I sank into the car and buckled my seatbelt while Trent closed the door. He hit the roof of the car twice with the palm of his hand. It must’ve been a signal for Hayden, because the Panamera slowly pulled away from the curb and away from Trent. I turned around in my seat and looked out the back window. I watched as Trent walked over to his bike and unlocked the helmet I had worn from the foot peg. He stared at it in his hands for a moment before hurling it across the parking lot and into the side of the building. I closed my eyes and turned back around in my seat. Tears flowed down my cheeks as I tried to come to terms with the fact that this was the end of me and Trent. We were through.
chapter 12
Nine days. It’s been nine excruciatingly long days since I stood face to face with Trent outside of the arena. Nine days since Hayden drove me back to the Knox Estate to get my bags, before driving me to the airport so I could fly home to Montreal. Nine days. And I haven’t heard a word from Trent.
I picked up my phone to check and see if I missed any calls or texts. Nope. Still nothing but silence. Well, that sucks.
I took the straw out of my Moscow Mule and chugged the rest of my drink directly from the copper cup. My lips puckered as the liquid traveled down my throat. Unfortunately, the drink was unsuccessful in chasing away my thoughts of my boyfriend. Correct that, ex-boyfriend.
“Need another?” Lexi, the Tinker Bell of a bartender at Les Deux Beauchemins’, questioned while holding up a bottle of Vodka.
The truth was I did need another. And another. And then, probably a couple of more on top of that. But, no matter how much the alcohol clouded my mind, I knew that it wouldn’t stop me from seeing Trent’s face every time I closed my eyes.
“Better just make it a water.” I said, placing my straw back in the cup and then sliding it over to Lexi’s side of the bar.
“Not doing what you wanted, huh?” Matty asked as he placed a bottle of water in front of me. He eyed me sympathetically, knowing exactly what I was trying to accomplish.
See, I called Matty when Trent and I ended things. I know I know... Knowing how Matty feels about me, I should’ve called Nic. But I found myself dialing his number and before I registered what I was doing, he had already answered the phone. Matty picked me up at the airport when my plane landed and then took me home. He bit his tongue and kept his opinion to himself the entire ride, even though I could tell he was just itching to say something. We still haven’t talked about the reason why I came home early. I don’t think I can bring myself to discuss it, not yet...
I took a swig of the cold water, wishing it was a magic potion which would make me forget all about Trenton Trousdale Knox. No such luck.
“Hey, Paige, that fine fox at the other end of the bar has been eyeing you for the last few minutes.” Lexi nodded to the far-left side of the bar with her head.
My eyebrow rose, showing my skepticism, as I leaned forward on my barstool and looked to the left. I was met by a wide, lecherous grin. I closed my eyes and exhaled while shaking my head. Seriously? Speaking of no luck...
“Oh, he’s not a fine fox.” I looked at Lexi. “Trust me, he’s more like a wolf in sheep’s clothing.” I rose from my stool and walked over to the left side of the bar. The “fine fox” stood to greet me and we both stared at each other for a moment before either of us spoke.
“Hey, P.K.” J.J. pulled me into a casual, friendly hug and I frowned as I got a whiff of the alcohol on his breath.
“Why do you call me that, J.J.? My last name is Tremblay. T-T-T-T-Tremblay.” I eyed him, agitated by his nickname for me.
“I just figured it would be K-K-K-K-Knox soon enough.” J.J. shrugged.
My shoulders dropped. So that’s where he got P.K., Paige Knox. Damn... I felt like crying, but I had done enough of that already, and I was not about to let Trent’s best friend see me in tears.
“How many have you had tonight?” I asked J.J. as I took in his glass on the bar.
J.J. followed my line of sight and stared at his glass. “Ummm... smaybe, sev... eight. Yeah, nine.” He lazily puckered his lips and nodded his head, trying to calculate the exact number in his head.
I rolled my eyes as I reached around him to grab his drink. Taking a sniff, I immediately recoiled and placed the glass back on the bar. “Sheezus, J.J. This is straight Jack, NO COKE!”
J.J. smirked and I felt my heart plummet in my chest. Trent and J.J. looked nothing alike, but that smirk... Man, I miss Trent’s smirk.
“Go big or go home.” J.J. reached to finish off his drink.
I leaned forward again, grabbing the glass from J.J.’s hands. “That sounds like a good idea. You should head home.”
J.J. looked disappointed, but he didn’t argue. “Whatevers you say, P.K.” He reached into the pocket of his black jeans and fished out his keys.
“Oh, no, you are NOT driving.” I snatched the keys out of his hand with my free hand.
“It’s fines, P.K. I’m rights up the road.” He pointed to his right. He furrowed his eyebrows as he thought about something for a moment and then he pointed to the left.
I shook my head. “What road, J.J.?”
“Huh?” He raised both eyebrows and blinked slowly in response to my question.
“Where do you live?” I said slowly, so he could understand me.
J.J. chuckled. “I live on Drury Lane.” He sang out.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I had one of two options here. I could call Trent and have him come get his intoxicated best friend, but... that would mean that I would have to see AND speak to Trent. Or... I could just take J.J. to my place and let him sleep it off on the couch.
Why? Why did an intoxicated J.J. have to end up at Matty’s bar? And why did I have to be here as well, trying to drown my own sorrows in alcohol?
I placed J.J.’s keys in my pocket and pushed him onto the stool with my now free hand. “Sit here and wait for me for just a sec.” J.J. nodded his agreement and I walked behind the bar to find Matty.
“Here, pour this out for me.” I handed J.J.’s Jack and no-Coke to Matty. “I’m going to take him home. I’ll call you tomorrow, ‘kay?” I gave him a quick peck on the cheek before turning back toward J.J.
“Wait.” Matty said as he grabbed my arm.
I turned to face him and was met by a scrutinizing gaze. Great! Just what I need, a lecture about taking home strange men from bars.
“You’re taking him home? That delinquent?” Matty pointed toward J.J. and stared him down.
I looked from Matty to J.J. and laughed lightly. J.J. had his arms crossed on the bar with his head resting on them. All you could see was a slouchy black beanie, a black t-shirt and arms covered in tattoos. He was probably already asleep, the poor guy.
“He’s not a delinquent, Matty.”
“He certainly looks like it.”
“Well, he’s not. I know him and he’s... He’s J.J.” I honestly didn’t know how else to describe him. I’ve really only been around him that one night during the investigation, so most of my information has come from what Trent has shared. I really doubt Matty wants to know that J.J. likes to flirt shamelessly with me. Yeah, I’m positive Matty would not like knowing that.
“How do you know him? Matty interrogated.
“He’s Trent’s best friend.” I answered and promptly received a scowl from Matty in response. I was not in the mood for this at all, so I decided to just avoid and deflect. “Well, I’m going and I’m leaving my Jeep here. I’ll come get her in the morning, so please don’t have her towed.” I spoke quickly as I turned around and walked away from him.
“I won’t.” Matty yelled after me.
When I got back to J.J., I lightly tapped him on the shoulder. He picked his head up and looked over his shoulder.
“Oh, hey, P.K. What’re you doing here?” He smiled sleepily.
J.J. looked adorable with his sheepish grin, and in that moment, I honestly didn’t mind one bit playing the role of “Knight in Shining Armor.”
If it meant keeping Trent’s best friend safe, I would do it happily.
“I’m taking you home to Drury Lane, Muffin Man.” I chuckled. “Come on, let’s go.”
I watched as he stood and wobbled. I reached out and grabbed one of his arms, placing it over my shoulders. I wrapped my arm around his waist and led him out the door of Les Deux Beauchemins’. “Where’d you park, J.J.?”
He shivered slightly as the cold, 3 a.m. air struck his bare arms. “Ummm...” He blinked a couple of times. “Over here.” He said as he sobered up a little thanks to the chilly weather.
We walked two blocks before we found his ZR1. I pulled the key fob out of my pocket and unlocked the sports car, as I removed J.J.’s arm from my shoulders and walked to the driver’s side.
“What are you doing?” J.J. eyed me suspiciously.
“You are way too drunk to drive, while I’ve been pacing myself these last two hours. Get in.” I said with authority.
J.J. was taken aback by the tone of my voice. “She’s a standard. You know how to drive stick?”
“Yes, J.J., I know how to drive stick. Now, get in, it’s freezing out here!” I opened the door and climbed into the driver’s seat, as J.J. climbed into the passenger side.
I placed my hands on the supple leather covered steering wheel, curling my fingers around it. I looked down at the pedals on the floor and bit my bottom lip. I turned toward J.J. with an apprehensive look on my face. “Ummm... why are there three pedals?”
J.J.’s eyes widened and his jaw dropped. “I thought you said you knew how to drive stick?!”
I cracked a huge smile, while pushing in the clutch and starting the car by pressing the push-button. “Just kidding!” I teased.
J.J. let out a huge breath and closed his eyes as he leaned back in his seat with a hand over his chest. “Damn it, woman, you nearly gave me a heart attack.”
I winced and gripped the steering wheel tighter. “Please don’t call me that.” I said quietly, turning to face him.
“Sorry, P.K. Sexist, I know.” He opened his warm brown eyes and looked at me.
“No, it’s not that. It’s just...” I trailed off and shrugged sadly remembering every single time Trent had called me woman.
“My dumbass best friend?” J.J. smiled apologetically.
I let out a small laugh. “Yeah, him.” I nodded my head in agreement before pulling out of the parking space and steering the ZR1 toward Ville-Marie.
We made it to the parking garage in record time. I guess that’s what happens when you are driving the fastest ever production model made by General Motors. I turned off the car and looked to my right. J.J. was curled up in the passenger seat, fast asleep.
I decided to just get out of the car and go around to his side of the car. After I opened his door, I leaned down into the Corvette and shook his shoulder lightly. “Come on, J.J. We’re here.” I said quietly.
“Where?” He mumbled.
“At my place. Come on.” I moved his arm to put it around my shoulders so I could help him out of the car.
J.J. opened his eyes, our faces inches apart. He looked at me with a mischievous grin. “I knew it was just a matter of time.”
Always trying to put the moves on me. Ay ay ay ay ay...
“Shut it before I make you sleep in the car. Now help me out here, I can’t flippin’ carry you.”
J.J. laughed and clumsily barreled out of the car. I held onto the arm that was wrapped around my neck and slipped my left arm around J.J.’s slim waist. He leaned on me for support as we made our way to the elevator.
I pressed the call button and the doors opened immediately. We shuffled into the empty box and I pushed the button for the fourth floor. We stood silently, our arms around each other as the elevator rose. When the doors opened, revealing my floor, we stepped off and walked to my apartment.
“My head feels like it got run over by 32 dump trucks.” J.J. grumbled as I stuck my key in the lock.
“Only 32?” I laughed.
“Be nice, P.K. I’m hurting here.” J.J. whined as I helped him enter my apartment. I wanted to say that it served him right, drinking that much, but I just kept that little quip to myself.
I shoved my keys in my purse, along with the keys to the Corvette and dropped my bag near the door. “Well, let’s lie down and get some rest.” I steered J.J. over to the couch and he plopped down, pulling me down on top of him. I sighed, exasperated, as I tried to get up but J.J. just wrapped his arms around me and snuggled closer. “J.J., let me up.”
“Comfy.” He whispered.
I was so exhausted that I actually debated just staying there and going to sleep instead of fighting with him, but I knew that it wouldn’t be a good idea. Trent would have a coronary if he knew I had even considered it. Wait, what do I care? Ughhhh... Of course, I care... “You’re gonna be dead if you don’t let me go.” I said sternly.
J.J. immediately dropped his arms and I rolled off of him and stood up. I shook my head at his drunken behavior while I grabbed my white faux fur throw from the back of the couch. I covered him up before kneeling beside his face. I pulled the black oversized beanie from his head, smiling when I saw the hair underneath. J.J.’s raven locks were flattened to his head and I realized his hair was longer than I originally thought. I brushed a couple of hairs off his forehead, and then placed his beanie on the white coffee table, rising to leave the room.
“He really is a dumbass.” J.J. spoke quietly.
I turned around quickly, surprised by J.J.’s comment.
“He shouldn’t have let you get in that car.” He had straightened the throw over him and placed a hand behind his head to prop it up. The sincerity in his eyes spoke volumes.
I smiled sadly. “Thanks, J. I’ll see you in the morning.” I said before turning back around and striding out the room.
†
At 8 a.m., I crawled out of bed and went into my bathroom. I washed my face and threw my hair up into a very messy top-knot. I slipped on a strapless bra underneath my Montreal Canadiens hockey jersey and then quickly pulled on some navy leggings. I left my bedroom with bare feet and walked into the living room to check on J.J. I stopped when I realized he wasn’t on the couch. My white blanket was folded neatly on the end of the sofa, but I spotted his all black Converse on the floor near my coffee table. I also noted his beanie was in the same spot where I placed it last night.
I heard someone rummaging around in my kitchen, so I headed in there. I watched silently as the tattoo-covered man with the crazy, onyx hair was cooking eggs in a pan on my stove. He turned to get something out of the refrigerator, but froze, spatula still in hand, when he saw me.
“Ugh, sorry. I thought you might like some breakfast. Figured it was the least I could do for you keeping me from killing myself last night.”
“So, you decide to repay me by making a mess out of my kitchen?” I heckled him.
J.J. looked around and grimaced comically.
“I’m just kidding! But, if you’re not careful, you are going to burn the eggs. What can I do to help?” I asked as I walked around the island and stood near the fridge.
“Would you mind grabbing me the shredded cheese?” He asked, turning his attention back to the eggs.
I opened the fridge and pulled out a bag of shredded cheese before joining J.J. at the stove. I peeked over his shoulder and saw that he was making scrambled egg whites with spinach, bell peppers, onions, and soon-to-be, shredded cheddar cheese.
“That smells delicious!”
“Well, have a seat, it’s almost ready.” J.J. said.
Instead of sitting, I retrieved two glasses from the cabinet and placed them on the counter. “Would you like milk, orange juice, water, or coffee? I questioned.
“O.J. for J.J.” He answered, finishing the eggs and turning off the heat to the burner.
“You’re so flippin’ weird!” I laughed as I got the orange juice from the refrigerator and filled up both of our glasses, while J.J. plated the
eggs. He put one of my black and white polka dotted oven mitts on his left hand and opened the oven, pulling out a pan of perfectly browned crescent rolls. I placed the orange juice back in the fridge before grabbing our glasses and having a seat at the island. J.J. plopped a crescent on each of our plates and carried them over as he took a seat beside me.
“Bon appétit!” J.J. said, raising his glass and taking a drink of juice.
“Thank you so much, J.J. You didn’t have to do all this.” I took a bite of the eggs. They were fluffy and cooked perfectly... and mixed with the vegetables, tasted absolutely divine!
“You’re welcome, Paige.”
I stopped with my fork in mid-air. What did he just say? “You just called me Paige.” I blinked.
J.J. looked at me like I was crazy. “Well, that is your name, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, but you always call me P.K.” I took another bite and slowly chewed.
“I just figured with... Just trying to be considerate here.” He shrugged.
“Well, thank you.” I lightly bumped his shoulder with mine and we continued eating our breakfast in silence until both our plates were empty and half of the crescents were gone.
“I hope I didn’t make too much of an ass out of myself last night.” J.J. said, taking our plates and rinsing them in the sink.
“Not too much.” I handed our empty glasses to him. “But you did call your best friend a dumbass.” I laughed.
“Well, he is.” J.J. turned off the water and dried his hands on the dish towel before turning around and leaning back on the counter.
I copied his movement and knitted my hands together. “Yeah...” I agreed quietly.
“Any guy that would destroy a perfectly good motorcycle helmet like that...” J.J. quirked an eyebrow and grinned, shaking his head.
“He told you about that?”
“Yeah, he tells me everything. How’d you know about it? It happened after you left.”
“The car wasn’t even out of the parking lot, J.J. I saw it happen.” I shrugged.
J.J. took a deep breath. “Look, I probably shouldn’t tell you this,”
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