The Unlucky Ones, page 12
The drive home was quiet. Amelia also seemed aware we’d crossed another line. And this one was final.
Walking up the stairs to our apartment, a figure sitting at our front door stopped me short. My eyes widened on the person, making sure she was real.
“Skylar?”
“Oh girl, it looks like I came just in time.” She stood, opening her arms. She was tall and lean, though curvier than in high school, her long strawberry-blonde hair woven in an intricate braid over one shoulder. She wore paint-covered jeans and a white V-neck T-shirt under a long bright yellow cardigan.
I rushed the last few steps, crashing into her. No matter how long since we had talked or seen each other, we picked up as if we had seen each other hours earlier. She was the remedy to my heartache.
“I’ve missed you so much, Dev.” She squeezed me to her.
“You have no idea how much I’ve missed you.” I pulled back, trying to take in the reality of her presence.
“Aunty Sky!” Mia wiggled on Amelia’s hip, her arms stretched out for Skylar. Mia was two when Skylar left, but she came to visit us enough Mia never forgot her. I think Mia had a “girl crush” on Skylar, looking at her as if she were a rock star.
“Mia-bean!” Skylar reached out taking Mia from my sister. Mia wrapped herself around Skylar like an octopus, both of them squealing with joy.
“Hey, Amelia.” Skylar smiled cordially at my sister, who gave her a quick hug around Mia. They liked each other okay, but Skylar had seen too much of Amelia’s selfish nature to really be close to her. She had been there too many times when Amelia had run off to do her own thing, Skylar taking on the role of the sister I needed.
“What are you doing here?” My head waggled in disbelief. “Don’t get me wrong, I am so happy, but you said you couldn’t get away.”
“Christophe told me to get my ass to Albuquerque and see my friend. And while I’m here to check out this artist who wants to show in his boutique.” She lifted her eyebrow. “A little business and pleasure.”
I didn’t care. I was happy she was here.
“Come in!” I grabbed her bag, her arms still full of Mia, and walked into our tiny place.
“It’s just for the weekend, and I’ll try not to be in your way.”
“No! Stay forever.” Mia hugged her again before Sky deposited her on the floor, rubbing her head.
“I wish, Bean, but I love my job and where I live.”
“And if I remember correctly, your boss too,” I muttered with a wink.
Pink washed into Skylar’s cheeks, and a smile exploded over her face. This was the face of a woman besotted. She had told me enough to Google him. He was the opposite of everything Skylar claimed she wanted. He was ten years older, nicely built but average, and the same height as her, a trait she had once declared made a man “undateable.” Most of all, he was totally the sensitive artist, nothing alpha about him in his looks or personality.
“Oh, I’m going to have to get details of this.” Amelia went straight for the cupboard, pulling out wineglasses and one of the bottles Lincoln gave each employee as a thank you when profits were good.
“Oh yes, please.” Skylar nodded in approval. “And I want to know about the Albuquerque men. Dev has been exceptionally tight lipped. What about you, Mel?”
Amelia grinned mischievously. “There’s one I’m working on.”
I knew it was coming; her feelings for him weren’t secret to him or the bar staff. I still felt punched in the gut when she talked about him like that. After the exchange in Lincoln’s office, he had backed completely off Mel. Even though her efforts had doubled, coming in the bar every chance she got and flirting almost painfully with him, he barely registered she was there. One part of me hated that something I said might have prevented my sister’s happiness, but most of me was relieved.
“He is so sexy and the things I want to do…” Amelia stopped, realizing her daughter was still in the room. “Mia, it’s time for bed.”
“Noooo! I want to stay with Aunty Sky.”
“Sorry, kiddo.” I steered her shoulders toward the hall. I knew it was about to get really X-rated in here soon.
Skylar dropped down to Mia’s level, grabbing her hands.
“How about I put you to bed?”
“And read me a story?” Mia jumped up and down.
“A short one, Bean.” I brushed her hair back.
Mia went twirling and leaping down the hall, tugging Skylar with her.
“You asked for it.” I laughed.
“I usually do.” She hitched up her eyebrows in double meaning, then went skipping down the hall with my niece.
Skylar and I spent the next two days catching up, relishing every moment we had together. While I worked in the evening, she handled the business aspect of her trip.
She was a painter, but her main job was all the advertising and business for the small gallery she worked for. She enjoyed doing both, and it was the perfect fit for her complex personality. She was one of those people who flourished when challenged.
It was good to see her so happy with Christophe, herself, and work. It made me envious. If I weren’t so damn tired all the time, I would strive to be fulfilled like that too. Happy.
I’d kept her up to date on Mom’s condition through emails and texts, but she still wanted to hear it from me, letting me cry and vent, as she always did, being the shoulder I needed.
“So…Mel talked me into going to the bar with her tonight. She said for my last night, but really, we both know it’s about her.” Skylar rolled her eyes. “Who is this Lincoln she keeps talking about?”
“He’s my boss.” My eyes drifted out the window, my body shifting on the sofa.
Skylar tucked her legs underneath, her forehead furrowing. She slanted her head, reading me as only Skylar could. “Uh-oh. Do you like him too?”
“What? No.” My head shook vehemently. “Not at all.”
Skylar stayed quiet.
“What? He’s way older…”
Skylar curved her eyebrow in an Uh, hello. Look who I’m dating expression.
“He’s not at all my type. And a total jerk. Probably spends most of his days trying to see how he can fire me.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Skylar, stop looking at me like that. I don’t like him,” I exclaimed. “He and Amelia are much more suited. He’s totally her type.
“And yet months later, nothing has happened.” Sky propped her elbow on the back of the sofa, leaning against her hand. “You know the movie He’s Just Not That Into You? Your sister should be taking notes. Sounds to me this crush is completely one-sided.”
“So?”
“Dev, you do this thing… You are a strong, capable, take-charge woman, but you become a doormat when you think you might hurt someone’s feelings or be in the way. You don’t merely step back…you hide. I know your mother is a huge part of your life, but you’ve become comfortable with it being your only life.” She touched my hand gently. “You can never say no, especially to Amelia. Choose yourself for once. If you want him, go after him. Who cares what Amelia is going to say? He doesn’t like her, and she will get over it. I promise you. Also, it would be good for her, for once, to be the one to let you shine.”
“I don’t need to shine,” I scoffed, feeling her words hit home. “I don’t like my boss. And he certainly doesn’t like me either.”
“You might be right, but that’s not the point. I’m ready to see you stand up for yourself for once, especially with Amelia.”
Easier said than done. My sister felt like a force I didn’t have enough energy to fight.
“No matter what, I’m coming in tonight and checking out this infamous Lincoln Kessler.” She shot off the sofa, grabbing her empty glass. “And to really annoy the waitresses there.” She winked, heading to the sink.
It wasn’t the first time Skylar and I had a talk like this, but for some reason this time her speech sat heavy on my chest, ringing a bell until I picked it up and acknowledged the truth.
Chapter Fourteen
Nat waved me over the moment I walked in, her head poking around the corner down to the office.
“What’s going on, Nat?”
“James is here again,” she relayed and leaned farther into the passage. “I tried to eavesdrop, but shit, Lincoln must have soundproofed the room. I couldn’t even hear mumbling.” Irritation at the hindrance filled her voice.
“You little snoop.” I prodded her playfully.
“In my world, information is survival. When you’re useful, you live a lot longer.”
Wow. Okay. Our worlds were perhaps more than slightly different.
“How long have they been in there?”
“James came in about ten minutes ago. He was…” She pushed her long-sleeved, black sweater up her arms. “I’ve seen that look too many times, when I was with Carlos. They all have the same expression…when someone is trying to pretend they aren’t petrified out of their mind.” She peered over at me. “Something has definitely happened. James has gotten himself in trouble.”
“And he’s trying to drag Lincoln into it,” I added. She nodded at my words.
“James is weak. Whatever he’s gotten himself into, he wants someone to get him out.”
And who better than a sibling? I knew this routine. How many times had I helped Amelia when she had gotten into something sticky? I couldn’t begin to count.
The front door opened and our regular, Rick, came in, sending Nat back to the bar. I stayed put, staring at the office hoping my eyes could burn down the barricade.
Imagining what was going on behind the closed door, I jumped when it swung open. James’s expression was pinched with anger, his face coated in sweat. Lincoln’s impassive one right behind, stalking after him.
“Fuck you, brother.” James hit the main room, flipping around. “Jesus, you’ve turned out exactly like him. He’d be so proud.”
Every muscle strained along Lincoln’s jaw, neck, and arms. “I am nothing like him.” His voice was low, chilling my skin.
“Really?” James laughed maliciously. “Turning your back on family. Sounds like him.”
“I have never turned my back on you, but there comes a time when you have to save yourself, James.” He stressed his brother’s name.
“Good time to give me a life lesson, Lincoln.” James sauntered up to his brother until his chest touched Lincoln’s. “Last time, I promise.”
“You say that every time. I told you, I’m out for good.”
“One call.” James angled his head, almost in a taunting way. “That’s all it will take. Poof. All gone.”
It was subtle, but Lincoln’s jaw shifted back and forth.
“That’s what I thought.” James patted his brother. “See you tonight.”
James swiveled to us, blowing Nat and me kisses before he left, banging out the front entrance.
Lincoln took a beat before rounding to us.
“We have a group coming in tonight celebrating a twenty-first birthday. I want everyone’s ID and their hand stamped,” he stressed, his fists still locked at his sides. “It’s just you two, so I’ll be out here helping.” With that, he turned back to his office, leaving me gaping after him.
James was a tornado every time he came here, spiraling through, causing chaos, and vanishing, leaving destruction in his wake.
He made my sister look like a gentle spring breeze in comparison.
The birthday party ended up being only ten people, who were actually low-key for twenty-one-year-olds. Still, between them and the regular Sunday crowd, Lincoln was out helping Nat to make drinks for my tables.
At nine thirty the door swung open and my sister sauntered in, her attention fixed on the man behind the bar. This time I really noticed the slight frown pulling his mouth when he saw her, as though he knew he couldn’t escape to the back, especially when she tried to hug him.
“Wow. That was awkward.” Skylar came up beside me, flinging her arm over my shoulder. “I was definitely right. Even from here, I can tell he is really not into her.”
I tried to fight the smile wanting to curl on my mouth. It shouldn’t make me happy.
“I need to get closer, but damn he looks sexy. Before Christophe, he would have really been my type.” She tipped her head into mine. “So…who do I have to sleep with to get a drink around here?”
I snorted. “Well, since you’ve been sharing my room for the last three nights…” I nudged her with my hip. We so easily fell back into our adolescence, spending the night, gossiping all about the boys we liked, until one of the moms would yell at us to be quiet. “And you are being forced to spend an evening with Amelia. It’s more than fair I get you a couple of them.”
“ Only fair.”
I guided her to Nat’s end of the bar.
“Nat? This is my best friend, Skylar. Anything she wants is on me. She’s on babysitting duties tonight.” I jiggled my head toward my sister.
“Oh, hell. Drinks are on the house.” Nat winked, a knowing smile on her mouth. Nat liked my sister, but she could see right through her. Nat had even admitted she found it annoying how much Amelia came in to pursue Lincoln. “It’s nice to meet you, Skylar. Any friend of Devon’s, I know I will like.” She waved to an empty seat at the bar. “Margarita with a side tequila shot for you?”
“Oh, I love you already.” Skylar smiled back at her.
Nat went to work on her drink, while Skylar stepped toward the empty chair and came to a jarring stop, her regard on the other end of the bar.
“What’s wrong?” I followed her gaze, confused at her reaction, which was locked on Lincoln. “Skylar?”
She jerked back to me, shaking her head. “Sorry, I just thought… I’m seeing things.”
“What?”
“I’m not sure… He reminds me of someone, I guess.” She tipped her chin at Lincoln, my stomach seizing with an odd sensation.
“Who?”
“I don’t know, I can’t place it, but there’s something familiar about him.” She rubbed her head and chuckled. “Clearly I need a drink.” She laughed it off, plopping down on the stool. I made sure Skylar was good, then headed back to my tables, but every time I gazed back on my friend, she was staring at Lincoln as if he were a song she couldn’t quite remember the lyrics to.
I knew the feeling. It was the same one I had every time I was around Lincoln Kessler. That Skylar also found him familiar twisted my guts in knots and again pushed up all those warnings I had shoved down earlier.
Now I couldn’t stop feeling I had unwillingly stepped into quicksand.
Around eleven thirty, Lincoln disappeared.
“He’s gone,” Nat said when she noticed me craning down the hallway toward his office.
“Gone?”
“He left.” She shrugged, giving me a pointed look. Unless Lincoln took the day off, which was rare, he never left before we did.
James said something about tonight. Did Lincoln leave to go meet his brother? Unease built in my bones at the growing mystery of Lincoln.
It wasn’t long after that Amelia and Skylar went home. Amelia’s reason for coming here had slipped out into the night. Skylar tried not to laugh as Amelia made excuses as to why Lincoln had left without saying anything to her.
“See you at home.” Skylar hugged me, wobbling a little on her feet. “Leaving early tomorrow, so I’m going straight to sleep. Damn, Nat makes good drinks.”
“You guys have a ride home?”
“Lyft is already waiting outside for us.” She blew me a kiss and trailed after my sister into the chilly evening.
Nat and I closed the saloon soon after, then cleaned and shut down the bar.
“Dev, can you take these to the office, leave them on the desk for Lincoln?” She handed me the till reports before returning to stocking the empty fridge.
“Sure.” I walked to Lincoln’s office and clicked on the light. I placed the receipts on his desk, looking around. Nothing had changed. Same plain room, void of any personality. The bareness stirred unease I couldn’t rid myself of. Skylar’s reaction to him kept goading something in the back of my brain.
Peering back down the hall, I saw the kitchen staff and Nat were nowhere in sight. Quietly, I shut the door, closing me in his space alone. The room might be empty of decoration, but I could feel him everywhere, saturating the room.
I couldn’t let go of the idea Lincoln hid something. Something I was not ready to voice aloud.
It’s not him, Dev. That guy is in jail.
I crept to his desk, looking around once more before I pulled open the top drawer, my heart picking up speed.
Pens, paper, and other office stuff rolled around in a nearly empty drawer. Nothing important. I shifted to the side cabinet, finding a half-full whiskey bottle, painkillers, and an extra shirt.
I hummed in frustration. I didn’t even know what I was looking for, but the lack of something personal or tangible made me more suspicious.
Being the daughter of a cop, figuring out mysteries or finding clues to what made people tick was in my blood. My dad also bought me all the Nancy Drew books from a garage sale, and I fell in love with putting hints together and discovering who did it before the story revealed itself to me.
Tiptoeing over to his filing cabinets, I only found bar reports, food and alcohol orders, and other business paperwork.
A voice boomed from outside the hall, freezing me in place, catching air in my throat.
Just one of the guys from the kitchen.
Shaking my head, I took another glance around the room. A few bartending books sat on a shelf, but nothing else revealed anything of interest.
