Pieces (Riverdale #1)

by Janine Infante Bosco

  “Jake, baby, are you alright?” She looked at Luke, over his shoulder. He bent his knees, so he was eye level with his brother.

  “Jake, look at me.” He held his chin in his palm forcing Jake to stare at him.

  “Should we call an ambulance?” She said shaking. She had never seen him have an anxiety attack like this before. She wasn’t sure if it even was that, but she knew whatever these attacks were they were consuming him, more often than not.

  “No.” Jake gasped. She walked around him so that she faced him. “I’m. Okay.” He closed his eyes and reached for her hand, his breathing began to regulate.

  “You’re not okay. Jake, this is getting worse. You need to see a doctor.” She demanded and pleaded all in the same breath.

  His eyes met hers, and she saw he was getting control over his breathing back. He smiled at her to the best of his ability. “Babe. I’m. Good.” He looked at his brother. “You’re supposed to take care of her. I told you she’s a nervous one.” He exhaled sharply, obviously still in pain. His hand was clutching his stomach and she laid her hand over his.

  “Stop talking. You need to catch your breath.” Luke said.

  They remained silent for a few moments, allowing him to relax. Not sure what she could do to ease him, she caressed his back softly, pressing fleeting kisses along his jaw. She stole a glance at Luke. His face was blank but concerned etched through his eyes. He was just as dumbfounded as Cara, as to what was causing Jake’s attacks. Why wouldn’t he be, neither one of them were doctors. She felt Jake’s breath labor and he wrapped his arm around her waist.

  “Well that was fucking amazing, you know besides the whole not being able to breathe thing.” Jake said with a big grin forming on his face. “Hey Pete, sign me up for next week.”

  Pete looked at him as if he was a maniac and Cara smacked his arm.

  “You just gave us a heart attack you ass.” Granted he didn’t get hurt while actually riding, but not two seconds ago he was gasping for air. He was out of his mind.

  “Jake, what the hell was that just now?” Luke asked as he combed his fingers through his hair raggedly. “Cara’s right man, you scared the shit out of us.”

  “Oh come on, guys! It’s nothing. I just got a little excited. It was probably just the adrenaline.”

  “Adrenaline your ass.” Luke bit back and looked at Cara. “She almost ran onto the track trying to get to you.”

  Cara swallowed hard, as Jake looked at her. He lifted her chin with his forefinger. “Are you nuts? You could’ve got yourself ran over.” His voice was sharp, and she knew that he had fully recovered.

  “Oh don’t you pin this on me. You’ve been having these episodes for a while now, and they’re getting worse.” She took a step back, so his hand that rested on her hip fell to his side. She eyed him, seriously hoping that he saw the concern and anger in her eyes. “Look I’m serious Jake, if you don’t get your ass to a doctor I’ll…” She tried to think of something, but nothing came to her. Damn it. Way to make your point Cara.

  He smiled, carefree and amused, which only frosted her cookies more. “You’ll what, sweetheart?”

  Her shoulders slumped in defeat. “I’ll drag you there by your pierced brow.” It sounded weak even to her, and he only cemented that it was in fact a pathetic threat on her behalf when he bit back a chuckle.

  “I tell you what.” He started to climb off his bike and she watched him hopefully. “I don’t like seeing you worked up over me, so I’ll go to a doctor.” He smiled softly. “Maybe they’ll give me some happy pills.” He wiggled his eyebrows, causing her to look at him skeptically. The last thing she wanted was him just saying any old thing to shut her up and keep her from nagging him.

  “Promise me.” She stepped to him and took his hands in hers, interlocking their fingers. “I’m not going to let this pass. I’m worried about you, Jake.”

  He pressed his lips to her forehead. “I promise.” He whispered against her skin.

  “I’ll make you an appointment tomorrow.” She knew he was capable of making his own doctor’s appointment, but she wasn’t leaving it up to him so that he could turn around and say it slipped his mind or whatever other excuse he’d surely concoct.

  “And then she’ll call me and tell me when it is, so I can make sure your ass gets there.” Luke said.

  Both Cara and Jake looked over at Luke. His arms were crossed at his chest and his expression was dead serious.

  “What? Not leaving you any room for excuses. You need to go get checked out, and I’ll hold your hand because you’re a pussy.” Luke said evenly, but there was a hint of humor in his eyes.

  “Oh you’re so going to eat those words, brother.” And then Jake let out a hearty laugh. “Oh, god I don’t think I ever heard that word come out of your spotless mouth.” He elbowed his brother in the side. “Who’s got the filthy mouth now Mr. Clean?”

  Luke pretended to double over in pain but grabbed Jake in a headlock and ruffled his hair instead, both of them laughing and horsing around. Luke’s eyes averted to Cara and he gave her a slight nod. She smiled and let out a sigh of relief. She had Luke in her corner, between the both of them Jake was going to a doctor, come hell or high water.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Cara glanced up at the clock she was working the early shift today, much to her dismay. She had wanted to be able to go with Jake to his doctor’s appointment but with the other bartender out sick, and the Subway Series game on tonight, she would be lucky if she made it out of there when she was scheduled to. Being as it was mid-afternoon; the bar was relatively slow so she took a quick assessment of all her patron’s glasses, made sure they were full, before slipping into the back to call Jake. It was three o’clock and his appointment wasn’t for another half hour, but he should’ve at least been on his way, she figured.

  It didn’t matter that she spoke to him an hour ago, and he assured her that he would be going, that he was just wrapping things up at the tattoo parlor. Still she couldn’t help it, call it nagging, and call it annoying or whatever you want. She couldn’t shake this awful feeling in her stomach. She was actually becoming physically ill worrying about the outcome of this doctors visit. This morning when he left her apartment to go to the shop, she tossed her cookies the minute he was out the door.

  “Yes, Cara.” Jake said into the phone, amusement apparent in his tone.

  She instantly felt her cheeks redden, so she chewed on lip to steady her nerves. “Hi. Sorry I’m bugging you.”

  “It’s okay.” He said softly. “What are you doing?”

  “I just took a break to call you.”

  “You’re taking a lot of breaks today to call me” He reminded her.

  “I wish I could go with you.” She whispered.

  “Oh yeah, about that, I decided to cancel the appointment. Instead, Luke and I are going to a casino up in Monticello.”

  She dropped the phone and quickly bent to retrieve it. She better have misheard him. “What did you say?”

  “I’m kidding. Tell her I’m kidding Luke.”

  She heard Luke, grab the phone. “Cara, relax. We’re pulling into the office lot now.”

  She closed her eyes and breathed a sigh of relief. “Thanks Luke. Do not let him out of your sight, please.”

  “Don’t worry. I’ve got everything under control. I brought handcuffs, if I have to restrain him down, I will.” He joked, and she relaxed a bit. “Nah, but in all seriousness, I’ll make sure he’s examined by the doctor. I did pack him Ava’s lunchbox full of snacks in case there is a wait. He’s not going anywhere.”

  She smiled and could almost picture Jake digging through Ava’s Cinderella, lunchbox perusing a snack. Give that man a bag of junk food and he was at your every command. “Will you call me when you guys see the doctor?”

  “Yes.”

  “See, I told you I would go.” Jake said into the phone, obviously taking it out of his brother’s hand. “Now promise me, you’ll stop worrying.”
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  “I’ll try.” She knew he always kept his promises to her, and she never wanted to go back on her word with him.

  “Good enough. I’ll try and come over tonight, but after this doctor crap I have to go back to the shop. Pete needs help with a piece he’s working on.”

  “Okay.” She paused. “Jake?”

  “Yeah?” She heard the door of the car slam.

  “I love you.”

  “I love you too, babe. Now get back to work, we’re all good over here.”

  She nodded, even though he couldn’t see her. She ended the call and stared at his picture on the home screen of her phone, her fingertips tracing his face. She closed her eyes and willed the queasiness to stop before she slipped the phone back into her pocket. He would be fine, right? He had to be.

  Jake walked into the doctor’s office, and grimaced. There was nothing he hated more than a doctor’s office. It didn’t matter what time your appointment was, and if you were on time or an hour early, you would still wait at least a half hour after your scheduled time. The atmosphere sucked, who wants to be in a room with soap operas on the lone television and magazines that were issued six months ago. Not to mention you’re surrounded by a room full of sick people, he’d probably catch the flu while he waited.

  He looked at the receptionist. A cute little thing with dark red hair or was it black? It reminded him of black cherries, maybe if he made nice with her, she’d slip his file to the top of the stack that sat on her desk waiting for the doctor’s attention.

  “Hey sweetheart, how are you today?” He purred as he leaned his hip against her desk.

  She didn’t even look up from her computer screen, “Name?”

  How was he supposed to allow his good looks charm her? He cleared his throat, still nothing. He scratched his brow and then grinned as he leaned over her desk and placed his hands down firmly on the wood. She bolted up, like her violet eyes were caught in headlights. Jake grinned at her lopsided. “Jake Lanza, pleasure to meet you sweetheart.”

  “I assume you have an appointment?” She was a feisty one, he’d give her that. No nonsense and all that.

  “Well of course I do.” He glanced over his shoulder at his brother who just rolled his eyes, and dangled the Cinderella lunchbox like a bone. Jake cocked his head, wondering what kind of snacks he stashed in there, before turning back to Miss Black Cherry. “It’s at three thirty, doll.”

  She slapped a clipboard in front of him and shoved a pen towards his hands. “Fill these papers out, every single one.”

  Jake frowned wishing his mother was here to do that, another thing to add to the list of why he hated going to the doctor. “Can’t we just bypass all this?” He waggled his eyebrows, betting she wouldn’t be able to resist his trademark gesture.

  “No. I need your insurance card too.”

  Jake huffed. “Someone piss in your cornflakes, sweetheart?”

  She ogled him, obviously taken back. That’s when he reached into his pocket for his insurance card and Luke stepped in.

  “I’m sorry, my brother is not well.” He took the clipboard and smiled at her, his eyes silently apologizing to her. He turned to Jake and grabbed the insurance card from him and held it out for her.

  “Obviously. Should I mention his outbursts as one of his symptoms?” She questioned Luke as she grabbed the card.

  “No need, we’re working on it.” Luke winked at her, and she smiled. She actually smiled at him. Disgusted, Jake took the lunchbox from his brother’s hands, hoping his brother would charm her into getting them the hell out of there as quickly as possible.

  Jake sat beside an older man who was blowing his nose. He looked the safest out of all the ailing patients. He peeked into the lunchbox and pulled out a bag of cookies and began to munch.

  Luke was smiling as he sat beside him. He rested the clipboard on his lap and began to fill out the paperwork.

  “You should ask her out.” Jake said, motioning to Miss Grumpy Black Cherry.

  “You should mind your business and fill out your own paperwork.” He checked off a couple of things. “And her name is Leah.”

  Jake raised an eyebrow at his brother as he popped a cookie into his mouth. “She told you her name?” Well, color him impressed.

  “We had a couple of drinks one night.” He didn’t lift his gaze instead he continued to busy himself with the paperwork. “What’s your blood type?”

  Jake almost choked on the cookie, and started to cough. Once he swallowed it and it slid down the right pipe. “You screwed the receptionist?”

  The man with the runny nose leaned over and he and Jake stared at Luke expectantly. Luke looked up abruptly and stared at the two men and then back towards where Leah was. She hadn’t heard them. Luke smiled at the old man. “I’m sorry, he has Turrets.”

  Jake looked at the old man next to him. “He lies!”

  “Blood type?”

  “Hell if I know.” Jake leaned closer to his brother. “You and Black Cherry hit the sheets or what?”

  “What the hell does it matter?” He shoved the clipboard against his chest. “Do your own paperwork.”

  Jake grinned. “You definitely did!” Luke shook his head and dropped his head into his hands, letting out an agonizing sigh until Miss Black Cherry- scratch that Leah, called Luke’s name. Jake was on the verge of changing his mind about doctor’s visits after all.

  “Luke? Dr. Brooks will see your brother now.” She smiled, holding his chart in one hand and the door to the examining room with the other.

  Luke and Jake stood up and walked towards her.

  “Thanks, Leah.” Luke smiled and stepped inside the room. Jake scribbled something on the paper that was on the clipboard, before handing it back to Leah.

  “He’s single. There’s his number.”

  Leah’s eyes widened and she glanced down at the clipboard before watching Jake hop onto the exam table. She turned to Jake who standing against the wall, shaking his head. “You sure you don’t want me to add those outbursts to his chart?”

  Luke shook his head. “One minute with him and the Doc, will see for himself.”

  Leah nodded and put his chart in the sleeve on the front of the door. “The doctor will be right in.” She said before walking out of the room and closing the door behind her.

  “You’re incorrigible.” Luke hissed.

  Jake shrugged. “I don’t even know what that means, so no harm done.” He looked at him for a moment and then back at the door. “Are you going to hold my hand? Go make nice with your one night stand.”

  “She wasn’t a one night stand.”

  “On second thought, you could stay, entertain me and tell me all about you and Black cherry.”

  He cocked one eyebrow, testing his brother’s patience.

  The noise that escaped Luke was much like a growl. “I’ll be outside, do us both of favor and tell the doctor everything that is wrong with you or Cara will have both of our heads.” He looked him seriously. “I mean it Jake, no tiptoeing around anything.”

  “Okay, Dad.” He saluted him and then winked. “Go get her, tiger!” He said as he pretended to claw the air, mocking a tiger.

  Luke looked at him, shook his head, and walked out of the exam room, mumbling to himself.

  Jake listened to the door click closed and then he stared at the sterile room, kicking his legs like a five year old child. He hoped to God he didn’t have to wait long for the doctor. That was another thing on his list. Once they made you wait what seems like an eternity for your name to be called in the waiting room, they stick you in the exam room and make you wait some more for the doctor. He felt as if he was in purgatory. He looked around for something to occupy his time. The full length skeleton hanging in the corner was a contender maybe he’d take the old bones for spin around the room. He laughed out loud as he pictured Dr. Brooks walking into the room and catching him dancing with the skeleton, surely the family doctor would call his mother on that one. He looked at his watch, ti
me was standing still it seemed, and he had left the damn snacks in the waiting room. He had an appointment with Pete in two hours, to get his latest tattoo, and if he could lay still for a couple of hours, Pete had promised him he’d manage to do it in one sitting.

  Jake grabbed the stethoscope off one of the hooks next to him and put it on. He wondered if he could hear outside with the thing, maybe get something to tease Luke on. He hopped off the table and pressed the scope to the door, frowning, he couldn’t hear a blessed thing. The door opened and smacked him in the head. “Ah shit!”

  Dr. Brooks eyed Jake, from the rim of his glasses. “Well, if it isn’t, little Jake Lanza. I’m surprised my office is still standing.”

  Jake rubbed his head as he took Dr. Brooks in. “How you doin’ doc?” He unraveled the stethoscope from his neck and handed it over to the older man. Dr. Brooks had been their family doctor for as long as Jake could remember. He took on all the Lanza kids after their pediatrician had died, as a favor to his parents. He had gained some weight, and his pants hung under his belly. He was missing some more hair, since the last time Jake saw him, when he fell off a ladder trying to repair the broken window in his room before his parents had got home from work. He actually thought he’d be able to crazy glue the shards of glass and no one would notice. Not only did they notice, he had fallen off the ladder and broke his leg.

  “What’d you do this time kid?” He said and patted the exam table, motioning for him to sit. Jake jumped on top of the table and smiled at the doc. “You’d be happy to know, none of my shenanigans are the reason I’m here.” He cocked his head to the side and grinned at the older man. “I missed you, thought I’d stop in for a visit.”

  “You do realize, I’m not a woman, and your antics won’t work on me? But nonetheless I’m flattered for your attempts.” The doctor looked over his chart. “When was the last time you were here? Five years ago is that correct? No, wait. Four years ago.”