Maggie -

"That's all you're bringing?" I ask in awe as Jack slings his solitary duffel bag into the trunk. 

"Yeah, why not? I've got everything I need already packed." Jackson shrugs.

"That's the same luggage you brought with you to Seattle? Gross."  My nose wrinkles and my brows pull together as I ponder his cleanliness.

"Bollocks, I've got two fresh t's in there and a clean pair of Levi's.  You're the one who says you can't possibly wait a day." He teases and nudges my ribs gently.  "I'll survive, let's go."

After swinging by Jack's penthouse to pick up his car and drop off mine, we're on our way to Prescott.  I suppose we could have waited until morning.  We both could have showered and I could have gotten him to shave his face.  Although I'm sort of digging his 5 o'clock shadow, it matches his usual broody attitude.  Since I got what I wanted, Jack's agreement on this trip, I wasn't going to take the chance of waiting. 

As a kid, I always thought Prescott was so far away.  I would lay my head back, close my eyes and listen to Aqua's Aquarium album on repeat with my trusty anti-skip disc-man. I could play through the entire album just about three times before we finally arrived.  The ride there always seemed like it took forever, but in all honesty, it's only about two hours if you don't stop to pee. 

When we arrived at Jackson's penthouse, my new iPhone was waiting in a package 'hidden' under the mat. Apparently, they thought slipping a large box under a slim welcome mat was a good enough hiding spot. 

"Surely no one with poor intentions would be able to see through such a disguise."  I told Jack, my voice dripping with sarcasm.

He threatened to call FedEx and complain, but I honestly can't stand making a big deal out of these situations.  Complaining at restaurants, returning items, complaining about service, all make me extremely uncomfortable. I can't see Jack experiencing that same sort of awkward tension of disappointing someone else.  He prefers to tell it like it is, even if it hurts.

I feel somewhat relieved to finally have a phone again although, the only person I really wanted to call is sitting next to me. I power on my phone and a few voicemails come through from my mom that I decide to listen to later.  Presumably, she's trying to find out if I've been to see my father.

Soon mom, soon.

She disagreed with me contacting him from the beginning, but she knew I wouldn't back down. I bet now that she knows I'm going through with my plan, she's on the edge of her seat waiting for me to spill the tea.

We're traveling down the i17 at about five miles an hour, with traffic completely backed up and surrounding us.  Getting off isn't even an option, many of the exits are blocked off due to construction.

I've always heard if there's a lot of construction in your city it's a good thing, your city is thriving.  However, it feels as if this particular freeway is always under construction.  I've never been on the I17 and thought, 'Wow, this is going smoothly.'

"Bloody hell, they've blacked out the cat's eyes so everyone's playing fucking Pac-Man." Jack growls as he stares at the traffic ahead.

"Before I even attempt to decipher what you just said-" I pause, taking a breath and pinching the bridge of my nose. "No, actually just translate."

"Cat's eyes." Jackson chances a baffled glance in my direction before quickly looking back to the road. "The little white reflectors in the center of the road, they've painted over them and now everyone's in two lanes."

I can't help but stifle a laugh, "Playing Pac-man?"

"There was on old pub that I would go to as a kid-" I cut him off before he can finish.

"They allowed you into a pub as a kid?" I know he was an orphan, but the idea of him being in a pub as a child, doing god knows what.

"Let me finish please." Jack interrupts my thoughts and I simply nod and wait for his explanation.

"There was an old pub I'd go to that had an arcade in the basement.  They only allow three letters when you complete the game so J-A-K was the top two high records that no one could surpass."  Jack smirks, obviously proud of his accomplishment. 

"You'd go there often?" I ask hesitantly, I know he doesn't usually like dredging up old memories. 

"When I had the funds." He cringes as he recalls a memory and I wonder how he acquired those funds.  He's already admitted he's no stranger to thievery.

My chest tightens with an overwhelming sadness but I attempt to keep a cool face.  He hates people feeling sorry for him. 

I'm about to break the silence when Jack slams on the breaks, nearly rear ending the SUV directly in front of us. 

"You fucking wanker!" Jack shouts at the vehicle in front of us, his voice thick with a British accent.  His accent always seems to get much more intense when he's pissed.

My fingers grip the center console and my knuckles begin to turn white as Traffic starts to gradually move again.  His momentary vulnerability seems to have disappeared.  Now he's just impatient, as if getting super close to the person in front of us will make them part like the Red Sea in order for us to pass. 

Jack notices my white knuckles and grabs my hand. He gently begins rubbing soothing circles into my palm with his thumb.  As he does, my phone starts lighting up with his voicemails that I missed over this weekend. 

I desperately want to hear them, to see if he was going through the same emotional breakdown as I was, but I decide to wait until I'm alone.  I'm sure Jack doesn't want to relive those moments, I know I don't.

Traffic lets up once we get out of the city and the tension in my shoulders releases as our speed picks up.  The same freeway that was just lined with brake-lights is now just a dark and empty road with only faded orange construction markers to light our way.

The ride there alternates between light conversation and comfortable silence.  I do my best to show that I'm fine, but Jack clearly sees right through me.  I'm terrified.  What am I going to say when I finally see my father for the first time?

'Hi, it's me, your long lost daughter. Thought you were dead, want to be a father again?' I close my eyes and let my head fall into the headrest. 

"Maggie, it's going to be okay." Jack reassures me as if he can hear my every thought. 

"I know." I lie.

I don't want Jackson to be worried about me.  I'm sure everything will be fine, right?  I mean, my father has been desperately writing me letters for almost two decades.  Surely he'll be thrilled to see me actually show up on his doorstep, rather than just return his letter. 

After just about the two hour mark Jack and I show up outside of The Grand Highland Hotel, located in the tiny town of Prescott, Arizona. Google Maps seems to think 40,000 people live here but I find that hard to believe, considering it only takes about 10 minutes to drive through the entire city. Although, I suppose coming from Phoenix where we have a population of 1.6 million people it's understandable for this to seem incredibly small. Maybe it's grown since I've been here last. Either that, or these people just live hidden away in the mountains.

I'm not sure I've seen this much green since our visit to the Friendship Gardens.  Pine trees, hills and mountains of all shapes and sizes surround us.  If it weren't for the cold and my extreme anxiety, I'd think the lush scenery was the reason I was breathless. 

The town itself looks a bit like an old western movie.  The buildings lining the street are all attached to one another and they're all made with the same faded red brick. To the left of our small hotel is an ice cream parlor and directly to the right is a small pub, an odd combination but I suppose it's expected in such a small town.

Once we enter the building we head straight for reception and we're greeted by a frail brunette woman who looks as if she was expecting us.  Jackson must have called ahead while I was packing my bags.

"The Grand Hotel huh?  Doesn't look very grand to me."  Jackson says to the woman at the front desk before I elbow him in the ribs. 

"Well, it's certainly much bigger than it looks." The woman states, clearly unimpressed. She takes both of our drivers licenses, but after glancing at Jack's she seems to perk up. "I suppose since you're from the UK you've probably seen much more lavish hotels."

I check the woman's name tag and see Becca written in big bold letters.  Becca's eyes widen and she leans over the desk, beaming a smile at Jack that's so big I can spot the bright red lipstick smeared on her teeth. I think it's odd until I see her flutter her lashes and realize she's flirting. 

Jesus, I'm right here.

I should get used to people swooning over Jack.  He's mysterious and brooding, I get it. But for Christ's sake keep it in your pants.  I cross my arms and furrow my brow while Becca insists she escort us directly to the room we'll be staying in. 

"Oh yes, that would be fantastic considering we might get lost in such a grand place." I say it with enthusiasm and utmost respect but Jackson catches my sarcasm and elbows me in the ribs just as I did him earlier. I half expect my little green monster to show, but so many other emotions are running through me that the energy to summon it just isn't in me.

As Jack politely attempts to get rid of our host I check out where we'll be sleeping.  The room itself is actually quite beautiful, one wall is brick, while the rest are red complimented with white decor.  Everything is impeccably clean which is really all we really needed, a clean room to relax in the night before one of the biggest events in my life. 

"I thought she'd never leave." Jackson's voice snaps me out of my thoughts.

"Just another one of your many admirers." I tease before I collapse backwards onto the bed.  The soft white comforter cushions the blow and I peel up the edges to wrap myself in its warmth.

I notice the way he's standing with his lip ring tucked between his teeth and both hands in his pockets.  He's rocking back and forth nervously as if he has something to say but he's holding back.  Jack hates talking about feelings but by the way he's acting now, I'm almost sure he's about to broach the subject of my father.

"Jack, I'm fine." I state simply before my eyes stare up at the popcorn ceiling and I briefly wonder if it has asbestos. Will I be leaving this town with lung cancer or a new father? What, pray tell, is my fate?

"You sure?" He asks as he looks me over.

"Yes, now please go take a shower." I tease, then meet his eyes to see his lips turn up into a smirk.

"You're not joining me?" Jack's nervous stance didn't last long, he's already propositioning me for sex. 

My face betrays me as a smile begins to take over so I cover myself with the comforter before I respond.  "I'm okay, I might take a bath later though."

I don't want to use sex as a distraction.  In some ways, I want to let myself feel this anxiety because it's how I know this whole situation is real.  It's really happening, I'm meeting my father tomorrow.

After a brief silence and almost a half hour of hearing water run in the bathroom, I safely assumed Jack had given up on talking to me.  That is until the comforter, my only way of hiding from the outside world was suddenly ripped away. 

Jack is on the bed, carefully hovering over me with his strong arms on either side of my head.  He's still fully clothed which makes me briefly wonder why the water was running for so long until his lips crash into mine. 

All of the thoughts running frantically through my mind come to a stand still as the electricity from his lips flow through mine.  My body comes alive and my surprised lips begin moving with his.  His stubble tickles my neck as his lips trail to my neck and gently suck on the sensitive skin below my jaw. 

Jack's experienced fingers have unzipped my dress and freed my breasts from their cage before I've even realized what he was doing.  I don't protest, in fact I crave more as we rise to a standing position and I slip my arms through the sleeves of my dress, letting it fall to the floor.

His touch never ceases to light a fire in me, my body is in flames has his hands roam my body and my underwear slips to the floor.  I attempt to undress him but he takes both of my wrists in one of his large calloused hands to stop me. 

Before I can question him, he's picked me up from the floor and carried my naked body to the bathroom where a hot bubble bath dimly lit by candles awaits me.

Jack gives me one last gentle kiss before laying me in the tub, giving me a cheeky wink and shutting the door behind him.