Imperfectly Bad (8 page)

Just thinking about everything that had happened had my blood boiling. I was pissed at her, but mostly I was upset with myself for the hold she still had on me. Red in the face, I stood and pushed past Tyler, toward my room.

“What the hell are you doing, Rob?”

“I’m calling in sick. They’ll have to reschedule my appointments.”

Tyler called after me. “Don’t be stupid, you can’t afford to keep acting like this.”

“The hell I can’t.”

He followed me into my room, watching as I hauled out a duffel bag from under my bed. His eyes grew wide as I began riffling through my things, throwing them haphazardly into the bag.

“Seriously, Rob, what are you doing? You’re acting crazy.”

I stopped what I was doing and looked up at him. “I’m going home, Tyler. I need to clear my head and get away from here… away from
her
.”

Tyler paused for a moment, obviously pondering his next move. “Well then, I guess I better go start packing because I’m coming with you.”

Despite my shitty mood, I smiled, wincing when the smile hit my still-sore eye. Seriously, my friends were the shit. It would be the first time anyone from my life in New York would meet my family, which is crazy, but it’s the truth.

It wasn’t as if I was ashamed or anything. There had just never been a reason. Even when we’d graduated NYU, I’d kept my life back home separate from them. They’d done their thing with their families, and I’d done mine. It just made more sense because they’d been in each other’s loves forever—I was just the addition.

But now…

Well now, it would be nice to have someone going back home with me. Tyler and I had been through a lot together, and I appreciated his support. More than he’d ever know.

It was an hour later and we were in the car—my car to be exact because Tyler’s was broke down. Again. It had finally shit the bed, but he just couldn’t see the reason in getting it fixed when we lived in a city with busses, trains, and taxicabs.

Turning the key, I cranked the radio up in the hope that Tyler would let us drive without talking. But luck was not on my side and he glared at me before reaching across the dash to turn it back down.

I sighed in defeat. He obviously wasn’t going to let it go.

“All right, time for you to come clean, Rob. I’ve known you for just about ten years and I know no more than I did the first day I met your crazy ass.”

I groaned and considered blasting the music again, but he was right. I owed it to him. He was being a true friend in not letting me do this alone, and it would be nice to finally air my dirty laundry.

“Okay. What do you want to know?”

“Start at the beginning.”

“Well, for one. This’ll be the hardest story I’ve ever told.”

A few hours later we were finally pulling into the driveway to my parent’s house.

“Holy shit, Rob,” Tyler said, his eyes widening. “You’ve been holding out on us.”

He wasn’t wrong. I guess house isn’t really the best way to describe my childhood home. Mansion? Yeah, mansion would be more like it.

Tyler craned his neck and narrowed his eyes, taking in the sights. “What do your parents do for a living? Are they Mexican drug lords, or something?”

“Hardly. They’re both CEOs, but at different companies.”

“Jesus. And this is where you grew up?”

I nodded. I’d had the best childhood anyone could possibly ask for. An awesome home, parents who loved me, and my very own limitless credit card once I was of age. The only black mark in my past —and I meant that literally—was Jenny.

The thought instantly soured my mood and I threw the car in park. Taking a deep breath, I didn’t move, just closed my eyes and pushed the memories away.

Tyler sat with me for a minute. He didn’t say anything but I’m sure he was curious about my behavior. I was acting slightly erratic.

“So, why are we here, Rob?” he finally asked.

“Because my family helps me clear my head. And, well, because they didn’t particularly like Jenny, so they can remind me of why I’m better off without her in my life.” I needed for my Dad to knock me down a peg or two, and he could certainly do that when it came to her…

“You did what?!”

“I love her, Dad!”

“You don’t love her, you love how she makes you feel—dangerous. She’s bad for you, Rob, can’t you see that?”

“You don’t even know her!” I yell back.

“Oh, yes I do. I know her and her family. She’s nothing but trash! We’re taking you to see our lawyers first thing in the morning. We’re going to fix this.”

I never fight with my father, but he’s so infuriating. The chair scrapes against the wooden floor as I stand from the kitchen table and flip it over in one fluid motion. My mom gasps but I don’t look in her direction, instead turning toward the door.

“You can’t stop me from living my life how I want.” And with that I salute them both with my middle finger before vanishing out the door.

Cigarette dangling from her fingertips, Jenny leans up against the side of my car. “Well, that went well,” she says casually.

“You heard?”

“Yeah.”

I wrap my arms around her waist. “I’m sorry.”

“Fuck ’em. We’ve still got some celebrating to do.”

I shook the memory for my head. Always the same memories, constantly on repeat. For years.

Tyler looked at me, still confused. “Are we going to go in, or just sit out here all day?”

“In. And Tyler, there’s something else I haven’t told you.”

“There’s more?” he asked, slightly flabbergasted. I was sure he was on information overload. Hell, I was overwhelmed and it was
my
story. My
life.

“Yeah, so, I have a sister.”

“A sister?”

“Yeah.”

My hands found its way to the back of my neck and I rubbed at the skin nervously. It was strange to think these people, my best friends, knew nothing about me. It wasn’t even their fault either because they’d tried for years to learn more about me, but I preferred for my past to stay in the past. They didn’t need to become caught up in my history.

Tyler’s eyebrow shot up into his hairline. “Is she hot?”

I glared at him. “Not cool. At all. She’s special to me, Ty.”

“Of course she is.” He held his hands up innocently. “Jesus, I’m kidding. Relax.”

“Just wanted to give you a heads up, that’s all.”

Truth was, the only people I ever trusted around my sister were my family and, at one time, Jenny. It damn near broke my heart because Alyssa had loved Jenny. In fact, I wondered if she’d been even more affected than me when Jenny disappeared.

It was now or never, and I took a deep breath before we made our way up the steps. Before I even raised my fist to knock, the door flew open.

“Robert?”

“Mom.”

“
Robert?
” Tyler whispered from behind me. I looked over my shoulder and glared at him. That wiped the smirk off his face.

“I’m so surprised to see you.” She turned her head and yelled, “Jim, Alyssa! Robert’s here!”

She directed her attention back to me before enveloping me in one of her full of love hugs. “I’m so glad to see you,” she said into my neck. “This is such a nice surprise!” She pushed back to take a look at me. “You look great. Well, besides your eye.”

I forgot about my shiner. Awesome.

“Thanks, Mom.”

She looked over at Tyler. “And this is…”

“Tyler, Mom. Mom, Tyler.”

“Oh my goodness!”

Before Tyler could speak a word she’d wrapped her arms around him, well the best she could. Since his vow of his celibacy, Tyler had spent a lot more time at the gym and had packed on another fifteen pounds of muscle. Not that I could blame him for the extra workouts—he needed to get the sexual frustration out somehow.

“It’s so nice to finally meet you. Did Shane and Emma come?”

Poor Mom. She hated the fact that she didn’t know much about my other world, but I hadn’t really seen the need to blend the two together. She knew the bare minimum about the people most important in my life in New York, but that was it.

“No, Mom. Emma’s pregnant again, remember?”

“Oh, that’s right. Well, come in, come in!”

We stepped inside and I practically heard Tyler choking on his disbelief. That was saying something, because I’d seen Tyler’s childhood home and that wasn’t necessarily something to blink at either. Tyler came from money and, growing up, he didn’t go without. But… yeah. My house was pretty impressive.

My Dad joined us and stuck his hand out. “Well, well, look what the cat dragged in. Straight from the big city.” He pulled me into one of those awkward manly handshake hugs.

“Hey, Pops.”

The sound of elephant-like footsteps let me know that not only was she coming, she was running too. The openness of the entrance hall made her high-pitched voice echo and I could hear her singing Katy Perry. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Tyler’s face bunch in confusion as he heard it too. I could tell he was trying to figure it out. Wondering how old my sister might be, what she might look like, and why I’d never thought to mention her before.

I punched him in the arm. “Play it cool.”

This was met with more confusion from him.

“Robbie! Robbie! Robbbbbbbiiiiiiieeeeeee!” she screeched loudly once she came into sight at the top of the stairs. Without watching where her feet were landing, she skipped down and raced towards me.

I braced. It wasn’t uncommon for Alyssa to knock me on my ass when giving me that first hug.

“Hey, Lys. Looking just as beautiful as ever.”

She pushed herself into my arms—well,
leaped
would have been a more accurate description. It was all I could do to keep myself upright.

“Quit kissing my ass, Rob, I’m not an idiot.” She broke our embrace and looked up at me. “I’ve got ‘Get Down Syndrome, remember?” She did her signature dance move, the one that we’d come up with to go along with the fun name we’d given her condition when we were kids.

I laughed, but my mom clicked her tongue. “Alyssa, we’ve talked about this. You can’t use that sort of language.”

“Why not? Rob taught it to me.”

She had me there. I’d done that. She was twenty-one and she deserved to have a little fun, get into a little trouble, be a little bad. That’s what big brothers were for, right?

“Robert!” Mom snapped but the smile on her face let me know she was only joking. I shrugged. She’d grown to expect my “live life to the fullest” attitude. Especially when it came to Alyssa. I was nine when she was born, and hadn’t understood all the fuss. Everyone talked had held hushed conversations about how “something was wrong” with her, but to me she was perfect. Finally, when Mom and Dad had sat me down to finally explain it all to me, I still hadn’t seen what the big deal was and I’d told them as much. As far as I was concerned, she was my sister—extra chromosome or not.

Looking back on it, I get that the diagnosis and everything that went along with it must have been hard on my parents. Alyssa would never be able to live on her own and be “normal” like other girls her age, but she still deserved to live her life. I’d helped her score her first beer last Christmas. Mom and Dad had been pissed and gave me so much shit, but just remembering her face, lit up brighter than our tree, I would do it all again. Totally worth it.

“Who’s the stud?” Alyssa asked once she stopped dancing.

“Play it cool, sis. Let them come to you.” I smiled, then waited to see how Tyler would handle it.

“So you’re Rob’s sister? I’m his roommate, Tyler.” He offered his hand for her to shake, but I knew without a doubt that she wouldn’t take it. She was gonna bear hug him in three… two…

Yep, there it was.

What could I say? My family were huggers.

They broke their embrace and Alyssa looked up at him eagerly. “I’ve always wanted to meet you guys. Rob’s so stingy with his friends.” She leans into Tyler as though she’s going to tell him a secret. “He never could share.”

We made our way to the living room where we laughed and visited for bit. Alyssa eventually convinced Tyler to go check out her vinyl record collection in her room, which was out above the garage now. She’d gone loco on Mom and Dad a few months back, demanding a little more freedom. They, of course, being the awesome parents they were, gave into her.

Once we were alone, the tension in the room built exponentially.

“So, are you going to tell us why you’re here, son?” my dad finally asked.

I shrugged. “Can’t I just show up for a visit?”

“We know you better than that,” Mom added.

“You never come just to visit,” Dad said simply, and it made me feel more than a little guilty. “So, out with it.”

“You’re not going to believe it.”

“Try us.”

“I found Jenny.”

My mom put her hand to her mouth in shock. Dad’s face turned a dark shade of red.

“Why would you go
looking
for her?” he yelled.

“I didn’t, she just fell into my lap. Well, not technically, but she works at the coffee shop that Emma goes to all the time. Can you believe that? What are the chances?”

My father shook his head. “Keep your distance, son. Jenny Jenkins is nothing but bad news.”