Give Me Something (23 page)

“
You went to Belletti?” he asked without hesitation.

“
Yeah, I was trying to help you by paying him off.  Why'd you lie to me?”

“
Why'd you want to pay him off for me?”

“
Answer my question first,” I fired back.  “Why'd you lie? What did you do with the money?  

“
I can't tell you, but you have to trust me.”

“
Are you fucking kidding me?!” I couldn't believe him.  He couldn't possibly think I was just going to let him say nothing.   “After all this shit, you're just not going to tell me what you did with the money?”

“
Just drop it,”

“
Are you on drugs?”

“
No, I'm not on drugs!” he rolled his eyes, quickly shrugging off my accusation.  “Just believe me when I say the money went to a good place.” 

“
I'm sure.”  I shook my head, feeling resentment for him build.  He never needed the money.  He just wanted it. “Fine then! Don't tell me!  I'll just assume that you're a selfish prick.  It's really sad that you're making this all about Tucker and your need for revenge.” 

“
Go ahead and assume.” He scowled, flicking the chain of my necklace.  I didn't feel the need to hide it from Nick anymore.  Of course he would notice a piece of jewelry as soon as I walked through the door.  “Isn't it all about him with you, anyway?”

“
I guess it is,” I snapped and quickly drew my hand up to my neck to cover the necklace with my hand.  “I would have never helped you if I knew that it was just some stupid plot to get what you think you deserved from your father.  You were wrong, you know.  About him being your brother.  Your mom lied.”

He shook his head in disbelief.  “You have no idea what you're talking about.”

“Tucker's dad told him all about it.  Your mom made it up.”  Nick slowly sat down on the edge of the bed.  I could see him questioning everything he thought he knew.

I walked over and sat down next to him.  I carefully reached out, placing my hand on his back.  “I'm sorry, Nick.”

“Don't.” He quickly shrugged my hand off and stood up.  “So, you just believed everything he told you?  Did you tell him everything about us?”

“
He already knew everything about us, Nick,” I defended.  “Well, almost everything.  He didn't know that you were using me to get money from him.”  I didn't even bother getting into the story about Tucker's original plan of trying to steal me away from Nick.  Why add fuel to an already roaring fire?  I'd made my decision and nothing Nick was telling me was making me think that it was the wrong one.

“
I wasn't using you,” he said as his tone softened.  “We were in it together.  I'd never use you.”

“
Really?  That's sure in the hell what it felt like.  Did you ever even want to be with me?”

“
I...” He started to speak, but I could tell by his face that the answer was no.

“
Don't even bother,” I argued and turned my back to him. 

“
It's not that I didn't want to be with you,” I heard him step toward me. He reached out, placing his hands on my shoulders.  “I was trying to do you a favor.”

I turned to face him.  “A favor?”

“I'm no good for you, Rae.  I knew before I even asked you to do this job that it would be the last.  You're meant for more than I could ever give you.  All I'd do is bring you down.”

“
That wasn't your decision to make, Nick.”  I put my hands on his, moving them from my shoulders.  “I decide who I want to be with.”  With his hands still in mine, I led him over to the bed and sat down.  “You were right though.  I'm done playing games.  I'm done using people.”

“
I'm sorry.  I should have told you the truth from the beginning.”  He appeared to be sincere in his words, but I couldn't trust him as far as I could throw him at this point.  “Maybe it's in my DNA to be liar.”

“
Don't be so hard on your mom, Nick.  I'm sure she was just doing what she thought was right.”  I offered sympathetically, still feeling the need to comfort him.  Even thought I didn't trust him, I still loved him, if only as a friend.

“
I'm not talking about my mom.  James is my dad.”  I couldn't believe he was still on this.

“
Tucker said – ”

“
I know what he told you, but he's wrong.  I had a test done.  He's my brother.”

I ran my hands over my face before running my hands back through my hair.  “You're sure?”

“Ninety-nine percent sure.”

“
What did you do, swab his mouth while he was sleeping?”

“
I had to know for sure,” he shrugged, confirming my suspicions.

“
So you stole his DNA? That's insane and probably illegal.”  How in the hell did I get involved in this crazy-ass scenario?

“
Because he wouldn't have just given it to me,” he sarcastically replied, crossing his arms over his chest.  I knew Tucker never would have agreed to the test.  He believed his father and he would have never given Nick the satisfaction.

“
This is so fucked up.”  I buried my face in my hands.

“
You have to know, Rae,” he said as he pulled my hands away from my face.  “I never meant to hurt you, and no matter what you think about me right now, I need you to know that you're still my best friend.”  His apology was real. I could see it in his eyes.  “Even if you want to be with that asshole.”  Just when I thought we were making strides, Nick had to get one last jab in.

“
I don't know what to think right now, Nick.” I shook my head, still trying to process it all.  “I need some time.”

“
I get it,” he said with a sad smile.  “I really am sorry, but someday you'll see I did this all for the right reasons.” he added before walking out the door.

$ $ $

I struggled through my English Literature class.  Thankfully, Thanksgiving break was only a few days away.  I already knew I'd spend the entire break trying to clean up the mess between Tucker and Nick.  I was at Tucker's house to tell him the truth about Nick actually being his brother, knowing that I was about to knock his dad off the pedestal he kept him on.  I was just about to walk through the door of Tucker's bedroom when the heated conversation taking place on the other side stopped me from knocking.  Nick had already beaten me to the punch.

“
You're full of shit,” I heard Tucker declare.  I peered through the crack of the door and saw him face to face with Nick.

“
You think I want to be related to you?” Nick stepped forward.

“
No, I think you're just trying to get something for nothing,” Tucker replied, taking a step back and a deep breath.  I could tell he wanted nothing more than to punch Nick in the face.  I was happy to see him exhibit a little bit of self-control.

“
You know what?  Maybe I did, but I can tell you right now that I don't want a goddamn thing from you!” Nick fired back.

“
Well that's fucking perfect, because you're not getting a dime.  I don't care what you say.”

“
Perfect,” Nick agreed in a mocking tone.  “You're pretty good at taking things from me and leaving me with nothing.”

“
Don't go there, Nick,” Tucker warned. “Do not bring her into this.  You lost her all on your own.”

“
You don't even know her.”  Nick stood firm.

“
I know her better than you ever did.”

“
Oh, you think so,” Nick stepped forward again. “I'm pretty sure I
knew
her first,” he hissed. 

Tucker stepped forward, butting his chest up against Nick's.  “Keep talking, Pauly D.  Shit's gonna get real bad, real quick.”  Tucker's clenched fists and Nick's narrowed eyes told me that it was time to stop this before it did get really bad.

“Enough!” I pushed the door open, dropped my bag on the ground and demanded their attention.  I was done being in the middle of this.  We were going to find a way to co-exist if it killed me.  They took a step away from each other and faced me.  Before either of them had a chance to speak, I started talking. “You're both out of your minds if you think I'm just going to let you two beat the shit out of each other.”

“
I'd be the one doing the beating,” Tucker smirked.  I shot him a glare that only had one meaning, which he understood so he shut his mouth.

“
We're all to blame for this fucked up mess.  We all lied.  We all did things we are not proud of.” I looked back and forth between the both of them, equally placing the blame.  “This is what's going to happen:  you two are going to get over this One Tree Hill bullshit and figure out a way to get along.  Whether you want to be related or not, the fact is you're brothers.”

Nick started shaking his head. “Whatever.”

“I'm serious, Nick.  The two of you need to work this out
and
leave me out of it.” I looked at Tucker. “We're together now, but he is still my friend.”  Tucker reluctantly nodded.  I turned my attention back to Nick and added. “I haven't forgiven you for everything yet, but you're still a part of my life.  I need you to respect my decision to be with Tucker.  I don't need you trying to stir up shit between us.  Please.”

“
Fine,” Nick agreed with less enthusiasm than Tucker had.

“
I think it's a good idea for you two to think about different living arrangements,” I offered as I looked around the small double bedroom, knowing it would only be a matter of time before everything was destroyed in a brawl.

“
That's a great idea,” Nick stated, grabbing a bag and shoving some clothes in it.  “I'm outta here.”  I watched him walk past Tucker, without so much as a glance, but as he neared me his eyes softened a little, as if to let me know he really was going to try to work things out with Tucker.  When the door closed behind him, I turned on my heels back to face Tucker.

He stepped forward with a grin, wrapping his arms around me. “Glad he's gone.  He's such a – ”

“Don't,” I demanded, resting my head on his shoulder emotionally exhausted from everything that had happened today.  He didn't say another word. He just held me in his arms.  The logical side of my brain argued to just let things be.  Maybe Nick and Tucker were never going to get along.  But then the stupid part of me that wanted to take care of everyone started plotting out a mission to salvage some sort of relationship between the two of them.

Chapter 18

The two days before Thanksgiving break passed without incidents.  Aside from a few text messages from Nick, apologizing for all the lies he'd told me, I hadn't seen or heard from him.  Tucker had been a little reluctant to except my decision to still be friends with Nick, arguing that he was not worth it, but hoped if Tucker saw that I could forgive Nick and see the good in him, he'd do the same.

Tucker had invited me back to Harrington for the long weekend.  I was excited about spending the holiday with him.  It had been a long time since I'd celebrated any holiday with anyone other than Nick.  Tucker had already planned a little party to celebrate.  Craig and Kelly were going to come over after dinner with Craig's parents, and Tucker promised me turkey.  As much as the city girl in me wanted to object, I kind of missed the peacefulness of the country.  Not wanting the trip to be too quiet, I'd convinced Tucker to let me invite Brynn.  I knew she didn't want to go back to her parents, and I couldn't bear the thought of her being alone.

“
Brynn?” I called out as I walked into her apartment.  “Brynn?”  I looked around her empty living room and into the kitchen.  I knew she was here the door was unlocked.

“
Just a second,” I heard her call out from behind her bedroom door.  I could hear her shuffling around before she quickly slipped out the door, her hair in a tangled mess and her face flushed.  “What are you doing here?” she asked with wide eyes, obviously not expecting visitors.

“
You okay?” I inquired with a questioning gaze, taking in her appearance.  She had a sex-drunk look about her.  “Omigod, you have someone over!” I started to back towards the door.

“
Yeah,” she laughed uncomfortably.

  “
I'm so sorry.” I reached behind me and grabbed the door knob.  “I just came over to ask if you wanted to come to Tucker's for Thanksgiving.  I should have just called.”  During my apology/invitation, I looked down on the table that sat next to the front door.  In a small blue bowl, I noticed a very familiar set of keys.  I reached down and picked up the small crescent moon key chain.  That answered the question about where Nick had been staying.  Without looking at her I slipped my dorm key off the ring and put it in my pocket.  “You and Nick should both come.  I'll text you the directions.” I forced a smile, shutting the door behind me. While standing on the other side of the apartment door, it dawned on me.  Brynn was Nick's investment.  I should have seen the signs – her sudden wealth, the new apartment, the scam she ran on the guy at the mall.  Nick had taken it upon himself to find a replacement for me, only this one, unlike me, appeared to be getting a little something extra from him.  As I wondered how long they had been doing, whatever it is they were doing together, I waited for the emotional break down to hit.  I expected to feel angry that I'd just found out my best friend, for all intents and purposes, was having sex with the same guy I'd recently told her I loved.  I thought I'd feel betrayed and sad and whatever else comes along with the situation I'd just walk into.  It never came.  The truth is I was relieved that at least Nick had someone.  And Brynn, well, was a bitch, but I already knew that.  It wasn't like I ever expected anything else of her.  I knew exactly what kind of person she was the minute we started hanging out.  All this time, while she'd been telling me Nick was no good and that I should move on, she'd been sleeping with him.  She didn't ask her parents for help.  Why would she?  I'm guessing Nick promised her a life of easy money telling her all she had to do was what she did best – flaunt and flirt and cash in.  Brynn and Nick just reconfirmed my epically awesome decision to be with Tucker.