I put the cash back in the wallet, and then I handed it to Brett.
“What?”
“I don’t want his money,” I said. “Return it to him with all the cards. Even that Louis Vuitton wallet was a gift from him. I don’t want it.”
“Dude?”
“Do it, Brett. Or take the money and put it to good use. Either way, tell him what you did. I want him to know I didn’t take any cash from him. He no longer has a kid. I no longer have a father.”
Brett stared at me for a long moment. I could see the frustration in his eyes and then some sadness. I could tell that his heart was breaking for me.
I gave him a reassuring smile. “I’m okay, Brett. I’m Ken Clarke!” I wanted to convince myself about the same thing.
Brett heaved a sigh. “How are you going to support yourself?”
“I have saved a little money.”
“Isabella’s life insurance? I thought you were saving that for after college, to put up your own practice.”
“I’m not even sure I’ll be practicing this profession, Brett,” I told him honestly. “I did it for Jen. But now, she’s gone too. I’m almost sure I’ll suck at listening to eccentric people.”
“What are you going to do?”
I shrugged. “I honestly don’t know.”
“Then let us help you while you figure things out.”
“I’ll figure things out even if I don’t stay with you. I’m sure I’ll think of something.”
“You can play for the band,” he offered.
“You need that for your own education, Brett. That’s your means of sending yourself to school. I’m not going to take that away from you.”
“I’ll talk to Bailey,” he said. “We can bring you in on some nights. I’m sure the management will be willing to pay for an extra talent on weekends.”
I nodded. “Only if there’s something extra. But otherwise, don’t worry about me.”
“At least let me take you to dinner,” Brett said.
I sighed and nodded.
“Where do you want to eat?”
I paused to think for a while, and then I remembered a place that was meant to make anybody feel at home when they have nowhere else to go.
“I’ll show you where to go,” I replied.
Thirty minutes later, we were sitting at Margaret’s diner. She was ecstatic to see me again.
“Who did you bring with you?” I could tell she was curious if I brought Brett in as my date.
“This is Brett, my cousin. Brett, meet Margaret.”
“How lovely to see new faces around here. And thank you for bringing a friend. Here’s the menu. Just call us when you’re ready to order.”
Brett stared at me for a moment. “She seemed nice.”
“She is.”
“I haven’t heard about this place before.”
“Now, you have. Spread the word. They have the best food, and they stand for a good cause. Just check out their bathrooms, and you’ll know what I’m talking about.”
After enjoying his meal, Brett went to the bathroom, and I was sure he experienced the same thing I did when I first came here. He was smiling heartily when he came back.
“So, if I ran away from home, I can stay here all night?”
“That’s the idea.”
“Is this where you’re staying?” he asked me suspiciously. “Did you fight with someone here?”
“No,” I answered. “Don’t be ridiculous!”
“Then where did you get the bruises and the cut on your lip?”
“I…” I’d have to lie, or he won’t stop. “I went to a martial arts class outside town. I got this from sparring.”
“Come on, Ken!” Brett groaned in disbelief.
“Fine, don’t believe me. But that’s what I’m telling you.”
“And where the hell are you staying? Don’t tell me you made friends with somebody from the other side of town. That’s not a safe environment for you!”
I guess I’d have to tell him where I was staying, or he’d pester me to live with him.
“I temporarily live a few minutes away from here,” I said.
“With a friend? Is that friend imaginary?”
“Believe it or not, I did manage to make some friends who aren’t yours,” I said dryly.
“Who?”
Before I could reply, a familiar voice spoke behind me: “Me, actually.”
Brett looked up at Nick, who was standing beside us.
I took a deep breath. Did he find me? Or was it just his daily routine to come here?
“Brett, Nicholas. Nicholas, Brett.”
Brett stood up to shake Nick’s hand. “Yeah, I know you.”
“Are you ready to go home?” I heard Nick ask. I didn’t have to guess that he was talking to me.
“She’s… she’s staying with you?” Brett asked.
“Temporarily,” I replied.
“Why?” Brett asked. He had a bewildered look on his face that he could not disguise.
“Because I have a spare room that I’m renting out, and she said she needed a place to stay outside of the city. My place is big enough, and I’m barely around, so why not?”
He made it sound so casual, as though it made sense.
“It’s too far from her university.”
“I run errands in town. I can take her and pick her up. And besides, she can borrow my car. I have a jeep that I like driving more.” Nick sounded as though he was trying to sell Brett the idea of me living with him.
Brett turned to me and raised a suspicious brow. “What are you now? Buddies?”
“Well, yeah. You can put it that way,” Nick replied for me. “It’s like living with a younger brother of sorts… who can cook very well.”
Younger brother?!
I get it, Nick! You don’t need to rub it in! I’m your roommate who looks like a little boy without a dick! And you will never see me as an attractive girl. In your eyes, I’m not even a girl at all!
“Where did she get the bruise and the cut on her lip?” Brett asked him.
I opened my mouth to answer for Nick, but Brett held his hand in front of me, signaling me to shut up. My heart pounded inside my chest. Brett wanted to know if Nick’s answer would match mine.
Shit! I know it will not!
Nick’s voice didn’t even falter. “We have rules in the house. We don’t ask questions. As long as she told me she’s in no danger, I don’t really want to pry into her business. I’ve got enough problems of my own.”
I heaved a sigh of relief.
Nice one, Nick! I didn’t know you were that good at lying!
Brett stared at me for a long moment, and then finally, he gave up. He gave Nick a serious look. “If something bad happened to her, I know where you live, and I know five other guys who will be happy to break your pretty face.”
Instead of feeling offended or a little bit threatened, Nick extended his hand to Brett. “I’ll take care of her. She’s safe with me, I promise you that.”
When we were at the parking lot, Brett gave me a hug and whispered in my ear, “If he so much as insulted you or hurt a hair in your body, tell me, okay?”
I smiled and hugged him back. “Thank you, Brett.” I wanted to cry. I wanted to tell him everything, but I couldn’t. So instead, I said, “I love you.”
I could tell that he stopped breathing for a while when he heard that. Then I felt him give me a squeeze. It was the first time I had told him I loved him. I was never known to be affectionate at all. When he met me, I was an angry teenager who was hungry for paternal attention, and my father’s rejection led to me shielding my emotions.
“I love you, too, cuz. You know, if this does not work out, our house is always open for you,” he said.
“I know.”
Brett gave Nick one last warning look before he left. I watched him leave with a heavy lump in my throat. I felt Nick put a ‘brotherly’ arm around my shoulder.
When Brett was gone, I pulled away from Nick. We headed for his car. This time, he was quicker. He rushed to get the door handle, giving me no chance to do it myself. I raised a brow at him. He smiled at me innocently and motioned for me to get in. I frowned at him before going inside without another word of protest.
We were both quiet during the trip. I was in no mood to talk. It’s not him. He was right to think this way about me. I had perfected sporting the androgynous look, and I had made it loud and clear to the world that I wanted to stay at Jen Gracie’s side for the rest of my life. I couldn’t really blame him if he thought I was not interested in guys.
I closed my eyes for a moment. I shouldn’t be feeling like this. I don’t trust men! I would rather stay single for the rest of my life than trust a guy. No guy will ever be worthy of winning my heart!
Shit!
Do I still really believe that?