Something Just Like This Read online

Why am I forced to answer this question? I swear, the older you are the more people need to know why you’re not married. Just because I’m thirty-eight and haven’t walked down the aisle doesn’t mean I’m cursed or something. Some people choose not to marry.

  “Let’s drop it.” I don’t want to go into any details.

  Hunter raises his hands up in surrender. “Fine. But if I found someone that I liked to spend time with, I’d want to claim her.”

  “First of all, don’t put air quotes around spend time with. Second, you don’t claim a woman. A woman is not your property.”

  “Settle down. That’s not what I mean, and you know it.” He finishes off his donut and takes another one. “What do you think of these Christmas donuts?”

  “Not much.” I shrug. “They’re the same as the regular ones except with green and red frosting that will stain my fingers.”

  Hunter licks his fingers. “I love frosting.”

  “Weren’t you the same one who commented about how much I eat?”

  “Hey, I can give it but I can’t take it.”

  My mom puts her knife down and searches through a few papers. Her fingers are tangled in her hair as she flips papers back and forth and rummages through her checkbook.

  “What’s wrong, Mom?” She shakes her head at me as if she’s forgotten how to talk. “Mom? What is it?”

  “Something’s not right here. I’m missing like two hundred dollars. I’ve accounted for every single check and transaction. All my receipts are in order right here.” She bunches a stack of receipts in her fist.

  “Are you sure you didn’t write something incorrectly?” Hunter reaches for her checkbook, and, without hesitation, I slap his hand away.

  “Ow! What the hell was that for?” He shakes his hand.

  “You stay away from her checkbook.”

  “I’m only trying to help her. I’m pretty good at math, you know? She could have added or subtracted wrong which would have thrown off her total.”

  “I don’t think I did either of those. I used a calculator.”

  My mom keeps rifling through the papers as though the answer will jump out at her. I keep my eyes on Hunter, who is biting his lip, and his eye is twitching. No. Could it be? “Is that an Apple watch you’re wearing?” I point to his wrist.

  “Yeah. So?” He touches his hand to the band and covers the watch.

  “How can you afford that without a job? I’m sure they didn’t hand out expensive watches in prison.”

  “Are you suggesting I’m the reason mom’s checkbook is not balancing?”

  “You can understand why the thought may cross my mind.” I address the elephant in the room. My mom honestly must be thinking the same thing. With his history, it’s not a far-fetched assumption.

  “Juliette, you apologize to your brother.”

  “No. I have nothing to apologize for. If he can prove he’s not involved in this, fine, but I’m not giving him the benefit of the doubt.”

  “Hunter has been through classes. He’s rehabilitated. This wasn’t him. I made an error somewhere.”

  “There you go making an excuse. You said yourself you didn’t make a mistake.”

  “I didn’t do it, Juliette. This has nothing to do with me.” He stands from the table. “I’m insulted you even suggested it.”

  “I’m sorry if I find it hard to believe you but for the past two years, she hasn’t had any issues with her account. You’re here a few weeks, and it’s all out of whack again. It seems a little suspicious to me. A bit too coincidental.”

  “I’m not putting up with this. I’m working on getting a job. No.” He backs up against the counter. “No. I don’t need to explain myself.”

  “How did you afford the watch?”

  “Juliette…” My mom’s voice is shaking, but there’s no mistaking the sternness behind it.

  “No. I want him to tell me how he bought the watch.”

  “Hunter, you don’t have to say anything.” My mom goes over to him and touches his arm, and he pulls away.

  He stares at me from across the room, and he’s never looked like a stranger more than he does right now. When he approaches the table and takes another donut, I flinch, thinking for a moment he may throw it at me. I suppose I deserve it though I still won’t change my stance. He takes a big bite, takes his time chewing, and when he’s done, he says to my mom, though keeps his gaze on me, “Let me know when she’s gone. I don’t want to be around her right now.”

  Once Hunter leaves the room, my mom sucks in air as the tears escape. “Why can’t you two just get along? It’s not Hunter. I’m sure of it. He’s had no access to any of my checks or accounts or anything. There’s no way he’s guilty of anything. The bank must have made an error, or I don’t know, it’s possible I did. I’m human, Juliette. And even if he did steal from me again, that’s none of your concern.”

  She closes up the box of donuts and hands them to me. “And for the record, I bought him the watch.”

  * * *

  Crash! I open the drawer underneath the one I just slammed shut. “Ugh! Where is it?” I slam that drawer shut, too, and scream out in pain.

  “Juliette! Are you okay?” Carly flies into my office.

  I shake my hand. “Yeah. I slammed my finger in the drawer.” It’s throbbing, red, and matches the embarrassment I feel toward what happened at my mom’s house.

  “You should be more careful.”

  “Thank you. I’ll remember that.” I’m not in the mood for her antics today.

  “What’s going on? Is everything okay with Landon? I thought you took off work today.”

  “I decided to come in. Things are great between us.” They’re incredible, and I can’t wait to see him again. He even bought me a gift, a sweet charm bracelet to remind me of the times at the racetrack with my dad. I picked a winner with him.

  Too bad he picked a loser like me.

  “Then what is it? Something with a client?”

  “How did you know you could trust Eddie again?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “After he lied to you those few times he did drugs. How did you learn to trust him again? Whenever he’s out with his friends, how do you know he is not off getting high?” When they first began dating, Eddie wasn’t exactly trustworthy. They broke up once or twice, but he declared himself a changed man, and their relationship seemed to blossom. I wanted to believe he’d changed for her, but to this day I sometimes have my doubts. My parents and my brother taught me that.

  Carly sits down and folds her hands in her lap. “I love him, and I know he loves me. He wouldn’t lie to me.”

  “But he lied to you before. So what makes you think he won’t do it again?” This has to have crossed her mind before. I’m sure every once in a while doubts float into her mind, and she wonders if she’s made the right choice.

  “Do you think Eddie and I shouldn’t get married?” Her voice falls flat, and she sinks into the chair.

  “No, no. Nothing like that. This has nothing to do with Eddie. Can you answer the question?” I’m going somewhere with this if she’ll follow through and provide an answer.

  “Well, he did an outpatient rehab, and he sees a therapist to this day. We’re closer than ever. And mostly, I want to trust him. Could he be lying to me? I suppose the possibility exists. But I don’t think he is.” She sits up straight and puts her hands on my desk. “Tell me what’s going on. This is weird. And for me to say it’s weird, well, then it’s weird.”

  “My mom’s checking account went off-balance. I assumed—and accused—my brother of being the reason behind it. My mom tried to convince me he has nothing to do with it, but his past doesn’t exactly comfort me.” I bury my head in my hands. “I’m a horrible person.”

  “Do you think he has something to do with it?”

  I want to trust him. I want to believe he’s changed, and he’s not capable of doing this to my mother again. Our mother. “I don’t know what to think. I didn’t even
give him the benefit of the doubt. Aren’t people supposed to be innocent until proven guilty? I did the exact opposite.” I pound my head on the desk. “What’s wrong with me?” I lift my head, my hair covering my face. I blow it out of the way.

  “You’ve been burned. Hunter hurt your mother, and therefore, hurt you. I know you, Juliette. You want a family, the closeness, but when your parents divorced, you felt it was all taken from you. The trust vanished.”

  Poof. Disappeared. She’s right. I can’t trust him, even if I want to.

  “Do you think he’s innocent?”

  That’s the million dollar question. “I want to think he is.”

  “Then believe he is. Deep down, do you think he stole from your mom again, or is your fear masking the truth?”

  I search my soul, digging deep for what the truth may be. Do I think he’s guilty? I don’t think I do. I don’t want to give him a free pass though. I don’t give free passes.

  But I have to start trusting him, even a little, until he gives a reason not to.

  “How do I fix this?”

  “Grovel at his feet. I don’t think he’ll accept anything less. He is Hunter Walsh after all.”

  I don’t grovel, but sometimes you have to swallow your pride.

  27

  Landon

  A new year should mean a fresh start, and when the new year arrives, it will mean the exact opposite for my sister. For her, it will mean the start of a horrible few months of chemo and radiation, a time when Abby won’t understand what’s going on with her mom and how to make her feel better. A time when Courtney may not even recognize herself by the end.

  I need the stability while she goes through this. I put a plan into motion with Juliette to save money for my nieces, but I need to return to work if I’m going to maintain my lifestyle and put money aside for them. Stepping back into my previous role as a contractor at Security Haven is a start.

  The doors that once welcomed me daily now overwhelm me as I open them to step through. I don’t know if my hands are shaking from the cold or because I’m nervous.

  “Landon! Right on time!” Jeff meets me at the front door. “I’m glad you came to work for us again. I think this will be great.”

  I wish I could say the same. While I decided to come back, the decision hasn’t been an easy one. It comes down to stability and sanity. There are only so many days I can frequent Starbucks before they hand over an apron and tell me to get to work. As much as I enjoy my coffee, a barista isn’t on my short list of jobs.

  “Do you still have my office set up?” I haven’t been gone even two months. I can’t imagine my office is already empty and revamped for someone new. Not to mention when I did work here, I loved my office. Fifth floor, overlooking the park, an awesome view of the changing colors in fall and the newly fallen snow in winter. It’s perfection.

  “Actually, Todd Waiters took that office.”

  Todd. My replacement. I only met him a handful of times, and as much as I want to hate him, I can’t. The truth is he’s a stand-up guy. Married, three kids, supports local businesses. But he took my job. Took it. I can be upset about that, right?

  If Todd has my old office, where will my new office be? Don’t tell me Jeff will shove me in a corner or downgrade me into a bunker like George Costanza when he worked at Play Now, and they tried to push him out. No. Jeff wouldn’t do that.

  “We put you in an office with someone else.”

  “With?”

  “Yes, with. As in you’ll be sharing an office.”

  I guess sharing with someone is better than being shoved in a basement. Though that’s usually reserved for newbies. Wait, I guess even though I’d been at the company for over a decade, I’m no longer an official employee. I’m the low one on the totem pole.

  “Who is my office-mate?” Is that what this person is called? An office-mate? Like a roommate?

  “His name is Michael Hughes. He worked for Denny Security Systems for about three years before he came over here. He’s real good at his job . I think you’ll like him.”

  Three years? Michael “Stole My Job” Hughes had been with the company for three years, and they kept him on and not me. I don’t doubt I have more experience than this guy. By the time we arrive at the elevator, I’m already second guessing my decision. I’m sharing an office, I have more experience than my co-worker, and I have to start from the bottom up. I don’t like this at all.

  Jeff chats about little stuff on the short ride to the third floor. I didn’t frequent this floor too often, and I’m only somewhat familiar with the layout. Jeff guides me through a hallway and into an office with no windows.

  No windows. It’s dark, dingy, and might as well be the basement. The basement has a vending machine tucked away by the stairs. Maybe that would be a better option. A young kid sits behind the desk against the wall. He’s easily under twenty-five years old. Real young. Real young with his hipster glasses and button up plaid shirt and slacks that are too tight.

  “You must be Landon. Michael Hughes. It’s great to meet you. Real great.” He stands from the desk and leans over to shake my hand.

  His grip is weak, cold, and I could almost rip his hand off with mine. He seems eager for information, hungry in a way I was when I first started in the industry. I’m sure he’s a suck-up if I’ve ever seen one. Though I was probably the same way, too.

  “Nice to meet you, too.” Is it, though? I go through the motions, eager to get through this first official day back. I want to be with Juliette, sipping wine and making love like we did on Christmas. I don’t want to be sitting in a dim office with this Michael kid.

  Is it even only Michael? Do I want to be here at all? I spin slowly in a circle, surveying the room. From the plain metal desks to the desktop computers and the motivational posters hung on the wall, this doesn’t feel right. Is this a fit for me? Will I be happy here? I think about my sister and my nieces. I want to do this for them. I should suck it up.

  Courtney is in my head rattling on about how life is short, and we should seize every opportunity to be happy. If anyone knows about not taking life for granted, it’s her. I want to be happy, and I don’t think I can do that here.

  “Michael, I’m sure you’re very talented and will bring awesome things to this company.” I turn to Jeff who stands there with his arms crossed. “Jeff, thank you for the opportunity, but I can’t do this.”

  “Excuse me?” Jeff looks at me dumbfounded, and Michael has no idea what to say, his mouth dropped open.

  “Sorry.” I back out of the room as though a bomb will explode if I step wrong. “Sorry.” Before I can hear anyone’s response, I bolt for the door, racing to my car. Life’s too short to spend it where you don’t want to be. I can do this on my own.

  Just watch.

  28

  Juliette

  Groveling. Not my proudest moment, and something I’m not looking forward to at all. Carly set me straight, though, and Landon agrees. He’s off to his new job, and I’m taking an extended lunch to meet Hunter at Cardinal Cafe. Landon loves that place, and he suggested it for a quiet location for me and Hunter to talk.

  When I texted Hunter asking if he’d meet me, he didn’t reply for a few hours. I thought I lost my chance to apologize. Even though he’s agreed to meet me, I suppose it’s possible he may not forgive me, and I’ll have lost him forever.

  I finally realize I don’t want that. I want my brother in my life. And my mom. And maybe even my dad.

  Landon said to sit at table seven, his favorite, and Marnie will more than likely be our waitress. Every time he comes here, she’s his server, except for the few times she’s been off. I do as Landon recommends, and Marnie is, in fact, our waitress.

  I arrive first, which puts me a little on edge. There is a small possibility he won’t even show up. If that doesn’t send a message, I don’t know what will. If he stands me up, I’ll never forgive him. Yet, it will all be my fault. Crazy how that works out.

  A
t five after twelve Hunter steps through the door. He looks around the room for me so I raise my hand to grab his attention. He offers a nod and joins me.

  “Sorry. I know I’m a few minutes late. I had a job interview this morning.” He pulls his jacket off and rests it on the back of the chair before he sits. Dressed in nice slacks and a button-down shirt, this is a side of Hunter I haven’t seen, and one I never expected.

  People can surprise you.

  “A job interview? Where?”

  “W & F Machining. A welding position. Not my ideal job, but the pay is well above minimum wage, benefits are good, and they’re willing to look past my record.”

  I can’t decide if he emphasized “they’re” or not. I don’t think he did, but considering the circumstances, it seems likely. That’s fair. Avoiding an argument, I don’t ask about it, moving our conversation forward.

  “That’s wonderful. When do you hear back?”

  “In a few days, I hope. I think it went well. Who knows? Maybe I’ll get the job, enjoy it, and stick with it. A new career, I guess.”

  He didn’t have much of a career before. Hunter always worked odd jobs, whether he mowed lawns, helped people move, or painted houses. He found work. When that wasn’t enough to make ends meet, I guess that’s when he began stealing from Mom.

  “Have you thought about going back to school?”

  Marnie comes to the table before he can answer and takes our order. Even though I can eat a big lunch, I forget how big of an appetite Hunter has until he orders an appetizer, main course, and his dessert all at once. When we were in our twenties, we went to a restaurant featured on Man V Food Nation and he downed a burger the size of Texas and still had room for ice cream after.

  “I’ve taken a few courses,” Hunter tells me as soon as Marnie leaves the table. “While I was locked up, I started. I’m not sure if I’ll finish. I don’t think it’s for me.”

  “How can school not be for you?”

  “Because it’s not. School never came easy for me like it did for you. I squeaked by in high school. My 2.0 average isn’t exactly appealing to most colleges.”