Laurann Dohner: Something Wicked This Way Comes, Volume 2

Jesus. In her own right, the woman was as famous as Jake. Had he thought being a quarterback would impress her? It hadn’t. She undoubtedly knew some of the same people he knew…she’d just chosen not to join their superficial circles. And now that Jake had gotten a taste of her world, he didn’t blame her.

Hell, he envied her.

The last month had been pure bliss for Robyn. She and Jake had been all but inseparable. When she wasn’t working and he didn’t have to put in an appearance at some event he was still bound by contract to attend, they’d been together. In another month he wouldn’t have any contractual obligations remaining, and he’d already told her that he hoped that meant they’d be spending even more time enjoying each other’s company.

Robyn smiled to herself. She had always been the type who enjoyed dating, but she’d never wanted a guy around all the time. Jake, it seemed, was changing her mind.

But there was one rather serious problem…

Robyn blew out a breath as she stood on the balcony of Jake’s apartment. Inside, Jake was throwing a very belated Super Bowl party for his teammates and their significant others. Robyn was enjoying herself for the most part, but she didn’t have very much in common with any of the other female guests. They were the type of Manhattanites she’d spent her entire life avoiding—superficial, pompous and consumed with self-importance.

She’d always found “the trendies”, as she liked to call them, something of a conundrum. They were all about appearing classy, yet oblivious to the fact that their lack of tact and inclusiveness actually made them classless.

Besides, she had been raised on Mulberry Street. In Little Italy, people stuck together whether rich or poor, famous or unknown. Everything was about “the family” and “the family” included the entire community. Her world was so different from the Upper East Side, where “the family” included Me, Myself and I.

A chilly evening wind swept the balcony, causing Robyn to shiver. She took a few steps back into an alcove to hide her bare arms and legs from the elements. She knew she couldn’t stay out here much longer without appearing rude, but she’d really needed the mental break the solitude of the balcony provided. Just a few more preciously wanted alone minutes and she’d rejoin Jake inside.

The doors to the balcony swung open, catching Robyn off guard. She instinctively took a big step backward, farther into the alcove.

A gaggle of blonde women—fashion models, if she remembered correctly—walked out onto the balcony with champagne flutes in their hands. They were quickly joined by four men who still played for the Bloods. Robyn wondered if she should clear her throat so they’d know she was out here too, but the next words she heard caused her to decide against that.

“What the hell is Jake doing with that cow?” one of the blondes asked.

Another blonde giggled. “He’s parading her around like he actually thinks she’s pretty! Did he lose a bet?”

“Oh come on,” a burly redheaded guy said, “she’s the ultimate catch.”

“The ultimate catch?” the first blonde repeated. Her tone was pompously amused. “How so?”

“She’s the ultimate catch if you’re a fisherman,” the redhead explained. He grinned. “The bigger the catch, the bigger the trophy!”

Laughter broke out on the balcony. Robyn’s eyes widened and her shoulders tensed.

“Jake caught himself a whale! Would that be first prize for a Podunk fisherman?”

“Absolutely.”

“Hey now,” an African-American man cut in. “This ain’t cool.” He shook his head as if disgusted, immediately endearing himself to Robyn. “Y’all can think what you want, but it don’t mean you got the right to say it. And I happen to think his girl is damn hot!”

A single tear tracked down Robyn’s cheek. She was grateful to Jake’s friend for defending her to the others, especially since the feisty Robyn she’d been all her life was reacting more like a frozen statue than an angry she-warrior. But then, she had never thought of herself as fat before—their entire conversation had thrown her off-kilter. Where she came from, she’d always been considered attractive and desirable, yet everyone here except Tyrone apparently saw her as quite the opposite.

“Tyrone, please,” one of the models returned. “That’s a nice speech, but Jake is embarrassing himself by being seen with that cow. Besides,” she pointed out by waving a hand, “I don’t see you escorting Moby Dick to any Bloods parties.”

“You don’t see me escorting nobody to a Bloods party because girls from Harlem got no interest in being around mean, skinny bitches like y’all.” His ebony face crinkled in disgust. “Go inside and eat something you’ll puke up later. Roger, Tony, Jeff—get these bitches out of my fuckin’ sight.”

“Calm down, bro,” the redhead said, holding up his hands. “You don’t need to be rude to—”

“Apparently I do. Get the fuck out of my sight!”

The blondes stared open-mouthed at Tyrone even as the other three football players whisked them off the balcony and closed the door behind them. Robyn stood there in the shadows shivering. She felt frozen, unable to move. The only warmth she could feel was around her eyes, where tears she refused to let spill battled to get out.

Please don’t see me, Tyrone. Thank you for your kindness, but please don’t see me like this.

Too late. Robyn knew she’d been spotted the second Tyrone glanced toward the alcove. His eyes widened in recognition. And still she couldn’t move.

“Robyn,” Tyrone said quietly, walking toward her, “I’m sorry you heard all that.” He stopped in front of her and placed his hands on her shivering shoulders. She found herself grateful for the much-needed warmth and gentle human contact. His kindness caused another one of those damn tears to trickle down. “They just a bunch of stank-ass, meth-addict bitches.” He raised one giant hand to her face and softly swiped at the rogue tear. “And they jealous because you, girl, managed to get Jake while all them done tried and failed.”

Robyn found her first smile. It was small, but it was still a smile.

“They think I’m fat and ugly,” Robyn quietly stated. “I’ve never heard anybody talk about me so meanly before.”

“That’s because it ain’t true!” Tyrone vehemently assured her. “Girl, I got wood the second I saw you.” He flashed a grin that showed off perfect teeth. “Don’t be tellin’ Jake that though.”

She searched his handsome face. He was truly a gracious, big-hearted gentleman. “Thank you. For everything.”

He nodded in understanding. “Anything else I can do to help?”

Robyn pondered that question for a moment. “Actually there is.”

“What’s that?”

“Can you get me out of here unseen by anyone?” she whispered. “Even Jake?” She shook her head faintly. “I don’t want him to see me like this.”

Tyrone slowly nodded. “Done.”

Robyn should have taken a cab back to Mulberry Street, but that would have involved talking to the driver, however briefly, and she wasn’t ready to speak to anyone. Lost in thought, she opted to walk instead.

The rain started hammering down not even ten minutes into her journey home and continued all the way into the streets of Little Italy. She was drenched from head to toe, but couldn’t find the energy to care. All she could think about was what she’d heard on the balcony.

Jake is embarrassing himself by being seen with that cow…

Was he embarrassing himself? They lived in two totally separate worlds and apparently in his world, beauty was much different than it was in hers.