Forever and Always

Chapter Thirty: Jo

Jo

“Is he okay?” Ollie asked as she and Ava sat me down in the examination room, “Of course he’s not okay. I don’t know why I asked such a stupid question.”

“Because we really don’t know what else to say.” Ava shrugged as she grabbed my arm and rolled her chair over to draw some blood, “Just a pinch. I mean, we've never really had to deal with this before. I've heard some light chatter from Summer and Ray one time about Jordan, so maybe he can talk to Archer? I don't know. I don't know what happened there, but it's an idea...maybe?”

I winced when she inserted the needle and just watched the blood fill the four tubes she needed to fill, “Maybe. I know a bit about what happened with Jordan, but I don't know if he would be up for talking to Archer because of the memories that are associated with what happened to him, but last night was terrible.” I mumbled, just mesmerized with the flow, “I’m trying to be strong but he said some things last night that hurt. I don't blame him for wanting space. I understand. I understand more than he knows, I just...I don't know what to think. I just don't think the drinking helped the situation.”

“Wait…” Ollie paused as typed something in my chart, “He drank last night? How bad?”

“He hasn’t drunk in a while.” Ava mumbled, “The last time I saw him have more than two beers was when he found out you were engaged to…” and the door opened and we all turned out head to a panting Nick. I tilted my head to the side and gave him a weird look, "Speak of the devil. The ex-fiance is here." She laughed.

He rolled his eyes at her and stuck his tongue out before turning to me, “You didn’t think I would miss your appointment, did you?” he grinned, coming over to sit next to me, "I've been here with you for every one since the first one and I'm not going to start missing them now."

“Thank you, but I didn't know if you would be here or not.” I shrugged, “You were with Jeremy and I wanted you to spend time with him before he left.”

“He left this morning. His mom needed him back for something but he’ll call me when he lands. How are you feeling?” he grabbed my hand and linked our fingers, giving me a sense of strength that only he could give me, “When you came home last night, you looked rough and you didn’t want to talk and then Gage and Taylor stole you away for the night. What happened?”

“We found out some things about Tara yesterday when we were getting ready in the back to go on stage. Luna pretended to be a distraught girl with boy troubles and Tara squealed like a pig, telling her exactly what she did to Archer years ago and she pretty much told us she sexually assaulted Archer.” Ava mumbled, taking the needle out and putting gauze on it to clot before putting some tape on it to hold it in place, “When she said that, Jo went all Bruce Lee on her ass and beat the crap out of, made her bleed everywhere and well, she might need a nose job or something.”

“Good for you.” He pushed his shoulder into mine with a grin, “I always knew you had it in you.”

“It just happened. I stood up, decked her in the nose and started to punch her and pull her hair. She said she touched him, but something doesn’t seem right. She seemed surprised to see me, but everyone in this town knows I came back. I’ve also felt eyes following me and I think it was her. I think it was an act.”

“Do you think she faked the whole thing?” Ollie asked, but her phone started ringing and it was Felix, so she held her hand up, telling us to hold on a minute while she took the call.

“No.” I shook my head, “I don’t think she faked the whole thing. We knew most of what happened. We pieced it together. We know that she was there at the bar and she drugged him. We know she brought him to the hotel and staged them sleeping together, but I have this feeling there’s more to it.”

“This is what I think.” Nick said as he crossed his arms over his chest and crossed his legs, leaning back in the chair, “I think she knew it was you girls. I think she knew that Jo was back in town and with Archer, and because she is so overly possessive over someone that she can’t have, she wanted to do everything she could to hurt you guys, because shes sadistic. The only thing she knows that could hurt you guys is the past that involves her, because it worked once, why wouldn't it work again especially when what you two have is still so new and it doesn't have a strong foundation yet. So, I think in her crazy mind, she decided to mess with you guys. I mean, from the sound of everything I heard, she seemed too eager to tell you all exactly what happened. It seemed like she did it on purpose to…” and Ava cut him off with a snap of her fingers.

“Get a reaction.” Ava shook her head, “She wanted to get that damn reaction from you. She did know! Goddamn it.”

“Well, that sucks.” I shook my head, “But I don’t regret it. I would do it again and do it worse if I could. Hell, if Gage didn’t pull me off she would be in the hospital. To basically tell us she did things to him, she should get her head cut off. Good thing it was recorded.”

“You’re violent.” Ava laughed, “And I love it. Okay. Let’s get the mammogram done and we should be good to go. I’ll call you when we get the results of the bloodwork so you can get Jamie because Sawyer wants to talk to you about something, and so does Luna. But what they are going to ask, just say yes.” She winked.

“Um, should I be scared?”

“Not in the slightest, but it will be good for you.” She grabbed my hand and gave a soft smile, “I know things are hard with Archer.”

We all stood up and walked to where we needed to go, “You have no idea.” I shook my head as we walked into the room with the machine I’ve learned to hate while Nick stayed outside the door, talking with Ollie. She looked upset with the phone call she took from Felix and she wouldn't look at me. I wanted to ask what was up, but I was afraid to know the answer. I had a feeling it had something to do with Tara, because I mean, of course it did.

We stayed silent while we did the scan. I closed my eyes through the process, just pretending I wasn’t there. So, while I did this, I started to think of the possibilites. Maybe, just maybe Aiden called Felix to vent about what happened. Maybe Aiden is warning Felix about needing to arrest me or something? I don't know. This whole thing sucks. This really freaken sucks and I wish he was here with me, but I get why he isn’t.

It just hurts.

But I will give him what he needs. Always. But the other part he said, about me moving on if the opportunity comes? That’s bull crap and it hurts that he would even mention or consider it. I went five years without him, and now that I’m back…I just…I don’t know. The thought of touching another man or another man touching me is nausiating.

“Come on.” Nick said, grabbing my hand as I walked out of the room, “Let’s gets get out of here.”

I gave him a nod, said by to Ollie and Ava as we made our way to the car. As we pulled out and made our way back home, I just kept thinking about what he said and it was bothering me. I felt a lone tear slip out and I quickly wiped it away, not wanting Nick to see it because then he would ask questions and I honestly don’t know if I can talk about it.

I know he was sorry for what happened. I’m not mad about that. I want to be there for him. I will be there even if he doesn’t want me to be, I just wish he would talk to me, that’s all, just talk and if being apart and him taking the time he needs to help himself is what he wants and needs, I would support him but things right now feel like limbo.

“How bad is it really?” Nick asked, breaking me from my thoughts, “You’re not acting like yourself so I know it’s pretty bad.”

“He wants a break.”

“I can understand that. After what he just found out, I honestly don’t blame him. Are you upset about that?”

“No. Not at all, but he said that if I find someone I connect with and want to explore that connection to go for it.” I mumbled, "That's what I'm upset about."

“I wouldn’t think too much about it.” Nick shrugged as he parked the car, “He just doesn’t want you to wait around for him in case it takes him a while for him to fix himself. If it happens, it happens. That’s life unfortunately. But if you think Archer is truly your one, then hold on. You know how people say if you love them set them free? I say bullshit. Don't set them free until you both want to be set free, because as long as there are feelings between you two, which there are, there is no freedom. But the real question is, does he feel the same?”

“Yeah. I guess I kind of understand. Sometimes you make sense." we laughed, before going quiet for a moment, "But if I wanted to move on from him, I would have already.”

“Yeah, kind of?” he questioned, “You were always hung up on him and you never really did anything to let yourself move on. Yeah, you went on dates, but you never gave those poor saps a chance. You compared them to Archer. Who knows?” He shrugged as he opened the door, “Maybe one day, you will meet someone that does spark your interest and for the first time, you won’t compare him to Archer.” I scoffed at that, rolling my eyes, “Don’t count it out. The world is big, Jo. You feel like this now, but who knows what tomorrow will bring.”

“Yeah, but I know Archer is the one.”

“You think he’s your one, but are you his?” he asked and I instantly felt my heart break at his question. He’s always been the one to ask the hard questions. I just don’t like to hear them or answer them, “I know I just said to hold on, but what happens down the road if either of you two meet someone. Think about it. Really take the time and think about it. Are you prepared for what could happen?”

“Can you explain a bit more?” I asked. We walked to the house and opened the door and as he turned to put the keys in the bowl, he gave me a small smile.

“Jo. When Taylor came and told him you were engaged to me, what did he do?" Nick asked, "He could have come and staked his claim. We could have explained everything to him so he understood, but he never came. All he had to do was convince Taylor to tell him where you were. That's all, but he didn't. Why? Why didn't he come?” He grabbed my hand and pulled me into the living room and there, we saw Sawyer and Luna, waiting for me.

“Can we finish this conversation later?” I asked him and he shook his head no.

“No, because I need to say this before I forget, because you know my mind and maybe we can get their opinions as well, as girls who know both of you more than I do.” He pulled me to the couch and sat me down with the other two, who looked confused.

“What’s going on?” Luna asked.

And Nick explained everything that happened last night. He explained Archer dropping me off and then getting drunk at the bar, me, Taylor and Gage going to get him and how he thought he slept with a random girl and how we basically broke up, even though we were never officially together or anything, I guess.

“So, he told her while he fixes himself, that if she finds someone that sparks her fancy to basically explore it.”

“He said that?” Sawyer questioned, looking at Luna who was just as surprised, “That makes no sense.”

“Yeah. I know. He said he didn’t want to be a burden to me when I said I wanted to be there. He wants space, so I’ll give it to him but it still hurts.”

“It’s going to take time.” Luna said, coming to me and pulling into a hug, “He’s going through a lot right now. He’s with Dylan, trying to work things out. Aiden is at the station with her and her lawyer, trying to get more information from her about what she said, but just to forwarn you, it's not looking good.”

“I think she’s bullshitting.” Sawyer mumbled.

“Me too!” Nick said, pointing at her, “I think she did it to get a reaction from you guys and it worked. The question is, is she going to do something about it?”

“If she’s smart, she won’t.” Luna shrugged, “But she isn’t smart, so who knows what will happen.”

“I just…I guess I need to focus on my and Jamie.” I shrugged, “I’ll give him his space. I’ll give him the time he needs.”

“That’s all you can do and keep that line of communication open. Keep talking to him as a friend. Anyways, we actually came here to ask you something and after hearing this, I think this might be good for you both.” Sawyer smiled.

“Okay?” I questioned, “What’s up?”

“So, Elijah, the crazy child he is…” she shook her head smiling as she thought about her youngest, “Wants Jamie to come with us to New York for vacation.”

“Jayson does too.” Luna smiled, “Miles is okay with watching the kids for a night and Ivy is going to help while we have an adults night out.”

“Are Art, Ava, Lucas and Phil going?”

“Yeah. They are and Phil has no idea we are talking about this. Ava promised not to say anything in case you decide not to.”

“I don’t know.” I whispered, “It sounds like a family thing. I mean, you’re going to there because of your parents and…”

“We go every year and I can always see my parents here if I wanted to.” Sawyer smiled, “It’s a chance for a reset when we go, to get ready for the school year coming up and the craziness the holiday brings as well. Besides, have you ever been to Buffalo?”

“No. I’ve always wanted to though.”

“And this is your chance.” Luna smiled, “You’ll have a blast."

“When are you guys leaving?” and before they could answer, there was a knock at the door, “Are you expecting anyone?” I asked Nick.

“No.” he shrugged.

“One second.” I got off the couch and went to the door, surprised to see Aiden and Gage standing there, but what really surprised me was the fact they were in uniform.

I closed my eyes and let out a sigh, knowing what was going to happen, “Can we not do the cuffs?”

“Yeah.” Gage shrugged, “Trust me when I say this, this sucks. I tried to talk to them about what happened but…”

“We got a recording of her though. Even if what she was saying was fake, she said it to get a reaction.” Ava rushed behind me, “You can’t arrest her.”

“I don’t want to.” Aiden snapped, “Trust me, I don’t fuckin’ want to but she beat the s**t out of Tara and because she was recorded without her consent and because you guys went there with the intention of getting something from her, the recording is out. Fuck.”

“It’s okay.” I smiled as I turned to them, “Nick, Jamie is at Hannah and Austin’s. Grab him tonight for me?”

“I’ll bail you out.” He whispered.

“Yeah.” I mumbled as Aiden and Gage brought me to the car, reading me my rights as we took each step. At least Jamie wasn’t here to see this.

I didn’t say a word the entire time. They asked if I wanted to call someone, so I asked if I could call Archer. I didn’t want to hide anything from him. He needed to know I was arrested for assault and that this was going to be a bigger problem.

But what sucked was when I called him, it went to voicemail. I left a message, begging him to come see me at least, anything. I told him Nick was getting Jamie but if he wanted, he could get him and to just get a hold of Nick. I hoped he would be here. I willed him to walk through those doors, but as every moment passed and he didn't come, I felt more defeated.

So, I sat in that holding cell for hours. Hours waiting for Nick to get what he needed. I wouldn’t talk to anyone. I couldn’t.

And it wasn’t until four hours later, I was finally released. Gage apologized to me for what happened but I just shrugged. I expected it to be honest. But at this point, I just wanted to go home and cuddle with my boy and watch Coco or something.

“Jo.” Gage said as he handed me my things, “I really am sorry. For everything. I’ll talk to Archer.”

“It’s fine.” I smiled, “Give him his space and when he’s ready, he’ll talk to someone. I don't want to push him before he's ready, ya know? That would make things worse and that's the last thing I wanted. His mental health is priority right now, everything else will fall in line. What’s the worst that could happen?”

“Either of you find someone else?” He questioned.

“And if that happens, then it happens, but no matter what, he will always be a part of Jamie’s life and that means more than anything.”

“Right.” I heard him say behind me, “You’re right. I will always be part of Jamie’s life and yours, no matter what.” I turned to face him and there he stood, sporting a smile, but what made my breath hitch was the black eye.

“Oh my gosh!” I rushed over, gently drawing my fingers over his eye, making hin wince, “What the hell happened?”

“I’ll explain it to you later. Can we…can we go back to your place and talk?”

“Where’s Nick?” I asked, ignoring his question, “He was supposed to be here.”

“Yeah. About that. He's home, probably has an ice pack on his cheek or something.” Archer rubbed the back of his head with a sheepish smile, “He came to mom and dad’s when Dylan and I got there to talk to dad, so he could get Jamie. He looked like he was about to lose it, so I asked him what happened to make him more panicky that he normally is. He told me that you got arrested for assault because of what you did to Tara last night and she lawyered up when she found out about the recording. Which, I need to know how she knew about that, because last I thought she didn’t.”

“Last I knew she didn’t, but who knows what goes through her head.” I sighed, “So, what are you doing here and where is Nick and Jamie? I mean, I called you hours ago. I just figured you were busy or something.”

“I kind of broke my phone?" he chuckled, "But, when Nick told us what happened, I rushed down to get your bail posted, but it took longer than I thought because Nick and I got in a little fight.” He shrugged, “He really has a hard left hook.”

“He punched you?” I gasped, “What the hell happened.”

“Well, he didn’t appreciate what I said to you. He basically told me off. He told me he understands that I needed space, but I don’t get to pick and choose when to be there for you. He understood that I wanted to fix my head but for me to shut you out when all you wanted to do was be there for me without having a proper conversation was wrong. He told me you were thinking of maybe going to New York with the others and that he hoped you would meet one of Aiden’s old friends, some hot guy who can get on the stage and sing romantic country love songs and s**t and make eye contact with you…”

“Um, okay?” I mumbled, “Where are you going with this?”

“He said he hopes that guy looks you deep in the eyes, sings his heart out and that you two have a connection that you would want to explore. He hoped that the connection you two have would grow into something more and you two to the point where you fall in love with this guy and want a future, so I would have to sit back and watch the woman I love move on with a man who wouldn’t hurt her, a man that would talk to her, listen to her, and be there for each other through the good and bad times.”

“Oh. Wow. Um…”

“Yeah. It didn’t set to well with me. I had a long talk with Dylan and it helped, but when Nick painted a very…vivid picture that I wish I never heard, I lost it and tackled him.”

“Oh my gosh. You boys always thinking with violence.” I rolled my eyes.

“Pot calling the kettle black?” He questioned, “What was I supposed to do when he told me he wants this guy, who doesn’t fuckin’ exist because we all know it’s you and me, make you fall in love with him, take you home to his place, and bend you over the fuckin’ bed and take what you want to give him in all the ways. How he wants this guy to f**k you so hard, you forget about me and everything we had. Yeah, I saw red. Because that’s not going to happen.”

“Archer, you wanted space and I’m going to give it to you.” I shook my head, “What happens during this time happens.”

“Yeah. And I’m stupid.” He shrugged, “But can we talk at home, please? Er, I mean your place. Because there is more, I want to talk to you about.”

And that conversation was one that I needed, but the phone call that followed was one that just made everything so much worse and I don’t know how I’m going to handle this, because I’m about to lose my damn mind.