Tied - Part One (3 page)

“Not me,” I said softly.

“No?”

“I want to teach, or at least to work with children, but that’s not a very big dream, is it?”

“No, but it’s a good one. What else?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m kind of just taking it one day at a time, you know?”

“I hear that. It’s a good place for a fresh start, that’s for sure.”

“That would be nice,” I said. “No one really knows me here. I can…”
Forget the past. Leave it behind. Escape its claws
.

I liked talking to him. His easy manner helped me relax, his focus made me feel like I actually wasn’t boring him at all. I’d already said more than I wanted without even thinking about it. But the subject was getting a little heavy for a late night chat with an acquaintance.

“I don’t know if I’m looking to make as big of a change as Alexa,” I said, chuckling.

“Ahh,” he said, “You mean the hair and the piercing?”

“Yeah.” I rolled my eyes. “Not my thing.”

“What about tattoos?” He flexed an arm, showing off the black ink and the defined muscles. My mouth ran dry. I could see him more clearly now that my eyes had adjusted, and good God, it was easier to talk to him when I couldn’t really see him.

I swallowed. “Not for me,” I said, “But I guess they work on some people.”

He grinned, flashing white teeth in the dark. “I think I found us a goal.”

“A goal?”

“You need a little ink.”

I snorted. I couldn’t help it. The very idea was insane! Me? Boring old me?

“Something small,” Lockett said, “Maybe right here.” He brushed a thumb across the top of my shoulder over the material of my t-shirt. Just a brief touch, but it made me shiver. “You could hide it easily.”

“Do you have one there?” I heard the words whisper from my lips before I could stop them.

He turned toward me and leaned forward, showing me his shoulder. A design that resembled a constellation sat there, black lines and black dots, simple but somehow beautiful. I ran a finger alone one of the lines, softly touching his warm skin. I quickly withdrew when I realized what I’d done.

Roommates
, I reminded myself,
Don’t make things weird, now. That one kiss probably didn’t mean anything to him
.

It was going to go right on haunting me, though. And he was looking at me with a hint of a smirk on his face. He knew exactly what I was thinking about.

“I’d better try to get to sleep,” I mumbled, jumping to my feet. But I paused there, standing so close to him. Waiting for what? For him to seize me, to pull me into his arms and kiss me again. The memory of the smoky, sultry taste of him made my breath catch.

He tensed - his fists clenched, but he remained where he was, one arm flung casually along the back of the couch.

“Goodnight,” I said. I made off for my room, back stiff and cheeks burning.

“Goodnight, Katherine,” he said to my back.

I held my breath until my door was closed and I was alone.
It will be okay
, I reassured myself,
it’s just a little crush. I can get over a little crush
.

Hell, it was just one damn kiss! How hard could it be?

CHAPTER 2

I woke early the next morning. Or rather, I dozed on and off through the night and finally gave up trying to sleep once the sun had risen and was shining in through my east-facing window.

I heard someone moving around in the apartment when I put my ear to the door but I couldn’t figure out who it was based on kitchen sounds alone.
I guess I’ve got to get properly dressed if I want to get some breakfast
. This roommate thing was going to take some getting use to, too.

Well, I can’t hide all morning
. I slid on a bra under my t-shirt, changed out of my sweatpants and into a clean pair of jeans, and slipped out the room.

“Hey, it’s Kat!”

“No no, Kathy, it’s Kathy.”

I groaned. Both of the boys were awake and my sister was nowhere to be seen. They sat on the couch, mugs in hand.

Lockett had no shirt on. It was beginning to look like a theme of his.

“Coffee’s on, Kathy,” Mallet said, gesturing back toward the kitchen.

“Bagels are in the freezer, Kat,” Lockett said, then he meowed at me and he winked.

I blinked back at them. “’Katherine’ is fine,” I said. It was too early for this. “Where’s Alexa?”

“The vampire doesn’t rise at this hour,” Mallet said, grinning. “I think I like ‘Kathy” for you, Lockett’s always naming chicks after animals, it ain’t right.”

Lockett held up a half of a piece of paper, haphazardly torn. “I’ve got a job interview for you.”

Now I definitely needed coffee. Running both hands through my hair, I stumbled toward the kitchen. “You guys are too much for this hour,” I grumbled. I could hear them chuckling as I poured myself a mug. I checked the fridge for milk and found that it had turned.
Good God
.

I took a long swallow of the strong black coffee before stepping back into the living room. “Okay. A job interview?” I asked, feeling like my eyes were going to bug out. “What do you mean?”

“You don’t have anything lined up yet, right?” Lockett asked, waving his scrap. “One of my brothers is looking for a tutor for his kids.”

“How old?” I took the paper from him. It was an address, and he’d even written down the subway directions.

“A ten year old boy and an eight year old girl.”

Grammar school. I could handle a couple of grammar schoolers, for sure. “This is…” I dropped my arm to my side and regarded the two of them, looking happier than a pair of cats with a bag of catnip. “This is really nice of you. You didn’t have to do this.”

Lockett pointed at me. “The sooner we get you to work, the sooner we can start charging you rent.”

Mallet punched his shoulder. “He’s joking, mostly. His brother really was talking about getting a tutor, though, and Alexa said you might be interested.”

“His wife’s expecting you at eleven,” Lockett. They both jumped to their feet and made for the front door.

“Thank you,” I said, “Really, thank you so much. I’ll be there.”

Lockett pulled on a shirt while Mallet pulled on a coat. They both picked up gym bags that they’d left by the front door. “I’ll text her and let her know,” Lockett said, “Later, Kat!”

They pushed and shoved each other into the hall, slamming the door with a little too much enthusiasm for seven in the morning.
Their neighbors must love them
.

I was still reeling after they were long gone. A job interview? Already? I knew I could handle a tutoring job - hell, half the time when a parent said they wanted a tutor, what they were really after was a nanny. But work was work, and I definitely needed to work. My savings wouldn’t last me very long - not in New York.

First things first, though, something had to be done about the milk.

○●○●○●○●○

I picked up the photo from the shelf and stared at it, a small grin curving my lips. Lockett held a baby in one arm and a young child in the other, lifting them both as if they were weights and he were exercising. Both kids looked delighted.
Just when you think a man couldn’t possibly be sexier…

“Thanks for waiting.” I nearly dropped the photo as I put it down, and the woman laughed. “Rob is so good with the kids.” She looked over my shoulder. “Gosh, that photo was six years ago.”

Lockett looked much younger in it. Six years made a big difference in your twenties. He was what, twenty-eight now according to Alexa? So he was twenty-two in that picture. He’d been that buff even back then?

“Let’s sit.” I followed Lockett’s sister-in-law to a kitchen table covered in coloring books, crayons, and all manner of evidence of young children. Lisa seemed very nice, though frazzled. She worked part-time at the local library and volunteered at her kids school when she could. From what I understood, her husband worked a lot, and wasn’t home much. “Why don’t you tell me a little about yourself?”

I brushed some crumbs off the chair before sitting down across from her. “Well, I’m twenty-five. I graduated with a Bachelor’s degree three years ago, majored in education. Specifically early childhood education. I’ve done a lot of substitute teaching over the last year, a little tutoring here and there…” I trailed off.

I waited for the tough questions.
“Why weren’t you working straight out of college?” “Because I always had too much alcohol in my blood to pass the test to work in the school district.” “Oh you’re an alcoholic, what makes you think you should be allowed to work with children?”

My stomach churned.

But she never asked. “Well, Rob highly recommended you, so I think we can give this a try.”

“That was really nice of him,” I said.

“How’s twenty an hour sound? Say, twice a week, one day for each of my little monsters?”

“Oh, gosh, I’m sure they aren’t monsters!” I said, laughing.

“Wait until you meet them.”

“Oh, I’m sure they’re perfect angels,” I said, grinning.

“So the rate’s agreeable?”

“Yes,” I said, “That’s perfect.” Honestly it was a little higher than I was expecting, though it was the going rate for a tutor on the less experienced side. Looking around her home, though, I couldn’t help wondering how she could afford it. The apartment was small, the furniture was worn.

I knew better than to question it too much, though. Only a crazy person would ask for less money than they were offered. If anything I should have haggled but it just didn’t feel right. Not for a first job. Not for a job that was practically a favor.

“When would you like me to start?”

○●○●○●○●○

“I got the job!” I sang as I entered the apartment. Alexa was fiddling with her guitar in the living room, but she put it down so she could run over and give me a hug.

“That’s amazing!” she said. “Here for less than a day and you’ve already got a gig. Not bad, sis.”

“Well, it was thanks to your roommate,” I said, blushing.

“So what, that’s just networking.” She jabbed my arm. “We should celebrate.”

“How?”

“However you like!” She retrieved her guitar and strummed a few chords. “We could do another open mic night.”

“Definitely.” I flopped down on the couch and she returned to her chair, positioned next to the television. “Let me hear what you’re working on.”

We were practicing the harmony of Alexa’s new song when she had to leave for her job some local bar called Coconut Cup. “I’d invite you but the place is really cheesy and the drinks are worse,” she joked.

“I don’t drink, anyway.”

“I know. But just being in their presence would rot your teeth.”

She gave me another quick hug on her way out the door. “I’m super stoked that you’re here,” she said, smiling, “We’re gonna have a great time.”

Then she was gone. And I was alone in the apartment.

The silence was crushing, despite the fact that it wasn’t the least bit silent in the room. It was strange to be left by myself - the place didn’t feel like home yet. How could it? I felt like an intruder.
But I’ll be paying rent soon. This month. It will get better
.

Still, feeling so shaken and out of place, I knew who I had to call.

I picked out Patrick’s number in my phone and hit dial. My sponsor had promised to pick up no matter what time of day I called, especially while I was adjusting to the move, but I still paced while it rang and prayed he’d pick up.

“Katherine,” he said, “Hi!”

I released a long breath of relief. “Patrick. It’s good to hear your voice.”

“Is everything okay?”

“Yeah. Actually everything’s great. I got a tutoring job.”

“Congrats!”

“I feel like a fraud.” I’d learned long ago that I didn’t need to bother with dancing around the problem - not with Patrick.