Until Her

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

One week later

Being back home felt good. Jackson wasn't anyone's b***h, but after the explosion at The Spot, he wasn’t going to take any unnecessary risks. Someone had tried to kill Gaines, and Jackson was pretty sure he was a target, as well.

"I'm glad you're home. Anna has been acting crazy." He just bet she was. She'd given him and his good ear a workout. But as far as anyone knew, Jackson was no longer an active member of the NSA. His badge number had been retired, as well. There was even a formal press conference and hearing. Gaines's boss had arranged a very elaborate smokescreen. The only people in on it were him, Gaines, and Gaines’s boss, Ross Kilmurray.

"How are my girls?" Jackson asked.

"Anna is good, she's healed nicely. She and India are hard at work on Event Pics. She's seeing her doctors regularly, and is almost at a hundred percent. Little Ava is a handful, and Vivian was released a couple of days ago into your mother's care."

Great. More s**t he didn’t need.

"Any issues?"

Treat looked at Jackson and grinned.

"Not one. She's asleep on the job. Normally, I'd at least expect your mom to start s**t, but so far, nothing at all."

That was a new development.

The drive from the airport was longer than he remembered. Or it could have been from being stiff and cooped up on the plane and in Treat’s little ass Spider. His brother-in-law had money, and he was not afraid to play the part of billionaire bad boy, only he was happily married. But that didn’t stop women from trying to catch his eye. Suffering from the effects of the explosion, Jackson tried to relax his legs and found it to be useless.

“Could your toy car be any smaller?” Jackson complained.

“Don’t make fun of Lucy, you’ll hurt her feelings,” Treat grunted, running his hands across the car’s dash.

“You couldn’t pick me up in the truck? Or better yet, how about Joey’s Lexus. Anything would have been better than this shit.”

Treat looked over at Jackson and grinned.

“I barely get to drive her.”

And he shouldn’t, the car cost over nine hundred thousand dollars. A car like that was not to be driven. It was a showpiece.

“No one gives a f**k about your unhealthy relationship with your car.”

“It’s no secret either, Joey hates this car.”

“I wonder why,” Jackson grunted.

He was almost deaf in his right ear, he still got killer headaches, and everything on his body was sore. Treat’s stupid car was making everything that hurt ten times worse.

"Sorry, this case really kicked us hard. Tracey deactivated me, as well." Treat talked as if he was defeated. Tracey didn’t have that kind of power anymore. But Treat didn’t know that. Jackson had pulled some strings, called in favors, and gained some IOUs in order to get Treat off the case.

"Man, be happy. You have a baby on the way, I have a daughter and a diva dipped in honey I'm looking forward to spending my life with."

Treat eyed him harshly.

"I know you love her, Jackson, but let’s keep my sister’s descriptions to just Anna. I know she’s beautiful, always thought so, but I'm her brother, man. Knock that s**t off."

''f**k you. There was nothing wrong with that description." Treat turned in Jackson’s direction and gave him a look that said he disagreed with Jackson’s last statement. "Pay attention to the road. I want to get home in one piece."

“What are you doing about the house?"

“I put it on the market. I still need to move our stuff into storage. I'm not gonna crash at your place."

"Why not? We have plenty of room."

"Because, man." He wasn’t about to love his woman in his best friend’s house. There was a long pause, and Jackson could see it in Treat’s eyes when he figured out why Jackson wanted to bed down somewhere else.

"Never mind. Don’t tell me."

“Then don't ask."

Anna wasn’t there when he and Treat pulled in. Joey told Jackson she'd dropped Anna off with her therapist and kept Ava, who was sound asleep from the car ride.

"So good to have you home, big brother." Joey pulled him in for a hug. Jackson laughed when her belly bumped his stomach, getting in the way."

"When's my nephew coming?"

"He'll be here in eight weeks."

"Name?"

He knew she wouldn’t budge, but he hoped.

"Not saying. It’s a surprise."

Jackson kissed the top of Joey's head and followed them into the sitting room. He was stiff as he tried to sit, and possibly even annoyed that Anna wasn’t there to greet him.

"Where is Anna’s therapy?"

"A few miles outside of town. Over by Lo and India’s," Treat answered. "But you need to rest, she'll be here soon. India will drop her off." Treat was playing the mother hen. Jackson didn’t much care for all the touchy-feely talk. The plane ride wasn’t bad, but tiredness was weighing heavily on his bones.

"You can rest in the west wing," Treat offered.

"I'll sleep where Ava is.” Joey smiled at Jackson’s retort.

"She's been sleeping with Anna. Follow me.”

"I like this one."

That was Lyriq with India. We're shopping in a local clothing store. I never would have guessed India was into girls, but they’re cute together. India with her natural hair, thick and curly as it sits in a poufy bun on top of her head, and stylish in jeans and flip-flops and a white halter top with orange stitching. And Lyriq with her short, curly hair that’s platinum blonde and looks almost silver against her reddish brown skin that’s covered in tattoos she proudly shows off. They’re snuggled up and whispering as we walk, looking at clothes.

“Hey, what do you think?” I ask.

I hold up a short sleeve dress with ladybugs on the skirt. I’m shopping for Ava. My soon-to-be daughter by way of marriage.

“It’s cute, grab it. The little monster will love it, Honey Mom,” India jokes, and the three of us burst into laughter. We’re inside a trendy shop for kids in the city, and normally there aren’t many Beauvillites running around in the middle of the week. It’s one of the reasons I decided to shop today. It’s not too hot, but it’s also not the time a day where any of the older generation sit outside gossiping. There has been tons since I came home. All revolving around me and Jackson. After I pay for Ava’s dress, I walk out and bump into Rudy and his latest arm-candy. She’s not from here, but most of the woman that show up at Harry’s are from surrounding parishes.

Rudy is a head taller than Jackson—well, maybe not a head. Could be his damn biker boots. He has dark brown hair with gold and auburn highlights. His eyes are steel grey, and his woman of choice—as is always the case with Rudy—is blonde and big-chested. India doesn’t notice him; she and Lyriq have their foreheads touching and are talking in a quiet whisper. Lyriq’s hands are tugging on India’s hips, rocking her forward, and the look on Rudy’s face is more shock than interest. Most men are turned on by girl-on-girl action. But not Rudy.

“India Danvers?” Rudy’s deep, scratchy voice breaks the two women out of their cocoon. India looks surprised but quickly recovers.

“What’s up, Rudy?”

Rudy is really Rudolpho Vargas, his mother’s Puerto Rican, and his father is from Sulphur, Louisiana. A true Cajun. But he goes by his mother’s name. Word in town is that his life hasn’t been good, and that he left his father’s home at a young age after his mother passed away.

“Hey, Anna, glad you’re out of the hospital.”

I smile and say thanks.

“You gonna introduce me, baby?” Lyriq asks India.

“Rudy, this is my friend, Lyriq James. Lyriq, this is Rudy. He tends bar at Harry’s. Lyriq’s visiting from New Orleans.”

Lyriq smirks at Rudy before dismissing him and turning to me to say, “You ready to roll? Gotta get my girl home and go teach some kids how to get their groove on.”

The blonde eyes India and Lyriq for a moment before smiling.

“I’m Rachelle.”

“We’re leaving,” Lyriq says as she grabs India’s hand.

“Riq, you need to stop doing that.”

“Doing what, Indi? You think I don’t know who he is?”

“Who, who is?” Rudy asks. I think he’s genuinely the only one who doesn’t know what’s going on. Everyone in the bar knows that India has it bad for Rudy. She’s just never acted on it. Even the newcomer, Rachelle, can see there is something between the two of them. I know it’s her reason for making her presence known.

“Regardless of who he is, you don’t need to be rude.”

Men are so clueless sometimes. At the same time, they can also be morons. At this point, I grab a chair and sit. Rudy looks confused, India embarrassed, and Rachelle…just upset. I knew this would eventually happen, and although I don’t like to be mixed up in drama, the Beauville in me can’t help but sit and watch.

“Wait. Who am I?” Rudy asks, looking at India.

“You’re Rudy,” she says with a ‘duh’ look on her face.

“I know that, but what is she,”—he points at Lyriq—“talking about?”

Where is the popcorn when you need it?

Lyriq isn’t a small person, but compared to Rudy she is.

“I’m the chick who gets to eat snatch for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You snooze, you lose.”

“Lyriq!” India yells before looking at Rudy.

She’s embarrassed and completely red in the face. I’m not one to let my cousin’s feelings get hurt so I step in.

“It’s just a misunderstanding, Rudy.”

“Doesn’t look like a misunderstanding to me.”

Rudy looks over at India, his hand letting go of Rachelle.

“Indi, can we talk?”

“Talk? About what?”

“About us.”

“Us?” she practically shrieks. “Rudy, there is no us, never was, never will be.”

“Well, that’s because you were too busy being an uppity b***h to notice,” he tosses back.

“Uppity? Me? Not notice you? What planet do you hail from?”

“Come again?”

“I asked what planet are you from?”

Lyriq turns to watch the two of them come to verbal blows. I stand, waving my hands frantically.

“Rudy, come on, you had to know India was into you. Everyone else did.”

“This is getting really awkward,” Rachelle says, breaking into the conversation. I’d almost forgotten she was standing next to him.

“I did know, but like I said, she was always acting like she was the queen.”

“Because she is, you asshole. Have you not seen her? Am I the only one who knows how wonderful you are?” Lyriq tosses out.

“Hush up, Riq. You’re not making this any better,” India hisses.

I watch as my cousin walks right up on Rudy and stares into his stormy grey eyes.

“You had your chance, Rudy. So many opportunities, and maybe you’re right, maybe I am uppity, but the man who gets the pleasure of my company has to work for it, prove he’s not just f*****g around with my emotions. I set the bar high for a reason. Don’t need any fake ass pretenders who just want to play house and not set up shop.”

“Hold on, baby girl, you’re telling me you want a man to walk right up to you and promise you the world?” There is a cynical look in his eyes, almost forced as if he doesn’t want anyone to know how her words affect him. “Well, therein lies your problem. Men like me just want an easy f**k. I don’t want to have to work for it. f*****g is supposed to be fun. Easy. So you can keep your high standards.”

At that, I think all the women in our group let out an audible gasp. But that doesn’t stop Rachelle from following after him when he storms away. I turn to my cousin and her girlfriend and shrug. But Indi’s not done.

“Lyriq, you and I are not serious. We had this conversation.”

“I’m sorry, Indi, but he was an asshole.” Her hands are on her hips, and her eyes express her earlier thoughts. She’s still looking after Rudy as he rounds the corner.

“That may be so, but I don’t need you asserting yourself on my behalf. I’m a big girl, I can take it.”

“Well, you shouldn’t have to take his bullshit.”

That was true. I want to wade in, but now they’re at odds, and this is not my area of expertise.

“That’s for me to decide, not you. I like you, Lyriq, I really do, but this isn’t going to last. You’re not serious about me, and I have too much going on right now to be in a serious relationship.”

Well.

There you go.

I think, seconds later as we head towards the car, neither Rudy or India has any clue that they’re just prolonging the inevitable. They have it bad for each other, and eventually, things will come to a head. The drive in the car is awkward. I choose not to talk, it seems easier that way.

By the time we arrive at Joey's, my heart is beating fast. Jackson. He's here, inside somewhere. I can't run to him, but God do I want to. I grab the shopping bags, say goodbye to Lyriq and India, and with a little pep in my step, make my way inside. Joey and Treat are in the kitchen.

My brother is laughing. He has a great laugh.

“What's so funny?"

Joey looks over and smiles.

"Your brother has a way with words."

Treat winks at me before walking over and pulling me into his arms and kissing the top of my head. He's been doing it every day. Although it’s appreciated, I get the feeling he's being overly protective—or he just wants me to know he cares.

"I love you, sis."

It’s the first time he’s said it. I'm speechless and have no idea how to respond. Treat keeps talking.

"I know our dad’s a d**k and I haven’t really had the time to talk to you about him, but I think we should confront him. He deserves to know he didn’t get away from this. That you're not someone he can ignore."

I squeeze him back because I know he cares and wants to make the wrong, right.

"It's not necessary, Treat. I don’t want anything from him. Honest."

"I know, beautiful lady."

There's a loud cough off to my left, and Treat and I both turn to see Jackson and Ava. He has Ava on his hip, her arms wrapped around his neck.

"Honey, look, Daddy's home." Ava giggles.

"I see, Ladybug."

Jackson whispers something into Ava’s ear that makes her giggle and nod. She slides down her dad and runs towards me and Treat. She crosses her arms, and with a devilish grin announces, “You trying to make a play for Honey?" Ava’s trying to sound serious, but is highly unsuccessful.

Treat and I try hard not to laugh but fail.

"Darlin’ Ladybug, Honey only has eyes for your daddy. She's already my girl ‘cause she’s my sister."

"Oooh," Ava says loudly before turning to me. “Honey, can I have"—she holds up both her hands and spreads them wide—"this many sisters?"

I try and bend down to Ava's height but I am a little stiff from today's PT.

"We'll see, Ladybug. I can’t make any promises, okay?"

"M’kay."

I look up at Jackson and take him in. He needs to shave; there are scratches along his forehead and cheek. I can see his ribs are wrapped because the shirt he’s wearing is hugging every part of his toned physique. His golden-amber gaze studies me, as I study him. Neither of us blink. I’m the first to look away, but only because I’m slowly taking in all that is him.

“You gonna stare at me, Annabelle, or come and give me some sugar?"

"Sugar, is that what you want?" I joke.

“Yeah." His voice drops an octave, and I swear I can feel it down to that place inside that's severely neglected. He doesn’t move, and neither do I.

"Come here, Anna.”

"Oh, boy," Joey whispers before saying, “Treat and I are taking Ava to dinner and out to the movies. We’ll be back in a few hours."

Just like that…it’s just him and me.

Everything gets quiet. Too quiet. I can feel the blood rushing through my veins, and my chest is doing its best to contain my rampant heartbeat. The intensity in Jackson's stare has increased the temperature in the room, but has also removed what little oxygen is left.

I can’t move.

But somehow, and I swear its almost magical, I’m now standing in front of him. When had he gotten so close. Or was it me? I stare up into the molten gold eyes that caress every inch of my face. Neither of us speak. It’s not necessary.

I hope we don’t speak for hours.