The Keys to Jericho (67 page)

“What are you doing?”

I stick my tongue out as I dribble the basketball. “Playing some b-ball. What? You forget how, old man?”

He looks from me to the cans of beer in the grass. “Jared.”

“Come, on, Dad! Shoot it!” I toss him the worn basketball, but he’s a horrible catch and it flies past him, bouncing off a tree. “I thought you were some basketball star in high school.
That
attempt was lame.”

He puts his hands on his hips and watches me like I’m some kind of exhibit at a carnival. I scowl. “Aren’t you getting the ball?”

“Jared, we need to talk.”

I laugh. “We are. See? My mouth is moving.”

“You can’t keep doing this. You’re becoming an alcoholic.”

Holding the ball, I frown. “From playing basketball? I’ve never heard of
that
side effect before.”

He rolls his eyes. “From your drinking.”

I laugh. “Like you?”

“Yes. Like me. But I got help before it was too late. That’s not to say I can’t relapse. I take it one—”

I bob my head. “—day at a time. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I know the anthem. I don’t drink all the time anyway.”

“This is how it started for me. Your mother left. I used drinking as an escape. To forget the pain. To be numb. I only drank after you and Hadley were in bed, so I thought I could hide it. I couldn’t. It became worse and infected my daily life, too.”

“I remember. You hated staying home or you were asleep when you were.” I stumble past him, grabbing the ball, I make a hook shot, but it bounces off the backboard and rolls down the driveway.

Sighing, I go after it. Dribbling it back to the garage, I look up to the basket, but notice he’s still watching me, so I stop. “What? If you’re not going to play some one-on-one, then just leave me to being one.”

“I know you’re drinking because of Kat. Why don’t you talk to me about it?” I open my mouth to speak, but he says, “Don’t tell me that there’s nothing to talk about. There is. Plenty. I see it. I
know
, Jared.”

I shake my head and concentrate on dribbling the ball. “You don’t.” I continue bouncing the ball and go to change the subject. “I wanted to play basketball in school.”

“You did? Why didn’t you?”

I shrug. “Because your shadow was overwhelming.”

“What?”

I tuck the ball under my arm. “I was Adam ‘Sure Shot’ Beckett’s only son. I thought I should try to make you proud in some way. Playing basketball was not going to get
that
job done. I didn’t want to play football, really, but I was good at it—not a star—but I did what I had to do.”

“You didn’t have to play anything for me to be proud of you. I’ve always been. Always will be.”

“You wouldn’t be if you…” I laugh and take a shot, and this time it balances on the rim before falling into the basket. Grinning, I fist pump the air. “Ha!”

As it again rolls down the driveway, I chase the ball, nearly falling onto my face. When I pick it up, I hand it to my dad. “Come on, Pops. For old times’ sake.”

He gives me a tolerant glare before reluctantly snatching the ball from me. Dribbling it, while upholding his frown at me, in which I respond with rolling my eyes, he glances at the basket, and then back at me, suddenly making a cool hook shot.

I turn to watch it go into the basket with a whoosh.

“Showoff,” I grumble.

“Still got it.” He laughs at the basket, but then sheepishly shrugs at me. “Maybe I should dare Finn to play me.”

“Oh, Jesus. You can’t wipe the floor with his ass on
his
show. He’d break up with your daughter on live TV.”

“He wouldn’t do that. Even if I beat him in a dare.”

“Right. I’m sure his ego has a ceiling.”

“You don’t think he’ll marry your sister?”

I roll my eyes, making the driveway tilt. “Marriage. Give me a break. It didn’t work out for you…or other people.”

“But it does work for some. Your sister and Finn have worked so far with his tough work schedule. I’m sure they can work through other things.”

“Whatever.”

“Jared, it could work for you…someday.”

I laugh. “No, thank you. Damn Duquesne is jumping aboard that train wreck, but hey, that’s his problem.”

“Oh, I see. Is that what you talked about tonight?”

“His warden is moving to Virginia for a job. I guess she snapped her fingers and whistled for him. So he’s obediently following her. What a tool.”

“You wouldn’t do that for someone?”

Dribbling the ball, I roll my eyes with a scowl. “Nobody’s worth it.”

He sighs. “What happened, Jared? It’s not just Rio bothering you. Where’s Kat? You have been spending time with her, but now you’re not.”

I shoot the ball, making a basket, but I don’t care. I snap, “She’s not my probation officer or girlfriend. I don’t have to report to her every hour.” I let the ball bounce into the grass and I walk over to my beer, picking up the spare cans, but they fall, so I leave them. “I’m done here. Why don’t you practice some? You could use it,” I joke, but the delivery is flat.

Hating that I’m thinking about shit I set out to forget, I go into the house and stuff two more cans of beer under my arm before heading to my room.

Looking up at the window where Lange is yelling measurements out to me, I give him a thumbs up and walk over to the table to make the cuts in the baseboards.

“What’s up, Jericho?”

Writing down the measurements, I say, “Stay out of my way, Calder. I have the saw and I know how to use it for wicked, wicked deeds.”

“Uh, did you talk to Rio?”

I put the pencil behind my ear, not giving Calder much attention. “Who?”

“Oh. I’m taking it you did.”

I snap at the table, “He can do whatever the fuck he wants. Doesn’t make shit to me.”

“I know you’re mad, but come on, what else did you think he was really going to do? Stay apart from her forever?”

“I was hoping for a breakup, but he’s too stupid.”

“Not true.”

“Again. Whatever.”

He sighs. “You need to make up with him before you move.”

“Nope.”

He sighs again. “Did Kat get back from their trip yet?” Goddamn it.

I shrug, but glance at him, hoping he doesn’t notice my interest. “Don’t know.”

“She texted me that she needs to ask me some questions, but she hasn’t said anything else.”

Putting on my safety glasses, I again shrug. “Haven’t heard from her.” Fucking hell.

He laughs. “You are such a bad actor.”

I flip off Dash before turning on the saw and making a slashing gesture to my throat, and then pointing at him.

He responds by making a swirling motion at his head and points back at me.

Jesus Christ. I feel like I
am
losing it.

About three hours later, I’m buzzed, but I’m sober. The metal grinding, still echoing in my head, kicked around all the shit with Kat and Rio, which makes my mind scream nonstop.

I miss her. I miss him already. Two of my best friends will be disappearing.

Shit.

No…

Pissed off, I throw a block of wood at the trashcan, but it bounces off the plastic side, and skips across the ground like a stone across water.

“Pretty cool, Jericho,” Dash garbles. I irritably look at him as he takes a purple sucker from his mouth. “Awesome. Kat just texted me. She’s home. Just thought you wanted to know.”

“Uh-huh,” I say, trying to sound uncaring as I return to nothing in particular. However, as soon as Dash walks away, I head for the Nissan. I just hope that bitch isn’t there with her.

Rounding the corner, I see Kat’s empty driveway and I heave a sigh of relief. I can’t deal with Liberty’s shit right now and I may choke her for stealing my best friend. Both.

Going up the stairs, I’m hit with the realization that I have no idea why I’m really here or what I’m going to say. Yet, I need to be. Because I’m a fucking idiot who can’t stay away from his obsession.

I knock on the door and she answers within seconds, looking confused. She’s wearing her glasses, and her hair is all chocolate brown. Just like the Kat I first met, and I nearly fall to my knees.

Now, I’m the one confused.

“Jared? What’s wrong? Did I miss a text about driving?”

I stutter, “Your hair.”

She touches it, but doesn’t comment as she warily steps aside. I breeze past her and when she shuts the door I spout, “Rio’s leaving.” She solemnly nods and looks to the floor. Propping my hands on my hips, I nod with a roll of my eyes. “Oh. Of course you know that.”

“Liberty told me during our trip.”

“How can he want to be with
her
? And so far away?”

She sighs. “Jared…”

“What?
Please
don’t defend his decision! I’m sure it was Libby’s fucking idea. Jesus. Her claws are in so deep.”

“She said it was Rio’s idea. He wants to do this.”

I doubtfully frown. “Well, if he wants to move that far, then so be it. Fuck him.”

She crosses her arms and challenges, “
You’re
moving to Philadelphia.”

I throw out my hand. “It’s not that far from Baltimore! I’d still visit him there, just like I’ll be here visiting you and Dash!”

“Exactly! Philly isn’t that far from Annapolis, either, but you said long-distant relationships don’t work!”

I drop my hand and scowl even more. “So?”

Her throat ripples as her gaze falls. “So… You shouldn’t be visiting me at all.”

Clenching my teeth, I ask, “Why wouldn’t I?”

She shakes her head at the floor, but then looks up at me. “Our friendship has become complicated since we crossed that line. Feelings, for me at least, are involved. It’s too much. I can’t do it and I can’t put my life on hold for you.”

I roar, “What in the
fuck
does that mean?”

“I
mean
, what the hell do you want me to do? Languish here, while you sleep around during the week, but then come back on weekends for a welcome-home fuck?”

“I won’t be sleeping around!”

“Why not, Jared? Tell me. You have nothing keeping you from doing that.”

I anxiously pull on my bill. “Because I don’t want to do that!”

“Give me a real answer.
What
is keeping you from sleeping around?”

I shake my head and sneer, “Absolutely nothing.” That’s a lie.

She nods. “That’s right. Nothing.” She swipes her nose on the back of her hand and says, “I told you I won’t be your weekly fuck reservation, but even I won’t be able to abide by that. You’ll come home on weekends, and I’ll spread my legs to welcome you because...” Her eyes heavily water and she takes off her glasses. Setting them down, she uses the heels of her hands to dry her eyes, muttering, “I can’t do this anymore, and I won’t.”