See Me (33 page)

“Because it’s over,” Colin answered. “There’s nothing I can do now.”

“You could register a protest.”

“No.”

“Then at the very least, you should have clocked Reese when he started doing that stupid dance after the announcement. Did you see that?”

“No.”

“The fight had to be rigged. They wanted Reese to finish his amateur career undefeated.”

“Who’s ‘they’?”

“I don’t know. The judges, the promoter, whoever. My point is, the fix was in.”

“The fix was in? You sound like a character in a gangster movie.”

“I’m just saying that no matter what you did, short of knocking him out or having him tap out, Reese was going to win that fight.”

Colin shrugged. “Reese is heading to the pros. I was a last-minute fill-in. It’s better for everyone if he finished undefeated as an amateur.”

“You’re kidding. That stuff matters?”

“Not officially. But produce a fighter from this area that gets to the UFC and it’s good for everyone.”

“You make it sound like a business, not a sport.”

“It’s the truth.”

Evan shook his head. “Fine. Be philosophical about it or whatever. Do you think you won?”

Colin took a forkful of eggs. “Yes.”

After a moment, Evan shook his head. “I still think you should have clocked him when he started doing that dance. Hell, I wanted to clock him.”

“Okay.”

Evan leaned back in his seat. “All right, then. Since you’re fine with it, I’m glad I got to watch you get your ass kicked. Especially after the fiasco last weekend.”

“Okay.”

“And there’s something else, too.”

“Yeah?”

“Maria was there tonight.”

Colin lifted his chin, instantly alert.

“She was with another girl who could have been her twin,” Evan added. “Well, not exactly like her, but close enough. You know what I mean. They were on the opposite side of the ring, way in the back. But it was her, without a doubt.”

“Okay.”

“What’s going on with the two of you, anyway?”

Colin forked a piece of sausage. “I don’t know.”

“T
hanks again for coming,” Maria said to Serena on the drive back to Wilmington. The rain blew in soft sheets, making the oncoming headlights shimmer.

“It was fun,” Serena said from the passenger seat, a soda wedged between her legs. “It was also one of the more interesting Saturday nights I’ve had in a long time. I think I actually know one of the fighters.”

“Duh,” Maria said. “You were the one who set us up.”

“I’m not talking about Colin. I’m talking about one of the other fighters – I think I’ve seen him on campus. Of course, from where we were standing, it’s not as though I could be certain. Tell me again why we didn’t try to get closer?”

“Because I didn’t want Colin to know I was there.”

“And again… why is that?”

“Because we haven’t talked since last weekend,” Maria said. “I already told you all of this.”

“I know, I know. He yelled at the waitress and the police came and you got all freaked out. Blah, blah, blah.”

“I appreciate your sympathy.”

“I’m sympathetic. I just think you’re making a mistake.”

“You didn’t say that last Sunday.”

“Well, I’ve had a chance to think about it. And on that note, thanks for keeping me in the dark about the stalker until then.”

Her voice dripped sarcasm, but Maria couldn’t really blame her. “I didn’t know for sure until then.”

“And when you did find out? Colin was right there, trying to get answers.”

“He was doing way more than that.”

“Would you rather date the kind of guy who does nothing? Who would sit there like a log? Or would you have wanted him to take charge of the situation? Hell, if I’d been there, I would probably have yelled at that dingbat waitress, too. Who can’t remember what someone looks like a few minutes after they’ve ordered a drink?”

“I saw a side of Colin that I didn’t like.”

“So what? Do you think that Mom hasn’t seen a side of Dad that she doesn’t like? Or vice versa? I’ve seen a side of you that I don’t like, but I didn’t shut you out of my life.”

“What side?”

“Does it matter?”

“Yes.”

“Fine. You always think you’re right. It bugs me.”

“No, I don’t.”

“You’re making my point.”

“And you’re beginning to irritate me.”

“Someone’s got to keep you in line and tell you when you’re wrong. And on that note, you’re wrong about Colin, too. You should call him. He’s good for you.”

“I’m not so sure of that.”

“Then why did you insist that we come watch him fight tonight?”

 

 

Why
had
she wanted to come tonight? She’d waffled, telling Serena that she’d promised Colin that she would, but Serena had merely scoffed.

“Just admit that you still like him,” she’d said.

Last weekend, it had been clear that she needed some space to think. Her whipsawing emotions – about the stalker, about Colin – had left her feeling wildly off-kilter, a feeling that only grew worse as the week wore on.

Even the atmosphere at work felt odd to her. Ken had been in and out of Barney’s office most of the week, looking distracted and worried, though he didn’t so much as mumble a single word to her. Barney was equally tense; both he and Ken weren’t in the offices at all on Thursday, and when Lynn didn’t show up for work on either Thursday or Friday, she’d expected Barney to raise hell as soon as he returned, if only because Lynn hadn’t so much as called to say she wouldn’t be coming in. However, Barney had simply added Lynn’s work to Maria’s plate without explanation or comment.

Strange.

Her parents, too, were a concern. Still grieving over Copo, her dad was depressed to the point that he’d stopped going in to the restaurant, and her mom was worried about him. Maria had dinner with them on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, Serena on Monday and Wednesday, and on the way to Colin’s fight, they’d both agreed that something needed to be done, even if they weren’t quite sure if there was anything they could do.

The fight was supposed to be a distraction, or at least that’s what she’d tried to tell herself. Serena, too. But as soon as Colin had stepped into the cage, she’d felt an almost nauseating wave of butterflies coupled with an acute sense of regret.

All of which meant… what?

 

 

With her parents grieving, the idea of begging off their usual Sunday brunch was out of the question, even if she didn’t feel as though she was in the right frame of mind to support anyone. Which was why the sight of Serena on the front porch, almost vibrating with expectant energy, caught Maria off guard. As soon as Maria pulled into the drive, Serena skipped over.

“What’s going on?”

“I know what we have to do,” Serena said. “And I have no idea why it took this long to figure it out, other than that I’m an idiot! On the plus side, you and I are going to get our lives back… I mean, I love Mom and Dad, but I can’t keep coming over here for dinner a couple of times a week and having brunch on Sunday. I already have to spend time with them at the restaurant, and I need at least a little space, you know?”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’ve thought of something to help Mom and Dad.”

Maria stepped out of the car. “How are they?”

“Not great.”

“This should be interesting.”

“Like I said, I have a plan.”

 

 

It took some coaxing, but despite their reservations, Maria’s parents weren’t the kind to say no to their kids, especially when the girls were united in their pleas.

Climbing into their dad’s SUV, they drove to the Humane Society. When they reached the parking lot of the low-slung, nondescript building, Maria couldn’t help noticing how her parents dragged their feet, reluctance written in their every step. “It’s too soon,” their mother had protested when Serena first introduced the idea.

“We’ll just see what’s available,” Serena had reassured them. “No pressure.” Now they trailed behind their daughters, moving slowly toward the doors.

“I’m not so sure this is a good idea,” Maria hissed, leaning closer to Serena. “What if they don’t have a dog here that he likes?”

“Remember how I told you that Steve volunteers here? Well, after I told him about Copo, Steve mentioned that there’s one dog that just might be perfect,” Serena whispered back. “He even agreed to meet us here.”

“Did you ever consider getting him another shih tzu? From the same breeder where they got Copo?”

“Of course I did,” Serena said. “But I didn’t want them to think we were trying to replace Copo.”

“Isn’t that exactly what we’re doing?”

“Not if it’s a different kind of dog.”

Maria wasn’t as confident in Serena’s logic as her sister obviously was, but she said nothing. Steve, looking visibly nervous, greeted them as soon as they entered. After Serena offered him a hug, she introduced him to her parents. Steve eagerly led them into the back, toward the kennels.

Dogs immediately began to bark, the sound echoing off the walls. They walked slowly past the first few kennels – there was a Lab mix, a pit bull mix, and some sort of terrier – and she noted her parents’ apathy.

Ahead of them, Serena and Steve stopped at one of the smaller kennels. “How about this one?” Serena called out. Felix and Carmen headed over to her, moving reluctantly, like they’d rather be anywhere else. Maria trailed in their wake.

“What do you think?” Serena pressed.

In the kennel, Maria saw a small black-and-brown dog with a face like a teddy bear’s, sitting on its haunches, making no noise at all. Maria had to admit that it was just about the cutest thing she’d ever seen.

“He’s a shorkie tzu,” Steve offered. “It’s a mix between a shih tzu and a Yorkshire terrier. He’s very sweet and between two and three years old.”

Steve opened the kennel; reaching in, he picked up the dog and offered it to Felix. “Would you mind carrying him outside? He’d probably love some fresh air.”

With a trace of lingering reluctance, Felix cradled the dog; Carmen leaned in curiously. Maria watched as the little dog licked her father’s fingers before yawning with a squeak.

Within minutes, Felix was in love, as was Carmen. Serena stood by watching them, holding Steve’s hand, clearly pleased with herself.

Not that Maria could blame her.

No wonder she’d been short-listed for the scholarship; Serena was sometimes absolutely brilliant.

 

 

When Maria returned to work on Monday, the tension in the office was palpable. Everyone was on edge, paralegals whispering to each other over the partitions of their cubicles, growing silent whenever any of the attorneys approached; meanwhile, Maria learned that all the partners had been closeted in the conference room since the very early morning, which could only signify that something major was brewing.

Lynn was absent for the third consecutive workday, and with no idea what she was supposed to do – Barney had neglected to leave her any instructions – Maria poked her head into Jill’s office.

Before she could get a word out, Jill began shaking her head and talking loudly enough to be heard in the hallway.