“Hopefully that won’t happen until we can talk to Dad and get some more information, get another plan together.”
“I’ve got a gash in my side that says they’re far from patient and far from finished, so you’d better make it fast,” I remind him, rubbing lightly over my aching wound.
“Then we need to get to Dad fast.”
“Agreed. So what are we waiting for? Let’s go today, get the ball rolling.”
“I’ve got a few things to do this morning, but my early afternoon is free. I just need to be back in time to pick up Olivia from school.”
“I told you I’m—” Olivia begins to argue, but Cash cuts her off.
“I know what you said, but I told you there’s nothing more important than making sure you’re safe. You better be glad I’m not going to class with you.”
He leans over to kiss the side of her neck and she grins. “I wouldn’t learn a thing if you were in my class.”
“I could make up for that later. I’m sure I could teach you a few things.”
She giggles and he nips playfully at her ear. Again, it gnaws at me that he’s been living this perfect life while I’ve been in exile. I’ve missed out on . . . everything.
Biting back all the snide comments I could make, I clear my throat and continue as if they’re not practically devouring each other in their heads.
“Obviously, I’m wide open, so . . .” I happen to glance over at Marissa and see that she looks more than a little uncomfortable. I’m not sure if it’s because her ex-boyfriend is gushing all over her cousin or if it’s something else. “Unless you have something you need to do today, Marissa. I can tag along and keep an eye on you.”
“You don’t need to do that,” she says graciously. Her expression still appears . . . bothered, though. “I’m not sure what I’m going to do, anyway.”
“What, no work?”
“Everyone but my father thinks I’m still out of town, so I still have a few days off.”
“And do what?”
I’ve never been a fan of idle time.
She shrugs. “Maybe do a little research.”
“On . . .” I prompt.
Marissa clears her throat. For whatever reason, I get the feeling she’s uncomfortable with my questioning. “Criminal law.”
“Ahh,” I say, leaning back in my chair. “So I’m not the only one who wants revenge, then.”
She looks up at me. “I didn’t say that.”
“You didn’t have to.”
“Like Cash, I think there’s a way to do it legally and achieve all our goals.”
“All our goals?”
Twin pink spots appear on the apples of her cheeks. “Like it or not, we’re all in this together.”
“Exactly!” Olivia says emphatically. “Which is why we need to stick together.”
“Believe it or not, Nash is actually the brains in the family. He could probably be a huge help with research. Of course, you’d have to explain that to all the people at your father’s law firm.”
“I was thinking of going to the county library. You know, avoid . . . everybody.”
Oh yeah, Marissa’s definitely hiding from something. Or someone. For whatever reason, that intrigues me. She doesn’t seem like the type to run or hide. And, from what little I saw of her with my brother, she always seemed in control, so it surprises me to see her at such a loss. Of course, she did just get kidnapped. And dumped. All in a couple days’ time.
Damn, that’s one shitty week!
“Even better,” Cash says. “They’ll probably think Nash is some kind of criminal working on his case. No offense, man, but you do look kinda rough.”
He cringes and I laugh. “Luckily, I have no desire to please or deceive anyone about who and what I am, so . . .”
Cash sobers at my blatant reminder of the life of lies he’s lived. I know that was a low blow, but my temper is on a short fuse. Has been for about seven years.
After the last couple of days, my mood seems to be even darker than usual. Maybe I just need some tension relief.
I need to get laid.
My eyes and my thoughts go straight to Marissa. I’ll have her before it’s over with. And she’ll be begging me for it before I’m through. I just hope she can keep it physical. She’s been through enough without adding heartbreak to the mix. But then again, that’s not my problem.
Cash is right. You really are an ass**le, man.
The problem is, I just can’t seem to find a reason to care.
FOUR
Marissa
I examine my reflection in the mirror for the tenth time, and then I wonder for the tenth time why I care what I look like today. I’m going to the county law library. No big deal. But for the tenth time, only an image goes through my mind in answer.
Nash.
He’s under my skin. I don’t know why. And I don’t know why I’m letting it go on. It’s totally unlike me to let anything get beyond my control. And yet I’m jumping in headfirst with this . . . this . . . attraction, or whatever it is.
I sigh as I take in my long hair, brushed into a shiny, platinum wave; my deep blue eyes, lined with smoky gray shadow; and my pouty lips, glistening with dark pink gloss. To me, I look better than I have in months. Maybe years. I can’t imagine the reason for that. At this point, all I do know is that it feels good, whatever is happening to me. It feels good to focus on Nash, to focus on things that aren’t familiar to me. It feels good to hide away from my life and the people who have filled it for so many years. I almost want to throw away all things old and find the new. That might be the most bizarre thing of all.
To a pragmatist like me, it makes no sense to even consider doing something so rash. But maybe that’s the most appealing thing about it—it’s nothing like the me I’ve always been, the me I used to know. Maybe this is the new me. And maybe I want to embrace her completely and leave the old me behind.
That’s a lot of maybes, but I feel like I don’t have any answers right now. And, in the absence of answers, I’ll take all the maybes I can get. They’re far better than complete oblivion.
Tugging on the hem of my casual black skirt and straightening the neckline of the nearly sheer red blouse I coupled it with, I slip my feet into black heels and head for the living room.
“Ready when you are,” I announce as I come to a stop in front of the small table near the door where my purse always sits.