Tommy
CLOSURE ON THE brownstone came from none other than my brother. Mike and I weren’t in a good place, but he called and asked if I was willing to sell the house to him. After several failed attempts to rent it through last winter, the house Rain and I shared, lay stagnant. Offers to buy were awful, bordering on the absurd. New York real estate wasn't booming on my street. Then Mike had called in mid-March to rent the place until he could find something he really wanted. It was a win-win.
Surprisingly, I received a phone call from him the Friday before Reece’s party and didn't call him until I reached Rain’s house after my failed evening with Jade. I thought about moving back, but it would have only represented another failure. Selling to Mike, instead of asking him to move or worse move in with him when things were already tense between us, was the best alternative.
I drove up early Sunday morning to discuss the buy. The conversation was less awkward than it could have been. Mike said he’d have the papers drafted during the week. Being a lawyer and being family meant no realtors or professionals had to be involved.
“So, what have you been up to?” Mike hinted at the fact it took me no time to get to him when I was supposedly halfway around the world surfing the globe.
“Nothing much really, surfing, traveling, just I like planned on doing.”
“Right…don’t give me that bullshit, Tommy. How is it I called on Friday, you don’t get back to me until this morning, but easily arrived here three hours later?”
“I was in LBI with Rain.”
“This is about a woman, isn’t it?”
“If you had asked me that a week ago the answer would have been yes, but not anymore.”
“Listen, I know you and me have been at each other’s throats since that whole thing went down with…well you know, but if you need to get this thing you're carrying around off your chest, I’m willing to listen.” A concerned grimace appeared on his face.
“Thanks, Mike, but I have to handle this one on my own.”
We made small talk until there was nothing more to say and I left, confirming we would meet up next week.
The airlifted as I stepped outside with Lucky. I decided, as long as I was up north, I’d head out to see my parents before heading back to NJ. My mom and dad were thrilled to see me after months away. Although my mom appeared to be more taken with Lucky than me. I explained to them that I sold the brownstone. Their expressions turned to disappointment until they realized I sold the place to Mike. For them, the relief came in knowing the building would stay in the family, and I’m sure it also came with Mike and I being able to talk long enough to make an important decision together and to be in the same room together without fighting.
I explained the story of the beach house and, although they were hurt in my choice to keep everyone in the dark, they supported me and understood. I wanted to explain the situation with Jade, but my hurt was too new, so all I could do was explain that I met someone and had feelings for her, but we just weren't far enough into our relationship to say any more than that.
On the drive home, I felt surprisingly light. I realized by pushing everyone away made for more added stress. Now, my whereabouts were out in the open, I cleared my mind, but only in part of my life. The part with Jade was cloudy and excruciating to think about. The closer my car traveled toward the exit, the closer I got to the shore, the faster my heart began to beat. I wanted to see her. Not just in passing from our decks, but I wanted her. I wanted to soothe her, heal her worry, I wanted my body inside her body. I want to love her, make love to her. I wanted to be consumed by her, as my mind was consumed by her now.
Jade was something I never anticipated and now…
It turned out finding her was easy, letting go of her…was more than I could handle.
I pulled into my driveway, Jade’s car was in hers. Her house was dark; she must be asleep. I didn't care, I couldn't wait to speak with her until morning, so I knocked and knocked and knocked. It appeared her lack of response had given me no choice; tomorrow it would have to be.
I was tense. Eager to speak with her and hopefully fix this mess between us. Unlocking the door to my home, struggling with the slider I had yet to repair, eased me. I was home and even with the non-completed projects and unfinished rooms, it finally felt like home. This place gave me the strength to keep trying. I wasn't about to give up on it or on Jade.
Lucky didn't wait for me by the door to lock it like she normally would. She immediately went to her favorite area of the couch to lie down. It was no accident, she settled there to be close to one of her favorite people. There in the corner, Jade was fast asleep, curled up under the blanket I kept over the couch for chilly evenings such as tonight and wearing what looked like one of my shirts.
Apprehensive to smile, fearing to hope, I moved closer to her. Softly, I dropped my keys on the coffee table, trying not to wake her. Lucky looked to her and to me, with a slow bounce of her tail touching Jade’s invisible legs. She continued to sleep. I continued to observe her, wondering what I would say when she realized I was home. Slinking onto the sofa, Lucky stood up, eventually settling back down on my lap, allowing me to sit nearer to Jade.
Should I wake her? No, let her sleep. She’ll be awake soon enough.
That’s what scared me.
The more Lucky tried to make her body comfortable, the more her collar jingled with her identification tags, eventually waking my sleeping beauty. Her eyes opened, meeting mine in the darkness. Jade stilled in sleepy consciousness, her thoughts and vision waking slowly. Her senses finally catching up. Sitting up she addressed me.
“Tommy…you’re home.” Relief came in her whisper and over my body, releasing it from its state of imprisoned tension.
“Yes, baby, I’m home.”
Then the unimaginable happened. Jade crawled out and over the blanket to me and Lucky, wrapping her arms around both of us; her lips caught mine unexpectedly. Her kiss stripped away the layers of hurt and doubt between us, replacing the worry and pain with tenderness, desire…love.
My hands, not knowing where to go, barely skimmed her face, touching then pulling back, as if this kiss, as if Jade couldn't possibly be real. Finally, coming to rest on her shoulders, my thumbs caressed her collarbone. Jade initiated and continued the assault on my mouth, her actions grounding her, me… us. Lucky jumped away, allowing Jade to straddle me, settling on top, our unbroken connection strengthening her. Her hands holding my face, her mouth kissing, then stopping, then starting again. Her thoughts played out in each press of her lips. Her actions spoke volumes without delivering a sound.
We stayed that way, lingering there until Jade, uncertain, backed up slowly to await my reaction.
“Jade, what is all this? I thought I lost you.”
“I was stupid. I let fear push you away. I’m so sorry.” Her cries built and then released. Her body collapsed in my arms.
“Shhh…no, baby, no, don't you dare apologize. I’m the one who’s so sorry. I should have told you everything from the beginning. I was afraid of losing you, but I almost lost you because of my worry. I let my head get in the way, dreading what you would do, or how you would think of me. You trusted me, and I trusted you. I should have had more faith than that. No, I do have more, I should have let that faith carry us. I shouldn’t have interfered with it, changed it, or tried to control it.”
“It doesn’t matter. This matters. We matter. Our today, our tomorrows, our lasts…not our pasts.” She rocked forward, kissing me again.
“Our lasts? What you do mean our lasts?” I didn't understand. Jade was talking about today, tomorrow…but our lasts? The sound was so final, the end. Had I misunderstood her words, her body? Inside, I was freaking out, but outside, I was holding on to her for dear life.
Pulling back, again, Jade’s face flushed, her lips plumped, swollen from our kiss, her eyes sparkled like a beacon drawing me in, telling me what she was about to explain would make everything right.
She left my lap to retrieve something beneath the blanket. It was the letter I’d given to Viv before I left the other night. Jade returned to me, the letter pressed to her heart; her eyes closed tight told me this was going to hurt.
“Tommy, my brother explained a great deal in this letter. I won't say it didn’t hurt. It was as if he died again…this time it was more real than I could have imagined…more real than three years ago when we got the call.”
“Baby, I’m so sorry.”
“No, please don't be. If you hadn’t bought the house, then perhaps I would have never gotten it.”
“You know?”
A light smile brightened her already beaming face. “Yes, I know. I know all the key players in your little real estate deal.” She joked.
“I’m sorry about that. I wanted to tell you, but Viv asked me to wait. In fact, that was one of the things that I had wanted to talk with you about after Reece’s party. My plan was to leave the party early. I know we both agreed to go, but hell, if I was going to waste time somewhere I didn't want to be at his home and knew you didn't want to be either. I was going to take you out to Holgate, to night surf and then speak with you about Mike and me, and if you were still willing to listen, I was going to tell you about the house and give you something I had gotten made especially for you.”
“Damn it! This is what we should have been doing all along.”
“Yeah, but then again, if I hadn’t left the party to come back here, I may have never found the letter.”
Jade nodded.
“You said, it revealed more. Was it the note your family was hoping to find, so they could understand more about Jimmy’s death?”
“Suicide.”
“Huh?”
“I always hated to say suicide, and although we all knew what it was, everyone around me allowed me to sugar coat everything that Jimmy’s death touched. This letter, his words helped me to figure out what I already knew, but kept hidden.”
“Baby, death under any circumstances is hard, but your brother’s…” I couldn't find the words.
“His suicide was unimaginable, right?”
I nodded with puzzled uncertainty.
“It was, but this letter confirmed what he was dealing with had been going on for years and years.”
“Jade, I thought he died after he sustained an injury surfing at The Mavericks.”
“Oh, he did, that’s true, but the reason behind his death was more. According to his letter to me, The Mavericks and the injury from that accident was only a small part of why he killed himself. The accident only confirmed his dark intentions.”
“I’m not following you.”
“He planned to die before The Mavericks. Here…read it for yourself.” Jade handed me the letter. Discomfort coursed through me, making me stand and move around the room until the last word was read.
“You see now?”
“I’m so sorry, Jade.”
“Don’t be.” She stood and came to me. “Jimmy wasn’t happy at times. I saw it. We all did. He was miserable working with my dad. Yet, he never tried to change it. Day in and day out, we all have shit we don't like to do, Jimmy was no different. Yet, I thought he was no different, meaning I never saw any signs Jimmy’s upset was…monumental. He never acted out or expressed his emotions that way, other than the way we all did when we got pissed or disappointed. Apparently, he hid it well. I spent the last three years asking why. It took you and Jimmy to answer me. Thank you.”
“Me?”
“You pressed me without pushing. You made me feel without forcing. You made me want without knowing why. You made me question my decision to be alone. You woke me from a sleep—a trance I created for myself. A place that was swallowing me up, making me disappear. You brought me back, you pulled me out. On the beach the night of Reece’s party, the last thing I remembered was you walking away. It was our last moment. Jimmy said always remember your ‘lasts,’ but you leaving was not the kind of thing I wanted to cherish. What I wanted was to feel your last kiss, hold onto our last embrace, hear your last words, see your last smile…knowing all of it belonged to me. Those were the feelings I wanted to cherish, to own, to crave, to honor, and to have again and again. I blew it that night, and I’m sorry for that.”
I placed the letter down and wrapped Jade in my arms. After what felt like forever, I lifted her up and carried her to my room…to my bed. Laying her down, I kissed her lips briefly, pulling back to drink in her beauty. Her image was one I thought I’d lost forever only forty-eight hours ago. Sure, I promised myself I would fight for her, but fighting a memory, a loss that reached the deepest part of her soul seemed an impossibility of beating.
Her, here tonight was unforeseen. Jimmy’s mention of always remembering our ‘lasts’ not only touched Jade, but it gutted me. I remembered the last time I saw Jade—at Reece’s home. Protecting herself with an invisible shield, her expression stoic. I did that to her, and I knew I never wanted to be the cause for her to look or feel like that again.
“Jade, I…” I took a chance, but she jumped first. I always thought of myself as spontaneous, but the move to the beach house taught me I was a guarded man. Much in the same way Jade guarded herself, I learned through her I was no different—living a structured life, until destiny forced me out of my comfort zone to build something, in my case rebuild something—me.
“I love you, Tommy.”
Jade’s soul showed in her smile, as her confident arms wrapped around my shoulders. She needed to be first. Who was I to argue? Leaning in, I kissed my girl. The world asleep around us, but I was alive…full of life. Jade’s love, her words, made me realize I was drowning, not knowing I needed to be rescued. Sleeping, but I couldn't wake. Suffocating, but continued to breathe through shallow breaths. Jade saved me, without me realizing I needed to be rescued. Jade freed me without me acknowledging I was trapped.
“I love you, too, baby.”
I held her. Held onto her. I was the one who needed her. I needed her strength, her love. I craved it, I desired it, and now I’d have it and I’d never let it go…let her go.
Topping her, our mouths met, dancing softly at first, then savoring our connection, our tongues stealing, touching, confirming what was in our hearts. The momentum built, entwining our bodies, Jade’s danced beneath me, mine over hers. Our emotions confined behind the veil, peeking through then releasing everything we held back since we first met.
Breaking from our kiss…
“I want inside you. I need to feel you again to know this is real, to know this is forever.”
Jade’s hands tugged the hem of my shirt, pulling it up over my head. Her hands returned to my waist, releasing me. My mouth returning to her mouth, expelling a feral groan as she gripped my hard shaft.
I thought I would lose my mind, her hand tightening further, her jerks more deliberate. I could finish this way but denied myself that pleasure. I had to be with her, in her, part of her. Pulling back, my hand covered hers, she slowed.
“I don't want it this way, not this time. You told me you love me. Now, I need to show you, Jade.”
She let go of my cock. Abandoning it to frantically slip out of her clothes. I divested from what I remained wearing, leaving a heap of mangled fabrics on the floor. With our bodies unrestricted, Jade moved to straddle my lap, taking my cock once more and guiding me into her sweet, soaked pussy.
A softy, achy moan set Jade free. Her body filled, her sex dancing uninhibited over my erection. My thrusts meet her bounce. Her head slowly dropped back, her long dark tresses fell away, revealing a pronounced pulse at the side of her neck. My mouth found the soft flesh of her breast, her nipples hardened.
Her arousal grew with mine, mine strengthening with hers. We were fluid, each action deliberate, each response to the other perfect, knowing…in sync with each other. The declaration of our love started this, our carnal wants completed it.
Her breathing escalated. Mine, tighter and restrained…wanting the sex driven by our love, our untamed need to go further, last longer.
Discreetly, I slowed, but Jade noticed and pressed harder. Her fingers caressed her clit, soothing it, calming her arousal only enough to speak.
“Don’t stop. Be with me. Take me. Make me come.”
Her pleas weakened me; I tried to hold back, but my body was losing with each sound from her voice, inching her closer to her release. I surrendered, taking Jade onto her back, spreading her wide. My hand held her hip in place, my other tended to her core, my thumb replaced her fingers on her swollen nub. She watched my cock drive into her, one arm over her head pressed the wall, while her fingers from her free hand were at her mouth, each being teasingly bitten.
My girl knew exactly what she was doing. Jade unabashedly met my thrusts, her eyes speaking to mine, not a word said outwardly…her focus called me, held me to task, making my body move her, move us to our release.
“Baby…”
“Tommy…”
Our breathing tattered, raw, building toward our climax. Our bodies exploded unashamed, driven by what we felt in our hearts. We made it through, we came out on the other side whole, together, there in the bed we shared, and in the love we had for each other.
Fearlessly, purposefully unhurried, we floated back and settled in. There would be no more letting go, only moving forward, joined as one…complete.
Jade’s body, cocooned in white linen, rested along my side. Studying her, I smiled. She was finally mine. No hidden secrets, no trepidation, dread, or alarm. It was all replaced with compassion, truth, courage…love.
Our night was replaced with daylight, seagull calls, water lapping and receding as the tide from the Atlantic mimicked the mood in our bed…easy, peaceful, contented.
Stretching and taking in a deep breath, I wrapped myself around Jade further. She buried her face in my chest.
“Good morning, baby.”
“Good morning,” she said, not moving.
“Hey, we’re okay, right?” A simmer of doubt rose inside me.
“We’re fine. I just don't want to get up and start the day.” Wrapping her arms around my waist to keep the invisible pull of life from removing her from my bed, she pressed herself tightly against me.
I chuckled. “We have all day. Isn't Monday your day off?”
“Yes, but unfortunately it’s moving day.”
I had forgotten, with everything going on, Summertime Sweets needed to move all the contents from the old building into the new one today. We would get it done, for Jade to be ready for the grand opening on Friday.
“Ah, yes, but you’re not alone. You have me and Viv…”
“No Viv.”
“No Viv? Why?”
She sat up and ran her fingers through her tangled mane. “Viv collapsed on Saturday night.”
“Is she hurt? Damn it! I shouldn't have left her with that note.”
“Tommy…stop! Viv fainted due to dehydration and a minor heart condition she hid from everyone. I found out when Reece got a call from Blaze during the time I was confronting him about the little stunt he pulled at his party.”
“How is Viv, now?”
“Better, but not well enough to be lugging boxes between the two shoppes. Besides, I have my staff to help me.”
“And me,” I added.
“Yes, especially you” She grinned and leaned forward to kiss me before scooting off to start her busy day.
Pulling her back, I had a surprise I wanted to give her before we left. “Wait! I have something I meant to give you Saturday night.”
I left our bed to retrieve my gift.
“Here, baby. Open it,” I said, climbing back in bed, giving her a reassuring smile, as I handed her the small box.
She opened her surprise to reveal the white fisherman’s rope bracelet done in thinner, multiple strands that connected with a large lobster claw clasp on the ends. Attached to that clasp was a small diamond Starfish.
“It’s so special. Thank you, Tommy. I love it.”
Taking the bracelet from her hand, I attached it to her wrist. “The Starfish…”
“I know.” Closing her eyes, Jade cherished it already, she understood. The symbol stood for healing and renewal, a Starfish can lose its legs, have a part of them violently ripped away, only to grow back and become stronger—to heal.
Jade settled into my chest, and I lay back against the pillows. Holding her in my arms, we pushed back the events of the day for a bit longer. A short reprieve, shorter than expected as her phone began to ring and ping.
“I’ll get it.” Leaving Jade in bed, I went to retrieve her phone in the other room. The screen was lit up like a Christmas tree.
This wasn't going to be good.
Jade sat erect the minute she saw my face. “What is it?”
“I’m not sure, but you are one popular lady this morning.”
Jade took the phone and scrolled through quickly. Curiosity turned to concern as Jade phoned one of her staff members.
“What happened? Holy Shit! I see. Was anyone hurt? Did you call the police?”
Jade was incredibly calm, but her last question got my attention. She disconnected—she didn't stand or run or scream. She put the phone on the sheets, releasing it, clutching the fabric in her fists, trying to find strength, holding onto what little composure she was losing.
“What happened, Jade?”
“I don’t know, but everything is gone.”
“What?”
“The boxes, the equipment that we were taking over to the new place ourselves, are missing. The only things left were in my office. It was untouched.” Shaking her head, staring at the sheets, she went quiet.
“Baby, could the movers have gotten their wires crossed and come earlier than expected?”
“No, these were items we agreed to move on our own. They weren't overly large, and being I needed everything in place to create the food for Friday, we decided to unpack as we went along, so all we had to do Thursday was bake. Now it’s all ruined.” She wasn't moving, she didn't want to go. She put her head in her hands to hide her tears from me, but her trembling frame was a sign of Jade breaking once more.
The days that passed had been emotional ones for her…Reece’s party, our fight, Jimmy’s letter, Viv’s collapse, and now this. I had to do something.
“Jade, let’s go. We need to see what happened. A police report needs to be filed. Then we can take it from there.”
She wiped her face, nodded, and shot out of bed. “From where should I take this, Tommy? Everything but my office is gone. I don't have the proper equipment to make anything. None of the things taken can be replaced quickly enough to be up and running on Friday!”
“There has to be a mistake. If someone was going to steal your stuff, wouldn't they have taken the registers, the money? Are you sure about the movers? Who steals food equipment?” I tried to lighten things up.
Her laugh quelled my worry.
“I know what we agreed on, but then again I was busy losing my boyfriend, so maybe I misunderstood what they told me.”
I grinned. “Well, your boyfriend is here now, and you didn't lose him, so let’s go fix this, baby.” I held out my hand for her.
She nodded, taking it.
We quickly washed up and dressed. I drove Jade to the first location as she made calls to her staff and the moving company and to Viv to let her know that we were together and everything was okay. We arrived at the shoppe to a small crowd out in front with balloons in hand.
Jade looked to me, and I to her, before getting out and addressing the people in front of her old place. Walking to them, the crowd separated exposing Blaze and Reece holding the balloons.
“Surprise, sweetie!” Blaze hugged Jade before she could speak.
Reece came forward and handed Jade the balloons and a bouquet.
“These are for you.”
“What’s this about?” Jade asked without a ‘thank you.’
“Jade, I can live with many things. I apologize to no one, but you're different. I owed you, so I called a friend of mine at the police department and we unlocked this place and had your staff and some of the people I hired work through the night to get the new place ready.”
Jade looked to me, pools filled her eyes. I gave her a quick wink to settle her.
“Reece, a simple, I’m sorry, would have sufficed.”
“My darling, you know I don't do simple. I did, however, leave your office untouched, as I would not want anyone rummaging through my papers.”
Jade and Reece embraced. Not letting go of her, he walked to me and held out his hand.
“Mr. Conte, I apologize. I’m rarely wrong, but I was wrong in this instance.”
“Apology accepted.”
“Now, you have everything you need in place to make Summertime Sweets new location a complete success. Don't disappoint me.”
He loved her. No matter his misgivings about Jade and me, Reece loved her. He had a funny way of showing it, but an incredible way of making it up to her.
She kissed him and Blaze before heading inside the old shoppe to collect the boxes in the office. She instructed her staff to head over to the new place while she and I stayed to clean up.
Reece’s surprise could have been a disaster, but it turned into the perfect start for Jade and her week ahead.
Speaking of surprises, I had one more up my sleeve for her.
One that would have to wait until Thursday.