Pieces of it All (28 page)

Moments later, Heather walked through the door.

"Oh, hi Beth." She fumbled with the two coffees in her hands, pushing the door closed with her foot. "You've met..."

"Robert." Beth saved her. "Yes, I have met Robert."

"I didn't expect you back so soon. How did everything go?" She handed Robert his coffee and then slid onto his lap. Her curly hair was thrown into pigtails, and her yoga pants and tight tank showed off her hourglass figure.

"Good. My dad goes home in the morning." She'd rather not discuss her father in front of Robert. While Heather may have thought she knew him well enough to jump into bed with him, she didn't want to confide in him.

"Heather told me what happened. That's a real bummer."

A bummer. This guy referred to her dad being in the hospital as a
bummer
? She eyeballed Heather, who tried not to laugh. "I hate to kick you out," Heather took a hold of Robert's face and gave him a big kiss, "but I'm sure Beth wants to talk about her trip home."

"No, babe, it's okay. I don't mind."

"That's not what I was getting at."

They stared at each other for a moment, and Heather let Robert read her face, which took him quite a few moments. "Oh!" he finally said, letting Heather off his lap. "I get it. She needs to be alone."

"Yes, that's it." Beth said. "I need to be alone."

He reached for Heather's hand. "Why don't we-"

"Actually, I want Heather to stay. Alone. With me. Alone." Beth tried not to giggle as she contradicted herself.

"Sure. Chick stuff." He got his clothes out of Heather's room and took his time putting them on. "Call me babe, okay?"

She opened the door for him. "Sure thing. Talk to you later."

"Awesome. Nice to meet you, Beth." He pointed to Beth, then to Heather, and then back to Beth. "Heather's roommate."

Heather didn't offer a kiss, and shut the door the second he walked out. "Thank you for saving me, Beth. I owe you one."

She stood up from the table. "You sure do. How did you manage to talk with him for hours?"

"He's just so pretty," she said as she batted her eyelashes and clasped her hands together. "I forced myself to. The reward was worth it."

Beth stuck her finger in her mouth. "Gag me."

She handed Beth a coffee. "Here, take this. Everything cool? No problems?"

In need of caffeine, she didn't hesitate and took a drink. "My dad happened to be in a surprisingly good mood. Sorry about Harvey barging in this morning."

"Ah, it's fine. Consider your conversation with pretty boy payback." She smiled. "I'll tell you one thing, Harvey
is
hot. Did I overhear you right? He stole from you?"

No, rehashing the drama over and over again drained her emotionally. The cheerful flowers brightened her day and she didn't want to ruin her mood. "It's a long story. But, yes, and he has commitment issues." She thought about Maggie and what they possibly could've been doing before she arrived. "Big time."

Heather tossed her head back as she took a last drink from her coffee. Tossing the empty cup into the trash, she stepped past Beth. "Some people do. We're not all bad."

Chapter Thirty Six

A day passed since Harvey kicked Maggie out of the house. It took some nerve thinking she could correct his wrongs. On top of everything, she probably ruined any opportunity he had to reconcile with Beth. He had no opportunity to explain, with Beth running out so quickly, and trying to call her or text seemed pointless since she ignored his last attempt at that. He'd fucked up. Big time. Beth made it clear she didn't appreciate the texts the first time. Any more and she'd probably end up calling the police and filing a restraining order. He couldn't blame her. She didn't deserve any of the texts.

What
did
she deserve? Certainly not an asshole like him. In a matter of a few weeks, he managed to turn his life back eight months to a point which he thought he'd never return. Rock bottom slapped him in the face once, and now it served a more damaging blow. Sure, Beth didn't deserve Harvey's indecision and his sordid past, but when did Harvey earn the right to determine how much information about him he shared? He wanted Beth to love him, not pity him. A dead mom and abusive father? Turn on the faucet because the waterworks were coming once Beth realized the truth.

His father didn't come home the night before, the only positive in a jar of negatives filling his life. He parked himself in front of the television, flipping through the channels. Shit, as usual, crap followed by more crap. He stumbled on
Rounders,
so he settled on the drama. A kid landing in trouble seemed to fit the bill of his current situation. Now with his rent doubled, he needed money, much like Matt Damon in his role. If he didn't find the cash, he'd either be beaten to a pulp and still living with his father, or beaten to a pulp and living on the street. His options were practically non-existent. The cleaning thing guaranteed a decent amount of money, but he'd be stupid to think Sue would add him to her payroll. Flipping burgers really wasn't his style, and working in retail gave way to too many temptations. He couldn't play poker worth a shit, so outsmarting John Malkovich was out of the question. He'd messed up his only shot at starting over and moving on with a normal life in this world, and that was working for Nelson. An attempt to get his job back would be unsuccessful.

Somewhere in the next few days, he had to come up with six hundred dollars. No matter where he worked, it'd take at least two weeks for a paycheck to show up. Life continued to fall in pieces around him. Everywhere he looked, each way he turned, he fucked up something in his life. The only viable option killed him, but still he pulled out his cell and dialed Ricky's number.

"What the fuck do you want?"

Harvey ignored the less than polite greeting from his old pal turned enemy. He couldn't do this alone. If he had to swallow his pride, so be it. "Ricky, I've got a favor to ask you."

"You've got some nerve, you know that? You owe
me
a favor. Shit, not even a favor. You owe me
money
."

"Please, just meet me at my house. I've got a proposition for you promising us
both
cash."

Fifteen minutes later Ricky stood in Harvey's living room, baseball cap atop his head, a stench of weed and lack of showers emitting from his knee length trench coat. How he wore something so long and padded in hot weather never made sense to Harvey. The knee-length coat was practically glued to his body, along with the lit cigarette in his hand. If not a cigarette, a joint, something Harvey never found interest in. Only the alcohol for him.

"So, what's this plan of yours?" He asked.

Harvey waved his hand around his face. "Jeez, Ricky. Do you ever
not
smell like pot?"

"What's the deal?" He ignored Harvey, shoving his way past him into the house. "How are we getting this cash, and how much we talking?"

"Not sure, but should be enough for me to pay you and also cover my rent." He hoped so, anyway. With a sufficient amount, he'd be able to rent a motel room, find a job and sober up. Again.

Ricky went into the kitchen, helping himself to a beer. "Talk." He slammed the refrigerator door shut, popped the top, and poured the liquid into his mouth, his lips never touching the can.

"I got fired from Rivertown, so I've got no cash flow right now. I'm not the most sellable person when it comes to interviews, and sure as hell can't get a job lending me the kind of cash I need now. I must acquire it by other means."

Ricky chuckled, followed by a large burp. "What are you suggesting? We rob a liquor store?"

Booze would be the only reason he'd do that, not the money. The thought crossed his mind a few times in the past, but he never acted on it. Fuck, maybe they'd have time to hit a beer depot, too. Damn, liquor sounded good, but no. Get money and get sober, that was the plan. He shook his head. "Not a liquor store. An auto store."

Ricky slammed his beer down, ale hopping from the can dotting the table. "You're fucking serious?" Harvey didn't budge. "That's a felony. I'm pretty sure we'd be looking at jail time."

"We won't get caught. Nelson is the only one in the store after eight. We go in, demand money, and leave. He'll be too in shock to do anything. By the time he does, we'll be gone with the cash."

"I always thought you were an idiot, and now you confirmed it." A missing tooth caught Harvey's eye as Ricky flashed a smile, dark cavities filling the rest of this teeth.

Harvey raked his fingers through his hair. He needed Ricky to help him out because he'd be sure to get caught attempting it on his own. Crossing his arms and flexing his biceps, he responded to Ricky's insult. "This is the only way you're getting your money back."

Consequences weighted the air, dollar signs dancing between their eyes. Robbery wouldn't be Harvey's first choice, but what other option presented itself? Ricky didn't have much going on in his life besides living in his mother's basement and smoking pot half the day, and spending the other part of the day harassing people he "thought" owed him money. He was so hard up for cash all the time. Once at a gas station, Ricky stole a donation jar for some sort of research shit straight off the counter when no one was looking. The jar only contained fifty bucks, but bought him a little pot, and Harvey some alcohol.

"Fine. I'm in."

Chapter Thirty Seven

Dressed in a black strapless dress just grazing her knees, Beth impressed herself with how she looked. Her hair swept off her neck elegantly, pinned in an evening style. Haven't worn earrings in years, she managed to slip in a pair of small diamond studs she got from her father and a necklace with a matching stone.

"Here," Heather said as she handed her a bottle.

"What's this?" She turned the shimmering bottle around. "Glitter? You want me to wear glitter? We're freshman in college – not high school."

Heather snatched the vial from Beth, took the cap off, quickly spraying before giving her a chance to refuse again. "Oh stop. He'll think it's sexy." Beth stiffened as Heather patted her hand around Beth's chest to spread the glitter around.

"I don't know if sexy is the look I'm going for."

With a slant of her eyes, Heather challenged her. "Really? You do realize you're in a short dress and have your hair up saying 'Sex me, Mark,' right?"

"Sex me? Did I hear you right?"

"Yes, I did, and I know you're thinking the same. Anyway, you need to go."

Beth gave Heather a quick hug. "Thanks. I appreciate everything."

"No problem. Now go!" She shoved Beth out of the room and out the door to Mark's.

A short ten minute walk separated Beth's apartment and Mark's house. The place had a cute, wraparound porch; not exactly where she imagined a bunch of college guys would live. She gripped her hand on the railing as she carefully stepped to the door. Her gut tightened as she pushed the doorbell. Moments later Mark opened the door, a single rose in his hand. "Good evening, Beth," he greeted her.

She took the rose. "Thank you. As though the flowers you already sent weren't enough."

"They weren't. I would have sent you more if I could, but I'm still a college student on a college budget." He moved out of the way to let her in.

She walked into the room and stood next to the doorway, clutching her purse in her hand. The outside of the house proved deceptive based on the small size of the living area she stepped into. A TV hung from the wall with an entertainment unit underneath, a desk against the opposite wall, a love seat, sofa and a chair. "A little cramped, I see."

"I live with three other guys; of course, it's cramped. We each have our own room, though, and mostly clean up after ourselves. Since rent is split four ways, this place is a steal."

She made a mental note to hurry and find a job so she would be able to start paying Heather rent. "You may be crammed in here, but having an entire house beats a small apartment." He led her into a dining area, complete with a long dark table and a stunning chandelier above. "Wow," she said.

He turned a dimmer on the wall, lit two candles in the center of the table and asked her to have a seat. "I prepared us chicken marsala paired with grilled asparagus and a light salad."

"You're quite the chef."

He pulled her chair out for her. "My mom taught me well. She always made over the top dinners. Eventually, I started to help her and learned a lot."

The sweet aroma of the wine sauce tickled her taste buds as he placed the plate in front of her. Sliced mushrooms mixed in with the chicken, and the green spears of asparagus added a splash of color. "Your mom is a great cook, too, then."

He brought them each a glass of water, and joined her at the table. Beth couldn't wait to dig into the tender chicken. "Tell me about your family," he insisted.

The food looked on a professional scale, and was anxious to experience the flavors, but she didn't want talk and eat at the same time. She set her fork down on the plate. "Well, my parents are still married. My dad is a financial advisor and my mom is finishing school."

"School? That's admirable. What's she studying?"

"Horticulture. She loves plants and flowers." Before he asked another question, she sampled the chicken, the flavors exploding in her mouth. Had she ever had chicken this good before? "This is amazing."

Mark actually blushed. Pink cheeks were cute on him. "Thank you."

She'd eat after she asked some questions. "Tell me more about your family. You told me about your parents and brother. What else?"

Mark spoke of his dog, a black lab mix called Domino, and his sixteen-year-old cat with fur so white he named her Ghost. She listened intently, taking in every word, consumed in his excitement as he shared with her. A couple weeks with Harvey and she barely knew a thing about him. Two dates with Mark and she could recite his family tree.