Cole left the club, out of options. He wasn't gonna give up, though. He knew there had to be some way to track her down, there just had to be.
Chapter 29
W eeks, turned into months with no word. The best private eyes that money could buy, turned up with nothing. The media and fans took note of the next big story and the chaos dwindled down, just as fast as it had started up.
Life, forced its way to continue, the way it often does. The ex-best friends, did their best to steer clear of one another. When they were forced to be around each other, it always came down to hard stares, until one or the other broke the silence with the question that, both, always had in mind, ‘any word from her’, neither had an answer, besides the shake of a head, no.
It was after a convention in Reno, six months to the day that Penny and T.J. vanished, when Cole and Able finally made their way back together. Penny may have been the one to tear them apart, but she was also the glue, keeping them together.
It started with a simple text, sent from Able’s phone to Cole’s.
"You up?"
"NO, so stop texting me and go die in a hole, asshole!" Cole quickly sent back, with the roll of his eyes.
The little prick did have some balls on him, Cole had to give him that.
"I got a bottle of Jack."
"I hate you…"
"But, you love Jack."
"Where are you, pecker head?"
"Standing outside your door."
Cole let out a heavy breath, pushing himself off the hotel’s, lumpy mattress. Not that he had been sleeping. He hadn’t been able to sleep, enough to mention, since the the day Penny had made her escape.
Opening the door, he found his old friend standing there, a big bottle of Jack in hand. The look in his eyes, told Cole, that he was throwing in the towel.
"Get the fuck in here. By the way, you look like shit.” Cole
informed as Able made his way by him.
He immediately threw himself on the bed that Cole had just risen from. Kicking off his boots, he came to set with his back against the frame, his legs stretched out under the covers.
"Right back at ya," Able returned, unscrewing the cap on the bottle of Jack before taking a large sip. Next, he handed it over to Cole, who jerked it out of his grip, before pressing it to his lips.
The pair, had hit a wall when it came to their individual searches for the woman that they both loved. They each, had dropped at least twenty pounds and their eyes, sat heavy with bags, caused by too much drinking and not enough sleeping.
Cole, took another long swig from the Jack before making his way over to the the other side of the bed, crawling in under the sheets beside his old friend and current enemy. Dear Lord, they had become frenemies.
They sat, passing the bottle back and forth, their eyes both locked on the T.V.. An old episode of, I Dream of Genie, was playing out, though, neither was really watching.
"We really fucked up, didn't we?" Able broke the silence.
"Yep, but hey, at least we did it in like the most, epic way, ever." Cole offered with a nod.
"Do you think she'll ever turn back up?"
"I don’t really know. I still can’t figure out how she managed to just vanish the way she did. Doing that, takes money, a lot of it. Penny didn't have that kind of money, but damn, did she ever get herself lost as a mother fucker." Cole said with the shake of his head, still baffled at how she had slipped away without a trace. "Okay… so, um…, you're prolly gonna punch me
in the face… again, but, I think I helped her leave us." Able admitted, already a bit, too drunk, to care if he took another hit from the man beside him.
"How the fuck did you do that?" Cole questioned, looking over to eye his friend.
"Those pictures, man. I auctioned them all off and made a killing. I tried to give her the cash, but you know her."
"Yea I do, so how did you help if she, didn't, take the money?"
"She was too proud to take it, but your kid, wasn't. I stopped by her place the night after I broke it off with her. I just wanted her to have it, I still wanted to help her out somehow. Trent answered the door, kicked me in the balls, and threatened to hobble me, ‘Misery-style’, if I ever knocked on their door, again." Able said, wincing as he remembered the boot to his nuts that the kid had dealt him out.
"That's my boy!" Cole said with a proud grin.
"That was the second time that little shit, kicked my ass. He's,
definitely, yours. The kid hits like a damn freight train.”
“Then again, you take a hit like a little bitch.” Cole threw in, earning him a snarky look from Able.
“Anyway, after I could form words again, I showed him the cash and told him to take it, hide it, give it to his mother when the time was right. That kid, I tell ya what. He snatched the cash, flipped me the bird, and then slammed the door in my face. It was awesome! Dude, I really dig your kid." Able admitted with a nudge to Cole's arm.
"Yeah, he's pretty fucking cool, ain't he?"
“Hell ya, he is, way cooler than I was at his age.” Able said, sure it was the truth.
“Shit, he’s cooler than I am, now, always has been.” Cole noted with a sad smile.
He missed T.J., something fierce. He missed hanging out with him. He had never been away from him, this long before, not since T.J. was just a tyke. He hated that he was missing, even more, of his life. The first two years was enough.
"So, you're not mad that I gave her the cash?” Able questioned, feeling guilty as hell.
"Na, she would have left anyway. I'm just glad she wasn't starting off completely broke. I hope it lasted her. Penny’s a good woman, she’s smart, I bet she used it well. I bet, she got on her feet with it, and that they’re out there, somewhere, doing good. I just wish I knew for sure. I miss my boy and damn it, if I don’t still miss her, too" Cole finished, his truths, with a heavy sigh.
"I miss her too, man." Able agreed with the slow, shake of his head.
Time passed of neither speaking, just drinking until the
bottle was almost empty and their eyelids sat heavy.
"Are we cool, man?" Able slurred, from his place in the bed, leaned up against Cole.
"No, but someday, we might be."
It wasn’t perfect but it was a start.
A couple weeks later, had Cole glanced down at his phone, not recognizing the number that the video call was coming from. Normally, he wouldn't answer, but truthfully, he was bored as fuck. It was insane, how much free time he had, now that he wasn’t spending his days with T.J. or following Penny around. He didn’t know what the hell to do with himself. Most days, he just ended up moping around his big, stupid, house, hating it more and more, with each month that passed. That’s where he was now, and had been, for weeks. He hadn’t seen or heard from a soul, so he jumped at the chance for some kind of human interaction.
Hitting connect, his eyes went wide.
"T.J., buddy, there you are!" Cole about, screamed into the
phone, as he was hit with the image of T.J. looking back at him on the screen. Face time was an amazing thing.
"Hey…," T.J. greeted, nibbling his lip.
Cole could tell he was holding back, trying to keep his guard up. Or maybe, Cole was just hoping that was the case. He hated to see his little buddy, having to put on such a rough front.
"I miss you, so freaking, much! Where are you?!"
"Somewhere, and…, I kinda missed you too, a little. Mom said, that it was okay if I got at you. She let me have a phone, can you believe that? We even have a T.V., now. A big one too, but she always has the remote, so it sucks!"
"That's great buddy! I'm so happy you called. I've been worried sick about you two. I looked everywhere for you. Are you guys, okay, do need anything, anything at all?" Cole couldn’t keep the excitement out of his tone as his eyes darted over the screen taking in every inch of T.J. that was displayed. He looked good. Six months older, but good.
"Na, we’re good, b
etter than good, actually. I'm not gonna tell you where we are, though. Mom still doesn't wanna see you and I still don’t blame her, but… do you think it would be okay, if I called you sometimes?" T.J. questioned, looking a little unsure.
"Yes buddy, oh God yes! Please do, anytime, day or night. I’m always here, man. I'm so sorry that the shit went down the way it did, but that doesn't change you and me, okay? Because I love you, son, I’ve always loved you."
Cole’s voice broke a little at the end. His heart was in his neck.
"I love you too, dad.”
That’s all it took, Cole couldn’t help himself as a tear slipped down his cheek. Quickly, he wiped it away, not wanting to lose face, in front of his boy.
“Hey, um..” T.J. started, his look growing more serious.
“What is it, buddy?”
“Don’t try to find us, okay? Promise me that, or I swear, I'll
never talk to you again. Mom’s finally smiling and… well, I kinda like it here. I don’t wanna have to move, again. So, just leave her alone, okay? Promise?"
Cole took a deep breath, knowing, that he could easily track T.J.’s call if he wanted to but he didn’t wanna chance loosing him, either. If he tracked them down, they would just run, and even if they didn't, T.J. would never trust him again. He wanted more than anything to be with his boy, but he didn't wanna fuck this chance up. It might be his, very last, one.
"You got it, little man, I promise, but I need, you, to promise me something, too.”
“What’s that?”
“I wanna hear from you, I wanna know how you're doing, what's going on with your life, I wanna know everything. Please, just get at me, at least once a day, just so I know you're okay. If you can do that, I promise that I won't come looking for you guys."
"Deal!" One word, had T.J.’s face, lighting up.
So, that's how it started, that's how Cole got his son back in his life, once again. Day in, and day out, they talked. Cole tried not to push things, too fast. He let the relationship mend over time, steady heading back to how it used to be. Back when they shared everything.
Six months, came and went before T.J., asked if he could come out to Cali for a visit. Cole, of course, said yes and was out of his mind, when he went to the airport to pick him up. They spent the summer doing the things they had always loved to do, shark fishing, budgie jumping, mountain climbing, any and everything, they could think up. They didn't speak of Penny, and neither, brought up what had happened before. They just hung out, as if nothing had changed, but in reality, everything had.
After T.J. went back home, wherever that was, Cole and he, continued with their phone chats and face time sessions. It was slow and steady, but one day at a time, they were building on a bond, that had already, been years in the making.
Chapter 30
C
ole flipped through his mail, stilling as he saw the handwriting that he would know anywhere. With trembling fingers, he finally managed to get inside the envelope, where he found a note with the same familiar writing.
It read:
Dear Cole,
Thanks for sending our boy back to me. I made you a promise, that I won’t, ever, break. I’ll never keep him from you, so long, as you don’t try to take him away from me. I trust that you wouldn’t, that’s not who you are. You’re an amazing father, Cole. You always have been, always. Please never doubt that. You were my first love; you changed my entire life and for that, I will never forget you. All is forgiven.
P.S. A very smart man, once told me that, life, is too short to hold on to yesterday. I hope nothing but the best for you, Superman.
Forever, your
Penny Lane
Cole’s eyes, went wide, as he read out Penny’s return address. He finally had her. She had reached out to, him. It wasn't an open invitation to come and find her, but, he was gonna take it as such.
Grabbing up his mail, Able found one envelope, much thicker than the others. His brows narrowed, opening to find that it was filled with cash. Tucked into one of the stacks he found a little note, that read:
Dear Holden
I used the money you gave us, to finally, put our lives together, once and hopefully, for all. I’m sending it back to you now, every single penny. We don’t need it anymore. Keep it for yourself or pay it forward. Maybe it can help someone else, as much as it helped us. As much as you helped me. You changed my entire life. I will never forget you. All is forgiven.
P.S. A very smart man told me that, life, is too short to hold on to yesterday. I hope nothing but the best for you, Able Holden Grace.
Forever, your
Livi
Flipping over the envelope in his hand, Able’s heart skipped a beat. His eyes locked on the return address. He finally had her. He had wanted this for so long, and now, here it was, his chance.
Cole, made his way down the aisle of the plane, in search of his seat. His mind focused on the task at hand. He was off to see Penny lane. He didn't feel like he was breaking his promise to T.J., after all, it had been Penny, who had sent, him, the letter in the first place. It had to be, some kind of sign, that she was ready to see him again. She was finally starting to soften. She always did. It was a reach but Cole grasped it. He couldn't, not, take the chance and miss out on the opportunity to have her back in his life, again. He needed her, he had always needed her, and this past year and a half hadn't changed that, one bit. He was gonna tell her, exactly that, too and this time, he was gonna say it in a way that would leave her with, no doubt that he meant, every single word.
"Fuck!"
Cole knew the voice before he ever turned, to find Able, sitting in the seat right beside him.
"What are you doing here? I didn't even know you were in town?" Cole questioned, stopping to take the empty seat by Able, allowing the other passengers to pass by.
"Yeah, I had an audition out here. What are you doing here?
“I live here.” Cole reminded, cocking his head to the side.
“I mean, on, this, plane?” Able questioned, feeling as if he had just been caught with his pants down, fucking the proverbial cookie jar.
His relationship with Cole had found, some semblance of normality but it was still a little off. They were nowhere near as close as they once were.
A fact, that saddened them both, though, neither seemed willing to admit it to the other.
"I got a letter from, Penny Lane." Cole confessed, trying to hide the smile that was creeping onto his lips. Deep down, the letter had him feeling like the winner between he and Able. The feeling didn’t last long, though, as he looked over to see the annoyed look on Able’s face. "Where are, you, on this plane?!"Cole question, his tone accusing.
"Same reason as you, apparently. Heading to Lucksville, Wyoming." Able returned, his tone just as sharp as Cole’s had been.
"Go home Able, this shit, ain't startin’ up again. I love Penny, you know that. This is, my, chance to be with her. So, stop trying to fuck me over… again!" Cole warned, leaning into his friend.
"No, you, go home, this is my chance! I’m still in love with her!”
“No one gives a shit, asshole!”
“Fuck you, I’m gonna get her back and there ain’t a, damn thing, you can do to stop me!” Able shot back, refusing to allow Cole to intimidate him this time.
What’s the worst that was gonna happen? Cole had already kicked his ass twice, so had his son for that matter, another hit to his face was a small price to pay, to be able to see Penny, again.
"This is such bullshit man, such bullshit!" Cole announced, a bit too loud, throwing his head back on the seat.
It earned him a nasty look, from who he assumed to be the air marshal, judging by his perfectly inconspicuous attire. He was sitting a couple seats down, his eyes hard. Cole instantly put his hands in the air, not wanting to feel the sting of the taser, yet again. Twice in a lifetime, was plenty, for him. The marshal, narrowed his eyes but turned his attention back to the front of the plane. �
�Bullshit!” Cole hissed over to Able, low enough, not to earn him any more unwanted attention from the sky police.
"Yeah it is, but what the hell are we supposed to do? I love her, you love her; how the fuck is any of this supposed to work out?"
"Maybe, it's not going to. I don’t know what your letter said, but who the fuck knows, maybe she doesn't want, either one of us. She did pull a damn Houdini act, just to get away from us.” Cole reminded, already starting to second guess himself.
Finding out that, he, hadn’t been the, only one, to receive word from Penny had the winds going out of his sails, just a bit. Not enough to stop him, just enough to have him feeling even more on edge than he already had been. Just what he needed…not!
"She can't just leave it like that, though, man. I can't keep going on thinking, what if. I need to know for sure. She needs to either, tell us to fuck off for good, or choose, once and for all, you or me. If she picks you, I swear, I'll back off. I'll never bother, either one of you, ever again.” Able promised, in a tone that said, he meant, every word.
Cole chewed his cheek for a bit, weighing options, that he didn’t really have, before finally, giving Able back a solid nod.
"Deal, if she picks you, I'm gone. I'm with you on this. I need to know if there’s even still a chance. I can't move on with the not knowing."
As their eyes met the sadness was mirrored, blue to green. The addictive woman, had put them both, through the ringer. Now, here they sat, side by side, both, way too caught up in Penny’s draw, to just walk away. It was no longer about loyalty between friends or right or wrong. Both knew, the others feelings for her were the real deal and neither had it in them, to try to force the other away. They just wanted her to be happy, no matter which one of them she chose in the end.
Chapter 31
A rriving at the airport in Wyoming, the pair rented a car and headed out for the return address that had been on Penny’s letters. It was odd for them, to both, be riding in the same car, knowing that one of them would be riding back alone. They both wanted the same thing, there was no way around it. One of them, would be leaving the state with a broken heart.
Between a Rock and a Hard Place Page 43