Chapter Nine
Serenity
I’m standing in a corner at the back of the main house, at the French doors that open out onto a pretty veranda.
The wedding breakfast is over. There’s an open bar and for two hundred guests, this party is just getting started.
The light outside is beginning to fade. In a separate part of the grounds at the Country Club, a grand festival tent over a dance floor is decorated with pretty, twinkling fairy lights.
Behind it, palm trees surround a network of narrow paths leading to a golf course.
I check the time on my phone. I gotta be back at Surly’s in three hours. I need to check in at home with my dad first, maybe grab him some dinner from some of the hors d’oeuvres that are still being circulated on platters, even though we all just ate a delicious three-course meal.
I’ve been keeping my head down. Some of the CMC are tearing it up on the dance floor, alongside some of the Mutineers players and their partners. Even Kathleen is busting some moves. Jewel tried to persuade me, but I don’t have the heart right now.
I swallow. I feel like the worst kind of buzzkill.
I straighten when I see him. Brody Conway in deep conversation with another man. He stops on the veranda and Brody places one hand on the man’s shoulder as the two shake hands. I sink further into the shadows, but the moment he’s alone he raises his eyes to me.
I turn and bolt, crashing into a waiter carrying a tray of hors d’oeuvres.
‘Oh! Oh my god, I’m so sorry!’ I exclaim.
The waiter looks at me. He looks at all of me, his eyes burning a trail down my body, yet he can’t be more than sixteen or seventeen.
‘Don’t worry about it,’ he smirks.
‘Get this cleaned up,’ a voice commands from behind me, and for a moment, my eyes drift shut. It’s the voice from Surly’s. If I needed confirmation, that was it.
‘Yes, sir,’ the waiter says. He drops to his knees and begins picking up all the food.
I feel one hand curl around my bicep. I stiffen. My skin crawls. I can’t look. I can’t have him recognize me.
‘Hello there,’ the voice says behind me.
The lump is back in my throat. His other hand goes to the small of my back.
‘Hurry it up,’ Brody barks at the waiter, who doubles the speed of his movements, gets to his feet and scarpers.
‘Well, this is a pleasant surprise… Brandy.’
I turn my head. Raise my eyes to his. No, he can’t. It can’t be that he knows me.
‘I don’t know what you’re talking about,’ I breathe.
‘Oh, I’d know those eyes any place, sugar. Think I prefer you as a blonde.’
I yank my arm away, take a step back. He’s younger than I thought. Not even thirty. Thick, dark brows with a pointed nose.
‘You gonna tell me your real name now?’
‘No.’
His eyes darken. ‘Now that you’re here… I believe it won’t take me long to find out. You’re one of the rookies, no? So come on now. You know who I am. It’s only right that we share.’
‘I got no interest sharing anything with you.’
Without warning, he grabs my arm again, yanking me into the next-door room.
I stifle a squeal. Inside, it’s a study with rows of bookshelves, though the lights are all off except for a small table lamp.
Sweat breaks out on my upper lip. I can feel my heart thundering in my chest. He turns his head to one side.
‘Brandy Velvet,’ he says again, and there’s a wickedness to his tone. ‘You know, you were the final part of my bachelor party gift? Your boss is a very generous man. And he told me you were his best girl. Tell me… does he know Brandy’s also a cheerleader for the Canyon Mutineers?’
The truth is that I asked Kale’s permission to audition. He wouldn’t care whether somebody recognized me or not, so long as I keep the dollar bills rolling in at the club. He’s not letting me go anytime soon.
But Brody Conway is a different story. He is the Mutineers.
He could turn around and tell his mother and Kathleen what I really do for a living.
Men like him are supposed to go to the high-class strip joints over on the east side of town, not down-and-out venues like Surly’s on the west side.
Men like Brody Conway aren’t supposed to know men like Kale McCoy.
‘He knows,’ I whisper, and Brody takes a step closer.
‘Figure you’ve kept Kathleen in the dark?’
He can tell by the look on my face that I don’t like this road he’s going down.
‘You don’t wanna give me your real name, Brandy, why, that’s fine.
You wanna play games with me, you go right ahead.
I don’t have to tell Kathleen a damn thing.
Or my momma. But I know where to find you, Brandy Velvet.
And you know what? I can’t get enough of these curves, that ass.
So, I plan on getting me some of that sweet, sweet sugar again. ’
He’s so close I can smell the food on his breath, mixed with his cologne. His fingers stroke my side at my waist.
‘You just got married,’ I whisper.
‘The new Mrs Conway… she’s very understanding of my needs.’
I swallow.
‘I like you… Brandy Velvet. I’ll be thinking of you on my honeymoon when I’m with my wife. I’ll be sure to pay you a visit soon as I get back.’
The hand at my waist slides down, cupping my ass. He pulls me closer, and I thrust him away. He laughs at that, then backs away before he ducks out the door. I stay still for some moments, trying to stem the flow of tears threatening to spill over onto my cheeks.
I gotta get outta here.
I head to the dance floor, raise my head to get Kathleen’s attention. She sees me and moves to the side. There’s a cocktail in her hand.
‘I don’t feel so good,’ I tell her. ‘You think it would be alright if I called an Uber and headed on home?’
‘Oh, honey, you’re sure you’re alright?’ Kathleen exclaims over the music and she’s searching my face. Her eyes are glassy. ‘Can we get you anything?’
‘Maybe I just need to lie down.’
‘Well, sure, honey. You’ll be alright on your own? I’d like to hear that you made it home safe.’
‘I can send you a message.’
‘You do that.’
I wave to some of my squad mates, including Angel, Shawny and Persia.
Harmony is nowhere to be found, and I can’t see Jewel anywhere either.
On my way out, I sneak past the buffet table, scooping up a few items for Dad, wrapping them in a paper napkin.
I call an Uber and head out front to the parking lot, keeping close to the house where the light spills over the sidewalk, under the shade of some palm trees.
I can hear the cicadas over the music floating up to the stars.
Brody Conway’s words stick in my mind and I’m close to tears again.
I just need to get home, then get to Surly’s for the start of my shift.
At the sound of footsteps, I turn.
‘There you are,’ a voice says. ‘I’ve been looking all over for you.’
Jake Walsh stops about five paces in front of me, a wide grin on his face. But it fades when he sees me. ‘Are you alright?’
I force a smile. I’m not sure I can deal with Mr Wholesome right now. ‘I’m fine. Heading on home.’
He glances back at the club house, toward the dance floor and the open bar. ‘Already?’
‘I’m, uh— I’m real tired.’
He looks to the paper napkin in my hands, the food held inside threatening to spill out over the sidewalk. ‘And hungry too, by the looks of it.’
I feel the base of my neck start to prickle. ‘Oh, I, uh—’
‘Oh, I didn’t mean anything by it. I practically sleepwalk to the fridge every night.’
I keep my eyes down. I tried not to engage with him today.
Not to hurt his feelings or nothing, but I know the question he wants to ask me, and I already know what my answer has to be.
Plus, Jewel clearly has a crush on him. But standing here, looking all nervous…
man, he’s too cute. He does things to my insides, and other places too.
‘That was real nice of you earlier. You and Hudson Briar, talking to Kathleen like that. Harmony looked so happy.’
‘Well, it was my goal to talk to you, but that didn’t exactly work out how I planned. You left me with your friend.’
‘Jewel. She’s a rookie, like me.’
‘She’s nice, but no offense, I don’t want her phone number.’
‘Jake—’
He shifts his position. ‘It’s alright. Guess I’m starting to get the message.’
‘Look, I’m not a rulebreaker, alright. I’m not rebellious, or anything. I’m not even brave—’
‘One date,’ he says. ‘Let me take you on one date. Outside of Canyon, we’ll set it up so nobody can see us. Nobody has to know. Please, Ren. Can I call you Ren?’
I bite my lip. Mr Wholesome is making this so damn hard on me.
‘You can call me Ren. Was that your sister you came here with? What’s her name?’
‘River. She’s still in high school. So, what do you say? Can I take you out?’
‘Outside of Canyon? Where?’
‘I’ll make a plan. Come by the diner and give you instructions. Just one date.’
I stifle a laugh. ‘One date and you’ll leave me alone?’
In the dim light, I think I see him blush. ‘Well, I uh—’ He falters, rubs the back of his neck. ‘I was hoping if you had a good time, you might give me a second shot.’
‘Guess you’d better really impress me, then.’
‘I’ll put my heart and soul into it, that’s a promise.’
I laugh. ‘I’m still not giving you my number, Jake Walsh.’
He holds up his palms, accepting my terms. ‘No numbers. Got it. Yes ma’am.’
This guy’s so sweet he could give me a cavity.
‘So is that a yes?’ he asks hopefully.
I don’t know what possesses me to even consider this idea, because it’s crazy. I’m crazy.
My Uber pulls up. ‘I gotta go,’ I tell him.
‘Please don’t leave me hangin’.’
‘It’s a yes,’ I tell him, and he punches his fist in the air. ‘Nobody, but nobody, can know. Not even your sister.’
He seals his lips with an invisible zipper. How can a guy who can tackle literally anyone on a football field be so dorky and adorable?
‘Not even River,’ he repeats. ‘My lips are sealed.’
He takes a step and opens the car door for me. It’s the only thing that separates us and I linger on the sidewalk.
‘I’ll wait for your visit, then,’ I say. ‘To the diner.’
‘When’s your next shift?’
‘Monday morning. Early.’
‘Monday, I have practice. What time do you get off?’
‘I’m there most days. My shifts finish around four.’
He frowns at me. ‘You work too hard. Okay, so I’ll be there. Monday after practice. Save some eggs for me.’
I go to get in the car, but something stops me. ‘Why do you wanna go out with me? Is it just because I’m CMC?’
‘No,’ he states. ‘Absolutely not.’
‘Then why?’ I think about Brody Conway and his words come back to haunt me. ‘Don’t answer that. Curves and ass. Right?’
‘I was gonna say your smile.’
Now I feel bad for not thinking more highly of him. He runs his fingers through his hair.
‘You should be getting back to the party,’ I tell him. ‘Goodnight.’
‘Goodnight, Ren,’ he says and when I’m in the car, he closes the door behind me.
The Uber driver doesn’t give me a chance to wave him goodbye, so I turn around on the back seat and wave through the rear windshield.
He waves me off and I almost feel excited that I don’t have to wait long to see him again.
‘Ren? That you?’
The screen door creaks as I open it. I finish sending a message to Kathleen to confirm my safe return home. Little does she know, I’m heading out again.
‘It’s me, Dad.’
‘Where you been all day?’
‘A fancy wedding. I told you, remember? I brought you some food.’
I go directly to the kitchen and fetch him a plate.
I unwrap the paper napkin and empty the contents into the middle.
Some of the food from the buffet table got crushed on my way home, and the ones that were warm are now cold.
I put it all in the microwave and go to the fridge to pour him a glass of milk.
Then I deliver everything to the couch. He’s watching baseball again with his feet up.
‘Thank you, sweet pea,’ he murmurs as I crouch down next to him. ‘You at Surly’s tonight?’
‘Uh-huh.’
‘Again? When was the last time they gave you the night off?’
‘We talked about this. Sooner I pay back the debt, sooner I can be done with it.’
He bows his head. ‘I hate that you have to dance there ’cause of me. I hate goddamn Kale McCoy.’
I lean forward, kissing his forehead. We don’t talk about the particulars. What I must do for tips to pay off his debt. ‘Well, I couldn’t bear the alternative.’
‘I’m grateful to you, sweetheart. Promise you’re still being careful out there…’
‘I am, Daddy. I can handle myself. How’s the breathing today?’
Around the same time Momma left, Dad started having trouble breathing. He was diagnosed with emphysema. It was just another reason I couldn’t leave.
‘It was okay, sugar pie. I should be the one taking care of you. Not the other way around.’ He eats another one of the hors d’oeuvres, his gaze drifting back to the baseball. ‘How fancy was the wedding?’
‘Country Club fancy.’
‘Who all was getting married?’
My stomach performs a somersault. ‘Brody Conway. You know, as in the Mutineer Conways?’
He shakes his head. ‘I know ’em. More money than sense.’
I need to get moving. ‘Don’t wait up for me, okay?’
Upstairs, while I change outta my dress, my phone pings. I unlock the screen to find an unknown number has sent me a message.
I open it up. It’s a screenshot of my official photograph from the CMC, the one that’s on the website. With a single message beneath.
When it comes to the Mutineers, I have the highest security clearance. Every employee. Everything I need to know is at my fingertips.
My throat goes dry. It’s him.
And he’s making a point.
Brody Conway’s not gonna leave me alone in a hurry.