Take Me On

Chapter 42

West

I finished the last item on my thin to-do list for Denny a half hour ago, but for the fourth time today, I sweep the stockroom. Guess with moving home, I could have quit, but I’ve stayed on as Denny’s monkey for multiple reasons.

One, I need the money in case Dad changes his mind and throws me out again. Two, oddly enough, I like what I do here. I fix things. I’m useful. For once in my life I actually do something right. But the last reason, the most important reason, deals with Mom.

It’s the fourth Friday of the month and six-fifty in the evening. Rachel had surgery last Friday and Mom was chained to her side. If life goes on as normal, I’m betting Mom pushed back the visit by a week, and all I want for my birthday is to discover why she visits.

My cell buzzes and I ignore it. My mother whispered a happy birthday to me this morning from the door of my bedroom when she left at five to see Rachel. Dad mumbled something as he left for work that sounded like an acknowledgment of my existence while I ate breakfast in the kitchen. My brothers and friends have texted their birthday wishes and the continuing texts have been from my closer friends—friends from my old life.

Most of the messages say the same things. Where have you been? There’s a party tomorrow night. You’ve gotta come. It’s been too long. Weeks ago, I would have, but with the fight looming a month away, my nights belong to Haley.

The door to the bar opens and Denny sticks in his head. Johnny Cash sings about a ring of fire and a woman’s drunk laughter drifts with him into the room. “Have you become learning impaired or crippled since I last saw you?”

I continue to sweep the nonexistent dirt. “Got a point?”

“Yeah, you should have been done a half hour ago.”

Our eyes meet and my heart beats once. Denny has never pushed me out. He has to be in on the secret. “I get paid by the hour.”

The Vin Diesel stunt double shakes his head and widens the door. “He’s not coming out so I guess you’re going in.”

My hands freeze on the broom handle and for a short second I expect my mother. Instead, Abby walks in with a Hostess CupCake on a plate and a single lit candle.

“Don’t get delusional and think this means I like you,” says Abby. “Because I don’t. I’m being blackmailed and I don’t appreciate it. I do the blackmailing, not the other way around.”

Denny leans against the open door with his arms crossed over his chest and a smirk planted on his face. “You have the rest of the night off with full pay. Get the hell out of my bar.”

“How did you know?” I ask.

Denny gestures toward Abby and Abby holds up a cell. “Rachel.”

Rachel. The two of them might as well have used razor blades against my soul. I take the phone and a moment before saying, “Hey.”

“Happy birthday!” I can hear Rachel’s smile. “Did Abby give you a piece of cake?”

I survey the prepackaged glob of sugar. “And a candle.”

“Good. Make a wish and blow it out.”

With an owner of a run-down bar and a drug dealer watching me, I stare at the burning candle and wish for Rachel’s health, for her happiness and for her forgiveness. I release a breath and watch as smoke rises into the air. “It’s done, Rach.”

“I love you,” she says.

Me, too. “Thanks.” I’m not sure how to react when my eyes burn.

“Abby says you have a girlfriend.”

Abby rocks her eyebrows when I glare at her. I sigh, not wanting to lie to Rachel, but the truth is, I like Haley. A lot. As much as I’m dying to see her naked, I’m just as content hanging out with her fully clothed. There’s a strange tugging inside me and I try not to focus on it because that chaos scares the shit out of me. “Yeah.”

“I want to meet her.”

“Maybe.” I consider adding on “freakasaurus.” I used to call Rachel that, but I lost the right to tease her months ago.

“I’ve got to go. A nurse walked in. Happy birthday again.” She ends the call and I hand the cell to Abby.

In a whirl, Abby turns on Denny. “If you give me twenty dollars, I’ll make sure he goes out the back.”

With a look used by marine interrogators, Denny assesses Abby. “You better.” He yanks a twenty out of his pocket, gives it to her, then leaves, slamming the door shut behind him.

“I’m not leaving,” I say.

“Didn’t expect you to think you would, but you will. And FYI—when you freak later because you rush out of here like your penis is on fire and like your eyes have been sprayed with Mace, know I stayed to watch your mom’s back. Then you will, once again, owe me. Since you’re in good graces with Daddy, I’m thinking cash this time. In increments of lots of zeros.”

“Don’t hold your breath because I’m staying.”

Abby cocks her head. “Aren’t you supposed to be meeting with Haley soon?”

“You do stalk me, don’t you?”

“Don’t flatter yourself. Everyone at school knows you and Matt will be going at it in April and that Haley’s all Mr. Miyagi Karate Kid to your Daniel-san. Has she taught you wax on and wax off yet? If so, can you teach me? I’m totally ready to kick some ass.”

“Conner and I will be going at it, not me and Matt,” I correct her, then ignore everything else.

There’s a gleam in her eye I don’t like. “Whatever you say. Check it out—I’m feeling generous today, so are you ready for your present?”

I hold out a hand, waiting for her worst.

“Okay, this isn’t your present, but it’s important. Matt figured out your weakness.”

This ought to be funny since the only weakness I have at the moment is Rachel and no one at school besides Jessica and Abby knows I’m a trust fund Young. “What does he think it is?”

“Haley,” she says in a “duh.” “A blind man could see you falling for the girl with your long ass stares and tongue hanging out of your mouth. Matt and his crew are chilling at Haley’s place of employment tonight and his birthday gift to you is to rattle her.”

The broom snaps against the floor as I drop it. “How do you know this?”

“I told you already—there isn’t much that happens in my territory that I don’t know.”

I step for the back door and Abby grabs me. “I haven’t given you your birthday present.”

“I don’t give a fuck about a present.” I need to get to Haley.

Abby clings to me and stares straight into my eyes, not caring I’ll haul her ass with me in order to protect my girl. “It’s your mom,” she says in a rush. “She’s not having an affair. She comes here to see her brother.”