Cry For You_A Second Chance Romance

by Shaniel Watson

  “Honest, Grandma.” He holds his hand up.

  “I can’t wait to hear all about it. Say goodnight to Jackson. You can tell me while you get ready for your bath.”

  “Okay, Grandma.” He comes back over and takes his bag of souvenirs from Jackson. “See you, Jackson.”

  “Bye, Jacob.”

  They shake hands with a special handshake they made up. He turns to me with the biggest smile, and I can’t help but smile back. “Landon, thanks for taking us. I had a lot of fun. Could we do it again? Me, you and Jackson, go somewhere?”

  “Sure. As soon as my ears recover from monster trucks. We can if your mom says yes.”

  “She will.” He wraps his arms around my waist, and I hug him back. It’s a good feeling. “Thanks, Landon”

  “We had fun too, Jacob. Bye.” He really is a great kid. I watch as he goes with his grandmother, walking past Lacey, who kisses the top of his head.

  She comes over to us, mussing Jackson’s hair in greeting. “You guys have fun?”

  “Yes,” Jackson says.

  “I’m bummed I missed out.” She gives him a faux pout. “Maybe next time I’ll be able to hang out with you guys?”

  “Sure.” He smiles.

  “Hey, bud, why don’t you go wait in the truck?”

  “Okay, dad. Bye, Jacob’s mom.”

  “Hey, Jackson, you can call me Lacey if you want.”

  “Okay. Bye, Lacey.” He runs off.

  “He’s tired. Don’t let the energy fool you; I’ll start the engine, and he’ll be out.”

  She nods smiling. “Yeah. Thanks for today, being so nice to Jacob. He’s usually a happy kid, but I haven’t seen him this excited in a while. I hope they weren’t too much trouble for you by yourself.”

  “Are you kidding me? Today I’ve become the rock star of dads. All I had to do was ply them with candy and all the hotdogs and soda they could drink. Small price to pay for temporary hearing loss and getting splashed with mud,” I chuckle, pointing to my clothes.

  “If you say so.” She looks at me dubiously. “I wasn’t looking forward to monster trucks, to be honest. That’s Shay’s thing. Cars, mud, and guys.” She crinkles her nose.

  “I figured.” I smile tilting my chin up behind her, whispering, “She hasn’t changed.”

  She laughs. “Not much.”

  “I better get going. Jackson’s probably sleeping already.” But I don’t want to go. I could spend the entire night standing here just looking at her.

  “Good night, Landon.”

  “Good night.” I take a step back, and her hand reaches out, holding my wrist. She steps up, kissing my cheek. She smiles at me, and I’m not sure what to do, but I know I want more. I go on instinct. The click that’s always there between us.

  I pull her closer with one hand on the small of her back, hugging her. And there’s the undeniable click. She presses her lips to mine in an innocent kiss, taking me back to our first kiss, the beginning of us.

  I can’t help but hope this is our second act, only better, with no regrets and no six-year intermission.

  “So when’s the party over?”

  “Two hours down. Two to go,” I say to Trigg over the phone.

  “Don’t make it sound so bad. You’re in prime hot mom territory. I’m sure they’re just jonesing to take the hot dad home after the kids are sleeping.”

  “Nice to know you think I’m hot—”

  “You’re welcome on that. I’m confident enough in my sexuality to let you know.”

  “Yeah, okay. It’s not a pickup joint. It’s a kids’ party.”

  “That’s what I’m saying. Women love a dad that’s all involved and shit. Their panties drop faster than stock in a recession.”

  “Not interested.” I run my hand through my hair, sitting on a chair furthest away from the other parents in the room.

  “Sure you are. Too bad the only woman you’re interested in isn’t there. You’re stuck with her mother.”

  I was hoping I’d get to see Lacey. She had to work, so her mom brought Jacob. “She hasn’t been bad. We saw each other and had a pleasant exchange.”

  “If you say so. I’m telling you, I never saw her smile. I told a hilarious joke once about a priest and a nun, and you would have thought I’d dropped an altar in front of her and started worshipping the devil.”

  “I don’t know why Shay would attempt to bring you home, other than to drive her mother batshit crazy.” I laugh and hear him doing the same.

  “I’m a lovable motherfucker. Give me some time, and I’ll grow on you.”

  “Excuse me, Landon?”

  “Hey, Mrs. McQueen.” I stand up. “I’ll call you later,” I tell Trigg.

  “Sorry to interrupt your call,” she says, mild censure in her tone.

  “Wasn’t important. Checking in at The Office.”

  “I thought Lacey said you own a bar? What type of business do you do?”

  This is the usual response I get when I say I’m at the office. Hell of a cover. “Actually, that’s the name of the bar.”

  “Oh. Strange name for a bar. Anyway, an emergency came up. Could you keep an eye on Jacob for ten minutes? Shay is on her way. She’ll stay until Lacey gets here to pick him up.”

  “Sure, I can do that.”

  “Thank you.”

  Not even ten minutes later, Shay arrives. We are standing face-to-face for the first time in over five years. The tension rises fast after the greetings.

  I clear my throat, doing a quick scan of the nearly empty kitchen. “Shay.”

  “It’s been a long time since you ran out on my sister.” I see we’re going straight for the jugular today.

  “There was more to it than that, and you know it.”

  “I don’t think so. He broke her spirit. You broke her heart.”

  I know I messed up. I don’t need her reminding me of how I let her down. At the time, I couldn’t be the man she needed. I was young. She was even younger. I didn’t know how to come to grips with what happened. I felt as if it was my fault in some way. I was filled with overwhelming pain and anger, not just at him, but also with myself. The pain was morphing into something ugly that I could scarcely get hold of.

  “Shay, I had to step away. You don’t understand. I couldn’t stay.”

  She looks at me, not believing a word I say. It’s pissing me off. I’m trying my hardest to bite my tongue, but she’s making it really hard. She doesn’t know the hell I went through, losing the girl I loved. Seeing her suffer, not able to do a damn thing to bring her the peace she needed. I was useless to her, and I knew it.

  “If anyone should have checked out, it should have been her.”

  “Shay, when I left, she couldn’t deal with it, either.”

  “But she did. Without you.”

  Grasping the edge of the counter, I lean down closer to her, angrier than I’ve been in a long time. “There is a lot I could say. I won’t. Let’s let this go and be civil to each other. There’s enough blame to go around.” I look at her pointedly.

  She raises her voice to say something, but stops when someone comes in to get a bowl and two bags of chips.

  “I hope you’re both enjoying the party as much as the kids?”

  “I am, Tracy.” I turn my head, smiling. She’s been a great host. “Do you need help with those?”

  “I have it all under control. You guys might want to hurry on back. The clown’s about to start his show, and he likes to include us parents in the fun and games.”

  “Lucky you, parents. I guess it's fortunate for me I'm not a parent,” Shay says, head down, a hint of her usual sarcasm.

  “I know. But I thought it would be something to try to keep us entertained, as well as the kids.” She smiles, leaving the room.

  “You blame me, don’t you? For leaving her there.”

  I sigh pushing off the counter. “Not blaming anyone but the sick asshole who did it.”

  “Yeah, right. If I could take that night
back, I would. I would have never gone. I would have kept her safe and protected her.”

  “I know. We all wish we did things differently that night.”

  “I used to be so selfish. I thought a lot about myself, and not much about other people. That night changed everything. Plus, Jacob. I love that kid. I didn’t know how I would feel when he was born, but it all came together. So did we, as a family.” She raises her head. As vulnerable as I’ve ever seen her. “Don’t take it apart.”

  “I’m not trying to do that.”

  “I use to be the screw-up in the family. I could never get it right. I decided to live by my own rules: If you can’t make everyone else happy, make yourself happy. That’s what I did. That night was my most selfish act of all, the result of everything I did that month, leading up to that night.” She looks down shaking her head. “Anyway, I’m not that person anymore. Now I’m the dependable one. I still have my streak, that’s what makes me the cool, loveable aunt, but I’m a better person. A better sister, a better friend, a better daughter.”

  Almost as if she wants to cry, the vulnerability rolls off her. I don't know this Shay— she’s the one few, if any, get to see. She turns away, and I hold her arm. “The night you left she said...if he doesn’t love me, who will?”

  “That night...It changed a lot of things for everyone. If you would have told me I was going to leave her, I would have told you that you were crazy. That I would never walk away from her. How wrong I would have been.”

  She pulls away, and I see her hand move across her face as she walks away. I understand; we’ve all cried.

  Then

  Oh, my God, it’s so loud in here.” The music seems to be pumping out of every single room. And the smoke! If you’re in here long enough, you’ll get a contact high for sure. “Are you sure he’s here?”

  “His friend said he was in here. I need to talk to him. It’s important. I messed up, Lacey.”

  “It can’t be that bad,” I yell over the music. “You fight a lot and get back together.”

  “This time is different.”

  “Why would this time be any different?” We move through the crowd of gyrating bodies, mostly all of them holding a red cup.

  “Trust me, it is. Trigg doesn’t take much serious.” She stops walking, brushing her short hair through her fingers, looking around us at the sea of bodies. “This he took very seriously. Where the hell is he? He won’t answer my calls.”

  “Calm down. We’ll find him if he’s in here.” I hold her hand, pulling her closer to me so I don’t have to yell so much. “Let’s split up. Both of us looking for him would be faster. You go upstairs, and I’ll look down here.”

  “All right. Are you sure you’ll be okay?”

  “You keep forgetting, I’m one of you guys now.” I smile. “I’m a college girl. I’ve been to two college parties.”

  “All right, college girl.” She looks across the room, next to the stairs, where some girls are handing out little cups. “Hey, Deb!”

  “Hey, Shay! Jell-O shot?”

  Shay takes three from her and hands me one. I stare between the cup in my hand and the ones in hers. My lips twist, knowing her agitation, mixed with alcohol, won’t be good. She slurps them back-to-back and looks at me. “It’s a party, Lacey; I need it.” She swipes another off the table, pushing it into my other hand, and I roll my eyes. “Loosen up, college girl— you’re one of us now.” She raises a brow at me in a challenge. I was the one professing I was one of them and didn’t need to be looked after.

  So I don’t argue; I just take the shots. My face contorts into an unflattering grimace at the awfulness I swallowed. This is why I don’t drink. It tastes terrible.

  “Deb, whose house is this, and how many rooms up there?” Shay asks, pointing up.

  Deb bounces around to the music and bops her head. “The frat rented it. There are about six bedrooms up there. If you’re thinking about getting down, you might want to take a number, or if you’re into it and don’t mind sharing, there’s a room up there that’s a free for all.”

  Shay shakes her head look around. “Not my scene. You know if Trigg passed through?”

  “I saw him around earlier with a blonde. I haven’t seen him since.” A guy hooks his arm around her stomach, and Deb dances away, cups in hand, giggling.

  “I need another one of these.” Shay grabs another Jell-O shot, slurps it down, then crushes the cup and starts upstairs.

  “I’ll come get you if I find him,” I yell up, and she waves.

  Fifteen minutes of walking around the crush of bodies in a dimly lit McMansion, and there’s still no sighting of Trigg. It’s an open floor plan, and if all these loud, drunk partygoers weren’t here I could see every room from this end of the house. It’s stuffy and hot. I’m ready to go, but I promised Shay I would come with her to find Trigg.

  She was the most upset I’ve ever seen her. She came to the house going on about how she messed it all up, but wouldn’t say how. Now here I am wishing I was home waiting for Landon to come over after he helped his friend move. I know he’s going to be upset when I tell him I went to a frat party with Shay to find Trigg. He hates this fraternity.

  I wade through the crowd, over to the stairs again, planning to continue my tiresome search. I get nearer and see Shay angrily pushing her way through people on the stairs, not caring about the dirty looks she’s getting. Whatever she found, it’s not good. I wave my hand, trying to get her attention, calling her name. Her head turns my way, and we meet up after trudging through dancing bodies.

  “Did you find him?”

  “I found the fucker! He was getting his dirty dick spit-shined by some chick who didn’t have the decency to look ashamed.”

  Oh, Trigg. “I’m sorry.”

  “It’s not your fault he’s a douche. God! I was so right. I totally made the right decision. Screw him!” she yells, attracting attention even with the pounding music. “He looked up at me and didn’t say a word. He just sat there with his pants down, getting high as fuck on a joint, like it’s any other lazy day.”

  I don’t know what to say. I’m shocked. I’m sure they could have worked out whatever went on between them before this. But now that’s not going to happen. “Let’s go; I’ll drive. You should spend the night at the house, not alone at your place. We can make little Trigg dolls and stick pins in them. It’ll be therapeutic.”

  The corner of her lip tilts up. She shakes her head, running her hand roughly through her hair. “I can’t. I need to stop thinking about him.” She smashes her car keys into my hand. “I’ll get a ride from Deb. Go home. I’ll stop by tomorrow and pick it up. I let him get to me. I’m an idiot.”

  “You’re not. You liked him.” So much so, she kept going back, which never happens.

  “Yeah, I’m an idiot.” Ihug her before she leaves, saying she’s going to find Deb and her friend before walking me to the car.

  I see Deb and her friend going upstairs and wonder what’s keeping Shay. I’m ready to go. A while later I see what’s keeping Shay. She’s pressed up against a wall with some guys hand up her shirt. I shake my head at what she’s using to distract her from thinking of Trigg. I’m out of here. Landon should be arriving at my house soon. I send him a text telling him I stepped out for a minute, but I’ll be home soon. He texts me back—he’s running late but he’ll be there.

  I smile at my phone in my hand. Just as I get to the door, a hand lands on my shoulder. Not in the mood to be hit on or go upstairs for an orgy, I frown and brush off the offending hand.

  “Your boyfriend’s not here tonight. You’re allowed to dance with me,” the voice says in my ear.

  I whip around and do a double-take. It’s him. Perfect Smile. “What are you doing here?”

  He has a beer bottle in his hand. He takes a huge gulp and smiles wider. “I’m here to see you, pretty girl. Waiting on my dance.”

  “Goodbye.” I reach for the door. He stands in front of it blocking my way. Like the
night at the bar. He’s big, imposing and I step back. “Please move out of my way.”

  “Don’t be like that, Lacey. We’re friends now. I’ve met your friends.” He leans in, forcing me to inhale the stench of alcohol. “Your mother, she loves me. I know she’s waiting for us to go on that date.” He reaches out, stroking the side of my neck, almost in a caress.

  It’s a touch I don’t want. If Landon was here, he would flip. It’s not okay for him to touch me like this. It’s creeping me out. I brush his hand away and say it.

  “Don’t touch me again. It’s making me uncomfortable. It’s creepy. Get out of my way.” I put up the bravest front I can, loud enough to clearly hear me over the music. There are a few people standing around us, but they don’t pay any attention.

  His eyes squint. The smile of a moment ago turns to a nasty sneer. Shadowed in the dim light, it’s anything but charming. As if his touch from before is sliding up the back of my neck, a sliver of a shiver rolls through me as he stares down at me, hard and cold.

  “I bet he touches you all the time. You don’t mind then, do you? You like it, but he’s nothing compared to me. He’s just some punk, a nobody. One date is all I ask.”

  “Never. You could never give me anything I’d want, ever.” I bite the words out, alarmed and disgusted at his bizarre behavior.

  Not blinking, eyes pinned on me, he swirls the bottle around in his hand. “See you around, sweet Lacey,” he said, all trace of emotion gone. He moves aside, barely giving me enough room to open the door without touching him. I don’t look back.

  As soon as I get out, a rush of air leaves my lungs in a wealth of relief. My hand goes over my chest, and I drop my head, chin on my chest. “Fuck.” What the hell? Why do I keep running into that guy? I look up and down the street. We didn’t park too far from here, but all of a sudden it seems like it’s so far away and really, really dark.

  I would go back in to get Deb, but I can’t— not with him in there. Something about that guy is not right. He looks fine from the outside, but God, the way he looks at me, his touch? It sets off something in me that screams not right.