A Light in the Dark_Survival of the Fittest Read online

  “Think nothing of it.” He offered her an easy grin, successfully easing her guilt and turning her insides to mush at the same time. It had been a long time since a simple look from an attractive man had made her feel so unsettled, but it happened with Bailey every time.

  She glanced down where her silenced phone was lying on the top of her bag as though it were a snake about to strike. If only she could let go of the past and move forward. Brie slid forward on the bench and returned her gaze to the lovers on the wall, frozen in time together, blissful.

  “It’s inspiring, isn’t it?” Bailey said a few minutes later breaking her trance, though his words were quiet like he was talking more to himself than her.

  “He’s one of the greats. It makes sense that one would feel inspired.”

  “No, you don’t understand.” Bailey turned, placing one knee on the bench and facing her, a renewed energy about him. “It isn’t the art itself, it’s this place and it’s you.”

  “Me?”

  “Yes, Miss Freeman, I saw you earlier, when you were helping the other student. I didn’t want to interrupt, but listening to you in class and then here . . . I find you to be very inspirational. Your passion for the art you teach us about is more than just something you have to do, it’s who you are. You’re doing exactly what you should in the world. In truth, I envy that about you.”

  “Isn’t it the same with you and your music? Isn’t it what you were meant to do?”

  Bailey shrugged. “I used to think so, but . . . things change. People change.”

  “Maybe, but it would be a shame for you and all your fans if you stopped playing and writing music. You’re too talented.”

  His eyes bored into hers. “I didn’t realize you were such a big Survival fan. That’s nice of you to say.”

  Her cheeks flooded at his words. “I can actually be nice, contrary to my words and actions the last time I saw you. And, here you are paying me the highest of compliments. I definitely haven’t done anything to deserve your kindness.”

  He tilted his head to the side. “Sure you have, maybe not last weekend.” He grinned when her cheeks heated again. “But, in a world full of people who want to know about every aspect of my life, and then turn around and use it for their own personal gain, you’ve treated me like you would treat everyone else. You’ve made me feel normal. Trust me, for someone like me, that’s pretty rare.”

  She reached out and rested a hand on his arm, his warmth radiating through his shirt. “Thank you, Bailey, and for the record, I do consider you my friend regardless of what I said before.”

  He grinned again causing the outsides of his eyes to crinkle. “Right back at ya and you know, if you ever need anything, feel free to ask, you know, since we’re friends.”

  She sucked in a breath to tell him thanks, but he didn’t give her the chance.

  “I’d better get going. I have this teacher who’s a total slave driver.” He stood and touched his fingers to his temple in an almost salute. “Until next time.”

  She watched him go, surprised and touched all at once. No one had ever called her inspirational before. She’d had some nice comments sprinkled throughout her teacher evaluations, but none were as meaningful as Bailey’s words. And, he’d never know how much they meant. Leave it to Bailey Honeycutt to say exactly what she needed to hear. She smiled and shook her head. Friends, they were that, but she couldn’t deny a huge part of her longed to be more.

  Her phone dinged and when she turned it over and saw Theo’s name, her mood imploded like crude oil thrown onto a painted canvas, covering what was once beautiful.

  Friday at the Splash Pad. After your class.

  She stared at the screen and swallowed against the bile rising in her throat. How had she become this woman? Someone who was weak and who had let a man have power over her? Hot tears burned at the back of her eyes as she dropped her phone back into her bag and stood to leave.

  Six months, she only had to deal with Theo for six more months and she would be free. And, she would never let a man or anyone else have control over her life again.

  Chapter 12

  Bailey knocked on his neighbor’s door with a satisfied smile on his face. Mid-terms were over and thanks to Leo and his serial dating, Bailey had a surprise for Cohen. He knocked again to make sure they could hear him over the piano music filtering through the windows. This was going to be fun.

  “Hey, B,” John stepped to the side and allowed him to enter. “All right?”

  “Yeah, it’s been a good day. Hey, is Cohen around?”

  “You mean you can’t tell?” John rolled his eyes toward the ceiling in the direction of the music.

  “I was just trying to be polite. I could hear him through the wall.”

  “No doubt.” John shouted, “Cohen!” in the general direction of the stairs. “Get your ass down here. He’ll be down in a second. Guy needs a break. He’s been staring at his midterm piece all afternoon.”

  Bailey tapped the side of his jacket. “Maybe I can give him something else to think about.”

  “Oh?” John plopped back down onto their shabby couch and propped his bare feet on the table. “Do I get to be privy to this mystery?”

  “All in good time.” Bailey tapped his jacket again and couldn’t suppress a grin when Cohen’s heavy footsteps pounded down the stairs.

  He appeared a moment later, dark circles under his eyes. “What’s up? Hey, Bailey.”

  “Hey, so I’ve been thinking about that little problem you’re having, and I think I’ve come up with a solution, or at least an opportunity.”

  “Little problem?” Cohen echoed, one eyebrow arched as he made his way to the kitchen and searched for a clean glass.

  Bailey caught John’s eye and nodded at which point a spark of understanding lit up John’s face. “Oh, yeah, the great Jessica conundrum.”

  “Come on,” Cohen smacked his glass on the counter with a carton of orange juice frozen in mid-air, “don’t even go there.”

  “No, I’m serious, this is going to be good.” Bailey crossed their entire flat in five steps and set an envelope on the counter between them. “Go on. Take a look.”

  Cohen shot John a look, but John shrugged. “Don’t ask me, mate. This is all Bailey, unless of course it turns out to be a brilliant idea. In that case, I helped.”

  They waited while Cohen lifted the flap on the envelope and then his eyes widened. “Holy Christ. You got me tickets to go see Manchester?”

  John shot off the couch and tore one of the tickets out of Cohen’s hands. “Yes.” His eyes bulged as he read where the seats were located. “Yes, yes, yes.”

  “I figured you can take Jessica along.” Bailey rocked back on his heels, pleased. This was when having connections was fun.

  “I don’t know, man, I mean this is bloody unbelievable, but I’m still not sure I can do it.”

  “Sure you can. Just ask her and if she says no, I’ll be happy to tag along.” John hooked an arm around Cohen’s shoulders and shook him.

  “I figured if you were wrapped up in the game and having a good time, it might be easier to relax.”

  “Yeah, maybe,” Cohen stared at the ticket again, his fingers strumming across the back. “Yeah, okay. I’m in. Thanks, Bailey.”

  “You bet. Make us proud.” When Cohen continued to stare at the tickets, Bailey slapped a hand on the counter. “What are you waiting for? Go call her.”

  “Right.” Cohen plucked the other ticket out of John’s greedy fingers and took the stairs two at a time.

  “You’re a good chap, B.”

  “I try.” He eyed the Play Station controller sitting on the table. “Shall we?”

  “Hell yes.”

  Later the same night when Bailey arrived home, he toed off his boots and
collapsed onto the couch with a contented smirk on his face. Cohen was well on his way and it made him feel good to have helped, assuming, of course, the guy didn’t screw things up too badly on his first date with Jessica, but the ball was in his court now. There was nothing else Bailey could do.

  Settling in for the night, Bailey flipped on the television and surfed through the limited channels. He didn’t mind the lack of content since he was forced to stream shows while on the road, but when he caught a glimpse of Luther, he set the remote to the side and watched as Idris Elba did what he did so well—total badassary.

  A strange mewling sound cut through a tense scene a minute later. Bailey adjusted the volume, but the sound happened again, louder than before. He tried a different station, but there was no change. He rose and tried hitting the side of the old television a few times, but the sad wail turned louder until he abandoned the living room and followed the strange noise to the screened in porch. He squinted into the darkness until he spotted movement on the ground. There just outside the door with its pitiful cries was a little tabby cat who couldn’t be more than a few months old.

  When Bailey moved toward him, the kitten tried in vain to run, but tripped over the trash in which he’d gotten himself caught. He knelt down and scooped the kitten up with one hand.

  “It’s okay little guy. I’ve got you.” Between the rain and the cold, the kitten was half frozen. “Let’s get you inside.”

  While Bailey removed the plastic string from around his back legs with a pair of scissors, the kitten stared up at him with green eyes. He didn’t seem scared anymore, but based on the way he was shaking and the fact that Bailey could feel each of his little ribs beneath his fingers there was no doubt he couldn’t put him back outside. It was possible he wouldn’t survive the night. A deep sadness twisted in Bailey’s gut.

  “I won’t let anything happen to you.” He hoisted him off the counter and moved to the refrigerator. “Let’s see what we’ve got in here to eat.”

  ~ ~ ~

  Brie climbed the stairs in search of Jessica. What she needed now more than anything, except maybe an insane amount of money, was a friend.

  When she rounded the corner at the top of the stairs she stopped, eyes wide, in the doorway of Jessica’s room. The space was never clean by any degree of the imagination, but this was beyond messy. There was a pile of clothes, which based on its sheer size and the amount of empty hangers swinging wildly in the closet, seemed to make up her entire wardrobe.

  “What the heck is happening in here?”

  Jessica finished pulling a shirt over her head in front of her floor-length mirror and turned. “Oh, hey. I didn’t hear you come in.”

  “Seriously, what are you doing?”

  Jessica followed Brie’s horrified gaze around her room. “Yeah, it’s a bit rough, but I’ll put it right later. First, I’ve got to find something suitable to wear to a football match.”

  “You’re going to a match?” Brie’s mouth fell open in disbelief. “Why?”

  “It’s a date, apparently.”

  “With who?”

  Jessica’s face turned a light shade of pink. “Cohen.”

  Brie wouldn’t have thought her mouth could open any wider but it did, and no sound would come out. She shook her head, forcing her mind to start working again. “That’s it. I’ve entered into some sort of Doctor Who episode where the whole world is upside down.”

  “Right?” Jessica plopped down on the one open corner of her mattress, a huge grin on her face. “It surprised me, too. I mean, we’ve known Cohen for what, five years and he barely speaks to me.”

  “He’s cute though and talented.”

  Her flatmate’s nose scrunched up. “I know. I’m kind of excited.”

  “When did this all happen?”

  “Earlier today.”

  “Why didn’t you say anything sooner?”

  “You’ve barely been here and, I’m sorry to say, when you have, you’ve been a little preoccupied.”

  Brie moved to where Jessica sat as guilt twisted in her stomach. She was right of course. Brie had been consumed with her own life. “I’m sorry. I know I’ve been a little distracted. I also seem to be doing a lot of apologizing lately.”

  “Why, what happened?” At Brie’s hesitation, Jessica took her hands and squeezed. “You know you can tell me anything.”

  “I know I can. I just haven’t wanted to talk about it.”

  “Let me guess, Theo?”

  Brie swallowed down the ball of dread which had lodged itself in her throat at the mention of Theo and nodded. “He wants more money and right after I saw him, Bailey showed up. I wasn’t in the best mood and I kind of snapped at him.”

  “You didn’t?”

  Brie nodded again. “Hence the apologizing. I ran into him today and tried to set things right.”

  “And, did you?”

  Brie took her hands back and moved to the window. The world outside was quiet, the sun an impossible shade of dark orange and pink as it hung onto the horizon. “I think so. Bailey seemed fine when he left, but I’m not sure how long he’s going to actually want to keep speaking to me after Theo gets through.”

  “How much does he want this time?”

  “Way more than I have.” Brie put the sunset to her back and leaned against the wall. “I’m hoping I can negotiate with Theo. Maybe offer him what’s in my savings. It’s not enough, but it’s close.”

  “Brie, no.” Jessica shot to her feet. “You can’t. That’s your money for New York. You can’t give it to Theo. You’ve been saving for years. And, you’ve just finished paying your brother back.”

  “Tell me something I don’t know.”

  “There’s got to be another way.” Jessica’s face turned hard, determined, and for a second it seemed as though she might start pacing. But, after a second glance around her room she stayed put, hands planted on her hips. “Maybe I can talk to my stepdad. Tell him it’s for, I don’t know, new clothes. He hates the way I dress.”

  “I appreciate the thought, but no. And besides, it wouldn’t be enough. He wants ten thousand pounds.”

  Jessica collapsed onto the bed again. “Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.”

  “I know.”

  “There is one person you know who has that kind of money and a lot more where that came from.”

  Brie’s head snapped around. “Don’t even say it.”

  “Bailey would do it. For you, he would. I’m sure of it.”

  A small part of Brie liked the idea he might like her enough to help her, but that part was being overshadowed at the nauseated part of her that would never do such a thing. Hadn’t he just said how much he appreciated that she treated him like everyone else? That she didn’t use him for some sort of personal gain. “I could never ask and I would never ask.”

  “I know.” Jessica offered her a weak smile. “It was a stupid idea, but Brie you can’t throw away your New York money. How else will you get there after graduation and get set up for your job at Sotheby’s?”

  “I don’t know, but I’ll figure something out. I always do.” Brie pushed off the wall at her friend’s anguished expression, ashamed she’d ruined her good mood.” She picked up a flashy red and black shirt off of the floor and held it up, “Now, let’s figure out what you’re going to wear on your date.”

  Chapter 13

  Brie scrubbed her paintbrushes clean under the tap at Splash Pad and tried not to think about how her fellow colleagues were going to react to the pictures. There was no doubt they would see them. She glanced at the clock on the wall with the Starry Night background. In less than thirty minutes Theo was going to show up and demand something she didn’t have.

  Her stomach twisted as she turned off the water and stared at her reflection, her dark hair matc
hing the dark circles under her eyes. Maybe her professors would let her finish out the program. Maybe if she went to them first instead of them finding out on their own . . . and she could use her money for New York to pay the tuition she would owe.

  She sighed, defeated, and flipped off the light. Her life was about to change and not in the way she’d hoped where dreams came true and hard work paid off. This time, reality was going to get the upper hand.

  She crossed the studio and laid the paintbrushes out to dry along the counters. If she did get fired, she’d have to find another way to cover rent and bills. New York could wait, but Jessica needed her to pay her share. Hands on her hips, she glanced around the studio. Maybe they could use her full time. The extra money for the mural she was contracted to paint would help, but it wouldn’t last long.

  A tap sounded against the glass and a cold sweat broke out all over her body. When she turned to find Bailey instead of Theo, her mouth formed a silent ‘o’.

  She used the mirrors lining the walls to give her face a once over as she hurried to the door. The last thing she needed was Bailey reading the panic undoubtedly etched into the worry lines around her mouth and eyes.

  Of all the nights for him to show up unannounced . . . She cleared her throat and pasted on a smile as she unlocked the door. “Hey, what’re you doing here?”

  “I wanted to see if you’d like to grab a coffee.”

  “Coffee? You want to take me out for coffee?” She shook her head. Here she was on the verge of having her life turn upside down and inside out and Bailey was asking her out. “You know we can’t go out together.”

  Aware of how clipped her words were, she backtracked, “As nice as it would be, you know we can’t. Not right now.”

  “Oh, you miss understand. I know we can’t go out, so I brought it to you.” He turned and held the door open with his hip while he bent at the waist. When he turned back around, he was holding two cups from the coffee shop down the street.