In My Father's Shadow (4 page)

“
I can hire a damn tutor if I want one,” Audrey
shouted. “Quit flaunting your money.”

Nate lowered his voice. “I’m not flaunting anything.
I just want what’s best for my son.”

“
And taking him on the road is what’s best?
Watching you and your friends get drunk every night?”

“
We don’t do that kind of thing and even if we
did, do you think we’d do it in front of kids? No, Audrey – we
don’t roll that way.”

“
Whatever, Nate.” Cole could hear her slamming
stuff in the sink. “You’ll regret taking him, you know. He can get
demanding and whiny. Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night
and he’s on the sofa watching television.”

“
He doesn’t sleep well?” Nate asked.

“
I don’t know,” she answered absently.

“
What do you mean you don’t know?” Nate demanded.
“Do you ever ask him what’s wrong? Why can’t he sleep?”

“
No,” she said petulantly. “I tell him to turn off
the TV and go back to bed. And he does.”

“
Why don’t you ask him if there’s a problem, huh?
Maybe he has something on his mind or maybe he’s worried about
school.”

“
And you’re so perfect,” she shot back. “You think
you can just buy him whatever he wants and now he wants to live
with you instead of his own mother!”

“
I don’t buy him everything, Audrey,” Nate said
and Cole could tell by his father’s voice that his patience was
wearing thin. “He wants to live with me because I enjoy spending
time with him. We do things together. I don’t park him in front of
the TV or the video games and run off to do whatever I
want.”

“
You think you’re so perfect.”

“
No, I don’t.” Cole could hear Nate pacing. “Look,
Audrey, I’ll give you more support, hell you can have everything I
own! Just let me have my son.”

“
Take him,” she screamed. “Just take him! But if
you’re late bringing him back, I’m taking you back to
court!”

“
Fine,” Nate said firmly. “And maybe this time
I’ll get custody.”

Cole inched away from the wall and jumped on his bed
when he heard his father’s footsteps in the hall. Nate pushed the
door open and smiled at his son. “Let’s get you packed, buddy.
You’re coming with me.”

Cole leapt off the bed and into his father’s waiting
arms. He couldn’t believe he was actually going! Three whole months
with his dad!

“You still with us, Cole?” Ally asked, dragging him
out of his memories.

“Yeah,” he said, scooting back to light another
cigarette - the ugly, hateful words of his parents still ringing in
his ears. “So, are you calling your dad or what?”

“My cell’s dead,” she frowned as she stood and turned
to face him, holding out a hand. “Give me yours.”

He dug his phone out of his pocket and handed it to
her. “His number’s on there somewhere.”

Nodding, she stepped away from them, punching her
father’s cell number into his phone. She pressed the phone to one
ear and stuck a finger in the other in order to hear her father
better.

“Is anyone else going?” Ren asked as he watched Ally
gesture and stomp her foot. He frowned and turned to Cole. “It’s
looking like Ally might not be going.”

Cole followed Ally’s movements with his eyes and
noticed her tense shoulders and wild gesticulation. He was pretty
sure Jay would allow her to leave for the weekend – he had let her
last year when they’d played at the same hotel – but it appeared as
if she was arguing or pleading with him. His heart gave a sudden
lurch – it would suck if Ally couldn’t be there.

“Uncle Jay will let her go,” Jamie said with a shrug.
“He always does – especially if it’s with us.”

“In case you haven’t noticed lately,” Cole said,
lifting a brow. “She’s a girl and we’re guys.”

“So?” RJ said. “It’s not like any of us think of her
in that way. Hell, we’ve been friends practically since birth.”

Cole opened his mouth to make a point, but he
instantly forgot what the point was. All he could focus on was RJ’s
words – how none of them thought of Ally in ‘that way.’ Was that
true? Probably for Jamie since he was her cousin and more than
likely with RJ, but what about him? Was he starting to think of her
in ‘that way?’

He shook the thoughts out of his head. He didn’t want
to think about any of that in any way at the moment. He only wanted
to concentrate on school and his band, that’s all. He’d made a
solid vow to himself at the end of summer to focus on making a go
of the band and if that meant going dateless to the bonfires or
skipping a couple dances, that was hardly a sacrifice. He didn’t
want a girlfriend to distract him from his goals, wrapping him in
all sorts of drama and mindless, trivial things. He wanted to make
his band successful from hard work and not any help from his
father. That was going to take all his concentration and spare
time. His love life could wait.

Ally strode back to the picnic table and thrust his
phone in his hands. He took it warily and tucked it into his jacket
pocket as his eyes narrowed on her. “Is there a problem,
princess?”

She unleashed the full force of her angry eyes on
him. “Do not call me that.” She plopped back on the bench and
resumed her earlier tense position, her foot bouncing a mile a
minute.

“So, you going or what?” Cole asked.

“Yeah,” she said. “But he wants me to invite Jeana.
He said I should include her more often and all that garbage. I
think he thinks she’ll make me more girly or something.”

Cole smirked. “Of course he does, princess.”

She punched his arm. “Can one of you drive me and my
brother home next weekend? My car is done and I want to see my
parents before they leave for tour,” she asked.

“I think we’re all planning on going home,” RJ
answered. “You can catch a ride with one of us.”

“Thanks,” she said, tension beginning to leave her
body.

Cole stretched, brushing his arm across the back of
her neck, causing her to shiver. “Cold, princess?” he asked.

“No,” she said, not sparing him a look. He chuckled
as he took off his jacket, pulled the cigarette pack from the
pocket, and placed the jacket on her shoulders.

“Thanks,” she mumbled as she pushed her arms through
the too long sleeves. “So, do you think I should invite Jeana?”

“I don’t see why not,” Cole said as he dropped from
the table top to the bench next to her.

Ally shrugged. “My dad asked me if I invited
her.”

“She can come,” RJ said. “I’ll ask her tomorrow.”

Ally shook her head. “I’ll ask her when I go to my
room.” She pushed back the sleeve of Cole’s jacket and checked the
time. “Which I guess I’ll get to now. It’s nearly ten.”

Cole jumped off the table. “I’ll walk you back.”

“You don’t have to,” she protested, heart hammering
in her chest.

He slung an arm over her shoulders. “I do if I want
my jacket back.”

She narrowed her eyes and tried to shake his arm off
her shoulders but he merely held tighter. “I can give you your
jacket now, Cole.”

He peered in her face curiously. “No, Al, keep it
on.” He slipped his arm off her shoulders to tug on the too-long
sleeve. “I don’t mind walking you.”

They waved at the others and took off into the dark,
the soles of their shoes thumping on the sidewalk and echoing in
the night. Crickets called out to each other, warning the other
creatures that winter was coming soon – better prepare.

They were silent for the better part of the trip
until the dorm buildings came into sight, the brick structures
rising eerily in the night.

“Al, if I make you uncomfortable, I really wish you’d
tell me,” he said, his voice low.

She wrapped her arms around her waist and shook her
head. “Not at all. It’s just me, Cole.”

Stopping, he moved in front of her, his body blocking
her progress. “Don’t lie to me. We’ve been friends for a long time
and if something’s bugging you – something I did – I want to know.”
He studied her face, bending to catch her downcast eyes. “Is this
about the stuff we talked about before?”

“No,” she denied hotly, pulling out of his grasp.
“No. I’m over all that. It’s nothing, Cole. Let’s go. It almost ten
and if you get caught out after curfew, you won’t be able to play
your gig.”

He resumed walking, slowing his stride for her.
“Whatever, Al.” He pulled his cigarettes out of his back pocket and
lit one up. He knew she hated it when he smoked and he desperately
wanted to irritate her. She walked quicker and reached the girls’
dorm before him.

She peeled off his jacket and thrust it at him.
“Thanks,” she said breathlessly. “See you tomorrow.”

He tossed his cigarette away and snagged her arm,
causing her to crash into his body. He smirked a little then
pressed his lips to her cheek. “Night, Al.”

He spun on his heel and walked away, grinning like
mad, knowing she was still standing there, stunned, her hand lifted
to her face.

Chapter Four

Monday morning, Ally dropped her tray unceremoniously
on the table in her usual spot next to Jamie, causing all three
boys to jump.

“PMSing?” RJ asked, amusement sparkling in his hazel
eyes.

She flashed a finger at him, making him laugh. “No. I
wish it was PMS.”

Cole, his fork frozen between his tray and his mouth,
raised a brow at Jamie. “It must be serious if she prefers bloating
and cramps.”

Ally sighed heavily and shook her head in pity. “You
really are too feminine, Cole, did you know?”

Jamie and RJ laughed as Cole rolled his eyes, setting
his fork aside. “Okay, so what are you all in a tizzy about
now?”

“My roommate,” she huffed. She crossed her legs and
wiggled her foot erratically.

“Who just so happens to be your cousin,” Jamie
informed her.

“Thanks for that reminder,” she said sarcastically,
shooting him a dark look. “Why can’t she be more like you?”

Jamie shrugged and winked. “I’m one of a kind,
babe.”

Ally sighed again and uncrossed her legs. She shoved
her tray aside as she slid her arms on the table. “I asked her last
night if she wanted to come this weekend and she totally blew up at
me!”

Cole finished his orange juice and set the glass on
his nearly empty tray. Tilting his head, he lifted a brow. “Why?
What did you say exactly to set her off?”

Her eyes grew round as the sun as she straightened,
totally ruffled. “I didn’t say anything to set her off,” she
claimed, her voice rising. Her cheeks colored as several heads
turned her way. She slumped forward and tossed her ponytail over
her shoulder. “She said I was totally throwing it in her face that
my dad’s in a band and can afford for me to rent a hotel room any
time I want while her dad has to actually work for a living.” She
shook her head and set her lips. “Where did that come from?”

RJ groaned and crammed a piece of toast in his mouth.
“Jeez. I hate it when she gets that way,” he said, spraying bread
crumbs. He quickly swallowed. “Does she actually think our dads had
it so easy?”

“She’s jealous, Al,” Cole said. He picked up his fork
and speared a sausage link. “You know your Uncle Ethan would let
her go in a heartbeat.”

“And it’s not like they’re in the poorhouse, either.”
Ally picked up her own fork but dropped it back to the tray. “She
always makes me feel so guilty because of what my dad does.”

Jamie nudged her with his shoulder. “Don’t let her
get to you. At least you asked.”

Cole’s cell phone rang and he answered it, mouth full
of sausage. Ally shot him a dirty look but he just winked, sending
her heart in a nosedive. “Hey, Dad, what’s up?”

“Hi, Nate,” Ally shouted.

“He said ‘hi big mouth’,” Cole repeated, a smirk
toying with his lips. He listened, mumbling answers, as the others
gathered their trays to deposit near the kitchen.

Tossing her book bag over her shoulder, Ally jogged
to catch up to him as he snapped his phone shut and shoved it in
his pocket. She touched his arm to get his attention and her heart
started acting up again when he looked down at her with a soft
smile. “Um, what’s up with Nate?”

“He wanted to know when we were playing,” Cole said,
raking his dark hair off his forehead. “I know he really wanted to
come to this gig but he has to fly to LA with your dad this weekend
and he won’t be able to make it.”

Ally took his hand, squeezed it, and ignored the
flutter in her stomach when he squeezed back. “I’m sorry,
Cole.”

He smiled again, taking her breath away. “It’s ok,
Al. He comes to see me every chance he gets. I don’t mind if he
misses one or two gigs.” She shifted her heavy book bag and he
released her hand to grab the bag from her. Her heart melted at his
chivalry. “Damn, Al! What do you have in here?”

“Just a couple extra books I need for Chem today.”
She spotted the dreaded Jennifer Mansfeld wending her way through
the crowd, working her way toward them. Snatching her bag from
Cole, she rolled her eyes. “Here comes your buddy. I’ll catch you
later.”

Ally jogged the rest of the way to her English class,
slipped through the room and slammed her bag on her desk.

“What’s the problem,” Jamie asked, alarmed. They
shared three classes and Ally was grateful English was one of
them.

“Jennifer Mansfeld is so fake and nasty,” she
grumbled as she dropped into her chair, dug through her bag, and
flipped open her textbook. She whipped through the pages fiercely,
luckily not ripping any. “Oh, she gets on my nerves.”

Jamie smirked. “She just wants Cole to take her to
the Fall Festival Dance.”

Ally groaned. “Well, tell him to take her, please! At
least then I’ll know she’s always with him and I can avoid her
better.” She shuddered as if to illustrate her point.