“I’ve got a bike too. I’ll ride with you. It’s on my way.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“I know. I want to.” He paused, looking embarrassed. “I mean...”
“I know what you mean,” she said softly.
He saw her safely to her house, waved, and rode off.
When she walked in the house, her dad called out to her from the darkened front room.
“So?” he said.
She came forward, squinting in the poor light to see him. He was on the couch looking at her.
“So what?”
“Have fun?”
“Yeah, just at a different party.”
She told her dad about the evening.
“Sounds like you made the right choice.”
She sat down next to him. “So how’s the lighthouse coming? You’ve really been spending a lot of time on it.”
He looked down. “I know it must seem strange.”
“Dad, it doesn’t seem strange. Okay, maybe a little,” she amended with a smile. “But you said the reason we came down here was so you could spend more time with us. Remember? But you and Sammy work all the time, and I’m stuck watching Cory and Jackie.”
Jack’s head dropped lower with this comment. “It’s just... I don’t know. It’s complicated, Mikki. Really complicated.”
Mikki rose. In a disappointed tone she said, “Yeah, I guess it is.”
“But I’ll try to get better. Maybe we can do something next weekend?”
She brightened. “Like what?”
Jack said lamely, “Um, I haven’t thought of it yet.”
Her face fell. “Right. Sure. Good night.”
As she headed up the stairs to bed, Jack started to call after her, but then he stopped and just sat there in the dark.
Neither one of them noticed Sammy standing at his bedroom door listening to their exchange. The former Delta Force member went into his room, picked up his cell phone, and made a call.
41
As Mikki was running on the beach a few days later, Blake joined her.
He said immediately, “Look, I’m sorry about what happened at the party. Tiff was wasted.”
“Gee, really?”
“She’s usually not that obnoxious.”
“Give me a break. She’s a fricking nightmare in a G-string.”
“Okay, maybe she is. Where’d you end up?”
“Another party on the beach.”
“What party?”
“One Liam Fontaine took me to. And most of the people there were from Sweat Town. Heard of it?”
“Mikki, I live in Sweat Town.”
This stunned her so much she stopped running. “What?”
“My mom works as the housekeeper for the Murdochs.”
“Then why do you hang out with Tiffany?”
“Like I said, my mom works for them.”
“And what, that obligates you to do her bidding?”
Blake laughed nervously. “I don’t do her bidding. I just hang out with her sometimes.”
They started running again. “Well, good for you. Who you hang out with says a lot about a person.”
“Hey, what’s wrong with me being friends with her? Are you saying poor people can only hang out with other poor people?”
“No, of course I’m not saying that.”
“I have a lot of friends in Sweat Town. I play football with a bunch of them. And I go to Tiffany’s and she has cool stuff and I have fun with her. So what?”
“Look, do what you want.”
“Well, what I want is to go out with you.” This time Blake stopped running, forcing Mikki to do the same. “So how about it? Will you go out with me?”
“Why?”
“Why? Because I like you.”
“You don’t really know me.”
“Which is a perfect reason to go out. To get to know each other better. But hey, if you’re not interested, forget it. Have a good one, and I’m sorry I don’t fit your idea of a perfect person. Maybe Liam does.” He started to jog off in the other direction.
“Wait a minute.”
He stopped as she walked over to him. “What exactly do you want to do on this date?”
“What?”
“The plan, Blake. I need to know the parameters of what you’re talking about. I’m not looking to run into a crowd of rich people again and have to kick somebody’s butt.” She added, “Unless it’s Tiffany’s. I actually enjoyed that.”
“It’s nothing like that. There’s a coffee bar in town. They play music at night. Nothing live, but they have a DJ who’s really good. I thought we could go and listen to some tunes, dance, and chill out. That’s all.”
She considered this. “That sounds okay. But just dancing and listening to tunes.”
He eyed her closely. “Why? You got something else going?”
“No, I just—”
“Liam?”
“That’s none of your business,” she said hotly.
“Okay, okay. You’re right. Look, I’ve got my license. I can pick you up tomorrow night around seven?”
“I’ll check with my dad, but I think that’ll be okay.”
“Good,” said Blake. “Glad we got that settled. Want to finish the run?”
She grinned and pushed him backward over a bump in the sand. He fell sprawling on his backside. “Catch me if you can,” she called out as she sprinted off laughing.
He jumped up and raced after her.
42
“I’m hungry, Jack, so let’s go.”
They were parked on the street in Channing. Sammy was eyeing Jenna’s restaurant, but Jack didn’t seem to want to budge.
“It’s not like this is the only place to eat in town, Sammy.”
Sammy opened his door. “You just need to get over it.”
“Over what?”
Sammy snapped, “She’s just a nice lady who’s trying to be friends with you, and you won’t give her the time of day because you feel guilty about Lizzie.”
“I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about! I’m nice to her.”
“Great. If that’s the way you want it. I’m going to eat. Stay here if you want.”
Sammy slammed the truck door and went inside A Little Bit of Love.
Jack sat there brooding, his fingers tapping against the steering wheel. Finally, he climbed out of the truck and followed Sammy inside. His friend was tucked in a corner, already studying his menu. Jenna wasn’t at the hostess stand, so Jack wandered back and sat down across from Sammy. The older man handed him a menu. “Figured your empty belly would bring you to your senses.”
Jack took the menu, glanced at it, and then dropped it on the table. “I don’t know what you expect from me.”
“I don’t expect anything from you.”
“Well, something’s clearly bugging the crap out of you.”
Sammy dropped his menu too. “Okay, man, let’s hash this out. When’s the last time you played with Jackie? Or Cory? Or said two words to Mikki?”
“I talked to Mikki about stuff just the other night.”
“I know you did because I was there listening. But what exactly has changed? You work all day, and then you work on that damn lighthouse all night. It’s not healthy, Jack. You planning on having any fun ever again?”
Jack stared hard at his friend. “What makes you think I deserve to have any fun ever again?”
“You half killed yourself clawing your way back from a death sentence. And for what? To be miserable the rest of your life?”
Jack picked up the menu. “You’re making it way too simple.”
“And you’re making it way too complicated. You got kids, Jack. They need you.”
“I’m busting my ass to support them.”
“Is that all?”
“What do you mean?”
“The only reason you’re busting your ass? Because of them?”
“I know I haven’t exactly been the perfect father. My daughter has already reminded me of that.”