and around the kitchen table.
There are other clusters here and there, voices overlapping and almost drowning out the soft, upbeat music playing through the TV.
Pizza boxes are on the kitchen counter and a tray of sandwiches beside them, plus what looked like endless bottles of alcohol and mixers.
“There’s beer in the fridge, too,” one of the guys tells us. “I’m Trevor, by the way.”
“Leni,” I tell him, shaking his hand. “And this is Piper.”
“Leni, Piper, make yourselves at home. What brings you here?”
“Oh, I’m in lit class with you,” I tell him with a laugh. “But I usually sit in the back of the room, so you probably never noticed me.”
He snaps his fingers, chuckling. “Of course. Sorry, I’ve had a few, so my beer goggles have me a little fuzzy. I guess Maya invited you.”
“Yeah, is she around here somewhere?”
“She’s out on the balcony. Everybody is supposed to just make themselves at home, so I figured I’d help out with that a little bit.” He pulls a beer from the fridge before looking at Piper and me, his brows lifted in a silent question.
“Sure, I’ll have one,” she murmurs.
“I’m good, but thanks.”
While his back is turned to us, she elbows me, wiggling her eyebrows up and down. Sure, he’s cute, but there are a lot of cute guys. I think I can be forgiven for not wanting to jump right in and flirt with somebody so soon after everything I’ve been through.
Over the next hour or so, another dozen people come in until the place is pleasantly full.
The music is louder now, and I’m glad we ate some pizza when we first got here because it’s pretty much gone.
Somebody offers to go out for more and starts getting money together from interested people who didn’t get a chance to eat, but Piper and I both shake our heads.
“If all college parties are this laid back, I can see going to more of them,” Piper admits while the two of us stand back, watching a game of beer pong taking place out on the balcony.
It’s a little tricky because sometimes the ball bounces off into the parking lot, but whoever brought the supplies has a bag of what looks like hundreds.
“Wanna play?” somebody calls out to us, holding up a red cup before draining it and crunching it in their fist.
“No, thanks.” I laugh, shaking my head, and Piper does the same.
“You don’t like playing beer pong? It’s actually pretty fun, you know.” I look up to find Trevor standing beside me, and he grins. “If you don’t mind drinking out of a cup that has a dirty ball floating in it.”
“Which is exactly why I’m not interested.”
“But it’s alcohol. Alcohol cleans things, right?”
“He sort of has a point,” Piper tells me with a giggle.
“See? She knows what I’m talking about. Loosen up a little. You would actually enjoy it.”
It happens so fast. An arm slides around my waist from behind. “How about you mind your own business and don’t talk to my girl?”
So many things happen at once. Piper gasps. Trevor backs up a step. And I freeze solid because I know that voice. I’ve heard it every night in my dreams.
I shove his arm away from me and spin on my heel to glare up at Colt, who has the nerve to sneer down at me like I belong to him.
He’s here. Why is he here? “What the hell do you think you’re doing?
” I demand. I don’t care who hears or if anybody gets the wrong idea.
I’m too shocked, too flustered, and too damn angry.
When will enough be enough? Why can’t he leave me alone?
“What do you think? I couldn’t reach you on your phone, so I had to come and see if you’re okay.”
“I’m fine, obviously. Now get the hell out of here!”
Trevor clears his throat behind me. “Do you need help with this asshole?”
Colt goes from sneering at me to glaring at him over the top of my head. “Back the fuck up, pal. You don’t know what’s happening here.”
“Don’t I? Because it seems pretty fucking clear she wants you to go away.”