Behind the Hood (Behind the Lives) (24 page)

After a quick shower, he wrapped a towel around his waist and opened up the cupboard above the sink. He took a razor and shaving cream, then removed the stubble on his head and face.

A knock at the front door made him jump. Couldn’t be Jess or Nike, he thought. They would just come in, plus Naf didn’t beep. He grabbed his knife and went into the lounge.

They knocked again. Tama peered through the break in the curtain. He let out a loud grunt. “Bloody Naf.” He opened the door. “Go back to the car. I’ll come out when I’m ready.”

Naf’s eyes widened as he looked down at Tama’s towel. “Fuck ... you shagged her,” he spluttered.

Tama grinned. “Yeah, and she fuckin’ enjoyed it too.”

“Shit, Tama. Sorry for doubtin’ ya.” Naf rubbed his chin, his eyes still fixed on the towel. “Man, you’re a lucky bastard.”

“Stop starin’ at my cock, ya perv. Sheesh ... ya worse than effin’ Corey. I swear he’s a fag. Maybe that long-haired poof is the mystery girlfriend he keeps talkin’ ‘bout.”

“I wuz not! And Corey’s not gay.” Naf shoved Tama in the chest.

Sniggering, Tama took a step back. Naf was so easy to rile. “Just go back to the car and wait for me. I ain’t finished yet.”

“But, I wanna head back home before work.”

“What’s the time?”

“Almost four.”

Tama wanted more than an hour with Jess. Damn it, he’d just have to come back tomorrow. “Okay, just gimme ten more minutes for another root then I’ll be out,” he said with a grin.

Shaking his head, Naf walked off.

Tama let out a bark of laughter and closed the door. It was going to be fun stringing Naf along. The disbelieving shit deserved it. Bloody questioning his ability to get Jess. Cunt.

He got dressed, then headed into the kitchen and helped himself to some juice. With a loud belch, he closed the fridge door, picked up the two CDs off the table, and sat down on the couch. He pulled out the cover of the first disk, hoping for song lyrics. Black ink was scrawled under an image of a giraffe:
To Nike from Dad and Mum, Happy 14
^th.

Tama stared at the word
Dad.
God, he missed his. Although his father had worked a hell of a lot he’d always made time, taking him to softball games, the beach and the movies. His dad called it “Man time,” and said he needed it or he’d grow into a pussy if it was left up to his mother.

A smile played across Tama’s lips at the memory of his father stepping in as his under ten’s softball coach. His dad had blown up at the umpire for running him out at a local tournament. When the umpire refused to change the ruling, his dad had given the old dude a wedgy. Tama laughed at the memory. His dad always did the weirdest things. His smile faded. He missed softball, but there was no way he’d ever play it again. It reminded him too much of what he’d lost.

A car horn tooted. “Impatient prick,” he muttered. He slipped the cover back into the CD, then closed it and picked up the other album.

Footsteps hit the front porch. Tama’s eyes snapped up. Shit, he’d left the bloody door unlocked. Dropping the CDs, he pulled out his knife and jumped up as the ranch-slider slid open.

32

Leila

Nike looked young, not as tall as he was now, and with his hair spiked up in the style he’d worn when he was fourteen. Leila brushed her fingertips down his face and kissed his lips. She missed this ... missed everything about being with him.

She pulled back to look at him again. Now an older version stood over her, an image of Nike as he’d appeared yesterday when he’d visited. His hair was cut shorter and he appeared upset, concerned. Did he still care about her?

She kissed him again, wanting to ease his tension as well as her own. Her hands moved down his body and gripped onto his arse. He was naked, hard, spreading her legs. He eased himself inside. She moved against him, urging him to come. If he had gotten her pregnant, instead of Tama, she would never have aborted her baby. A tear ran down her cheek. The child would have been three now.

“Do you still love me?” she said.

“I will always love you.” He sounded younger, the words an echo of the past.

She closed her eyes and kissed him. “I will always love you too,” she whispered against his lips.

“Bullshit! You’re a fuckin’ liar.”

Leila’s eyes shot open. Jayden glared down at her. She squealed and covered her face with her arms.

“Leila, wake up.”

Jayden tried to pull her arms down. She struggled with him, like she should have done before. Her cries for help turned into muffled screams.

“Leila, calm down. It’s me, Nike.”

Leila froze. “Nike?”

“Yes.”

Her eyes cracked open. Nike stared down at her with a concerned expression. He was dressed in the same black bomber jacket he’d worn when he’d visited her on Sunday.

“Nike?” She winced. It felt like a shard of glass was being jammed inside her mouth. She touched a finger to her teeth, the memory of the doctor wiring them together returning. Jayden had fractured her jaw.

“Do ya need a nurse?” Nike asked.

Yeah, she needed a nurse. She wanted to be pumped full of drugs so she couldn’t feel anything. But if Nike called a nurse he might leave.

“No.”

“You sure? You look in pain.”

She ran a hand gently over her face. It had gone down a little since yesterday, but it still felt badly swollen, and there was now a tube going into her nose that hadn’t been there before.

She reached for Nike’s hand. He dropped his gaze and took a hold of it. If she could’ve smiled without the lancing pain, she would have. He hadn’t held her hand since they were fourteen. It felt warm in hers ... it felt right.

“Do ya need anything?” he asked.

She indicated with her other hand, enacting writing. She frowned as he let go. He passed the pen and pad from the cabinet.

She wrote,
How’s Maia?

He looked at the pad. “Still hurting, but she’ll be out tomorrow.”

Where’s Jess?

“At home.” He looked away.

What’s wrong?
She tapped the pad. When he didn’t answer, she placed a hand on her cheek. “Nike, what’s wrong?”

He turned to look at her. “I wanna know why the fuck you’re still screwing Tama for? Haven’t you learnt anything?”

Leila flinched. “I’m sorry,” she said, willing herself not to cry. “I deserve what’s happened—”

He exhaled loudly. “No, you don’t. No one deserves this.”

“Yes, I do.”

“Stop talkin’ like that.”

“But it’s true. If I hadn’t cheated on you none of this would’ve happened.”

“Leila—”

She talked over him. “If I wuzn’t such a fuckin’ ho we’d be married!” She held her jaw and gave in to her tears.

“Christ, Leila. You alright? I’ll ring for a nurse.” He reached for the button.

“Why do you care? You hurt me more than Jayden ever did.”

He dropped his hand. “I never hit you.”

“You damn well know what I mean, so don’t act dumb with me.”

“You have a bloody nerve sayin’ that after what ya did to me.”

“I apologised a thousand times, tried to make things right, but you still treat me like dirt.”

“No, I don’t—”

“Don’t bullshit a bullshitter.”

Nike exhaled. “How do ya expect me to act when you keep emailin’ me shit even after you got married?”

“Does it still hurt? Is that why you’re so cruel to me?”

“I’m not cruel to you. I care enough to be here, don’t I?”

She tried not to smile. “You still care about me?”

“I don’t like seeing ya hurt. That’s all.”

That’s all?
She wiped her eyes.

“Shit, don’t cry,” he said.

“I need you, Nike.”

“No, you don’t”

“Yes, I do!” She cupped her cheek again. “I have no one else now Mum’s gone.”

He frowned. “I’m sorry ‘bout your mother.”

She looked down at her hands. “I’m scared, Nike. Please … will you come see me tomorrow?”

“I don’t think that’s—”

“Please. I’m not asking for much. A short pop in is all I need … as a friend.”

“Okay, I’ll come after work. Just please stop crying.”

Relief flooded her. She glanced over at the rays of sunlight breaking through the blinds. “What time is it?”

“Four.”

She ran a hand over her sore jaw. “How—”

“Don’t talk.” He picked up the pad and pencil.

She took it and wrote,
How come you’re not at work?

“I quit today.” His expression darkened. “Got a new job as a chauffeur.”

Then why aren’t you happy?

“Don’t have much choice. The courier job pays crap and the new one is more than double the amount.”

What’s so bad about that?

“A mate told me not to take it. My new employer is...” He paused and rubbed his forehead. “Not the best person to work for. But I need the money, and Jess...” He stopped again. “Well, I hafta take it.” He checked his watch. “Look, I hafta go. I’ll see ya tomorrow.”

“Okay,” she said. “Thanks, Nike. I really appreciate you doin’ this for me.”

He nodded and walked off. She watched him leave the room, happy that at least he’d be back again.

33

Nike

Nike pulled into the medium strip. A steady stream of cars and trucks drove past, heading down Claydon’s main road. As he waited for the traffic to clear, his mind wandered back to Leila. He really didn’t want to see her again tomorrow. But she’d looked so upset that he couldn’t say no. She was so banged up and she had no one else. There was only Tama, and he couldn’t go unless he wanted to end up in jail.

Nike slammed the dashboard at the thought of Tama. It frustrated the hell out of him that he couldn’t deal with the bastard straight away. He had to take care of Tama before his li’l sis came out of hospital. The poor kid needed to feel safe.

A horn made him jump in his seat.

He looked in the rear-view mirror. A candidate for road-rage had his head stuck out of a black sedan, yelling at him to move. Nike wound down the window and gave a one-fingered salute, then cut across the road.

Rain tapped against the windscreen as he headed down Kea Way, nature’s beat picking up as he turned onto Pleasant Parade. He wished he could just turn around and head in the opposite direction, because he wasn’t looking forward to telling Ash that he couldn’t work for him anymore.

He parked behind Dante’s Holden and got out, pissed that he had to return the van by the end of the day. Things were going to be difficult without a vehicle. It had taken just over thirty minutes to drive to Craven’s place, and without a car it would take twice as long. Maybe he could borrow Rory’s until he could buy another one? The guy was actually being helpful today and was nice to Maia, bringing her chocolates. He’d even offered to drop Jess back at home. Yeah, he could visit Rory later.

Wiping the rain off his face, he banged on the front door.