Chapter 19
Jayden
“Ease up Jay.”
But I don’t. I keep pounding the shit out of the punching bag in front of me. The need to take out every last frustration I’ve been feeling with my fists is overwhelming. When I finish and my breathing is labored I turn towards Z who hasn’t left my side all morning.
“Don’t tell me what to do. I know how hard to push myself.”
“Do you really believe that? Because for the past two days I’ve seen you beating yourself into the ground. What if you get the call tonight and you’ve exhausted yourself so much that you don’t stand a chance? Take a couple days off.”
“I can’t.” I stare him in the eye. “If I’m not here I think. When I think, all I can do is get angry at myself for the way I acted the other night. Fuck Zander, that’s not me. I’m not that person. What the hell is happening to me where I think it’s okay to treat Georgie like that? On top of all this, I’ve just been going out of my mind thinking about my fight. I need to keep it together so Georgie doesn’t worry. If I doubt myself at all while talking about it she gets so upset and I don’t like making her cry. But holding it all in is what made me explode the other night.” I’m desperate and I need him to give me answers I can’t find on my own.
It’s been a long two days with no contact from Georgie. She won’t answer my calls or texts, she won’t even allow me in the bar. I understand I hurt her, but she needs to let me plead my case. At this point I’m not above groveling.
“It’ll all workout, you just need to give her time to cool off. I was talking to her yesterday-”
“You talked to her and didn’t tell me?” I accuse him.
“Let me finish man. I was talking to her and she is just as mopey as you are. She told me that the way you were telling her what to do and not letting her talk for herself… well. It brought her back to her days at the compound. Did she ever tell you about the box? It’s so fucked up what she went through. Her and Vic are lucky they made it out unscathed. Okay, my point is, if she were over you she wouldn’t be walking around like a lost puppy. This has been just as hard-on her, if not harder, than what you’re going through. Just give her some time. If that’s not working, make a grand gesture.”
“A grand gesture?” I ask in disbelief. “Am I supposed to stand outside her window with a boom box professing my love to her?”
“No asshole, show her you care. Girls eat that shit up. But make it sincere, also, if you have to question if it’s okay you probably shouldn’t do it.”
I rack my brain trying to think about what I can do and that’s when it hits me. I grab my towel and run to the locker room listening to Zander laughing. I must prepare. If I can pull this off, it’ll be epic and my girl will be in my arms by the end of the night.
On my way out of the gym Zander stops me. “Hey, I’m here if you ever need to vent. I understand how crazy the situation you’re in is. You can’t keep it all bottled up, you know we’re only a phone call away man.”
“Thanks Z. Really, that means a lot. But right now, I have to win my girl back.” I flash him a smile and head out to set my plan in motion.
***
Georgie
“We have to do this more often. I’m really sorry I’ve been neglecting you lately.”
“You have a new romance Georgie, don’t even think about feeling guilty about it. I’ve been just fine.” Vic smiles a knowing smile at me. “So how’s everything with, you know? The fighting?”
“Alls quiet for now. It’s like a dark cloud just hanging over us. He’s been neurotic since Kyle got jumped. Sometimes he is so over the top it scares me. Not in a bad way of course. But constantly checking in and making sure I’m okay.”
“He must have been going out of his mind these past few days with your radio silence.”
“No, Ash and Savvy have been giving him updates. I’m not that horrible of a person.”
How did I not notice this before? Vic is beaming. “Something’s different with you.” I point to his face. “You never smile this much. Spill!”
“Can’t a guy just be happy to hang out with his best friend?” His cheeks are starting to turn red. He’s hiding something and if I had to guess it has to do with Caesar.
“This wouldn’t have anything to do with a sexy bartender would it?”
His entire face is now a tomato. Ding ding ding, we have a winner!
“Oh my god! Last I talked, you said nothing was going on. Please tell me you’re ready to date him.”
“Oh, that ships sailed sweetie.” He bends down and pounds back the rest of his mudslide.
I jump up from my lounge chair and swing my legs over the side. “Oh my god! Did you… you know?”
“Maybe.” He mumbles then covers his face with his hands.
“Holy crap Vic!” I didn’t think my reaction would be to cry, but that’s what happens.
“Why are you crying? Everything’s okay, I’m okay.”
“I’m just so happy for you. All I’ve ever wanted is for you to be happy in life, to find someone who makes you feel happy.”
“To find someone as special as Jayden?” He questions and the mention of him makes my heart hurt.
I look away, I haven’t seen Jayden in two days and its killing me.
“I don’t know what to say to him.” I whisper.
“The truth is a great place to start.” He sits up on his lounger and faces me before grabbing my hands. “I know what he did was really shitty, but he loves you.”
“How do you know?”
“He hasn’t told you?” I shake my head in response.
“I’m surprised. He went all Alpha on you yet hasn’t made his feelings clear. I think I should give him a few pointers.”
I laugh as I wipe a stray tear away. “It’s too soon, we’ve only been together for a few months. How can you fall in love with someone in that short of a time?”
“I love Caesar and I’ve known him for an even shorter duration.”
I throw my arms around Vic. “I love you and I’m so happy you get to be yourself. You’re an amazing person and everyone should get to see this side of you.”
“Right back at ya. I know it’s scary, hell, sleeping with Caesar was the scariest moment of my life. But it was the single most spectacular thing I’ve ever experienced. Don’t let one small bump in the road keep you from having a life full of spectacular.”
“I’ll talk to him first thing tomorrow.” I look down at my phone. “Shit, I have to be to work in an hour and I still have to shower off all this tanning oil.”
“Look at you cursing like a gang banger. I’m proud! And you better hop to it with that talk. Another bouquet was dropped off on the door earlier. Our house is starting to look like a greenhouse.” He laughs.
But he’s right. I must have received ten different floral arrangements over the past two days. Every card has a special memory about us or something I do that drives him crazy.
Thinking back to the other night makes me sad. I think his words were really what crushed my spirit. It was the fact he wasn’t giving me a choice. I understand him getting angry over that guy that grabbed me, but when he got possessive it brought me to the darkest part of my life.
I know that wasn’t him, that he’s different. He needs to know I don’t think he’s the same as them, he never could be. I get up and head inside the house and on the way I shoot Jayden a text asking to meet me for breakfast in the morning.
By the time I’m ready and make my way to work I still have no response from him. Maybe I waited too long, I’m too late and he realized I’m not worth the effort anymore. I shake that thought out of my head. No, I wasn’t the only person in this relationship for the past four months. There’s no way I could make up what I’m feeling. I don’t even know what I’m feeling, but I know its special. A once in a life time thing.
As I jump behind the bar once I get to work, I give Caesar a knowing smile and he winks back at me. I run up to him and pull him into a hug. “Please don’t hurt him.” I whisper in his ear.
“Honey, that boy has me wrapped around his finger. He has the ability to shatter my heart and I don’t even care. Victor’s…” He sighs dreamily. “He’s everything.”
And that gives me hope for when I talk to Jayden. I’ll hunt him down and force him to talk to me if I have to. Victor’s right. I don’t want to miss out on spectacular, a mediocre life just won’t do after having a taste of the magic that is Jayden Cage.