Omorphi (70 page)

Michael tossed his keys to Jake. “Grab a couple of T-shirts and socks too.”

“You got it.”

H
ALF
an hour later, everyone was dressed in warm sweats and socks and seated at a large table in the Crazy Clam with steaming cups of clam chowder before them. Mac had temporarily wrapped Jerry’s wilting cast in two bar towels until they could get back to the ranch and Mac could replace it. Jerry and Christy wore hooded sweatshirts and Stephen and Michael worked to keep them warm by rubbing their backs and hugging them.

“Is everyone warm enough?” The thin, wiry man spoke with the same calm, authoritative voice Michael had heard over the phone during Jason’s attempted capture.

“Yes, thank you, Mr. Smitty,” Michael said quickly.

He smiled at Michael. “Uncle Smitty,” he said as he took a seat at the head of the table.

“Thanks, Uncle Smitty,” Lisa said sweetly. “Let me tell you who everyone is. This is Stephen and Jerry, this is Michael and Christy, this is Christy’s cousin, Sophia, and that’s Jake. You already know George and Jorge.”

“Good thing your friends are quick, Babylicious. That lake is damn cold this time of year,” Smitty said approvingly.

Jerry cracked up. “Babylicious?”

Lisa flushed beat red. “Don’t call me that in front of my friends, Uncle Smitty,” she groaned. “You repeat that, Jerry, and I’ll throw you back in the lake.”

He abruptly stopped laughing. “Never heard it.”

Christy took a sip of clam chowder and made a face.

“Don’t you like it?” Michael asked.

“It needs artichoke hearts, onion, and bell pepper.”

Smitty grinned. “Is that how you like it?”

Christy nodded. “You sauté the onion, pepper, and hearts in a little oil and add them to the soup.”

“Would you like me to ask them to do that for you?”

He shook his head. “No, thank you. It’s warm, and I will drink it while I wait for the pizza.”

“How did you manage to fall into the lake?” Nero asked.

Jerry and Christy exchanged looks and started to laugh.

“It isn’t funny, Christy, you could have drowned,” Sophia snapped.

Mac shook his head in mock dismay. “While they were in the hospital, they perfected the art of wheelchair racing.”

“Not so perfect, Dr. S. Jerry plowed into Christy, and they went over the edge,” Jake said with a laugh.

“Apparently not.” Smitty chuckled. “Tell me, Jerry. Is the boy who hit you the same nasty boy who keeps harassing Lisa?”

Jerry looked at Lisa. “Duncan gets on you, Lis? That’s seriously suicidal.”

“He doesn’t bother me that often anymore. I think he’s learned that it’s hazardous to his health.”

They enjoyed a meal of pizza, garlic bread, and green salad. Mostly garlic bread for Christy. He was so enamored of it, he asked to take some home. Smitty gave both him and Jerry enough to keep them in garlic bread for days.

When everyone could eat no more, they prepared to head home.

“I’m going to run by my office and get the supplies to remove and replace Jerry’s cast. I’ll meet you at the ranch,” Mac said.

“Sorry about the cast, Dr. Sattler,” Jerry said quickly.

“Let’s try to keep it dry from now on.”

One of Smitty’s goons handed over more blankets. “Use these to keep warm on the way home,” Smitty said as he passed them out.

“Thank you, Smitty. We’ll see that the boys return them tomorrow,” Bobbie said.

“Don’t worry about it. Baby can collect them later.”

“Uncle Smitty!” Lisa protested.

He only winked at her. “Let’s go, Baby.”

Lisa made a face and stood. “See you guys at school tomorrow.”

Michael stood. “Thanks, Lisa. I couldn’t have saved him without you.”

She smiled. “No problem, Mike. I’m just glad they’re okay.”

R
OB
wasn’t pleased by the news of the unexpected dip in the drink.

“It was a freak accident,” Michael explained. “I’ve changed the bandage on his leg and blow-dried his hair.”

“How do you feel, Christy?”

“I am okay. Would you like garlic bread?” he asked as he swallowed the last bite of another piece.

Rob laughed softly and shook his head. “No, thanks. I’m glad you’re okay. I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Good night, Rob.”

“You know you can call or text me anytime, right?”

Christy nodded as Michael tucked him into bed and made sure the comforter covered everything but his head. “Are you warm enough?”

Christy nodded again.

“I’ll be here for him,” Sophia assured.

“Thanks, Sophia.” Michael kissed Christy’s forehead, each eyelid, the tip of his nose, and his no-longer-blue lips. “See you in the morning.”

“Thank you for the fun afternoon.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Y
OU
okay?” Jake asked as they walked to their cars.

“I’m worried about Dad being pissed off.”

“At my dad?”

Michael nodded. “Not cool.”

“Agree, but it is what it is. See you at home.”

T
HEY
arrived home to muffled, but raised, voices in the parlor again. This time it was Mac and Nero who argued. Michael looked at Jake. “You think we should go in there?”

Jake shook his head. “They’ll work it out.”

Then they heard Mac say, “I do not want my son seeing him!”

That was it for Michael. He knocked on the parlor door and entered without waiting for a reply.

“Everything is okay, Michael, Jacob,” Anna assured quickly when she saw them. “Go to bed.”

“No, it isn’t. My dad’s pissed off.”

“Michael,” Bobbie warned softly.

“What, Mom? I can’t ask Dad if he’s pissed off?”

“You can ask him why he’s angry, but you can’t be disrespectful.”

“Okay. Dad, why are you angry?”

“I told you what my concerns were this morning. You ignored them.”

“No, I didn’t. I just went about resolving them in a way that wasn’t your first choice.”

“They are not resolved.”

“They’re in the process of being resolved.”

“You can’t change who Christy is!”

“Christy didn’t choose his parents!”

“That is beside the point. Christy is a very damaged, wealthy young man with a complicated history who lacks the capacity to handle his affairs and who lives in a perpetual state of danger. I don’t want you caught up in his lifestyle.”

“I’m not. He’s caught up in mine. And what happened to ‘show him the kindness I’ve known and help him learn how to live again’?”

“When I made those remarks I didn’t know who he was or what his circumstances were. He is also your first boyfriend. Don’t you think you might do well to see other young men before you settle for someone like Christy?”

Fury ignited Michael’s spine, and he glared at his dad. “
Settle for someone like Christy?
Wow, Dad, you surprise me!”

“You know what I mean by that!”

“Forget it, Dad! I’m not giving Christy up! So what can I do to make it easier for you?”

“Stop seeing him.”

“No. What’s your second choice?”

“At least see other people.”

“No! What’s your third choice?”

“You must stop seeing him!”

“Excuse me.” Michael did an about-face and left the parlor.

J
AKE
leaned against the doorjamb to Michael’s bedroom. “You know, running right after you eat isn’t good for you.”

“I’ll start out walking.”

“Want company?”

Michael shrugged. “Not in the mood to talk.”

“I’ll run in silence.”

A
FTER
five miles, Michael was too sore to go on, and he slowed to a jog. He’d gone from appalled, to angry, to furious, to livid, to livider, and now only wanted to hit something. In all his life, he’d never heard his dad utter a single judgmental word against anyone. His mom had always been the opinionated one. Even so, she opined with reserve.

“You’re killing me, Michael,” Jake panted.

“Sorry.” Michael slowed to a walk. He kicked leaves off the sidewalk, his legs feeling rubbery and sore.

“Here.” Jake handed him a bottle of water.

Michael hadn’t even thought to bring water with him. A testament to how upset he was. “Thanks for remembering.”

“Always here for you, bro.”

They walked in silence for two blocks until they reached the park and all but fell onto a bench.

“What’s the worst part about it?” Jake asked.

“I want to say that it’s because he wants me to give Christy up, but that’s not it. It’s that he’s never been a jerk before.”

“He isn’t being a jerk. He’s freaked about things that are out of his control, so he’s trying to control what he can.”

“Same difference.”

Jake sat back against the hard bench. “Yeah, okay. He’s right about Christy being your first boyfriend, though.”

“You dated Kelly for almost four years, Becca for less than seven months, and you’ve known Sophia for three weeks, and you asked her to marry you. What did you learn?”

“Kelly and Becca weren’t for me, and Sophia is.”

“Okay, so let’s say I give Christy up. Should I date Stephen?”

“That’s not funny.”

“What’s wrong with him?”

“Definitely not you.”

“How about Jorge?”

Jake looked at him in horror.

“How ’bout Jerry?”

“Closer, but still not right.”

“Okay, who would you have me go out with? Gavin? Noah?”

“Stop. You’re making me ill.”

“Almost three weeks ago you sat on a bench on the field and described exactly what you thought was perfect for me. So, what’s wrong with Christy?”

“He’s dangerous.”

Michael spun on Jake.

“Okay, okay, I meant that his life is dangerous.”

“Yeah, well, guess what, bro? In that case, so is Sophia’s. Even if I never saw Christy again in my life, your fiancé is at risk because she’s Christy’s cousin, and some psycho out there wants to get to him and wouldn’t stop at kidnapping her. Go ahead, give her up to keep yourself safe. I dare you.”

Jake tossed his empty water bottle at a trash can, missed, and didn’t bother to pick it up. “Why is it that you win every one of our arguments?”

“I don’t. I just know when I’m going to lose so I keep my mouth shut.”

“And here I always thought you were oblivious.”

“That’s me.”

“C’mon, Michael, I’m kidding.”

Michael said nothing.

“Okay, you’re right. Sophia presents as much danger to me as Christy does to you, and I wouldn’t give her up.”

“Okay, let’s be objective and consider Dad’s suggestion. How do you think it would go over with Christy or Sophia if we dated other people?”

“
Not
.”

“What do I do, Jake?”

Jake shook his head slowly. “Shit.”

“To put it mildly.”

“Stay the course, man. I’m there with you.”

“Do you have your phone?”

“You don’t have yours?”

“No.”

Jake gave him a disgusted smirk and handed his phone over.

“I don’t want it. Call Sophia and ask if Christy’s okay.”

Jake speed-dialed Sophia, and she answered on the first ring. “
Ciao, cuore mio
…. No, everything’s fine. How’re you doing…? Good. How’s Christy…? Okay, I’ll let Michael know. What time are you headed back in the morning…? Okay. Call me when you get to the city?” Jake smiled. “Love you too.” He hung up.

“How’s he doing?”

“Nightmares about drowning, calling out for you.”

Michael hopped up from the bench. “Call security.”

“Why?”

“I want to go over there.”

“Now?”

“Yeah, now.”

Jake dialed again and put his phone to his ear. “You sure you want to do this?”

Michael gave him a look.

“How dare I ask? Yeah, hi, John, can you come pick us up?”

Within seconds, the security SUV pulled up in front of them, and they climbed in. “Take Michael to Wellington, and take me home,” Jake said.

“Mr. Santini asked me to bring you both home.”

Bullshit!
Michael hopped out of the car as quickly as he’d hopped in and took off for Wellington. He didn’t give a crap if it was another four-mile run. He could do it.

“Michael, dammit, get back in the car!” Jake yelled out the window.

Michael gave him the finger and kept running.

“What do you want me to tell Mr. Santini?” John asked.

“Don’t say anything yet. Michael, dammit, get back in the car!”

Michael ignored him and kept running.

“H
EY
,
Sophia,” Michael said as he worked to catch his breath when she opened the door.

She smiled sweetly. “It is good of you to come. He’ll be happy that you’re here.” She went to close the door but saw Jake crossing the lawn. She stepped out and closed the door softly behind her.

Michael kicked his shoes off, climbed onto the bed, and wrapped himself around the small lump that was Christy. He didn’t care that he was hot and sweaty and neither did Christy. Christy held Michael’s hand to his chest, and they fell asleep together. Them against the world.

M
ICHAEL
’
S
eyes opened slowly to find Christy’s beautiful eyes staring back at him, but an inch away. “Hey.”

Christy almost smiled.

Michael rolled onto his back and stretched, and pain shot through his hamstrings.
Definitely too much running
. He turned back to Christy. “You okay?”

Christy nodded once.

“We gotta get to school.”

“It’s too late.”

“Too late?”

Christy reached to the nightstand for his phone and handed it to Michael, who worked to focus his sleepy eyes and thought they were playing tricks on him when he saw eleven thirty.
Impossible.
“Your phone’s broken.” He handed it back to Christy and buried his face in the pillow. When Christy didn’t say anything, he peeked at him from the corner of his eye and smiled to himself as he watched Christy inspect his phone.