At the Stars(65)

“I’m glad we were there. You really should go to the police.” Probably not saying anything he doesn’t already know, but it bears repeating.

“Yeah, uh. I don’t want to get the cops involved. Thanks though.”

“I’d be willing to come along, if you want.”

He doesn’t answer and I don’t argue with him further, because I’ve been there. Back when I met Dante and I was picking up a few fights to earn rent, I got into it with a guy outside of the ring. We fucked each other up pretty bad, but reporting that he had jumped me would have risked both of us getting into deep shit. We’d been at an underground bout that night.

So whatever this thing was that we’d stumbled upon with AJ, my bet is he knew the guy. Whatever was going down, it’s his story. I won’t pry. Still... “Well... give me a shout if you need anything, right? Or if Cassie does.”

“Sure thing.”

I head home. Change. Shower. Coffee. It’s all on autopilot. I pick up the phone to call my dad and put it back down again about fifty times.

Is Mariana making shit up about Dad being sick? If he is, what with? Cancer? The flu? A hangnail? Who fucking knows with that treacherous bitch.

I try to slow my brain down. To think through the static to the time when I first met Mariana. She was so great for my dad. Brought him out of his shell after years of nothing. Mom’s death had really wrecked him, and I thought she was great.

I don’t know what happened between her and Tyler. He claimed it was a mistake, but some fucking accident if it went on for years. If my sister is actually Ty’s damn kid? Hell.

I don’t even know how to frame that nugget of knowledge. And my dad? He never was the most observant guy. Wouldn’t surprise me if he’s got no clue.

I brace my arms on the kitchen counter, remembering the time only recently when Cassie stood beside me to help me prepare dinner. It seemed so much like the start of something, and now I don’t know where we are. Everything’s fucked up, scattered and smashed across the road.

I need to resolve this. Much as I hate it, there’s only one place to start.

I pick up the phone and dial.

“Hello?” The deep voice on the other end jump-starts my pulse, both a surprise and a comfort after too many years of silence.

“Hey, Dad. It’s Jackson. Can we talk?”





21. ALL-AROUND GOOD GUY


Cassie

I don’t know what makes me pick up the phone to dial Keith. I haven’t wanted to talk to him since I left Ohio. Honestly, I’ve tried not to think about him since the moment Jake body-slammed me out of the way of that truck.

I guess right now I need to hear someone familiar, that’s all. I tried Lucy, but she didn’t pick up. I left AJ to shower and sleep off his injuries next door. After calling Delia to explain what had happened, she gave me the morning off. So now I’m rattling around my room, nothing to do but think.

Thinking’s taking me down all sorts of bad roads right now. Doubts and fears about Jake work their way into my brain, digging and scratching at the sides of my head like terrible little parasites.

Fear wraps itself around my neck and pulls tight while I lie there on my bed trying to convince myself it’s okay to love and to trust him and believe in him after the look of black rage he aimed at his stepmother out there on the street yesterday evening.

That wasn’t the Jake I thought I knew. Then he looked at me like I was a stranger.

I can’t think anymore. I can’t watch any more I-don’t-know-who-my-baby’s-daddy-is stuff on daytime television, either. So I pick up the phone, and I dial.

I’m about ready to hang up when he answers. “Cassi? That you?”

“Hey. Hi. Um...” I’m jittery and lost. I hadn’t really thought this out. What I’d say.

“It’s great to hear your voice.” He’s breathless on the other end of the phone. I can see him in my mind, his messed-up-on-purpose blond hair, his big toothpaste-commercial smile, and his bright blue eyes. The same color as Jake’s, but not nearly so swirling and expressive.

“You too.” Honestly, it kind of is. Aside from the occasional call to Lucy, I haven’t talked to anyone who knew me from home. And I did leave him without saying much of a goodbye.

“You’ve had me worried, babe.”

Babe. About that... “Listen, Keith...”

“We should talk. Where are you? I’m on the road but maybe we can meet somewhere. Or will you be back home soon?”

“We’re talking now.”

“I’m actually driving on my way south. Uncle Elliot isn’t doing so great, so I’m headed to the beach to help out with the store. Let Aunt Pat get more time in at home.”