My childhood crush; we meet again

We meet again...

     When we reach his office I smile at my dad, "I saw the letters to mom the ones with your number in them, Anna kept begging me to call but I debated over it so much that she just bought us plane tickets. And Well, here we are days later." My smile falters as I continue, " Trust me I wasn't gonna show up and probably wouldn't have if not for Anna here getting the tickets or waking my ass up to get over here. And the only reason for that is because neither of you could have showed up for me at mom's funeral especially when I needed someone there. And I don't need or want excuses from you guys I'm just saying." 

     Ranting made me feel slightly better. Just not a whole lot better, they looked hurt at my words but they needed to know exactly how I felt about this s**t. I was hurting and they didn't care. Even though mom abandoned them I didn't, right? I deserved someone there for me. I didn't mean to bring it up but once I started going at it man did it feel good. It felt good relieving some of my bottled up anger. 

     "Baby girl... We couldn't make it, and I know... You're right, we should have been there for you in some ways that we just weren't and I'm sorry about that. But we are now..." I look at him in disbelief at what he just said couldn't be before, but now he can? Like really...

     "Oh gee, So let me see if I got this right... You couldn't be there when I actually needed you the most which was at the funeral... But, now you can be here for me when I don't really need you...." How does that even make sense? "Well, what if I said I didn't want you here and now? Couldn't be there then, why should you be now?" I question him and he looks down at his feet for a few seconds before I sigh and continue; "But... Even if you didn't come to the funeral, I still came for a reason even if it was mostly Anna who dragged me here. I wanted to let go of the past. And move forward. But the only way I could was to come here." 

     I sigh and my dad looks a little relieved at my words. " Well... Where are you guys staying?" I look over to Anna then back at my dad. Jackson was staring at us, mostly at me. And God was he hot. I still wanted him, I thought he was hot before. Well, nothing compares to how he is now. "Well... We are staying at The Ritz about 20 minutes from here...."

     "Well... Not anymore you guys are staying here." I just stare at him who is he to decide where we're staying he hasn't been a father to me like he thinks he is. "You can't just decide where we are going to stay... Who said I want to even stay here?" I give him a little attitude and I hear Jackson chuckle, Davie talks this time. "Don't be stupid Bella save your money while you're here and just stay here with us."

      I think over it for a moment maybe we could stay here, I did want to see Jackson more. "Fine... We will stay... But we have to go get our luggage in a bit." I give a weak smile and my dad in excitement runs over and gives me another bone crushing hug. "... Can't... Breath..." He pulls away and apologizes. "Sorry baby girl. I'm just.... I'm just really happy your staying. I've missed you so much"

     I look up at my dad and give him a smile; "I know dad.... I know..." My dad turns to Jackson and says, "When they go back to the hotel can you go with them?" I shake my head, " Dad I don't need a babysitter I'm 23 years old now." He just looks over to me, "I know you don't need a babysitter but you may need some help." I chuckle to myself, help? Did he think I was helpless? "I mean you can come if you want to but I don't think we'll need the help unless you want to stay and wait here Anna?" I look over to Anna waiting for her response. "Ya you guys can just go if Jackson wants to no problems from me." She says and we both look over to Jackson.

     He smirks before we continue, "Yeah, I can go and help. I don't mind." My dad turns to me with a huge smile, "Alright so it's settled then Jackson will give you a ride and help you..." My dad then turns to Jackson, "I want to talk with you first before you guys head out." Jackson nods and they walk away.

     "I'm happy you're here Bella... But for how long?" Davie asks me. "A couple weeks for now. Until we decide what to do..." I smile at Davie and he smiles back. "Whose we?" He asks as if he didn't know already. "Me and Anna, I'm not just going to decide anything without her she's my best friend and has been there for me through it all..." I sigh and look away a bit uncomfortable with this conversation. "Oh well, you both should think about staying here." I look back over to Davie with a serious look. He himself has the same expression across his face. He means what he's saying, "That's not something I can decide on a whim Davie I mean we have a life back in Miami. We have jobs, friends and a house." He looks a little pained at my words.

     "Just think about it... You may like it here..." He looks hopeful, "Trust me that's why we came. Even though I didn't really want to be here... I... I will think about it." Just as I say this my dad and Jackson reappear. " Alright you ready?" Jackson asks I nod, "Yep. I'm ready..." I look over to Davie and Anna, "Be sure to make Anna comfortable.... Anna I'll be back soon..." She nods at me with a smile and mouths out, "Have fun!" She gives me a wink.

    I turn around and walk out the door with Jackson to go to his vehicle. He had a nice car it was a sports car. "Nice car." I say with a smirk. Jackson returns a smile, "I know it helps with the ladies..." I can tell he internally punches himself for the remark he made but I just shrugs it off, "Oh really... Bit of a player are we..." He just grins as we get into the vehicle and set off to The Ritz.

    A comfortable silence falls over us and I wanted to talk to drown the silence in the air, "So how have you been Jackson?" I ask and he just looks over with a raised brow, "You Really want to know how I've been?" I nod as he asks, "Yes. It's been 15 years..." He looks back at the road in front of us. "Yeah. 15 years is way to long... But I've been good... How about you?" He asks me back, I chuckle at him and he raises his brow again, "I've been better... I mean considering everything I've been through the last few months."

    I can feel his eyes on me as I look out the window at the passing streets, "I'm sorry about your mother..." He says in a genuine tone I look over to him and quirk my eyebrows up and say softly, "Please don't... Please don't say sorry. I don't want your pity and I'm completely over it..." I look back out the window and continue on, "I don't wanna talk about it... I said my piece back there and I meant every word to them. They could have come and seen me but they chose not to. And regardless, if not for Anna I really wouldn't have come." I sigh at my last words lost in thought. Here I was sitting in a car with the hottest guy I know and ready to spill my guts out but I cut it short before saying to much.

    I'm not a weak person. I was strong and I had to be my whole life. And regardless of how I felt I did miss my brother and dad in ways I couldn't say out loud. Before I knew it we were at the hotel and in the room packing mine and Anna's things. "If you want I can just pack up I know the difference between mine and Anna's things and some may not be fitting for you to pack up." I laugh a little before getting to work packing things up. Anna's stuff and mine, Anna's stuff and mine, splitting the things between her stuff and mine and throwing them where they belong.

    "Are you sure you don't want help??? It could be faster..." He says as he brushes past me, the s****l tension is clear in the air. I swallow a lump forming in my throat as I say, "Umm.... No I'm good. Thank you though." I get back to it. And when I finally finish Jackson helps me bring the bags down and in the car.

    "Sooo... How long are you staying." The tension growing between us, "Just a couple of weeks. Or until Anna and I decide what to do... I mean we have a place in Miami... I can't decide to up and leave no matter how much I know my dad and brother are going to want me to." He mumbles under his breath so low that I almost miss what he says; "There not the only ones..." I look over to him with a questioning look, "What did you just say?" I ask and see a faint red creep up his cheeks is he blushing? "Umm. I didn't say anything." I know what he said he wants me here, he wants me to stay. But he won't admit to it.

    I know his type all to well. Hell we had guys like him in Miami. Such a play boy, and a bad boy attitude. That won't admit to really liking someone and quite frankly as much as I do want him I'm not going to show it. He can come chasing if he wants me but I don't do the chasing. I never have.

    "You should really think about staying...." He looks back over me as I'm looking at him his smile is genuine but I'm not sure I can stay. "I'm not sure... Why?... Why would you want me staying...?" I ask him as he looks between me and the road in front of us. " Well, I think you'd be fun to hang with. I know it's been years since you've been here but.... I think you should give it a chance... You might actually like being here." He says genuinely with a smile.

    I look out the road for a couple seconds before turning back to him with a mischievous smile; "Are you trying to sell me on staying here?" I quirk up my eyebrow a grin plays across his mouth and I cant help but stare at his perfect mouth. I wondered what it would be like to kiss those lips amongst other things. Quickly I compose myself and clear my throat. He didn't seem to notice we're my eyes were lingering but he simply answers, "Why wouldn't I try?" He asks.

    I laugh at his words and he gives me an odd look before asking me, "What?" I look at him a smile still bright and clear as day across my face, "How about this... Within the next two weeks you try and sell me on staying here... And maybe.... That's maybe I'll stay.... But, I promise you this if you try and sell me on it for my dad and brother chances are I will not want to stay." He ponders the possibility of my challenge. "Challenge accepted..." He says with a huge grin.

    I know the grin all to well. He's thinking of ways to get me to stay. I smile back at him, "Great..." My word hangs thick in the air, and before I know it we're back at my dad's.