Big Man's Contract

Ugh. I just want to scream right now.

Abe chuckles to himself. “I can think of a few things.”

“He’s so different. He went from being such a kind kid to a brute.”

Abe looks curiously at me. “What do you mean?”

I tell him about the time when I went out in my front yard to fetch the newspaper and dropped it in a mud puddle. I panicked because I knew my mom would be furious. She liked to read the newspaper every morning. One interruption to her morning routine and her whole day was shot. And guess who took the brunt of her bad mood? Madden had seen the worry on my face and the sodden paper in my hands. He brought his paper over and traded me. He always did things like that. It wasn’t the first or last time by any means.

Abe says, “Madden is still kind. He volunteers for Meals on Wheels, taking food to elderly and disabled people. He’s always the first person to offer a hand to those in need, and he would give his friends the shirt off his back if they asked for it. But at some point, it’s possible he grew all that muscle to protect himself. Like scar tissue over a wound. You and your friends weren’t exactly kind to him and that didn’t stop just because you left. He endured the harassment and humiliation far longer than he should have and he didn’t deserve it. Not even a little bit.”

His words leave me speechless. I know he’s right but I hate admitting it. If I could go back in time, I would change it all.

“I know we weren’t nice to him. It got out of hand. Things got worse after Haley found out I liked Madden. She became obsessed with the idea of me and Madden hooking up.”

“Why would she care about you and Madden hooking up?”

“I don’t know. I thought it was strange too.”

“Haley has always been about drama. Who knows what goes through that sadistic mind of hers?” He goes to the mini fridge and pulls out an ice cream bar, hands me one and sits down. “Why did your mom take you away from here?” he asks. “I heard my parents talking about it after you left. Everyone in the town was a little shocked when your parents split. They seemed pretty happy.”

“I don’t know. I’ve asked my mom about it over the years but she never gave me a straight answer. They never fought and always seemed like they were happy together. My mom even seemed devastated when we left. The strangest part to me was when my dad would come to visit us in California, and they got along so well. Nothing like a couple who couldn’t make a marriage work.”

Abe shrugs. “Small town mysteries make for good gossip.”

“Yeah, I guess they do.”

“For the longest time I thought it had to do with Haley,” Abe says.

“What? Haley? What would Haley have to do with my parents split?” My head goes to the worst possible conclusions, but I know none of those could be true.

“I heard your mom and dad arguing one night about Haley. I was out on the roof sneaking a cigarette. They were on their back patio. It was right before the thing happened with you and Madden. I think your mom knew Haley was pregnant.”

I stare at him, confused.

“You look shocked,” he says.

“Of course I’m shocked. Why would my mom not tell me then that Haley was pregnant?”

He shrugs. “I assumed you knew.”

“It’s all news to me. I had no idea. In fact, I was surprised as hell to find out Haley had an eight-year-old daughter.”

“Now you just shocked the hell out of me too.”

“I should go,” I say. “I need to get back to the bar. Madden still isn’t helping so I’m on my own. I have a lot of work to do.

On the drive back to the bar I can’t help but wonder if the town drama is bigger than what happened with me ambushing Madden in the car years ago.

8

Lina

I get to the bar, surprised to see Madden is already here. I’m also surprised by the thrill it gives me. By the way he’d sped away from Abe’s garage, I thought he was furious.

He’s in the parking lot filling in the big crack that caused the damage to my car. He’s not wearing a shirt. His lean, muscular arms flex as he works. Sweat beads along his tan skin. And that ass in those jeans … damn. Seeing him like this reminds me of the insane night we had at the bar, and I’m turned on all over again. I compose myself for a moment before I get out of my car and walk over to him, careful not to appear as flustered as I feel.