“Of course.”
We make our way to Jack’s, listening to Lilly’s chatter about Jax the entire way over. When we pull up, I can hear the music from the yard flowing out. I suck in a deep breath. Lilly takes my hand and grins up at me. If it was not for that smile…I shake my negative thoughts, and we walk out back. Layla has been gripping my other hand for the past minute, and I didn’t even notice.
The first thing I see is the crew, all of them, sitting about on Jack’s huge patio. When they see me, a loud whoop goes up, and I can’t help but grin. I bound over and leap into Rusty’s arms. He holds me close and kisses my hair.
“Oh Lass, made my night you have.”
“Rusty,
” I croak. “I missed you.”
I am pulled in three hundred different directions and then let go. When the hype has worn down, I look for Jax. He is just stepping outside with the beautiful red head Sammy. His eyes fall on me, then to Lilly, and he stiffens. A range of emotions wash through his face at the sight of his long, lost daughter. She is far less nervous than he. He kneels, and she goes bounding into his arms. They become a tangle of limbs as he hugs and kisses her, and she wraps her arms around his neck.
“My little girl.” He croaks, hugging her tightly.
“Daddy, are you home?” She wails.
“I am home baby, I won’t ever leave you again.”
“I missed you daddy.”
“Thank you for all your letters.”
“I made you a picture.” She beams, handing it to him. He grins at her and his eyes are glassy.
The emotion is far, far too much. I swallow back my sobs and back out of the yard. I hurry out the front, sobbing wildly. God Dammit. Why did he have to come back? Why does he have to love her so much? It was so much easier to think he did not care, then it is to know how much he does care. Caring hurts too much. Caring is far too strong. My chest is heaving with sobs; I feel a hand touch my shoulder and I am spun around and crushed into a hard chest.
I shove and push, beating my fists against Jax’s chest. How could he? How dare he? He doesn’t try and stop me; he just lets me beat his chest until I am weak. I crumble into his arms, and he holds me tightly. He doesn’t say a word. He doesn’t move. He just holds me. I grip his shirt, take in his smell. I love him. I am still so madly in love with him. I hate that. I hate it so much.
“How could you? How could you just leave us like that?” I scream into his chest. “You were the love of my life, I thought you were dead for two years…”
“I’m sorry.” He whispers.
“I…I…would have helped you. You just left. You never gave us a chance. We loved you!”
“I know.”
I pull back and stare up at him, his eyes are glassy.
“You broke my heart Jax.”
He nods. “I know mate.”
“And now your back…”
“I can’t help the past, I can help the future.”
“I…can you give me a minute. I will be in soon.”
He nods and lets me go, his eyes are as red and glassy as mine. He turns and leaves me in the yard alone. Layla
appears a few minutes later and puts a comforting hand on my shoulder. I pull her into a hug.
“How are you sweety?”
“Getting there. You?”
“I’m ok. Are you dealing with this well?”
“As well as can be expected.”
“I just called it off with Jack.”
I pull back. “Layla why?”
“Oh don’t get me wrong, he is beautiful inside and out, but after seeing that damned pirate of yours, I realized I am more a rugged, rough type of girl. Besides, he loves you Jade.”
“Layla, I am sorry.” I say.
“No, honey, no. You can’t help that, and I think it’s really sweet. He cares a lot for you Jade, why don’t you give it a go? He will be so good to you.”
“You know, he would. I would just hate myself if I hurt him Layla.”
“Is your heart there Jade?”
“No, it’s still where its always been.”
“You love him still, don’t you?”
I feel tears thundering down my cheeks.
“Oh honey,” She pulls me into another hug. “It will be ok.”
“I…want to move on Lay’s I do.”
“Then move on, sometimes you have to make yourself. Enjoy Jack, don’t date him but appreciate him. Maybe it will help.”
“Maybe.”
“Come on, pull that gorgeous smile on and let’s finish this night.”
We walk back out to the patio, and I struggle to wipe excess tears from my cheeks. Jax stares at me; he just sits there and stares. Why the hell is he looking at me?
When I get to the table, I see Sam and Margy right away. Joy swells in my chest as I rush over to hug them. It eases the pain just a touch.
“Oh love, you are a sight for sore eyes. How are you?” Sam smiles, holding me close.
“Great, how are you?”
“Better now.”
“How are you love?” Margy asks, stepping beside Sam.
“I am good now I have seen you two.”
She laughs. “We make it all better.”
“Tell me how you have been girly?” Rusty asks, coming up behind me. I spin around and grip him in a
nother
tight hug.
“Oh Rusty, I can’t get enough of you.”
“Missed me lass?”
“Did I ever. How are you?”
“Great, how are you? How have you been?”
“Awesome Rust, I really like it here.”
“Are you working?”
“Yeah, I work at a nearby bar most nights and some days. I help them with entertainment as well.”
“Your singing?”
“Yeah.”
He smiles. “Always knew one day someone would love that voice of you
rs
.”
“I reckon.” I smile weakly.
“What about your life as a princess?” Sam asks. “What happened with that?”
“Well, I didn’t want to go back even though my mother and step father wanted me to. My mum caved and said she was sorry, and she missed me. So she helped my dad set me up here and she rings often.”
“That’s
marvelous
news honey. I remember your dad; he was sweet.”
“Mack? Yeah he is sweet, I do not see him much anymore.”
“I was going to keep it a surprise but after that comment I just can’t,” Jack pipes up, walking over, Jax is close behind him. “Your dad is coming tonight.”
I gape at him. “Jack what?”
“He has been wanting to visit for months, when I told him I had finally found you he was relieved and said now he could come and have a real visit with both of us. It’s why we organized
tonight’s
barbeque; it was a surprise.”
I leap up and throw myself at Jack. “Oh Jack, you are amazing.”
He laughs and sets me down, kissing my head. “Anything, anytime.”
“Everyone this is Layla, my best friend. Layla this is Jax and his crew.” I say when Layla comes back in. I feel rude that I haven’t introduced her.
Jax’s eyes meet mine, in a pained, deep way. I smile weakly.
“Um Jade, this is Sammy.” He finally says.
I look at the gorgeous red head. She smiles warmly at me. It’s not her fault.
“Hi Sammy.”
“Hi Jade, it is so nice to finally meet you and Lilly.”
“Yeah, you too.”
I watch as Lilly comes bounding back outside in her swimmers; she shyly slinks past the men to Jack’s pool.
“Lilly, yell out every now and then ok, so I can hear you.” I yell at her.
“Ok mummy.”
“Oh Lass, she is just gorgeous.” Rusty breathes.
“Yeah, she is.”
“I can’t believe how like you she is.” Sammy says to Jax; who's eyes are still on me.
“Yeah, she is a lot like her mum too.”
I blush and turn away. I didn’t know how I would get through this night.
CHAPTER 4
The night goes on, and it gets more and more awkward. I can’t take much more of this; I thought it would be ok but it’s just so hard. Seeing him with her. Feeling the old emotions that used to wash over me. I am finding it hard to cope, hard to breathe. He was…is the love of my life, and he is with another woman right in front of me.
I excuse myself after dinner and make my way into the kitchen, when I see Jack my emotions crumble. I fall into him he soothes me with kind, warm words.
“It’s ok angel.”
“I feel so confused at the moment. Seeing him with her and knowing I mean nothing anymore…and I look like a fool because I have no one.”
“You have me.” He whispers.
I look up at him and he leans down, pressing a kiss to my lips. It deepens quickly, and I let it, desperate for comfort. I hear the clearing of a throat and pull back; Jax is standing in the kitchen look
ing
rather…well…furious.
“I need to get a drink.” He mutters gruffly.
Jack doesn’t let me go. Making a point
I see.
“Don’t mind us.”
Jax snorts and grips a beer. Then he turns and walks out. A small, immature part of me is glad he saw Jack and I kissing. I look back up at Jack and smile.
“You always make me feel better.”
“I know angel.”
“Thank you, for being here. It means so much to me.”
“Of course.”
I get myself a beer and walk back outside, just to see my father walking in. I beam and tears spill down my cheeks. The years have been kind to my father, though he certainly looks like he has age
d
a few years. His dark
,
long hair is now cropped short and frames his face. His pale skin is just a crystal like as it was years ago. His blue eyes still as dazzling. He has filled out and gotten broader.
“Daddy!” I wail, rushing over and leaping into his arms.
“Hey baby girl.”
I relish in the feeling of his arms wrapped around me, and my tears flow. I have not realized how lonely I am.
“Aw, don’t cry baby.” He says, pulling me back and swiping my tears away.
“I missed you…”
“Me too, you wouldn’t believe it.”
“I can’t believe you are here.” I whisper.
“Your mother rang me, telling me you sounded down and out. When Jack said he knew where you were and that you lived close by I knew I needed to see you.”
“Mum, god she is such a drama queen.”
He smiles. “Always was.”
“How long are you staying daddy?”
“As long as Jack will have me, we have…
err
issues to deal with.” He says, glancing at Jax.
“We do?”
“Sure, we will get to that later. How is my baby?”
“Ok daddy. Oh, you will die when you see Lilly.”
I call out to her and she comes in, she often talks to Mack over Skype so she recognizes him right away.
“GRAND
D
AD!” She squeals, running over. He scoops her into a hug and kisses her cheeks.
“Well look at you angel.”
“I can’t believe you are here. Daddy is here too.”
Mack’s eyes meet with Jax’s and he nods. “So he is.”
Lilly chatters on for a while, then returns to the pool.
“Mack, good to see you.” Jax says standing, and offering his hand.
“You too Jax.”
“Daddy you remember the crew?”
He shakes all the
men’s
hands and stops at Sam.
“Well I remember this beautiful face.” He smirks, kissing her hand.
“DAD!” I gape.
“Hey don’t knock a man for knowing a beautiful woman.”
“It’s nice to see you again Mack.” Sam flushes.
I sigh and sit down. When Mack has settled in, I finally ask the question I have had in my brain the past few minutes.
“Dad…why have you aged?”
“You clued onto that huh? Jack?”
Jack sighs and sits beside me. “Long story short, you remember how I told you back hundreds of years ago, your dad and I touched a treasure that turned us immortal?”
“Yes.”
“Well, we thought it was destroyed. Turns out it wasn’t.
Err
, Jax?”
“We have an issue and we are here to look for it.” Jax says, and I gasp.
“Why?”
“A gang found out about it and have been on the hunt to get it. If they do, it
’
s not going to be pretty. For anyone. So we are going to get it and destroy it, before they do.”
“Ok.”
“The gang is run by…Bill’s son.”
“Bill had a son?” I gasp.
“Yes, Ben. He found out about it and is after it. Your dad came across it recently and touched it, as well as Jack and well, it went a little wrong and they lost it again.”