5. April
“Yes.”
Laughter sounded in my ear. “April, you don’t even know what I’m offering yet.” Janice, the woman who ran the agency that I often got private clients through, laughed again.
Holding the phone between my ear and shoulder, I locked my car door and started up the stone walkway to my sister, Tessa’s, front door. “All I need to know is that you found me a private gig. I already know it’s in town or close by so I’ll take it.”
Janice didn’t understand my desperation here. I needed the extra money. The way things were going with my fundraising―or wasn’t going―I’d probably have to resort to pumping cash from my pocket into the project. Although it was supposed to be a community effort, I felt responsible because it was my idea. There was no way I could sit back and allow the residents of that nursing home to get booted out.
“Well, alright,” Janice said, sounding uncertain, “if you’re available, it’s yours then.”
“I’m available. You know my hours.” I skirted around my shifts at the hospital with my private clients. “As long as the client’s hours work with mine, it’s all good.”
“Okay, I’ll let her know you’re coming in tomorrow at eight.”
“Awesome. Thanks for looking out, Janice.”
“You got it.”
“And if anything else comes up…”
“You’ll be the first to get the call.”
With a huge satisfied grin on my face, I skipped towards Tessa’s front door. I’d never been the social butterfly, but the few people I interacted with seemed to like me a lot. Janice always showed a little favoritism when it came to work. She was older like Cathy and Margaret. I suppose they all saw me as a kid sister who they wanted to look out for, and I didn’t mind it. I was horrible at making friends, so I’d take the ones that were actually interested and liked me for me.
The door was already opened by the time I made it up the steps. Cassandra stood in the doorway, arms folded and head tilted to one side. Her bone-straight black hair, streaked with burgundy, spilled around her oval face. It was the face of all the Bennet girls. We all had some resemblance to one another although some of us were closer in looks than others. Her green eyes sparkled with curiosity. “Well, well, well, it looks like somebody got laid last night.”
I almost tripped on the last step. “Excuse me?” Why was I even surprised by the things that came out of my younger sister’s mouth? Cassandra had no filter. She didn’t even know the definition of a verbal filter and had been saying whatever came to her mind since she learned how to talk.
“That big goofy grin you’re wearing must mean you got some, April. I heard Julian Grayson is in town…” She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively.
I froze momentarily, and for some reason, butterfly wings started flapping in my stomach. The thought of hopping into the sack with Julian was just…Why is that even a thought? I quickly dismissed it, and Cass. “Out of my way brat.”
“You sound like Lucy.” She scowled, her brows puckering, drawing attention to the two silver studs she had through her left brow. She had quite a few piercings and tattoos. Cass was the wild child of the bunch. The true rebel who didn’t give a shit about most people’s opinions. She was my opposite. “I only remember giving her permission to call me that.”
“Don’t need permission, brat.” I stuck my tongue out and brushed past her.
“Don’t be a bitch, April, it doesn’t suit your sweet nature.”
“Up yours, Cass,” I returned.
“Your lapses into immaturity amuses me,” came an amused voice from the living room.
I giggled and hurried through the foyer to give our older sister Tessa a peck on the cheek. Her dimpled grin was affectionate and her whiskey-colored eyes swam with laughter. Mine and Cass’s little spats were in good fun but Tessa was right, we did sound like kindergartners sometimes. “Well, I did promise Ruby to fill in for her by giving Cass a hard time so…”
Tessa snickered. “You didn’t.”
“I really did. Someone has to do the job until she gets back.” If she ever came back... Our youngest sister, Ruby, had fled Oakland to attend college and, by the sound of it, she was having a good time in Chicago. She might just ditch Oakland for good after graduating.
“Ruby is the real brat out of all of us if you ask me,” Cass huffed before flopping down on a sofa. “So, April, like I was saying before, Julian is back in town.” Her eyes narrowed. “Did you know and kept it a secret? Did you two secretly hook up?”
I threw my arms up. Me and Julian? “Why would you even think that?”
“Didn’t you two…” Tessa lifted a brow. “You went to prom together.” Her lips twitched, and I glowered at her. “And you did miss curfew that night.” Tessa too wiggled her eyebrows. It was so unlike her to participate in Cass’ foolishness.
I harrumphed, and the tips of my shoes suddenly became interesting. Okay, maybe they had every right to think that Julian and I hooked up back in the day. I’d never shared with any of my sisters how volatile my relationship with him was. The only thing they knew was that he’d invited me to prom, and I’d been so excited. They had no idea what happened that evening. I was too ashamed to share my humiliation or where I really spent prom night. They weren’t allowed to know how pathetic my high school years really were.
“We didn’t hook up on prom night so drop it you two.”
Tessa’s teasing smile faded. “You okay?”
“Fine. Are we going to have breakfast or what?” With that, I stomped to the kitchen.
I heard Cass say, “Huh, she must be on her period. She’s usually so Zen.”
Gritting my teeth, I pretended not to hear. She was right. I normally wouldn’t get riled up this easily…I guess it only happened when Julian was in the same zip code.
He completely ruined breakfast with my sisters. Each time I tried to engage in conversation, there was Julian, invading my thoughts. I kept seeing him on that hospital bed asking me for a hug and pretty much implying that he found me attractive. Each time I had to remind myself that his judgment had been severely clouded by medication. Julian finding me attractive...was laughable. How many times during our verbal battles had he blatantly let me know I was the furthest from his type?
After all of the hurt feelings and his stupid prank, there I was, allowing him back into my head, under my skin. For years, I’d harbored a sick secret crush on the guy who I declared was my public enemy number one since we were kids. Maybe I needed therapy...
* * *
I peered at the huge two-story yellow and white house I’d just parked in front of. Wait, I knew this house looked familiar. Faye Grayson had moved here a few years back when her grandson was sent to live with her. Plus, her son had reached millionaire status so he’d brought it for her. Her dream house. I vaguely recalled her sharing the story at the hair salon. The salon was a hot spot for gossip and discussing others’ business.
“This is her place,” I whispered.
My jaw dropped as I made the connection. “Oh, no.” My new client must be Julian. “Crap!”
I slammed a palm against the steering wheel. It was my fault for accepting the job without even asking for a name. Janice had said she’d let her know I was coming today. Faye must have been the one to make the arrangements, not Julian. Did he know she’d hired me?
The temptation to drive away in a squeal of tires and smoke was almost overwhelming. But alas, professionalism won. The least I could do was go inside and tell Faye I couldn’t accept the job. She’d have questions, but I’d come up with an excuse.
Groaning, I grabbed my bag with all of my medical supplies. Trudging to the front door, I straightened my scrubs and began fiddling with my moonstone necklace. I rang the doorbell as if I was pressing a button to my death sentence.
“Get yourself together, April,” I hissed. At twenty-eight, I shouldn’t be stuck on high school and Julian. “I’m an adult. He has no effect on me whatsoever.” I told myself that yet, my heart rate was fast enough to possibly throw me into cardiac arrest and my palms were sweaty.
The door opened. My gaze traveled downwards to take in a blonde head and sea-green eyes. The boyish face lit up. “Miss April.”
I wanted to smile at the title. I hadn’t seen Andy in a few months, so I was surprised by how tall he’d gotten. “Hey, Andy.” I gazed at the child, a little frightened by how much he resembled his uncle, from the wicked smirk down to the charming aura.
He crossed his arms, hooked his ankles, and leaned against the door. I pursed my lips to hide my amusement. Andy trying to look suave was hilarious. “So, you’re Uncle Julian’s nurse? Man, he’s so lucky.” One corner of his lips hiked further up. “I’m thinking about breaking a leg or something to get you as my private nurse.”
I fought back laughter. “Laying it on a little thick there, aren’t you Andrew?”
His grin faltered. “Hey, don”t knock the idea of us just yet, Miss April. I’ll be eighteen in six years.”
I had to sink my teeth into my lip to keep a straight face. He told me the same thing last year when he came into the emergency room with a high fever. Then it had been seven years. “Still counting down, huh? Well, when that day comes, we’ll see how it goes, okay? And please, don’t break any body parts.”
Andy’s cheeks took on a pink hue. Seemingly satisfied, he stepped aside. “Come in.”
“Thank you.”
Faye rounded the corner, drying her hands on an apron. “April, you made it.” Her eyes darted to Andy. “Glad this one didn’t scare you off.”
“Hey.” Andy pouted. “I’m very lovable, right Miss April?”
“Extremely,” I agreed.
Faye rolled her eyes and sighed as if she could just imagine the conversation between Andy and me before she arrived. “Thanks for coming, April. When the agency told me you were up for the job, I was relieved.”
My heart sank as I took in Julian’s mother. She was a statuesque woman with gray hair and deep blue eyes. Standing near her made me feel small at five feet three inches. “You were?” Great, now it would be harder for me to back out of the job.
“Sure. Julian hated the idea of anyone coming to look after him,” she sighed. “He’s a stickler for privacy nowadays.”
My brows are elevated. I saw his face on so many gossip sites, it was ridiculous. How much could he really value privacy?
“I figured he’d feel more comfortable with someone he knows.” Faye grinned and gestured for me to follow her.
“Right,” I murmured as I reluctantly followed. The house was nice. The interior screamed money. It made sense that Julian had splurged on his mother’s house. Probably the only redeeming quality about him was how much he adored his mother. A man who treated his mother like a queen couldn’t be all that bad. Perhaps I could work with him for a few days.