“Kass, you’ll always be my little sister, nothing is going to change that. Look, I know how you feel. I’m not going to lie, but I hate the fucker Jason for being in your life. But I also know how much he cares about you. If you have him, I know you’ll be in good hands.” He smiled trying to inch closer.
“You listen here, Dar, you come any closer to my cupcakes and I’ll seriously hurt you,” I growled.
“Okay, sorry.” He smiled innocently. I knew I was going to lose at least two before he left.
“Son of a bitch!” I yelled after Darios left. He ate four cupcakes, leaving me with just one. I could hear him now saying he was helping me with my diet. Jerk!
I mulled over what Jason had told my brother. I guessed my need for time to figure things out also gave him time to think that our relationship was perverse or abnormal. I slammed my fist on the table. “Screw him.” I knew it was right being with him. Fate brought us together. It wasn’t some sort of mistake. Yes, granted, the way things happened may have tainted us, but we could work through it.
With a new found determination, I dressed and headed to his work. If Jason wasn’t coming to me I was going to go after him.
I was completely nervous about seeing him again. It didn’t matter how old he was, the man got under my skin and made me weak in the knees. So I wore a ‘stop and stare at me’ outfit. I wanted him to drool. I wanted him to need me, to want me. But what I really wanted was to be by his side, to be his again. My whole life I hid behind my books and the little world I had created, but Jason made my life real and alive and I wanted it all back.
I breathed deep as I stood in front of the precinct. “Okay, you can do this, Kass. You can do this,” I said to myself.
I walked up to the same lady, who was there the few times I had come by.
“Hi.” I waved at her.
“Oh, hi Ms. Preston. How are you today?” she asked elated.
“I'm good,” I replied with a nervous smile.
“So, I hear the new book is coming out next month. They say it’s different, but edgy. I'm really excited about getting it.” She smiled.
“I'm glad. I’ll make sure to get you a signed copy,” I offered.
“Really? That would be great!” she said happily. She continued to smile and stare at me for a few seconds. “Is there anything I can help you with?” she asked, wondering what I was doing here.
“Well, I'm here to see Jason Theroux,” I said rather anxiously.
“Jason? Well…” She smiled apprehensively. “He said to refuse all visitors. No matter who it was.” She began to bite her lower lip, not sure if I’d be upset.
“All visitors?” I asked, surprised at the lengths he was going.
“All, but he specifically said you,” she said quietly.
“I’ve been blackballed?” I asked, stupefied.
“Sorry,” she muttered.
“That bastard!” I growled.
I walked back out and stood at the foot of the precinct. I couldn’t believe the lengths he was taking to avoid me. First, he wouldn’t answer any of my texts or calls and then he canceled his membership at the gym, and now here? That was it! I knew my next move. I didn’t care how long I would have to wait, but I was going to his home and I was going to see him.
He must have said something to the doorman too, because the man wouldn’t let me in. So, there I stood outside in late October waiting for a man who was infuriating me. I needed to see him and was ready to fight for what I thought was our future together. I waited over four hours. My body was completely frozen from the inside out.
“Here!” The doorman came out and handed me a coffee. I usually didn’t drink coffee, but in this instance it felt nice and hot. I held it in my hands to warm them.
“Why don’t you go home?” he offered with a faint smile. “I’ll tell Mr. Theroux you passed by.” I took a sip, yeah coffee wasn’t my thing.
“I need to see him today. The stubborn ass will have to see me today, no doubt about that,” I said. I was determined to finish what I had started.
The doorman nodded and kept me company as I stood outside. “I’m sorry about not letting you in, but it might cost my job.”
I understood where he was coming from. I didn’t want to cause trouble for anyone. I just wanted to see Jason, clear the air and then maybe wring his neck.
I was going to give up. It had been a total of six hours that I waited, until I saw him walking towards me. Our eyes met and I could see he wasn’t the least bit happy. His face changed and his eyes narrowed. It hurt. Fuck, did it hurt me. But it was okay, because by the end of this night Jason and I would be together again. We’d no longer be separated. We’d argue and he’d relent, we’d make love and finally be together after all these months. That was my plan and I was going to stick with it.