Something Wicked This Way Comes, Volume 2

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.”

Chapter Five

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.

In Robyn’s experience, outward beauty required fleshy thighs, heavy breasts, wide hips and a noticeable tummy. To the men on Mulberry Street, this was the embodiment of desirability and equated to fertility and healthiness in their minds.

And true beauty…well, that was something intangible, something that radiated outward from within. Beauty was in the vivaciousness in which you danced, the love of life that radiated across your face when you broke bread with the family, the joyous way you made others feel about themselves.

Skinny or thick, true beauty had no look to it.

By the time Robyn dragged herself up to her apartment, she was cold, soaked and shivering.

Her family was waiting for her in Nicky’s apartment across the hall, as if they knew what had happened tonight. As they sprang in near unison out of Nicky’s front door, she could see the concern written all over their faces.

As it turned out, they did know. At least a little of the story.

“Jake is looking all over for you!” Robyn’s mother chastised. “He’s worried sick and so were we!”

“What happened, sis?” Nicky asked, throwing a towel around her. “Why did you leave without telling Jake?”

Robyn still couldn’t find the energy to speak. At least not about that. “I need a hot bath,” she said unblinkingly, her voice scratchy. “I’m so tired and cold.”

“Of course, bambina,” her father, Louie, said soothingly, wrapping his arms around her. Robyn breathed in the familiar, safe scent of him. “Nicky, go run the water for your sister.”

“Sure, Pops.”

Her father was quiet for a long moment, and then, “I understand now is not the time to talk, but you’ll tell me and Mama what happened tomorrow, si?”

“Si,” she whispered.

“I need to know only one thing tonight.”

“Che cosa?” What?

“Did this Jake hurt you in any way, physically or otherwise?”

“No, Pop. Jake would never do that. I promise.”

Louie nodded, satisfied. “Your mother left babba in your fridge and a big pot of soup on your stove. She just took it over so it should still be piping hot.” He kissed Robyn’s head. “Go take a hot bath and eat some hot soup, bambina. I love you and we’ll discuss this tomorrow.”

She didn’t want to move. She felt warm and safe for the first time in hours. “Si, Papa. I love you too.”

* * *

Jake felt sick to his stomach. He’d looked everywhere for Robyn and couldn’t find her. He’d checked every shop and bistro in Little Italy, gone to her apartment twice, scoped out her favorite bookstores and hangouts, and searched everywhere he could think to look. It was as if she’d vanished into thin air.