Down and Dirty, page 23
Tony took a small step closer, his temper flaring at the thought of Jasper being anywhere near Matt. It was hard enough knowing Jess saw the asshole more than he was comfortable with. “Stay the fuck away from Jess…and Jasper.”
“Yep. Still possessive.” Matt chuckled, clearly not intimidated.
Before things got out of hand, Debbie called out, “Mr. Russo. Your take-out order is ready.”
Matt shifted his gaze toward the waitress and the tension slowly faded. He nodded just once at Rhys. “Good evening, Dr. Beaumont,” he said, ignoring Tony as he walked away from them.
Rhys gave Tony a slight nudge with his shoulder and the two of them left the diner. On the sidewalk, Tony reached for his car keys. “Jess quit her job.”
Rhys already had his keys in hand. “Yeah. I don’t like that. Meet you back home. We need to figure out what’s going on.”
Chapter Nineteen
“Come on. Let’s get upstairs and see what everyone is up to,” Rhys said as they headed toward the stairs.
As soon as they entered the apartment, it was apparent no one was home. There was no noise from the television, no smell of dinner cooking, none of Jasper’s sweet chatter.
Tony pulled his cell phone from his pocket to text, but Rhys held up his hand when his gaze landed on an envelope on the table by the front door. It was in Jess’s writing and had both their names written on it.
Tony reached for it, ripping it open impatiently. Money fell out, and Rhys sighed. Jess was a stickler for paying her share. Something he intended to put a stop to after they’d settled this thing between them.
However, the money wasn’t the worst thing in the envelope.
He spotted her apartment key.
Tony’s eyes scanned the words of the note quickly before his fist closed around the paper, wrinkling it up. “Fuck!”
Rhys pried the paper from his grip, reading it with the same sense of…disappointment? Anger? Sadness?
Rhys couldn’t sort out the emotions that hit him all at once.
* * *
Dear Tony and Rhys,
Mere words cannot express how much the past couple of months have meant to me. You found me at my lowest point and raised me up, helped me…saved me.
I’ve found a good apartment for Jasper and me, a safe home, something that wouldn’t have been possible without your generous offer of a place to stay while we got our feet back under us.
Our time together was truly the happiest of my life. I’m not sure what the future holds, but please know that I wouldn’t change a single second of what we shared. You are amazing men, and the best mistake I ever made was parking my car in front of your home that night.
Jasper and I will visit very soon, and I’ll offer these same words of thanks in person. I didn’t intend to leave without talking to you first, but this apartment came up quickly and I knew it was time to move on.
Enclosed is the rent I owe you. Jasper drew you a picture and insisted it be displayed. It’s on the refrigerator.
With love,
Jess
* * *
Rhys turned and walked to the kitchen without saying a word. There, as promised, was the drawing. It reminded him of the drawing Jasper had given them the day after they’d first arrived. Jess had left that picture behind with a thank-you note as well. That drawing had depicted Jess and Jasper smiling and waving as they stood next to their car, intent on driving away.
In this one, the family had gotten larger. It was a picture of all of them standing before this building. Rhys stood next to Jess and Aunt Berta, while Jasper was on Tony’s shoulders. All of them had big, wide, red crayon smiles.
Tony stepped up behind him, looking at the picture. “We’re getting her back. They belong here.”
Rhys appreciated the confidence in Tony’s tone…and he hoped they managed to do just that.
“Why the fuck would she leave like this?” Tony asked.
Rhys knew why. Knew it the second he’d seen the envelope. “We never told her how we felt, Tony. Never even alluded to it. Sex and friendship. That’s all we gave her. I watched her at your family’s party. I’ve never seen such a longing to belong on someone’s face, such a strong desire to be a part of something like that. Jess has spent a lifetime being tossed aside. She left to protect herself, to ensure she was the one walking away this time. It’s probably the bravest thing she’s ever done.”
Tony grunted, clearly unhappy with Rhys’s observations. “We have to fix this.”
Rhys pulled the picture from the refrigerator, smiling. “Quite the family portrait.”
Tony looked at it again over his shoulder. “We’re dragging her ass back here and tying her to the bed until we convince her this is real. This is forever.”
Rhys chuckled. “Knowing our girl, she’ll probably test us just so we will tie her to the bed.”
“Come on. We have to find her.” Tony opened his phone, but before he could send the text to Jess demanding an address, the door to the apartment opened.
“Jess?” Rhys called out, walking out of the kitchen, Tony following.
“Nope,” Aunt Berta replied as they met her in the foyer. “Just me. Didn’t you get Jess’s note? She said she left one when you guys didn’t show up after work.”
“We got it,” Tony growled. “Where is she? Why didn’t you tell us she was leaving? How could you let her pack up and go like that? Where have you been?”
Aunt Berta narrowed her eyes, clearly displeased with Tony’s tone. “I was busy helping Jess move and set up her new place.”
“How long have you known she was leaving?” This time Tony sounded less angry and more hurt.
Aunt Berta sighed and headed for the kitchen, the two of them following in her wake. “Bruno called this morning, right after you and Rhys left for work.”
“Bruno?” Rhys asked, trying to figure out what Tony’s cousin had to do with Jess’s departure.
Aunt Berta pulled on her apron before she pushed a button on the oven to preheat it, then she pulled a pan of lasagna she had thawing out of the refrigerator. “He has that apartment behind his garage that he rents out. The last person moved out and Bruno said Jess could have it. He waved the security deposit because it needs a bit of painting and cleaning up. It really is ideal, because Jasper can continue at the same school, and it’s in a safe part of the city. Plus, Bruno will be there during the day to keep an eye on them. I’m going to stay on as Jasper’s babysitter, thank goodness. I told Jess the only way I’d help her move was if she promised me that. Sweet girl teared up and acted as if I’d given her a block of gold when really it’s me who wins. I’m crazy about that sweet boy.”
Aunt Berta had continued moving around the kitchen, preparing dinner as she spoke.
All that stopped when Tony erupted.
“Jesus Christ! What the hell is Bruno doing? Sticking his nose in where it doesn’t belong!” Tony threw his hands up in frustration. While Rhys could see how Aunt Berta and Jess would think Bruno’s offer was the answer to a prayer, all Tony had heard was that his aunt and cousin had taken Jess away from them.
“Excuse me? Why are you angry? This is what Jess has been working toward all this time. I thought you’d be happy for her.”
“Happy?!” Tony’s Italian temper was full-blown. “Happy?!” he repeated, even louder.
Aunt Berta picked up a wooden spoon, wielding it like a sword. Rhys was amused when Tony took a quick step back. Obviously, he was no stranger to Italian females waving wooden spoons.
“You have thirty seconds to explain yourself, Tony Moretti, or you’re going to feel my wrath.”
Rhys intervened quickly, placing a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “Tony. Calm down. We’re going to get her back.”
Aunt Berta looked completely perplexed, lowering the spoon. “Get her back? Why?”
Tony blew out a long, slow breath. “We’re in love with her, Aunt Berta.”
“We?” Aunt Berta’s gaze traveled from Tony to Rhys as recognition dawned. “You’re both in love with her.” There was no question. Just understanding. “Did you tell her that?”
“We were going to,” Tony replied.
“When?”
“Tonight,” Rhys explained. “We should have done it before this, but…” He raised his hands. “This isn’t exactly normal.”
Aunt Berta took off her apron and turned off the oven, scoffing. “If it’s right, then it’s normal. I think it’s right. Do you?”
Rhys and Tony both nodded.
“And now I understand why Jess was so subdued today. I couldn’t understand why she wasn’t excited about the new apartment.”
“She wasn’t excited?” Rhys asked, Aunt Berta’s words giving him hope.
“No. She looked almost sad.” Aunt Berta smiled. “Get your keys, Tony. We’re going to go get her.”
“We?” Tony asked.
Aunt Berta rolled her eyes. “Don’t make me pick that spoon back up to beat some sense into you. Yes, we. Someone has to take Jasper out so you two can tell her how you feel properly.” Aunt Berta left the kitchen, muttering something under her breath about men being idiots.
“Let’s go get our girl.” Tony slapped him on the shoulder, and Rhys smiled.
Jess scooped out a bowlful of macaroni and cheese—the orange stuff from the box, not the amazingly gooey goodness that Aunt Berta made from scratch—and handed it to her son. Not that Jasper noticed the quality of the food as he lifted the spoon and started shoveling it in.
She scooped out another bowlful and handed it to Penny, who followed Jasper to the living room.
Penny had remained after Aunt Berta left, something Jess was grateful for. She wasn’t ready to be alone yet, and while Jasper was there, he was still quiet. No doubt her son was feeling the same heavy sadness as she.
Having Penny there to entertain him, distract him, was a gift because Jess couldn’t summon any semblance of fake happiness right now.
She’d had to call Matt Russo earlier in the afternoon to quit her cleaning job. Without someone to watch him at night, she couldn’t figure out a way to make it work. The hours were too late for her to take him along, and she refused to ask Aunt Berta to do anything more than she was doing—which in Jess’s mind, was already too much.
So she would have to ask Paulie for more shifts until she could find another job to help her cover the rent. But that problem would have to be solved tomorrow. She was completely out of steam tonight.
“Sorry this isn’t exactly a great dinner,” Jess said, joining them in the living room, attempting to make conversation with Penny. Since returning from the guys’ place, Jess had been too lost in her own head to be very good company.
Not that Penny seemed to mind. She and Jasper were sitting together on pillows on the floor—a couch was one of the first things Jess was going to have to save up for—chowing down on their bowls of mac and cheese, their heads touching as they played some game on Penny’s phone.
“You’re joking, right?” Penny said, looking up. “This is my favorite dinner. Seriously. I eat it once or twice a week myself. Easy to make—not a lot of standing—and if I can restrain myself from polishing it off in one sitting, it’s good leftover for lunch the next day.”
Jess grinned in amusement. Rhys’s sister was truly funny.
Penny’s outfit today was even more outrageous than the one she’d worn the day Jess first met her. She was in bib overalls, with a tatty orange sweater beneath. Her blonde hair was pinned up in a messy bun, and once again, she wore no makeup and the oversized glasses.
“Did you wear that to work?” Jess asked. “Or did you go home to change before picking up Jasper?”
Penny glanced down at her clothing. “Why? What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?”
“Nothing. I was just wondering…don’t you have to dress up for work?” Jess asked, attempting damage control when it appeared she’d inadvertently hurt her friend’s feelings.
“Oh.” Penny waved her hand. “No. I sit in a back room, surrounded by computers, plotting world domination and all that. No one cares what I wear. Hell, no one sees me at all. It’s like I’m invisible.”
Jess didn’t miss the hint of sadness in Penny’s voice and wondered if that was why she felt so close to Rhys’s sister. Penny seemed like a lonely, lost soul too.
“I’m sure that’s not true. You’re hard not to notice,” Jess said with a smile. “With your quirky, fun fashion style and gorgeous blonde hair.”
Penny reached up to touch her hair. “You think my hair is gorgeous?”
Jess nodded. “Sure. Do you ever wear it down?”
Penny shook her head. “Not really. I’m afraid I’m not very good at styling it.”
“I could show you some tricks sometime if you’d like.” Jess and Danielle always used to try new hair and makeup techniques. She’d missed having a girl to hang out and to do girlie things with.
“That would be awesome,” Penny said enthusiastically. “How about this weekend?”
Before Jess could reply, they were both startled by a loud knock on the door.
After two months of feeling safe and secure, Jess was forced to acknowledge it was going to take her some time to get used to being on “night guard duty” again. Until she got accustomed to the neighborhood, she was destined to spend more than a few sleepless nights, stressing out over every bump, creak, and car door slamming.
“Jess, open the door.”
Tony.
Dammit.
She’d hoped to have more time before having to face him and Rhys. She’d taken the coward’s way out, leaving a note behind, but she had waited for them. Even so, she should have expected they wouldn’t accept it well.
She walked over to open the door. Her eyes widened when she discovered not just Tony on the threshold but Rhys and Aunt Berta as well.
For the first time since discovering they had a new home, Jasper bounded up excitedly, rushing into Tony’s arms. “We got a new house,” he said. “Do you all wanna come live with us? I have my own room. I can share it.”
Tony grinned. “That’s a nice offer. Tempting too.”
Jasper wriggled, reaching out to Rhys. “You can share it too. But we don’t have any beds yet, so we’re sleeping on the floor.”
“More camping?” Rhys asked, his gaze sliding to Jess, his question reminding her of the last time she’d gone “camping” in her car.
“This time we have air mattresses,” Jess said. “And blankets. And heat.”
Rhys acknowledged her comments with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes, while Tony scowled.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
“We got your note,” Rhys said.
“Did you see my picture?” Jasper was still holding on to Rhys tightly. She understood her son well enough to know he was unwilling to let go for fear they’d leave. That thought broke her heart even more.
“It’s a great picture,” Rhys said. “The perfect family portrait. We’re going to buy a frame for it and hang it on the wall properly.”
“Go on back to your room, Jasper,” Aunt Berta said. “And grab your bag. The two of us are having a sleepover at my apartment.”
Jasper released Rhys in an instant, excited by the prospect of returning to the home they’d just left. “We are?!”
“No—” Jess started.
“Yes, we are,” Aunt Berta said, her hands on her hips, the pose one Jess was all too familiar with. It was Aunt Berta’s I’m-getting-my-way stance.
Penny had risen at the arrival of her brother and Tony, but she’d been quiet thus far. She exchanged a look with her brother, a strange smile blooming before she said, “Come on, Jasper. I’ll help you get your stuff.”
“Wait,” Jess said, but neither Penny nor Jasper stopped, so she turned back to Aunt Berta. “What’s going on?”
Aunt Berta stepped next to her, placing a gentle hand on Jess’s forearm. “The boys have something to say to you. I hope you’ll hear them out. Either way, Jasper is staying with me the rest of the night and I’ll get him to school tomorrow.”
“But—”
Jasper raced back down the hall far too quickly, his bookbag slung over his shoulders, his pillow in his hands. Penny carried two of the duffel bags they’d lugged in from her car just an hour earlier, too tired to unpack.
“All ready,” Penny announced. “I’ll walk out with you, Aunt Berta.”
“But—” Jess tried, only to be interrupted yet again.
“I’ll call you this weekend, Jess,” Penny said. “Get all the juicy details from you then.”
“Juicy details?” she murmured, confused.
Rhys shouldered his sister affectionately. “You realize I’m going to be a part of those juicy details.”
Penny shuddered. “Okay. Half of the details then.”
Jess stood there dumbfounded, wondering where she’d missed a step or twenty.
Penny, Aunt Berta, and Jasper were all gone within seconds, leaving Jess alone in her new apartment with a scowling Tony and an amused Rhys.
“What the hell just happened?” she asked.
“Why did you move out?” Tony countered, ignoring her question and asking his own.
“Hasn’t that been the plan all along? Your cousin, Bruno, called this morning and offered me this place. I can afford it, and it’s in a great neighborhood. Jasper doesn’t even have to change schools.” Jess was rambling, over-justifying, when what she should have done was apologize for leaving without saying goodbye.
It was just…whenever Tony hit her with that tone, her back went up and the next thing she knew, she was talking back, rising to the challenge he presented. Probably not one of her better traits but something she didn’t see changing in the future.
“Let me rephrase my question,” Tony said, his arms crossed. “Why did you move out without telling us?”
She opened her mouth, searching for some response that wouldn’t reveal too much, but she couldn’t come up with anything. “I liked the first question better.”
