Seventeen Days (10 page)

Nothing was ever free. If I wanted a new Prada purse? Go to this event, meet this person, and it’s yours. Smile for the cameras and you can go on a shopping spree. Want a new car? If you lose those extra five pounds you gained, I’ll buy you two. She claimed it was all for my benefit, but it wasn’t. She wanted me to be a mirror image of her. 

My problem is, I don’t want to be like her. At all. Maybe her cutting me off financially is what I needed to grow my own wings and fly. Stupidly, I thought going to college and partying would help me become my own person. But I still would’ve been under her thumb. Still made to appear good for the cameras. Screw that, I like cheese too much. Maybe I’ll gain a few pounds and embarrass her. It’d serve her right and make me happy in the process. My getting arrested wasn’t as big of a deal as you’d think it would’ve been. The press never truly got the whole story before it was frosted over. Covered with glitter, so to speak. 

Justine makes her way back to our booth to give us our drinks and take our orders. Without glancing at the menu, I order a double bacon cheeseburger. They’ve got to have those, right? 

“Do you have onion rings?” My mouth is watering thinking about onion rings. The batter, all that deep fried goodness. It’s all I can do to not shout “get in my belly!” like the fat guy in those Austin Powers movies.

“You bet we do! Would you like those instead of fries with your burger?”
Hell yes, I do.
 

“Yes. Yes, I do. Make it a double order, I’m famished.” If they’re homemade, I may be able to eat three orders.

Harrison laughs as he places his order. “There’s no way you’ll eat all that food. Good thing I like onion rings, I have a feeling I’ll be eating a few soon.” 

“Oh, no, I’m going to eat every single bite. I haven’t eaten since last night. Coffee is the only thing I’ve had all day. Besides, I feel this sudden urge to gain some weight.”
Suck it, Sienna.
 

“Do you want to make it interesting and make a bet?” he teases. 

“Why bother, we both know I’ll win. Besides, I don’t have anything to bet you.” 

“But that’s where you’re wrong. I never said the bet had to be money. We can bet for whatever you like. I know what I want
when
I win.” 

Well, my bet would be simple then. I’d like to see him go a whole day with his hat off. His hair appears amazing and it’s dark, so I already love it. Or maybe I should have him take his shirt off so I can ogle the goods. We should play strip poker, forget this bet. 

Actually, I would like to catch a fish. Maybe I should bet him to take me out fishing on our next day off. 

“If I win, you have to take me fishing.” Fishing seems to be the safest thing to bet. Asking him to go shirtless may give him the wrong idea. 

“Wow. I wasn’t expecting that. Game on. If I win, I want another kiss.” And he went there. Here I was trying to be good and bet something not having to do with us and he bets a kiss. 

“Hm… sounds like we both win.” I was already planning on laying one on him when he drops me off. He did buy me a plane ticket; doesn’t he deserve at least a kiss? 

“Oh, but I didn’t say where I wanted the kiss. You may have to end up kissing my big toe.”
Nope. Pass. Big fat pass.
 

“Um, no way in hell. I hate feet. So you better not make me kiss your damn toe.” Pass. Big frickin’ pass. 

Feet creep me out. Don’t get me wrong, I love the aspect of a guy barefoot in nothing but a good pair of jeans, but it doesn’t mean I want to
touch
the dude’s feet. No thanks. I’d rather be locked in a closet with no one but Sienna for an hour. 

“Fine, I’d like my winning kiss to be placed on my lips. Not my big toe. Even though he never gets any loving. Poor toe gets a bad rep.” And he actually frowns while saying that. 

“Deal. Should we uh … shake?” 

“Nah, let’s pinky swear. It’s more binding that way.” 

Harrison is a big kid. He only appears like an adult. 

Lifting my hand, I offer him my pinky. “Game on, Captain. You’re so going down, and I’m going fishing.”

“Oh, but you see, I’d still take you fishing if you lose. All you have to do is ask.”

“As long as I don’t have to touch any fish we catch, I would love to go. If I lose, but I’m so winning.” 

I lost. 

I fucking lost the bet. Harrison was right, I couldn’t eat all of my food. Turns out, the burger was a half-pound by itself; I couldn’t even finish half of it. But I did manage to eat every single onion ring. Harrison was sad when those ended up gone and he didn’t get one. 

When he dropped me off, I leaned in to give him a kiss and he turned away, telling me he didn’t want his payment until later. Then he proceeded to place a kiss on my cheek. 

Stupid, stubborn, irritating, sexy man. 

We still haven’t discussed my pay, but I’m not too worried about it anymore. My plane ticket is payment enough, but I won’t turn down any cash he passes my way. 

Trying to contact Celene is a joke. She hasn’t answered my calls since the night we talked about me staying with Gabe. I think she’s avoiding me. I’ve left her a few messages and gotten no calls in return. Maybe I should leave a message for Gabe instead, see if my return date is okay with him. I’ve got to have his number around here somewhere, at least I think I have it. Or maybe Celene will answer a damn email. Any kind of communication from her would be nice. 

Deciding to email her and ask to have Gabe call me, I make my way down to my aunt’s office. Not expecting to see her in there working, I let out a pathetic sounding yelp. To say she surprised me is an understatement. 

“Sorry, I didn’t expect to find you in here. I had an email to send out before heading to bed, but I can send it in the morning. Good night.” Turning around, I start to run back up the stairs. 

“Morgan, wait. I’d like to talk with you a bit, if that’s okay?” 

Nodding yes, I turn around and make my way over to the chair near her empty bookcases.
Who has empty bookcases?
 

“Why didn’t you ever respond to my calls or gifts? Not once have I ever had any reply from you. With you being here now, I’m not sure you ever received them. So, in essence, I guess I’m asking, did you get them?” The questions catch me off-guard. If I wasn’t already sitting down, I may have ended up meeting the floor. What gifts? Cards? I’ve only ever
seen
her once, and this is the first time I’ve heard of anything else. 

“Wait, y-y-you sent me gifts? I’ve never seen one, never seen any card. Unless my mother kept them from me, but what reason would she have had to do that? Why wouldn’t she have wanted me to have a piece of correspondence? I don’t get it.” Knowing Sienna is evil, I wouldn’t put it past her to do a thing like this.

Pulling my knees up so I can rest my head on them, I gaze up at my aunt. Could it be she wanted a relationship with me but my evil mother kept her from doing that? 

“Sienna always has been the jealous type. She probably saw us bonding when I visited and didn’t like it. Honestly, I have no idea. I stopped trying to figure her out when we were teenagers. If I didn’t see her staring back at me whenever I look in the mirror, I’d question our being related.” 

“You wanted a relationship with me?” I ask.

“My darling girl, I’ve
always
wanted one with you. Why do you think I jumped at the chance to have you stay with me? I wanted to use this summer for us to get closer. To get to know you now, as a young woman. Now, when you’re old enough to make decisions on your own. Getting you away from your mother has been a Godsend these last couple of days. I’d like for us to be friends, if you’ll let me.” 

“Why did you wait so long after I got here to bring it up? Why not ask me the first day? Waiting to bring it up now seems pointless. I’m leaving in two weeks. Harrison booked my flight home last night.” 

“Why in heaven's name would you go back already? Where are you going to live? What are you going to do? Do you have a plan once you get there? Your bitch of a mother
kicked
you out and cut you off financially. Frankly, I think she used what happened in Paris as an excuse to get you out of her hair.” Her questions are all valid, and I don’t have the answers to many of them. If any. 

Getting up from my chair, I start to pace back and forth, wearing my own path in the floor. Why would she wait until now? None of this makes any sense to me. 

Not bothering to hide the bitterness in my tone, I say, “Yes, I have a plan. I’m staying with my friend Gabe in Jersey. He also has a job lined up for me. So don’t go worrying about me, I’ll be fine. If I fall on my ass, I’ll get back up again. I may not have Sienna’s money backing me, but I have faith in myself. I will make something of myself when I get back there.” Faith in myself may be all I have, but it’s everything.

Placing her hand on my shoulder, she stops my pacing and turns me around to face her. I didn’t even know she stood up. “Morgan … I’d like you to stay here. Move in with me on a permanent basis. Get into a college here. Keep working for Harrison and stay away from that awful city and all it’s corruption. Stay here where you’re
wanted.
Please. At least think about it.” 

Where I’m wanted? I’m wanted back there, aren’t I? Okay, so maybe I’m not. Maybe my so-called friends have moved on and my mother is doing who knows what. I still belong in New York, don’t I? My future was always meant to be there. At least through college. I should still have four more years until I need to make such a drastic decision. Once college was over is when I planned on making a choice. Except now, I won’t be attending Columbia. At least, not on my own merit. Surely, Sienna won’t pay for it now. 

“I need to get to bed, I have another early start tomorrow. Maybe we can talk about this again later. I’m not sure what to think. I-I-I need some space.” With that, I all but flee from the room and up the stairs.
What the hell just fucking happened?

Refusing to talk on the drive into work this morning, made me feel … small. Not wanting to bring up our talk last night, I figured it was best to stay quiet. We seem to work best that way. Before I can get out of the truck, she places a hand on my arm, stopping me from unbuckling and hopping out.  

“We should have dinner tonight, only the two of us. We need to get things all settled between us and find some common ground. I’m not your enemy, sweet girl. And I may have a solution to your leaving here in a few days. Promise me you’ll let me talk it out tonight. I’ll make you lasagna and pick you up this evening, instead of you grabbing a ride home with Harrison. I’d like some extra time with you.” 

Sucking up some courage, I glance over at her. Seeing the pain in her eyes, I nod my head yes. Which I’ve been doing a lot lately—nodding. I’ve never been one to stumble over my words and have nothing to say. It’s got to be this state. In New York, I seem to always know exactly what to say and when to say it. 

Unlocking the door, I see the guys all out on the dock. All four of them. I wonder why the front door was locked if they’re all here? And why hasn’t Harrison left for the day already? Maybe I’m mistaken and his tour doesn’t leave till nine, but I could’ve swore it left at seven again this morning.