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I pulled through the parking space so that my car faced outward. Since my Saturn was on borrowed time, I’d learned it was easier if nobody was parked in front of me in case I needed a jump. Refusing to glance at the clock because I was cutting it close, I grabbed my purse, tote, and lunch bag.
Mal will have opened the salon. Like my car, his shiny, white Lexus was parked at the edge of the strip mall’s lot.
We were the only Talk of the Town Salon employees who booked clients on Monday. Sometimes, Danni, the massage therapist, might be in. Her schedule was much more fluid than mine.
I opened my car door, not bothering to lock it behind me. My car was so junky that nobody would bother stealing it. I set out at a brisk pace, listing the apologies I would need to give. I didn’t bother scanning the lot for my client’s van. Beth had it together. She came in the first Monday of every month for her trim and was never late. I kept my head down because I couldn’t find my sunglasses, and the sun was bright on this hot summer day.
Of course, I ran into someone.
“Oof.” Bouncing off, I noticed two things. One, the person was skinny. I had used my right hand to push off their chest and felt bone instead of muscle. Two, they needed to up their deodorant usage and take a shower.
“Why you runnin’?” Andy, my brother, asked.
I noted that he didn’t attempt to steady me as I regained my balance. “I don’t have time. I’m late, Andy.” I did nothing to hide my frustration with this interruption.
“You aren’t picking up when I call.”
“I’ve been busy.” Busy avoiding him, among other things.
“I need money, sis,” he whined.
Not a surprise, not by a long shot. “Get clean and get a job. Become a productive person.”
“I know that ma would want you to look out for me.” He blocked me as I tried to step to my right to get around him.
“You’re twenty-seven. I shouldn’t have to take care of you.”
He looked bad. There were dark circles under his eyes and several open sores on my face. “You turned her against me,” he accused.
“I didn’t. You did that on your own,” I reminded him. “Besides, her life insurance barely covered everything. There was no inheritance for either of us.” I didn’t add that his two prior trips to rehab had cleaned out our mother’s savings, and she’d mortgaged her house.
“You owe me. We’re family,” he whined again as his gaze turned cold. He reached for my purse.
“No!” I screamed, bending my arm, and pulling it to the opposite shoulder.
Andy might be scrawny, but he was strong. He pulled on the purse and dragged me to the asphalt.
“Hey! Get away from her,” a male’s voice sounded.
The strap gave, and Andy took off.
I tried to climb to
my knees, but my right wrist hurt.
“I called the police,” Beth knelt beside me. “Did he break your arm?”
“Give me a sec,” I told her breathy. “I’ll do your cut for free.”
“Jules, you just got mugged. I don’t care about my hair.” She stood over me, blocking the hot sun. “Here comes Mal.”
“He dropped your purse.” Mal laid my bag beside me. “Was that Andy?”
“Yeah,” I sighed.
“Not good, Jules. He’s getting desperate.”
“Sorry,” was the only thing I could think to say. I was apologetic for running late, causing Mal to play protector and give chase on this already hot morning, and having a loser brother who wouldn’t leave me alone.
“Hon, the only sorry thing is Andy. You’ve nothing to apologize for.”
I glanced up at my co-worker.
He was well over six feet tall, with dreads that fell to the middle of his back. His warm brown skin now had a slight sheen from his exertions.
“Thanks for saving me.”
He shook his head slowly. “Girl, that was just a little cardio. Don’t worry about it.”
“Sounds like you’ve had a busy week.” Jed refilled my glass of sweet tea.
Mal had invited me to dinner, and since I knew that my cabinets had only two boxes of cereal and an off-brand can of soup, I had jumped at the offer. Besides, his boyfriend was an excellent cook.
“Not by choice,” I murmured. “I changed my work schedule to have time to work on the house, but I spent my extra day off at the courthouse.”
“Did you get the restraining order?” Mal asked.
“Yeah. Chase walked me through the process. Hunter had sent prior reports to be added to the filing.”
“Hunter was pissed when he showed up on Monday,” Mal told Jed.
Our co-worker was married to a deputy.
“I’m sure he doesn’t like that there was a mugging outside of where Danni works.” Jed slid the platter of assorted cheese cubes toward me. “Since Chase is married to the salon owner and is an attorney, he should help you.”
“I don’t think Andy would go after anybody else,” I said.
“Jules.” Jed frowned at me. “Your brother shouldn’t be going after you. Hunter and everybody else want you to be safe.”
I selected a few cubes. “That’s why you wanted my schedule, so you could meet me at my car and walk me in and out?” I glanced at Mal, narrowing my eyes. Now, things made sense.
“I saw you pull in; I was telling your client that it would be only a moment. Everything happened right in front of me. I couldn’t believe he just knocked you down and left you.” Mal ended with a slight growl.
“You took off like an Olympic sprinter,” I teased my friend. “He was like a superhero.”
Jed patted Mal’s knee and then left his hand there. “I would expect no less from my man. That doesn’t change the fact that you shouldn’t have to live like this.”
I almost had a cube of cheese in my mouth, but I reversed and placed it back on the tiny plate. “I’m okay.”
“Jules…” Mal’s tone was disappointed. “I know you have a lot going on.”
That was an understatement. It felt like I’d been struggling to keep my head above water forever. I could no longer remember what it was like not to be pulled in multiple directions. “If I can start the work on the house, things will settle down.”
Both men stared at me.
We all knew that was a lie.
“Which job did you decide to start?” Jed asked.
“I know the neighbors probably wish that I’d start by painting the exterior, but I’m starting with the living room. It needs the least amount done.” I hoped that was true. I depended on YouTube videos and what Ken at the hardware store advised.
“I would sleep better if I knew you had an alarm system,” Jed said, giving me a steady glare.
I attempted a reassuring smile. “That’s on the list.” I’d had an off-brand doorbell camera for about five months before it had quit working.
“We want to run something by you,” Mal began slowly.
I sat taller. I wouldn’t accept their charity. My friends from work had already spent two days filling a dumpster with old furniture and trash so that I could move into what had been my grandma’s house. “Guys…”
“Just hear me out,” Jed cut me off. “I’m going to ask that you don’t answer right away. It’s a lot to consider.” He glanced at Mal as if he needed help.
“After Monday, I, er…we thought this was a helpful solution on many fronts,” Mal said.
“Oooh-kay.” I sat back on their comfy sofa.
“I know this is a huge ask,” Jed began.
“Maybe you should give her some background,” Mal suggested.
Jed gave his partner a slight nod. “I grew up on the west side of Indy. I have a brother, Lee.” He shook his head slightly. “He wants to be called Liam now.”
“He looks like a Liam,” Mal added.
“He’s twenty-five. He was a surprise baby. I was starting college when he was getting potty-trained.”
“I’m sure he loves that you share that tidbit,” I teased.
Jed’s handsome face looked haunted. “I wonder if things would’ve turned out differently if I’d stuck around.”
“You can’t blame yourself,” Mal told him. “It’s a sad story all the way around.”
I sipped my tea while watching my friends. They seemed hesitant and down.
“Liam worked on a construction crew the summer before college. They had a softball team. I guess they would drink beer and play ball.”
“It sounds sweaty and dusty to me,” Mal said, wrinkling his nose and trying to lighten the mood.
“There was a fight. It went too far. One of the guys died from a head injury.”
“Oh, no,” I cried. I’d been to my share of softball games. There was always a high level of testosterone and alcohol.
“The guy running for prosecutor used the case as a part of his campaign. He vowed that everyone involved would be held accountable.” Jed let out a loud breath. “It still feels like a dream. I was in Phoenix while this was happening. My mom gave me bits and pieces.”
“Your mom,”
Mal frowned, “she’s a little scattered.”
“For whatever reason, I don’t know if it was using a stupid attorney or they were scared, but my parents talked Liam into a plea deal.”
“He wasn’t the one who swung the bat,” Mal said, glancing at me. “I want to make that clear. He threw a few punches and got hit because he had a black eye. ...
