by J. L. Monro
“Don’t worry about it.” I left the room before she could say anything more. The thought of her wearing Jace’s clothes riled me up even though it shouldn’t.
I made sure Brielle was settled before crawling in to bed and Jace popped his head round the door to say good night to her. He let out a huge sigh when he got under the covers.
“Jesus, BonBon. What do we do?” He looked like he was frustrated and overwhelmed.
“If she won’t go to the police, then there’s not much we can do, other than support her.” He pulled me in close to his body so that my head rested in the crook of his shoulder and arm.
“I’m glad you’re here with me. I don’t think I could deal with her on my own.”
“You would have been fine. All she needs is someone to be there for her while she figures out what she’s going to do. I’m surprised at Eric though. I mean, I know I only met him once, but he never gave off the creepy vibe like Mitchell did.”
“All I know is that if I ever see him, I’ll knock him into next Sunday.”
“You can’t solve everything with your fists.”
“Hmmmm. What can I solve with fisting then?” I looked up to see the frustration had gone and in its place was my playful man-child.
“I never said fisting, pervert.” He rolled on top of me, nuzzling my neck, and smelling my hair like he always did. He was nudging me with his erection but sadly, after the last hour my libido was not putting in an appearance.
“Baby, can we just cuddle tonight?” Jace stopped his petting and rolled to his side.
“Is everything okay?” He looked concerned.
“It’s fine. It’s just Brielle reminded me so much of Dana. She went through so much pain with Mitchell. I hated seeing her like that. It doesn’t do much for sexual motivation. My heart goes out to her.”
“I got you. Come here.” He turned me onto my side so that we were spooning. His legs were entwined with mine and our hands were joined. Somehow, this felt like so much more intimate than if we’d had sex. “You owe me sex, though. I’m going to log this one in my little black book of BonBon owes Jace sex for . . .”
“You’re an idiot, you know that.”
“That’s why you can’t get enough. Now sleep. I’m sure there’ll be more drama in the morning.”
We both fell asleep in each other’s arms, and even though I knew he was right about there being more drama to come, I slept soundly and peacefully the whole night.
THE FOLLOWING MORNING, Jace and I needed to go and visit his Dad in rehab. I offered to stay at home with Brielle, but Jace insisted that the last time he’d spoken to John, he was really looking forward to seeing me, and Jace didn’t want him disappointed. Brielle said she would be fine until we got back and she had plenty to do to keep her occupied. Considering she showed up with nothing more than the clothes on her back, I couldn’t fathom what she had to do, but thought it best not to pry.
John looked so different from the man I first met. There was life in his eyes and I think he had even filled out a little. Without a second thought, I rushed over to hug him. It wasn’t lost on me that I probably wasn’t this affectionate with the two people who had raised me; that was something I needed to fix.
“John, you’re looking well.” He looked so pleased with himself; his smile was infectious.
“I’m doing all right. They’re keeping me clothed, watered, and fed so it can’t be all bad.”
“I’m so happy you’re doing so well.”
“All it took was a little ray of sunshine to wake me up and let me know I needed to make a change.” We all took a seat in the lounge area. “So, tell me what’s been going on with the two of you. Jace updates me on the phone but you know he likes to skip important details.” I laughed and began to tell him some of the things that Jace and I had been doing together. To my surprise, John wanted to know more about me, and what I had been doing . . . without Jace.
When you have to speak specifically about yourself, you realize that you actually have no hobbies and you live through other people. John and I agreed that I needed to do something about that. Jace was smirking, and I knew he was thinking I could do him. God, I was beginning to read his perverted mind.
John told me some stories about Jace as a boy, which I found thoroughly funny, but also touching. I was sure that Jace didn’t think his dad remembered half of what he did. It showed that he meant a lot to John. Now it was time for John to be fully present for Jace so they could rebuild their father/son relationship.
“So, how long is Brielle staying at the house?”
“I’m not sure exactly. I suppose she just needs time to gather her thoughts. Dana was very much the same.”
“Hmmmmm. The difference being, if you’re anything to go by, your sister is a lovely girl. I don’t trust Brielle as far as I can throw her.”
“I saw the bruises myself, John. There’s no way she could have faked those injuries. She was a shell of who she normally is.”
“You just be careful. Layla used to say there ain’t nothing like a woman with her foot in the door. She’s wanted Jace for a long time and I doubt that she’s going to give up so easily now that she’s under the same roof with him. You just be careful.”
“I will, John.”
“Now where’s this boy with my proper food.” And just like that, the subject was changed, but it didn’t remove the uneasy feeling that I now had in my gut.
Not long after Jace arrived with the proper food we left John, promising to visit the following week. As he had made progress, we could come to see him more often. He still didn’t feel ready to leave and we respected that.
On our way back home, Jace was called to a meeting, so he dropped me off and then took off. We got back a little earlier than expected so I decided to go into work and catch up with Coops. Brielle wouldn’t want me hovering around her anyway.
After I went through the door, I could hear Brielle upstairs. I didn’t want to startle her so I went upstairs, calling out to her since she was probably in the guest room. What I didn’t expect to see was Brielle coming out of Jace’s room.
“What are you doing in there?” John’s voice and words of warning were echoing in my head.
“God! You scared me. I was just looking for shower gel.”
“There’s shower gel in the main bathroom.” What was she up to?
“I know, but I think that stuff is yours and it’s too harsh on my skin. Jace always buys the skin sensitive shower gel, which is much more suited to me.” I suppose that’s plausible. “I’m sure Jace wouldn’t mind. Anyway, why are you back so soon? I thought you and Jace were going to be out for most of the day together.” There it was again. Subtle but still noticeable, there was a slight tinge of bitterness that I had become accustomed to when talking to Brielle.
“He had to go to a meeting. I’m just here to collect my keys for the office. You’re going to be on your own for a while longer, until one of us gets back.”
“I’ll manage. Don’t worry yourself.”
I walked past her to go into the bedroom to get my keys. I always kept my keys separate out of fear of losing them.
I called out to say goodbye to Brielle as I was leaving, but didn’t hear a response. Maybe, she hadn’t heard me. I chose to believe that over the fact that she was back to ignoring me.
My mood hadn’t improved by the time I arrived at the office.
“You remember where you work then?” Coops swiveled around his chair and peered over his fake glasses at me. Only he would be vain enough to wear glasses he didn’t need to carry off the geek chic look to the max.
I knew I hadn’t been keeping a regular office schedule lately, but with everything going on with Dana and her situation, John and his situation, and Jace in general, my life felt very unscheduled.
“Not now, Coops.” I just wanted to be left alone. I felt uneasy; something just wasn’t right and I couldn’t put my finger on it.
“Coffee?” His voice was more sympath
etic now.
“Coffee.” Maybe that would make me feel better. I hadn’t had a professional espresso in . . . well, actually since I’d been staying with Jace, I couldn’t remember when I’d had real good coffee.
Fortunately, the nearest coffee shop wasn’t far and Coops was back before I could start to get catty about the fact that there was no proper caffeine in my system.
“So what’s eating you today? Aside from Jace, of course.”
I told Coops about Brielle. He was sympathetic to a point.
“I feel for her. I really do. However, a bitch doesn’t change her acrylic nails and love for fake tan overnight. You need her out from under his roof ASAP. As in yesterday! Doesn’t she have family or other members in her coven that she can call on?” I snorted mid sip.
“I don’t know. She said that was where she felt safe and I can understand that. I don’t think I have it in me to ask Jace to make her leave if that’s the one place she feels safe.”
“You met Eric didn’t you?”
“Yeah, that’s the thing. I said to Jace he didn’t give off the bat shit crazy woman-beating vibe.” Coops raised his eyebrow at me. “Yes. I know men who beat women don’t come with a stamp on their forehead that says I am skilled with my hands especially with women.” I mean, he seemed normal enough.”
“Well, I guess now you know he isn’t.”
Coops decided that it was best that I worked from home for the rest of the week to keep tabs on Brielle, especially if Jace was going to be home. I hoped he didn’t think I didn’t trust him. I didn’t trust her. And maybe having another woman in the house would help her.
Between catching up on work that I had fallen behind on and looking through new projects, I stayed much later in the office than I’d planned to even with Coops nagging at me to go home and take a bitch out. When I did finally get back to Jace’s, I smelled freshly cooked food as soon as I walked through the door. Jace had proved time and time again he couldn’t cope in the kitchen, so that meant either he ordered food in or that Brielle had cooked. I was betting on the latter.
“Jace?” I called out his name to locate him in the house. The response I got was from the kitchen. I walked in to find Jace sitting at the table with his face in a bowl of spaghetti Bolognese and a stick of garlic bread in one of his hands. Brielle was puttering around, cleaning up.
“Hey, BonBon. How was work?”
“Good thanks. You?”
“Same old, same old. Brielle cooked as a way of saying thanks. You want some?” I knew he felt he needed to explain because I could sense the scorn on my face. I knew this wasn’t my house, but I didn’t care. She was in my kitchen cooking for my man. I had planned to cook him dinner tonight. I always cooked him dinner if we were at home. I could feel the steam escaping from my ears. “BonBon?” Jace’s voice brought me back down to earth.
“No, thanks, I’m not hungry this evening.” I’d been bloody starving by the time I got through the door, but my appetite had vanished. “I’m going to take a shower.” Jace started to get up, but I glared at him enough for him to understand that he needed to sit back down and give me some space.
The warm spray from the shower thankfully eased some of the tension from my body, and by the time I stepped out, my appetite had returned. I was still feeling petty enough not to eat what Brielle had cooked and would make a sandwich instead. They were both in the living room when I came downstairs. Brielle had her head rested on Jace’s shoulder while they watched a movie. The intimacy wasn’t lost on me. Fortunately, for Jace, he hadn’t put his arm around her or else he may have ended up in a hospital emergency room before the night was over.
I sat in the chair to the side of the main sofa. Jace immediately sat upright whereas Brielle made no attempt to move.
“So Brielle, how have you been getting on with sorting your things out?” That sounded better than what I wanted to ask. When the fuck are you getting out?
“I wanted to talk to you both about that.” She now sat upright facing Jace more than me. This was not going to be good. “I think I need to move. Eric knows where I live and I don’t want to feel vulnerable. If you don’t mind, I’d like to stay here just until I find myself somewhere new.” She was pleading with him and from the look on his face, he really didn’t know what to say.
He looked over to me for help, but I schooled my features so he couldn’t read what I thought. He needed to make this decision on his own. There was no way I was making the decision because I knew what my choice would be . . . a one-way taxi ride to the nearest Travelodge.
“I don’t see why not.” She leapt on him to hug him tightly. My nails were digging into the arm of the chair.
“Oh, thank you Jace. I don’t know what I would do without you. You’ve really been my rock through all this.” I guess I’m just chopped liver.
I gave it five more minutes before I made my excuses and went to bed. Jace came up shortly after and tried to get me to spoon with him. That was never going to happen.
“BonBon, are you mad at me?”
“I’m sleeping.”
“You can’t be sleeping if you just said you were sleeping.”
“I’m trying to sleep.”
“I couldn’t tell her no. What kind of dick would that make me? She’s been beaten up by her boyfriend and hasn’t got anyone else to help her.”
“She should ask God for help. He likes to help the damned.” Jace started laughing and wrapped his arms around me despite my struggles. “Fuck off, Jace. I’m pissed off with you and the ex that just won’t disappear.”
“I know you are. I’ll make it up to you.”
“You better.”
NOTE TO SELF: When Jace says he’s going to make it up to you, he really means it.
Second note to self: get pissed off at Jace more.
When I woke the next morning, I was alone. Well, not entirely alone. The room was filled with bouquets of roses, teddy bears and . . . holy shit . . . boxes of chocolate. I squealed with childish delight as I jumped off the bed to go and inspect my surprise.
On my first non-official date with Jace—the one that had resulted in the infamous escape-after-hot-bathroom-sex escapade, I had told him that my favorite flowers were roses, I collected teddy bears, and I had a not so secret addiction to chocolate from Hotel Chocolat. I had also told him random facts about myself that he had actually remembered. I had told him my favorite number was thirteen, even though I was lying, and there was thirteen of everything. Thirteen dozen roses, thirteen bears, and thirteen boxes of the large chocolatiers boxes from Hotel Chocolat.
I noticed that on each set of gifts there was a note. I went to the roses first.
”Don’t get the roses thing. They’re just flowers. They’ll be dead in a few days but if they make you smile then it’s worth it. Nothing is more beautiful than you are. Definitely not a flower.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. I ran over to the bears, hugging one while I read his second message.
“This bear thing is just freaky, but at least you have something to hold on to that will remind you of me if we’re ever apart. Is it ok if I spray them with my cologne so my scent is all over you?” And he’s calling me a freak?
I went to my final note, which short and as sweet as the other messages had been.
“Don’t eat all of this. I want you to save room for my COCKolate later. Love you xoxox”
I fell back onto the bed feeling absolutely giddy. That damn sneaky asshole. Did he drug me or something? How did I not hear him bring all this stuff into the bedroom? I wouldn’t be seeing Jace until later that evening since he had race coming up and would be practicing all day, but I was definitely going to reciprocate this gift.
I had a meeting with a client later that morning, but decided Coops and I would work a half day and then do his favorite thing . . . shopping. Agent Provocateur was going to be hit hard today.
Once I’d gotten ready, I skipped downstairs with as many of the bouquets of flowers I coul
d carry to put them in water. I wanted them all around the house so I could see them. The fact that Brielle would also have to look at them was an added bonus. Speaking of the witch, she was sitting in the kitchen reading a magazine when I entered. She took in the sight of the flowers and confusion appeared on her face.
“Where did you get the flowers from?” I could barely see her over the top of all the flowers.
“Jace bought them for me. I’m not sure when, but when I woke this morning the room was filled with them. You should go and take a look.”
I didn’t hear a response, or more to the point, I didn’t wait for one. I found some vases and jugs around the house and made sure all the flowers were in water before I left for work.
I noticed Brielle was still staring at the bouquets of flowers when I went into the kitchen to grab a bottle of water to take with me. Looking at her now, I felt like an uber bitch. Her boyfriend had just abused her and I was being petty and flaunting how great mine was.
“I could come with you tomorrow to look at some places if you want?” I’m sure Lana knows a few property developers or owners.
“That’s okay. I was planning to ask Jace anyway. He knows my tastes so it will be better if I’m with him.” I tried to shrug off what I was reading between the lines. I’d had the best morning so far and it was going to continue. “Are you going to be out all day?”
“Pretty much. I have a site visit to do and then I’m going out with Coops for the rest of the day. I think I have site visits for the rest of the week so I won’t see my office.” She seemed to consider what I said for a moment. I wondered if she might take me up on my offer to go with her to see some places but she didn’t say anything more.
I grabbed my purse and said goodbye before heading out the door.
I couldn’t wait to get my site visit over and done with. For the first time in forever, I really had to struggle to concentrate on what my client was telling me. Mr. Doubleday was one of my typical clients. Mid sixties by my guess and recently retired. He and his wife were downsizing but wanted the smaller house to recreate all the space he had in his larger home. It wasn’t a complicated project by any means, which was probably why I was a little bored.