Enemies and Playmates (8 page)

Her classes passed by at a painfully slow pace. She fought to focus her attention on the professor as he droned on about ancient Egypt. The lecture was about King Ramses II and the many temples he’d constructed. Lauren found herself wondering what kind of ruler her father would have been. No doubt he would have ordered just as many temples built, if not more. And he would have seen to it that he was the one worshipped inside those temples.

What kind of ruler would Jesse have been? Strong but humble, she believed. Why did she think that? And what did it even matter?

Lauren managed to salvage enough concentration to make it through sociology, her last class of the day. From there she drove straight to work, where she was left little time to contemplate the actions of would-be rulers. By the time she walked through her front door that evening, she was too tired and hungry to worry about her father.

She dropped her books and purse on the antique table by the stairs, then went into the kitchen. Alex was seated at the table, coffee and newspaper in front of him. Lauren almost spun around at the sight of him but her growling stomach forced her to the refrigerator.

“Good that you’re home,” Alex said. “I’ve been waiting to speak to you.”

His tone was calm, controlled, with a sharp edge of restraint. Lauren pulled the sliced chicken from the refrigerator. She didn’t turn to meet the eyes she felt burning into her. “About what?”

“You need to keep your mouth shut,” Alex said. “I do not want you interjecting your opinions when I am dealing with your brother. Or anyone else.”

Lauren took the bread from the breadbox, fighting the urge to ball it up and throw it at her father. She worked at keeping her tone as calm as possible. “Fine.”

Alex’s eyes drilled into her. She refused to meet his icy glare. He sipped his coffee as Lauren made her sandwich. Just when she thought their conversation was over and she’d be free of him, he said, “I do have to admit that you’re the only one in the family with the gumption to speak your mind. That would have been an admirable trait had you been born male.”

Lauren grabbed her sandwich, almost crushing it in her grasp, and headed for the doorway. She didn’t trust herself to comment.

Alex pushed his paper aside. “I’m not finished,” he said. “Sit down here.”

Lauren hesitated before turning back. She placed her sandwich on the table and sat across from her father. She didn’t meet his eyes, didn’t speak.

“It’s your life, Lauren,” Alex said. “You are an adult and you can certainly do as you please. However, if you choose to defy me, I will be forced to take matters into my own hands.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“You are my daughter. Mr. Ryder is nothing to me. Nothing.” Alex stood, adjusted his silk paisley tie. “I have to go,” he said. “Remember what I said.”

Lauren remained in the chair, picking at the sandwich she no longer wanted. Why was her father so determined to keep her from Jesse? She had the sudden realization that she had gotten exactly what she’d wanted. A man on the opposite spectrum of her father. Somehow she hadn’t expected it to turn out quite like this.

***

Lauren tossed most of her sandwich into the trash, grabbed her books and purse, and trudged up to her room. She had no sooner dropped everything onto her desk when her cell phone chirped from somewhere deep within her purse. She rummaged past her day planner, wallet, lip gloss, and an assortment of unnecessary items she’d collected before coming up with her phone. She managed to answer before her voice mail took over.

Jesse’s greeting caused Lauren’s heart to do a few quick thuds against her chest. She opened her mouth but no words came out.

“Did I catch you at a bad time?” Jesse asked.

“No,” Lauren replied. She thought of all the things she should say, the things she wanted to say. Instead she fumbled with a shred of truth. “I was just sitting down to work on a report for sociology.”

“Okay, I won’t keep you. I called to see if you wanted to catch a movie tomorrow night.”

“I… I can’t tomorrow.” Warmth rushed to Lauren’s cheeks. The sound of Jesse’s husky voice brought vivid images to mind. Her father’s threats in no way stood up to her hormonally-charged fantasies.

The words spilled from Lauren’s mouth of their own will. “No, I have to go to this party with Gina and Carrie so that I can check up on my brother. I know it sounds crazy, and it probably is, but he’s been in some trouble and I wanted to… I don’t even know what I wanted to do. I guess keep him from doing anything stupid.”

“No.” Lauren’s father intruded on her thoughts, as he had a way of doing so often. She should tell Jesse about what her father had said. It would only be fair to let him know in case her father decided to make trouble. If Jesse didn’t want to see her anymore because of it, she would understand. Or at least that’s what she was telling herself.

***

“I’m still not sure we should be doing this,” Lauren said.

“He’s out almost every night,” Lauren said. “Sometimes he doesn’t even bother to come home. He’s been cutting school a lot. This morning my mom asked me if I thought he was in trouble.”

Gina slammed on her brake as she nearly missed the turn she wanted. “Shit,” she muttered. She spun the wheel sharply and somehow managed to keep from smashing into an oncoming SUV. Unfazed, she said, “What did you tell her?”

Lauren eased the death grip she had on the dashboard. “The truth,” Lauren said. “I don’t know.”

Gina stopped in front of a three-story apartment house. “This is it,” she said.

Lauren gaped at the building, with its peeling yellow paint and porches that had struggled under the weight of too many people. Six cars were jammed into the driveway. Four more edged the building, crushing what was left of the dying lawn. Lauren followed her friends up the walk, a combination of dread and anxiety building inside her.

The small third floor apartment was a clutter of people. Smoke settled like fog, floating toward the open windows. Marijuana mixed with tobacco. The combination assaulted Lauren’s lungs. She held in the choking cough that threatened to make a fool of her.

Rock music blasted from a place she couldn’t pinpoint. Animated voices collided and fought for dominance. A young guy covered in tattoos and piercings had his hand up a young woman’s very short skirt. Beside them a group sat in a circle playing a drinking game.

Gina spotted Kevin across the room. She waved and called, “Hey Kevin!”

A smile lit up his face as he strode toward them. “Gina baby!” He gave her a more than friendly hug. “Where you been hiding?”

Gina grinned. All white teeth and sex appeal. “Here and there,” she said. “Hope you don’t mind me and my friends crashing your party.”

Lauren nodded. Kevin’s features were perfectly chiseled. A bit sharp. His smile was easy and relaxed. He was handsome in the way of a college star athlete with a little too much arrogance.

Kevin sized Lauren up like he was inspecting a car for purchase. He said, “I guess Stephen doesn’t know his big sister that well after all.”

“What do you mean?” Lauren asked.

“He said you’d never set foot in my place. Nice to see he was wrong.” His voice became more of a low growl as he added, “I wonder what else he was wrong about.”

Lauren wanted to slap the leering expression right off Kevin’s face. His arrogance combined with the intensity of his whiskey breath left her nauseous and irritated.

Before Lauren could say something she probably would have regretted, Gina stepped between them. She said, “Speaking of Stephen, is he here tonight?”

“Bar’s over there.” Kevin pointed across the room. The bar itself was barely visible beneath the cluster of bottles. His gaze lingered on Lauren. He said, “You’re welcome to whatever I have.”

Carrie played bartender, making them each a white Russian. Relieved to be rid of Kevin, Lauren sipped her drink while watching the crowd. She caught snippets of conversation about tripping on ecstasy, rock climbing, and someone’s blog on MySpace. An odd combination of topics from an odd assortment of people.

Gina took a long swallow from her cup. “We may as well have some fun while we’re here,” she said. “I’ve never been much of a wallflower.”

The girls moved further into the room and were quickly swallowed by the crowd. Lauren glanced around uncomfortably. Stephen was nowhere to be seen. She wanted to go home.

Kevin’s hot whiskey breath made Lauren queasy. She scanned the room. No sign of Gina and Carrie was engrossed in a conversation with a guy in heavy black eyeliner. She turned back to Kevin and said, “I’m actually not much of a party person.”

Lauren spotted Stephen wandering into the room. The sight of him staggering confirmed all the negative feelings she’d had. Before she could say anything, Kevin called out, “Hey Stephen, look who’s here!”

Stephen headed toward them. He abruptly stopped a few feet away, his eyes riveted on Lauren. “What the hell are you doing here?” he said.

Stephen’s pupils overpowered the blue rings in his bloodshot eyes. He held a half-empty pint of Jack Daniels in one hand. Lauren found herself wishing she could shrink back into the wall. What had she been expecting to gain by coming here? Stephen wasn’t about to surrender and go home with her. Not in front of his friends. Not when he was already wasted.