“Oh yeah!” Eager to show Bianca as soon as possible, he draws his feet out of the water, splashing us and getting a few laughs as he runs to the patio door. I watch him enter, and when Bianca turns my way, I swallow hard.
“I’m sorry about the other day.”
“Pshh.” She shrugs. “I understood, London. Don’t apologize for how you felt. There are plenty of times when I acted permanently during temporary feelings.” Her dimples show. I smile with her. “I assume you two are on better terms?”
“Yes. Way better.”
“Good.”
“I’m, uh, going to tell Greg tonight,” I inform her.
Her face contorts, confused. “Tell him what?”
“That maybe we should take a break…”
Her eyes thin. “A break?” She shakes her head. “Let’s be realistic here, London. It will be more than a break. It will be permanent.” She kicks her feet in the water, lowering her gaze. “You’ll break his heart.”
“I can’t keep lying to him or myself, Bianca.” She looks up at me, her face softening. “And sooner or later, he is going to meet Aden without asking me. I can’t keep holding it off.”
“You think that’s a good idea right now?”
“What do you mean?” I ask cautiously.
“I mean… well, he’s only been back for a few days. Yes, I know he loves you and you love him, but what are his motives, London? Do you even know? Has he told you his plan? Is he really back for you and Aden or will he return to what he was doing as soon as he has you two in his clutches?”
I study her face, eyes wide. I didn’t think of it that way. I had no reason to. He’s here, and it seems he’s really around for us. He said he wouldn’t go back… he promised. And Ace Crow doesn’t break promises… well, before he didn’t.
“I just—think you should give it more time. See what Ace is really about, ya know?”
I nod, but inside, I’m upset. “I… spent a lot of time with him at his hotel yesterday. He showed up here last night.”
Her eyes stretch. “Here!?”
“Yes. Right in my and Greg’s bedroom.” She gasps, but I continue. “Luckily, Greg slept downstairs.”
“He is fucking insane,” she groans, rolling her eyes. “He’s risking it. It’s like he wants to be exposed.”
“You think so?”
She shrugs. “Maybe to make it easier on you. You know, let Greg have a definite reason to let you go.”
Hmm… I didn’t think of that either. Is that why he keeps showing up and planting things? Like those pearls? Greg could’ve spotted them. Greg could’ve come upstairs at any given time last night and spotted Ace. Or even the first time when Ace showed up in the kitchen. Greg could’ve come back home because he forgot something; he can be pretty scatterbrained.
I sigh. “I don’t want to keep dragging Greg along. He’s a good guy, and he deserves way better than me. He doesn’t need someone damaged.”
She plants the palms of her hands behind her. “If it were me, I’d wait it out. Remember when I told you that I don’t even trust Ace one hundred percent?” She picks up her sunglasses but looks me dead in the eye before placing them on the bridge of her nose. “Well, I still don’t. I love him to death, but there’s something behind him. He may not go back now, but he will eventually. Ace hates not knowing the truth—unanswered questions. He likes to feel on top of things. You know this as well as I do. Now, I’m not saying that you should doubt him because, who knows, maybe whatever happened to him changed him, but I’m just telling you to keep your eyes open, London. Don’t let your love for him blind you. Ace Crow always has a plan. He always has an ulterior motive. Most times, we never know what it is until it finally happens and we end up trapped in a sticky situation because of him. You, of all people, should know this after what happened in that alley.”
She looks toward the beach, and I follow her gaze, saddened that she feels this way. She loves Ace. I know it, but she doesn’t trust him the way I’m sure she wants to. He’s a huge part of her life, but she’s not me. I’m in love with Crow. That’s her cousin, more like a brother. She can see right through him. She sees the things that I can’t. Just like how I used to be when Jonah was around.
“I told him about the rehab thing,” she murmurs. Laughing, she says, “He was super pissed.”
“Why?”
She glances my way before dropping her gaze. “I promised him I’d never go back to it. That I’d drop it. He expects me to be the better Crow. The rare, good one.”
“Don’t blame yourself, Bianca. You were upset and vulnerable. You gave into temptation. It happens to everyone. It’s okay to make mistakes.”
She lifts her hand, swiping beneath her eyes. Turning my way, she grabs my hands, and it’s now that I realize the tears. “Can I tell you something?”
“Yeah, Bianca. Anything.”
She lowers her sunglasses, her eyes cloudy. She’s worrying me. I squeeze her hand in mine. “I’m terrified of the new Ace.”
I frown. “What? Why?”
“He’s… not the same. He has even more secrets. He won’t tell me anything about what happened. It’s like he’s bottling it all up, and I know, eventually, he’ll blow up. I see the pain in his eyes. I’ve never seen him like this. He’s almost hollow, empty, but at the same time, filled with dense, dark secrets, pain, hurt. I know, around you, he probably feels and looks alive, but with me, he’s a different Ace. He talks, but he doesn’t dare touch that subject.”
“He would never hurt you, Bianca. You know that. I know that.”
“I know, but until I see that he’s really dropped the past and is moving on, I think I’m going to have to stay away for a while.” My heart sinks to my stomach. I stare at her, baffled.
“Stay away? W-where?” I stammer.
She sighs and shrugs as the wind picks up. It tousles her black hair, and she tucks it behind her ear, her dangling gold earrings swaying. “Just… away. I’ll focus on working. Staying busy.” She grabs my hands. “This doesn’t mean that I won’t call everyday. I will.” A smile tugs at the corners of her glossed lips, but I don’t return one. I hear my heart beating. Pounding. She can’t go. How did it come to this— trading one Crow for another?
“Aden will wonder where you are,” I say, fighting tears.
She looks towards the house, and through the corner of her eye, I spot the tears. They drip down her cheek, but she swipes them away, just as Aden comes running out with his car set. “Look Auntie Yanca!” he yells, rushing to her.
“Slow down, sweetie,” she laughs, clutching him in her arms. “What’d I tell you about running around a pool. You could get hurt.”
Aden apologizes, and she kisses his cheek. He explains each car to her as she clings to him. Her head falls on his shoulder, and my heart aches. I want to cry, but I can’t. Not while my son is out here. He’ll worry. Greg is around, and he’ll worry too.
“These are great,” she tells him. “Don’t lose them, okay?”
“I won’t,” Aden assures her. He steps away from her, walking towards one of the lounge chairs to play. I watch him for a moment before turning and looking at Bianca. She’s staring towards the ocean again, eyes damp.
Her eyelashes flutter when she finally blinks. Coming back to the here and now, she says, “Aden will be okay. I’ll call and check in, tell him I’ve been booked for work a lot. And besides, London,” she waves a hand in the air, “…it’s not like I’ll be gone forever. It’s only temporary. Only until I know Ace is here for good. For his family.” Honey-brown eyes meet mine. “I can’t feel like I’ve lost him again. If I keep my distance and he does end up going back, it’ll be easier to bear. Being around and watching will kill me inside. I’ll resort to the toxic things. I can’t do it to myself. I have to put me first, London, and so do you.” Bianca pushes to a stand, and I watch her step back, ridding herself of the tears. She extends her arms, fluttering her fingers and gesturing for me to get up too. “But, while I’m
still here, how about we go catch some breakfast and then take Aden to the waterpark?” After helping me up, she digs in her Michael Kors purse on the lounge chair, pulling out five tickets and waving them in the air with a wide grin. “I’ve got tickets!”
My head bobs as I clear my eyes and straighten up. I adjust myself, swiping the back of my pants. “Okay. How about you get Aden ready—spend a little more time with him—and I’ll tell Greg to get ready.” I start to walk around her, but she catches my arm and shakes her head, her face stern.
“Um… no. The fifth ticket isn’t for Greg,” she says beneath her breath.
My eyebrows draw together. “Then who’s it for?”
She smiles. “My bullheaded cousin.” Tucking the tickets back into her purse, she says, “I may be leaving because of him, but it doesn’t mean I don’t want to spend time with him while I’m still around.”
“How the hell are we going to explain that to Greg?”
“Already talked to him. He has to work.” Her eyebrows wiggle as she says, “Busy man.” She makes her way to Aden, picking him up and tossing him over her shoulder playfully. Aden giggles as they head for the house, and I watch until they disappear. When the door shuts, I take a look around. I turn for the gate that leads to the beach and walk down the wooden steps, my feet sinking into the warm sand.
I need a moment.
Or two.
I sit in my favorite spot, the one closest to the shore. Drawing my legs in, I wrap my arms around my knees and stare ahead, watching as people on wave runners and surfboards pass by. Infinite thoughts fill my head. Tears threaten me.
Bianca is leaving, and I don’t know how long she will be away. I understand why she’s going. What she went through was terrible, and I’d hate for her to go through it again. She may be onto something with Ace, but why am I so stupid as to ignore it?
I love him. I want him in my life. I want him in Aden’s life.
He told me he wouldn’t go back, and it’s my heart and mind that believe him. He wouldn’t do this to us, not after working so hard to win us back. Would he?
I swipe at my eyes and look towards the house. I spot Bianca searching for me, so I stand and make my way back, creating a broad smile as I walk up the stairs and through the patio door.
The Thrill - Miguel
The sun shines down, bold and bright, revealing me. As I pass through the gates, I really can’t figure out why I’m here. Kids screaming. Parents chasing after their untamed and ill-mannered offspring. Water every-fucking-where.
A waterpark. A fucking waterpark. The works of Bianca Crow.
Placing my towel around my neck and ridding myself of sweat beads, I search the park for lounge eight. It’s where she said she’d be. I make it in no time, spotting her, in a tie-dye blue and purple bathing suit, and Maurice, both sitting on lounge chairs.
I walk towards them, and when I reach Bianca’s side, I stand above her, clearing my throat. Lowering her sunglasses, she sits up straight, frowning. “Ace, move. You’re blocking the sun!”
“Tanning?” I question, taking the lounge chair beside her. “Since when?”
“Like I told you,” she sighs, flipping onto her stomach, “…a lot of things have changed since you were gone.”
“I see.”
Maurice digs into the cooler beside him, pulling out a bottle of Coke. Shrugging, he says, “Kids around. Can’t even have a fucking beer. Water, Coke, and fruit juice packs are all we got.” I accept the bottle, twisting the cap and taking a swallow.
“Bianca, what the hell are we doing here?” I ask after the fizziness of the soda settles down.
“I’m tanning,” she murmurs.
“At a waterpark? You couldn’t do this at the beach?”
She folds her arms beneath her, resting her head on her forearms. “Nope.”
I stand, crushing my lips together, my eyes boring down at her. “Don’t waste my fucking time again.”
Rapidly, Bianca sits up straight, grabs my elbow, and twists me around. I glare down at her beneath my sunglasses, jaw locked. “Can you think for just one fucking second?” she hisses, doing her best to keep her voice as calm as possible. I can hear the frustration though. “A waterpark full of children. Why the hell else would I be here, Ace? There is only one child in my life… one related to both you and me.”
I keep my face even, but my heart betrays me, catching speed. I take a look around as she releases my arm, but I don’t see him anywhere. I look behind me. Nowhere in sight. I look back down at Bianca. “Where?”
“He went to get a Popsicle with London. They’ll be back soon.” She tilts her head to the side, gesturing at the lounge chair behind her. “Sit. Be patient.”
She walks away, taking her chair again. Hesitant, I walk back around, sitting on the lounge chair. “London isn’t ready for me to meet him yet.”
“She’s agreed. We talked about it on the way here.” She looks past me, and beneath her sunglasses, I see her eyes soften. Glancing over my shoulder, I spot London in a black and white two-piece bikini.
Her skin glistens with oils, her hair long, curly, and meeting just below her collarbone. She laughs with Aden, but when she looks up and into my eyes, her smile diminishes. She switches gazes between Bianca and me.
I don’t look away.
How can I?
She is fucking stunning. Her skin naturally tan, glimmering. Her breasts full and perky, bouncing with every step. I’m sure her ass is jiggling with just the right amount of momentum. Sexy as shit.
Finally, they meet up to us, and my line of sight finally breaks from hers, diving down to Aden.
My son.
I remain motionless as he stares up at me, and I can’t believe it, but he smiles. Smiles? I don’t know why I expected worse. My eyes remain wide as I study his. Big and beautiful, just like his mother’s. Chubby little cheeks and curly-ass hair.
He truly is perfect
“What’s that on your neck?” he questions, reaching up to touch the tattoo. I unintentionally draw back, not used to a touch without warning. He pulls his hand away, studying me.
“Aden,” London scolds in a whisper, looking from me to him.
Partially ignoring her, he says, “I’m Aden.” He tugs his other hand out of London’s and steps closer. I finally blink, unsure of what to say. I had a plan of how I would introduce myself to him. I would smile and be all cheerful and shit. I would get him to like me and trust me, but it seems he already does. Why the fuck am I being so awkward?
He doesn’t budge, still staring with those big brown eyes.
So I speak because, clearly, he’s comfortable with my presence. He’s smiling. My kid, smiling at me? I never thought I’d see the day. “It’s all good,” I assure him. “I’m Ace.”
“Aceeee.” He drags my name out, and I laugh. “You wasn’t here before?”
“No,” I say, glancing at London who looks extremely bothered and uncomfortable, “I wasn’t. Just got here actually.”
“Oh.” He looks away, towards the waterslides and fountains. He then looks at London but grabs my hand. I flinch, his gesture completely unexpected. Then he asks her, “Can Ace come with us?”
Uncertain, London looks from Aden to me and then to Bianca. Through the corner of my eye, I see Bianca nod, as if reassuring her. Since when did Bianca become London’s reassurance? I guess shit really has changed.
“Yeah, can I come?” I look up at London, lips spreading into a smooth smile.
“Uh… sure, baby,” she says to Aden. “He can come.”
Aden grins and then looks at me, squeezing my hands. He bounces in his aqua swimming trunks. “Come on!” He tugs on my hand, and I stand, feeling a little awkward but, overall, truly delighted inside. He likes me. He trusts me to come along. Maybe, deep inside, he knows we have some sort of connection.
Aden releases my hand and marches for the shallow end of the pool. I follow after him, stepping past London, but before I can get too far, she catches up, gr
abbing my arm. “Don’t tell him who you are, Ace.”
“And if I do?”
She looks me deep in the eyes, her hazel irises swimming with anger. “Then I will never speak to you again. I mean it. Don’t. Not yet.”
I look her over, pissed she’d assume I’d do something so low. “You have me fucked up, Red,” I rumble into her ear. “Truly fucked up if you think, for even a second, that I would confuse him like that. You gave me your warning. Trust me.” Relief replaces the anger in her eyes, and she steps back, looking at Aden who’s shouting for me to hurry. I tell him I’ll be in in just a second, but before I go, I ask, “Or can you?”
She blinks but doesn’t say a word. Pressing my lips, I pull my T-shirt over my head and place it in her hands. As I do, her eyes descend, studying my chest, my abs, and, of course, the wounds and scars. I no longer care. I want her to know what I’ve been through—what I fought through just to be here with her again.
She has to trust me.
The only reason I didn’t give up was because I wanted to be with her—because I knew, regardless of where she was, she still hoped I would magically show up one day. And I did.
“You were always on my mind.” I run my finger across her bottom lip as she places one on one of the scars. “Always. You’re the reason I’m still alive, London.” Her glistening eyes flicker up, and she watches mine, but I leave no time for her to respond. I turn for the pool, putting on a genuine smile for our son.
I will cherish this day, the first day I actually get to meet and play with my child.
I will never let it go.
I used to think it was impossible to feel this good.
But, shit, I’ve never felt more alive.
You Da One – Rihanna
He won’t stop watching me.
As I play with Aden in the pool, he watches.
As I take him to the restroom, he watches.
As I wrap him in his beach towel and we leave the waterpark, he watches.
Beware 2: The Comeback Page 13
