The Ford Brothers Series Box Set, page 63
Garrett feigns being wounded. “Ooo, you better not tell Wade that. Word gets around that he’s gay and that’ll narrow his audience dramatically.”
“They’re from Virginia, baby. Nobody will ever see them again.”
Garrett gets a serious look on his face as he takes my hand. “So, could you ever see yourself doing that?”
“Doing what?”
“Getting married.” He kisses my hand, but his eyes don’t leave mine.
My heart begins to pound. “Yeah. I could see myself doing that. You?”
“Absolutely.” The look he gives me is intense. Holy shit. He wants to marry me. Oh my God!
Wade interrupts our moment as he announces that he’s taking a break. As he approaches, Garrett’s gaze is still on me. Wade’s hand goes to my shoulder. “I don’t know what you did to get rid of them, but thanks. That’s always a pain in my ass.”
Garrett takes his eyes off me. “Oh, you don’t want to know what she did, my brother. Trust me.” He giggles.
“I’m sure it was noble.” Wade says, kissing my cheek. Out of all the brothers, he’s definitely my favorite. Wade is young and motivated and very passionate about what he does. He also wears his heart on his sleeve and has no filter…like me.
“Awww…of course it was noble, sweetie.” I say to him, patting his hand.
“Hey…that’s enough.” Garrett jokes, intervening. Wade steals Garrett’s beer and downs it in one go. “Sure, Wade. You can have some of my beer.” Garrett chuckles, aghast.
“Hey, thanks.” Wade says, breathless. He goes over to Jack and attempts to steal his beer, too, but Jack gives him the spare beer on the table. “Here, pissant. I got you one of your own.”
“Wade, after all the sweating you do on stage, don’t you think water would suit you better?” I point out.
“Water.” Wade’s tone is flat. “You want me to drink water.” He pauses and licks his lips. “That’s like offering the Cookie Monster a cracker.”
A young blonde walks by and Wade loses all sight of the conversation, following her rack all the way across the room.
“You were saying.” I interrupt his ogling.
“Yeah…err…I’ll be right back.” Wade says to nobody in particular, and follows the blonde.
“Offer him a beer or a blonde and the boy doesn’t know which way to turn.” Garrett comments.
“I bet you were the same nine months ago.” I tease.
“Oh, give me some credit.” Garrett is half-joking. “Wade’s a hormone with legs.”
I smile and pat Garrett’s hand. He’s on the opposite side of the table, sitting on a bench seat. “Come over here.” He gestures with his head for me to sit beside him on the bench. As I walk over, he raises his arm and puts it around me.
“You two gonna start up again?” Jack asks over the din of soft music playing.
“Why? You wanna watch?” Garrett shoots back.
“I already am, man.” Jack says.
“Cut it out, you two.” Colton intervenes, just as Wade returns.
“You get her number, little brother?” Dalton asks.
“Na, she’s married.” Wade is casual, like there are plenty more fish in the sea. “Would have been hot though. But I don’t want to get my ass kicked.”
“Good call.” Colton says. “Is your set over?”
“No, not yet. You guys don’t have to stick around if you don’t want to.”
“Actually, I think we’ll head out shortly.” Garrett says, looking at me a little too warmly.
Wade catches on and nods slowly, “Niiiice.” He gives Garrett a thumbs up.
Garrett’s face turns beet red, and the other three boys chuckle, as if they’ve just shared some private joke.
“What is so funny?” I ask, but I know.
“Garrett can never keep a straight face when he’s got something up his sleeve. Or when he’s done something…naughty.” Dalton says.
“Or when he’s thinking of doing something naughty.” Wade adds.
“Thanks. Thanks a lot.” Garrett says, taking a drink out of his empty beer bottle. He’s so cute I could die.
“You want another beer, baby?” I ask, trying to save him. But it’s too late. His face is as red as a tomato. He can’t even look at me. “It’s okay, sweetie. Don’t be embarrassed.”
“Can we go?” he bites his lower lip
“Why the rush, Garrett?” Wade rubs it in.
Garrett is staring at a spot on the wall. “You’re such an asshole. All of you are.” He looks at me and touches my hand quickly. “Except you. I didn’t mean you.”
“Well of course not.” I giggle. “Oh, Lord, Garrett. What am I going to do with you?”
“I know.” Wade says with an insinuating tone, taking a sip of his beer.
“Oh, grow up, Wade.” I chide good-naturedly. “Garrett and I have been together for nine months. This is the first time we’ve been away alone together. You don’t think we’ve already had some fun before we got here? Twice? Get real.” I sink back my wine and wink at Garrett.
Wade, Dalton, Colton and Jack are looking at me like I’ve just told them I’m secretly married to a goat. A huge grin appears on Garrett’s face as he sees the looks on his brothers faces. “And that’s why I love you.” He nods, pleased. And he kisses me full on the mouth, no longer caring if any of his brothers are watching.
Chapter 15
Garrett
The weekend was utterly perfect. It could not have gone better if I’d planned it that way. Nora and I are so close after this weekend, I feel like this relationship is completely indestructible. It was hard saying goodbye to her before my week-long trip to Europe. I’m flying three back-to-back flights to and from Italy, and I’m going to miss the hell out of Nora this week. It helps that we spent an incredible two days together first.
As I arrive in Italy, I’m exhausted, but a friend told me that some of the most beautiful jewelry in the world can be found in Italy. I really wish Nora could have come with me. My experience with jewelry doesn’t extend beyond my watch. Even that was a gift. I’ve never set foot inside a jewelry store, especially an Italian one, where I’m guessing the saleswoman doesn’t speak a word of English.
When I approach the counter, the saleswoman gives me the once-over, noticing the logo on the breast pocket of my uniform, and she says hello. Her accent isn’t even that thick as she welcomes me to the jewelry store.
“You are American, yes?” she asks. Her half-moon shaped glasses are perched on her nose. Dark hair is piled on her head in a bun.
“Yes. I’d like to purchase an engagement ring.”
Her eyes light up. “Oh, yes! Come over here, please.”
Cha…ching!
She shows me the assortment of rings. Some of them are ugly as ass, some of them are nice but not for Nora, and one of them is pretty, but way too big for Nora’s taste. “Can you get this one cut with a smaller diamond? Like…half that size?” I ask, after being told that the ring is a full two carat diamond, with two one carat diamonds on either side, and smaller, crushed diamonds all the way around the band.
“Custom will take six weeks plus delivery.” She says bluntly. This woman wants to sell this one hundred thousand dollar ring…today. And it’s obvious that by cutting the diamond sizes in half, that the value is also cut by half…and her commission.
“I’m not in a rush. Can you deliver it to the States?” she tells me she can’t deliver it directly to me; that it has to be delivered to a jewelry store closest to me. I tell her that that suits me, and I fill out the paperwork and fork out the deposit. The remainder I can pay upon delivery. With the cash I just laid out, you would think that she would be more enthusiastic, but she offers me a limp handshake and tells me to have a good day.
Exactly six weeks later I get a call from the local jewelry store, alerting me of its arrival. They were eager to have me pick it up that day, which tells me that they, too, get some kind of commission out of it. Dare I ask if they can store it for me until our one year anniversary. Not. It’s late, and I’m exhausted from flying locally all day and night. Luckily the jewelry store is willing to stay open until past ten o’clock so I can pick it up. I don’t know if they’re anxious to get their money or if they’re reluctant to keep a fifty thousand dollar ring in their inventory overnight. Either way I go pick it up.
As I arrive back from the store, I bring the ring into my office and open my safe. Just as I turn the dial on the safe, my office door opens, scaring the shit out of me. “Jesus, Jack! Learn how to knock!” I chide, seeing my brother prance into my office like it’s the men’s restroom.
“Whoaaa…whatcha got there?” he says, although it’s pretty obvious what it is. The velvet box is blue, and the small gift bag that it came in is hanging from my pinky finger. “That what I think it is?”
“Yes. And if you say anything, I’ll tie you up in one of my planes and leave you there, forcing you to watch porn for twenty-four hours with your hands tied behind your back.”
Jack is stunned. “Why are you putting it in the safe? Aren’t you just going to propose? Why wait if you’ve got the ring already?”
“Because I want to do it on our anniversary, which is only a couple of weeks away.”
“You’re gonna chicken out.” Jack waves.
“I’m not.” I say, stuffing the ring inside the safe.”
“You know I figured out the combination to that years ago, right?”
“Have you got someone you want to give it to?”
Jack shrugs. “No. But I bet I’d give it to Nora before you do.”
I close the door to the safe. “Say anything and remember what I’ll do to you.”
“You sure you’re ready for this?”
“No doubt in my mind at all.” I say with strong conviction.
“And you think she’ll say yes?”
“I think she’ll jump in the air, straddle me, then hug me so tight she strangles me, and then…yes, I think she’ll say yes.”
Jack is satisfied. “You couldn’t have picked a better girl.”
“Thanks, man.”
“Can I be the Best Man?”
I roll my eyes. “Jesus…four brothers…how the hell am I going to choose between you all.”
“We can all do it, but Dalton’s the one who’s closest to you in age.”
“So now you don’t want to do it.”
“I never said that. She have any sisters?”
“You know she’s an only child.”
“What about the smoking hot friends she claims to have?”
“Is this about me or you?”
“Never mind. Hey, how are you going to do it?”
“Simple. Elegant. Candles. I’m going to tell Missy, though. I think that’s best. It’ll be a lot easier on her that way, and Nora will be over the moon if I include Missy in this.”
“You think Missy will be good with it?”
“Oh, yeah. Missy and I are great.”
“What about…the ex…” he’s snapping his fingers together, “David, is it?”
“Yeah,” I purse my lips together. “He can drop dead for all I care. He’s an asshole. I don’t care what he thinks of this. He’s got nothing to do with it.”
“True. You gonna like…adopt Missy when you get married? Be like…her stepfather?”
“Maybe. I’m up for that if that’s what they want. I want both my girls to be happy. I’ll do whatever it takes to get there.”
“Wow. My big brother’s all grown up.” Jack teases.
“Shut up.”
“Ooops…he’s back.” Jack chuckles. “That didn’t take long.”
“Get lost. I gotta go get some shut-eye.”
“Hey, let me know when you take the plunge, eh?” Jack winks.
“Sure.”
Chapter 16
Jane
Missy and I sit, watching a chick flick on Netflix. Nora, her mom, is working late and Missy didn’t want to stay home alone. She seems to enjoy herself more when she’s here. I think it’s just the change of scenery, but I never bothered to ask. I enjoy Missy’s company. I’m a Social Worker for the Region, and thus, I tend to relate better to teenagers and kids. Nora and my sister are the only real adult friends that I have, aside from a few casual work relationships. I’m also gay, but nobody except my sister knows that. I never want Missy to feel uncomfortable around me, so I keep that to myself. My niece gets along great with Missy, and she lives walking distance away, so we spend a lot of time together.
Nora gave me the keys to her place years ago, when Missy was still little. Sometimes when Nora works really late, I stop in and check on Missy, especially when I haven’t seen her that day. Nora appreciates the support, being a single mother and all. I’ve met David on a number of occasions, and to be frank, the man makes my skin crawl. To be fair, many men do, but he takes the cake. I’ve got a sixth sense with most people given my line of work, and my radar went up the moment I met David for the first time. Garrett has an aura of trust, and I sensed it within seconds of his presence. He’s a good guy. Nora has great taste. If she could just ditch the ex, all would be good.
David and Missy have a special bond. There’s no doubt about that, but somehow, I think in a lot of ways, David is brainwashing Missy. What makes that situation complicated is that David has clout with Nora. Most exes are kept at arm’s length, and only given a bit of slack. Nora, as much as I love her, is a fool. She gives David way too much slack, and he seems to get in there and take more and more. He’s a taker. Garrett’s a giver. There’s a clear difference there. David was Nora’s first love, and I get that, but she’s got to learn to draw the line with that guy. He’s been in and out of trouble too many times with the law, and it’s like he’s leading a double life. He’ll disappear for weeks, and then he’s around like a leech again. I’ve noticed that Missy tends to behave the same way sometimes. Whether that’s related to her dad’s appearances or not remains to be seen.
As much as I try to mind my own business, it’s hard when I see situations like this all the time at work. I see the warning signs pop up here and there and I try to keep out of it. But it’s hard. Nora’s a good person and she deserves so much better than she’s been given. I know that she’s trying to do the right thing for Missy, but something tells me that this David guy is way too manipulative, and both Missy and Nora are way too sweet and innocent to read between the lines. David’s got something up his sleeve. I know this because shit tends to hit the fan when he makes a disappearance, and then reappears out of the blue. Usually with another score to settle with the law, or some deal in the making.
Call me crazy, but I’ve followed the bastard around a couple of times. He’s mixing with the wrong bunch, that I can tell. Whether it’s drugs or money laundering, or whatever it is, I can’t really tell. I’ve considered hiring a private investigator to dig a little deeper beyond my scope, but I’m sure that’s crossing the line, and I’m not sure that if I approached Nora about it, had I ever come up with some solid evidence against the scum bag, that she’d ever trust me again. For now, I just need to focus on being a good friend to the girls.
It’s late and Missy’s been home alone for two hours. I worry on nights like this. Nora’s scheduled work times often get changed without notice, and tonight’s one of those nights. Sometimes she doesn’t have a second to contact Missy or myself, to let us know. If I think I’ve got a tough job, it pales in comparison to Nora’s, that’s for sure. I try calling Missy, to make sure she’s okay and that she has locked her door, but she’s not answering. I’m guessing that she’s gone to bed, judging by the lights in the living room being off. I’m hesitant to knock on the door; I don’t want to startle her. But my gut is churning for some reason. Something feels wrong. My instincts are almost always right, and I listen to my gut when it tries to convey a message.
Using my key, I open the door and call for Missy. There are no strange cars parked on the street, and the driveway is clear. I’m familiar with David’s car, so I know he’s not here. At least he better not be. I’ll kill the bastard if he’s here this late, alone with Missy, without so much as a call first to me or Nora…or Missy. When I call for her, she doesn’t answer. The house is quiet, and the lights are all off, except for the glowing light at the bottom of Missy’s closed bedroom door. She’s still up. Either that or she’s fallen asleep with the lamp on. Another good reason to check on her. I have a thing for fire hazards. Lamps should be handled with care.
As I approach her room, I call her name, and I expect to see her open her bedroom door and peek her head out, but she doesn’t. I’ve done that a couple of times. I tap on her door, and there’s no answer. Turning the knob, I feel my heart pound. Something is wrong. Something is terribly wrong. I can feel it. When I open the door, the first thing I see is blood. It’s pooled on the floor beside Missy’s bed. “Oh my God, Missy!” I gasp, running to her. One arm is laying, limp and lifeless, from the bed. Her pale face rests on the pillow. Blood is sprayed all over her bed and some on the walls. “Jesus Christ, Missy!” I shout. Her eyes open for a second, and then they close. Reaching for my cell phone I dial nine-one-one. That’s when I see it. The razor blade on her nightstand.
“Missy, oh my God!” I gasp as the emergency operator picks up. I explain what’s happened and give the necessary details. As I’m explaining, Missy opens her eyes again. “Missy, can you hear me? Stay with me, okay? I’m here.” I plead. Glancing at her other arm I see that she hasn’t butchered that side. Maybe she lost her nerve or passed out from the sight of blood and couldn’t go through with it. Or maybe she was just going for dramatic effect and didn’t want to actually commit suicide. I’ve seen that many times. Either way this girl needs help. She’s confided in me on minor things, but nothing that amounts to this. Something is wrong. Terribly wrong.
I dial Nora’s cell phone, and then chide myself; she’s not allowed to have her phone on at work. I look up the hospital’s number and dial quickly, asking for Nora, saying that it’s an emergency. The receptionist says that she’ll page her and places me on hold. Nora picks up ten seconds later. The longest ten seconds of my life.
