One Lucky Bastard (7 page)

“Deb.” Juanita laid a hand on her arm. “Remember that guy who used to put off taking his son home after class so he could talk with you? Jason’s father?”

She nodded. “Yeah.”

“He’s hooked up with Melissa’s mom. I heard this afternoon they planned to get married next summer.” Juanita tapped the table with her finger. “I thought he’d never lose his fascination with you, but it looks like he survived.”

Debbie turned to Mick. “Jason’s dad is a young single father, and Melissa’s mom works down on Cleary Street dancing the poles.” She grinned. “Who knew?”

“Ah.” Mick smiled in understanding but didn’t add anything to the conversation.

“Okay, how many of us are planning on hitting the party tomorrow night?” Barb, the wildest out of all her friends, held her mug of beer up in the air at the other end of the table.

The others in her group of friends cheered and held up their drinks. Debbie slid her hand up Mick’s thigh and twined her fingers through his. Not one for college parties, she planned to convince Mick to snuggle in bed and watch the chick flick she’d bought yesterday. She’d make suffering through a girlie movie worth it for him.

“You in, Deb?” Barb raised her brows.

She shook her head. “Nope, got other plans.”

“Oh, come on. You never go out with us anymore.” Barb scrunched up her nose. “You’re turning into an old fuddy-duddy like the old man.”

Oh no, she didn’t go there
. Debbie sucked in a breath. God, she was so tired of getting her relationship with Mick thrown back at her in every conversation.

Mick sat forward. “Baby…”

She leaned back. Her glass thunked against the table. “You know what?” She stared down the length of the table. “Lay off. Just because I—” She waved her hand in front of her. “Never mind.” Grabbing Mick’s hand, she turned. “Do you want to go dance?”

He scooted back his chair, stood up, and led her across the floor. She slipped her arms around his neck. Her heart raced, and it surprised her how bent out of shape she’d become.

“Shit.” She laid her head underneath Mick’s chin. “Why can’t my friends understand? It’s not as if I’ve changed. I rarely went out to the parties with them before I met you.”

“Maybe you’re a little sensitive.” Mick rubbed her back. “Your girlfriends are giving you a hard time because they’re your friends.” He kissed the top of her head. “I don’t think this has so much to do with your relationship with me, Deb.”

She sighed. “They have a funny way of showing it. Once, I’d like them to ask me what we did over the weekend or listen to me tell them about you without giving me a lecture about the age difference. They aren’t exactly kind behind your back. I’m tired of defending you, us, everything.”

Mick stopped moving, leaned back, and gazed down at her. “Do you have a problem being with me?”

She jerked. Why would he ask such a ridiculous question?

“Of course not!” She kissed him. “I love you. I love what we have together.”

He lifted his gaze from her and peered over at her friends. “Want to get out of here?”

She smiled. “That’s the best thing I’ve heard all night.”

Grabbing her coat off the back of the chair, she turned to her friends. “Sorry, guys, probably PMS.” She rubbed her forehead. “Thanks for inviting us, but we’re going to head out.”

She walked around the table and gave each of them a hug. Squeezing Barb extra-hard, she whispered, “Sorry. I didn’t mean to bite your head off. Forgive me?”

“Of course.” Barb kissed her cheeks. “You’ve always been a fudster.” Barb hugged Debbie back. “Plus, now I know what to get you for your birthday. A shawl…and maybe a pair of knitting needles.”

She groaned. “Barb—”

Her friend held up her hand. “I’ll stop. I just think you’re making a terrible mistake. You should be out having fun.”

“This is fun. I love Mick.” She turned around and headed back down to the other side of the table.

Debbie saved saying good-bye to Juanita for last. Walking back around the table, she found Mick in a serious conversation. A frown marked his face as he leaned down beside Juanita talking.

At her approach, Mick straightened and stopped talking. She placed her hand on Juanita’s back and tilted her head at Mick. Why did he appear so serious all of a sudden?

“Hey, Juanita. I’ll see you on Monday bright and early, ‘kay?” She hugged her coworker from behind.

“Dammit. I’m sorry, Deb. It slipped out before I realized what I’d said.” Juanita squeezed her arms.

Debbie glanced up at Mick. The muscle along his jaw twitched from the tension around his mouth. Her shoulders drooped.
Shit.

“Not your fault. I should have told him.” She leaned around and kissed Juanita’s cheek. “See you Monday.”

She followed Mick out of the restaurant. He kept his distance and didn’t lay a hand on her. After escorting her into the car, he climbed in and drove.

“Can I explain?”

“I think your actions are enlightening me enough.” His fingers turned white on the steering wheel. “I asked you to let go of your apartment, make the commitment to our relationship, and you lied. Half the time we’re with your friends, you’re more concerned about what they think than letting it all go—”

“It’s not like that.” She threw up her hands.

He slammed a palm down on the wheel. “Are you denying that you’re letting your friend stay at your apartment, but kept the apartment in your name?”

“No.”

“Did you not lead me to believe you had moved into my house with the intent to make our relationship permanent—forever?” He downshifted and pulled onto their street.

“Knock it off, Mick. I’m not on trial here. Let me explain.” She reached over and put her hand on his leg, but he shoved it away.

Neither one of them spoke the rest of the way home. Following him into the house, she wanted to explain her reasoning, but everything she came up with sounded pathetic to her own ears.

Mick stalked off upstairs, and Debbie sank down on the couch. Grabbing the folded blanket, she hugged it to her chest.
I will not cry. He’ll calm down, and I’ll try to explain why I did it.

Chapter Nine

Thunk.

Mick stood in front of the couch with two suitcases sitting at his feet. “I’ll have the rest of your things boxed and delivered to your apartment tomorrow.”

She ran her hands over her face and sat up. “What are you talking about?” She glanced at the clock. “Oh God, I fell asleep.”

“I told you from day one that I expected honesty and one hundred percent of you in this relationship.” He shoved his hands into the front pockets of his slacks. “I’m not willing to receive anything less.” His upper lip twitched. “You’ll have no problem making the adjustment. You have an apartment to go back to.”

“Mick, wait—” She flung off the blanket and stood up.

He stepped back and acted as if the mere thought of her touching any part of him turned his stomach. “Go home, Debbie” He turned his back to her and walked off.

“Mick?”

He stopped but refused to turn around. She swallowed.

“I love you.”

He nodded. “You’re in love with the idea of a relationship with me, but for how much you try to convince yourself you want a relationship with someone more mature and stable…you have a lot of growing up to do.”

Her jaw dropped. Mick walked over to the door, opened it, and hurried over to climb the stairs. His words cut deep and left her wounded. It wasn’t true. She loved him.

The bedroom door slammed. She flinched. Ignoring the tears falling down her cheeks, she put her coat on and picked up her suitcases.

Mick was wrong. She didn’t need to grow up. He did.

* * *

“Ms. Kordall, Ms. Kordall!”

Debbie glanced down and found Jeremy tugging her pant leg. Squatting, she smiled. “Yes, sweetie?”

“I got to go to the baffroom.” He danced in place. “Bad.”

“Let’s go, champ.” She hurried him out of the classroom, across the hall, and pushed him through the door. “I’ll be right here. Don’t forget to wash your hands.”

She leaned against the wall and rubbed her head. Fifteen minutes and she could go home. She needed a couple of aspirin in the worst way.

The classroom door to the preschool room opened. She lifted her head. The aftereffects of the last snack break finally showed up going by how much noise the hyperactive children were making.

“Clear the area. We’ve got an emergency.” Juanita held a little boy tucked under her arm. “Everyone stand back. There’s a plane coming in for landing.”

Tucker’s arms stuck straight out at his sides, and after touching the ground, he flew into the restroom. She smiled.
Cute kid.

“Hey, you all right?” Juanita collapsed beside her. “You’re looking awful droopy.”

“Headache.” She touched her temple. “Nothing a couple of pills and a bath won’t cure.”

“It’s Friday. Why don’t you cut out early? I’ll take the kids back to the room.” Juanita patted her arm. “You’ve had a hell of a week. You deserve some pampering. I’m going out with the gang tonight, so you’ll have the place to yourself.”

“Thanks, Juanita.” She hugged her friend.

After grabbing her purse and coat, she headed out to her car. Her cell phone rang, and she hurried to find it in her bag. Flipping it open, she hurried to press the call button.

“Mom?” She threw her stuff on the hood of the car. “Everything okay with you and Dad?”

“Of course, sweetie. I’m calling to check up on you.” Her mom paused. “Have you talked to Mick?”

“No.” She rubbed the back of her neck. “The more I think about it, the madder I am. He had no right to shut me out and not allow me to explain my side. He claimed I needed to grow up.” She snorted. “It’s not like he’s acting very mature at the moment either.” She blew her bangs off her face. “I just don’t understand how we went from wonderful to not even talking.”

“Honey, you need to listen to how you’re talking. I don’t think Mick is the only one who jumped to conclusions.” Her mom sighed. “I know it’s hard when your feelings are so tender, but…”

Debbie sighed. “Deep down, I know that.” She sniffed. “Oh, Mom, I had no idea it would hurt this bad. I never meant to hurt him. I thought I was doing the right thing, but Mick was right. I should have trusted him and the love we shared together.”

Silence came over the phone. “Mom, you still there?”

“Yes, Deb.” Static sounded in her ear. “Honey, hang on. Your dad is yelling from the other room that he wants to speak with you.”

She dug through her purse, found her keys, and unlocked the driver’s-side door. After tossing her things inside, she sat down in the driver’s seat and then shut the door. Now that her mom and dad had discovered the pleasures of traveling, she couldn’t just pop in on them at their house and discuss her problems whenever she wanted. She missed having everyday interactions with her parents.

“Sweetheart?”

“Hi, Daddy.” Deb smiled. “How’s your vacation going?”

“Good, but I’m anxious to come back and see you. I’m worried about you.”

“I’ll be okay.” She sniffed. Hearing her dad’s voice was comforting, and she’d love to receive one of his big bear hugs. He had a way about him that solved all her problems. “It hurts. I love him, Dad.”

“Then go talk to him.” Her dad chuckled. “Did I ever tell you about the time your mother threatened to have her older brothers beat me up?”

She wiped her eyes. “No.”

“Evie got mad because she thought I was trying to control her.” He scoffed. “I was, but that’s beside the point.”

Debbie shook her head. “You two are made for each other, Dad.”

“What I want to say is…I acted that way because I was afraid of losing her.” Frank Kordall cleared his throat. “In my head, I figured that if I could dictate our lives, I’d keep her with me forever. Fear of losing someone you love plays havoc with the way you act sometimes.”

“What did you do?” She pinched the bridge of her nose to keep the tears at bay.

“I didn’t do anything. Evie came back to me a couple of days later and demanded we talk it out. The smartest thing she ever did, because it gave this ol’ fart a chance to make it up to her for my insecurities. Age doesn’t always bring wisdom.”

Debbie leaned her head back on the headrest and closed her eyes. “You think I should apologize?’

“Is the split-up your doing, Deb?”

She swallowed. “Yeah.”

“You do what makes you happy, sweetheart. I just wanted you to realize that even men who are supposed to have more maturity in a relationship will often screw up in an effort to protect themselves from getting hurt. I know I’ve done it. It’s human nature, and something I’m sure everyone does at one point or another in life.” He smooched into the phone. “You know we both love you, and no matter what, we’re here if you need us.”

“I love you too.” More tears fell. “Bye, Daddy. Give Mom a kiss.”

She tossed the phone over on the passenger seat. Her stomach flipped. She missed Mick so much. Life wasn’t the same without him. She wanted their long conversations into the night, the way he took care of everything, and she missed cuddling with him after making love. They could work this out. She only needed to apologize, and Mick would see that they had both acted out of fear.

Debbie slipped her seat belt around her and started the car. Looking over her shoulder to enter traffic, she made up her mind. Tomorrow morning she’d make Mick listen to her and beg him to take her back.

* * *

Rain splattered the dock at Mick’s feet, and he heaved his bag onto the yacht. He hurried on board, picked up his things, and climbed down the stairs to the bedroom. He looked forward to battling the water on his trip and hoped the storm continued. With his life in shambles, taking control of the thirty-six-foot boat would take his mind off going on this trip alone.

He kicked his bag off to the side, opened the liquor cabinet, and pulled out a half-filled bottle of the finest whiskey. Skipping the shot glass, he lifted his arm and swallowed a healthy drop. He planned to get stone drunk tonight and worry about the trip tomorrow, when it was time to shove off and leave his life with Debbie behind.