Gaining Ground Read online

  I shivered as cold fingers traced against my warm body. The movement heightened my senses, making me acutely aware of the path his fingertips carved out, before his palm finally settled, using my body heat to warm up.

  “Is this ok?” he whispered into my hair.

  “Mmm-hmm,” I murmured lazily as I fiddled with the crew neck collar of his white shirt. My eyes focused on the light stubble on his chin, and I wondered what in the world I was doing.

  What were we doing? Were we really going to just sleep?

  “I’m sorry about earlier. I didn’t mean to make you upset.”

  I sighed, knowing he was just trying to help.

  “I know. I guess I just never thought that the person who saved me could actually have been a bad guy. That never occurred to me. Maybe I should be more proactive in finding the person who killed my father. He wasn’t always that way. He was a good dad. He used to kiss me goodnight, throw me up into the air and catch me as I giggled coming down. He would fix my bike and he taught me to fish. All the things a dad should teach their daughter, but it all changed in that one night, Tyler. For all of us. I should feel something for him, but all I can see is that last night, him hitting my mother and me.” I buried my head into his shoulder. “I loved him, but I hate what he did to us. What both of them did. My mother wasn’t without blame. She could have left him and taken me with her when things got bad. She could have not turned to the bottle like my dad did. I- I still love him, though. Am I messed up for that? To love someone who hurt you so badly?” My voice cracked at the last part, but I needed to know.

  “Shh-shh. No, Baby. He was your father. Guilt makes people desperate, and for him, there was no way to say ‘sorry’ and let go of it. He blamed your mother. That's why she didn’t leave. She was trying to find her own forgiveness through him. The drinking makes you numb, forgetful and sometimes it makes you very mean. It was their way of dealing, with their pain, even if it was a very poor way of doing it.” His hand rubbed up and down my back soothingly. “Remember them for who they were: the loving, kind parents they use to be, not for the nightmares that haunt your dreams.”

  My nose burned as I kept my emotions at bay. “Thank you, Tyler. I needed to hear that.”

  “Anytime, Baby.” His hand still soothed me, but the other one gathered the bottom of my hair and softly pulled. “Look at me for a sec.”

  I leaned back and tilted my head up, causing his hand that was on my back to move to my hip. I glanced into his eyes and waited to find out what he wanted.

  “Are you going to work with the courts on finding out who it was that was at your house that night? Or are you going to leave it alone?” I glanced down to his mouth and bit my bottom lip as I battled a war within my head. I paused for a second before answering. “Yes. I want to know.” I lifted my eyes to his once more and in a firmer voice stated, “I think I need to know so I can move on.”

  He nodded, then he gave me a sweet kiss. “Ok,” he said when he pulled away. “Let’s hope they find something.”

  I was silent for a moment before I asked the question that’d had me texting him earlier. “Tyler?”

  “Hm?” His chest vibrated beneath me.

  “Do you know anything about Kayden going to college?”

  Silence drifted between us before he spoke.

  “I know he did want to go at one point in time, but I'm not sure that’s his plan now. I could be wrong, though. He seems to really like working at my mom’s realty company. The last time I spoke to him, he wasn't sure if he was going to apply for a college, or if he was going to try to take over the company.”

  “Will you find out for me?” I pleaded quietly.

  “Why?” Tyler sounded curious, like he didn’t realize why that would even matter.

  “Because Lincoln talked to me today about him and Kayden going to college in Arizona.”

  Tyler twisted until he was looming over me. He held himself up, with his hand on the bed, right beside my hip. “What! When did they decide on Arizona?”

  My pulse pounded with surprise at his sudden movement and at his slightly raised voice. I snapped my finger to my lips, trying to quiet him. “Shh! Jeez, do you wanna wake up Brady? And no, I don’t know. That's why I was asking you!” I whisper-yelled.

  Tyler grunted, and my eyes widened when I heard the creaking of a door down the hall.

  “Fin—”

  I covered his mouth before he could get anything else out, and his eyes grew round as saucers. I whipped my gaze toward my closed door and heard the shuffling feet headed our way. I breathed out one word to Tyler in hopes that this could be played off right.

  “Hide.”

  Tyler jumped up from the bed, startling HotShot, and rolled under it as I got up and started to shuffle around like I was sleepwalking. Unsure of what I did when I sleepwalked, I put my arms out like a Zombie, letting my head drift down and then shuffled my feet forward.

  I heard a snicker as Tyler whispered from under my bed. “Put your arms down, Faith. I should video tape you, so you know what to do next time.”

  “Shut-up.”

  “And mumble what you did at the pond.”

  I started mumbling just in time to see Brady from underneath my lashes as he came in. “I’m good,” I mumbled. “I’m the best.”

  Brady took my arm and led me back to bed. “You got that right, Sweetheart. You are the best. Not always good, though,” I bit my tongue to keep from giving him sass. “But brave and strong.” My heart lifted. He maneuvered me back into bed and tucked me in as I feigned sleep. “Alright, Sweetheart. Sleep tight. Love you.” He patted HotShot’s head and closed the door behind him.

  My throat was tight with emotion when Tyler curled up beside me.

  “I’ll ask Kayden,” he whispered, but all I could think about were Brady’s last words as he left my room.

  Officer Brady said he loved me.

  The rest of the night, Tyler was the perfect gentleman, and in the morning, when my alarm went off, I once again snuck another McGuire boy out of my house.

  That morning, when I walked into Professor White’s lecture hall, Kane and Wendy weren’t there yet. I sat in my usual seat and pulled out my books, thinking about everything as I waited for the two of them to show up.

  The lecture class was a prerequisite to psych 101. I took it because of my indecisiveness. I still hadn’t figured out which route I was going toward; a degree in forensic analysis or cryptology. Decisions, decisions. I glanced toward the clock on the wall, and thought those twins were cutting it close. Professor White was standing in the front, getting ready to teach, with an overhead projector that had the day's assignment shining up on the drop down screen. They still hadn’t showed up.

  It was literally a minute before class started that the two of them walked in, and they didn’t look so good. They both signed in and then plopped themselves in the seats beside me.

  “Ugh, I feel so sick,” Wendy groaned, pulling out her book as well as some tissues from her bag.

  “Hand some of those over, and the cough drops you have too,” Kane demand, reaching his hand across me to grab them.

  “Ew, you guys!” I leaned back, not wanting to be exposed to whatever cold or flu they had. “If you're sick, you should've stayed home.”

  “Can’t. We need this class,” Kane mumbled, and Wendy grunted in agreement.

  “Well then, keep your distance. You're like a colony of germs right now, and I don’t want to start my own.”

  They both glared at me, but I ignored them as our lecture started.

  The rest of the day, I worried about getting caught up on all my assignments and tried to put the conversations that I’d had with Lincoln and Tyler to the back of my mind. With those issues somewhat settled, I had also forgotten another problem that I had to deal with.

  Tucker.

  I was once again out in the hallway, walking to my next lecture, when I heard him. I had specifically taken another route to avoid him, but it seemed li
ke he’d figured it out. It only took him a week.

  “Rella! Hey, Rella!”

  Darn. Now I’d need a new one. There were only so many routes to get to that lecture hall, and I was running out of ways to go. Maybe my next option would be a series of patterns that I could walk in. Mondays and Tuesdays I could—

  “Rella!” He sounded closer this time.

  I sighed. Why did I tell him my name was Cinderella again? Oh yeah, it was my sarcastic nature. Curse my genes.

  “Hey, wait up!”

  “I thought you warned me away from you?” I called back, still walking ahead.

  “Don’t you know that guys are stupid?” he said when he caught up to me.

  I snorted as we walked side by side, turning my head to grab a glimpse of his arrogant smile. “I think I’m coming to that conclusion with you.”

  He feigned hurt. “Ouch.” Then completely recovered. “So... are you looking for a job yet?”

  I stopped and turned toward him, surprised. “Why do you think I need a job?”

  He frowned as if disappointed. “How else are you going to pay for your lectures and books, not to mention gas money. You do give Tyler gas money, right?”

  I turned and started walking again. Straight to the heart. Tucker was right, I did want my own money, and he also reminded me why I shouldn’t be talking to him.

  “Have a good day, Tucker,” I told him as I got to my lecture hall.

  He didn’t leave. He just stood there and tucked his hands in his pockets. I turned toward the lecture hall door and pulled it open, but what he said next had me pause. “Well if you want one, my grandmother's hiring at her antique store.”

  I let the door go and turned around to him, interested. “Antique store?”

  He nodded. “Yeah, it's the one up the road just by the diner.”

  “Oh yeah, I’ve seen the sign in the window. That’s your grandmother's shop?” I was curious. Probably why Lincoln didn't want me to work there. And that's most likely the reason none of them had encouraged it.

  He smiled big, and I felt uneasy. He knew he had me. “The very one. Love that diner too. I used to take Roxie there all the time.”

  I raised an eyebrow. “Oh?” Who was she?

  I moved to the side of the door when other people wanted to go in. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't curious about Tucker. I really wanted to find out why Tyler and he didn't get along. What had happened all those years ago to make them this hostile toward each other?

  “She was gorgeous, and the other guys loved her. But Tyler”—Tucker shook his head—“Roxie caught his fancy, and he eventually got her.”

  I gave a hard swallow as an ache settled in my chest. Tyler took his girl? Then I narrowed my eyes. Was Tucker lying to me?

  “One day she was mine, the next day she was his. Cut me, you know? To see her with him. I don’t see her as often, but every once in awhile, I’ll see the two of them driving down the road.” I knew I shouldn’t believe him, but hearing it still made me feel sick.

  He looked at me and narrowed his eyes. “You ok?”

  I straightened my shoulders and dismissed what he said. If it had been true, it wasn’t true now. But I was still going to talk to Raina about it. “Sure. Why wouldn’t I be? So your grandmother's shop is hiring?”

  Tucker wanted my number to give to his grandmother, but I refused, so instead he gave me hers.

  “I’ll let her know you’ll be calling. She really needs the help with the holiday season coming around. Lots of people get sentimental during that time and like to shop for things that remind them of their childhood, and for decorating of course. Believe it or not, for Halloween, it picks up as well.”

  I nodded and took the piece of paper with his grandmother's name on it. I didn’t care what I did as long as I got paid.

  I gave Tucker a grateful smile and put the phone number in my pocket. “I might give her a call tonight.”

  His eyes lit up and a smile tugged at his lips. “Really?”

  I rolled my eyes. “Maybe.”

  He nodded, trying to contain his excitement, which annoyed me. “Cool. Well. See ya around, Rella.”

  I twisted my lips again at that name and glared at his retreating back. “It’s Daniels!”

  He turned back around with a satisfied smile. “It’s about time you told me your real name, but I think I'll keep Rella.” Then he continued on turning the corner. What was Tucker’s angle and who was Roxie? But most importantly, where was she? I hadn’t met her, or even ever heard of her. I pursed my lips, thinking another talk with Raina was in order. And this time, it was going to be about past girlfriends that her brothers had. I sighed, looking at my lecture room door. I was going to miss yet another lecture.

  Chapter 3

  Since I couldn’t head into my lecture class late, I decided to go see Sarah at her work in the AV department office. While I was there, I could talk to her about the job offer Tucker had given me.

  Sarah would let me do it, but I thought Brady would have more reservations about letting me work. He just wanted me to be a kid a while longer, and I was sure he’d try to lure me into doing nonexistent chores for a weekly allowance. Not that the idea wouldn’t entice me, but I really wanted to depend less on them and prepare for the real world. I only had a year to do it. I thought about my career choice, and I knew that the two I had in mind would probably not hire me at such a young age. But the antique shop was a good start in establishing any job experience that I may need to work my way up to where I needed to be.

  I entered the AV office, and Sarah glanced up from her desk, smiling when she saw me.

  “Faith, Sweetheart,” Sarah addressed me as she stood and came my way. “You’re finally coming to visit me?” she joked, giving me a brief hug, before navigating me into a chair that was in front of her desk. She headed back behind it to a black refrigerator and pulled out a can of soda. “I’ve bought all these drinks in anticipation that you would come and see me.” She handed the can of Cherry Dr. Pepper over to me, which I gratefully took. I popped the tab, taking a quick sip, letting the fizz and cherry flavor linger slightly before I swallowed. A man’s heart may be through his stomach, but mine was through my Cherry DP. I sighed, looking toward Sarah, I lifted my can in a salute.

  “Thanks, Sarah. It’s been crazy here.” I gave her one of my own smiles as I settled in.

  She raised one eyebrow, amused. “Rough day?”

  I tilted my head to the side and shrugged. “Not really, but,” I hedged, glancing at her with my hopes high, “I might have been offered a job at an antique store.”

  She frowned as she sat down in her desk chair, setting down her own can of soda. “A job? Why?”

  “Because I want to earn my own money,” I explained before taking another drink.

  “How was this job offered to you again?”

  “An, um, an acquaintance of mine realized I might need one and said his grandmother owns an antique shop in the strip mall by the diner. Gave me her number.” I saw the disbelief on Sarah’s face.

  “As a cashier and to stock inventory, Sarah. Not anything scandalous, I assure you. I have even seen the shop and the ‘now hiring’ sign up in the window. It’s legit.”

  She shook her head and grimaced. “I don’t know, Faith. You know how Tom can be. After everything that's happened, he’s in protective mode.”

  I twisted my lips and glanced off toward the back wall, where there was a picture pinned up with Brady and her in it. Both of them had run a race of some sort and had beanies and gloves on, but they were also wearing tiny shorts paired with long sleeved shirts. Their beanies and gloves were coordinated, with Sarah's being purple and Brady's green. Looking at that photo, I had a brief flash of gloves above me from that night so long ago, and it startled me. I slid my glance to the picture next to that one, trying to calm my beating heart. I remembered something! I remembered something about that night. That meant I must have not blacked out as soon as I’d thought.

&
nbsp; I filed that information in the back of my mind as I studied the photo beside the other one. It was the one we took in the courthouse when the guardianship went through. I had been walking in a daze that whole morning. I still had moments when I wondered if it was real. Brady said he loved me when he put me to bed. I needed to hear that.

  “Faith?”

  I turned back to Sarah, smiling to let her know all was okay. “Sorry,” I waved to the board I had been looking at. “Just saw the pictures—so about the job, can you talk to him before I do?” I gave her a pout.

  Sarah smiled and nodded toward the one picture of her and Brady at the race and spoke. “That was our last race before I started working. It was chilly that day and felt even colder wearing those dang shorts, but once you get running your body temperature heats up fast so that you’re not cold anymore. We took that photo right after.”

  Sarah then gestured to the other photo of us at the courthouse. “Tom found you few weeks after that race. That one night changed all of our lives,” she turned to me her eyes with tears. “We saw this broken little girl and want to be there for her. At first, it was just us showing up randomly or Tom coming to take over for the officer who caught you when you ran. Making sure you were doing okay in your foster homes. We wanted to help. To have you know you weren’t alone. We could see your struggle, trying to blend in, but that’s hard to do when everyone knows your past. Then Tom got the job offer here, and we couldn’t leave you behind. The idea came to us so quickly that we wondered why we hadn’t thought about it before. We were going to take you with us. Tom was going to talk to you but then you ran again, and he decided that he couldn’t wait. You needed to know that you had a choice. And you chose us. That picture right there with all of us, it’s my favorite.”

  “Why?” I asked looking at myself in the photo. That day was one of relief and possibilities. That I could do anything. Find me again. People wouldn’t know me as the kid who killed her father.