Something Worth Fighting For (9 page)

“Yeah.” Tisha stared in amazement at him as she rose from her chair. “Don’t you think you’re taking this to the extreme?”

Crossing his arms, Jonah matched her stare with one of anger. He wasn’t even close to extreme. Yet. “No, I don’t. You know I’m not really sure how you were brought up, but where I come from, you don’t stab a friend in the back.”

“Come from.” Her amazed stare morphed into one of irritation as she matched his stance. “You mean in the foster home?”

“Yes,” he gritted out, refusing to allow himself to rise to the bait. “A place where you learn real quick who your friends are and who your enemies are.”

Her rigid stance melted a bit as she tilted her head and regarded him with compassion-filled eyes. He didn’t want to see pity from her. He wanted to see the person he had fallen for. “I’m not your enemy because I agreed to do her hair.”

“The hell you’re not.” Jonah was emphatic on that subject. “How could you, Tisha? Forget about me for a second, forget about the fact you I and are seeing one another, and think about Cami. How could you do this to her? How could you befriend this woman after everything you saw with your own two eyes? Tell me that, why don’t you?”

“How about I tell you this instead? You’re an ass. No, a giant ass. I would never knowingly hurt Cami—or you, for that matter.”

“Really, you have a real funny way of showing it.”

“I can’t believe you. To think I was under the mistaken impression I was doing you a favor.”

“Favor!” His definition and her definition of a favor must be utterly different. “Think again, honey.”

“Don’t ‘honey’ me, dickhead. You’re nothing but a big child.”

He didn’t want to get into a shouting match with her. In fact, he couldn’t understand why she didn’t see his problem with what she had done. “Right, because calling me names is so mature.”

“It’s a lot more mature than what I really want to do.”

“What, take the knife out of my back and stab it into my heart?” Because that’s exactly what she’d done, although he’d never let on to her how deeply she’d hurt him. He’d trusted her with Cami, and his heart.

“As if you have one.”

“Funny, I was thinking the same thing about you.” Annoyed beyond belief now, Jonah came around the island and faced off with Tisha, who had moved from the table and stepped toward him until they were a few short feet apart. “Why would you agree to work for her? Why, Tisha?”

“I did it for you, you idiot.”

Startled by her declaration, he stared at her in confusion. “What are you talking about?”

“I wasn’t trying to defend ReShaunda. I was trying to find out what she was up to.” Tisha took a step forward and jabbed her index finger in his shoulder. “Despite what you obviously think, I’m not stupid, Jonah. I know she’s not asking me to do her hair because she’s knocked out by how nice Cami’s hair looks.”

“Oh.” His anger deflated as quickly as his shame rose and he had to resist the urge to rub his shoulder. He felt like an ass. Much as he supposed Tisha had declared him to be.

“Yeah, oh. She wants info from me. What kind, I don’t know. But I’m sure she wants something. And she’s just as big of a fool as you are for thinking I would give it to her.”

“I didn’t…”

“The hell you didn’t.” Tisha shook her head in disgust. “Really, how stupid do you think I am? If I were plotting behind your back, I wouldn’t have told you about it. I would have just done it and you would have been none the wiser. But what do I do? I sit here with you and try to tell you about what happened, just to have you blow up at me without hearing the entire story.”

“Tisha.” Jonah closed his eyes for a few seconds and silently berated himself. Good lord, when had he turned into such an untrusting fool? Taking a deep breath, he opened his eyes and focused on Tisha. No longer did she have a look of anger, instead it was one of disappointment. If he had the opportunity to pick, he would have picked anger over the one she was leveling at him, hands down. “I…”

“Save it.” She held up her hand as if to ward off his words. “I didn’t have to grow up in a foster home to understand loyalty, Jonah.”

“Fuck.” Annoyed at himself, Jonah dragged his hands through his hair, contemplating all the many ways he wanted to kick his own ass. “I’m…I don’t know what to say.” Sorry didn’t seem as if it would cover it just right.

“Good, because I don’t want to hear it. Cami has an appointment on Saturday. Drop her off in front of the shop. She’s welcome inside. You’re not.”

“Tisha,” he groaned as she pushed past him. “Don’t leave. Let’s talk about this.”

She glared over her shoulder at him. “You don’t know how to talk, Jonah. Just accuse. Falsely, I might add.”

“Look, let me explain.”

“I’m going to give you the same opportunity you gave me to explain. Goodbye, Jonah.” Without sparing him a further look, she turned on her heel and stormed out of the room.

“Fuck!” he yelled at the top of his lungs. When that didn’t appease the rage bottled up inside him, he swept his arms wide across the island, sending the plates and silverware crashing to the floor.

“What’s wrong?”

God, could this get any worse? With a heavy sigh, Jonah dropped to his knees and began to pick up the mess off the floor. “Nothing’s wrong, squirt. Did you brush your teeth?”

“Yes.” Cami stepped tentatively into the room. “Where’s Tisha?”

“She went home.”

“Already?”

“Yes.” Jonah wanted to keep this as simple and straight to the point as possible. “We had a disagreement.” He looked up at Cami and smiled. “But it’s nothing for you to worry about. Everything is going to be okay.”

“Then why is all this stuff on the floor?”

“You may not believe this, but your uncle has a tendency to be a big baby from time to time.”

“I believe it, all right.”

“Hey.” He frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means you act like you’re my age.”

“I do not.”

“Sorry, Uncle J, but you do.” She cocked her head to the side and shook it as if somehow their roles had reserved and he was the clueless child and she was the responsible adult. “Do I need to bring up the whole garage blowup? Not your finest moment.”

Snorting, Jonah rose to his feet. “Please don’t. In fact, please don’t ever mention it again.”

“No can-do, Uncle J. I’m your kid. It’s my job and pleasure to remind you when you screw up.”

“Thanks,” he said dryly as he pulled her into his arms. “What would I do without you?”

“I have no idea.”

“Me either.” Sighing, he shook his head and wondered how in the world he’d screwed up so badly. “Think flowers will do the trick?”

“Flowers, candy, jewelry and possibly money.”

“Wow.” He pulled back and looked down at a grinning Cami. “You’re assuming I messed up bad.”

“Well, she’s not here, and you’re throwing things around. I’m thinking this isn’t a Hoops and YoYo e-card kind of thing.”

“I was afraid you might say that.”

“Want me to get your wallet?”

“No, you should get in bed and let me get busy cleaning up this mess.”

“Yeah, good luck with that.” Cami rose to her tiptoes and brushed a kiss on Jonah’s cheek. “’Night.”

“’Night.” Jonah purposely left the word “good” out. From where he was standing, good had nothing to do with anything in this moment.

Chapter Nine

“Do you want to talk about it?”

Tisha glanced up from the remains of her very unappealing lunch into Nance’s sympathetic eyes. The kind way her friend was staring at her was as alluring as the food she was toying with. She wasn’t in the frame of mind for either. That was why she’d chosen to eat her lunch in the small room in the back of the shop instead of at her station, as she normally did. Everyone seemed to get the implication of her action. Everyone that is but Nance. “I’m not in the mood to talk about anything.”

“Well, here’s the problem with that.” Nance pulled out the chair across from Tisha and sat down. “I don’t care.”

“About?”

“Whether you’re in the mood to talk. I’m ready to listen. So spill.”

Tisha rolled her eyes but kept right along playing soccer with her fork and cold, hard rice. “Nothing to spill.”

“Liar.”

“Big butt.” Tisha looked up and frowned.

“Hey.” The size of her derrière was another sore point for Nance. Just another reason why it wasn’t always the brightest choice to get into a sparring matching with a best friend. They always knew the good stuff.

“If you’re going to call me names, then…”

“Whatever happened to sticks and stones?”

“They got left outside with all the other childish games.”

“Speaking of childish—”

“I don’t want to talk about childish.” Tisha laid her fork down and sat back in her chair, sullenly crossing her arms over her breasts. “I don’t want to talk about anything at all. I just want to sulk and pout and eat massive amounts of chocolate.”

“And as your friend, it’s my job to prevent that from happening.”

“Why?”

“Because when your ass won’t fit into your jeans, it will be me you’ll be dragging to the gym. So, save us both the trouble and tell me what he did.”

“He who?”

“The man whose phone calls you refuse to accept and whose flowers you keep throwing in the trash.”

“What makes you think this has anything to do with him?” The words sounded lame even to her, but they couldn’t be helped. Tisha refused to admit aloud what she could barely swallow inside. Jonah hurt her. Deeply.

“Because I’m not stupid.” Before Tisha could open her mouth to dish out a snappy comeback, Nance narrowed her gaze and pushed on. “No comments from the peanut gallery?”

“Would I ever say something like that?”

“Yes.”

Tisha couldn’t help it. She smiled. “Good point.”

“Just tell me wh—”

Good lord. Was she ever going to let up? “You’re like a dog with a bone.”

“And I’m going to take a chunk out of you if you don’t come clean.”

“There’s nothing to come clean about.” Maybe if she kept repeating the lie it would begin to ring true.

“What did he do to make you cry?”

“I. Don’t. Cry.” If nothing else, Tisha wanted to make that fact clear.

“Sure you don’t.”

The look was back. The “I feel sorry for you” look that set Tisha’s teeth on edge. “I don’t. And I didn’t.” But only because she forced it back. “He just pissed me off.”

“How?”

Sighing, Tisha shook her head and briefly closed her eyes. She knew, without a doubt, Nance wouldn’t let up until her questions were answered. Tisha could either give in and tell her or try to dodge her for the rest of her life. Since they worked together, and were best friends, Tisha didn’t think her second choice held much water. “By being a guy.”

“Normally I would say, ’nough said, but if he was just being a guy, I don’t think you’d be this upset.”

“He doesn’t trust me.” Just saying the words out loud had her heart clenching a bit.

“What do you mean?”

“Just that. He thinks I’d betray him.”

“With another man?”

“No.”

Nance raised a brow. “Another woman?”

Tisha shot Nance an aggravated look. “Don’t be silly.”

“Look, I’m confused here. You have to work with me, woman.”

“It’s stupid. He’s stupid.”

“Obviously, if he could think for a second you’d betray him.”

“Right.” Tisha nodded her head in agreement. Maybe there was something to this talking-it-out thing after all. “He completely went off the deep end because I agreed to do ReShaunda’s hair.”

“You did what?”

The shock in Nance’s voice had Tisha sitting back in surprise. “What?”

“Why would you agree to do that?”

If she had to explain this to one more person, she was going to go off. “To find out what she was up to of course.”

“Who died and made you Inspector Clouseau?”

“No one. I was trying to help. Damn. You’re acting as bad as he did.”

“Hey, I’m not accusing you of betrayal. Just stupidity.”

Irritation filled Tisha anew. “You’re about to get hit.”

“It won’t be the first time, and not the last. I get that your heart was in the right place, but I think your brain might not have been. From everything you’ve told me about him, Jonah hasn’t had the easiest life.”

“Well neither did Oprah, but she turned out all right.”

“Do you want to listen to what I have to say or not?”

“Does it matter? You’re going to yammer away no matter what I say.”

“True,” Nance admitted with a small smile. “Then I guess the real question is, are you going to listen while sitting at the table or lying on the floor with me sitting on your back?”

Tisha had to admit, her friend had a way of painting a picture. “Those are my only choices?”

“Yes.”

“Why do I put up with you?”

“Because you love me.”

“What’s that got to do with anything?” With a long-suffering sigh, Tisha gestured with her hand regally. “Continue.”

“Thank you.” Nance crossed her arms over her chest, and even though the other woman was shorter than her, attempted to look down her nose at Tisha. “As I was saying, Jonah has obviously not had things as good as you or I have, and the only person he ever truly trusted up and died on him. It’s not so farfetched to see why the boy is lacking in the trust department.”

“It’s not that I don’t get it. It’s that I don’t like it. I don’t like that he doesn’t trust me. He’s basically put me in the,” Tisha made air quotes, “other people category. And as far as he’s concerned, there’s him, Cami, and then the rest of us, who apparently are waiting around to stick it to him.”

“Stick it to him?” Interest dawned in Nance’s eyes and she smiled a wicked little smile.

“Not like that, sicko.”

“What?”

Tisha tilted her head to the side and shot Nance a disbelieving look. “You know what.”

“You said it.”

“Can we please stay on topic? Jonah is an untrusting butthead, and I don’t plan on seeing him anymore.”

“Because he messed up once?”

“As you know, ‘fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me’ is my motto.”

“Yes, and we both know how far that’s gotten you.”

Nance’s comment caused Tisha to frown. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means there are two people in this relationship and both have some personal growing to do.”

“Personal growing? Please. I am grown.”

“You might be of age, but you’re as emotionally mature as Cami.”

“The hell you say.”

“Tisha, I love you, you know I do, but the only reason you and I are still friends is because I refuse to allow you to push me away.”

“That’s not true.” Tisha felt her cheeks warm under the accusation.

“Yes it is.” Nance punctuated her words with a sad little smile. “Your one-strike-you’re-out policy needs to be rewritten in the worst way.”

“When did this turn from Jonah to me?”

“The second you thought it was all about him.”

“It is. I did nothing wrong.”

“You’re right. You didn’t. But if you let him get away, then it’s you who’s the numb nut and not him.”

“All this name calling is getting old.”

“As is this pouting.” Nance stood and walked over to Tisha. “I know you care for him and Cami. And I must say, family life looks good on you. These last few weeks you’ve been happier than I’ve ever seen you. Don’t blow it by letting him get away.”

“But he’s the one…”

“I know. Go to him. Yell at him. Threaten to cut his balls off. Do whatever it is you feel you need to do to make him understand how badly he hurt you then forgive him and move forward. That man is crazy about you and I know you’re crazy for him. Don’t let him get away to prove how strong you are.”

With that parting remark, Nance left the room, leaving Tisha to marinate in the carnage of her now, not-so-high high horse.

Things were a lot simpler before she’d opened her door and allowed Cami to come in. Simpler but definitely not as enriching or enjoyable. Damn it to hell and back. She hated it when Nance was right, and the worst part was knowing her friend would never let her hear the end of it.

* * * * *

Jonah was done pussyfooting around. Enough was enough already. He’d fucked up the good thing he and Tisha had going for them. No one knew that better than he did, but there was no way he could make it up to her if she didn’t let him.

That was the main problem though. He’d been waiting around for her to let him make it better. Stupid move on his part because she hadn’t budged from her stance that he was an untrusting asshole.

Not that he could completely blame her. What he had accused her of was low, especially seen now in the rearview mirror of hindsight. Tisha was unlike any other woman he’d ever met before, and she deserved to be treated better than the way he had treated her. He knew it, but he couldn’t make it up to her if she didn’t return his calls.

Tonight though, he was taking the option of avoiding him out of the equation. Enough was enough already. Jonah was tired of waiting. They were going to talk tonight, whether she wanted to or not. And he was camped out on her doorstep to ensure it happened.

If Tisha wanted him out of her life, then she was going to have to tell him so. To his face. He was an adult and he could take rejection as well as the next person. He was going to say his part first then if she still wanted him gone, he would honor her request. Begrudgingly.

Just as the night air took on a strong breeze, Jonah spotted a car coming down the street. He tensed, as he did every time he spotted a vehicle, then let out a deep breath of resignation when he recognized the familiar automobile.

She was home. It was time to pay the piper.

Jonah waited until her car pulled into the driveway before slowly rising to his feet. He wanted to make sure she saw him before she exited the vehicle so she couldn’t accuse him of sneaking up on her. From where he stood on the porch, he could clearly see her expression through her driver’s side window, and it wasn’t one of extreme delight.

Oh well. If that’s how she felt, he was going to have to suck it up and deal with it, but first he was going to apologize. And apologize right.

Hesitantly, Tisha opened her door and stepped out, her purse slung over her shoulder. Showing no fear, as usual, she calmly went up the walkway and stopped just inches away from him.

“Hey.” Jonah shoved his hands in his pockets in order to keep from reaching out and pulling her to him as he truly wanted to. God, he missed her. It seemed as if it had been a lifetime since he’d last seen her and not merely days.

“Hey.” Tisha’s voice wasn’t all that welcoming, but she hadn’t ordered him off her property either. It was a start. “What are you doing over here?”

“Came to see you.”

“Oh.” She played with her keys, a gesture that could have either belied nerves or irritation. “How long have you been sitting out here?”

“What time is it?”

Tisha pulled her cell phone out of her pocket and glanced down at it. “Nine thirty.”

“Oh, not long then,” Jonah lied.

“How long is not long?”

He was afraid she would ask that. “Two hours and fifteen minutes.”

Her eyes widened a bit but thankfully she didn’t comment on it. Instead, she placed her phone back in her pocket and moved on. “Where’s Cami?”

“At home.”

His answer caused her to frown with disapproval. “You left her there by herself just to sit outside my house.”

“Of course not,” he denied, pleased she cared enough about Cami to get upset at the possibility of her being home alone. “I hired a sitter.”

“You hired…a sitter.” Her bottom lip twitched with unsuppressed amusement. “So you could stalk me. That’s a first for me.”

“I wouldn’t put it that way.”

“Really, how else would you describe the constant calls, flowers and the hanging out in front of my home for a couple of hours, if not stalker-like behavior?”