One and Done (Two Outta Three #2) (11 page)

Chapter 15

Christmas was just another day to me. No gifts, no cheer, just a phone call from Dad and a wave of a hand from Mom. I spent the day locked up inside my old room watching a marathon of
A Christmas Story
and chomping on Doritos. It wasn’t too bad of a day. I mean, I was never a big Christmas person anyway. It wasn’t as if it was a huge holiday for the Tyler family to begin with. Besides, what I was really looking forward to was the day after. The day I’d be seeing her.

The air was icy that morning, sharp with an electric bite. The streets were empty and still, as if everyone was still locked up indoors, hungover from the holiday’s festivities. The drive through the silent town further revved up my already strained nerves. Was it excitement? Fear? I wasn’t sure, but I knew I’d soon find out.

I sat in my car for longer than I cared to admit staring at the entrance of Rossi’s Novelties. The building was a lot bigger than I remembered and was caked in ice and slushy snow. Along with its garlands and wreaths, it reminded me of those toy houses that were often used as store displays around the holidays.

“What am I doing here?” I paused on the rubber mat, just inches from the sliding door. “What the heck am I going to say to her? I’m sorry for ignoring you all these years, but I loved you enough to let you go?”

Knowing I couldn’t just stay posted outside, I took one last breath and pushed the glass door open. Part of me hoped to sneak inside undetected, but alas, the three silver bells tied to the door handle thought otherwise. I winced as they clanged loudly against one another.

“Fucking bells.” I sighed and ripped off my gloves, taking a look at the store—or rather a warehouse. “Huh, guess they’ve done pretty well for themselves since I’ve been gone.”

It was like a fucking maze to walk through, but I wasn’t complaining. Taking my time, I navigated through the aisles of random merchandise looking for the elusive counter. Passing furry blankets, diapers, spatulas—and whoa, is that a shirt for dogs?—I bit back my laughter eyeing the odd merchandise. Rossi’s Novelties was definitely a bad name for the store. They should have called it “Things You Didn’t Know You Needed.” Seriously, the place was like a hoarder’s dream.

Glancing at a collection of neon colored building blocks, I rounded the corner and felt the wind knock out of me. I felt as if I had walked into the middle of a dream.

“Rocky.” My heart felt like a gigantic beating drum. After years of wondering how she was doing, there she stood, looking like the angel I remembered, except something was off about her…she looked different, and she was staring right at me.

“Jesse, there you are!” Mr. Rossi’s gruff voice greeted me as he gestured for me to join them at the cash wrap. He shot Rocky a knowing look before making his way toward me, and I swear to God his stomach jiggled with every step. Yet even his blubber wasn’t enough to distract me. I could not tear my eyes off my old friend. Her hair looked longer, darker almost. Her face was thinner and higher at the cheeks, having lost the bits of baby fat from our high school years. And her body—damn, her body—had new curves that were never there before. Though she looked as delicate and prim as ever, she was definitely a woman now. My manhood twitched at the realization.

Awkwardness would not even begin to describe how I felt at the moment, but judging from Rocky’s stiffness, she most likely felt the same way. Stumbling out of the weird pose she was strutting, she hesitantly walked toward me and threw her arms around me, and just like that I felt all the walls I had built come crashing down. She felt familiar and mysterious at the same time, and for the life of me I could not figure out why I stayed away so long…

No! Don’t get pulled in again.

Like being dunked into a tank of cold water, I was instantly jarred awake. Like a devil and angel on both sides of me, I fought an internal battle that I knew I could never win.

What the hell are you doing here? Go!

But I want—need—to be with her again.

Do you want to lose everything you worked so hard to build?

But I’m a better person now. I worked hard to get to this point to come back to her.

So you can mess her up again?

I’m far better than that now. I’m a changed person.

Is she?

Always a masochist, I knew there was no way I could avoid her. I just needed to find the right balance to make sure we wouldn’t mess each other’s lives up again.

I wasn’t sure that was possible.

Chapter 16

Rocky has a boyfriend.

Let me repeat: Rocky has a boyfriend!

So much for finding a right balance. Shock cannot begin to describe the myriad of emotions that tickled every artery, vein, and organ inside of me, though envy may be a closer word.

To make matters worse, he was a total douche! To be fair, he wasn’t as bad as I remembered Dwight to be, and sure, I guess I could kind of see where females may appreciate the mess you call his face. He looked like he could be on one of those corny TV soap operas or at the very least a pop star that adorned the postered wall of a prepubescent girl. Yet I had no idea what Rocky saw in him. She was so much better than him. Shit, even I wanted to punch him in the face the moment I laid eyes on him.

I guess guys like him always won.

After successfully dodging Rocky for the past two days—yeah, yeah, I was a chicken—I had pushed open the heavy orange door toward the breakroom for my lunch break and skidded to a stop. I felt the hinge to my jaw give way as I took in the sight in front of me. Rocky was eating lunch, but she definitely was not alone.

Perfectly coiffed blond hair, bleached white straight teeth—this dude was definitely some silver spooned prep. He caught my eye and threw me a strained smile, leaning toward Rocky protectively. “It’s okay, my man. Just having lunch with Rocky.”

I wasn’t sure if that counted as an invitation to join them. Not that I would have wanted to. I felt my eyes twitch, but tried my best to remain guarded. “I see.”

Had I not been mortified, I would have found it in myself to laugh at poor Rocky. Her eyes wide with a mouth full of lettuce, she looked as if she had just walked in on somebody receiving a blow job…most likely something she’s done before. As soon as the thought crossed my mind, I pushed it away, feeling disgusted with myself. Guess I never really grew out of my jealous streak.

Somehow swallowing her mouthful of salad, she cringed slightly and said in an artificially high pitched voice, “Ethan, this is my old friend, Jesse. He just started working for us yesterday.”

Friend. Was I even that to her anymore?

Her eyes bounced wildly, looking everywhere around the room except at me. “Jesse, this is Ethan. He’s…uh….we…uh…”

Good. At least that means they’re not serious.

Good? Where the hell did that come from? Just yesterday I was hesitant to go near her and now…

Now you’re back in Bethel Hills, lover boy. You’ve always wanted what you could never have and you know that’s Rocky.

Fucking devil. Too bad he was right. How did I even think I could come back to see her and not fall for her again? I don’t think I ever fell out of love with her to begin with. Every decision I ever made in Charleston had her in mind. Even letting her go was about her.

It’s the reason you took this job, Jesse. You want Rocky.

The revelation shook me to the core. There really was no denying it. I stared at the couple uncomfortably and bit back a laugh when Ethan gritted his teeth and replied, “No labels.”

“No labels.” I was grinning smugly and I knew it.

“Old friends, huh? How long have you known each other?” Ethan’s eyes bounced between us, narrowing in suspicion. I knew that look all too well. He was definitely jealous, so why not make him squirm a little?

“We’ve been friends since we were fourteen,” I replied. Yup, a long time, you tool.

“Wow, almost ten years. That’s impressive!”

“We lost touch a few years back,” Rocky interjected, staring daggers at me.

I couldn’t really blame her for being upset with me, yet it still hurt to be on the receiving end of her anger. Knowing I couldn’t stomach spending my break with the love birds, I grabbed my lunch and headed toward the door, intent on gathering my thoughts.

“Where are you heading off to?” Ethan called out nasally. “You can eat with us.”

Right, so you can rub Rocky in my face. Nope, couldn’t do it.

“No offense, but I’m a bit of introvert. I need my lunch break to regroup…alone.” I made my exit before either one could reply. However, on my way out I overheard Ethan asking Rocky out on a date to Carbanaro’s. It shouldn’t have surprised me that such a prep could afford a swanky place like that. How could I even compete?

“Rocky couldn’t have changed that much,” I mumbled to myself. “Besides, when did you ever need money to win a girl? Just use old fashioned charm.”

And maybe wake up a little of the bad boy Rocky always loved.

Life works in mysterious, fucked up ways sometimes. I mean, how messed up could I get? I needed to see her with another man to realize I still loved her?

Regardless, sometimes life did need to knee you in the balls sometimes for you to realize what was best for you. As fucked up as it was, it took seeing Ethan to realize that staying away from Rocky was no longer an option for me.

***

“Hola, Prodigal Son.” The sound of Stephanie’s voice echoed inside the stockroom, which was lovingly known as the Dungeon among the staff. I straightened myself, surprised that she was able to walk into the room without a care when I nearly got my head chewed off for stepping behind the cash wrap just a few days earlier. Then again she was Rocky’s real friend so I guess that title carried its benefits.

“Ah, isn’t it my annoying chum, Steph.” My grin stretched wide as I watched my old friend saunter toward me. Like Rocky, she had grown up considerably. Having always been much taller than me, I was happy see that I now towered over her for once. Dressed in pastels with her hair pulled back, she looked like a model, but she held no pickle to Rocky’s natural beauty.

“Nice to see you too.” She grinned, flashing me a smile that was metal free and blinding white, catching me off-guard. Nevertheless, her smile was kind. At first, anyway. “What’s your deal with Rocky, man?”

Ah, so we were back to this again.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I lied. Did she really think I was going to spill my guts to her the first time we spoke? Hell, even I was still waking up from the confusion of my feelings.

“Oh, please,” she replied, sounding bored. “It’s really obvious to everyone but you two. I get it, really.”

“Get what? What a gossip you are.” I shook my head in amusement. “Guess some things never change. You’re still a nosy know-it-all, aren’t you?”

She rolled her eyes. “And you’re still a dick, I see. By the way, you’re right; I haven’t changed either. I still pride myself over looking after Rocky. It goes without saying that not all of us in this room can say the same.”

“Hey! I care about my cousin,” a gruff voice interrupted from behind us. I glanced over my shoulder and noticed a gigantic man peering at us. We’d shared a few shifts before, but as usual I kept to myself and never really spoke to him.

Steph laughed and rolled her eyes. “Stop eavesdropping, Maurice. Keep hauling whatever it is you’re hauling back there.”

“Shut the fuck up, Stephanie.”

Okay, maybe I should speak to him.

I couldn’t help but chuckle when he flipped Stephanie off before stomping off and made a mental note to get to know the guy better.

“You didn’t answer my question.” Stephanie narrowed her eyes and eyed me expectantly. “What are your intentions with Rocky?”

I let my head fall back and groaned. “I’m not here to ruin her life if that’s what you’re getting at. I’m sure she’s told you that we haven’t even really spoken since I arrived.”

Something I really regret now that Ethan is in the picture.

“Oh, I know,” she replied smugly. “But my question is why you are avoiding her. I mean, it’s pretty obvious why you’re here to begin with.”

“My mother?” I snapped sharply.

At least she had the decency to cringe. “Oh yeah, I’m sorry about that. I hope she gets better.”

“I bet,” I replied glumly.

She fidgeted for a moment, but her awkwardness didn’t stay. Placing both hands on her hips, she clucked, “But I’m not talking about your infamous return to Bethel Falls.”

“Then what are you talking about?”

She threw her hands up in exasperation. “The fact that you’re working at Rossi’s Novelties, of all places. What else would I be talking about?”

Suddenly feeling cornered, I tried to change the subject. “So, what have you been up to all these years? Your brains get you into a good job?”

“Nope, you’re not getting out of this one. We’re going to stay here and talk about the fact that you’re back to sweep Rocky off her feet, but you’re too chicken to act upon it. That’s why you’re hiding out in here all day and that’s why you’re too scared to talk to her.”

The blood drained from my face. Was I really that obvious? “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Mmhmm,” she muttered. “Keep telling yourself that, sweetie.”

Rolling my eyes, I decided to switch gears. “Guess some people never outgrow their annoying quirks.”

Slowly, Steph’s eyes narrowed. “You better be talking about yourself, boy. Some of us—and I mean me—have grown into fully functioning adults.”

“Then why are you here acting like Rocky’s bodyguard all over again or at the very least, her meddlesome mother? If you haven’t noticed, she’s a fully functioning adult as well. Do you think she’d like the fact that you’re here interrogating me again?”

Stephanie’s eye twitched. “I just care about her, that’s all.”

“And I don’t?”

“Judging by your aloofness, I can say no, you don’t.” Her lips tightened and her jaw clenched. “Did you not stop to think that she could have been hurt when you suddenly stopped answering her calls? Stopped texting her? Didn’t visit? Dude, she lov—err…she cared…um…well, you get the point. And do you know who was there to pick up all the pieces?”

“Let me guess…”

“Me! And whatever you’re planning to do, stop. I don’t want to clean up your mess again…unless of course you’re here for some good…you know what I’m saying?”

Sighing, I rubbed at my eyebrows in thought. There was no way I’d tell Stephanie what was going on in my mind. For one, I wasn’t comfortable enough to divulge the info. Secondly, if I was going to confess my transgressions to anyone, it would be to Rocky. Glancing up with hesitation, I replied quietly, “Let’s just say I was worried she was mad at me so I was feeling things out a bit. Like you said, I know I hurt her. Can’t expect to jump back into a friendship head first, right?”

It wasn’t a total lie; it just wasn’t the whole truth either.

“Right.” She pursed her lips and shrugged. “Why did I even think you’d be honest with me? You never were.”

“That’s not true,” I argued.

“Just forget about it.” To my surprise, her facial features relaxed. “Either way, it’s great to see you again. I hate to admit it, but I missed you.”

I couldn’t help but soften. “I missed you too.”

Steph glanced down at her digital watch and grimaced. “Looks like I have to run. Work’s a calling.”

“Here, let me walk you out,” I offered. “It’s the least I could do.”

“After I ‘interrogated’ you?” she teased.

Laughing, I wiped my dingy hands against my work apron and motioned toward the door. “For visiting me. If I were being honest—”

“You never are,” she interjected mischievously.

Ignoring her, I pressed on. “I would have kept to myself for a bit. It was nice you took the time to seek me out.”

When we reached the double doors leading to the main sales floor, she arched an eyebrow. “I’m actually surprised they hired you without a background check. How do any of us know whether or not you’ve turned into a serial killer and you were really in hiding all this time?”

“Oh no! You found me out! Now it’s time to kill!” I exclaimed with mock anger. Relaxing my face, I added, “That’s an interesting story line to add to your weird fanfiction anthologies. Do you still write gnome erotica?”

Stephanie rolled her eyes. “It was elf romance, and no, I don’t. I’ve graduated to werewolf/human trysts.”

“Nice. I always wondered what wolf tits looked like.”

We pushed through the huge doors and burst into laughter.

“You are so full of it!” she exclaimed.

“You were always a smartass!”

“Having a good time?” Rocky’s voice interrupted. Her tone was almost sharp enough to cut a diamond.

Stephanie’s face folded guilty. “Oh you know. Just catching up.”

“I bet.”

Well, I wasn’t about to stick around at the risk of pissing Rocky off even more. Lord knows how much she probably already hated me. I cleared my throat and eyed the stockroom, looking to make an escape. “I guess I’ll be heading back to work. Nice seeing you again, Steph.”

“Yeah, nice seeing you.”

I walked away, ignoring the fact that I could hear both girls murmuring behind my back. It was obvious they were chatting about me, but no way in hell I wanted to hear those catty remarks. I pushed my way back into the Dungeon and caught Maurice staring at me curiously.