The Key West Anthology (2 page)

Chapter One

Jett

“Good afternoon, ladies,” I said. Walking past the three girls waiting for me when I arrived at the restaurant, I dreaded the interviews that were about to take place.

Since Alexis moved back to Georgia, I’d gone through four different girls without filling the waitressing position with someone I could depend on. Either they had a hard time showing up or couldn’t seem to grasp the importance of holding a tray full of food and drinks securely.

What would it take to find one girl that could actually keep the food off the floor and the guests happy?

I sat down at my desk and looked out through the glass wall overlooking the dining area. Some days it was still hard to believe this place was mine, but I’d worked for it. I busted my ass at every crap job I could find, pinching and saving. I took night classes and online courses just to finish my degree faster. I set my goals high and shot even higher.

I’d declined my father’s offer to finance my dream, wanting to do it on my own. It was important for me to be able to look back and know how I got where I am today.

Now I had one of the hottest restaurants in Palm Beach. It was right on the water, and my chef, Jude, was one of the best damn chefs in the area. He’d gone to culinary school and after that had trained in Italy for two years, perfecting his skills, mastering the flavors.

Customers left Jett’s wanting more, needing another taste of his newest creation. The man was pure genius. Underneath that apron, well, that was a whole different story. Jude was a man who did something a little more dangerous with his hands than tenderize chicken. He was full of aggression, and he had a darkness that, at times, even I didn’t know what to think of.

I had a great staff, though; people I could count on. We were more like a family. So adding just anyone to the mix was something that couldn’t be done. They had to fit not just the job duties but the atmosphere.

Jett’s consumed all my focus. All my energy. It left little time in my life for other things. My sisters called me the ultimate bachelor. I guess it could be considered true, but I didn’t have time for the demanding needs of a woman. I kept life simple and steered clear of anything that could come between me and my dream.

I picked up the phone and buzzed Callie, my assistant and savior in most situations.

“You ready to be fed to the wolves?” she asked with a devilish giggle. The girl was like another sister to me, and sometimes the characteristics she shared with Harper scared the shit out of me. One Harper Jameson was enough for this world; two would only be disastrous. The fact the two had grown up side by side only made her presence in my life more dominant. I don’t actually remember a time Callie wasn’t around.

“Yeah, I’m as ready as I’m gonna be. Bring in the first one.” I sighed out in frustration. I already had a headache, and the interviews were just beginning.

After an hour and forty minutes of tedious questions, with mediocre responses, I was spent. Two of the three girls thought they could flirt their way into being hired. The other girl acted as if we were holding her up in some way. At one point I had to ask her to discard the bubblegum she continuously made popping noises with. There was a silent standoff until she cautiously sunk back in her chair and pulled it slowly from her mouth, saving me from the outburst I was so close to having.

Callie came in with a smug look on her face, closing the door behind her. I rested my forehead against the desk, closing my eyes tightly. “Ah, come on, boss, that last one had potential.” The snort that erupted from Callie deserved a glare. She had always been able to read me well and took every chance she could to poke at my already annoyed mood.

“I hear ya, smartass,” I said. “You just got section two and six for the day. Slap on an apron, babe; get to work.” I chuckled when her mouth parted in response. She stood on the other side of my desk, looking like a fish out of water. I could sense her mind was working overtime, trying to come up with anything that would get her out of waitressing.

After a few minutes of silence, she spun around and flipped me off over her shoulder, only earning yet another chuckle. She was one of the first waitresses I hired, and I trusted her, no questions. She’d become someone I relied on quickly, and I knew she wasn’t going anywhere.

There was a heavy knock on the door before it burst open and Kade walked in. He had been my best friend since we were three, and we were always inseparable throughout grade school, even into high school. I lost him for a while during our senior year. He went through a real hard time when he lost his longtime girlfriend in a car accident. She was hit head-on by a drunk driver on her way home from his house. It hurt like a bitch to watch him suffer, yet he refused everyone when they tried to console him. He made it perfectly clear at the time he neither needed nor wanted anyone hovering over him trying to make things better.

“What’s up? You look like shit.” He chuckled, taking a seat in the chair across from my desk. “Callie just stormed down the hall looking almost as irritated as you. What’s going on with you two?” He cocked his eyebrow, the look on his face indicating his imagination was running off with all sorts of scenarios.

“Not what you’re thinking, man. She’s probably pissed because I just put her out on the floor.” I pointed toward the glass wall, acknowledging her standing just on the other side. She was laughing at something someone said as she took their order. I watched as his gaze roamed over Callie, appraising her long legs and sweet smile. She was an attractive girl.

My chuckle broke the trance, and Kade tucked his head down, averting his eyes quickly. When it came to women, Kade was still hesitant. After losing Jenna, he tried to avoid ever feeling that kind of devastation again. He held his heart close. I think it had to do with guilt, but I never pushed him to talk about things he preferred to keep to himself.

“So, um, Ryker is throwing that big beach party tomorrow night. You going?” He was trying to hide the fact that Callie may have affected him by quickly changing the subject.

I let it slide and leaned back in my chair, resting my hands behind my head. “Nah, I doubt I’ll be there. Who knows when I’ll get out of here.”

“Jett, you do know there’s a life outside of this place. I can’t remember the last time we all hung out. It’ll be fun to catch up with all the guys.” He looked so hopeful, but parties weren’t really my thing anymore. I would rather have some time alone after my long days. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I went out, but Ryker Williams was one of those guys that got real annoying, real fast.

“Come on, man, just for a little while.” He sat up straighter in his chair, squaring his shoulders.

“Okay, but I’m not promising I’ll stay long. I’ll go for a while, though.”

A wide smile spread over his face, and he stood up quickly. “You know where his place is, right?”

I nodded. How could I forget where he lived? I lost my virginity in his basement to his older sister, Shay. A bit of information I wasn’t sure Ryker even knew about.

“Yeah man, I know where it is. I’ll see ya there.”

Chapter Two

Quinn

A loud crash startled me from my sleep. I looked over at the clock on the nightstand. 2:08 a.m. glowed brightly, confirming this morning was no different than any other morning.

Tears stung my eyes as I stared up at the ceiling, attempting to calm down. I already knew I could blame my mother for yet another nightly interruption. Another crash caused me to jump up and rush for the door.

Just as I entered the living room, my mother was attempting to stand back up. She was stumbling and continuously losing her footing. She grabbed for anything that might hold her up.

Just as she was about to take another face-dive, I wrapped my arms around her waist, steadying her. Every day I witnessed my mom drink herself into oblivion. Each night—or morning, however you want to look at it—I picked her up off the floor. If I didn’t, no one else would.

It was always the same thing. My mother was drowning her sorrows and slowly killing herself right before me. It’s always been this way. I can’t remember a time when it wasn’t.

I used to have the help of my grandfather, but he passed away a couple months ago, so everything began to plummet faster after that day. I no longer had him here with me to control her.

“Thanks, baby girl.” She used my body to brace herself, looking into my eyes. “My beautiful girl. I don’t know what I would do without you.”

She’d be sleeping on the ground in the open doorway. That was the first thought that popped in my head. Or maybe on the front lawn.

It was always me and my mom against the world. Growing up, I never knew my father. He was a mistake my mother made, but in the end he gave her the greatest gift: me. At least that’s how she explained it. The jackass bolted on us and left us to fend for ourselves. I couldn’t see it in her eyes when she talked about it, but she loved him. She always put on that he was this huge ass who left us when she needed him most, but I could tell longing still filled her.

“Come on, Mom, let’s get you to bed.”

It took everything I had to get her into her room and undressed. She smelled like she had been bathing in a pool of whiskey. She was in serious need of a shower, but I didn’t have the energy to clean her up. I was on the verge of tears as it was.

I was pretty good at holding off my own emotions from years of practice when I knew I couldn’t break down. I didn’t have time to be weak or needy. I had to hold my head up high and keep us going. Tears and pity—they weren’t allowed, not when I had to be the strong one.

“You love me, don’t you, Quinn?” she asked.

“Yeah, Mom,” I assured her. “I love you.”

“You’ll never leave me. You’ll always be here for me. People always leave, Quinn. They never do what they say they will. You can’t trust anybody.” She continued to ramble on in a drunken haze.

Then our eyes met, and she stared at me with such intensity. I felt the burn in my throat as she spoke. “You’re all I have left, sweetheart. I’m sorry I’m such a failure. I do love you, Quinny, so much.”

I forced a smile as I tucked the covers around her, kissing her on the cheek. She curled onto her side, closing her eyes as she began to fade. I sat on the edge of the bed with a huge knot in my throat. How much longer could this go on? How long did I have to babysit a woman that should be able to take care of herself?

I had enrolled in college after graduation. I wanted something better for myself, something great. I loved photography and art. After the first semester I realized things weren’t that simple. Life was coming at me from all angles. Maintaining our home, settling my grandfathers’ estate, along with all the other day-to-day chores were overwhelming. I had to quit school so I could get a job. We needed the income. Who was I kidding anyway? I couldn’t afford school. I was paying all the bills and busting my ass to stay above water. Extra money for school was just a fantasy.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, I continued to stare at my mother’s drunken form as her heavy snores filled the room. How could you love and hate someone at the same time?

***

I woke up a little after nine on Friday. It was easier to sleep in because my mom never got up before noon. It was one of the perks of her staying out all night long drinking. If only all of us were on her schedule, things would be easier.

I had plans to begin the search for my second job today. Yeah, Spencer’s paid well, especially on the weekends, but it wasn’t enough. Not when I had a mortgage to pay. I needed to have a part-time job just to have a little extra for the unexpected.

My mother had pissed away all her inheritance. It wasn’t much, but it would have helped ease the stress. Instead, she went on a weekend trip to Vegas and returned with nothing but an outstanding cab fare for the taxi that delivered her.

I had spent the morning dropping off my résumé at every possible place I might be able to find employment. At this point I would accept almost anything. I was growing desperate.

My phone vibrated on the table as I sat in the local coffee shop. Seeing the picture of my best friend Avery’s face light up the screen made me laugh. She had her tongue hanging out with her hands up at her face, making silly gestures. She was about the only light in my life. Without her, I was sure I would be joining my mom on her nightly binges by now.

“Hey, lady love,” I said in greeting.

“Quinny,” she squealed. “Where are you?”

“Mario’s Coffee Shop,” I replied.

“Stay put, I’ll be right there.” She hung up, leaving me hanging.

I waited impatiently, looking up at the door every time the little bell above it rang. The moment I saw her light blonde hair flowing in the breeze, I smiled at her in return. She stopped at the counter and picked up her favorite cappuccino before hurrying across the dining area and taking her seat across from me. She sat smiling at me like she had some sort of secret.

“What are you grinning about? You’re freaking me out with your crazy.”

“Hey you, I got some fun for us to partake in,” she squeaked, shaking her hips. I stared at my best friend, waiting for an explanation for her hyped-up behavior.

“Okay, do you remember me talking about a guy named Ryker?” she asked. She had talked about him often, actually. He was a little older than us, by about four years to be exact.

I nodded, waiting for her to continue.

“Well, he is having a party tonight and he invited me to come.” She paused for the “Avery dramatic effect.” “A party, Quinn, as in at his house. On the beach. Lots of yummy guys.” Another pause. “You are going with me,” she stated.

“Um, no, I’m not. Sorry. I can’t,” I immediately refused, leaning back in my chair.

“Why? Because of your mom?” She looked around, making sure no one would hear what she was about to say. “Listen, girly, I love you, I do, but you have to stop taking care of her all the time. Don’t you think it’s time you do something for you? For once, Quinn, stop being her mother.”

Her words were true, so true. I had been playing that motherly role since I was a kid. It was just my life, and yes I hated it, but there was no one else to make sure she was safe.

I hadn’t let my guard down and had a little fun in a long time. It might be nice to spend some time around people my own age, not worrying about the next disaster awaiting me.

So, maybe I could go, just for a little while. A little night out might be good for me.

“All right, Avery, I’ll go, but I’m not staying late. I know you don’t understand, but I can’t leave her passed out on the living room floor. I have to be home before she gets there,” I replied.

I honestly thought I lost her once I said I would go. She instantly began squealing and bouncing around, doing some absurd chair dance.

I hid my face from embarrassment. The girl seriously had no shame. If she needed to express herself, she didn’t care where she was or who was around, she just went for it. If you didn’t like it, then move on, because she really didn’t give a shit. She had always been that cheerful type. Some people found it extremely annoying. Me, I found it refreshing. Her happiness always gave me the light I needed.