Chapter Twenty

Linkin

There’s an extra pep to my step as I make my way to the dive Mexican restaurant in Westville. I haven’t been here in months, not since my last payment. And after today, this’ll be the last fucking time I’m here.

I walk inside, anxious to get this little meeting over with.

The restaurant is dimly lit with Mexican music piping through the speakers. I bypass the hostess stand, keeping my head down as I head straight to the back of the room. There, sitting at the same table as always, is the man who took everything from my family.

No, that’s not exactly true.

He was the facilitator.

My piece of shit stepfather, wherever the fuck he is, is the reason. This man just helped.

I slide into the bench across from Hector. He doesn’t even look up as he shovels forkfuls of refried beans into his open trap. Without saying a word, I reach into the inside jacket pocket and pull out an envelope.

“Two?” he asks, glancing up only to look at the envelope on the table.

“All of it,” I say, no emotion in my voice.

That gets his attention.

Setting his fork down, he wipes his mouth with a tattered napkin and reaches for the envelope. Without removing the bills, he counts out five thousand. Hector glances up at me, his dark eyebrows raised into his shaggy hair. “You rob a bank?”

“How I got the money isn’t your business. That’s the final payment. We’re done.”

“Done,” he confirms, shoving the money into his pocket.

“Call my mom. Tell her that her last payment was it.” My tone is to the point and emotionless, but inside, I’m a ball of fucking energy.

Hector whips out his phone and dials. “Karen, my love, how are you?” I swear I almost fly across the table. My fists ball up under the table, and it takes every ounce of control I have not to react. “Good news, the debt is paid. Your last payment covered it.” He listens for a moment before adding, “If you ever need any help with money, you call,” but before he can say his name, I’m ripping the phone from his hand and hanging up.

With one swift swipe of my finger, I delete my mom’s contact info from the dirtbag’s phone. “That’s enough. Don’t ever contact my mom again. You’re paid in full.”

“I am,” he says, taking his phone back from me. “If you ever see your daddy again, tell him his line of credit has been restored.”

“He ain’t my daddy,” I growl menacingly. “Don’t contact us again. We’re done,” I say, sliding out of the bench.

“We’re done,” he confirms, nodding his head. A look of respect washes over his face. “You’re a good man, Linkin. It wasn’t your mess, but you cleaned it up. Take care of your mom,” he adds before I turn towards the door and walk out.

The sunlight is almost blinding as I step out of the restaurant, but I feel weightless. Relieved.

We’re free.

 

* * *

 

I’m not sure what has me pulling into this particular parking lot as I arrive back at Jupiter Bay, but I don’t question it. I climb out of my old Blazer and head inside the brick building.

My hands are stuffed into my pockets as I approach the receptionist’s desk. It’s tall and imposing and sort of hides the pleasant woman on the other side. “Can I help you?” she asks, beaming a bright white smile and friendly disposition.

“Uh, yeah. Is Dean here? Dean McIntire?” I ask nervously, which makes her smile falter.

“Is he expecting you?”

“No, I don’t have an appointment. Can you tell him Linkin Stone is here to see him?”

She nods her head politely and heads down the hallway. She returns a few moments later, Dean hot on her heels. “Linkin,” he says, offering me a smile as he pushes up his glasses to perch higher on his nose. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah, sure. Actually, I was wondering if you had a few minutes? I’m sure you’re busy since it’s tax season and all. I promise not to take up too much of your time.” Again, I feel nervous and rock on the balls of my feet to keep moving.

“Sure,” he says before turning to the receptionist. “Hold my calls.”

I follow Dean into a large office. He offers me a chair, but doesn’t go around to sit on the opposite side of the desk. Instead, he takes the seat beside me, which instantly puts me a bit at ease. The last time I was on this side of a large desk, I was in the principal’s office for skipping school.

“What can I help you with?” he asks, giving me his full attention.

“I know you’re not a financial advisor, or whatever in the hell they’re called, but I was hoping you might help me get some things squared away for the future. Or at least give a direction on how to start.”

“What are you thinking?” he asks, leaning forward and looking me straight in the eye. His interest is definitely piqued.

The next thing I know, I’m telling him my entire story. Everything about my mom and brothers, the reason we left Westville, and the debt I just paid. I even go as far as to tell him about Lexi and my offer to help her conceive. He’s officially the only person I’ve ever told about my past, without glossing over the big things, but there’s something I like about Dean. He seems genuine and trustworthy, which isn’t something I’m accustomed to.

Except where Lexi and her family is concerned.

We spend the next thirty minutes going over my finances, or lack thereof. I’m starting with nothing, but I have a thousand reasons to improve that situation. By this time next week, I’ll have a savings account, checking account, and something called an IRA. Whatever the fuck that means.

But if it’s going to help me protect my future – a future I want with Lexi and any potential unborn children I may be fortunate to have – I’m all in. But I can’t exactly offer her nothing, so it’s time to get my ducks in a fucking row. That starts today.

 

* * *

 

“Get in the shower,” I tell Jack for the third time in the last fifteen minutes.

The knuckleheads are running around in their underwear and the new armor Lexi got them for Christmas. I’m not sure what the hell is going on, but they’re wound the fuck up tight tonight, and they’re both grating on my last nerve.

“Jack!” I holler over the dying in the living room. When I enter the room, I trip over a wire strung about six inches off the floor and fall.

“Dammit, Jeff!” I growl, picking myself up off the floor.

“Dammit, Jeff!” Jack mimics in a pretty good impression of my no-nonsense voice. If I weren’t so pissed off, I’d find it funny.

But I don’t.

“Jack, don’t say that!”

“Jack, don’t say that!” he copycats, swinging his sword around and almost knocking his twin’s head off.

“I swear to God,” I start, but my threat is cut off by a knock at the door.

Tripping over a remote control car, I throw open the door, surprised to see Emma there. “Hey,” I say, stepping aside as she pushes her way in.

“I was just over at Abby and Levi’s, dropping off a pecan pie and a vibrating butt plug, and thought I’d stop by and say hello,” she says so casually, I almost miss what the hell she just said.

“What?”

“Oh, don’t act like you’ve never heard of a vibrating butt plug. It was a free gift with my last purchase at Adam & Eve. I already have three, so I shared it with sweet little Abby. Anyway, I thought I’d stop by and see what you were up to. Oh, look at this!” she exclaims, walking into my living room. “You’re having a party! I love parties.”

I follow behind the little ol’ lady who’s already grabbing a sword and hoisting it high above her head. “Grandma loves a good, hard sword! Can I play?” she asks my brothers, who stare at the crazy old woman like she has two heads.

“You want to play gladiators with us?” Jeff asks, surprised, yet hopeful.

“Damn right, I do!” she exclaims, smiling widely as she kills my little brother.

“Oh! She got me!” Jack stumbles around, drawing out and overacting his untimely death.

“I’m better with the flesh sword, you know, but this will do just fine,” Emma mumbles to me, an ornery smirk on her face, before she proceeds to dance around my living room like a banshee and stalks after my other brother.

“Could I, uh, get you a glass of tea? Or water?” I ask, scratching my head and watching her interact with my brothers.

“Maybe some water, son,” she says, swinging the sword around with a battle cry. I run off to my kitchen.

A few minutes later, Emma joins me in the kitchen, a satisfied look on her face. “So those are the brothers?”

“They are. Sorry they’re a little wound up tonight,” I apologize, handing her a glass of water.

“Don’t worry about it. I helped raise six girls. You don’t know what chaos is until they’re all trying to use the bathroom at the same time.” I snort a laugh, picturing Lexi and her sisters all fighting to get into the bathroom to get ready for school.

“It’s awfully quiet in there. I should go check on them.”

“Oh, don’t worry about that. Jack is in the shower and Jeff is reading a book.”

I blink once, twice, multiple times, trying to process what she just said. “Excuse me? You got Jack in the shower? And Jeff to…read?”

“Of course, Grandma did!” She takes a few steps until she’s standing practically right in front of me. She glances around conspiratorially before whispering, “The key is to make them think it was their idea. I asked the boys what they were supposed to do before bed, and the next thing you know, they’re offering to read and shower.”

Rubbing my head, I reply, “I have so much to learn.”

“You’ll do just fine,” she says, patting my hand. The knowing look in her eyes makes me wonder if maybe she knows about Lexi’s and my arrangement. And that would make sense. Lexi’s very close to her family, so why wouldn’t she discuss having a baby with me?

“Would you like to stay for a bit?” I ask as she heads towards the door.

“No, my Orvie is waiting on me. He took one of his little blue pills, so I’m on the clock to get home,” she adds, checking her watch.

I follow her to the door, and hold it open. “Thanks for stopping by.”

She gazes up at me with kind, smiling eyes. “Link, you’re a good man. Keep making my granddaughter happy and everything will fall into place.” She reaches up, grabs me around the neck, and pulls me down towards her lips. I think she’s going to place one of those grandmotherly kisses on the cheek, but no. Not Emma.

Lexi’s grandma presses her lips against mine, rendering me completely speechless and immobile. She pulls away quickly, a satisfied smirk on her face before throwing me a wave over her shoulder. “Tata!”

Then she’s gone, leaving behind the scent of sugar cookies and mothballs.

I shake my head, trying to get the image of Emma’s liplock out of my head. It was innocent, sure, but still. It’s my girl’s eighty-one-year-old grandma. Not exactly something I want to think about. Ever.

Instead, I take a quick moment to enjoy the silence and check my phone. There’s a message from Lexi, who is working late tonight at the salon.

Lexi: A client just asked me to trim his nose hairs. They were so long, they looked like they were climbing out of his nose and waving at me.

Linkin: Makes note to grow out nose hairs. It drives Lexi wild.

Lexi: You know it. *smiley winky face*

And before I can reply, she sends me another message.

Lexi: I’ll be done in fifteen. I’m getting ready to blow dry my last appointment.

Linkin: And you’re coming here?

Lexi: Are the boys there?

Linkin: Are you using me to get close to the boys?

Lexi: Definitely. It’s not every day a boy professes his love before slaying his brother with a sword.

Linkin: True. Jack has me beat there. Maybe I need a better sword.

Lexi: No, you’re sword is pretty amazing. It’s my favorite of all swords.

Linkin: Good to know. My sword will be very excited to see you.

Lexi: Thirty minutes.

Linkin: Make it twenty-five and there might be a reward.

Lexi: Will it involve pizza? I’m starving.

Linkin: You know me well.

Lexi: Gotta go. See you soon.

I smile as I set my phone down, ready for Lexi to come home. Home. This place is small and lifeless without her. Sure, my brothers turn it upside down and make the walls shake, but it’s not the same thing. This isn’t their home. They just stay here when my mom needs help.

But when Lexi’s here, everything is alive. The sounds, the smells, the lifeless walls. She makes this small, dingy little apartment a home. My home. Our home.

How in the hell did this happen? I went from a guy not wanting any of this to a man wanting all of it.

As I check on my brother in the shower and make sure the other finished reading his required chapters, I throw some leftover pizza in the microwave and wait for my girl to get here. Because even when I was surrounded by noise, I was alone. I floated through life, aimlessly and recklessly, doing what I had to, trying to get by.

But now I want to stop running. I want to settle down. I want Lexi.

And it’s time to tell her.