The Handoff (Big Play #3) (15 page)

#25:

Taut Muscles

Layla

“Are you sure you’re alright?”

“Why do people keep asking me that?” I snap at Roxy while she pulls her car onto my street.

“Because you’re acting like a grumpy bitch all the time.”

I throw her a swift glare, which she just smiles and winks at. Turning the car into my driveway, she puts it in neutral. I listen to the engine idle while trying to avoid my best friend’s keen assessment. “Come on, Lay-lay. You’ve got to admit, you’ve been a little high-strung the last few days.”

I grimace and keep staring out the front windshield, looking up at the elegant house in front of me. The one that never feels like mine. The sun is setting behind us, casting a deep orange glow over the brick work.

“Are you nervous about Mack coming back tomorrow…and having to tell him you’ve hooked up with Finn?”

Yes!

But I say, “No.”

“Is that not an issue anymore?” Roxy runs her slender fingers over the top of her steering wheel, subtly trying to fish for information.

I sigh and tip my head back. “Meaning?”

“Well, you and Finn were all smoochy on Monday, but the rest of the week, it’s like you’ve been avoiding him or something. Have you changed your mind? You not into the chocolate wonder anymore?”

“Would you stop?” I snap, hating the way she’s referring to him. “Finn and I are fine,” I lie. “Yes, I guess I’m a little nervous about the Mack thing…or maybe my period’s brewing.”

It’s kind of pathetic to play the girl card, but periods do affect me…and I need a plausible out for my sullen behavior. I’m usually really good at hiding it, but my veneer is wearing thin.

The tension in my house is pretty much unbearable. Martin hasn’t moved out or anything. As far as I know, they’ve kind of resolved the thong issue, but a seed of mistrust had been planted and Mom has lost her carefree smile and loved-up mojo. She’s still forcing it when I walk into the room, under the delusion that I haven’t heard the fights between them.

It’s weird. They’ve never yelled at each other before and I never realized how awesome that was. All this time, I’ve insisted on hating Martin when I should have been appreciating what a good husband he’s been to my mother.

I hate myself.

And then Finn has spent all week trying to convince me to own this party faux pas and expose Derek. But I just can’t bring myself to do it, which annoys him. He’s trying to hide it and be all kind, but I can sense his growing frustration. Finn’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me and I’m pushing him away. It just makes me feel like a pathetic weakling and only adds to my whole self-loathing thing.

It’s a vicious cycle…and makes it practically impossible to keep up my cool
the world can’t touch me
persona. The fact Roxy’s noticing means I must be failing big time.

I glance at my friend and force my lips into what I hope is a rueful smile. “I’m sorry for acting like a grumpy-butt.”

Roxy snickers. “I like your grumpy butt.” Leaning over, she gives me a little kiss on the cheek. “Go soak in the tub or something. Light some candles, relax. Everything’s going to be cool tomorrow. Mack knows Finn’s a good guy. He’ll come around.”

When she’s all nice to me like this, it makes me want to open up and tell her everything. But the engine’s running and I know she wants to get going. Besides, I don’t even know how to start. Roxy’s not going to pull me into her arms when I’m done and tell me I’m beautiful. If anything, her blue eyes will ice over with condescension and I’ll have to stomach some speech about not drinking so much.

“Okay, well, I’ll see you Monday.”

“Say hi to Mack for me!” Roxy calls out the window as I head for my front door. I raise my hand and force another smile, hoping she can’t see how plastic it is.

This is going to be the worst weekend ever. Not only do I have to face Mack tomorrow and tell him about Finn, but then we also have to endure a family brunch on Sunday…to celebrate Mom’s birthday. It’s going to suck.

Pushing the door open, I head straight for my room. I can tell Martin and Mom are both out. The house is too quiet. I glance at the huge bouquet of red roses on the table. They arrived yesterday, an attempt from Martin to try and smooth things over. They kind of worked, I guess. If anything, I thought they made him look kind of guilty, like he’s trying too hard, but Mom let him kiss her and the tension eased for a few minutes.

Oh, man. I hope they make it.

Weird that everything has flipped for me. I’ve always wanted to hate Martin for taking Dad’s place. I spoke like I did, but I guess deep down, I knew the truth. Martin’s good for my mom. He makes her happy, and although it’s made me feel kind of neglected, I don’t want their relationship to end this way. I don’t want it to end at all!

Kicking my door open, I throw my bag on the floor and stop short when I spot a wad of disgusting sitting on the end of my bed.

“Hey, sis.” Derek smiles.

I’m too rattled to fight him on the whole calling me
sis
thing, so I just punch out a sharp command. “Get out of my room.”

“Now, now.” He raises his hands as two white flags. “I just wanted to congratulate you on doing such a great job with the panties.”

The way he says the word
panties
makes my skin crawl.

“Get out!” I point behind me.

He stands with a snicker, sliding his hands into his pockets. “And because you did such a wonderful job there, I thought we’d keep going.” Pointing to the bed, he indicates a small paper bag. “Lipstick and perfume. I’d like you to make sure they end up on the collar of one or two of his business shirts. You can manage that, right?”

“No,” I bark. “I’m not doing it.”

“Layla.” He speaks to me like I’m some two-year-old about to throw a tantrum. “We’ve been through this.” He pulls out his phone and unlocks the screen. “Do you need to see the photos again?”

“Screw you!”

He snorts. “Well, you nearly did…but I thought that’d be taking it a bit too far.”

His sly wink is disgusting. I bunch my fists, turning away from his smug smile.

“So, lipstick and perfume. Thought it might be a nice little birthday surprise for your mom. I’d probably aim to do it as soon as Martin gets home tonight. Make it look like he had a little end of the week—”

“I’m
not
doing it!” I spin to face him. “Get that through your thick, stupid head! I am
not
breaking up their marriage.”

Derek’s playful charm disappears behind a black wall of anger. His thin lips bunch tight while his sharp nose flares. “You’ll do as I say, Layla. Or you’ll pay for it.”

“You’re pathetic. A slimy piece of useless.” I step toward him, pointing my finger at his chest. “You think breaking them apart is going to make it better? It still won’t change the fact that you could never be half the son Mack is. It’s not my fault Martin’s prouder of him than he is of you. He—”

Derek cuts off my next sentence with a sharp slap to the face. I didn’t even see it coming.

But I feel it. It’s so strong it whips my head to the side, leaving a vibrant sting that makes my eyes water.

“You bitch,” Derek mutters.

I turn to give him a horrified gasp, reaching up to cover my cheek, but I don’t have time before he lays one on me again. It hurts worse the second time. I stumble back, but he marches straight for me, his fingers curling into a fist.

With a terrified yelp, I spin for the door and sprint. Sailing down the stairs, I stumble over the tiles and yank the front door open. I leave it gaping and pump my arms, running once again from the guy who is set on ruining me.

I don’t stop until I’ve reached Finn’s house.

There are no cars in the driveway and the only light that’s on is the one above the porch. I pound on the door anyway, slapping my hand against the big pane of glass.

“Finn!” I scream, glancing over my shoulder to make sure Derek’s not racing around the corner.

My heart is hammering and my cheek’s still on fire. I didn’t realize I’d touch such a raw nerve with my snarky comments. Anger made them spurt out of my mouth. I was just talking shit, trying to punish him for threatening me.

I rub my cheek and pound the brightly colored wood with the side of my fist. I don’t know where Finn is. When Roxy invited me out for a girly shopping trip, I jumped all over it. It was an excuse not to spend the afternoon with Finn, trying to defend why I’m not willing to risk publishing half-naked pictures of myself everywhere. Too late now—I’ve pissed off the beast and I’m going down.

Fear is pulsing through me hard and fast. All I can think about is getting somewhere safe before Derek finds me and hits me again.

Ducking into the shadows at the end of the porch, I crouch low and pull the phone from my back pocket. Thank God I hadn’t left it in my bag.

With trembling fingers, I find Finn’s number. It rings four times before he finally picks up.

“Hey.” His greeting is soft but guarded, reminding me of the kind of week we’ve had.

Ironic that the thought of going back to lying in his guest room with a raging fever is kind of appealing. I’m one twisted mess.

“Where are you?” I whisper, unable to hide my terror from him.

“I’m at Colt’s place. Are you okay?” His tone is changing, growing deep with concern.

“I need you,” I whimper.

There’s a short pause, like he’s trying to absorb what I’m saying…or maybe he’s just moving out of Colt’s earshot, because when he speaks again it’s in a husky whisper. “What’s going on? Where are you?”

“I’m at your place. Can I come over to Colt’s?”

“Yeah, of course. I’ll come pick you up.”

“I’m gonna start walking. I’ll see you in a minute.”

I hang up before he can tell me to stay put. Glancing over the railing, I scan the darkened street, looking for shadows that might jump out and get me. Running down the steps, I take off along the road, making sure I stay beneath the streetlights. If Derek’s going to attack me again, at least there’ll be witnesses. I’ll scream like a freaking banshee if I have to.

I can’t stop looking over my shoulder as I go. Every noise makes me flinch; even distant car engines sound like running feet catching up to me.

Wrapping my arms around myself, I pick up the pace, only slowing when a set of headlights washes over me, highlighting my face before pulling to a stop beside me.

I run towards Colt’s truck and yank open the door. Finn’s driving and the second I see him, my body sags with relief. Jumping up into the passenger seat, I slam the door shut and face the front.

“Thanks,” I murmur.

“It’s okay. I’ll always come and get you.” His long fingers brush the side of my face and I turn to him with a grateful smile. It’s probably hard for him to see it in the dark cab, but his white teeth flashing in the dim light settle my nerves a little.

Gripping the steering wheel, he pulls onto the road again. “We don’t have to go back to Colt’s if you don’t want. He said I could borrow his truck for the night.”

“No, that’s okay.” The idea of hanging out with more than just Finn is kind of a relief. There’s safety in numbers, right?

I tuck my hands beneath my legs and press my lips together. Now that I’m physically safe, the shakes are starting to turn into tears. I blink and look out the side window. A cat is walking along the top of a fence, its long tail swishing. I turn my head to keep watching its elegant movements, trying to ignore the growing tension in the car.

Finn’s waiting for an explanation in that quiet way of his…and I just don’t know how to give it to him.

Eventually, he lets out this heavy kind of sigh and murmurs, “Are Martin and your mom still fighting?”

I move my head in a way that could be construed as a nod or a shake. I’m going for vague, hoping it’ll be enough.

“Look, I know things have been tense this week. I know we’re not agreeing on the whole Derek thing.” His hand lands on my thigh, giving it a quick rub. “But I care about you, okay? And I hate what this is doing to you. I just want you to be happy. I just—”

“He hit me,” I whisper.

At first, I don’t know if he’s heard me, but then the brakes slam on and I’m jerked forward in my seat. The seatbelt holds me and I flop back before slowly turning to check on Finn.

His chest is heaving as his jaw works to the side. “What did you just say?”

I’m scared to tell him, worried by what the rest of his reaction might look like. But I can’t back out now. The words are out there, and they need an explanation.

Blinking at my tears, I force out the truth. “Derek tried to get me to do something else. I refused and got really mouthy with him. I said some stuff that really pissed him off.”

Finn whips to face me. “And he hit you?”

“Just slapped me across the face a couple of times.” I try to downplay it, brushing the air like it’s no big deal. Anything to wipe that thunderous look off Finn’s face, right?