-HINDLEY-
I sat in the restaurant at the hotel, talking to one of the National Football League’s most up and coming athletes. We were discussing Humberto’s multi-million-dollar endorsement deal that I’d painstakingly drafted. I should feel golden, on top of the world, but I couldn’t shake the uneasy sense of foreboding that had followed me all day.
Someone nudged my arm. I glanced over to see Luis’s eyes staring at me.
Shit. I was being a complete space cadet, and this meeting was huge.
“So, Humberto, what do you think?” I asked, inserting myself in the conversation again. “I know you’ve tried the water and read about the company. We’ve gone over the contract and the stipulations, but tonight is all about you getting to know the company on a more personal level.”
Humberto turned toward Matt. I could tell from the look on his face that he had some reservations.
“It’s all right,” Matt assured him. “If you have concerns please ask me.”
“I’m half Latino,” Humberto said. “I’ve done some research and read that Sonora uses illegal immigrants in some of their factories.”
They did? That was news to me.
“Sonora received some bad press in the past,” Matt said, “but trust me, we’re a company that values human resources above all else. Of course, we believe in saving money, but not at the expense of humanity. Those claims were never legitimized. It’s Sonora’s policy to only hire legal, documented workers in all our factories. And to provide them all with adequate health insurance.”
Humberto smiled as if relieved, slumping back in his chair. I was surprised that this had been his pivotal issue for him. Why hadn’t I known it would be?
Suddenly the hairs on my neck stood on end. I sensed Rory somewhere in the room. Instead of being excited like I normally was, this time I was scared shitless. Something was wrong. I sensed it. Was he hurt? Had his mother called again?
I scanned the restaurant, searching for him. A scuffle at the front of the restaurant caught my attention.
It was Rory, arguing with a man and trying to push past him into the restaurant. His face was covered with a mask of anger so intense, it scared me. He was barely recognizable.
Something was wrong. Very wrong.
His eyes locked onto mine. This was dark Rory, the man who’d appeared in California after he’d talked to his mother. Tonight, it appeared all his fury was focused on me.
Holy shit.
I thought back to the events of the day. The tournament had gone extremely well. Rory had taken first place and Sonora Water and River City Skateboards couldn’t have been happier. There’d been tons of photographers who’d taken some great shots of him wearing all the sponsor logos. Luis and I felt confident they’d appear in several magazines before the X Games, which would bring in even more bonuses.
But then I remembered Axel and the look on his face when he’d seen me earlier this morning. He was dark and sullen and almost as evil looking as Rory was right now.
Surely Axel hadn’t said anything to the media, not yet. He promised to give me until the X Games before doing anything. But I knew I’d hurt Axel’s ego last night by not showing up at his hotel room, and I was pretty sure he knew I’d spent the night with Rory instead of him. Before I could recall any other events of the day, Rory was standing behind Matt, glaring down at me.
“I’m sorry to interrupt you fine gentlemen tonight,” Rory said.
I could tell by the tone of his voice and the dark circles under his eyes that this was going to be bad. Even worse than when he’d talked to his mother.
“You must be Hummm-bear-toe,” he said, glaring at Humberto.
Oh, no, was he drunk? Please, God, don’t let him be drunk.
Humberto’s eyes darted from me to Luis.
I sat, completely dumbfounded, unsure what to do or say.
“Hey, Matt-oh-boy,” Rory said, slapping Matt on the back.
He was drunk, he had to be. I clutched the arms of my chair to keep them from shaking.
“You better be careful, Bear-toe.” Rory stared at Humberto then nodded toward Matt. “This one wants to get his dick inside her too.”
Everyone at the table gasped. Luis and Matt flew to their feet but Rory sidestepped them, coming to stand directly over me.
“Ya gonna give him the starrrr treatment like you did me, sweetheart?”
I didn’t even recognize this person standing in front of me.
“Rory, have you been drinking?” I whispered.
“Just be careful, Humm-bear-toe,” he continued. “Once you fuck her, she may tell all your secrets.”
My eyes went wide and I felt light-headed. Obviously Axel had betrayed me and disclosed Rory’s secret to someone.
“Rory, please. I can explain.” I pushed back in my chair, trying to stand, fighting back the tears.
Rory held me in place. “Oh, yeah, Bear-Toe, she’ll beg for it. Beg you to fuck her. But it’s worth it, trust me. She’ll do some crazy shit in the sack.” He threw his head back and roared with laughter.
Blood roared in my ears. My stomach rolled and I fought back my urge to vomit, or pass out, or both. Why was he doing this?
“That’s enough, Rory!” Luis moved toward him at the same time Matt lunged after him.
Rory side-stepped them both, evading their attempts to stop him.
He was either drunk or high, or both. The rage inside me built to a fever pitch. He’d broken my confidence, ruined everything we’d had by admitting everything.
He leaned down and placed both hands on either side of my chair, his face mere inches away of mine. “What’s wrong, wildcat?”
I’d never seen his eyes so demented, so dark, so crazed. I drew in a breath to retaliate but he continued his tirade.
“What were you doing, Hinny Bin, trying to get a few more bucks by selling all my secrets? Was I too much of a reee-tard for you?”
“Rory,” I cried, tears streaming down my face. “Please.”
He straightened and stared at Humberto.
Matt and Luis moved for him again but he skirted their efforts.
I blinked several times, my vision growing dim. I was going to pass out.
“Be careful what you say in the sack with her though, football boy, or it may be spread all over the Internet one day.” Rory dug in his pocket and pulled out his phone, trying to show Humberto something.
Humberto wasn’t interested. Instead, the six-foot-four mammoth football player grabbed Rory by the shoulders and physically pushed him aside with ease. Then he wrapped his arm around my waist, escorting me out of the restaurant with Matt and Luis in tow.
“Fuck you, Hindley!” Rory shouted from our table.
I died a thousand deaths as the words echoed off the walls in the restaurant.
“I know how to write that, you motherfuckers! F-U-C-K-Y-O-U.” He chased after us. “Not so fuckin’ stupid now, am I, you cock suckers. Maybe I’ll put that in my fuckin’ journal, Hindley!”
Hotel guests gathered in the lobby, gawking at the scene unfolding before them.
My shoulders heaved with deep sobs and I gasped for air.
Axel had revealed Rory’s story. No, he’d probably sold Rory’s story, and now Rory thought it was me who had betrayed him.
My chest burned and my heart broke into a million pieces. I thought I might actually die. I wanted to die. Anything to stop the guilt and anger suffocating me.
“What’s going on?” Humberto asked as we made our way toward the front of the hotel.
I hiccupped through muffled sobs. “It’s a long story.”
Daring a peek, I glanced over my shoulder and saw Rory stalking toward us. Security guards rounded the corner on him.
I turned back to face forward as Humberto and Luis led me outside. Matt was holding open a cab door. That’s when I noticed all the photographers outside, snapping photos and calling my name.
Oh, God, no. Please, no.
Before I slipped into the cab, I turned one last time to look at Rory through the glass wall. This wasn’t Rory, this wasn’t my Skater Boy. This was a man I didn’t recognize. Gone was the tender, loving man who had taken care of me last night, holding me until I’d fallen asleep.
Suddenly Rory reared his back, about to throw something through the glass wall.
Anticipating his action, Matt covered me with his body and turned us around.
An explosion that sounded like a bomb detonating resounded behind me. Shattered glass pelted the ground at my feet. I tried to turn around, but someone pushed me into the waiting cab.
As the car sped off, I slumped against Luis as anger, sorrow and regret filled my heart.
“What on earth happened to him, Hindley?” Luis asked softly.
I glanced around the interior, surprised to find it was just the two of us. I felt safe in the cocoon of the cab, and for the first time ever, I broke down and told Luis everything.