Page 59 of Drive
“Who’s this?” Larry replied, a note of irritation in hisvoice.
“My name’s Jacques. I’m a friend ofRainey’s—”
Larry broke in before he could continue. “A friend?” he asked, his skepticismundisguised.
“Yeah. And I’m trying to help her out, so I need you to tell me how to find this surprise brother ofhers.”
It became clear in a matter of minutes that Larry’s information on the subject was less than stellar and more than a little outdated. But everything he said Jacques wrote down in the moleskin he always carried forsongwriting.
Ray Charles Reeves had been born to a woman named Gloria Lopez in Louisville, Kentucky. Larry could not recall the kid’s date of birth, but he did give him the last known address, which was a good six years old. Apparently, Lopez had gotten married to a man around that time, and Rainey’s dad and his lackey — Jacques found Ash’s term more than fitting for the tool named Larry — had lost touch with her. Larry gave him the number he used to have for her, but Jacques suspected it was probably oldtoo.
He didn’t linger on the phone long after he wrote down everything Larry had to offer, and after he disconnected the call, Jacques gathered up Rainey’s phone, their glasses, and the wine bottle and went back inside. If Rainey needed something, he didn’t want to befar.
The downstairs was empty, so Jacques sat on a barstool and took a chance on the phone number. It rang through, but a woman named Bridget answered, and she didn’t know a Gloria Lopez. Dead endthere.
He started searching for Gloria Lopez on his phone, even though he had little hope he’d find much of anything. Whitepages only turned up three hits in the whole state ofKentucky.
Jacques took screenshots of the pages, knowing that if the woman had married, it was likely none of the three were her. And one was only twenty-seven, too young, Jacques hoped, to be someone Doc Dylan Reeves had knocked up a decade ago. The other two looked to be in their thirties and forties, so either, technically,couldhave been the rightone.
He found three more on Facebook, and one of these bore the hyphenated last name of Lopez-Craine. He snapped pics of these as well and was about to search Instagram when the sound of footfalls on the stairs made himturn.
Rainey’s eyes met his, and she gave him a timid smile. She no longer appeared upset, but she came down the stairs a little slower than he’d like, as though she were uncertain what she’d find when she approachedhim.
To let her know he had no intention of leaving, he reached for the bottle of wine and tipped it into their glasses, topping them off. Glancing back at her, he saw that her timid smile had grown a little. She met the bottom of the stairs and walked to the kitchen, though she passed up the stools next to him and chose to stand on the opposite side of thecounter.
Regretting that she wasn’t closer, Jacques slid her wine glass across thecountertop.
“How’s Holi?” he askedgently.
Rainey took the crystal stem between her fingers and gave him a nod of thanks. “Taking everything in stride, as usual,” she said, giving him a tentative glance under her lashes. “When she heard of our new little brother, she actually snorted. Holi’s not easilysurprised.”
She took a sip of her wine, set it down, and peered up at him under her lashes again. “And unless you’re a very good actor, you seem to be able to take quite a bit in stridetoo.”
If she was looking for reassurance, he would gladly give it. “I told you before, family drama doesn’t faze me.” Then he took a sip of his own glass before setting it down near hers. Their fingers were almost close enough to touch. “I’m just glad you let mestay.”
This time, he watched her bite down on her smile. He wished she’d set itfree.
“Do I get to feed you now?” he asked, determined to do what he could forher.
Her eyes widened just a fraction, and then her mouth dropped open. “Oh, my God. I completely forgot about dinner.” She covered an embarrassed laugh. “You must bestarving.”
Jacques shook his head, grinning. “It’s all good. We’ll eat now.” He pushed himself from the stool, giving her little opportunity to refuse. “Where are theplates?”
“I’ll get them,” she said, turning toward thecabinets.
Jacques moved to the oven, grabbed a potholder from the counter, and set the three containers he’d picked up at Magic Wok onto the bar. Rainey darted around him, laying down napkins and servingspoons.
“Chopsticks?” she asked, meeting his eye with only a quickglimpse.
Before he’d arrived that evening, Jacques had anticipated that she’d be nervous — hell, they’d both be nervous — being together again after she’d avoided him for weeks. Her family’s situation had taken the focus off that awkwardness at first, but now it seemed to be back fullforce.
At least for Rainey. Jacques had only to see her again to know that coming — that insisting on coming — had been the right call. Now he just needed to help her realize ittoo.
“Sit down,” he said, retrieving two pairs of paper-wrapped chopsticks from the takeout bag. When Rainey, unmoving, blinked up at him, he tilted his head in the direction of the barstools. “Sit. I brought dinner. I get to serveyou.”
She stared at him for a second, looked at the chopsticks in his hand, and finally nodded. Moving with what looked like deliberate calm, Rainey walked around the edge of the bar andsat.
“Now…” Jacques began, opening all three of the takeout containers. “…what do you like? We have Sesame Chicken, Kung Pao Shrimp, and Vegetable FriedRice.”
