Man Cave, page 19
I entered the doctor’s office, Theo’s coat tucked under my arm.
“–book every day at six, so I figure four would work.” Verna was standing in the open office doorway, her back to me.
“Thanks.” That was Theo who responded.
Verna must’ve heard the door because she stuck her head out, saw me, then turned back to Theo. “I assume Mallory Mornay’s your six o’clock?”
I stilled, confused why she was talking about me with Theo when she knew I was standing right here.
“How do you know that?” Theo replied. I could hear the surprise in his voice. I’d known Verna a long time. She knew everything about everyone. It amazed me that Theo hadn’t caught on to that yet.
“That smile,” she said to him.
I blushed, then looked around, wondering if I should hear this. I should. Since Verna knew I was here, but clearly not Theo, their conversation was fair game.
And I wanted to know about the smile he had on his face.
“I’m not smiling because of Mallory.”
I clenched his puffy jacket and barely breathed.
“Oh? Gas pains?”
“Verna,” Theo warned.
“I thought you and Mallory had a thing going on.”
“How do you know that?”
She didn’t say anything because I assumed she was giving him a look.
“There is no thing,” he replied.
What?
“Oh? Then what is it?”
“There are some things a gentleman doesn’t share.”
“I’m not talking about that. I’m talking about love.”
Theo laughed. “Love? I don’t love Mallory Mornay. It’s just a standing–” He cleared his throat.
“Are you stringing her along then?” Verna sounded pissed.
I was too stunned to be pissed. I’m just a standing… yeah, I could fill in that blank.
“Of course not. Mallory knows that it’s only… you know.”
“Because Tom Zajik had chlamydia and you didn’t want her to get it on their date.”
WHAT? My mouth fell open and I leaned against the wall because… wow.
That was why Theo had been at The Lodge. That was why Tom had fled. Not diarrhea. That was why Theo had stepped in to have sex with me. Because the only guy who’d want me slept around and picked up sexually transmitted diseases.
“We don’t talk about patients, Verna,” Theo warned.
“I heard it from Sandra Nimoy, the gym teacher at the high school. I was in line behind her at the grocery store. I said hello and she told me all about it. It’s definitely not a secret.”
Everyone knew about Tom but me.
But that wasn’t important because Theo knew. He just inferred he was a patient.
“I’m talking about you and Mallory.”
“Why are we talking about me and Mallory? There’s nothing to say. There’s just… nothing.”
Nothing. I was nothing. I meant nothing to him. After everything we did together, that’s what he felt. Nothing.
I bit my lip. God, fuck. Shit. Dammit! Was I lovable for anyone?
Now I was pissed.
I stomped over to Verna, who wisely stepped out of the way.
Theo’s eyes widened. Clearly, he was surprised to see me. I tossed the coat at him. He caught it. “Mallory.”
“Theo,” I said. I was sure Theo could give some sort of wordy explanation for the adrenaline dump I just had. My body was shaking. My heart was pounding. “I wanted sex. I made that very clear. It was understood. You definitely gave it to me.”
“Mallory–”
I held up my hand and pushed on. “You didn’t offer anything more. You set no false expectations.”
Fuck, was I glad I gave him the house back. Yeah, fuck. Not fudge. Screw fudge and sugar and all the stupid swear word alternatives.
“Just sex. I think I’ve had a thorough education now and you’ve done your job. So thank you.”
“Mallory,” he said, his eyes narrowing in anger.
Why the hell would he be angry?
“It’s not like that.”
I nodded. “It is. It’s nothing, remember?”
Those words hurt to come out, but I had to do it. I couldn’t linger where I wasn’t wanted.
“See you around.”
I spun on my heel, faced Verna. Her eyes held sympathy, but she tipped her chin up. I tipped mine up in return. I knew, silently, she’d started that conversation for me and was telling me to be strong.
I could do that. I could take care of myself. I always had.
54
THEO
* * *
“What was that, Verna?” I asked, gripping my coat. I followed after her into the waiting room. Mallory was long gone.
She tipped her head, gave me a look I expected any mother with teenagers had perfected.
“You knew she was there?”
“That girl needs a man who’s going to stick.”
“I stick.”
She pursed her lips as she settled behind the counter. “More like you stick it in her.”
My mouth opened and I stared at her. “I can’t believe you just said that.”
She raised her arm and pointed toward the front door. “You think I don’t know what you’ve been up to?”
Silas knew. Bridget and Mav knew. Of course Verna knew.
“I’ve known Mallory her entire life. Sweet as can be, even with her crazy parents. I will not stand by and let you use her.”
“I’m not using her,” I countered. “It’s… mutual.”
Again, with the look.
“I bought her a house.”
Her eyes widened. “You did what?”
“I bought her a house.”
“She wanted it?”
“The house? Of course. It’s the one she’s been eyeing.”
Verna shook her head. “I meant, did she want it from you?”
“She wasn’t… happy.”
Verna humphed. “That’s what I thought.”
I ran a hand through my hair. “What does that mean?”
“She doesn’t want a house. She wants love.”
I held up my hands. Stepped back. “Not happening from me. I don’t do love. I can’t.”
Verna shrugged. “Then you were right. It’s nothing.”
I opened my mouth to say more, but she pointed again, this time toward room one. “You have a patient waiting.”
55
MALLORY
* * *
The day was turning to shit. Not only did I know how Theo really felt about me, that he truly was interested in me only for sex, but my mother texted. Again.
I scraped together a little money for the mechanic since you wouldn’t pay. Now we have no food. Send me money for groceries.
Gah.
I was so tired of people using me. I sat in my car outside of Lindy’s house. The engine was still running, and I hadn’t moved in five minutes. I’d tossed the trash from the road trip earlier, but there were chip crumbs all over the place. I could even smell a hint of Theo’s spicy cologne. The fucker.
No. No, I couldn’t be mad at Theo. It wasn’t his fault my heart got involved. As I told him, he’d set no false expectations. Never lied. He was always up front with me. Up until last night, we hadn’t even spent the night in the same bed. It had always been about sex.
It was my own stupid heart all over again thinking someone would actually care about me deep down. That I was more to them than a money machine, or a sex machine.
I wanted what Bridget and Mav had. God, their connection was insane. Same went for Dex and–
My phone rang.
“I was just thinking about you,” I said.
Lindy laughed. The love Dex had for her was what I wanted–no, I deserved–from a man. I was the one Dex told first that he was going to marry Lindy. I even went ring shopping with him. He fell first and he fell hard. He hadn’t wavered. Not once, all the while Lindy got her head on right and finally fell for him.
I wanted that same unwavering devotion.
“Well, I hope it’s something good,” she replied.
“It is. Thanks again for letting me stay at the house. I promise I won’t be there too long.”
“Yes, the house.”
“Uh oh.” I recognized that tone of voice, like I was in trouble. Visions of seventh grade and Bridge and I cutting each other’s bangs came to mind.
“Yeah, uh oh. Why is it that there was an emergency call for someone being murdered at the house?”
“No one was being murdered,” I told her.
I flushed hotly, remembering that embarrassing situation.
“Oh, I know. I got the truth from Hunter. It is my house and all.”
I closed my eyes and groaned.
“I think it’s great, you and Theo.”
“There is no me and Theo,” I told her.
“Oh? Were you actually trying to murder him then? I thought–”
“Thoughts are dangerous, Lind.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah, oh.”
“You care about him, don’t you?”
Hearing Lindy’s soft voice asking me that almost broke me. She cared. She only wanted what was best for me, what made me happy. But while I was thankful for that, I wanted that devotion to come from Cheryl. Even from Theo.
Lindy was just a love tease, in that I knew what it should be like, but it wasn’t coming from someone who was supposed to offer it unconditionally, or someone who wanted me to belong to him unconditionally.
“Yes, but I did it to myself. I assumed he’d feel things for me in return. I should’ve known better.”
“Hey,” she warned.
“I know. I know. Cheryl’s a piece of work and a waste of my time.”
“Right.”
“She just asked for money.”
“I’m not going to say again?” She sighed. “Are you going to give it to her?”
I shook my head, even though she couldn’t see it. “No. I’m going to take her to the store and buy her groceries. Ensure that’s what she’s really doing with the cash.”
“Mal–”
“I’ve got to go. I want to deal with her and get back. That new bathtub of yours has jets that are calling my name.”
I ended the call with Lindy and put my car into gear.
Ten minutes later, I was pulling up in front of my parents’ house. I’d deal with my mother. Get it over with.
56
THEO
* * *
I dropped into a chair across from Mac. He wasn’t alone, but with the entire engine crew. All six of them were decked out in their navy fire uniforms and eating burgers and wings. A row of walkie talkies were on the tables, a reminder that while they were having a meal, they were always on call. The fire truck positioned around the corner for easy response couldn’t be missed either.
“You look like when we first met,” he said, shoving a fry in his mouth.
“How’s that?” I asked, tipping my chin in greeting to the others. They didn’t say much, just shoveled in their meals. I wondered what they’d been up to before this to want all those calories.
“Like you’ve got a stick up your ass again,” he said.
I frowned. “Early dinner?”
He picked up his own burger, took a huge bite, then spoke with his mouth full. “We eat when it’s quiet. Never know when we’ll get a call.”
The waitress came over and I pointed at Mac’s burger. “I’ll have one of those, please.”
With greasy fingers, he pushed a large envelope across the table. “This is for you.”
I picked it up, studied the label. It had my name on it with Hunter Valley Clerk and Recorder Office at the top. “How’d you get this?”
“Mary, who works at city hall, knows you and I are friends. Asked if I knew your address.”
“Jesus, small town life. She could have called Verna. She knows everything.” As she keeps reminding me.
“She did. Said Verna was mad at you.”
I humphed.
He eyed me, then wiped his mouth and mustache with a napkin. “Anyway, I told Mary I was seeing you and she passed this on to give you.”
I frowned at the envelope as I opened it, pulled out the single piece of paper.
“What is it?” he asked, taking another bite.
“It’s–” Holy fuck. “It’s a deed to a house.” To Mallory’s house. The one I gave her. And the one she obviously gave back. She couldn’t have done that in the past two hours since she overheard my conversation with Verna. I scanned the copy of the Quit Claim Deed again, noticed the date. Yesterday.
Which meant it had been filed and recorded while we were driving back from Vegas. Which meant she’d done the paperwork before then.
“She gave it back to me right after she got it,” I said absently.
57
MALLORY
* * *
“You could’ve just given me the money. Saved both of us some time,” Cheryl said, her words laced with attitude. She was in the passenger seat, arms crossed. Angry. I wondered who was the parent and who was the child.
Because I didn’t trust her, I checked her fridge, saw that it was empty, as she said. She then held out her hand as if I’d pull a wad of cash from my wallet and hand it over. Instead, I told her if she wanted groceries, we’d be going shopping together. I wanted to ensure the money went to actual food and staples, not cigarettes or liquor.
Now we were on the way to the store, a fifteen-minute ride back into town from the foothills where they lived. My dad was left behind, in his recliner with a late afternoon talk show on the TV. He’d turned away from the programming and his beer long enough to say hi.
“Probably,” I replied. “Why are you short again?”
She huffed, then looked at me. The waft of liquor came from her breath. I didn’t turn my head from the road but winced at the odor that mixed with the smoke clinging to her clothes.
“Because you didn’t pay to have the car fixed.”
“Neither did you, from your text. Only a small portion.”
“Well,” she began, grabbing her purse by her feet. She pulled out her pack of cigarettes.
“No smoking,” I said.
Another huff and she put them back.
“Well?” I prompted.
“I quit my job.”
I blinked, death gripped the steering wheel, then took a deep breath. “Why? Was your boss handsy like the last one?”
I wasn’t for asshole employers, but in Cheryl’s case, frequently when she quit over the years, she pulled out that excuse. Now I was never sure if she cried wolf or not.
“No. I won at nickel slots at the casino on the reservation.”
I glanced her way for a second, then back on the road, slowing for a curve. “You gambled? While you don’t have money and make me pay your rent and car repair bills?”
She waved her hand. “I won ten thousand dollars so I didn’t need that job any longer.”
I was stunned. That was a lot of money for playing the slots.
“Then why am I taking you to get groceries?”
“I told you you didn’t have to. I’d be at home right now with my drinky-poo and you’d be off living your life like you always do.”
“No, you told me to just give you money,” I said, diplomatically as possible. “Why do you need it from me if you made ten thousand dollars? That will pay the car bill, plus your rent and groceries for the next six months.”
“Because I lost it all.”
I slowed, then pulled off onto the shoulder. Now I could give Cheryl my complete attention because I thought she said she lost it all. “You lost it all?”
She nodded. Her blonde hair, which used to be the same shade as mine, was in need of a root touchup and gray coverage. Between her drinking and smoking, she was weathered and rough looking for her age. I had to wonder how sober she was right now, especially if she wasn’t working.
I remembered when she was beautiful, but she’d always been mean spirited. Self-centered.
“I lost it playing craps.”
“You gambled away all ten thousand dollars?”
“The table was hot! Then some bitch in high heels blew on the dice and the luck changed.”
I stared at her wide eyed. She was serious.
“You’re blaming your loss of all that money on a bitch in high heels? It’s not her fault! It’s yours!”
“The table was hot until she walked up.”
“Oh my fucking God!” I flung my arms in the air. Somehow, for some reason, right now, sitting on the side of the road, I was done. D.O.N.E. Done. “That’s it. I’m out.”
I turned to face the road, looked over my shoulder to see if a car was coming, then pulled out. She grabbed my arm. “Out? Out of what?”
I headed back toward her house.
“Out of taking care of you. Of wasting my time, my money, my emotions on you.”
“Don’t be silly, I’m your mother.”
I stepped on the gas, driving faster so I could get rid of her sooner. Like Arlo said, I should have done this years ago. She would never love me. I’d been hoping for scraps of affection even when, deep down, I knew it would never come. Why had I seen it so fast with Theo, but not with her? It didn’t matter. I was done with him. I was done with her. I deserved being loved completely.
“I’m dropping you off at home and you will not call me. You will not stop by. You will not get in touch with me in any way.”
“What?” she grabbed my arm in a talon-like grip. “I need you.”
I shook my head. “No, you don’t. You’re an ungrateful, mean woman. If you want to be my mother, then act like one. Until then, we’re done.”
“Oh, it’s Lindy Beckett’s influence that you’re talking to me like this.”
I smiled then, thought of my call with her just a little while ago.
I glanced at Cheryl and said, “Yes, it is.”
Then the screech of tires had me jerking my head back to the road in front of me, but it was too late.
