Behind the Hood (Behind the Lives) (22 page)

He took a swig of beer then stood up. “Look, I’ve gotta go. Catch ya later.”

Ash’s hand whipped out and latched onto Nike’s arm. “Don’t take it, Nike. I don’t want cha endin’ up in the Waikato like that last bloke. This cunt may look like a pussy, but he’s more dangerous than gettin’ a blow job from a Pit bull.”

Nike ran his fingers through his hair, his mind wrestling with what Ash had said. He’d thought the last courier had worked for Ash, not Craven. Although he wanted the money bad, he couldn’t ignore what Ash had said. “Okay, but
I’ll
call him back.”

Ash let go of his arm. “Things will work out. Be here by nine, and I’ll give ya the stoners’ delivery. They’re friendly.”

Feeling miserable, Nike nodded. Little choice he had. “Okay.”

He dug into his pocket for his phone as he left the house. It wasn’t there. He got in the van and searched the dash and glove compartment. Crap! It was probably still in the jeans he’d worn yesterday. He hoped Jess had checked his pockets before dumping them in the washing machine. There was no way he could afford a new one.

He turned on the engine, backed out of the driveway and headed for home, wondering if the day could get any worse.

28

Jess

Jess stared at the pregnancy test. Those two blue lines changed everything. How was she going to tell Nike?

She slid down the wall and closed her eyes, picturing Nike’s sweet face. He’d been shocked the first time she’d told him about being pregnant with Jake, but had supported her in every possible way—with love and money. But two children would put him under too much strain. They couldn’t afford another child right now. The poor guy was stressed as it was with his huge workload.

The sound of a vehicle rumbled up the driveway. She pushed up and dumped the test on the vanity, then lumbered down the hallway. As she entered the lounge Nike closed the ranch-slider behind him.

Jess breathed in, her stomach doing a great impression of the tango. She knew she had to tell him, but he looked so tense and tired. She wanted to make him feel better, not add to his worries.

“What’s wrong, baby? Why you home?” she asked.

“I left my phone. Have ya done the washing yet?”

“No.”

“Thank Christ for that. I left it in my dirty jeans.” He strode past her, heading down the passage.

Crap! The pregnancy test!

Jess ran after him. He froze in front of the clothes hamper for a moment, then picked up the white stick off the vanity.

“You’re pregnant,” he said, his voice almost a croak.

“I just found out.”

Nike placed his hands on the vanity and dropped his head.

“I’m so sorry, Nike.”

“It’s not your fault. I’m the one who wouldn’t wear those damned condoms.”

Tears welled up in her eyes. She knew he’d blame himself. He always did if anything went wrong. But she was equally to blame.

“I should’ve insisted,” she said.

He went to hug her. “No, don’t cry, sweetie. It’s not your fault.”

Jess moved back. “Dammit, Nike! Why do ya always hafta blame yourself? I didn’t want you wearin’ them either.”

Nike dropped his hands, his expression stunned.

Shit, she didn’t mean to yell at him. “I’m sorry.” She wrapped her arms around his waist, and leaned against his chest. His heartbeat was racing against her ear and his body felt tense.

“I’ll hafta work now,” she said.

“You can’t, you get bad morning sickness.”

“Then I’ll work at night.”

“No, Jess. You’ll be too exhausted, and you need to look after Jakey. Plus, your morning sickness lasted all day for months last time.”

“But we’re already in the shit with the credit card, and when the baby comes we’ll need even more money. I’ll just do telemarketing or sumpthin’ else that doesn’t involve being on my feet.”

He looked up at the ceiling then back at her. “We can get through this.” He hesitated then sucked in a breath. “I’ve just been offered another job that pays better.”

Jess wiped her eyes as hope flickered through her. “What is it?”

“I’ll be chauffeurin’ a rich guy around. He pays extremely well.”

“How much?”

“Close to ninety grand a year.”

Jess breathed in sharply. They could move to a really nice neighbourhood with that sort of money, and another baby would no longer be a problem. She smiled at Nike and squeezed him tight. She could hardly believe their luck. For Nike to be offered a great job just when she found out she was pregnant was beyond believable. Finally, everything was going to be alright.

29

Tama

Tama stretched, then swung his legs out of Naf’s bed. He yawned and looked around the room. Someone had tidied up while he’d slept. Before he’d zoned out the grey carpet had been covered in clothes and other stuff. Except for a beat-up guitar, it was now cleared away. He was surprised that he’d slept through the clean-up. He figured it must have been Mrs. Connor, because Naf didn’t know the definition of being quiet.

He glanced at the alarm clock. 2:06 PM in red digits flashed back. He hadn’t meant to sleep so long, but guessed the weekend had finally caught up with him.

Feeling hungry, he jammed his feet into his boots and headed for the kitchen. The sound of a beater stopped, followed by something being dropped in the sink. He entered and walked towards the dining-table.

“Hey, Mrs. Connor.”

“Hi, Tama. You want some pancakes?” Mrs. Connor transferred scoops of mixture onto the fry pan.

Tama bit his lip before a, ‘Shit yeah,’ came out and replaced it with a, “Yes, please.”

She smiled at him. “You want a drink too?”

He grinned back and nodded. He couldn’t help himself. Whenever Mrs. Connor smiled at him it always put a stupid expression on his face, like it did with Beth. God, she was one hot mother. Yeah, she was over forty, but she looked more like Beth’s older sister than her mum. She had the same jet-black hair and one helluva figure, now decked out in jeans, a green sweater and a frilly apron. Tama liked to rib Corey and Naf about how they couldn’t possibly be her kids, since they were too fucking ugly.

Once the mixture was sizzling in the pan, she took a bottle of juice from the fridge and handed it to Tama. She passed him a glass, then went back to the fry pan and flipped over the pancakes.

“Heard you’ve been in trouble,” she said.

“Hmm,” he replied, not wanting to get into it with her. Each time someone brought up the damn topic it made him feel worse.

Mrs. Connor transferred the pancakes to a plate, then scooped more mixture into the fry pan. “How’s your mother taking it?”

Tama scrubbed a hand down his face. Right on, just dish up more guilt onto his fucking plate. “I dunno. She wuz out when I went back.”

“You need to turn yourself in.”

“Nah, they’ll fuc...” He stopped his dirty mouth again. “I’m eighteen now; I’ll get prison time.”

“Yeah ... but you can’t keep running. Plus, you’re still young, Tama. You’ll probably only get a few years.”

Only a fucking few years? Shit, it was easy for her to say that. He shook his head. “I don’t even wanna spend a minute in jail.”

“Well, hun, you should’ve thought about that before you hurt that kid.”

“I didn’t mean to. It wuz an accident.”

“Then tell the police that. They showed up here last night—”

Tama bolted upright. “What didja tell them?”

“Calm down, love. I told them nothing, because I knew nothing. But I would like to drive you to the station. I’ll stay with you as long as they allow me.”

He shook his head.

She placed a plate in front of him. “They’ll go easier on you if you turn yourself in.”

“No.” He pushed the pancakes away and leaned on the table, placing his head in his hands.

“Eat up, Tama. We’ll talk about it again later.”

He grabbed one and stuffed it into his mouth as Naf walked into the room. His friend waddled over to the table and went to take a pancake off the plate.

Tama whacked Naf’s hand. “Get your own.”

Mrs. Connor handed her son a plate piled high. Tama took a swig of juice from the bottle, watching as Naf sat down. No wonder Naf and Corey were fat bastards.

“Tama!” Mrs. Connor frowned at him. “Don’t drink outta the bottle. Use the glass.”

“Sorry.” He poured himself a drink.

Naf sat down next to Tama. “You wanna go somewhere? I don’t start work ‘til six.”

Yeah, he did. He wanted to check up on his mother, but knew she’d still be at work. Tama smiled. Maybe he could finally visit Jess today.

“Yep. Gimme your phonebook,” he said.

Naf got up and opened the cupboard behind Tama. The phonebook landed on the table with a thud. Tama flicked through to find Jess’s address. His finger ran down the Daniels in the book. Shit, there were loads of the motherfuckers.

Mrs. Connor turned off the stove and shouted, “Corey, pancakes!” She placed another plate on the table. “Corey, food’s ready!” When there was no reply, she grumbled and left the kitchen.

Tama’s finger stopped halfway down the page. “I wanna go to Twenty-Three D Waiha Road.” He closed the book, grabbed another pancake and stuffed it into his mouth.

“What’s there?” Naf asked.

“Jess,” Tama answered.

A spray of juice shot out of Naf’s mouth.

Tama wiped his arms. “You dirty bastard! Whatcha do that for?”

Naf wiped his mouth. “You shouldn’t go there, man. You’re just askin’ for trouble if Nike catches you.”

“Don’t care,” Tama said, grabbing another pancake. High or not he would feel no guilt whatsoever in stabbing Nike. The bastard had done enough to him; it would be more than justified. Shit, it would be fucking righteous. He only wished he’d finished the job years ago when he’d managed to get Nike in the arm.

“C’mon, man. Nike’s dangerous, just go down south. He won’t find ja there.”

“Fuck that; I ain’t runnin’ from that cunt. Anyway, it’s too cold down south.”

“Even if he ain’t there, what do ya think’s gonna happen with Jess? She’ll give ya nuthin’. She’s married.”

“Leila’s married, and I still fucked her.”

Naf rolled his eyes. “Yeah, if I ever get a girlfriend, you ain’t fuckin’ goin’ near her.”

Tama grinned. “If that ever happens she’ll be so fugly I won’t wanna touch her.”

Naf punched Tama’s arm. “Wanker.”

Tama laughed. “No, that’s your job, chick repellent.”

Naf’s face went serious. “C’mon, Tama. Don’t bother with her; just go to that chick’s place you saw at the party.”

“Nope, I want Jess.”

Mrs. Connor walked back into the room, followed by Corey. “Who’s Jess?” she asked.

Tama swiped a pancake off his mate’s plate. “She’s my new girlfriend.”

30

Mikey