Good Girl : An Enemies-to-Lovers, Roommate Romance (Alphahole Roommates Book 2), page 9
“I know,” he says softly.
“Fuck,” I run my hand through my hair.
“Do what you’ve gotta do there today, man. Let Jada stay today, tonight. Stay in the hotel another night. I’ll touch base with you tomorrow morning at the office and we’ll go from there.”
“Fine.”
“Tell Jada to call Carly within the next hour. Then we’re goin’ swimming with dolphins.”
“All right, man.” I’d laugh if I weren’t so pissed about him swimming with dolphins to make Carly happy. It’s obvious he’s also agreeing to let Jada stay to make Carly happy, too.
“Auz?”
“What?”
“I believe you. I know you wouldn’t fuck Sienna on purpose. I’m sorry I acted like an asshole.”
“Yeah. Okay.”
“Later.”
“Later.”
9
Jada
The shower works like a magic tonic for making me feel semi-human, and giving me a chance to think. I take note of Carly’s bath bomb brand for later. One day, when all this is behind me and I have a place of my own, a bath of my own, I’m taking a bath with one of those supposed magical bath bombs.
After the shower, getting into my own clothes, a pair of black jeans and a soft and slouchy sweater hoodie, I feel a little more like me. Things still suck, but I have a plan at least. I brush my teeth and put my hair up in a ponytail and stare at myself in the mirror.
I look tired. I look broken. I feel even worse than I look.
Though I haven’t heard from Shane yet, I’m praying he gets here soon so I can start to figure stuff out, but obviously he can’t stay here, too. I can’t ask Aiden and Carly if both of us can stay. Even if they were okay with it, Austin wouldn’t be, and I don’t want to make things any more tense than they are. I’m going to try really hard to convince Shane to go into rehab. He needs that. I have my laptop so I’m going to get on it and look for options for intake for him. He needs rehab, not to stay in a warehouse where a punk band rehearses and parties.
What started off as him going off the rails because he was off his meds has spiraled into drug addiction – clearly. Though the fact I’ve been so broke for months and he hasn’t made any money, I don’t know how he managed to get high so much.
He needs rehab, counseling, and to get on a new regimen for his meds. He needs to listen to me. After this latest stunt and how it truly screwed things up, he needs to really listen this time. I’m prepared to lay down an ultimatum and that’s not my style with him, because I know ultimatums rarely work. Obviously, I’m at the end of my rope here because it’s not my style to make empty threats; I hope he’ll take me seriously.
He has to; I can’t do this anymore. I can’t do everything for us and especially not if he’s on this road of self-destruction.
I’m going to try, one more time, to convince Austin Carmichael to let me work for him. If that doesn’t work maybe Aiden and Carly will let me stay a couple weeks so I can find a job, any job, and then I’ll either rent a room or go stay with my cousin Darlene in Jersey City. She’s a single mom with a good job and a decent apartment who said I could stay, that she’d bunk her six-year-old daughter in with her and I could take her daughter’s bedroom for a little while, maybe even be her part-time nanny in exchange for free rent. She insisted Shane and I couldn’t share that room though.
I can hardly blame her – she has a kid to worry about and Shane hasn’t been stable for more than a few months at a time in years. He borrowed a grand from her last time he spiraled out of control and I paid it back so she’s extra-wary. She knows he can get dark when he’s depressed. It’s less than ideal, but I could make it work for a little while if I have to. If Shane is in rehab getting well and working on himself then I’ll have the time and space to try to get myself stable. Get a place, steady income, and catch my breath.
First, I’ll try to figure things out with Aiden’s brother and go from there.
***
I emerge from the master bedroom and see him sitting on a stool at the island separating the kitchen from the living area. He’s doing something on his phone while jiggling his knee like he’s pissed off. The spider sits there under the glass bowl and startles or something when I move into view, so I startle, too.
I blow out a breath. God, it’s huge.
Austin is now looking at me and I can see he’s nearly scowling.
“The credit card thief has been arrested. Aid says you can stay here one more night if you need to. I won’t be here. Tomorrow, we’ll see what’s what. I’ve got shit to do so try not to burn the place down.”
He stands.
“Wait. You’re leaving?”
His eyes skim me with what looks like annoyance.
Here goes nothing…
“So, I wanted to take one more stab at talking to you about me working for you.”
Austin’s phone rings. He gives me the hand and answers as he heads for the master bedroom.
I blow a stray lock of hair out of my eyes.
Okay, I’ll have to try that again…
There’s a knock on the door, so I look out the peep hole and see Kevin, the security guard from last night. He’s dressed in regular street clothes. He’s standing there with Sedgewick. Oh. What?
I open the door and Sedgewick smiles, looking me over like I’m dessert. He’s a good-looking guy with kind of a punk/Viking thing going. Giant ear spacers, a long goatee in a beard with some of those Viking rune jewels, and tattoos on his neck and his hands.
“Hey, Jada,” Kevin greets, “You know Sedge? He’s here for Gramma. You still have her?”
I blink. “Gramma?”
“My tarantula. Phil, our drummer, brought her to the party last night and lost her.”
I open the door wider and Sedge obviously sees the bowl with the spider under it because he breathes out relief, calling out, “There.” He rushes for the island.
“Gramma?” I inquire.
He lifts the glass bowl off the counter and I shudder as he lifts the spider and puts it on his shoulder.
Austin comes out of the bathroom, looking tweaked.
“Yeah, Gramma.”
“Gramma,” I repeat, shaking my head.
“She’s a Grammostola pulchra,” Sedge explains, like it’s obvious.
“The fuck are these people?” Austin snaps.
“That’s Sedgewick and that’s Kevin. They’re here for the spider.”
“Hey man,” Sedgewick says calmly and extends his hand. “I’m the singer for Arachnid Asylum. Gramma’s my five-year-old Black Brazilian spider.”
Sedge points at his band t-shirt and there’s a spider as part of the logo.
Austin just stares at him.
He pulls his hand back. “Oh-kay then. Not a fan, I guess.”
“You left a deadly spider somewhere unattended? What the fuck?”
“She’s not deadly. She’s a black Brazilian spider, not a Wandering Brazilian. Someone broke up the party and Phil was out havin’ a smoke and couldn’t get back in. Tracey, that hooked up with Bonez was holdin’ Gramma for him. And then the party was over. Phil texted Bonez’s sister after Trace got him the cell. You didn’t answer. Gramma’s stressed. We gotta go so I can get her fed.”
“I got a weird text, but I thought it was the wrong number.”
“You’re Bonez’s only sister, though, right? You got another sister?”
“Bonez?”
“Yeah. Your brother. You know… dirty blond guy. Skinny. Sells. Spaced out, usually wasted. We put all your stuff in the warehouse last week?” He’s joking, acting like he needs to remind me of things I already know.
“It’s just that I’ve never heard anyone call my brother Bonez in my life. Sells? Sells what?”
“I’ve known him four years,” Sedge says. “What’s his real name then? Never heard him called anything but Bonez.”
“Shane,” I say.
Sells what?
“Hmm. Who knew?” He shrugs. “You got another sister?”
“No. What does Shane sell?” I ask.
“Didn’t think it was you when they said Bonez’s sister was losing her shit tryin’ to kick everyone out.”
“How’d you people even get in here? What’s with the lack of security in this place?” Austin butts in.
“Kevin’s the night watchman,” I say, and Kevin gives me a look of mortification.
Austin glares at him. “Good luck keeping your job, bud. I thought that was a costume.”
Kevin goes sheet-white and blows out a breath.
“Sorry, Kev, but you are one shitty night watchman if you’re up here smoking bongs instead of doin’ your job,” Sedge puts in, petting the spider on his shoulder.
“It was a good run,” he shrugs, “Lasted two months.”
“Wow, okay, well you’ve got your tarantula; fuck off now,” Austin says as he gestures toward the door.
I glare at him. “Wow. That’s rude. I’m trying to talk to them about my missing brother.”
“Bonez is missing?” Sedge asks.
“I’m rude?” Austin cocks an eyebrow at me.
“Yeah. You are rude.”
I’m just full of sass right now, surprising myself even, but I can’t make myself stop.
He scoffs and opens the door. “You wanna go with them?”
I cross my arms over my chest. “Carly said I can stay. Until I’m sorted, not just for tonight. Nice try. Listen you guys, have you talked to my brother?”
“No,” Kevin says. “Not seen him since last night when he disappeared into the back bedroom with Trace.”
“Could you possibly do me a favor?” I ask Sedge.
“Sure, babe,” he says and he’s looking me over like he likes what he sees.
Not happening. A) he walks around with a giant spider on him that he calls Gramma and b) not happening anyway.
“Could you text me Tracey’s number so I can try to track Shane down?” I ask.
“Sure thing.” He lifts his phone out of his pocket.
I ramble off my number.
“Do it in the elevator on your way out,” Austin suggests and then he waves them out and slams the door in their faces. He locks it.
“Wow,” I stare at him. “Rude.”
Time to change tact. I have to see if he’ll give me that job. This is my last kick at that can.
I hate how timid I feel, but I do. Timid and desperate.
His phone rings again. He answers it. “Yeah?”
And his eyes flash with something I can’t decipher and then settle on me. “Oh, hey. How are you?” His voice has gone soft. “Oh, okay… Yeah… Oh. Here, I’ll pass you to her.” He hands me his phone and I see it says “Aiden” on the screen as I put it to my ear.
“Hello?”
“Hi Jada.”
“Hi Carly.” I feel my face go hot. A) because Austin is staring at me and B) because I’m suddenly so embarrassed about the texts, about the voicemails, about the fact that I’m here at all.
“Listen, I’m really sorry, Jada, but I have bad news. We just got off the phone with the NYPD and it looks like the guy who was arrested for using Aiden’s credit card is named Shane Miller.”
My heart plummets.
I grab the counter for stability and then see the glass bowl and for a second forget that the spider is gone, and I shriek, moving away and colliding with Austin, who catches me.
I look up at him and for a moment I’m frozen. For a moment, the sensation of big, strong arms around me, catching me – I want to just fall apart right there. But I know I can’t do that. Because he didn’t mean to catch me. He wouldn’t hold me through a breakdown and stroke my hair, whisper words that would make me believe things might be okay.
“Jada?” Carly inquires.
“Oh my God,” I whisper into the phone.
Austin lets go of me and backs up, a look like he wishes he didn’t even touch me slashing across his face.
“I know,” she says softly, “I’m so sorry. Listen… I know what you’re feeling. My sister is in jail, she… she had a severe drug problem. I know you said your brother is bi-polar, but it sounds like drugs are a factor, and… I can relate. I can so relate. Never in a million years did I think I’d have my wedding day and not have her there by my side. But…yeah, I feel you.”
“I’m sorry about your sister, Carly. Wha-what happened with Shane? Can you tell me everything they said?”
“He used the card to take a cab, used the tap feature and again to buy booze and stuff at a store a few blocks away, and then he was found beating up an ATM trying to make it give him cash with the card. The machine took the card because he kept entering the wrong PIN so he got caught beating it up.”
My eyes close and I bite my lip.
“And they found drug paraphernalia on him and something with drug residue. He’s also resisted arrest and punched a cop. He dropped Aiden’s name saying he had permission to use the card. Honey, I think you should… I mean, I have no right to give you advice, and Aiden won’t press charges himself, but the bank probably will and there’s the drugs and the cops’ll probably lay charges for the other stuff.”
“Yeah,” I whisper.
She continues, “But I know where you’re at right now, sort of, and I think you should let him stay in there. Maybe he’ll get the help he needs because he won’t have access to drugs and maybe they’ll get him on medication for his other issues.”
A sob tears from my throat.
A sob of despair braided with relief. I sink against the wall and slide on my socks to the floor. I curl into myself, Austin’s phone still against my ear.
“I’m so sorry, Jada. We’re happy for you to stay there. You can use the spare bedroom. I got your email address from Aiden and sent you an transfer of some money to tide you over. Austin’s a little resistant about the job idea but I’ll work on him. If that doesn’t work, I’ll see if we can use you in the New York office in an admin capacity or something, so you can get on your feet. Today, don’t worry, just… know you’ve got a place to stay and some cash to tide you over.”
“I don’t know what to say,” I whisper.
“Don’t say anything. Just know that I’m here for you. Anything I can do, let me know.”
“I don’t deserve this.”
“No, you don’t. But family craps on us sometimes because they know we’ll forgive them and-”
“No, sorry to interrupt Carly, but I mean I don’t deserve your help. I stayed here without permission. It’s my fault that Aiden’s card got taken, and… and you hardly even know me.”
“You’re just having a rough spell. I know what that’s like, believe me. Anyway, we have to go – our shuttle is here. Aiden and I have a day with dolphins planned, and –”
“I’m so sorry your honeymoon got interrupted by my… my shit.”
“Stop apologizing. I feel bad that I’m here getting to swim with dolphins and you’re over there feeling like everything is being flushed down the toilet. Believe me, I know what that’s like. My job offer to move to San Diego came at the absolute best moment, when my life felt like it was in the crapper, too, Jada and – and I’m happy to help a little, to give you a breather like I got. I’m paying that forward to someone I feel deserves it. Okay? Take what I’m offering. It’s just an advance on whatever job you end up doing. You can pay me back later. Or not – maybe next time Aiden and I are in town you can just barter it back in doing what you used to do – though, I hate even saying that because I feel like we’re friends and friends help friends, right?”
“Right,” I whisper.
It feels nice to have a friend, but I feel like I don’t deserve one. It’s been a long time since I’ve had anybody. What do I have to offer back to the friendship other than all my excess baggage?
“Anyway, when we get back, we’ll plan a trip there soon. You and me can go get mani-pedis and then get drunk together. By then, maybe things will be looking up for you.”
I’m sobbing now. Austin is nowhere near, I have no idea when he exited the area, but I’m relieved no one is seeing me like this, especially not someone who hates me.
“It’s gonna be okay, Jada,” Carly says.
I don’t know if it is. God, I hope it will be.
“I don’t know what to say. Thank you. Thank you isn’t enough, though.”
“I’ll text you the name and number of the cop Aiden talked to so you can find out what’s happening with your brother, but Jada, please don’t feel tempted to get him out of there. If you’re anything like me, you’d try to sell your own blood to get your sibling out of a jam until it gets to a breaking point but believe me, I know what I’m talking about here - at some stage they have to help themselves. ”
“I think I’m at that breaking point,” I choke out. “He’s really gone off the deep end, Carly. This isn’t him. I mean, it wasn’t, but things have escalated. I think he started using drugs to take the edge off the mental health issues and that just sent him spiraling. And the guys that were just here to get that giant spider said things… I think he was selling drugs to fund his habit. And there I was, working multiple jobs to keep us afloat while he did nothing. No-th-thing.” I’m sobbing again. Ugly-crying.
How could Shane do that to me?
“I get it. My sister Caitlin is only doing better now because we all finally cut her off and she sank to lows I know Cait would never have sunk to if she was in her right mind. Those were the actions of the drug-addict Cait, not my sister Cait. You know? And it got bad before it got better. Really bad. She got hit by a car and almost died and now she’s doing time. And her nonsense got so bad my father had a heart attack due to the stress. She’s had to face everything she did, and the consequences of that, of nearly killing Dad, of nearly dying. And if she weren’t incarcerated like she is right now, she probably wouldn’t have gotten clean. She might be dead by now. She’s lucky she’s not dead. Jail probably saved her.”
In jail, maybe they’d get Shane some counseling. Maybe he’d get his medication that he needs and can’t afford. Maybe he’d only do time for a little while. How bad was it to steal a credit card? The drugs? Punching a cop? Would he be in there for long? So many thoughts flood my brain.
