Casting Stones (Stones Duet #1) (17 page)

“And I hated seeing you with her. I hated the way you looked at me like I was a piece of trash that you threw out. Most of all, I hated seeing you inside just now with your arms around that stupid bitch!”

“Stupid bitch? Who are you calling a stupid bitch?”

Remy and I both turn at the same time to see my sister standing there with a nasty grimace on her face. Green eyes, wide with hurt, look up as Remy begins to storm off in the opposite direction.

I chase after her. “Remy wait. I can explain. This isn’t what you think it is.”

Her little body does a complete one hundred eighty degree turn and she jabs her finger into my chest. “Give
you
a chance to explain? You didn’t give me a chance, Shane. You wouldn’t even listen.”

“I know. You’re right and I’m sorry for that. I, of all people, should know better than that, but please listen…just for thirty seconds.” I call my sister over and put my hand on her shoulder.

“Remy, this is Leslie Davis-Whitaker. She’s my—”

“You’re married? Oh my God!” Her hands fly to her hair as she laughs sardonically. “This is unbelievable. Absolutely unbelievable.”

Her eyes snap to Leslie and then shoot back to mine. “You can have him.”

“Actually, he’s been mine for a lot longer than he was yours.”

My eyes nearly pop out of my head like in those old fashioned cartoons. “Leslie! Stop!” I extend my hand to touch Remy’s shoulder before she runs off again. “Remy, she’s my sister.”

“What?” Remy howls in disbelief.

“Do you like my brother?” Leslie asks, glaring at Remy.

Remy’s eyes dart from me to my sister as if she’s deliberating until whispered words slip through her lips. “I did.” She sighs, “I do. Very much.”

“Good. Then you better be good to him because I’m the crazy sister.” Leslie brings her hands close to her face and waves them side by side. Her mockery of insanity is almost too real; she really looks like a crazy person.

I chuckle, “Les, you’re my only sister.”

She grins crookedly. “Yeah, well, you don’t want to see the crazy side of me!” She extends her hand, palm side up. “Keys?”

My eyebrows furrow with question. “Why?”

“I’m going back to your place.”

“Why?”

“Shane, I’m thirty-four-years-old, I have two beautiful little girls at Mom’s house and I’m in a bar with college kids. Not really my thing.”

“I thought the bassist was your thing.”

She smirks. “I’ll see you later. Nice to meet you.” Leslie’s lips curl into a tight smile as she warns me with her eyes.

Silently, Remy stands there, tracing a crack in the sidewalk with the tip of her shoe while my sister begins to walk away.

“Hey,” Remy calls, causing Leslie to stop and turn around. “Sorry I called you a bitch.”

“You called me a
stupid
bitch.”

Remy nods. “Yeah, well, I’m sorry for that, too.”

My sister simply returns the quick nod and offers a tight smile before walking away.

We stand in front of one another, each waiting for the other to speak. The tension is as thick as the humid air.

“Where have you been?” she asks.

In hell.
“Around,” I reply.

“Why haven’t you come in to the diner?”

I debate telling her the truth that seeing her hurt like a son of a bitch.

I wave goodbye to my sister who steps into the back of a cab before I look at Remy.

“Are you hungry?” I ask.

She shrugs as her eyes meet mine. “A little, but it’s too late to eat.”

“Too late? Midnight is the best time for breakfast. Let’s get out of here,” I suggest as I hesitantly wrap my arm around her petite shoulder, placing a quick kiss on her temple, inhaling the sweet scent that is all her.

I sigh quietly when Remy’s arms snakes around my waist as she leans her cheek into my chest. I feel her body shudder against mine.

I kiss the top of her head. “Your hair’s damp.”

She answers flatly before she digs into her back pocket and sends a text to Simon. “I took a late shower.”

I slide her hand into mine as we walk away from the bar. “For what it’s worth, I missed you.” I should drop to my knees, wrap my arms around her waist and grovel, apologizing relentlessly for my irrational behavior. I know it’s something I need to work on. I’m just grateful she’s willing to give me another chance.

Remy’s smile widens. “I missed you, too.”

“We have a lot to learn about each other, don’t we?” I bring our clasped hands to my mouth and kiss her knuckles lightly. The feel of her hand in mine makes my heart beat faster.

“Yeah, I guess. You shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions. You should’ve asked me instead of shutting me out,” she whispers with a sad tone.

“I know.” I agree before I add, “But you could’ve called me you know.”

She looks at me as if that’s the most ridiculous thing she’s ever heard.

I stop and wrap my hands around her tiny waist, pulling her in closely to inhale the scent at her neck. “I want to know everything about you.”

Almost as if she’s talking to herself, she mumbles, “Be careful what you wish for.”

Remy

TWO WEEKS LATER
on a Saturday morning as my shift comes to an end, I push past the swinging doors that separate the dining area from the kitchen and take off my apron, shoving it into my backpack along with the loaf of stale bread.

Confused, I glance around. “Hey, Paco. Where’s my bike?” I ask the dishwasher who barely speaks English.

He simply shrugs his shoulders and looks away nervously. I open the door to the basement and call after Lenny, asking the same thing. He balances boxes in his arms as he climbs the steep stairs and says, “Don’t know.”

What the hell? A bike doesn’t just disappear.
I push the back door open wide to see if my bike is there, but what I find instead is Shane sitting on a mountain bike. My forehead furrows as my eyes rise in question.

“Hi!” I smile brightly as I walk to greet him.“What are you doing here?”

“I came to see you.”

I grin. “I just saw you a little while ago when you came in for breakfast. Did you forget?”

“No. I definitely didn’t forget.” He pulls me close, angling my head to meet his mouth. What starts as a slow kiss quickly turns into a mad frenzy when his hands begin to roam down my back. I cup his face and bring the affection to a close when the back door slams against the building. I look back to see Paco carrying out the last of the morning’s garbage.

The dishwasher utters an apology and keeps his eyes down.

“No worries, Paco.”

“So what are you really doing here?”

“I have something for you.” Shane dismounts the bike and holds it out as if it were on display. “Happy Birthday.”

I laugh. “Uh…it’s not my birthday.” I inspect the brand new, bright yellow mountain bike with fat tires designed for rugged terrain.

“I know.” He shrugs. “But I didn’t want to wait until November to give it to you.”

“Shane,” I sigh. “I can’t accept this.”

“Why not? Your bike wasn’t safe to ride.”

“Because it looks… expensive,” I say as I read the name Cannondale.

“It wasn’t.” He nods his chin, prompting me to get on the bike. “And besides, if I want to buy my girlfriend a gift, I will.”

It’s the first time a label has been used. I’ve never been anyone’s
girlfriend
. I take a deep breath and meet his kind blue eyes; eyes that are doing crazy things to my body. I straddle the long metal bar and silently wish something else were between my legs. I lean over and give him several kisses. The first on his lips, the second on his jaw, the third, a lingering one on his neck.

I smile when I hear him groan about how I drive him crazy.

“Thank you for the early birthday present.”

“You’re welcome. I was going to get you a helmet, but I knew you’d just argue with me.”

My mouth drops open as I defend myself. “I don’t argue with you.”

“No?” he asks, raising his eyebrows.

“No. I just have differing views. Mine are right and yours are wrong.” I chuckle, remembering our late night, playful banter about a variety of topics. I’ve declined the invitation to go to his apartment on several occasions because I know what’s going to happen. We’ll have sex and I’m not sure I’m ready for that. My body is ready and willing, but my mind is holding out because I’ve got so much on my plate as it is. I don’t think I need to add sex into the mix just yet.

Shane turns when he hears a patrol car pass by with its lights on and siren blaring.

His eyes widen in panic. “Shit. I’ve got to move my truck before I get a ticket.”

I look behind him, down the alley way. “What are you doing later?” I ask, hoping maybe we can do something together.

“Nothing later, but right now I’ve got to get to the dump.”

“The dump? Why?”

“I’m dropping your bike off,” he says seriously before the laughter he’s trying to hide erupts.

“That’s so wrong. That bike was good to me! Can I at least say goodbye?”

“No. Now give me a kiss. I’ll call you later.” He traces a line down my cheek and I cover his trembling hand with mine. I search his eyes for some sign, some explanation for the small tremor. Nothing. His eyes give nothing away and after a quick peck, he’s gone and I’m left standing in a dirty alley with the biggest smile on my face but questions on my mind.

I pedal in a small circle, adjusting to the feel of the new bike. When I stop, I see Jenna and Lenny standing there grinning at me.

“You guys knew?”

“He’s so sweet!” Jenna comments as she eyes my new ride.

Lenny retorts. “He seems all right. But don’t let no man sweet talk you.”

“Never!” I reply to Lenny as I say goodbye and ride off to enjoy an afternoon in the park for my weekly meeting with Romeo and Juliet.

THE DAYS FLY
by, giving in as they meld from one to another with little distinction. Classes have begun and I’m feeling overwhelmed but thankful that I will graduate in May. I was more than disappointed when Shane had to cancel our date last week because he needed to drive home to Connecticut to be with his sister. I wish he would’ve asked me to go, but he left Friday after work and I can’t afford to miss any time at work.

“Jenna, let’s go. What’s with you?” I whisper as I squeeze by with a carafe of coffee.

Jenna stands there punching keys at the register, having to start over again for the third time. Lenny’s warning that he’s running out of patience is well- warranted. I’d be a little ticked, too, if I had to make at least four dishes over again because she got the orders mixed up.

“I miss Collin,” she pouts with a loud sigh.

“Collin? Shane’s friend?” Jenna doesn’t usually get this hooked up on guys she sleeps with, but they were inseparable when he was here and they talk all the time.

“God, he was so good.”

I snort, “I’m sure he was.”

“Shut up! Not just with sex…he was real.”

“You know what’s real?” Lenny barks. “This food is real. Go deliver it, will ya!”

My eyebrows shoot up and I give her a look that carries little sympathy. We can’t screw things up for Lenny; this place is his bread and butter.

“Sorry, Len.”

The door chimes and Shane walks in wearing his running shorts and a blue and white UCONN T-shirt. I smile instantly when he reaches into the bowl for a mint. He grins as he removes the plastic before popping it into his mouth.

“You’re up early on Saturday morning. Why didn’t you sleep in?”

“I couldn’t sleep. It was hot.”

“I’m hot?” I ask playfully.

“Not you. I mean…yes, you’re hot,” he blurts, his eyes blinking rapidly as he backpedals his words. “The air conditioning in my apartment wasn’t working right.”

“Shit! Son of a bitch!”

I turn to the source of the loud cursing and find Lenny with a dirty dishrag wrapped around his hand and blood dripping down the side of his arm.

“What happened?” I race to him and nearly slip on the greasy floor.

“Dammit. I sliced my finger right down the middle.”

I inspect his finger and see how badly it’s cut. “Len, you need stitches.”

“No, I don’t. I’m fine,” he says although I can tell he’s fighting the pain.