January (Calendar Girl #1) Anthology Anthology (112 page)

Maddy’s hand landed on my shoulder warmly. “It’s fine, Mia. I’m okay. We make do with what we have, right?”

“Fuck no. We’re getting you a car tomorrow. I can’t believe all this time you haven’t had wheels.”  With a pointed finger I poked Gin in the arm. “And you. You should have told me what was going on.” With a deep sigh, I flicked the layers of hair off my face.

“You can’t afford that, Mia…”

“Don’t you dare tell me what I can and can’t afford. You have been my responsibility for the last fifteen years. Just because you’re nineteen doesn’t mean I’m going to magically stop taking care of you.” I ground my teeth trying to rein in my control. “Jesus. Just thinking about you walking from the bus stop to home in
our neighborhood
gives me hives, Mads! Don’t do it again. Please, for me.” I gentled my tone. “I’ll get you a car tomorrow. I’ve made some extra cash on the last two clients.”

“Is that right?” Gin gave me a sidelong glance knowing what it took to get the extra payoff. “And how did you do that, sweetness? On your back?” She snickered.

That time I punched her arm…hard.

“Ouch! Bitch! That was totally uncalled for.”

“You calling me a whore, whore? Totally called for.” I narrowed my eyes and stared her down. Even though she was driving I knew she could feel the heat of my gaze.

“Fine. It was called for, but I’m going to make you look at the ugly bruise every chance I get.”

“Whatever. Can you take Mads and me to get her a car tomorrow?”

She nodded. “I took off the days you’re here.”

“Oh, that was sweet of you.”

“I can be sweet.” Her eyebrows furrowed.

“Didn’t say you couldn’t.”

“But you implied that I wasn’t usually sweet. I’ll have you know that I was with this guy last night, and he went on and on how about sweet my vag—“ I leaned over and clamped a hand around her mouth.

“Think you can share another time, hooker?” I gestured to Maddy in the back seat with my eyes.

“Oh whatever,” Maddy butted in. “Like I don’t know what she was talking about. You think I’m so innocent.”

I let go of Gin and turned around in a flash. “You mean you’re
not
innocent?” I’d have bet fifty whole dollars that my usually tanned skin went stark white in that moment.

Maddy crossed her arms over her chest then rolled her eyes. “I’m still a virgin. You know I’d tell you. Jeez. But I know what going down on a girl is. I’m not stupid.”

“Has that happened to you?” I held my breath not sure I wanted to know the truth.

She shook her head and bit her lip then looked out the window. “No, but sometimes it pisses me off that you act like I’m a child. I’m an adult, Sis. You need to accept that. And if I want to let a guy go down and kiss my hoo-hah, I totally will.”

“Kiss your hoo-hah?” Gin repeated. “You mean your pus—“ I pinched her leg before she could say something that would piss Maddy off further.

“Not a fuckin’ word.” I growled low for her benefit. Her eyes went wide, and she swatted my hand away.

“Mads, you know I’m here, right? If you want to talk about anything like that.” I reached over the back of the seat, and she grabbed my hand. “Even if I’m not in Vegas, you can always call me. Day or night. Okay?”

She leaned forward and put her forehead on my hand. “I missed you,” she whispered.

I squeezed her fingers back. “I missed you more.”

That got me her patented perfect smile. Man, the Lord smiled on me when he gave me Maddy as my baby sister. I couldn’t have picked a better one out myself.

“So, the convalescent home then?” Gin asked destroying the moment.

“Yeah. I need to see Pops.”

***

The convalescent home sat high on a hill overlooking a long stretch of dessert. It was weird. Like it was built to hold sick people and convalescing folks far away from Vegas proper so as to not taint the glimmer and glamour of the strip.

Unintentionally, my steps slowed as we walked the halls. The walls were painted a soft yellow. Desert mosaic art hung sporadically as we made our way down to the end of the corridor.

Maddy stopped at an open door. “He’s in there. Do you want to go in alone?”

“If you don’t mind?” She simply smiled softly. My sister was an old soul. The way she could read people emotionally had always been a gift. Not one I possessed, that’s for sure. Maybe if I’d had more of her personality type and those kind eyes, I, too, would be able to stay away from men that were no good for me. Probably why she was still a virgin. She could spot a bastard a mile away.

“Come on, Gin, let’s hit the cafeteria and see if Mrs. Hathaway has made any of her famous cookies.”

Ginelle’s eyes lit as if a sparkly diamond had just been presented to her. “We’re out.” She hooked Maddy’s arm, and they strode off on the search for goodies.

I took a deep breath and balled my shaking hands into fists.

I can do this. It’s Dad. Pops.

With measured steps, I entered the room, walked around the curtain that had been pulled for privacy, and found my dad. He looked like he was sleeping though I knew better. Tears blurred my vision as I got closer and took the chair next to his bed.

His hand lay by his side. I picked it up in both of mine, leaned forward and kissed the top of his hand. “Pops...” I said, though I could barely hear my own voice. Clearing my throat, I tried again. “Dad, it’s me, Mia. I’m here,” I whispered. Clutching his hand to my chest, I got as close to him as possible. He looked a million times better than he did when I found him after he’d been worked over by Blaine and his posse two months ago. The bruising around his face was gone. A couple of pencil thin pink lines slashed across his temple and the side of his face. Maybe they’d always be there; maybe they’d fade. Only time would tell.

The rest of him looked good. He’d lost a lot of weight. So much that he didn’t seem like my big cuddly Pops anymore, just a lifeless husk that once held a great man. At least he used to be before Mom left. I choked back the sobs, but the tears came pouring down anyway.

“Why did you have to get in so bad with Blaine? Why?” I rubbed my chin against his hand then leaned my face into his chest and let it all out. My anger at him for getting hurt, for borrowing so much, for gambling, for being a drunkard, and leaving me to be the one to clean it all up. Again. Like always.

“Dad, you’ve really done it this time. The things I’m doing for you…” I let the words fall off, not wanting to admit that I was an escort. Regardless of whether or not I slept with my clients, it still sounded bad. The word
escort
alone held a serious negative connotation.

“I’m doing everything I can. Protecting Maddy. Making sure she’s sticking with college. She’s doing really well. Even met a boy…you might need to wake up to kick his ass.” I stared at his face, hoping, praying he’d open his eyes. Nothing happened.

I grabbed a tissue from his bedside table, then blew and wiped my nose. “I’ve met some really great people over the last couple months. At first, I thought working for Aunt Millie was going to be a nightmare, but you know what, it’s actually been pretty nice. My first client was Weston Channing the third. Yes, the third. I gave him shit about it all the time.” I laughed and thought back to Wes and how we met. How the moment I saw him walk up those stairs on the beach that first day I knew I’d be swept away by his charm.

“Wes taught me how to surf. He also taught me that not all men are created equal.” Chuckling I sat back, rested my feet up on the edge of Dad’s bed and told him about my two favorite guys. How Wes made movies and came from a great family. Promised him if he woke up, I’d take him to see one of Wes’s movies and buy him a big tub of popcorn.

“And then there was Alec. He was a Frenchman, Pops. A real, honest to God, French guy. He called me
Jolie
. It means ‘pretty one’ in French. Gotta admit, I did like that.” I pushed a lock of hair back from my face and leaned my head back to stare at the ceiling. There were beach scenes printed in the tiles above Dad’s bed. I liked that. Made it easier to think that when he woke up, the first thing he’d see was the beach and not a blank white slate.

“So, Alec painted me, Dad. Some of the paintings you wouldn’t like so me much because I wasn’t wearing any clothing, but he didn’t take advantage. Not really. We had fun and he loved me. Only it was different than any love I’d experienced before or the very real and intense feelings I still have for Wes. I’d liken it to my love for Ginelle, only the boy version with a bit more physical contact.” A lot more if I was being honest. I grinned and looked over at Dad. Nope, eyes still closed.

“Alec taught me that it was okay to love people beyond just you, Mads, and Gin. That you could care about another person, love them even, and not have to be with them forever. It was sweet. My time with Alec helped me see a few things about myself. It’s sad to think I won’t see them again. Though maybe not Wes. I’m still confused over him, Pops.” I looked at his face, so serene and peaceful and knew this was the one moment that I could admit what’s been plaguing me for over a month. Put actual words to the thoughts crawling around my subconscious.

Glancing at the door I couldn’t see anyone. With the coast clear of prying ears, I laid it out. “Dad,” my voice shook. I licked my lips and sighed. “I could fall for Wes, Dad. Really fall. And you know what?” I asked, even though I knew he couldn’t answer. “That scares the shit out of me. My track record is garbage. Straight up foul. My heart wants to take the leap, but my brain reminds me of all the dickwads that came before. Aside from that, I have another ten months to work off before the debt to Blaine is paid.” I huffed. “And of course, Wes offered to pay it. Asked me to stay. And I didn’t. I left him in Malibu.”

I rested my eyes and leaned back in the chair before pressing my hand into my heart. It ached. Hurt with the loss of a promise of more with Wes, one I couldn’t accept. But I’d wanted to. More than I wanted anything. I wasn’t the type of girl that had these grand ideas, where I believed life was going to be cash, cars, and endless youth. No, I grew up poor, worked hard, took care of my sister and helped my Dad survive. The life Wes had wasn’t even close to the life I led which was a definite part of the appeal. The timing for Wes and me though wasn’t right. That’s why it was so easy to fall into Alec’s embrace. Until it’s meant to be, there’s a lot of living to be had and experiences to partake of.

“I wish you’d wake up.” I held his hand and kissed it once more. “Soon Dad, wake up. We need you. Maddy needs you. I need you.”

My sister and Ginelle came back a few minutes later. I listened to Maddy update Dad about school, purposely not telling him about the guy, which I planned to needle her about later. Then Gin shared several jokes she’d learned recently. Through it all there were three pairs of eyes watching, waiting for any sign that my dad was still there. That he hadn’t already left us.

Before I left, the doctor gave me the rundown of Dad’s prognosis. He was doing well physically, almost perfectly healed from all his injuries. A physical therapist came in every day to work Dad’s legs and arms. They were going to teach Maddy how to do it to give him more stimulation. I hated that she had to learn that. It killed me that I wasn’t the one who’d be here to get the family through this.

By the time we left, I had a chip on my shoulder and an ax to grind. Home. I needed to go home. Eat a home cooked meal, throw back a couple of beers with my bestie, and sleep away the last two months. Tomorrow, I’d meet up with Blaine.

C
HAPTER 2

Ginelle and I walked through the casino dead set on our mission. Get to Blaine’s office, give him the check for my second installment, and get the hell out of dodge. The next day I had a host of beauty appointments to tend to and then first thing the following morning I was on a plane to Chicago to meet my next client.

“Why do you think he has an office in a hotel anyway?” Gin asked as we stepped around some scantily clad women serving drinks.

It wasn’t even ten in the morning and the booze was flowing. There’s a reason the players can’t see outside of hotels on the gambling levels. It makes them feel like it’s still early. Pumps them full of artificial noises, music, all day buffets and drinks that they don’t have to pay for as long as they’re gambling. When you add all those things up, people become gambling, drunk zombies that are dying for a win. But they never do. The house always wins. It’s the most well-known fact, probably in the world, yet people are still dumb enough to keep trying their luck and pissing away their kid’s college money or their rent for that matter.

In my Dad’s case, the hardcore gamblers, they
borrow
money. Lots of it. More than they could ever possibly pay back in their lifetime. All for the win, for Lady Luck. In my experience, Lady Luck was a cold hard bitch that smoked, had fake tits, and an STD.

“Blaine once told me that he didn’t need to hide what he did. Said he was an “investor” and thought having an office and staff made him look less like the criminal he is, and more like the businessman he claimed he was.”

Gin huffed and smacked her gum. “Pretty smart actually.”

“Yeah, well, I never did say the man was stupid. Just a heartless bastard with a black soul.”

We made our way to the elevators and then to his floor. When we arrived at the door I stopped, straightened my hair and adjusted my t-shirt to make sure it covered every speck of bare skin. I wore my leather jacket and paired it with black motorcycle boots with kick-ass studs on the heel. The cherry on top was the bright red 24-hour stay-red lip stain. The lipstick promised to keep my pout a bright, flaming red. I felt fierce and ready to handle a prick with a tiny dick. Really, he had an average sized dick but it made me feel better to emasculate him internally.

I turned to Gin and stopped with my hand on the handle. “Okay, this is as far as you go.”

Ginelle’s eyes flared white hot. She put a hand to her petite hip and presented me with the oh-no-she-didn’t stance. “If you think for one minute…” Ninja-like I clasped a hand over her mouth and got close. Really close. So close I could smell the mint on her breath from her gum.