Choices (New Beginnings #1) (6 page)

"Oh, yes you do. Chris is my brother. Some days he's the only person that actually acts like family. Your judgments have no place in this apartment. If you don't approve of him then you don't approve of me, and you can feel free to leave." Michaela glared at her father with an anger she’d never felt towards him before. Her whole life, it had been her mother making her angry. This was different.

Her father glared at her one more time before leaving and slamming the door behind him. Michaela felt deflated, as if all the wind had been knocked out of her in an instant and she could no longer hold herself up. She gripped the table as her legs wobbled beneath her. She barely noticed when Jason grabbed her arm and guided her to the couch. She pulled her knees in and leaned against him as she started to cry. He held her and didn't say a word.

"The juggernaut that is the Rangers have a lot of questions," the announcer said in the background. "This may be the year we see them miss the playoffs entirely. The salary cap has changed the game, and the great team of the past ten years has been ripped apart."

All Michaela could think when she heard that was,
at least my dad won't be taking me to any games this year.

Six

"Chris, I'm so sorry." Michaela put her arm around her brother, who sat on the couch with his head in his hands. He hadn't spoken since she finished telling him about their father's visit. His shoulders shuddered, and he finally lifted his face to look at her. He wasn't crying, but the look in his eyes was worse.

"At least now I understand," he said.

"Understand what?" she asked.

"Why he stopped being my father. I disgust him." Chris blew out a long breath and leaned back.

"No, you don't. You--"

"Michaela, stop," Chris interrupted. "Don't say things just to make me feel better. It. Won't. Work. You saw his face when he talked about me. In his eyes, I'm not his son anymore, am I?"

"Of course you are. It's just--"

"Stop!" He pushed her arm from his shoulders and jumped to his feet. Before she knew it, he was across the apartment and out the door. She didn't go after him. Since he was a teenager, Chris had held on to the hope that when he finally did come out to his parents, they’d accept him. Michaela knew that all he wanted to hear was that they still loved him. There was nothing she could say to help him, it was all up to them.

Michaela and Chris hadn't relied on their parents for affection in their lives. They knew they wouldn't get it. To her mother, children were something to be controlled, not coddled. Her father had always taken the indifferent approach. It would be easier for both siblings if they could just cut themselves loose and be a family, just the two of them. Maybe it was the curse that all children bear. The desire, the need, to please their parents even if they never received any love in response.

Michaela wasn't surprised that her father had been so heartless. If she had to choose between her parents and her brother, Chris would win every time.

Michaela woke the next morning to the sounds of someone trying to break in. She grabbed a knife from the kitchen, but then put it down when she heard a voice on the other side of the door.

"Dammit," Chris slurred and then Michaela heard the sound of his keys hitting the floor. She ran to the door and unlatched it.

"Oh Chris," she said as soon as she saw him fumbling to pick up his keys and trying not to fall over. She reached down and swiped the keys before wedging her shoulder up underneath his arm. "Come on." She heaved and he started moving. Halfway to his room, Chris stumbled, sending Michaela slamming into the kitchen island counter as they passed it. She let out a sharp cry as pain throbbed from the impact and then righted herself.

Michaela got her brother into bed and then brought him a glass of water.

"I have to get to work," she said, covering him with a blanket.

"Work," he grumbled.

"I'll take care of it," she promised. Chris nodded once and then closed his eyes. With one more look at her brother, Michaela left the room and immediately started dialing her phone.

"Hello," Katie answered.

"Hey, Katie, it's Michaela," she said, swinging her bag over her shoulder and grabbing her keys.

"Yeah, I know. Caller ID."

"Right, sorry. I'm not thinking clearly this morning." Michaela locked the door behind her and headed towards the office. "Look, I need a favor."

"What's up?" Katie asked.

"I need you to tell Mr. Howarth that Chris called out sick earlier this morning."

"Sure thing, is he okay?"

"He will be," Michaela sighed. "I know he has a few meetings today, but I'll reschedule those when I get in. I'm on my way now."

"Okay, see you in a few," Katie said. Michaela hung up and then called Jason.

"What?" he mumbled, still half asleep when he picked up.

"Jason, hey," Michaela said.

"Hey." He was a little more awake that time.

"Wake up," Michaela said impatiently.

"I'm awake," he said a little louder.

"Good, I need you to do something for me."

"Yeah?"

"In a few hours, can you go check on Chris? I just left him practically passed out, but I had to get to work."

"I'll be there. Can I go back to sleep now?" He hung up, and Michaela smiled for the first time that morning. Jason was not a morning person.  

###

"Hey, man," Jason said, closing the door behind him.

"Go away, Jason," Chris responded.

"No. Your sister told me to check on you, and that's what I'm going to do."

"Look." Chris lifted his head of the couch and grimaced. "I'm fine. You saw me. Now you can leave and tell my sister I don't need a babysitter."

Jason moved around the couch and stared down at his friend until he sat up, making room. Sitting beside him, he sighed and closed his eyes for a second before speaking.

"I won't say that I know what you're going through ..."

"Good."

"... but I do know what it's like to feel like your parents have abandoned you."

"I doubt that," Chris said. "Look at you. You're like the all-American perfect son that parents dream about."

Jason sighed and pushed down the little bit of anger he felt coming on. “Chris, how long have we known each other?"

"Since I moved to the city, so like two years."

"And how many times have I ever mentioned my parents? Have I ever gone to see them or have they come here? Where they live? What they do?"

"We don't talk about family stuff." Chris looked away suddenly feeling ashamed that he didn't know the answer to any of those questions.

"That's shit. I knew all about Michaela before she got here. I'd been hearing about her for years."

"I'm sorry, man. I don't know what to say."

"I'm not trying to make you feel bad," Jason said. "I'm only trying to make you see that I get it. You don't know anything about my family because I don't talk about them. My parents died when I was nine. Car accident. Maggie and her parents were my only living relatives, but they couldn't afford another mouth to feed. By the time I was eighteen, I’d been in twelve different foster homes before I was finally kicked out. My girlfriend Briahna's family took me in as one of their own. But in a few short years, that was gone as well. The alone thing sucks, I know. But, the difference is, you aren't alone and I'm not anymore either."

Chris stared at Jason long and hard before sucking in a sharp breath and letting a soft chuckle rumble through his chest. "Alright, let's stop acting like girls."

"You're right. We need to shoot things. Halo?" Jason asked, grinning. Chris nodded his head in response.

###

Work was pretty slow. After the bustle of Legal Services, the office felt like a graveyard. There were plenty of people in and out all day but they didn't talk much until they were behind the closed doors of the offices. Michaela thought it made the hallways feel desolate.

Mr. Bryan, one of the name partners, seemed to always be around. He made a point of stopping every time he passed the front desk. He’d stare straight at Michaela and smile. He wasn't bad looking: he was maybe forty, with jet black hair that was silver near his temples. The changing hair color didn't make him look old, it made him seem more dignified. His smile was nice too. No, it wasn't his looks that made Michaela uncomfortable. It was the way he’d look her up and down slowly. It was also the fact that he was her boss.

"Don't mind him," Katie said when she notice Michaela squirming. "He's harmless."

"I just feel like he wants to take me into his office and you know ..."

Katie laughed. "He probably does. But is that such a bad thing?" Something in the way her eyes shined mischievously told Michaela everything she needed to know about her new friend.

"You haven't ..." she gasped.

"You've got to find some ways to make this place more fun." Katie shrugged.

"Sounds like you have." They were both laughing when Mr. Bryan himself walked up.

"You ladies are in good moods today," he said cheerfully.

"Only for you," Katie said softly. Their boss's smile widened.

"When beautiful women like you say things like that, you're likely to give a man a heart attack." He placed his hands over his heart and then turned his attention to Michaela.

"Are you settling in all right here?" he asked.

"Yes, sir," Michaela answered.

"No need for that 'sir' business," he laughed softly. Michaela only nodded. "Well, ladies, I must be getting back to work and it's about time for you to be heading out. If you need anything at all, come to my office. Any time." He winked at her before walking away.

Michaela exhaled slowly, unsure of what just happened. Did her boss proposition her? She pulled her jacket tighter around her shoulders and shivered. She would not be going to that man's office.

"Michaela," Katie snapped her fingers in front of Michaela's face. She hadn't realized Katie had been saying her name. "What are you doing tonight?"

"I don't know," she answered.

"Want to grab a drink?"

"Only if we stay in this part of town," Michaela laughed. "I don't think I want to go to any of the bars near your place."

"Deal."

"There's a place called Jason's that I like," she said. "Meet you there around eight?"

"See you there."

Michaela didn't know what to expect when she got home. She thought Chris might still be asleep, but he wasn't. She heard shouting even before she opened the door. Chris and Jason were sitting on the living room floor with Xbox controllers in their hands. Neither of the boys took their eyes from the screen as she threw her bag on the counter and starting rummaging in the kitchen for something to eat.

"Hey, Mic!" Jason called, still not looking at her.

"Have you guys been playing that all day?" she asked, receiving no answer in response.

"Eat shit!" Chris yelled suddenly.

"Dude!" Jason's voice wasn't angry, only surprised. "How'd you find me?"

"I'm the master," Chris grinned.

"Well, master, I have to go. I have a bar to open tonight." Jason stood and stretched.

"Hey, Jason," Chris began, "thanks, man."

"Any time, bro." Jason entered the kitchen as Michaela was putting something in the microwave. "Hey," he said, standing so close that their shoulders were touching.

"How is he?" she asked, looking up at him.

"It'll take time."

"I know." Her shoulders slumped and she leaned against the counter.

"Michaela." Jason sighed as he wrapped her in a hug. She clung to him and rested her head on his shoulder. "It's all going to work out."

"What if it doesn't?"

"Then I'm here for you." He kissed the top of her head and smoothed her hair down before releasing her. "Will I see you tonight?"

She nodded. "I'm meeting at friend at the bar later."

"Until then." He backed away and gave her one last smile before leaving.  

###

Katie waved Michaela over to where she’d already taken up residence at the bar.

"You look great!" Katie said.

"You too." Michaela sat beside her. "What are you drinking tonight?" Katie already had a half empty glass in front of her.

"Vodka cranberry. Want me to get you one?"

Before Michaela could respond, a bartender appeared, whiskey sour in hand. "Thanks, Aaron," she said.

"Come here a lot?" Katie laughed.

"My friend owns the place," she said.

"That Aaron guy is the owner?"

"No, he's the assistant manager. Jason owns the bar."

"Hence the name?"

"Right." Michaela looked around, trying to see if she could spot Chris. He left before her, and she assumed he'd end up at Jason's. She couldn't stop worrying about him. The look in his eyes yesterday was forever seared into her memory. After Jason left, Chris wouldn't speak to her. 

The bar was already crowded, it being Friday night and all, and she couldn't see him. What she did see was Jason behind the bar. The muscles in his arms strained as he lifted a keg to change it. She didn't know why, but she couldn't look away. Aaron took the empty keg away as Jason started filling more drink orders. His movements were fast and smooth. He looked like he belonged there.

"Who is that?" Katie asked. "Talk about gorgeous." Katie narrowed her eyes like a predator stalking its prey. Michaela swallowed the irrational urge to punch her. Jason didn't belong to Michaela. They were just friends. Michaela was surprised she could even think of him in any other terms when she still had Ethan on her mind. It hadn't been that long ago that she thought she'd never be with any other man.

Beside her, Katie licked her lips. Jason looked up and caught the two woman staring at him. He met Michaela's eyes and smiled like she’d just made his night. They stayed locked in that gaze until a customer caught Jason's attention and he started pouring drinks again.