Tug (19 page)

“
W
hat was that all about?” Tori asks.

“I’m not sure, but he seemed upset, huh?”

“It’s probably work related. His job is pretty intense.” I frown. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing.”

“You’re worried about how your past might affect him at work?”

“Not might, it will eventually.”

“Try not to worry about it. Tug and Brady have the ultimate say at Gibson and Brady supports the two of you dating.”

Brady’s approval makes me smile.

“And how do you feel about it? It must be awkward.”

“Me? I’m happy for Tug.”

“I meant knowing Brady used to come into the club to see me. I swear nothing ever happened between us.”

She puts her hand on top of mine.

“I know. Brady told me about you, and I trust him.”

It must be nice to love someone without doubt. “He’s a great guy.”

“He is. They both are.”

Knowing this woman’s had sex with Tug is unsettling. I have a question I shouldn’t ask, but I also have to know the answer, so I’m going to anyway.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“You can tell me it’s none of my business if you want, but if your baby were Tug’s, would you be with him?”

“Honestly, I don’t think so. I adore Tug, but we made a mistake. I wish I could take it back because it’s caused such a rift between us, but I can’t, just like you can’t change what you used to do for a living. Sometimes we make choices we regret, and I’m thankful Tug’s still in my life, but I don’t have any romantic feelings for him. If this baby was his, I’d still be with Brady.”

“Thank you for answering and I’m sorry for being nosy. I guess I’m a little insecure with how Tug feels about you.”

“I completely understand and I would probably feel the same way, but I know he likes you. It’s nice to have the old Tug back and I would like for you and I to be good friends.”

“You would?”

“Absolutely.”

Her words are so sure, and I love the thought of us being
good friends
. I’ve never had a girlfriend I trusted and was close with.

W
ith my hands fisted at my sides, I climb the stairs to Del’s apartment and pray I won’t find Harrison inside. Of course, my praying is pointless, since his car is in the parking lot. I pound my fists on the door. “Harrison, get your pathetic ass out here.”

I hear voices, but the door doesn’t open. “You better open this muthafuckin’ door, Del. I’m not playing, Harrison. You get your ass out here.”

Still nothing, and now my rage boils over. He wants to play games, I’ll play. I stomp loudly down the stairs and pull my keys from my pocket. I won’t be the one to tell Liv. He may be too big a coward to say the words out loud, but he is going to tell her.

I reach his Jetta and smile. The noise the key makes as I write grates my skin, but I keep writing. It takes longer than I thought it would to finish as the key keeps sticking in the paint. I stand back to admire my handiwork.

LIV, I CHEATED ON YOU AND I COULDN’T TELL YOU BECAUSE I’M A PUSSY!

Marring the hood isn’t enough. I scratch out CHEATER on both sides, and DICKLESS WONDER across the back.

Perfect
, I think, as I sit in my car. Driving away while I watch Harrison in my rearview mirror in his boxers, staring at his car with his fingers fisted in his hair, feels quite gratifying.

W
hen I enter the kitchen, Maria sends me a look of concern. I slip my arm around her waist and kiss the side of her head.

She smiles and asks, “Del texted me. Are you okay?”

I pull her hand and take her outside to the front yard, where we won’t be overheard. We sit on the grass. I pull at the blades nervously. “I found him there when I picked up Javier. Harrison is who Del was entertaining.”

“Why didn’t you tell Liv?”

“I wanted Harrison to do it.”

“Because you don’t want to hurt her.”

“Yes. Why should he fuck up and I have to be the one to break her heart?”

She interlocks our fingers, her touch soothing. “She’d forgive you.”

“Maybe, but now he has to tell her.”

“It might be easier coming from you.”

“I can’t. This is going to kill her.”

“Okay, it’s your choice.”

Liv storms out of the front door. “Tug, can you take to me to pick up Harrison?”

“What? Why?”

“He went out for ice, and got in a car accident. The asshole who hit him didn’t even stop. He had his car towed but needs a ride back, and I’ve been drinking.”

That fucking loser. He comes up with story after story and Liv believes them all.

“Tell him to take a cab!”

“No! Come on, Tug. Please.”

Her whining isn’t about to persuade me. If I go, I may end up in jail for murder.

“You aren’t drunk. Go get him.”

Maria turns to me and quietly says, “Think about what you’re saying. If she gets pulled over, the local
policia
will keep her for as long as they want.”

“I can’t do it,” I whisper. “If I have to be in a car with him, I’ll lose it.”

Maria looks over at Liv. “You know what, I’ll drive you.” She turns her head back to me. “Your brother is leaving, and you should spend some time with him.”

“Oh, God, thank you,” Liv says with relief.

“It’s fine.” Maria smiles at me. “Give me your keys.”

Without hesitation, I hand her my keys. I watch them walk away and second guess myself. When she and Liv reach my car, I yell, “Wait, Liv. I need to tell you something.”

“Not now, Tug. Harrison needs me.”

“
H
e must really like you,” Liv says, her tone light and playful.

“What makes you think that?” I ask.

“Because he let you drive his Porsche. No one is allowed to drive his baby.”

“It’s just a car.”

She laughs. “Tell Tug that.”

“So, Harrison went for ice, huh?”

“Yep.” I can tell by the tone of her voice that she thinks he’s full of shit.

“Okay.”

“He’s a good guy. Being with me has been hard for him. He was there when my mother shot herself. I didn’t expect us to end up together, but he took care of me afterward. I was so lost, and he kind of saved me.”

“Being someone’s savior sounds like a lot of pressure for a guy.”

“It was. It is. I guess I’m still a little lost, and we fight quite a bit. He thinks I should be over it already.”

I wish I could tell her that what he’s really doing is justifying his own behavior by manipulating her into believing she’s doing something wrong in the relationship, but it isn’t my place to interfere.

“Losing a mother isn’t something you get over easily. No matter what she did, she was still your mom.”

“Exactly.” Liv stays silent for a while, staring out the passenger side window. “Right before she pulled the trigger, she said, ‘I love you, Liv’ — not Aidan, not Brady, me. I still have nightmares.”

“And Harrison doesn’t understand?”

“I don’t know. I think he’s so angry with her that he wants me to be, too, and I was at first, but the more time goes by, I want to remember the good times, like her singing to me when she tucked me in at night, or helping with homework. She was a good mom. Despite everything horrible she did, I still love her.”

“There’s nothing wrong with that.”

She rubs her legs, and smiles at me. “Are you close to your mom?”

“I was. She died of cancer.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Thank you.”

Listening to Liv makes me furious with Harrison. He couldn’t offer her a dignified breakup. I see now why Tug is nervous about delivering the news.

Harrison sits on the curb in front of the gas station, waiting for us. We get out of the car, and Liv throws her arms around his neck. “Oh, baby, are you hurt?”

“No, I’m fine, not even a scratch. The car, not so much.” He smiles with his large dimples, and bats his lashes. I know this guy well, with his looks used on countless women, he thinks he’s special.

“Thank God. Where is it?” Liv asks.

“I had it towed to a body shop. They’ll call when it’s ready, but they said it would be a few days.”

Oh, he’s slick. The lie fell out of his mouth way too easily, and the devious side of me is nudging me to call him out.

“Oh, Harrison, do you know Maria?”

“Yes, uh, kinda. Hello, Maria.”

I nod and get inside Tug’s car. Liv starts to get in the back seat, but Harrison tells her not to. “Sit in front with Maria. I can squeeze in the back.”

Liv thanks him. Spineless coward. He wants to sit in the back because he knows I’m on to what a total loser he is. Liv deserves so much better than Harrison. I drive, and as I take the left turn toward my apartment complex, I feel Harrison shifting in the seat. His car is definitely still at Del’s.

“Where are we going?” Liv asks.

“Oh, I just need to stop at my place and grab a change of clothes for Javier, in case he wants to swim.”

“Cool,” Liv says.

“I’m sure Drew has something he can wear,” Harrison offers.

“We’re here now. It will only take a second,” I saying, rolling slowly past Del’s building to get to mine. My hope is that if I drive slowly enough, Liv will see his car, because I don’t exactly want to have to tell her Harrison is a lying cheater any more than Tug does. When she leans forward, I hold my breath.

“Harrison, that’s your car,” she shouts into the window.

“No, it probably just looks like it.”

I slam on the brakes and turn my head to glare at him. “Really? You’re going to keep this going?”

“Stay out if it!”

Liv pulls the handle, but the door doesn’t open. “Unlock the door. Let me out.”

I hit the button and release the lock. Liv jumps out, and Harrison crawls out after her. I get out and walk slowly to her. Her hands are on her slim hips just above her hot-pink sarong. She keeps her eyes on the car for what feels like hours. Her long hair blows over her face and she doesn’t remove it.

“Liv,” Harrison says calmly.

“Don’t fucking talk to me!”

She spins and marches toward me, fury in her eyes. “How could you?”

“I’m sorry, but I thought you needed to know.”

“I spilled my guts to you on the ride over, and the entire time you planned to expose the fact you were fucking my boyfriend. I told Tug you were a whore!”