4. Four #2
“So, Tessa,” Bobby’s wife, Jane, says with a wry smile.
“Word on the street is you and Jake are high school sweethearts. I bet you have some stories to tell. Bobby and I relocated here about five years ago, so we’re fairly new to the crew.
Getting the inside scoop on this guy might come in handy if my husband ever works up the courage to ask for a raise.
” Jane winks at me, and I force a chuckle, trying my damnedest to keep the cringe off my face.
Talking about my past will never be something I’m comfortable with, and almost everyone at this table knows it.
As much as I like Bobby and his wife, they’re busybodies who don’t know how to keep their noses out of other people’s business.
“Not much to tell,” I say, grabbing a handful of chips and shoving them in my mouth to hide my discomfort. “I was a saint back in the day.”
Tessa’s unladylike snort draws everyone’s attention. “You were many things back in the day, but a saint you were not.”
“Word,” Megan blurts, clinking her wine glass to Tessa’s .
“I see how it is. I babysat your kids for years whenever you and your husband needed some one-on-one time, and the second your BFF is back, you throw me under the bus? Sorry, man, but your blue balls are no longer my concern,” I inform my buddy, shooting him an apologetic look.
“Looks like my days as a free childcare provider are over. You can thank your wife for it.”
Megan swallows hard before she gives me a placating smile.
“Jake. Honey. You know you’re my favorite person.
Sorry, girlfriend,” she adds for Tessa’s sake, who waves the apology off with a flick of her hand.
“I meant to say the word saint doesn’t do the person you used to be justice.
If I had to describe adolescent Jake, I’d probably go with something like, total legend, life of the party, the brooding rebel every girl at school wanted to get with. ”
“Alright, baby. Have some respect for yourself. For God’s sake,” Carter shakes his head like he’s utterly disgusted with her antics, but the amused twinkle in his eyes says otherwise.
“You don’t have to butter him up. It’s not necessary.
If I want to have a private moment with my wife, Jake will gladly volunteer to look after our delightful offspring.
You know why?” Carter looks me right in the eye as his lips twist into a sardonic smile.
“Do tell,” Bobby prompts, leaning forward and damn well salivating at the prospect of a juicy bit of gossip .
“I’ve known this guy since before we were able to wipe our own asses.
I know more embarrassing stories about him than anyone, and if I so much as notice the slightest discoloration to my testicles, I won’t hesitate to spill each and every one.
Starting with the reason you stopped your tutoring sessions with good old Mrs. Sweeney. ”
I choke on my drink, coughing and sputtering so violently it prompts Rich into action, who thumps me on the back until the worst has passed.
“You wouldn’t,” I wheeze out once I find my voice again.
My best friend smirks. “Fuck around and find out.”
We stare at each other for several long moments before I scoff and sink back into my seat.
“You’re bluffing.” Carter matches my relaxed body language and drapes an arm around his wife’s shoulders before he inspects his fingernails and says, “So, one day, Jake asks me to meet him at his tutor’s house, and I don’t bother knocking because the front door’s ajar.
And as I’m walking into the living room, I get a front-row seat to Mrs. Sweeney reaching for… ”
“Alright,” I shout, face burning with humiliation as I remember the horror of that day.
Mrs. Sweeney was my forty-nine-year-old math tutor.
I saw her once a week for a couple of months, back when I was at risk of repeating senior year.
Let’s just say my dad paid her to get my grades up.
She was more interested in getting something else up.
I had just turned eighteen and was very much devoted to Tessa at the time.
The fact that she was older than my mother and looked like she could chew me up and spit me out made me very uncomfortable.
I did my best to fight off her inappropriate advances.
But that day, she was more determined than usual.
Carter showed up just in time to witness her reach for the crown jewels while simultaneously shoving her tongue up my ear canal.
I remember his bug-eyed expression like it was yesterday as he stood in the doorway with his jaw on the floor, not knowing what to do.
I jumped off the couch like my ass was on fire before I politely informed her that her services were no longer needed.
My dad was beyond pissed when I told him I wouldn’t be going back, but for once, I didn’t give a damn.
Ten horses couldn’t have dragged me back into the clutches of that horny old hag.
She hasn’t changed a bit, either. Just the other week, I had the misfortune of running into her at the local post office, where she’d promptly pinched my butt and told me to give her a call if I ever found myself curious about being with a real woman.
I shudder, remembering the predatory gleam in her eye before I give my best friend a look that promises retribution.
“Message received. Loud and clear,” I say through gritted teeth.
“I can’t believe you went there, you backstabbing son of a bitch. ”
Carter shrugs, showing little remorse, as he pulls Megan closer into his side. “I have three kids under eight. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to ensure my lady receives the love and attention she deserves. Remember that the next time you threaten to cockblock me.”
“Remind me why we’re friends again?”
“Because,” he says, flashing me a shit-eating grin. “I may know all your dirty, little secrets, but you also know I’ll take them to the grave as long as you continue to look after my balls. Wait, that came out wrong.” His cheeks heat when the entire table breaks out into boisterous laughter.
“So, what happened with Mrs. Sweeney?” Dave fishes, and I want to slap him upside the head for once again steering the conversation to an event in my life I’d rather not think about, let alone rehash with my employees.
“Not a chance,” I snap, and don’t even feel bad when the excitement in his eyes dies a quick death and he folds his arms across his chest like a disgruntled toddler. You see what I have to put up with?
“So, Jake was a bad boy, huh?” This from Bobby, who must’ve realized the Sweeney story has run its course but hasn’t yet given up on discovering at least one skeleton in my closet.
“I wasn’t a bad boy,” I grumble, rolling my eyes at the term.
“I was a moody prick with a huge chip on my shoulder. Fortunately, I inherited my mother’s looks.
The girls liked me and I didn’t complain.
I’ll admit I may have been a bit of a player before Tessa and I got together, but that was a long damn time ago.
I’m pretty tame nowadays.” Alicia takes that as an invitation to snuggle into my side, and I force myself to not check on Tessa to gauge her reaction.
“So, what happened after you two got together?” Bobby pushes, and I glower at him. What the hell is he doing, digging up my past relationship when I’m clearly here with someone else? What a dick move. Tell you what, he won’t be getting that raise any time soon.
“Did you take one look at her, and all other girls ceased to exist, or did your daddy find out about the trail of panties you left in your wake and decided to teach you some manners? Nothing like a good old-fashioned ass-whooping to drill those core values into a young fella, am I right?” His booming laugh turns into an uncertain chuckle when no one else seems to join in.
My body goes taut at the mention of my father, every muscle locking up tight, as Alicia peers up at me with curiosity and concern.
She knows my relationship with my old man was difficult at best, but I’ve never offered her any details.
Dave, Rich and Phil are locals and have most likely heard the rumors circulating back in the day, but they respect me enough not to pry.
After a moment of uncomfortable silence, Carter pushes to his feet and claps his hands together.
“Looks like the ladies could use a refill. Megan, would you mind getting some more white wine? Bobby,” he adds, giving the older man a pointed look. “I could use some help getting the leftover meat inside before the flies get to it.”
And that right there’s why I love the guy.
He can be a ruthless motherfucker at times, but he’s proven over and over again that I can count on him to have my back when push comes to shove.
Robert Nelson’s been dead a long time, and I’ve certainly come a long way since.
That doesn’t mean I feel comfortable discussing the abuse I suffered at his hands with people I have to work with.
Only a select few know my full story, including the woman sitting across from me, regarding me with sad yet understanding eyes.
And it’s at that moment, I realize I have no intention of ever widening my circle of trust. Tessa may not have been a part of my life these past few years, but deep down, I still trust her with the secrets of my past. I mean, shit, she was the one who’d gotten me through a big part of it, and I’ll always be grateful for the love and support she gave me when I needed it most. The fact that I break out in a cold sweat whenever Alicia looks at me with questions in her eyes does not bode well for our future.
The desire to open up and tell her the sad tale of my childhood is pretty much nonexistent, and that’s when I know I’ll have to make some hard choices before the day is out.
“Uncle Jake.” A small hand tugs on my arm, and I turn to meet my godson’s pouty face. “Josie’s almost eaten the entire pack of gummy bears and she’s not sharing. I told her that if she didn’t give me any, I wouldn’t share my Skittles, either. But she still won’t do it.”
My eyes flare and I hit Nathan with a warning look. He catches on fast for his age, noticing his mistake immediately, but it doesn’t save me. His mother is already staring daggers at the side of my face.
“Jake Eric Nelson. I thought we agreed you’d stop smuggling sugary treats into my home. Do I have to start frisking you at the door?”
I flash her a grin. “Oh, you’d love that, wouldn’t you?” She arches a perfectly shaped eyebrow, and I deflate, choosing to keep my commentary to myself for the time being.
“Nathan, go scrounge up the rest of the candy and put them in the pantry. Then I want you to come and eat some food that doesn’t turn you into the Tasmanian Devil, is that clear?”
“But mooooom,” my little buddy wails, sticking his bottom lip out and hitting her with his puppy-dog eyes. I have no earthly idea how they manage to refuse these kids anything. They certainly have me wrapped around their chubby little fingers, and there’s not a damn thing I can do about it.
“Don’t make me repeat myself.” Megan’s expression brooks no argument. Cold as ice, that one.
“I’m sorry,” I say once her son waddles off to do her bidding.
“I just can’t help myself. Have you seen their cute little faces?
I swear Josie’s been practicing that adorable lip wobble in the mirror.
I’m a pushover when it comes to those kids, and I’m not ashamed to say it.
I do feel bad for going behind your back, but in my defense, you weren’t supposed to find out. ”
“Oh, well. That makes it okay then,” Megan drawls, throwing her hands up in exasperation.
“You didn’t think I’d notice something’s up once they start bouncing off the walls?
You have no idea what they’re like once that sugar hits their system.
Would you like to stay and put them to bed tonight?
Because I can promise you, they won’t be as cute then. ”
“I get your point,” I mumble, feeling like I’m eight years old and getting scolded by my mother. Megan really has the whole parenting thing down to a fine art, and I actually feel ashamed of myself.
“I’ll let it go one more time because I know how much you love my children, but next time, there’ll be consequences. Is that understood? ”
“Yes, ma’am,” I reply, watching Megan’s expression soften. “Note to self. Don’t get caught next time,” my low whisper falls from the side of my mouth, making Alicia giggle beside me. It’s a miracle I manage to duck just in time to dodge the half-eaten hot dog Megan lobs at my head.