by Sarah Clay
Having her stand here, acting like she knows Jackson, Cooper, and Tony better than me is rubbing me the wrong way. When I look to Jackson I see him hanging up the phone to start moving back in our direction.
Meeting Victoria’s stare head-on, I smirk. “I can’t pack my things up, they’re all still at Jackson's house. Where he wants them.” I challenge, I can feel the resentment radiating off of her, but she covers it well when Jackson reappears.
“There was no one on the line Victoria?” He looks between us, surely taking in my stiff posture.
“Oh no, maybe he got cut off. I’m sure he will call back; I’ll patch it through to you when he does.”
She offers, looking over to him with an accommodating smile.
“Sure, no worries, can you give us a moment” he dismisses her before stepping in closer to me, taking my hand back in his.
She notices, but doesn’t say anything, instead of going back to her desk, however; she moves over to the lobbies waiting area and starts tidying it up. She’s still within close proximity, but she’s acting as if she’s not.
Jackson brings my attention back to him with his hand on my face. Guiding my eyes to his.
“I’m coming with you when you go babe. You’re not going to see your father by yourself. Just tell me when and where?”
I start biting on my bottom lip again, wondering if I should or not. He plucks it out with his fingers.
His brows raised in question, obviously waiting for me to respond.
“I’m not exactly sure yet. He flies in on the 25th and normally always stays at the Addison Suites when he travels. So I assume I will meet him there. His flight gets in at 2 pm.”
Jackson nods along while listening intently to every word.
“Let me know when he contacts you with a time and I will pick you up.”
I smile gratefully, “I can get a cab there, you don’t have to come Jacks” His nickname slips from my mouth before I can even stop myself.
He seems pretty pleased with himself about it too.
“I will pick you up” he reiterates.
Chapter Eighteen
Jackson.
The second she pulled away in the back of that cab, I knew it was worse than I’d originally thought. I felt like she was taking a piece of me with her and I couldn’t stop her.
I didn’t make any attempt to move. I just stood there, staring at the end of my street; where she’d disappeared down.
“Jacky?” Victoria’s arms looped around my waist.
I groan out, pulling her arms away and stepping back.
“Victoria, you need to go.”
She attempts to speak, but I hold up my hand.
“I’m sorry, but you need to leave, now.” I turn away from her and stalk back into my house. Slamming the door shut behind me.
I’d sat at the kitchen counter trying Liv’s phone for hours, but she never answered. Eventually, she turned it off.
I let Charlie back inside before locking up the house and going up to bed. I hated giving up, but I didn’t know what else I could do tonight.
She didn’t want to talk to me right now, and I can’t very well get behind the wheel of a car. So I’d give her tonight, and we’d speak in the morning.
I’d fix this and she’d come home.
Before throwing my phone down on the nightstand I send out a quick message to Cooper, just making sure she got to his apartment safely.
A few minutes later my phone vibrates twice in my hand.
Cooper: WHAT THE FUCK JACKSON.
Cooper: She’s here. finally managed to fall asleep, I suggest you do the same thing. I will speak to you tomorrow.
∞
Seeing her today was glorious.
She was even more beautiful than the last time I’d seen her, given it was only a week ago.
I felt like an arsehole only sending half the files. Cooper had called and asked me to have it ready for the courier, forgetting he wouldn’t be in the office.
When the idea came to me I’d felt bad, but not bad enough to stop me from doing it.
I needed to see her. I was becoming desperate.
Her phone had been turned back on but she still hadn’t been answering my calls.
Coop had made me promise to give her space and let her come back to me. Which I’d agreed to in the beginning, but with each passing day I was worrying that she wasn’t going to come back.
After talking with her in the lobby, I’d arranged for a car to take Olivia home, with strict instructions to take her straight to Cooper's apartment. I would have taken her myself, but she rejected the idea before I’d even had time to finish my sentence.
So I’d come back up to my office, shooting off an email to both Tony and Coop; asking them to meet me up here as soon as they could. Tony had waited for Coop to get back to the building before they both stopped by, save me repeating myself.
I’d just finished filling them both in regarding Olivia seeing her father in a weeks’ time, Cooper was upset that she hadn’t mentioned it to him and I realized she’d probably be even more pissed at me now that I’d beat her to it.
But this was about her wellbeing and safety, so I wouldn’t regret telling her brother and I’d cop her anger on the chin.
“This is good news” Tony reiterates to both of us.
Coop was just as worried as me, but Tony didn’t seem to share our same concerns.
“How do you get to the conclusion?” I frown across at him.
“Think about it, if he was the one behind all of this do you really think he would willingly wait a week to come to town and talk to her?”
He makes a good point, but I couldn’t help but think over all the things Liv had told me about her father, he’s an arsehole who is capable of being aggressive towards her, so I still didn’t like it.
Cooper slumps down into the chair beside Tony, looking just as stressed on the outside as I was feeling on the inside.
“If it’s not our father, then that means there is someone in this town that she’s pissed off enough to try scaring her out of it.”
I sit up straighter in my chair, wanting to go to her, to protect her. I’d fucked everything up and I needed to fix it, I just didn’t know how.
And by not being with her it was leaving her wide open to whoever was pulling this ridiculous shit.
“Why didn’t you tell me she was getting more texts?” I switch to looking at Cooper and see him heave a sigh before making eye contact with me.
“She asked me not to, she didn’t want you to worry”
I scoff at him, “Worry? Of course, I’m worried. Someone is intimidating her… the woman I lo…” I cut myself off before I finish that sentence.
I hadn’t even told her how deep my feelings ran yet. I wasn’t about to announce it to these two meatheads first. But by the looks on their faces, they weren’t surprised at all. I look back and forth between them both, waiting for someone to speak.
“Oh come off of it man, you’re basically a lovesick fool at this point.” Tony jokes.
When I meet Coop's eyes though he looks a little defensive.
“What is it, Cooper?”
He stands from the chair and walks to the side of my buffet, grabbing the tumbler of scotch and three glasses; before coming to sit back down.
“She loves you too you know” he declares while pouring out a drink for each of us.
I raise a brow at his declaration.
“She won’t answer my calls or respond to my messages and she couldn’t get out of here quick enough when she saw me today. What the hell gives you that indication?”
I snatch a glass up from the desk and make quick work of swallowing it down, letting the burn that follows, calm me.
“She’s scared” Tony answers and Cooper nods towards him.
“Scared of me? I would never hurt her, all I’ve wanted to do is protect her and keep her safe.”
I scowl at them both, but coop just rolls his eyes at me.
“Of cours
e not. She is scared of loving you.”
I lean back in my chair, looking up at the ceiling. I’d been thinking over every aspect of our short relationship. While I never knew love, not in a conventional way. Olivia had, to some degree at least. And everyone she had loved had let her down in some aspect or another. With the little insight Coop was offering and what I’d already figured out for myself, it was all starting to become very clear.
When I’d spoken the words I had about her father and then she’d walked in on Victoria and me, she’d decided to get out, then and there, before she could be let down again.
I roll my head forwards and look over at my two best friends. Both offering me different degrees of sympathetic smiles.
“She’s it for me boys. I will just have to show her that it’s not a mistake to love me back.”
Cooper's smile turns to a frown.
“If you’re sure about that then you know you have my support, but don’t let her down Jackson. I meant what I said the first time we spoke about this.”
Oh, I remembered. If I fucked this up, again; there would be no coming back for our friendship.
∞
I pause mid-step, in the middle of the doors on the 11th floor.
People trying to get off of the lift bump into me, shaking me out of my daze. I quickly step out of the way. Moving towards the scene in front of me.
“What’s going on?” I growl into the room.
Olivia’s eyes instantly meet mine before she looks back down to the ground. I can tell she’s been crying.
But right now, she was completely shrunken into herself.
Disregarding the police officers in the room, I stalk directly over to her.
She was sat at one of the drawing desks, Coop had his arm around her shoulders, talking to an officer beside them that looked familiar.
Tony was on his laptop, furiously typing away at his keyboard.
When I reach Liv, I have to kneel down, bringing our eyes level.
“Liv?” I whisper loud enough for her to hear, but she doesn’t speak. Instead, more tears start to fall.
I look up to Cooper; needing answers.
“Livvie accepted some deliveries today back at the apartment, she was running late to meet me for lunch so she brought them with her” he trails off, flicking his head in the direction of the drawing table.
I peer over and see an open parcel. There were photos spread out across it, they were pictures of Cooper and Tony, with another note attached.
If you don’t leave, the ones you are closest to will.
I glance back to Liv with a better understanding of what was going on now. Her tears now rolling down her face, dripping on to her jeans.
I knew she was scared, but more than anything, she was feeling guilty. Her mind was ticking over, blaming herself.
“Liv?” I whisper to her, leaning in closer and blocking out the room around us. Reaching up to gently stroke her cheek with the palm of my hand, slowly nudging her chin up so she was looking at me.
“Baby…” as soon as she registers my voice her top teeth snap into her bottom lip and she lunges out of her seat and into my arms.
I wasn’t expecting it, but I catch her regardless.
Wrapping both arms around her tightly. I take a second to breathe her in, trying to calm myself down; so I can be what she needs.
Her tears start coming harder, soaking my shirt. I press my lips against the top of her head and hold her.
“Shh baby, it’s all going to be okay.” I feel her start to pull away from me, I look down at her.
She’s shaking her head with a fierce determination.
“You don’t know that. This is all my fault. I have to leave; I have to go.” She tries pulling completely out of my arms but I don’t let her.
“You are not going anywhere. This is not your fault. Some fucking idiot is messing with you, but I will not let them get to you. No one will get to you Liv” I assure her with every being of my body.
Coop moves towards us and I relent my hold on her, letting Liv pull away and move into him.
“Livvie, this isn’t your fault. The police are stepping up the investigation. We will figure this out, please just wait it out with me… please?”
She doesn’t speak, but she offers a small nod.
Both Coop and I let out a matching sigh of relief.
∞
“Where’s Charlie?” I hear her soft voice come from behind me, I was currently sat at the breakfast bar in Cooper's apartment, drinking a coffee; It was already nearing lunch time.
I’d stayed here last night. Going home first, to check on Charlie and overfeed the fur ball.
I knew Liv wouldn’t come back to mine and I didn’t want to push her after the day she’d had.
When I’d arrived here I’d found her crashed out on the couch, moving directly to her as Cooper got up to leave the room, not before casting a worried glance over his shoulder, towards his sister.
I’d carried her up to the spare room and tucked her in, but when I’d gone to leave she’d stopped me, reaching out for my hand.
I ended up climbing into the bed beside her and holding her all night.
Spinning around to take her in, in the morning light, she’d showered and dressed in a pair of yoga type pants and a white tee. Her hair was piled on top of her head in a messy bun.
Her eyes were a little red, only noticeable because her face was free of any makeup. Her brow arched, prompting me to answer her initial question.
“Home, I checked on him before I came over last night.” She frowns before walking further into the room, pouring herself a coffee.
“He will get lonely; you can’t stay here Jacks.”
I nod along, completely agreeing with her that Charlie would get lonely.
He was already acting like an emotional teenager, ever since Liv had left.
“Are you going to come home with me then?” She hides her face behind her mug, taking a sip of her coffee.
But I see it when she shakes her head no.
“Well then, looks like I’ll be staying here too.” I stand, before moving around the bench to stop in front of her.
“You will always get your way with me Liv, I will always give in to your wants and needs because seeing your beautiful smile makes it all worth it” I hesitate, “but not with this babe, I can’t give you this.”
My phone starts ringing, I don’t move away from her as I shuffle it out of my pocket and hit answer. Continuing to stand in her space and watch on as she drinks her coffee.
“Jackson speaking” I hear a crackle through the line before a voice comes through.
“Jacky it’s Victoria, I went past your place this morning but you’d already left.”
I sigh out in frustration. Ever since the night I’d laid out my relationship with Olivia to her, she had been seeking me out more and more, constantly asking me to get together for a meal or trying to hang out together.
Each time I’d tell her no and that I was trying to fix things with Liv.
But apparently, she wasn’t getting the message.
“No, I stayed at Cooper's.” I offer as I reach out and wipe the drips of coffee from Liv’s bottom lip.
She gazes up at me as I bring my fingers back to my mouth and lick the remnants from them.
“At Cooper's!” Victoria practically booms, but quickly gets hold of her emotions. “Oh, that’s… nice. Uh, well I was just calling now because we have a … Mr. Lewis arriving for a meeting with you in thirty minutes and you’re still not in.”
I frown at what she’s saying.
“I don’t have any meetings on the books today, you’ll have to have Coop or Tony take it.”
When Liv places her coffee cup down on the bench I take her now vacant hand and tug her along with me, moving us over to the sofa.
She settles down beside me and reaches out for her sketch pad and pencil, before flipping it open.
“The meeting was a last minute thing, he ca
lled this morning and requested you specifically.”
I blow out a steady breath as I listen to Victoria speak. I attempt to cover the receiver as I speak to Olivia.
“I’m going to have to go into the office, Coop is due back in half an hour, but…” I leave the sentence hanging, I want her to come in with me. But I don’t want to push her.
“It’s thirty minutes Jackson, I will be fine. Plus, it’s Coop and Tony who should have a security detail on them.” Her voice trails out softer towards the end.
“Jackson!” Victoria yells through the line.
“Just give me a second” I demand in return.
I pull my hand through my hair. Olivia obviously picks up on my indecision, she turns to me and offers a small smile.
“I will be fine. Coop will be here by the time you get to the office, but I will call if I need you.”
Reluctantly I nod, moving my hand from the receiver.
“Okay, I will be there. But not a second earlier.” I don’t wait for her to respond before hanging up.
∞
When I’d arrived at the building I hadn’t bother to seek out Victoria for more information. Instead, I’d stalked straight up to my office to print out some reports before I met with Mr. Lewis.
The quicker I had the meeting, the quicker I could get back to Olivia.
“What are you doing here, thought you were with Olivia?” Tony calls out as he walks into my office.
“Yeah I was but I’ve got a meeting with Tom Lewis. Cooper will be with her now though.”
Tony’s step falters and he stops in the middle of my room.
“Cooper called you, he left a voicemail.” I shake my head in his direction, pulling out my phone.
“I left Coop about 20 minutes ago, the client we were having breakfast with wanted him to go back to their offices to check out a few things. I told them I had work to do and came back here.”