Forever Moore (Moore Family Book 1) Page 12

  “You are a sick fuck, Keith. I hope I broke your needle dick, and maybe did the ladies in this town a favor.” Letty then turns to the table, grabbing a couple cups of punch before dumping them on him.

  As Jake approaches, he looks at the scene in front of him. “What the fuck just happened?”

  I shake my head. It is best not to talk about it right now. Not to mention, I promised Tilly I wouldn’t tell her brothers. He looks over at Letty, who is still fuming. I feel bad for her. If she does actually like the guy, it must suck to find out what he did to her best friend. And then, to discover that the only reason he was asking her out in the first place was in a failed attempt to make another girl jealous. It is fucking pathetic.

  “Are you guys ready to go?” Letty asks, reaching for her purse.

  We all grab our stuff and head towards the exit, leaving Keith on the floor embarrassed and in pain. The entire class is still standing around gossiping and laughing about the incident.

  As a final fuck you to Keith, we take the limo to the Twin Cities. I buy us all some champagne and we continue partying. The rest of the night is amazing, even Letty and Jake seem to be getting a long for a change.

  ∞∞∞

  Present

  “Hmm, it is not the worst idea I have ever heard,” Keith replies, narrowing his eyes at me before smiling back at Tilly. “If you have a moment after the meeting, Matilda, maybe we can further discuss the position and what we would need to do to make it possible?”

  Tilly tenses next to me. I am guessing the last thing she wants to do is be alone with Keith. I am about to say something, but Tilly places her hand on my arm and looks at me—pleading with her eyes—before turning back to Keith and giving him a shallow smile.

  “Sure, we can talk after the meeting,” Tilly replies meekly.

  “Great.” Keith smirks as though he just won some sort of victory. “Next order of business...”

  Once the meeting is over, I walk with Tilly to the door. “Are you sure you don’t want me to stay?”

  “No, it’s fine. Why don’t you head over to Harper’s and I will meet you there in a minute? I’ll be all right.” Tilly leans up and gives me a quick kiss on the cheek.

  I don’t like the idea of leaving her alone, but I don’t want to cause a scene either. I mean, that shit happened over ten years ago. We are all adults now, and have moved on. Or, at least, I hope?

  Chapter 19

  Matilda

  After Jax leaves, I take a deep calming breath. I am not sure why I am nervous about talking with Keith. We have both been on this board together for the past three years and have had no issues. Neither one of us has said much to the other, just shared casual pleasantries.

  I walk back to the meeting area. Keith is sitting there on his phone. He holds his hand up to me, ordering me to pause—like whatever the hell he is doing is too damn important and I am beneath him. I know he is the Assistant City Manager and oversees many departments, but I can think of nothing that would be so important on a Friday evening.

  After a moment, he looks up at me offering what (I can only assume) he thinks is his most charming smile. It likely melts the panties off most of the girls around here—well, those who don’t know him, or those who don’t care that he is a scumbag, and who just want to marry into his family money. Honestly, his last name is the only reason people kiss his ass.

  “Oh, Matilda, thank you for waiting. Sorry, I had a last-minute city emergency. Please, sit.” He gestures to the chair next to him. I reluctantly take a seat, angling my body in the opposite direction. “So, tell me, how are you holding up? I haven’t spoken to you since the funeral.”

  “Okay, I guess. You know, each day gets a little better.” I know it seems like he is just being nice, but I have a hard time trusting anything when it comes to him. This is exactly how things started when he asked me to prom. He was all nice and charming. But then, the second he didn’t get his way, he snapped. “About the posi—”

  He cuts me off. “Yes. Look, Matilda. I do agree we could use assistance when it comes to our town’s social media and marketing. But I am just not sure Jackson Harris is… Well, I am just not sure he is what we are looking for.”

  “I don’t understand. He has spent the last ten years working for a prestigious travel magazine. I know it isn’t exactly marketing, but it is what he went to school for. Also, the few individuals he has helped around town, including myself, can speak for his skill set.”

  “Look, Matilda, can I be honest with you?” He tries to appear as though he is sympathetic, while he places a hand on my shoulder. “I am sure he takes good pictures and all, and maybe has helped people so far. But we really need someone with solid experience. Also, I think it would be beneficial to offer the position to someone local, who knows the area and is able to communicate the right message.”

  I shrug off his hand. “Jax is local and knows the area and, not to mention, most of the business owners. Also, experience is not everything. He has a true gift; he can capture the beauty of the most mundane things.”

  He sighs and shakes his head. “I understand he is a talented photographer. No one is denying that. But he is not qualified. I worry that your judgement is biased, given your personal relationship with Jackson. Offering the position to an unqualified individual—well, some might think you abused your role in this committee, just to help your friend get a job.”

  I abruptly stand up. “You have to be shitting me, Keith? At least two other board members both agree he would be ideal for the job, based on their own personal experiences. Then, of course, there’s a number of other shops that are already interested in his assistance. It sounds like the only person who is passing judgement based on a personal relationship is you.”

  He scoffs and waves off my implication. “I’m not sure what you are talking about. Jackson and I have no personal history. I barely know him. I am only concerned about offering the position to an individual who has been absent from this town for a decade, and whose career involves a large amount of travel. You can’t really think this job would keep him entertained enough to stick around, can you?”

  “Whatever, Keith. Clearly, you are not interested in offering the position to Jackson.” I get up to leave.

  “Wait, Matilda.” Keith stands a little too close to me. “I will admit I have some reservations about offering the position to Jackson, but I am not completely against it. How about this? Why don’t we meet tomorrow night, and discuss it more over dinner?”

  “I’m not sure, Keith. Why can’t we just discuss it now?” I cross my arms. I really have a bad feeling about this.

  “Look, I need some time to think about it. I will take tonight, and look at some of the work he has done. Then tomorrow, we can meet and talk about it more.” Without giving me a chance to speak up, he quickly adds, “Look at the time. I need to get going. I will pick you up tomorrow at seven.”

  “Fine, but tomorrow I am working at the shop. I can meet you there instead,” I agree. If having to suffer through dinner with Keith for one night can get Jax the job he needs to stay here with me, well then, it is worth it.

  “Wonderful, it’s a date,” Keith says. He winks at me and immediately walks out the door, not even giving me a chance to reply.

  Fuck! Hopefully, he doesn’t actually think this is a real date? It is just a dinner to discuss a business agreement. I quickly grab my purse to run after him. I need to clarify this fact. But when I get outside, he is already gone—the slimy little weasel.

  ∞∞∞

  I see Jax, leaning on the bar and chatting with Letty. He looks so handsome—sitting there in his black pants, grey long-sleeve shirt, and his worn-out black and white chucks. Letty notices me enter the double doors and waves me over. Jax turns around, shooting me his giant megawatt smile.

  “Hey, babe, how did it go?” He stands giving me a quick kiss. “I was about ready to run over there and rescue you.”

  I shrug and take the seat next to him. Jax p
lops back down on his own stool, before draping his arm over my shoulders. “That bad, huh?”

  “I know what you need—a good dose of tequila will cheer you right up.” Letty laughs, going for the bottle of Patrón.

  “No, it isn’t that bad. Can I actually just get a Sprite and maybe some chicken tenders?” I ask, while getting suspicious glances from both Letty and Jax.

  “Are you sure? I figured you might want some sort of alcohol to sanitize yourself after interacting with that sleazeball.” Letty crosses her arms, trying to read my mind.

  “I agree, a hot shower does sound like heaven right now. But no tequila. My stomach still feels off and I just want something mellow.”

  Jax rubs my back. “You are still feeling sick? Why don’t we go home and I can make some soup while you relax in the bath?”

  He is so sweet. “Aw, thank you. But chicken tenders sound good. They are my comfort food and Harper’s has the best ones in town.”

  “Okay, it’s just that you haven’t been feeling well all week. Maybe we should go and see the doctor?”

  “That’s okay. I am not sick. My stomach has just been a little queasy and I have been exhausted. I know it is just the stress getting to me. Don’t worry. If I still feel sick next week, I have my checkup for my arm. I will mention it then.”

  Jax crosses his arms over his chest, analyzing me—almost as if he has x-ray vision and can see what is ailing me. “Fine. But if it gets worse, we are going in right away, okay?”

  “Yes, I promise.” I lean in and give him a kiss, which allows him to relax.

  “So, what did douchenozzel have to say?” Letty inquires, as she gets my Sprite and Jax another beer.

  “Umm, no decision was made yet.” I better just tell Jax and get this over with. Maybe if I act nonchalant, he won't freak out. While I take a sip of my soda, I casually mention, “We are having dinner tomorrow night to discuss it more.”

  “Excuse me?” Jax whispers harshly, while Letty gives me a “what the hell did you just agree too” kind of stare.

  “It is no big deal, Jax. He just wants time to look at your work and think about it. Then, we will meet tomorrow night for dinner to discuss it,” I say, shrugging my shoulders and trying to downplay how really uncomfortable it all makes me. But if it will help Jax stay here, one night of hell is worth it.

  “No, nuh-uh. You are not going on a date with him to get me a job,” he says with complete finality. “I am not pimping out my girlfriend for work. We will find something else.”

  I laugh at his ridiculousness. “First, it is not a date. Second, you are not pimping me out. It is a casual business dinner. He had some concerns about offering you the position and I asked him to reconsider.”

  “Does he know it is not a date?” Letty adds to the conversation, still giving me the glare.

  “Yea, what she said,” Jax agrees. “This is Keith, the guy who harassed you for months to try and get you to go to prom with him. Then, when you denied him, he tried to manipulate you by taking Letty instead. And finally, he was made a fool in front of the whole class.”

  “I know what happened, Jax. But that was over a decade ago. We have been on the council together for the past three years. Not once has that incident ever been brought up, or has he acted anything but professional with me.” I understand his concern, but we have all grown up.

  “I don’t like this,” Jax states as Letty echoes her agreement.

  “Look, all that shit happened when we were stupid teenagers. He has not given me any reason to think he has any sort of ulterior motive. While I don’t like what he said, he had valid business concerns. If going to dinner and discussing them with him is what I need to do, then I will.” I give both of them the look that says, “I’m a big girl and I can make my own decisions.”

  “Fine, but let me go on record as saying, I don’t like this. I have a bad feeling, Tilly.” I know Jax is worried. But it is dinner, nothing bad is going to happen. Worst-case scenario, he doesn’t give the job to Jax and we are back to the drawing board.

  Chapter 20

  Jackson

  “Are you ready to go?” Scott asks from the archway that connects the shop to the cafe.

  “Yea, just give me a minute.” He nods and heads outside to wait for me. I quickly wrap up organizing the shelf I am working on before I leave. The next installment of some big paranormal romance was released today, and Tilly wanted to set up a display for the new book and the earlier installments. I quickly snap a few photos on my phone to post to the shop's Facebook.

  I find Tilly in the back office working on the books. She looks like a sexy librarian right now. Her hair is up in a messy bun. She has on a simple cream button-up blouse, nothing too revealing. But all day, I’ve been imagining undoing each one of those buttons with my teeth. Then, to top it off, she is wearing these black slacks that hug her ass perfectly. I know it is not a particularly provocative outfit and that she was trying to make sure she looked “all business”, but she could be wearing a burlap sack and she would still look sexy.

  “Are you sure you don’t want me to come with you? I can help convince Keith why I am good for the position,” I offer for the hundredth time today. I really don’t want her to go out to dinner with him. Even though she says he has been nothing but professional with her, I still get this weird vibe from him.

  She sighs and closes the register. “I promise, I will be fine. Go have fun with Scott tonight. I don’t think you guys have had any sort of boys’ night out since you have been back.” Coming around the desk, she gives me a quick kiss. “Have fun, and I will see you later tonight.”

  “Fine, but if anything feels off… If he makes you feel uncomfortable once, call me immediately,” I sternly demand. I know Tilly is a grown woman and can take care of herself. I have absolutely no reason to be jealous. I honestly am worried the sleaze is going to try and pull something on her.

  “Yes, I promise. Now go. I am sure Scott is getting impatient waiting for you.” I give her one last good kiss before going outside and meeting Scott.

  “Alright, man, what are we up to tonight?” I ask, slapping Scott on the back.

  “I’m glad you asked. We have some business to settle,” he says with a shit-eating grin.

  “Business, huh? What business is this?” I play along with his banter.

  “Well, Robbie and Jake seem to think that they are the reigning bowling champs. But as I recall, last time they lost… quite embarrassingly. So, we are going to meet them at Tral Lanes and remind them how inferior they are to us in the art of bowling.”

  I can’t help but laugh. Those boys are horribly competitive. I don’t think there was anything we ever did growing up that wasn’t a competition. Even chores and yardwork ended in some sort of rivalry. I recall there was one summer when Mr. Moore was looking to build a new retaining wall. He had pallets of stone delivered that needed to be moved from the front to the back of the house. We decided to make it a race to see who could move the most stones the fastest. Scott ended up winning that one, and made sure to remind us for the next several weeks—frequently referring to himself as the “stone master”.

  “Let’s go show them what real bowling is.” I chuckle as we make our way to the bowling alley.

  ∞∞∞

  Robbie and Jake are already at the bowling alley. I notice they snagged us our usual lane towards the back wall. Our table already has a couple pitchers of beer with accompanying glasses, a tray stacked with shots (of what I am assuming is tequila based on the salt and limes), baskets of wings, and mozzarella sticks—definitely the meal of champions.

  “Alright, ladies, same rules apply,” Jake announces acting official. “If you strike, you take a shot. Pick a spare, you take a drink. If your ass gets caught in the gutter, you take a double-shot. Finally, any genius who can pick up a 7-10 gets to decide who takes a shot and of what.”

  “You realize it is crazy to have rules that penalize you for playing well, right? Why should I have to
take a shot because I bowl better than you?” Yea, as we got older our challenges turned into drinking games. While it is stupid, it did make things funnier.

  “Are you worried, Jackie-boy? Not able to handle your balls properly after a couple of drinks?” Jake taunts.

  “Your sister is well aware of how well I can handle my balls after a few drinks.” Jake and I both burst out laughing, while Scott and Robbie pretend to vomit.

  “New rule: Every time lover boy over here, mentions our sister, he has to take a shot,” Robbie announces.

  “Fine. But if we are altering the rules, then I want to add: if you cause a 7-10 split and can’t pick it up, then your team needs to do a blizzard.” It is a shot that can take down the best of us. It is made with Wild Turkey and Rumple Minze. That, mixed with the beer and tequila, and you are likely going to blackout. Luckily for me, Robbie is the biggest culprit for getting a 7-10 and, well, Jake isn’t that good at holding his hard liquor. I’m guessing it is why he set up the rules the way he did. He rarely gets a strike, and usually ends up getting a ton of spares.

  “Whatever. Let's play,” Jake concedes.

  Six frames into the first game and we each have finished a couple beers. Robbie has had to take two shots; Scott and I each have had three. Scott and I are leading… as usual. I am at one hundred and Scott is at ninety-seven. Jake’s and Robbie’s scores are both in the mid-seventies.

  Jake is up to bowl and unfortunately, he has found himself stuck with a 7-10 split. If he picks it up, Scott or I will end up likely needing to take a blizzard shot. Because, of course, he would never pick anything easy. If he misses, then he and Robbie will end up taking one instead.

  As Jake stands at the lane lining up his shot, Scott is being a jackass and hissing commentary into his beer. “‘He's got one foot in the frying pan and one in the pressure cooker. Believe me, as a bowler, I know that right about now, your bladder feels like an overstuffed vacuum cleaner bag and your butt is kinda like an about-to-explode bratwurst.’” [1] We all chuckle (well, all except Jake) at Scott quoting Kingpin in his best Billy Murray impersonation; it’s always been one of his favorite movies.