Shattered Chances: A Breaking Black Companion Novel (4 page)

The only kid left….

“Why did you guys leave?”

Her eyes shifted uneasily. There was something she doesn’t like to talk about. Something had happened – something traumatic.

“My mother needed a change of scenery.”

“What happened?” I asked, trying to sound more concerned than eager to know. I was concerned, but I had to know the trouble behind those eyes. They haunted and bewitched me all at the same time.

“My brother, Craig, passed away. He was only a baby and he died. It was hard on all of us, but my mother snapped. I found her trying to drown herself in the bathtub the day after Craig’s funeral.”

Holy fuck.

“You’re not the only one who’s had heavy,” Cheyenne reminded me.

“Is your Mom okay now?”

Cheyenne shook her head.

“She’s mentally fragile. Small things set her off. She cannot work anymore. She drinks when her mind gets too loud. Thank God for my father.”

“You’re lucky to still have both of them here…”

“Do you live with other family members?”

“Yeah, my brother, sister and I live with my grandparents out on their ranch.”

“So the Seventy Devils…”

“They are dangerous. If you avoid dealing with them, you should be okay. I’ll protect you…” I said with a wink.

Cheyenne leaned in, bringing her face less than an inch from mine. She pecked my lips with hers twice and said, “Baby, in case you haven’t noticed, I can take care of myself.”

I raised an eyebrow at her.

“But don’t worry, honey. I’ve got other plans for you,” she said slyly, brushing her lips against my cheek before she stood up.

She winked at me but before I could respond she was pulling me off the picnic table.

“C’mon, my dad’s here.”

Oh, shit… I’m so not ready for this.

The headlights of her Dad’s SUV glared in my eyes as I approached the vehicle. Cheyenne had climbed in the back seat already. Michael West was glaring out his window at me his eyes peering out over his aviator shades. Eyeballing me up and down, measuring me up to some pre-conceived notion of what his daughter’s boyfriend should look like.

“Hop in the seat, son. Let’s chat.”

Here we go.

“Daddy, be nice.”

“Chey, darlin’. I’m always nice. I’m just asking this young man some questions.”

Her dad held a hand out for me to shake. I took it and the third degree began.

“What’s your name?”

“Randy Ford.”

Your daughter’s idiot boyfriend.

“Michael West. Pleased to make your acquaintance.”

“Nice to meet you, Mr. West.”

“Mr. West is my father. Call me Mike.”

“Okay, Mike.”

“Randy… is that short for Randall?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Do you live in Oakeley?”

“No sir. Not anymore.”

“What do your parents do for a living?”

“Daddy!” Cheyenne protested from the backseat.

I cleared my throat, uncomfortable with the sudden turn in the conversation. Mr. West looked at me, unsure why I hadn’t answered his question.

“Both my parents are deceased, but when my father was alive he was an attorney. My mother did a lot of volunteer and charity work.”

“I’m sorry, son. They sound like wonderful people.”

“They were.”

“Can you tell me what road I’m taking to get you home?”

“Follow the signs for the Interstate then take exit 44B.”

“So tell me, Randy. What is your five year plan?”

Is this guy for real?

“Five year plan?”

“Sure. Where do you see yourself in five years?”

Running back for the Dallas Cowboys with your gorgeous daughter cheering me on from the sidelines in a skimpy outfit.

“Uh… I will be twenty then…”

Better make this good, Randy…

“I expect I’ll be in college or trade school. I’d like to follow in my father’s footsteps with a law degree, but my grandfather thinks I do better with my hands.”

“Carpentry?”

I nodded, “Yes, sir.”

“That’s a good trade. At least you have an actual plan instead of some pipe dream.”

“What’s wrong with dreams, Dad?” Cheyenne asked, sounding offended.

“Nothing at all, darlin’. As long as they are attainable.”

Her dad reached for the radio and turned up the volume when he recognized the song as
Piano Man.

“Ooooh, Dad! It’s your song.”

“It is my song. Randy, do you like Billy Joel?”

“Billy who?”

“Billy Joel. The Entertainer.”

“Hmm… No, I can’t say I have.”

From that moment on life would not let me forget about Michael West’s admiration of Billy Joel’s music. The man broke out into song as he drove up the highway. To make it worse, Cheyenne knew all the words, too. I must live under a rock.

The karaoke contest continued for thirty-five straight minutes. Finally when we were approaching Hall Ranch, Mr. West decided that he wasn’t entirely opposed to the idea of me dating his daughter.

“Thanks for the ride home, Mr. West.”

“Randy, step out of the car with me.”

Oh, dear God.

With a piercing gaze, Michael West stared at me, looking as if he had something incredibly important to say.

“You seem like you have a good head on your shoulders. Be good to my daughter, and when you’re out with her, look after my Cheyenne.”

He had a very serious look on his face that was hard to read. Was it paternal concern? Worry? Whatever it was, I wasn’t about to let him down.”

“I will, sir.”

“Promise me.”

“I promise.”

As soon as I climbed out of the truck, Mr. West pulled off, leaving me standing in a cloud of dust, perplexed and confused.

8.

Cheyenne

I ran into the house with a giant smile on my face. Nothing could dull this shine. My dad actually liked a guy that I picked. I’m shocked in the best of ways. No amount of rain could dull this sunshine. My statement was about to be tested.

My dad shut the front door behind us as he remarked, “He seems like a decent young man. Let’s be quiet in case your mother is asleep.”

My mother wasn’t in her usual spot on the sofa. The cream blanket that I had crocheted for her was rumpled on the floor and several tissues were balled up on the coffee table. She’d been crying again.

“Gina…” my father called.

He stalked into the dark kitchen with a worried tone to his voice.

“Regina, honey…”

A raspy voice replied from the dark of the room.

“In here…”

My father flicked on the overhead light and my mother was sitting there, sunk down on the kitchen floor with her bottle of Wild Turkey whiskey between her knees. She was drunk again.

“Get up…” my father said. “This is not going to do you any good.”

My mother protested when he picked her up, cradling her in his arms like a baby. She began to wale, beating her fists against his chest. Lying her down on the couch, the tears streamed from her eyes as he covered her back up with a blanket.

“Go upstairs, Cheyenne. You shouldn’t see her when she’s like this…”

I did as I was told but paused at the top of the stairs as I watched my father dump the entire bottle of whiskey down the kitchen sink.

***

I crossed the threshold of my room and closed the door behind me, leaving the bad energy on the other side of the door. Closing my eyes, my back fell against the hard surface of the door. Breathing deep, I allowed myself a selfish moment to slip into the warmth left over from my date with Randy. Once again, I was smiling like an idiot. There was only one thing to be done.

I flopped into my computer chair and booted up the PC. The modem booted up and logged onto AOL noisily, sounding as if the computer was going to blow up. This always takes forever, so I decide to change into pajamas while I wait. I slipped into a pair of sweatpants and an old t-shirt when I heard the gratifying sound: “You’ve got mail.”

Immediately upon signing online, I have three im’s pop up and an email from someone’s address that I didn’t recognize.

MVP1112 would have to wait. I had to give the girl’s their daily dirt.

Carlyx96 has invited you to a private chat room.

TessaROX has invited you to a private chat room.

OoMissyx15oO has invited you to a private chat room.

Damn, bitches.

I followed the link to the private chat. Every night at 9 PM I had a group chat with my cousins and friends from Nebraska. I missed them like crazy, but it was awesome that we could keep in touch online. It took the sting away a little bit. Our usual chats included myself, my cousin Tessa, my other cousin Carly, and our friends, Melissa (aka Missy), Dana, Mandy and Ashley.

The time was now 9:17 now they were probably hawk-eyeing their friends list for the last twenty minutes for my screen name, CheyC311, to show up.

CheyC311 has entered the chat room.

TessaROX: Bout time.

Carlyx96: Thought you forgot about us.

OoMissyx15oO: Uh, Carly… Talk about yourself. I’m unforgettable.

Carlyx96: ::rolls eyes::

DanaDelish143 has entered the chat room.

TessaROX: Another straggler.

DanaDelish143: Please, drama. Mandy and Ashley will not be joining us tonight.

CheyC311: Calm your tits! Where are they tonight?!

TessaROX: Mandy was caught smoking in the boy’s room with Eddie Henshaw… AGAIN.

OoMissyx15oO: OMG

Carlyx96: LOL LOL LOL

DanaDelish143: It’s also those though. Although, I’m surprised. Tessa managed to stay out of detention today.

TessaROX: What are you saying?!

CheyC311: I wish you could see my face right now. I’m dying. What about Ash?

TessaROX: Her mom found her stash of Anthony Kiedis pics.

OoMissyx15oO: That guy from Red Hot Chili Peppers?!

TessaROX: Yeah. She loves him.

Carlyx96: She can’t have him. He’s MINE!

TessaROX: You WISH!

CheyC311: Wouldn’t want to be in that house!

AshleyLUVSAnthony19 has entered the chat room

MandyMayhem82 has entered the chat room

TessaROX: Oh, hell.

CheyC311: Let the fun begin.

OoMissyx15oO: You two are going to be in soooo much trouble!

MandyMayhem: What else is new?!

AshleyLUVSAnthony19: We’re at the library.

DanaDelish143: Does the librarian know you’re going to be looking for pictures of Anthony Kiedis?

AshleyLUVSAnthony19: Shut up!

TessaROX: Chey, how’s your mom?

CheyC311: Crazy, as usual. Moving on. I have dirt.

AshleyLUVSAnthony19: Dirt? I like dirt!

OoMissyx15oO: I wanna hear!

Carlyx96: Dish!

CheyC311: I have a new boyfriend.

TessaROX: Details! I need details!

AshleyLUVSAnthony19: Aaaaaah! yayz!

Carlyx96: I need a new boyfriend. The one i have… ugh!

DanaDelish143:What’s he like?!

CheyC311: He’s adorable. Blonde. Green eyes. Toned build. Curses like a sailor. Total class clown.

Carlyx96: Tattoos… does he have tattoos?

CheyC311: Dude, we’re 15.

OoMissyx15oO: So?!

AshleyLUVSAnthony19: Is he tall?!

CheyC311: Not overly. He’s about the same height as me.

DanaDelish143: That’s not tall!

CheyC311: I’m 5’ 7 and like three inches taller than you! lol

DanaDelish143: Who asked you?!

TessaROX: When can i meet him?! Does he have a brother or a cousin?! Someone like him, but taller?

OoMissyx15oO: bring him into the chat!

CheyC311: Haven’t even added him online yet! And Tessa! LOL

MandyMayhem: Sorry i got distracted. What’s happening?

CheyC311: Eddie called?