Tug (20 page)

“What? No, Liv. I’m not fucking him.” Liv’s features soften slightly. I say, “If you have any balls at all, it’s confession time, Harrison.”

“You bastard. I knew things weren’t great between us, but I never thought you’d do this.”

Harrison throws a hand up, fisting it in the air.

“Not great? Things have been horrible! We haven’t had sex in over six months.”

Her jaw shifts back and forth and she stares at him. I hurt for her. Neither of them speaks. All the married men from the club used the same weak excuse. Their wives wouldn’t have sex with them. I think they weren’t worthy of their wives love, any more than Harrison is deserving of Liv’s.

Liv shifts on her feet, and then speaks. “Whatever I did doesn’t make this okay!”

“I’m sorry, baby. It was just sex.”

God, he’s a classic cheating idiot. Is there a handbook they all read from that teaches cheaters to say, ‘It was just sex,’ or ‘I was drunk.’? My personal favorite is, ‘I thought she was you.’

“Who is she?” Liv demands, her words strained.

“No one.”

“Tell me, or Maria will.”

“A girl from the club we took Brady to.”

“A hooker? You paid someone to cheat on me?”

“Liv, I … she made me feel good, like I mattered. I haven’t felt wanted in a really long time.”

Unbelievable! Classic cheater line number seven! I hope Liv doesn’t fall for it.

“That’s a lame excuse,” she says, and I want to pat her on the back, but I refrain. “All you had to do was leave.”

“I couldn’t. I didn’t want to hurt you.”

“Well, now, you have. Have fun with your whore. I’m sure she’ll make you feel better.” She looks at me as she walks to the car. “Maria, can you take me home?”

On the ride back to Brady’s, Liv turns to me, tears raining down her cheeks. “I’m such a moron. I should have known something was up. The last week he hasn’t touched me at all.”

“No, you’re not a moron. He is.”

“It’s funny, well, not really, but Harrison is the mature, responsible one. It’s always the ones no one ever believes would cheat, who cheat. Did you ever notice that?” I don’t answer, assuming she only needs to vent, and doesn’t expect an answer. For several miles she’s quiet, other than the occasional sob. “I’m sorry for what I said about you.”

“Don’t. It isn’t necessary. I see why you thought it was me, and truthfully, I would have reacted the same way, only I probably would have slapped you before I freaked out on you.”

She laughs and smacks her knee. “I thought about it, but I figured you’d kick my ass.”

I laugh inwardly. If Liv only knew me back when. “There was a time I might have, but I’ve mellowed out.”

Her lips twist. “It was Tug, huh?”

“What?”

“It was Tug who jacked up Harrison’s car.”

I nod. “He found Harrison at Del’s when he went to pick up Javier. She was my sitter. He told Harrison to tell you. When he couldn’t find Harrison today, he came looking, and Harrison refused to come to the door.”

Her fingers nervously play with the fabric of her sarong. “That’s what he was going to tell me when we were leaving?”

“I think so.”

“Poor Tug, I’m sure he thought I’d be upset with him. I usually am. Everyone always thinks he’s making trouble.”

I chuckle. “That’s because he usually is.” Liv laughs. “He loves you and was worried about how you would take it.”

“You know, surprisingly, I’m okay.”

“Give yourself a few days for it to sink in, but if you need to talk, I’m here.”

“Thanks. Tori’s been so busy with the wedding and Andrew, I feel like we never get to talk anymore.”

“Life happens, but you two are obviously very close.”

She nods. “We’ve been friends since birth, and I love her to pieces, but there’s room for one more.” I smile at her words. She sits quietly for a few minutes, clutching her stomach, and then shifts in her seat, facing me. “Can you do me a favor?”

“Sure.”

“Don’t say anything to anyone at the house, especially Brady.”

“You’re not going to tell him?”

She slowly shakes her head. “No. He leaves tomorrow, and I’m going to wait until he’s long out of town. Tug has nothing on Brady when it comes to controlling his temper, and I don’t want to ruin his last night at home with my drama.”

I assure her I won’t say anything as we arrive back at the barbeque, and I spot Tug in front of the house, looking miserable.

I
’m still on the front steps when they pull into the driveway. I’ve decided to tell Liv everything, and then I’m going to beat the shit out of Harrison. I stand when Liv gets out of the car and notice Harrison isn’t with them. Liv runs toward me and throws her arms around my neck. “Thank you. I love you, Tuggy.”

It’s the closest I’ve felt to anyone in my family in so long, and I feel like if I let go, the feelings will go away. “I’m so sorry, Liv, but I’m glad he told you.”

She pulls back, a sad frown on her lips. “He didn’t.”

“How’d you find out?”

Her eyes move to Maria.

“I was just stopping by my apartment to get Javier a change of clothes.”

Liv kisses my cheek. “She was awesome. I’m going to leave you two, but don’t tell anyone, please. I’m not ready.”

I nod and she goes inside, probably to her room to cry her eyes out. “Where is he?”

“Don’t,” Maria warns, pulling the keys she was about to give me back.

“You don’t understand. He’s been a part of our family, like a brother, and an uncle to Drew.”

“I know, but beating him up, going after him, won’t solve anything.”

I turn, rubbing my forehead with the ball of my palm. “I can’t sit here and do nothing.”

“You can be here for your sister. She doesn’t want you to hurt him. Why do you think she didn’t tell Brady?”

My head falls back and I laugh. “Because Brady would hang him from a tree by his fucking nuts.”

“Exactly. You have to let her figure it out.”

“I won’t leave, but if he shows up here, I can’t promise anything.”

H
arrison didn’t show up, which is good for him, because my anger hasn’t subsided any and I would have probably ended up in jail after I put him in the hospital. We drive away from my brother’s house. Javier sleeps soundly in the back.

“Stay at my place,” I say, caressing Maria’s knuckles with my fingertips.

“I can’t. I have work tomorrow, and I have to check on Papa.”

“Then I’ll stay with you.”

She turns her head and lifts a brow. “You realize Javier sleeps in my room, and there is no chance of you getting laid.”

“I never intended to.”

“You lieeeee.”

I do lie, but I don’t want to go home without her.

Veronica comes out of the apartment when we arrive. She fills us in on how the day went. Franco sits in a rocker, watching television. Javier says hello to his grandpa and takes off down the hall.

Franco points the remote at the television, his brows draw tightly together. “The reception is so bad I can hardly see anything.”

“Papa, where are your glasses?” Maria ask him, and smiles at me, rolling her eyes. This must be a nightly ritual with them.

“Oh.” He picks them up from the side table and slides them on. “Ah, a little better. I must have forgotten I took them off.”

The television is at least thirty years old. I’m surprised it works at all and can’t imagine the reception is any better with glasses.

“Papa, this is my friend, Tug.”

“Tug?” he grumbles. “What kind of a name is Tug?”

“It’s a nickname, sir. My name is Aidan.”

“I like Tug better,” he mumbles.

“So call me Tug. It’s nice to see you again.”

“You mean, it’s nice to meet you,” he corrects me, and I don’t argue that we’ve already met, knowing he doesn’t remember.

“Oh, right. It’s nice to meet you.”

“Maria, I’m out of cigars again, and that kooky nurse wouldn’t get me any.”

There are several resting on the table next to him.

Maria rolls her eyes again. “Okay, Papa, I’ll get you some tomorrow.”

“Thank you.”

“I think it’s time to get you in bed,” Maria says, sliding her hand under his arm.

“Yeah, uh, okay.” She helps him get to his feet. He steadies a hand over the top of his walker and shoots me a look. “Who are you?”

“This is my friend Tug, Papa, remember?”

“Tug? What kind of a name is Tug?” he asks in the same rough voice he did the first time.

“It’s a nickname, Papa. Come on to bed.”

“All right, I got it.”

Maria escorts him down the hall. As difficult as the situation is for Franco’s family, I can’t help but think it would be nice to forget certain parts of your life, the painful memories that cling to your soul, like a permanent stain. If I never remembered my mother, life would be less complicated. Trust would come easier for me. I struggle with the daily battle between the woman who swallowed the butt end of a forty-five and the cookie-baking brilliant woman who raised me. I’m not sure which version is easier to stomach: the one I adored and looked up to, or the one I despised who kept secrets. Maria keeps secrets from me. Will she stomp on my heart eventually to protect them? I had one of Gibson’s investigators to look into her to try and find out anything about Javier’s father, but nothing turned up. There is no name on the birth certificate. The only thing he discovered about Maria was that she and Franco left the Bay Area for Mexico three months after Javier was born.

Her voice startles me. “Tug.”

“What?”

“Are you okay? I said your name a few times.”

“I’m fine.”

“You lieeeee.” Her smiles slides off her face when she sees my expression.

“Tell me your secrets,” I request quietly.

Her eyes pull sideways. “I don’t have any.”

“You lieeeee,” I say, hoping teasing her will soften her enough to trust me.

“I don’t have any I can share.”

I have to be honest with her. “That bothers me a great deal.”

“Hey, Mama. My teeth are brushed, and I’m ready for bed.” Javier hugs me tight. “Goodnight, Tug.”

“Goodnight, buddy.”

“I’ll be right back,” Maria whispers and takes Javier’s hand.

I watch them walk away, my mind racing with thoughts of her leaving me eventually. I’m attached, and separation is going to hurt.

Maria returns a few minutes later. She sits on the couch next to me and puts her feet on the table, tucking her hands between her knees. I feel the tension ripple between us. I’m at a loss for words to express how I feel about her, and how I don’t want to lose her, now or ever.

She sighs. “I wish I could tell you, but it could put you and your family in danger.”

“I figured you were hiding from something difficult, but I’m not sure I can do this if there are secrets between us.”

“Tug … I …”

“Let me explain.” She nods, her hands firmly on her lap. “Brady isn’t really my brother. He’s my cousin. My aunt died giving birth to him. My mother kept it a secret our entire lives.”

“I’m sure she thought of him as hers and didn’t think it mattered.”

“She hated him and her sister. I’m sure you saw the news.”

“I know she killed herself.”

I huffed, disgusted at what my mother got away with, my father left to take the fall. “That’s all most the public remembers. The media did a great job portraying her as a woman caving to the pressures of a corporate America still ruled by men. Most people forget the lengths she went through to be in charge of Gibson Capital. She sabotaged Brady’s bike to remain in control. Only Brady had a passenger. He walked away from the accident. His girlfriend didn’t make it, and my mother never told anyone she was responsible.”