MoreJade_LPavlov-eBooks

by Pavlov, Laura

  “Come here,” I said.

  She narrowed her gaze and leaned over the small table between us, while she held her cone off to the side. “You’re not getting any more. I’m keeping it to myself.”

  I chuckled before covering her mouth and kissing her hard. When we pulled apart, she got up and walked over to sit on my lap.

  “Thanks for coming here today. Are you going to let me show you around Bucktown a little more before we head back to school?”

  “Yep. I’m in,” I said, and I stole another taste of her ice cream. She was right. Hers was better.

  We spent the next six hours cruising around Jade’s hometown. Everywhere we went, people knew her. She’d grown up here. She showed me her dry cleaner, her drug store, her high school and her dad’s firehouse. She didn’t take me inside because she said we’d never leave if they saw her. But she promises to bring me back and introduce me to everyone. Her favorite park, the Six-O-Six was an abandoned elevated rail line that ran for three miles. We walked along the trail surrounded by green lush plants, and she told me all about her childhood.

  “You see that house over there? The one with the black door?”

  “Yeah,” I said.

  “Well, in middle school someone started a rumor that it was haunted. They said the lady that lived there was a witch named Mary Worth. You know, that urban legend where you say her name into a mirror? ‘I believe in Mary Worth,’ over and over until you see her face? Rumor has it she lived in Bucktown,” she said, looking completely serious.

  “How can you believe in urban legends? You’re a freaking science wiz.”

  Her head tipped back with a laugh. “A science wiz can’t believe in witches? Have you never been to a slumber party with a Ouija board?”

  I reached for her hand and intertwined my fingers with hers.

  “I can’t say I have. Our parties were more about making out and getting drunk.” I chuckled.

  “In eighth grade?”

  “Yep. So tell me, what does Mary Worth, the urban legend of Bucktown, do in her big brick apartment building?”

  She paused and turned to face me. Pops of gold dance in her green gaze where the sun hit her from above. “That’s the thing. If you can ring the doorbell without her grabbing you and pulling you in to your slow, painful death—you’ll officially break her spell. Send her packing. And guess who did just that?”

  My laughter boomed around us and I tugged her close. “Let me guess. Was it you?”

  “Hells to the yes,” she said, thrusting one fist in the air. “I saved Bucktown, and most of these people don’t even know it.”

  “I guess that makes you an urban legend, too.”

  She laughed before pushing up on her tiptoes and kissing me. It was short, and sweet, and she tastes like strawberry ice cream.

  “Something like that. It made me quite famous at St. Anne’s Middle School. Someone started the rumor about Mary Worth, and everyone believed it. And I finally ding dong ditched that house and ran for my life. A group of kids waited across the street. They called me lightning Jade for about three days until all the hoopla died down.”

  She pulled me back along the path and our hands were still connected.

  “Tell me your favorite childhood memory,” she said.

  I thought about it for a minute. “If it involves stealing a car, does that make it bad?”

  “You didn’t.”

  “Well, it was one of my dad’s many cars, and I was fifteen, so only a year away from getting my license. Adam and I took it to a gas station. We were going to try to get beer but seeing as we didn’t have fake IDs at fifteen, we settled for candy and Red Bulls. Lennon was too scared, so he decided to guard the fortress, which is another way of saying he hid at home,” I said with a laugh. “Anyway, I had the seat pulled so far forward and getting that car out of the driveway without my dad’s driver noticing was no easy task. But we did it. And we both vomited for hours because we ate and drank so much sugar.”

  She laughed and shook her head in disbelief. “Wait, you had a driver? Why didn’t you just ask him to take you?”

  “Because where’s the fun in that?” I said.

  Jade and I ended our day at her favorite pizza place, and the owner came around the corner and lifted her off the ground when he hugged her.

  “Jady bug, it’s good to see you.”

  “Hi Al, this is my friend Cruz,” she said.

  Al was a big, tall Italian guy with a strong Chicago accent. Tattoos decorated his arms and he had warm eyes.

  “Oh, is this a special friend?” he teased.

  Jade slapped his arm. “Why do you always have to make things weird?”

  “Because you like it that way. Nice to meet you, Cruz.” The older man extended his hand to me.

  “You too. I heard you have the best pizza in Bucktown,” I said.

  “You speak the truth, my friend.” He squeezed my shoulder before moving back around the counter. “So, what’ll it be? A large cheese, half pepperoni? Take some home to your old man?”

  Jade turned to me to see if I was good with cheese and pepperoni, I gave her a nod and reached for my wallet. She fought me on paying for the ice cream and I wasn’t fighting her on this. I handed Al my card.

  “I already like you, kid,” Al said before he called out our order to the kitchen.

  “I already like you too, kid,” Jade said, taking the seat across from me at a table.

  “The feeling’s mutual.”

  I liked this girl a lot.

  More than I’d ever liked anyone.

  And it was scary as hell.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Jade

  Cruz showed up at my door at six o’clock Saturday morning to pick me up. He was going on no sleep, because he had a show last night. Ari and I were at the library because we had another round of tests this week. He pulled me down the hallway and hurried me to his car. I brought my books and one change of clothes per his insistence. I had no idea what he was up to, and butterflies swirled in my belly.

  “What’s the rush?” I asked once he pulled away from the curb.

  “It’s a surprise,” Cruz said with a wink.

  “A surprise, huh?”

  He took my hand and I gazed out the window as we breezed down the freeway. Cruz brought something out in me. Something unfamiliar. Maybe a sense of adventure. As much as a type A, OCD person was capable of at least. I was more relaxed when I was with him, more in the moment. Peaceful and happy. Those weren’t two words I’d used to describe myself two months ago.

  “What is this?” I pushed forward when we pulled into a parking lot of a large warehouse looking building.

  “You’ll see. Come on,” he said, reaching in back to grab my backpack and his duffle bag.

  He clasped my hand and led me inside the building. Airplanes flew overhead, but we weren’t near the airport. It was a bit overcast and gloomy outside, and fall was in full motion. The cool weather forced me to wear both a sweater and a jacket.

  “Cruz, good to see you my friend,” an older gentleman said when we stepped inside.

  “Hey, Ponch. Thanks for doing this on such short notice. This is Jade.”

  “Hi. Nice to meet you,” I said. My voice was quiet because I didn’t know what we were doing here.

  “Happy to meet you. I understand you’ve never been on an airplane?” Ponch was in his mid-fifties, with warm blue eyes and a big round belly.

  My teeth sunk into my bottom lip as I gazed out the window to see planes scattered around.

  “I haven’t, no,” I said, and smiled because the look on Cruz’s face was adorable. He looked like a kid on Christmas morning. Ready to burst at the seams. He wore distressed jeans, a grey sweater and a black peacoat. He wasn’t nearly as bundled as me.

  “Alright, Cruz will take you outs
ide and show you around. I’ll be out in a few minutes.”

  Cruz took my hand and led me outside to a gigantic parking lot filled with airplanes. He opened a door to another building, and we walked into a large warehouse. There was an airplane parked inside.

  “What is this?” I asked as we walked up a staircase and into a lounge area.

  “It’s a hangar. This is where my dad keeps his planes,” he said, pouring sparkling water into two small plastic cups.

  “You have your own plane?” I sipped the water and stared out the floor to ceiling glass, looking down into the hangar.

  “Yes.”

  “So, when you go see your parents, you fly on a private plane?”

  “Usually, yes.”

  “Wow. Who flies the plane?” I had a million questions racing through my head.

  “We have three pilots. Ponch is my favorite, so he’ll be flying us today.”

  My stomach dipped. “What? Flying who today? I thought we were going to study?”

  He chuckled and reached for my hand. “Relax, baby. We’re going to study. We’ll just be doing it at the New York Public Library.”

  Sending.

  Sending.

  Sending.

  There was no signal. I couldn’t process what he was saying.

  “What are you talking about?”

  He pushed the door open and we stepped back outside. The sun was blinding, and I used my hand to shield my eyes. Cruz kept tugging me toward an airplane, but I came to an abrupt stop.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked.

  “What is happening? Who’s going to New York?”

  He smiled, and it did something to me. It happened every time. My heart melted. Every. Single. Time.

  “We are. You’ve never been out of the state of Illinois, so we’re going to fix that. They have a great library there, so we can kill two birds with one stone,” Cruz said.

  The breeze bustled around us and he looked gorgeous. His messy hair moved in the wind, as his honeyed eyes studied me. His cheeks were a little pink from the cold, and he leaned down and kissed me.

  “You’re taking me to New York? For how long?” I said against his mouth.

  “That’s up to you. It’s an hour and a half flight. We can fly home late tonight, or we can stay the night if you’re comfortable with that.”

  I started laughing and couldn’t stop. Cruz smiled, and he looked at me like I had three heads.

  “I’m going to New York?” I shouted at the top of my lungs.

  “Yes. Come on, crazy. Ponch is ready.”

  “I can’t believe we’re doing this,” I said as we boarded the plane.

  I’d never been on an airplane, so I literally had nothing to compare this to. But I’d seen movies and I knew what the inside of planes looked like. This was smaller, but much swankier. There were twelve navy blue seats total. I dropped down into the spacious chair beside Cruz and buckled up. There were several televisions, and the seats reclined.

  “Good morning, I’m Veronica and I’ll be taking this short trip with you. What can I get you to drink?”

  Yep. Apparently, we had our own flight attendant too. She was tall and blonde and probably late-twenties. Cruz looked at me, waiting for me to respond.

  “Um. I would love a water. But I’m happy to get it myself,” I said. I was so freaking awkward. This was overwhelming. Ridiculously overwhelming. And the most exciting thing to ever happen to me, aside from being accepted to Northwestern University.

  “Two waters,” Cruz said, and Veronica stared at him for an unusual amount of time. I pushed away the tinge of jealousy.

  “Do you care if I text my dad? Or is that against the rules on an airplane?”

  “You can text him,” he said with a laugh.

  Me ~ Take three guesses where I am right now.

  I waited all of three seconds.

  Me ~ Can’t wait for your response because we are about to take off. On an airplane! Cruz is taking me to New York to study at the library there. I’m not making this up! I won’t be in the same state as you for the first time in my life. That’s weird, right?

  Me ~ DAD! If you aren’t fighting a fire right now, you need to text me back.

  Dad ~ Sorry. I was in the shower. How are you flying to New York? For how long? You’re at the airport?

  Me ~ I’m coming home tonight or tomorrow. Cruz’s dad has a plane. And some kind of airplane hangar? Not sure what that even is, but it has bubbly water and the swanky cookies you like!

  Cruz laughed, and I glanced over to see him staring at my screen.

  Dad ~ Who would have guessed your first flight would be on a private plane? I’m happy for you, Jady bug. Be safe and give Cruz my phone number in case of an emergency. Text me when you land and let me know when you will be returning. Don’t spend the entire time at the library. Live a little, kid!

  I couldn’t contain my excitement as I powered off my phone. Cruz handed me his cell and told me to program my dad’s number in it.

  “Here you go.” Veronica set down our waters, and I didn’t miss the way she looked at Cruz again.

  “Thanks,” I said.

  He didn’t acknowledge her and shifted in his seat. He was uncomfortable. A sick feeling settled in my stomach.

  “I think she likes you,” I whispered close to his ear. We were getting ready for take-off, and my heart was racing.

  “It’s possible,” he said, fidgeting with his phone. He didn’t meet my gaze.

  “Do you know her?”

  “Yes,” he said.

  Warning bells sounded in my head like fireworks on the fourth of July.

  “You know her? As in, know her?” I said, half joking, before taking a sip of water.

  “Unfortunately, yes.”

  Water sputtered from my mouth all over my lap. “Oh my god. She’s pushing thirty.”

  “I don’t know how old she is. I don’t really care. It was nothing. It was two years ago. Lennon bet me I couldn’t make the mile-high club. She overheard the conversation and propositioned me. I’ve never spoken to her since. She hasn’t been on a flight with me again, so I assumed she quit.”

  I didn’t speak. I didn’t want to let this ruin the moment. But it was a big, fat reminder to be careful where Cruz was concerned. I could be dropped tomorrow just as easily.

  “You can’t be mad at me about something that happened two years ago, baby. I was an asshole before I met you, that’s not a secret.” He took my hand and intertwined his fingers with mine.

  “You still manage to be a pretty decent asshole now.”

  He chuckled. “I told you the truth. I could have just lied.”

  “And what would be the point? Why would you want to be in a relationship with someone you couldn’t be truthful with?”

  “I don’t, which is why I told you. I only want you.”

  “I hate that you have such a—colorful past.”

  “What matters is now. Moving forward with you.”

  “I guess. I hate her. Is that normal?”

  “Yes. It’s normal.” He laughed. “But there’s nothing there. I promise.”

  I nodded, and he leaned over and kissed me.

  “Are we going to spend the entire day at the library? Or can we explore a little?” he asked.

  I dropped the Veronica issue because he was right. I couldn’t punish him for his past. But I could tread cautiously with Cruz Winslow. Though he made it difficult to do so. I wanted to jump all in. I was crazy about him, and it was terrifying to feel so strongly about someone. To care this much.

  “I think we should do both. Where would we stay if we don’t go home today?”

  “My family has an apartment here. But I know you haven’t spent the night with me yet because we’re taking things slow. But it is possible to sleep with s
omeone without having sex, in case you weren’t aware. And there are multiple bedrooms in the apartment so we could technically have our own rooms. But I don’t know if I could sleep knowing you were down the hall,” he said. His warm honeyed gaze met mine.

  I wanted to take the next step with him, but I was afraid. Afraid he’d tire of me when I did. That he’d lose interest and drop me like he did Veronica and the loads of other girls in his wake.

  “It does seem silly to come all this way, just to turn around and leave. You know, NYU is my top choice for medical school. Although it’s near impossible to get into. It would be a shame to be here and not walk by it,” I said.

  The plane started to move, and I lifted the armrest and scooched closer to Cruz. I laid my head on his chest and closed my eyes. It was loud and we were moving fast now.

  “Jade,” he whispered against my head. “Look out the window. This is my favorite part.”

  He wrapped his arm around me and pulled me as close as I could sit without climbing on his lap. I peeked one eye open and watched the ground disappear beneath us. I leaned forward and looked down, before quickly returning my cheek to his chest and squeezing my eyes closed. That was enough of a view for now. His chest vibrated when he chuckled.

  “Do you know that Carrie Bradshaw married Big at the New York Public Library? Actually, she didn’t. Scratch that. She was supposed to marry Big, but he had cold feet and he no-showed. It was a whole thing. But ever since, I’ve thought it would be cool to get married at a library. Can you imagine the setting?” I was clearly nervous, because I was rambling. It was my thing, I guess.

  “That sounds awful. I don’t even like going to the library to study. Who would choose to throw a party there?” He stroked my hair.

  “Cool people.”

  “Cool, single people, maybe,” he said, and his tone was all tease.

  We laughed and I gazed out the window the rest of the flight. Veronica checked on us twice before we prepared for landing. I avoided eye contact. There was no logic behind my disdain for a woman I didn’t even know. A woman who slept with my boyfriend two years ago, before I knew him. But she shared something with him that I hadn’t. I’d never been a jealous person, but when it came to Cruz, I saw sides of myself I’d never seen before. And jealousy was one of them.