Chapter 19


When I'm stressed I bake, I'm not the best at it but it keeps me calm. I've already baked a batch of oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, and chocolate chip muffins, and I'm about to make some homemade brownies. The door opens and I'd expected Nicole to come home early, but not Henry. The both stop in the doorway and sniff around.

"Uh oh," I hear Nicole say.

"I love when Faith's in a bad mood," Henry teases grabbing one of the muffins on the counter.

I've somehow managed to bake and clean up at the same time so the small kitchen isn't a big mess. The oven beeps and I immediately put the brownies in. I set the timer and turn to the two of them who both have muffins hanging out of their mouths. They are staring at me waiting for an explanation.

"I saw my parents today," I say.

"Well can you see them more often because these are delectable," she says. I raise a brow.

"Well I'm sorry but I have more news for you," Henry says.

"Should I prepare a batch of chocolate chip cookies or is this more of a sugar cookie type of news?" I question.

Nicole looks just as lost as I do. Henry is serious and he looks a bit upset.

"Frank passed away this afternoon," he says.

"Frank as in The Galaxy owner, AKA Jace's step father?" I question pulling out the flour again.

"Yeah, he had a heart attack this morning and I guess never recovered," he says.

"Oh my god!" she says.

"The guys at the club are trying to plan a memorial for him at the club after the funeral," he says.

"Chocolate chip definitely chocolate chip," I say to myself.

I start rummaging through the fridge where we keep the morsels and pull them out, followed by eggs. I place them on the counter and hurry around the kitchen pulling things off the shelf.

"Faith," I hear Henry say.

"Okay I need brown sugar, and baking powder," I start rattling off a list.

"One cup, a teaspoon," I say pulling them out of the drying rack.

"Faith!" Nicole this time.

"Half a teaspoon, mixing bowl mixing bowl," I say.

"FAITH!" they both yell at the same time.

I drop the bowl and it just misses foot. I look up at the two of them not even realizing that my eyes are tearing up. I'm not sure if it's from my parents showing up or the fact that I'm debating on showing up at the funeral. I liked Frank he was a good guy and I'm sure Jace is crushed they seemed close. I'm afraid to go, scared that if he sees me things will change. I look up at my friends and the tears just start flowing.

"I'm sorry I've just had a really rough day and..."

Nicole and Henry both step over the fallen bowl and wrap me into a hug. What would I do without these two? They are seriously the best friends a girl could ever have.

***

I've been pacing the floor for an hour now debating on going to Frank's funeral. I've been stuck on this for two days. Afterwards the workers from The Galaxy are throwing a memorial in honor of him with his closest friends and workers. Henry and Nicole are going and that's another thing that's up for debate. Nicole knocks and peeks her head into the room.

"The people downstairs are going to think that there's a stampede up here," she says with a smile.

I sigh and sit down on my bed. I run a hand through my hair. I'm still in my underwear and bra haven't even gotten dressed yet. Nicole sits down next to me.

"Want my honest opinion?"

"No, but you're going to give it to me anyway," I say. "So sure," I say.

She puts her hand on my knee and I look at her.

"You should go," she says. "I think you should go because that's what a good friend does and I know you'd do it if Henry or I were in that situation," she adds.

"But you guys are actually my friends, Jace was never my real friend," I say.

"I'm not sure I believe that," she says seeing right through me.

I sigh. "Why do you always have to be right?" I ask.

"Because I'm your best friend and I know you better than anyone," she says.

"True," I say.

"Now get dressed because although I'm sure Jace would love to see you show up like that, it's probably not appropriate," she jokes.

I pick up a small square pillow and smack her with it, she giggles. At least I'll have Henry and Nicole there with me to keep me grounded. She exits my room which means it's my que to get dressed.

The church isn't far from the club only a few blocks so we walk. The weather is really nice so I'm able to get away with my three quarter laced sleeve dress, and black strap high heels that I never wear. As we walk up the stairs to the entrance I start to feel nervous. I'm worried how he'll react to seeing me. I'm here to support him through a hard time. Frank was a great man and his club minus the one bad memory will always hold a special place in my heart.

They've already started the service so we sit in the back. I can see Jace's head at the front of the church. I don't know anything about his family so I'm not really sure who he's sitting with. There are a lot of people here plus the whole Galaxy staff. Frank was well liked and according to Henry he was the best manager he'd ever had.

It's a short service and when it's over my heart starts thumping hard in my chest. We aren't going to the burial, but we offered to help Henry at the club to set things up. They said they needed extra hands so of course we offered. I also didn't really feel comfortable going to the burial. We file out of the pews row by row. I can see Jace stand as an older woman gives him a hug. He pulls away and gives a half a smile, and I think I catch him wiping his eye. He must feel my gaze on him. He looks up and a shocked look crosses his face. I nod my head to acknowledge that I've seen him, and then turn away. Henry walks forward and I follow. As we get into the isle I check over my shoulder again and he's still watching.

It takes about two hours for us to get everything ready at the club. Nicole and I help out the stage crew bring tables and chairs out of the back room. The DJ sets up and he's playing country music. Frank loved country night, every time they had it he'd be out on the dance floor with the crowd.

Henry volunteered to bar tend and several others had as well. Nicole and I only help set up and then we find a seat over in the corner of the club. Some other works who aren't working today are sitting in our area as well. People start arriving and it doesn't take long for Jace to stroll into the room. Some of the employees are patting Jace on the back and tell him how sorry they are. He's half paying attention and half searching the room. I watch as his eyes scan over everyone in the room. He looks at the bar and then to the other corner, he scans the dance floor where we are. Someone comes over to him and he nods, but his mind is clearly ... thinking about me.

His eyes land on me and I try not to look, but it's too late. He looks almost relieved. All of the tension I noticed in his shoulders fade and it's almost like he can breathe again. I nudge Nicole and she looks over at where he is. He's now talking to the older woman I saw in church with him. She touches his cheek and he smiles at her lovingly. He says something to her his eyes are in my direction. She nods and then steps away. I watch as he starts walking over with a purpose.

"Shit," I whisper.

Nicole looks over realizing what I'm seeing. She takes my hand and squeezes. He's getting closer, but people keep stopping him. I'm so nervous that my chest hurts.

"Bathroom," I say shooting up.

She doesn't question me, but follows behind. It's not crowded like it usually is on a normal club night. It's closed to the public, but there are still a decent amount of people. I keep my head down and concentrate on my feet moving. With each step I take I feel like I'm about to have a panic attack. A body jumps in front of me and before I have a chance to react I crash into his. My head lines up just below his shoulders, and I can smell the sweet scent he always gives off, when he doesn't smell like pot. My hand lays flat against his chest, I'm terrified to look up.

He steps back and waits for my eyes to reach his. Nicole shoves me and I have no choice. My eyes meet his. There's a sadness in them, and now I feel awful.

"Um... I'm going to get a drink," Nicole says awkwardly.

I want to grab her and pull he back, but she's out of there before I can even reach out. I bite down on my lip hard.

"Hi," he says.

His voice doesn't sound like his, it's small and I'm not used to it. It's making me feel bad, and part of me doesn't want to feel bad for him. He's not a nice person, but I can't help it.

"Hi," I whisper back.

"Faith I..."

"Don't Jace, not here," I say.

"You think we can talk later?" he asks.

His eyes never leave mine, he's asking for permission. I nod. I start to step away when a stupid urge comes over me. He's already got his back turned heading towards another group. I wrap my arms around his middle from behind. I rest my head on his back and use slight pressure against his stomach. He stops dead in his tracks and sucks in a breath, and when he lets it go it's shaky. He spins his body and I look up at him.

"I'm so sorry about Frank," I whisper.

His lips touch my head softly and he holds on tight, it feels like he never wants to let go. I sigh and pull away first.

"Thank you," he says and walks away.

Nicole and I spend most of the four hours at the bar. Henry fills our drinks a few times, but unlike a normal night we aren't up dancing and having fun. A few family members are up dancing and the DJ announces when one of his favorite songs come on. It's a really nice thing that was put together by the staff, I'm almost positive Frank is smiling down on everyone in here.

A note slips past me and onto the bar. I'm about to turn around, but he's already making his way through the crowd. A lot of people have left, but there are still some stragglers.

Meet me by the stairs when you're ready. If you don't want to talk I get it. Thank you for being here it means a lot.

I fold the letter up and ask Henry for one more drink. If I'm going to talk to Jace I'm going to need as much liquor in me as possible. I drink two more before finally heading over to the spot he'd asked me to meet him. The same spot I'd seen him and Charlene talking. He's standing against the wall like he's been waiting for hours. He actually looks really good. He's in a tux again, but he's got the jacket open revealing a tight white shirt underneath.

He gets me to look up into his eyes, and then holds out his hand to me. I take his hand and he pulls me up the stairs. The last time I was up here it was for a horrible reason. We don't stop in the same room, but head up another set of stairs and down a hallway. Jace pulls out a key from his pocket and opens the door. It's dark, but then when I step in he turns on the light. It's a small apartment with a brick wall along one side, white on the other. It's small a kitchen living room and down a small hallway there are two doors. The floor creaks as I walk across it.

"Can I get you a drink?" he asks.

"I think I've had plenty of those," I say with a smile.

He laughs, but it's not his usual laugh.

"You can sit, I'll sit on the floor," he says motioning towards an old worn out blue sofa.

"Don't be ridiculous you can sit next to me," I laugh.

He smiles and sits down on the other side, he's keeping his distance and I'm kind of thankful for that.

"Look I'm..." we both say at the same time.

We laugh and in that awkward moment everything just kind of clicks for me. He leans forward and presses his mouth to mine. With urgent lips he kisses me with everything he's got. I don't pull away because something is holding me there. I'm not quite sure what it is, but I can't stop. His hands are in my hair and mine run through his, it's a bit stiff from the stuff he has in it, but I don't care. Realizing that this is probably not the appropriate time to be making out with him I push at his chest. He looks at me urging me to look at him, and when I do he looks sad.

"I'm sorry I shouldn't have done that," I say. "I just I should probably go, this was such a bad idea," I babble.

"Faith," he says. I sigh. His hand reaches out to touch my face and I lean into his touch.

"Thank you," he says.

"For what?" I ask.

"For coming today, it means a lot to me, and for helping out. Henry says you and Nicole helped set everything up," he says.

"Sure, of course. Frank was such a great man," I say. "Is your mom okay?" I ask.

He half laughs, "My mom and him aren't together anymore," he says. "My mom is probably busy with boyfriend number fifty, soon to be husband number five," he says leaning back on the couch.

He throws his hands behind his head and leans back on them. Closing his eyes he sighs heavily, and then looks over at me.

"Oh, I'm sorry I didn't..."

"I know, I'm not angry with you. I just... my family is complicated. Growing up my father left my mom when I was under a year. She'd gone through several boyfriends after he left and Frank was her fourth husband. He'd been there through my pre-teen years and the only one who ever actually cared. After Frank came to New York, my mom just, I swear slept with one guy a week. See where I get it now?" he says because he knew exactly what I was thinking.

"I wasn't going to..." I say, but stop myself because that's a total lie. I was one hundred percent thinking that.

"It's okay," he says. "I deserve it I guess," he says.

"Yeah you do," I say with a slight smile.

He notices that I'm smiling, and for the first time all day I see a real smile from him.

"Faith can I be honest with you?" he says. "I really did mean what I said that day that I'd cut all ties with all of the others including your cousin. She was the last to cut free."

"Don't apologize," I say.

"Why it was a dick thing for me to do," he says.

"And you'll just keep doing them," I say.

"What if I can prove to you that I'm serious," he says.

"How will you do that?" I ask.

He scoots closer to me our legs touch.

"I'm going cold turkey," he says.

I can't help, but laugh. "Girls aren't cigarettes, you can't just go cold turkey," I say.

"I want to prove it to you, and maybe prove it to myself that I can do this," he says. "I'm tired of being like my mom, that's why I came here in the first place. I had to get away from everything going on there. I wanted to start a new life, and at first it was only going to be a short trip but it's turned into something more. I love the Galaxy, I love this city, but most of all I really like you," he says.

I swallow hard, and breathe a sigh of relief that he doesn't use me and love in the same sentence.

"Come with me to Frank's cabin upstate. He'd given me the keys a few days ago, said for me to take a break that I looked stressed. I insisted that I didn't need to go anywhere, but maybe if you come with me I can show you the real me," he says.

He's serious I can see it in his eyes and hear it in his voice. He wants to make this work, and he wants a chance to prove it and explain his evil ways in the process. I'm not sure I'm ready for that, my whole goal here is to hurt him not hear his life story. I'm not even sure I want to continue with this stupid bet I made myself do. I always had to be right always had to prove something, and now look where that's gotten me.

"Please say yes," he says. "I promise I'll make it the best weekend you ever had," he tells me.

I should say no, I really should. Part of me thinks that getting away is just what I need. Getting away by myself is what I need, not getting away with someone I'm not even supposed to really like. He's staring at me waiting for an answer. Deep breath in and out.

"Okay," I say.

"Okay, so you'll go?" he asks another smile, damn maybe he really is smitten as Nicole says.

"Yes," I say.

"I didn't hear you Faith, can you say that a bit louder," he says holding hand to his ear.

"Yes jackass," I say rolling my eyes.

"There's the Faith I lo... like," he says correcting himself.

I don't bring attention to it, and just smile. Now who's the jackass?

Bạn đang đọc truyện trên: AzTruyen.Top