Broken: The MISTAKEN Series Complete Second Season (12 page)

“
Y
ou are a lucky woman
.”

I looked over at Melissa, my forehead creasing beneath my confusion. “What the hell are you talking about?”

She nudged me on the shoulder in the direction of the restaurant. “You’re lucky I saved your job.”

“Phht.” I shook my head. I certainly didn’t see anything lucky about the fact that Amanda had blown off my deliberate attempt to undermine my position as her child’s piano teacher. “If she was smart, she’d know I’ll do something even worse to her kid next time. Maybe I’ll let him play on the white furniture in the living room…”

“You wouldn’t.” I could see the look of shock on Melissa’s face was plastered there playfully. We both knew I wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize
her
standing with Amanda, even though I didn’t give a damn about my own standing with her. “Besides, I think she’s actually going to come next week.”

“Right.” Unfortunately for Mason, I had heard that before. In the three weeks that he had been receiving my piano lessons, his mother hadn’t shown up even once.

She turned to me with a grin. “So what’s the story, morning glory?”

I rolled my eyes and narrowly avoided tripping over a crack in the sidewalk. “What are you talking about?”

“Your homework. I’ve been so busy, I haven’t even had a chance to ask. How did it go? He showed up, right?”

I nodded. Since I had moved back to San Francisco, I had only barely seen my best friend. Between Ryan, the new love of her life and her job with Amanda that kept her running up and down the Bay Area, it was almost impossible to find a time when she was available, even for a quick chat on the phone.

“And?” She nudged me in the ribs with her elbow. The grin on her face told me she hadn’t been listening when I had explained what my “homework” was.

“And it’s over.” I set my face, determined not to let tears find me again. God knew I had shed enough already. I was sure my heart would never stop breaking over him. It had been almost a week. Six long days and tear-filled nights. Breaking it off hadn’t been a mistake. It was the best thing for both of us, even if he didn’t understand why. At least he hadn’t been a stalker—he hadn’t tried to contact me, and for that, I was at least a little relieved. If I never had to tell him that my father wanted him dead, it would be too soon.

“Oh, honey.” She threw her arm around my shoulder. “Are you okay? Why didn’t you tell me?”

I turned to look at her. “Because I told you I was breaking up with him. You sent him to me, so I thought you knew.”

She shook her head. “You didn’t tell me you were breaking it off. You said…” She turned to meet my gaze. “Oh, shit. You did tell me that.” She turned back to look ahead. “God, Jenna, I’m sorry. I’ve been so scatter-brained lately. There’s just so much…”

“Don’t worry about it.” I looked up and down the street for the Italian restaurant that Mel had raved about. “Where is this place?”

She motioned with her other hand up the street. “Not far. You should have called. I could have come over. We could have cried over ice cream…”

“I said not to worry about it.” I couldn’t deny that it stung a little that she was too busy for me. I hoped like hell that I had never been that way to her, but I knew that I probably had. It was the shitty thing about turning into adults. Both of us had become so busy with our lives that we didn’t have as much time for each other.

We finally arrived at the restaurant after what seemed like an eight mile long walk. I zipped my sweater up as soon as we walked in—the place had the air conditioner cranked on high, even though there was already a fall chill in the air in early September. I was glad I had thought to bring something because it seemed like I was always cold now.
It’s just my broken heart.
I shook off the thought as we scanned the restaurant for Melissa’s boyfriend.

We found him sitting with another man next to the window in the front of the restaurant. Melissa slid into the booth next to Ryan and I stood at the table, peering down at the unfamiliar brown-haired man in the booth across from them. There was something just wrong about this entire thing. Were they trying to fix me up with someone already? Hadn’t Melissa just told me she didn’t know I wasn’t with Brandon anymore?

Ryan must have seen my look of confusion. “Jenna, this is Ben Talbot. He works in the governor’s office. We’re old friends.”

The man extended his hand and I took it, giving it a brief but firm shake. I took the seat next to him.

Ryan continued. “I hope you ladies don’t mind, but we already ordered. Ben has another appointment in a few minutes and then he has to get back to Sacramento.”

His name sounded familiar to me, but I wasn’t sure why.

“That’s right.” His voice was definitely familiar. “Jenna, I actually came here today to see you. We haven’t met, but I wanted to personally apologize for the confusion last month.”

Last month. The job that Brandon didn’t want me to take. The job that my father did. I turned to him. “You’re the one who called that morning. To rescind the offer.”

“Uh…” He ran a hand through his brown hair, mussing up the side. He looked almost green with discomfort. “It was a mistake. Someone was confused…”

“I’m confused.” I narrowed my eyes. Something about this wasn’t right. “You told me there were budget cuts. The position you offered me originally was cut from the budget.”

He nodded. “Right.” He nodded again, and it looked like he was only trying to reassure himself. “It was a mistake. My mistake. I should have checked…”

“Before Brandon called you and told you to rescind the offer.” I looked at the couple sitting across the table, who both had their mouths slightly agape. “You two knew about this?”

Mel’s head shook only slightly and I could see by the look in her eyes that she was just as caught off guard as I was. Ryan shifted in his seat, clearly uncomfortable that I had put two and two together so easily. I didn’t even know if he knew Brandon, but there was just something…

Ryan’s face broke into a grin as the waitress began to set plates of food down on the table. “Excellent. Let’s eat before Ben has to get back.”

I shook my head and tried to stuff down the anger that was bubbling up inside of me. I had just about had it with the men in my life constantly playing games. The jackass next to me had really come all the way to San Francisco for lunch, just to un-rescind the job offer? A phone call wouldn’t have sufficed? None of it made any sense to me. It seemed like nothing in my life ever did anymore.

Ben spoke with his mouth full of whatever pasta it was he was eating. “So, Jenna, we were hoping you could start next week.”

Mel cut in. “Actually, before we start talking about jobs, I need to ask a favor, Jenna.”

“Um, okay.”

She grinned at me and took a sip of her water. “The favor’s not for me…”

“It’s for me.” Ryan cut in. “My sister’s birthday is next month.”

I cocked an eyebrow and shoved a forkful of pasta into my mouth. I chewed slowly, watching the man across the table shift in his seat again. I took a sip of my own water before I replied. “I’ll be sure to send her a gift.”

He chuckled. “Actually, I was hoping you could help me.”

“With Amanda?” I raised my eyebrow again. There was no helping Amanda. Nothing was ever good enough for the woman.

“With her party.” He forced another grin. “She has quite the wish list.”

“I’ll bet.” I shoved another bite of pasta into my mouth, wishing I had never agreed to this lunch. Melissa had set me up, not on a date, but to ambush me, trying to convince me to do something for her miserable boss.

She grinned at me. “It isn’t as bad as you think. She just has some people she wants to have come to the party and we were hoping you could help.”

I shrugged and took another sip from my glass. “I don’t know anyone. I’m not much help with parties.”

All three of the people at the table laughed. I shot the man sitting next to me a look—he didn’t know me at all, so I’m not sure what he found so hilarious. I looked between the two on the other side of the table. “What is so fucking funny?”

The wide grin on Mel’s face dropped only slightly. “Just that you think you don’t know anyone.” She dropped her gaze. “The thing is, Jenna, everyone knows
you
.”

I don’t know why I always forgot that little detail. “What do you want me to do?”

She shook her head, her tight smile remaining on her lips. “Not much. Just say that you’ll come.”

I’m sure that it looked like I was sneering, but I tried to keep my lips pressed together. I forced a tight smile. “And
why
would I want to go to Amanda’s party? I’ve barely even met her.”

Mel nodded. “Right. But there are people she wants to have there that will only come if they know that
you’re
going to be there.” She turned to Ryan. “Right?”

He nodded at me. “It’s not going to be a huge party. Just a few hundred people.”

I almost choked on my pasta. A “party” to me wasn’t a few hundred people. I don’t even know what that was, but it wasn’t a party. “No.”

“It would be such a huge favor to me, Jenna. And I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important…” Mel’s eyes pleaded with me.

I shook my head. She was going to owe me so huge for this. “Fine. I’ll come.” I pulled my phone out of my purse to punch the date into my calendar. “When is it?”

“October fifteenth.”

I punched the numbers into the phone and set it down in my lap. “Fine. Done.” I looked over at Ben. “Pitch me.”

“Um, Jenna. Just one more thing.”

I looked over at Melissa, who now looked like she might cry. Whatever it was she needed to ask, it was obviously a really difficult thing for her. She looked over at Ryan, who nodded at her. She nodded back before turning back to me and meeting my gaze. She let out a long breath. “I wouldn’t ask this if I had any other choice. I swear to God, I’ve tried everything. I called her agent, I called her manager, her lawyer….”

I shook my head. “What are you talking about?”

She winced. “Robin Axelrod. Do you think…?”

I slammed my fork down on the table. “Are you fucking kidding me, Mel? I mean, seriously? Is this a fucking joke?” I looked at Ben, who clearly had no knowledge of what was going on at that moment. “Is this a joke? Is this funny to you?”

He raised his hands in front of him, his palms out. “I don’t know what she’s talking about. I’m only here to offer you the job in Sacramento that your father…”

“My father.” I rolled my eyes and stood up. “I can’t believe you people. Any of you.” I looked between the three of them. “All of you suck.” I grabbed my purse from the bench seat and stomped out of the restaurant.

As soon as the chill of the fall air hit me when I exited the door, I pulled my phone out and erased the date of the party from my calendar. There was no way I would go to that party—no way in hell I would ever call that bitch Robin to get her to come to the other bitch’s birthday celebration. What the hell had Mel been thinking? She should have just asked me in a text so I could cuss her out that way. It would have been more pleasant for both of us.

I was punching at the phone screen with my thumb to get that date off when I slammed into him so hard it knocked me to the ground.

I looked up from my seat on the sidewalk to see Brandon standing there, reaching his hands out to help me up. I just shook my head and pushed up with my hands to get myself off the ground. I picked up my phone from where it had landed at my feet and looked up.

I scowled at him. “Are you in on it, too?”

“
I
n on what
?” The look of confusion made it clear that he had no idea what I was talking about.

“Melissa and Ryan and that bitch Amanda and that fucking bitch Robin and Ben Talbot and…” I interrupted my own confused rant. He didn’t need to know about any of this. None of it was his concern anymore.

His mouth hung open. “Whoa, whoa, whoa. Back up for a second. What about Robin?” He looked up and down the street, glancing behind him. “She’s here?”

I shook my head. “No. It’s nothing. I’m sorry.” I picked up my purse from the ground. It had also somehow landed at my feet. “I’m sorry I crashed into you like that.”

He shook his head. “Better me than someone else, I guess.” He looked behind him again. “She’s not here, right?”

My head tilted to the side. “No. I’m sorry, I was just ranting…”

“No, I’m sorry, Jen. I’m sorry I even brought you into that mess.” He glanced down at his watch. “I’d love to talk to you. I mean it, I…” He looked into my eyes. “…Really would love to stay and talk. I’m supposed to meet someone…” He motioned with his hand toward the restaurant. “Wait, did you say Ben Talbot?”

I nodded. “You know him? I was just at lunch with him. Ryan and Melissa ambushed me…”

He grabbed my shoulder and led me away from the restaurant. “Where’s Cade?”

I looked behind me. “I don’t know. He was behind me when we got to the restaurant, I think…”

“Fuck.” He put his arm around my waist and leaned into my ear. “Just walk with me. Don’t look behind you. Look straight ahead and don’t talk. Nod if you understand.”

I nodded and walked with him. The fear I felt race down my spine was tempered somehow by the arm wrapped around my waist.

We walked another block in silence—I didn’t even know where we were going, and at that point I didn’t much care. His arm was around me, protecting me and it was all I could think about. It was all I wanted and I couldn’t deny it.

I clapped my hand over my mouth to keep from screaming when I sensed another man rush up beside me.

“Shit.” We stopped walking. Cade stood next to me, doubled over and out of breath from running the several blocks up the street from the restaurant. “I just went to the bathroom for half a second and you were gone when I got out. You can’t do that, Jenna.”

Our walking slowed and Brandon released the grip he had on my waist. There was no danger. I had just unintentionally ditched my body guard.

Brandon’s face was devoid of emotion. “He’s right. You need to make sure he’s there before you leave.”

I looked between the two men. They were probably the only two men on the planet that I trusted. “You’re right.” I looked at Cade. “I’m sorry. I was upset. I didn’t even…”

He shook his head. “Don’t worry about it, kiddo.” He smiled. “I’ll give you two a minute.”

“You don’t have to…” I tried to stop him but he was already half way down the street before I could finish my sentence.

I turned back to Brandon, forcing a smile to my face. “Thanks for… that. Whatever that was.”

The shake of his head was barely noticeable. “That was me protecting you.”

I glanced back at Cade, who had made himself comfortable at the nearby bus stop. He raised a hand to me, even though he didn’t look up. He was always watching, even when it looked like he wasn’t. I looked back at Brandon. “I guess I interrupted your meeting.” I motioned back toward the restaurant with my hand. “You should get going…”

“There’s no meeting now.” Other than the look of concern in his eyes, I couldn’t read his expression at all.

“Oh.” My brow furrowed, confused.

“Are you okay?” Again, just the same look of concern in his eyes with no other expression.

Not knowing what he was thinking was killing me. It hadn’t even been a week, and my ability to recognize his emotions was already erased. It had probably been a lot longer than that since I had actually been close enough to him to read him. Maybe it had been too long, because it seemed like it was already gone.

I ran my hands across my backside. “I’m fine. I think I bruised my ass, but I’m fine.”

His lips twitched up into his unmistakable grin, which disappeared almost as quickly as it had shown up. “I miss you, Jen.”

I searched his eyes and almost melted when I could feel him searching mine. My voice lowered to almost a whisper. “God, I miss you, too.”

C
hrist
, I wanted to kiss her. I wanted to pull her into my arms and plant the biggest, wettest, most passionate kiss she’d ever felt on her beautiful mouth. I licked my lips and stared down at hers. My breath caught in my throat as I reached out for her. I wanted to pull her into me, smell her hair, and feel her body pressed against mine. Taste her sweet, raspberry lips.

And then she took a step back. I missed my opportunity. I had it there, right there—close enough to touch her. And the moment was gone before it even arrived.

I took my own step back, giving her the space she so obviously needed. I swore, if I ever found the motherfucker who did this to her, who took her away from me… I knew I’d kill him. Daniel. I knew he hurt her. I knew it from the way she carried herself, her shoulders hunched ever so slightly. The way she looked at the ground now instead of straight ahead. The spark of light in her eyes that was as dim as I had ever seen it. Most of all, I knew it by the way her body didn’t react to mine anymore. How her breath didn’t catch when she saw me. How her knees didn’t wobble when I touched her. How the fire under her skin was barely a flicker. My Jen was still in there, I could see it in her eyes—feel it in her body. But the Jen in front of me now, the one who should have argued with me, the one who would have questioned why I was meeting with Ben Talbot, the man who had called to take her job from her… that Jen wasn’t there.

The Jen in front of me now was a shell of herself. Trapped inside whatever it was Daniel had done to her while I wasn’t there. If she still didn’t need protecting, I don’t think I could have lived with myself. I don’t think I could have lived knowing I was responsible for leaving her alone that night—alone and vulnerable.

I searched her eyes again for anything—a spark, a glimmer. It was there, but so far away. Buried so deep it might never come back. I knew she was worth waiting for, but I didn’t know how to help her or how to make it right for her.

Krystal told me to leave her alone, that she’d come back to me when she was ready. I wasn’t so sure. That day I ran into Melissa, the day Jen ended it. God, had it only been last week? It felt like it was a year ago. Melissa told me Jen needed to talk to me, that her therapist had given her homework. That she
wanted
to see me. It was like fireworks lit up inside of me that day, hearing that she actually
wanted
to see me. The glimmer of hope I had held onto all these weeks—through all these brutal weeks of physical torture. It was all I had thought about.
She
was all I had thought about. And when I got there, I knew she was done with me. I knew it the moment I laid eyes on her, before she even noticed I was there. Her spark was gone.

She tore me from my momentary reverie. “I still have your things. I can have Cade bring them over. Or whatever you want.” She was breathless, almost like she had forced out the words. She didn’t want to give me back whatever it was she had of mine. Whatever unimportant objects she had that meant nothing to me. She wanted to rid herself of the memory of me.

“Donate them. I don’t care about any of it, Jen.” I searched her eyes again for that glimmer. For anything.

She looked down at the ground. “Your grandmother’s necklace. You should have it back. And your suits—they’re expensive.”

“Quit. Just stop.” Fuck, I couldn’t take it. Did she really think I cared about fucking
suits
? When that motherfucker had fucked with her head and she didn’t even know it? I took another step away. There was a good chance that anything I said to her was going to do more harm than good. “Keep the necklace. For Christ’s sake, I gave it to you. I want you to have the damned thing. Do whatever you want with the rest of it.” Fuck, that came out so much harsher than I wanted it to. I just needed to hold her one more time. Tell her it would be okay. Maybe she’d believe it if I did. If she just wasn’t so far out of my reach…

“It was your grandmother’s. An heirloom…” Her voice cracked and I could see her eyes starting to swim. Maybe she wasn’t that far away. Maybe… “I can’t keep it.”

I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t stand to see her like this, so broken and shattered. My heart was aching in my chest, seeing her like this. I would die for her. I almost
did
die for her. Why couldn’t she see that? “Fine. Have Cade drop it off.”

She nodded, still looking at the ground. “Or you could come over. We could talk a little, maybe. I feel like we didn’t do this the right way.” She looked up into my eyes.

Christ, she really was still in there. So close. I just needed to reach out… but not now. Not here, not on the street. I looked down at my watch. Now that I knew Ben Talbot was another traitorous asshole, one who
would
pay for his transgressions, I had some calls to make. Fucking east coast time difference. “Tomorrow afternoon. I have an appointment and I’ll come over after.”

She lifted an eyebrow. “An appointment?”

A wry grin came to my face. Oh, that was definitely my Jen talking. She was still in there, still questioning what I was doing. I couldn’t help but smile, just knowing she was still in there. “A doctor’s appointment, Jen. They check my blood every week. You should see my arms. I look like a fucking junkie.”

It was there. The little gleam in her eyes—the spark I knew so well. She wasn’t broken. A little worse for the wear. Chipped maybe. But not broken. A tiny smile came to her lips, and not the forced, phony bullshit one that she loved to use on me when she was trying to hide her feelings. It was a little smile, but it was all her. A thrill ran through my body when I realized it. It wasn’t over. Nothing about this was over.