Tommy
AS PROMISED, I avoided Jade for most of the weekend. Daniel and I went to the surfing beach each day, this morning included. On Saturday and Sunday night, Daniel and I tried two of the restaurants Viv had suggested. They both had great seafood. One had a deck that overlooked the bay, and the other one had a huge patio with a built-in pool on the oceanfront.
The place on the bay was very mellow. The music playing was typical of lounge music and old standards, such as Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett. I had to admit, Daniel was a complete chick magnet. They were all over him and he loved every minute of it.
“I don’t know how you do it,” I said on the ride back to the house.
“Do what?” Daniel asked as he seemed intrigued by my statement.
“Attract so many beautiful women in such a short period of time.”
“It’s the wheelchair,” he grinned.
“Stop joking.” I smirked, but truthfully Daniel was completely comfortable with who he was and how he dealt with his condition. He never seemed awkward and because of that, people were drawn to him.
“Who’s joking? Let’s face it, it’s a conversation starter.”
We both laughed as I drove down the boulevard, heading home for the evening.
Once I helped Daniel up the stairs, he headed inside to his room to change into sweats. He agreed he would meet me on the deck shortly to enjoy a few cold beers.
As I waited for Daniel and enjoyed my first drink, I could hear what sounded like voices coming from the alley between my house and Jade’s. The voices faded, so I assumed it could have been the ocean breeze carrying a conversation from one of the other homes nearby.
Within seconds, I was proven wrong, as the voices seemed closer and elevated.
“You just can't leave it alone and respect my wishes, can you?” Jade snapped.
“Jade, I do respect your wishes, but I also know you have your pride…and even if you wanted to try again with my son, that pride would stop you. Look at it this way, I’m giving you a way to get back with Damien and come home, where you belong.”
“Reece, what are you talking about? I am home. This is my home and I couldn't be happier.” Jade said, irritated, as two sets of footsteps ascended the stairs on her deck. The first pair was her’s and the second was that of Reece Montgomery.
“What I mean by that is this…you and I both know you are not in a relationship with that photographer Tommy Conte. It was all a facade to hide the fact that you’re bothered by Damien and Courtney being back here on the island while I recuperate.”
A loud quick, sharp laugh escaped her lips.
“You are completely delusional. I’m dating Tommy and we are starting a new relationship together whether you like it or not.” I had to grin when she said we were dating. Although it was a complete lie, it rolled off Jade’s tongue as the truth and it was for a good cause, especially if it kept Reece Montgomery out of Jade’s life.
“Well, I don’t. He’s not good enough for you.”
Fumbling with the lock, Jade opened her door and stepped in just far enough to block Reece from going any further.
“How dare you tell me what’s good for me and what’s not. How would you know anyway? Your son was supposed to be good enough for me and we see how he turned out.”
“Jade, he made a terrible mistake.”
“No, Reece…he made a permanent one. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m done listening to your bullshit.”
“Please listen to reason.”
“I won't listen to anything else you have to say on this subject. And why did you come here anyway? Blaze headed back to the city to meet with clients. There’s no reason for you to be on my doorstep. Now go!” Jade bellowed, but Reece stood his ground.
That guy was a real prick. My decision to sit here and stay out of it ended. I couldn’t let him malign Jade, or me, for that matter. I left my beer on the table, headed down my stairs, and up Jade’s. As I came around the corner to the front deck where both she and Reece were standing, their heads were already turned in my direction from the sound of my footsteps.
Without thinking, I pushed between Reece and Jade, placing my hand on the side of her face and drawing her lips to mine. Insult and anger that Reece incited drove my actions. Thinking clearly wasn't part of the equation.
Fuck him! I am good enough for Jade.
“Hey, baby, how was your day?” I asked, as I broke our kiss with a closed-lipped smile and a wink, which was unobserved by Reece.
She surprised me completely with an almost identical gesture. Touching my face, her eyes went from my focus to my lips, as she slowly leaned forward to reciprocate my kiss to her. Her plump mouth pressed gently to mine, pausing there briefly before speaking. She pulled back, but not too far. She mouthed the words ‘thank you’ as not to let Reece hear her, but then she spoke up loud and clear. “It’s much better now that you're here.” She disclosed as she stepped back outside and into my arms and we turned in unison to face Reece.
“I guess this conversation is over, isn’t it Reece?” Jade waited for a response from her unwelcome guest.
“For now, yes, we’re done here.” Reece turned to walk away but turned back to add one more thing.
“I almost forgot. I did want to extend an invite to you and Mr. Conte.”
“An invite for what, Reece?” Jade’s patience was all but diminished.
“I’m having a celebration of sorts. Let’s call it my new lease on life party.”
“You have to be joking?” Jade moved forward with crossed arms.
“No…no joke, my dear,” Reece said dramatically and with solid grace, he walked around the deck as if it was an imaginary stage, performing his solo act, confessing he now realized how precious life was and he wanted to share his newfound happiness with Blaze and his new lease on life with the ones he loved.
I chuckled in disgust, amused by this man’s gall. Jade slowly shook her head, not believing what she was hearing. She clapped her hands at his one-time performance.
“Give me a break, but I will hand it to you, your acting abilities never cease to amaze me, and it sure does come in handy for crap like this, huh?”
Swiftly, Reece turned back to explain.
“I’m not acting. It’s all sincere and true. After my almost near-death experience, I’ve concluded that I’ve been taking life for granted and decided to throw a party here at my home to celebrate my renewed health and my new relationship with Blaze.”
I stood silently as Jade stepped forward onto the deck to confront Reece. Her facial expression said it all. It appeared as though she smelled something so horrible she was about to vomit. The truth was, she smelled bullshit in the air.
“Who the hell are you kidding?” Jade quipped as she laughed in Reece’s face.
“Excuse me?” Insulted and taken off guard, Reece walked toward her, but not fast enough.
I swiftly moved in front of her, stretching my hand out against his chest.
“How dare you put your hand on me? I’m Jade’s family. Something you will never be, as long as I’m around.”
“You listen to me, you self-entitled son of a bitch. You may have been close to becoming Jade’s father-in-law, but your son’s indiscretions changed all that. As far as being Jade’s family, you're right I’m not, not yet anyway, but like hell I’m going to stand here and let you manipulate her any further. Your guilt trip is finished. Now, you can either leave here under your own volition, or you can leave here under mine. The choice is yours.” I finished, with a quick push back against the chest of a man I clearly had no respect or use for.
Reece straightened his suit jacket before he addressed Jade, who had stood silently through the entire confrontation. I couldn't tell if that was a good thing or a bad one, but I knew one thing for certain…once Reece left, I was sure Jade would tell me how she felt about my interference in her personal life without her permission.
“Jade, I apologize. You know I always want what’s in your best interest. With your father away, and Jimmy…”
Jade stepped closer. Her blank red face now in Reece’s personal space…a lethal frustration emanating from her body.
“Don’t…don’t you dare use Jimmy as an excuse for your behavior,” she said in a low, hard-edged tone.
“I didn't mean anything…” Again, Jade stopped him.
“No, Reece, you never mean anything by what you say or do. No, you're always the good guy in any given situation. The trouble is, I know better. Your words are an invisible veil of bullshit. I’ve always been grateful to you for giving me the opportunity to learn my craft. I cared about you and your son, but my love ended for him when he chose to fuck someone else in the bed we shared together, and my love for you ends now that you chose to steal my brother’s memory in an attempt to bring me to your side, and because you chose to insult Tommy.”
As Jade’s words ended, an unusual silence drowned out the surf crashing on the shoreline. She walked to the edge of her deck, hypnotized by those very same waves, gripping her hands on the railing, she squeezed the wood like a vice. Maybe it was to prevent her from saying more? Or maybe it was the only solid object that was physically and emotionally holding her up at that moment. She continued to look away. Her long dark strands billowing slightly in the evening breeze, masking her face and her emotions.
“Please leave. I can’t stand the sight of you anymore tonight.” She didn't turn back. She just kept standing there.
Reece did the right thing this time and left without another word to either of us.
Minutes seemed like a lifetime before she turned to face me.
“I’m sorry, Tommy. I’m so sorry.” Tears filled her eyes, as Jade lowered herself down on the deck, her back supported by one of the posts behind her. Her head was down in defeated exhaustion.
I walked over and stood in front of her in the hopes that she would look up at me.
She didn’t.
I wasn't sure what to do, because I wasn't sure what had actually transpired between Jade and Reece prior to the confrontation here this evening. Although what happened just now was enough to tire anyone.
Several minutes passed, or at least it seemed like they had, when I determined Jade was more than likely too embarrassed to look at me. So I did the only thing I could do. I knelt down in front of her and found her eyes.
“Jade, please look at me. Let me know you're going to be okay.” I took my thumb and my index finger, and lightly pinching Jade’s chin, I tilted her head up, so I could see her beautiful face. A face that was now smeared with black makeup and tears, while her lips delicately quivered.
“I’m fine.” Her voice gutted me. She squeaked, as she spoke.
Touching her… she stilled and didn’t push me away. I knew there was something building between us…I felt it. Then, as quickly as it came, it faded…like the sunset.
“Tommy, I can’t.”
“Jade, you’re not giving this…us, a real chance.”
“What’s the point? Anytime something good happens, it always ends in heartbreak.”
“Baby, anything that’s good enough to break your heart, is worth taking a chance on.”
I waited for her to speak, but her words never came—yet, more tears did.
“Come here,” I said and wrapped my arms around her.
Jade relaxed her body forward and fell completely into my embrace. I could feel her tremble as she placed her arms firmly around my shoulders and buried her head in my chest. I tried to soothe her as she tried desperately to silently hold back her cries.
“Hey, c’mon now. I’m here. That asshole can’t hurt you anymore.”
“It’s not that.” She sounded frustrated.
“Then what is it?”
“I’m just no good at this, this pretending. I don't like lying to anyone. I particularly don't like the fact that I’ve used you and pulled you into something that wasn't your problem. Not to mention, we just met.”
I couldn’t believe my ears.
She wasn’t concerned about Reece and what just happened at her home. She was worried she didn’t know how to be good at pretending we had a relationship. She couldn’t be serious? Wasn’t I clear in what I just said? I didn’t want to pretend with her. I wanted to take a chance, but she wasn’t ready, and the situation, as it were, had her even more conflicted. I needed to change that and lighten the mood.
“Is that why you're crying?” I lightly chuckled.
“Stop laughing at me. Of course, that’s why I’m crying.” She let out a small whiny snicker, so I knew she was okay and we were good.
“I’m not laughing at you. I swear.” I leaned back and put my hands up to show my defeat.
“I know it doesn’t seem like a big deal to you. I’m pretty sure you’ve never had to deal with a Reece Montgomery in your life.” What she said wasn’t entirely the case.
I had to deal with Rain’s husband on more than one occasion. Dominick Kane, Daniel’s brother, was just as bad as Reece Montgomery when it came to getting what he wanted.
“You’d be surprised.” That was all I said in hopes that Jade would be curious and perhaps continue this conversation over dinner with me tomorrow night.
“I don’t believe you. You're just saying that because you're a nice guy and you feel sorry for me.” She was cute when she argued. Tilting her head to one side, she examined my expression.
“Oh, baby, trust me, you may think you have me all figured out, but what you're thinking couldn’t be further from the truth. Although you're right that I am a nice guy.”
Her smile came through.
“Let me prove it to you,” I challenged her.
She took both her hands and covered her face. Then she wiped her tears to the side, as she let out a long and cleansing exhale.
“Okay, go ahead, enlighten me.” She voiced, with a bit more confidence.
“No.”
“No?” She questioned.
“Not now but over dinner tomorrow night.What do you say?” I waited for her response and hoped it would be a yes.
“Why do I have the feeling you're stalling?” She said, but still had a smile on her face, so I was pretty sure her answer was a yes.
“Probably because I am.” I wasn’t holding out on her to come up with a good story. I just wanted more time with Jade. I was breaking my promise. Tonight, proved to me, I wanted her. I couldn’t back away, but I was a patient man and would move at a pace her heart could handle if that’s what she needed, and it appeared by all accounts, she did.
“Ah-ha! I knew it,” She said, as she acted as if she has discovered something spectacular.
“Ah-ha! Nothing. I don’t think right here, right now is a good place to talk about me and my personal life,” I explained.
Her voice became soft and serious as she shook her head and looked around at how her world was right now.
“I guess you're right.”
“So is that a yes?”
“Yeah, it’s a yes, but let me cook. My brother’s old kitchen hasn’t seen a decent meal in years.” Jade suggested and wasn’t wrong.
The kitchen at the beach house was in need of a serious facelift. I guess I should tackle the new appliances before I offered to cook anyone a meal in there, especially Jade.
“How about I cook here at your place and you make dessert?” I countered her offer.
“Sure, but you do know how to cook, don’t you?” Jade seemed unsure of my culinary skills.
“I know how to boil water,” I admitted but was only half joking at the same time. I could throw a frozen pizza in the oven as good as the next person.
“That’s what I thought. I’ve changed my mind.”
“What?”
“I’ll have dinner with you, but on one condition.”
“Okay, state your demands.”
“That I cook and bring a dessert from the shoppe, and you bring the wine.”
“Deal, and because you’re cooking for me, I’ll clean up.” I put out my hand so we could shake on it.
“Even better deal.” She took my hand and we agreed for me to be back here around 7 tomorrow night.
As she went to pull her hand back, I held it more firmly in mine and pulled Jade up off the floor of the deck, so we were facing each other. She looked down and then back at me inquisitively.
“I just want to make sure you’re okay now.” My hand cradled her cheek.
“I’m fine. Thank you, Tommy,” she said and placed a quick peck on my cheek.
I got ready to leave, but turned back to look at her one more time. I placed my hand around her upper arm, as my mouth found hers. Her lips were soft and receptive, but before I let things go too far, I broke our connection and walked to the stairs.
“We’ll talk more tomorrow.”
She nodded, her smile bashful, as her fingertips partially covered her lips.
I wasn't sure if that was a good or bad thing. I guess tomorrow would reveal more for each of us.