“I can’t ask you to do that. It’s too much.”
Robert reaches out, covering my hand with his. I keep still even as my arm twitches. “No, it’s not. I should’ve done more to help a long time ago.”
At that I do slide my hand out from under his, grabbing my water instead. I study the droplets running down the glass.
“You don’t owe me anything. I’m not your obligation, so please don’t worry. I’ll figure it out on my own.”
“You’re not an obligation,” Drew protests harshly, earning himself a tight-lipped smile.
“It’s true, Angela, you’re not. You were my daughter, too, once upon a time.” My heart squeezes in my chest. Were. So close, yet so far away. “I’d be honored to help.”
Drew’s been filling his dad in on my college predicament over lunch—a nice affair I also tried to get out of but couldn’t—and apparently, the company they both work for has a program for their employees interested in taking business courses. The college keeps spots in certain classes at the ready as the firm offers first dibs on intern positions to top graduates. Robert offered to get me a spot in the summer course I was just turned away from.
“Thank you very much for the offer. And for the meal. It was nice to have some family,” I wince when my voice cracks, “there for me today.” I gulp down more water, hoping to drown the frog perched in my throat.
“You’re so strong. I’ve watched over the years, you know?” He looks between me and his son. “Andrew used to come home upset over what your mom would do, the things she’d say. God, it must’ve been hell for you all those years.”
“Dad.”
“Hear me out. Andrew wouldn’t always tell me what was going on, but having lived with Rianne myself, I could fill in the blanks.” He shivers quite theatrically and I would laugh except I know he’s not exaggerating. “The crap your mother put you through time and time again, and believe me here, Angela, nobody should have to go through that, especially not a child. And I am sorry that I couldn’t do more for you then. I tried though.” My gaze snaps to his. “Boy, did I try. A blind man could see how Rianne treated you was wrong and I may have been slow to catch on but I wasn’t blind. During the divorce, I offered her a larger sum if she’d allow you to come and live with me.” His sad eyes meet Drew’s. “I never told you that. I know it was a tough time there for a while, you choosing to live with your mom and all. Which I understand. I know I wasn’t the best father, to either of you, but I wanted to make things better for all of us.” He turns to me, water filling his bronze eyes. “But she wouldn’t agree.”
“Why?” the frog and I croak out. Thanks to Robert’s confession, the amphibian is sticking around a while longer.
“That I can’t answer. I honestly don’t know.” He crosses his arms on top of the table. “Pride?”
I scoff through a watery hiccup. Sounds about right.
“What I didn’t know at the time though, was that you two would find each other all on your own. You’ve healed each other in ways that I never would’ve been able to. And it turned out you didn’t need anyone’s saving, Angela. You just needed a friend by your side all along. I’m so proud of you both.” The tears in his eyes finally spill over and I fight mine from following suit. Feeling Drew’s hand under the table, I latch onto it, lacing our fingers together. “It’d give me no greater joy than to help in this one small way, if you’d let me. Just think of me as another friend in your corner.”
Robert’s graying hair still has bits of Drew’s auburn to it and I remember when it was the other way around, only lightly salted, and in this moment all I see is his son. My best friend for as long as I can remember, for as long as I want to remember, I know everything he’s done, everything he’s given has only been out of pure love and selflessness. Attributes unfamiliar to the Taylors. So foreign, I’m still fighting the novelty when I do encounter them, even to this day. Which is why I nod, feeling tears escape from the movement, and say, “Okay.”
Without delay, he stands, coming to my side and before I can fully push out of my chair, I’m enveloped in a tight hug. I lift my arms to wrap around him, but Drew beats me to it, wrapping his around both of us. We stand here, huddled in an amazingly awkward group hug for several minutes, letting the affection soak in.
I don’t know who moves first but we eventually pull back, each of us wiping our eyes as discreetly as possible.
“Congratulations, Angela. I know you’ll go far. You’ve already beat the odds stacked against you. Don’t let anyone tell you anything different.” Robert looks me in the eye.
“Thank you, Robert.” I turn to Drew. “And thank you.”
“Aww, stop, you’re making me blush,” he teases.
I kiss his colorless cheek.
“You heading home?” Drew asks as we make our way out the door and I nod. The high temperature from this afternoon is still holding steady and I’m glad the long gown is no longer required.
“Speaking of, those neighbors of yours certainly seemed smitten with you. They don’t give you any trouble, do they?”
“Nothing I can’t handle,” I tell Robert honestly.
“I don’t doubt that. But let me know if they step out of line. Living next to three guys could end one of two ways.” A porn or a horror movie, I know, I refrain from saying. Wrong audience. “Really bad or really fun. I hope for your sake it’s the latter. You could use some good in your life.”
I attempt a salute, causing both men to chuckle lightly. Looks like I found a new thing to do with my hands at least.
Cringing, I promise to keep in touch, then wave before leaving.
* * *
Back home, I’m too busy replaying what Robert shared that I barely notice the busy parking lot. I scoop up my discarded items and climb the stairs without a second thought.
Only when I see the cupcake bouquet in front of my door do I stop to take in my surroundings. There’s loud music coming from…somewhere. People with drinks in their hands are milling about but not from any particular apartment. A glance back at the lot shows all three bikes, and cars, which means the boys are home. Are they having a party?
Carefully balancing the pail—the bouquet really is cute, with frosting piped petals and leaves on the miniature cakes to look like a bundle of flowers—I unlock the door and place them on the counter before discarding the rest of my stuff.
A note catches my eye as I’m drinking some ice water and I try not to laugh at the first two lines.
Swimsuits are great,
But skinny dipping is, too.
Meet us at the pool,
Or we’ll come and get you.
I spot Beckett first as he rests against the fence, leaned into a girl, his usual crude biker shirt stretched across his chest, this one reading Eat, Sleep, Ride with swim trunks and a backward hat. He fits the party boy image perfectly. The sign from earlier is hanging next to him, tied to the fence.
“Oh, shit.” He notices me and straightens, yelling behind him, “She’s here!”
My eyebrows scrunch together and I peer behind me to see who just arrived. When I don’t see anyone, I turn back in time to hear a sloppy chorus of “Congratulations, neighbor girl!” from the mass of people strewn around the pool area.
Beckett lunges for me before I can move and lifts me clear off my feet. “Happy Graduation, Angie.”
“This is for me?” I take in the strangers staring my way and whisper out the side of my mouth, “Who are all these people?”
“Who cares. They’re here to celebrate your huge accomplishment and that’s all that matters. And yes, it’s for you. I’m proud of you, our little neighbor girl.”
“We’re proud of you.” Coty steps up. “Put her down. I didn’t get to hug the grad yet.”
“No, then I won’t get her back once you get your hands on her.”
Coty lifts an eyebrow.
“Do I get a say here?”
I’m met with a firm “no” from each.
“Fine.” I grab Beckett’s cheeks and lay a close-mouthed kiss against his pliant lips. Ignoring the sharp inhale to our right, I pull back, looking him in the eyes to tell him, “Thank you.” His face softens into a smile as the rest of him stays as rigid as a board. “Now, can you please put me down? The air is really thin up here.” I pretend to gasp making us both laugh. “Also, there’s someone else I have to thank.”
“Alright,” he relents, placing me on my feet, then points at Coty. “But you have to share her tonight.”
“No promises.” And the way Coty’s staring at me, I know he means it.
“Yeah, I figured as much. Anyway, enjoy your party tonight, Angie, ‘cause it’s back to business tomorrow.” I don’t bother correcting him that it doesn’t matter what day it is, this is what they do anyways. Parties are kind of their thing. I do, however, mock chide them about their embarrassing display earlier. They both grow quiet at the mention of my Jeep but have the decency to look somewhat chastised. Well, Coty does anyway, Beckett looks like he’s already cooking up plans for the next prank he can pull.
“Wow.” I face Coty, sticking my hands in my skirt pockets after Beckett slinks back to his female companion. “That hurt worse than I thought it would.”
“What did?”
“Seeing your lips on another man.”
I drop my gaze to the ground. “Would it help if I told you he had horrible breath?”
“I heard that!” Beckett shouts, then quieter he tells the girl, “I don’t. She’s just joking.”
Unable to hold back any longer, Coty and I dissolve into a fit of laughter. It feels good to have my friend back, or whatever he is to me. Do friends give phenomenal oral?
Shaking my head, I give him a thorough appraisal. The white tank he’s wearing covers the top of his black swim trunks that sit low on his hips, showing just enough skin to heat my own. I think back to when I saw him shirtless and my gaze lands on his tattoos peeking from under his shirt.
“What do those mean?”
“That’s for another time.”
“Like when?”
“Like when I don’t still have the image of you kissing someone else.”
Friends definitely don’t get that jealous over a meaningless peck.
A lazy smirk makes its way across my mouth as I step closer to him. “Want me to erase the memory?” My hands snake up his chest, around his neck and into his hair. I feel Coty’s fingers land on my hips and I sway from the proximity.
“If you think you can.” His shrug’s a little too stiff, a little too forced. It’s his darkening eyes that totally give him away though. I have to bite back a smile.
“Oh, I know I can.” His hands grip me tighter, spurring me on as I close the distance, crashing my lips to his. Coty’s greed kicks in when my lips part, allowing his tongue to sweep inside. Mine chases his in a playful game of tag before I pull back with one last flick to his top lip.
Coty keeps his eyes closed as I watch his face. “You’re forgiven,” he whispers before meeting my gaze.
“For what?”
“For sharing those lips with someone that isn’t me.” He kisses said lips again, quickly. Too quickly. “And for ghosting me. I didn’t know what happened to you, and you wouldn’t even answer a single text, or come back to your apartment. I don’t know, I was losing my shit.”
Sighing, I drop my hands from his neck. “I know, I’m sorry.” Straight off a page from Luciana’s overachieving book, I’m giving myself the night off. From all of it—the caution, the guilt, the worry. Tonight, I’m letting it all go. “Thank you for trying though. I may not have responded, but I got every message and they meant a lot, along with you still showing up today for my graduation when you didn’t have to. I don’t deserve you.”
His arms wrap around my waist, holding me tight. “You deserve more than you think. You deserve everything.” Before I can disagree, he grabs my hand, saying, “Let’s show you off. It is your party after all and I’m supposed to be sharing. Although with you dressed like that, I don’t know how long my resolve will last.”
“I can change,” I offer weakly, not because a guy wants me to but because I have the urge to bring my hands up to cover myself without my go-to style in place.
“Don’t even think about it. I’d drop to my knees right now if I thought it’d keep you in that outfit.”
As he leans back showing his appreciation for my outfit, my imagination sparks, making my thighs clench.
I pull him back to me with a finger under his chin and against his lips, I whisper, “Drop to your knees and I’ll be the one begging you to take my clothes off.”
Growling, he pushes forward, crowding me again. “Upstairs. Now.”
I dance out of his reach. “Maybe later. There’s a party with my name on it,” I say, pointing to the huge sign that literally has my name on it—aside from the bottom chunk of the L that’s missing, making it look more like ANGEIA, but whatever. Arts and crafts are not these guys’ strong suits. Chiseled jawlines and sculpted muscles are more their speed and that’s okay. The point is they tried and this party is still for me, even if that means I have to change my name.
Coty sighs loudly. “Fine.”
There are at least thirty people enjoying the early summer weather and I’m once again wondering how the guys can pull this off without management stepping in. I internally cringe, imagining all the neighbors, including Gary, listening to the loud music right now.
We make the rounds, with Coty introducing me to different people scattered around the courtyard, and I smile politely, thanking them as we go, knowing I’ll never remember anyone’s names. It’s just too many at one time.
Coty’s constantly finding excuses to touch me. Whether to tuck some hair behind my ear, hold my hand, or smooth his palm down my back—he simply won’t stop.
We come to a row of tables, filled with finger foods, drinks and…sparklers? I’m not really sure honestly, but I recognize Marc’s sister as she sets out more napkins, so I give her a tight smile when she looks up.
“Hi! You must be the neighbor.”
Although true, there’s something more to her tone, almost dismissive, that doesn’t sit well. In fact, it doesn’t sit at all. It’s pacing like a caged animal, waiting to be fed.
I clench my teeth, taking her hand in mine for a limp shake. Coty wraps his arm around my middle, tucking me into his side. “Maggie, this is Angela. Angela, this is Maggie, Marc’s kid sister.” He kisses my temple which flexes with every bite of my jaw.
“Nice to meet you.” It’s not, really, but she is keeping the napkins stocked.
“Same.” Her gaze runs from me to Coty, then back again. With a finger propped on her lip, she says, “Although, I thought you would’ve been here with Tony. Wasn’t that who you were with last time I saw you?” She flicks her gaze to the pool.
Coty stiffens beside me.
“I live here, so that’s probably why you saw me. And I wouldn’t be with that guy anyway, I only met him once for a few minutes.”
“Oh,” her penetrating stare shifts to Coty, “then why did you give him a black eye?”
Now Coty’s the one with the ticking jaw. After a long, quiet moment, he breaks eye contact with Maggie to glance down at me, cocking his head. “He deserved it.”
“What are those?”
Our small triangle turns to see what Beckett’s shouting about, then follow his outstretched finger. Realizing what he’s pointing at, I pull out of Coty’s grasp. My heartbeat pounds louder than the outdoor speakers, filling my ears with its brassy beat. Right away, I begin searching the new sandals for scuffs, tears, holes, anything that would give me away—that would show what I truly am—only I can’t find a single mark. Nothing out of the ordinary whatsoever. What does he see that I don’t? What do any of them see for that matter?
I knew I should’ve changed.
I pin Beckett with a hard scowl, trying to keep my voice steady. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“Those nails, girl,” he says with a laugh. “You might be the only chick I’ve ever seen that doesn’t have her toenails painted.”
Oh. That. Yeah, add painting nails to the many things I never learned growing up.
My pulse slows and the music comes back into focus just before I’m scooped up from behind. With arms under my legs and back, Beckett takes the few steps across the cement bringing us closer to the pool ledge.
“Don’t you do it.”
His chest rumbles beneath my ribs as he advances. “What? This?” With one final step, he plunges into the deep end, taking me with him.
The chilled water slaps the part of my back exposed from the crop top making goose bumps sprout. My previously light and flowy skirt turns into a heavy, restricting weight as the water penetrates the material, pulling me down faster than the giant himself. I kick out of his arms, trying to get my legs under me before I drown in front of a party full of my closest strangers. My feet finally make contact with the bottom, and pushing with all my might, I’m able to propel upward before I run out of air. Just as I reach the surface, Beckett’s hand latches onto my arm, pulling me over to the side.
“Damn, Angie, you sank like a fucking brick.”
“I’m wearing a skirt, asshole!”
“A white skirt.” I hear above our heads.
I was so busy trying not to die, the fact that my skirt is indeed white, therefore now see through, escaped my notice. One emergency at a time and all that, but I guess everyone’s priorities are different.
“What am I supposed to do now? This thing weighs a ton.” I try to drag some of the heavy material out of the water to no avail.
“Lose it.”
“And do what? Swim around in my fucking panties?”
“Yes?”
“No,” Coty grits, making Beckett chuckle.
“Can you grab me a towel then? I’ll go back upstairs to change.” Coty yanks one from a nearby chair that I’m hoping didn’t belong to anyone. “You had to choose the one time I wear something nice?” I scowl at Beckett.
“Shit, sorry.”
With my free hand, I splash his lowered face. “It’s okay. Just help me get out of here without everybody seeing my ass.”
“Can I see your ass?”
“No!” Coty and I say together.
They help me maneuver out of my skirt and into the towel with minimal flashing. I promise to return, then head up, wringing out my hair along the way.
Beckett told me, somewhat ominously, to wear my swimsuit, so I change into my bikini before grabbing my phone so I can listen to the three new voice mails shown.
“Angela, I’m sorry I missed today. Mom called and told me what she did. I just wanted you to know I disagreed with her and stood up for you. Whatever your differences are I just wish you two could leave me out of it. I feel like crap about missing today and just thought I’d let you know I’m thinking about you. I hope you had a good day anyway. I love you.”
I stare at the wall, thinking over my sister’s words. They don’t change what happened. They definitely don’t put relatives, my real relatives, in that coliseum when it counted most. But can I really be upset about the way it all played out in the end?
I delete the message.
“Hey, grad! My dad talked to Joanna, our contact we told you about, and she found an opening for you. Call me tomorrow and I’ll tell you the details. Don’t call me tonight! This is your graduation night and I hope you’re living it up. I just wanted to let you know so you don’t have to worry. We’ll talk later. Love you. Bye.”
I’m squealing before Drew even finishes, then sober to listen to the last voice mail; it’s from a number I don’t recognize.
“Angela, hi.” Joe. “Listen, I got you a present and was hoping to give it to you after your graduation. I can get away tonight if you want to meet up.” What? “I’ll try again later.”
There’s so much wrong with that voice mail I don’t even know where to begin.
I click on the number to respond with a quick text, letting him know a gift isn’t necessary—or wanted—and that I’ll see him at work tomorrow. In other words, thanks but no thanks. Gross.
My phone now charging, I straighten my swimsuit top just as someone knocks on the door—four quick knocks to be exact. Coty. Smiling, I open the door to find him shirtless, and holding my wrinkled skirt. At least I think it’s my skirt. I lost my train of thought at Coty’s bare chest.
Have mercy. On what, I don’t know. My sanity? My soul? I’m going with my groin since that’s what’s currently fighting for the most attention. To hell with the rest.
My eyes roam every inch of skin, greedily taking more as they go. His tattoos are on full display now, so I take my time studying them. I don’t realize I’m touching him until Coty clears his throat.
I pull my hand back abruptly, saying, “Sorry.”
He cracks a smile. “I wasn’t complaining, babe. I thought I’d bring this up for you.” Between his hands is a white heap of leaking skirt and it’s making a puddle on my bare doorstep. My lip twitches. “I tried to squeeze out as much water as possible on my way up here. Coincidentally, Gary might be stepping in a river the next time he leaves.” We glance down the hall to the quiet door. I’ve never seen him but the guys have told me about his, uh, habits. “And you were right, this thing’s heavy as shit. You’re lucky you didn’t drown.”
“Make sure to tell Beckett that. Let his guilt eat him alive.”
He drops his face, grimacing. “That was his way of getting you back up to your place. Shitty execution, I know, but it worked.” He chances another look at me and I lift an eyebrow.
“Why would he do that when you were the ones that asked me to go down there to begin with?” I gesture to the treat bouquet forgetting there’s an empty cupcake liner sitting on the counter next to it. Coty notices and tries to hide a grin. The sugar helped revive me after Skirtgate, and getting sidetracked by my phone, I forgot to clean up the evidence. What else am I supposed to do with a cupcake bouquet? Plant them and hope they multiply?
“So we could prepare.” He shrugs, passing me the garment, and double-handed, I throw it into the kitchen sink before returning my attention back to him.
“Prepare for what?”
Coty frowns at the neglected item over my shoulder. I’ll tend to it when I take care of the cupcakes…I mean put them away, for safe keeping.
In answer, he just holds out his hand, saying, “See for yourself.”
