by Mia Ford
I rolled onto my side and closed my eyes. After her death, I had dreamt of Janice almost on a daily basis, and I usually woke up feeling a lot worse than when I had gone to sleep. It was no secret that I missed her, but the dreams made finding closure so much harder. Luckily, those dreams had become rarer over the years, but every now and then, that one memory would pop up. That night of wine and games and laughter, when we were our happiest. It was three weeks after that night that we had found out Janice was pregnant, and to this day, that night was the one memory that cut through me the worst.
Kelly shifted beside me, and for the first time in a long while, I longed for Janice to be here with us. To see the beautiful girl her daughter had grown up to be. To take care of the idiot her husband had become.
To keep the two of us from losing our minds completely and tearing at each other’s throats. To share the moments when we laughed so hard, Kelly would roll onto her back and kick her feet into the air.
My chest clenched, and I felt tears well up behind my closed lids. I fought them back, took a deep breath, and let it out in a long and broken sigh.
I fell asleep a few minutes later, and dreamt of nothing at all.
Chapter 10: Jenni
I couldn’t stop thinking about Alex Logan.
I had tried to sleep early, grateful for the fact that Garth had not passed by as promised. On any other night, I might have been upset, angry even, although it would be fairly unlikely for him to actually do what he said he would. A part of me had expected him to show up and break the mold, only because he had seen me out with the Logans. Garth had a habit of marking his territory, and spending the night at my place would have been an opportune way to show me who wore the pants in what we were kidding ourselves into thinking was a relationship.
Thankfully, though, Garth hadn’t passed by, and I had spent the night tossing and turning in bed before finally giving into the fact that I was not going to get any sleep. Every time I closed my eyes, I’d see Alex. Hazel eyes boring into mine, strong hands holding my waist and pulling me closer to him. I imagined running my hands over what I could only imagine was a perfectly chiseled body, and I caught myself crossing my legs just to calm the heat coming from in between them.
I had spent most of the night in front of the computer, Casper cuddled at me feet as I wrote. Chapter after chapter, the words just flowing as if I had no control over them. I was on cruise control, typing away like a mad woman, and all the time using Alex as the image for my protagonist. The sex scene I wrote was one of the hottest I had ever conceived, and I had stopped at least three or four times to cool down before continuing. In my head, Alex was the alpha male and I was the innocent damsel in distress, and although the story I was writing was borderline cliché, it hadn’t been hard imagining the two of us as the characters rolling about under the covers in my story.
It was only when the sun had come up did I find myself crawling into bed and falling asleep, only to be woken up two hours later to the incessant ringing of my phone and Hank demanding to know where the hell I was.
“I need to talk to you.” My father’s gruff voice startled me, and I looked up from the finance sheets I was revising from the day before. I was exhausted, eyes drooping, the numbers in front of me blurring into each other and making absolutely no sense.
The morning crowd had already begun to gather, and most of the tables were occupied. Three waitresses were dashing back and forth between the guests and the kitchen, calling out orders and refilling coffee. It was the usual bustle of a busy day, and although I was supposed to be wide awake, keeping an eye on everything going on, I was lost in my own little world.
Something my dad was aware of, especially after giving me a look that would have had me cowering into a corner if I hadn’t been this tired.
“Sure, dad, what’s up?”
Hank shook his head and nodded to the back, a gesture I knew meant he had serious business to discuss with me. I braced myself and followed him past the kitchen and the storage room, then into his office.
The small space that was occupied by a desk and filing cabinet was barely enough for the two of us together, and I had to press myself against the wall just to close the door.
“I’m not going to beat around the bush, Jenni,” Hank said, sitting down behind his desk. I always found it amusing how big he looked in his chair, his burly figure almost falling over the sides as he rested his arms on the desk. “I’m disappointed, and I have a feeling you know why.”
“Sorry, dad,” I replied. “I didn’t mean to be late. I didn’t get enough sleep last night.”
“That’s not what I was talking about,” Hank said. “Although, I’m guessing both subjects are related.”
I frowned in confusion and waited for my father to keep going. He had a habit of pausing for effect, and at times like this, that was more than just annoying.
“Garth Liston,” Hank said.
I felt my heart drop, knowing that the conversation I had hoped to avoid was now upon me. “What about him?” I asked, feigning disinterest.
“Listen, Jenni, what you do on your own time, behind the closed doors of your apartment, that’s your deal,” Hank said. “I already told you how I feel about you moving out, but you made it crystal clear that this is your life, and I really don’t have a say in it.”
“I didn’t say that,” I began, but was stopped before I could continue.
“Not the point,” he said. “What I do want to say, though, is that your life is what you do outside the diner doors. I don’t want you bringing your private life into this diner. Especially when your private life includes that piece of scum.”
“Dad…”
“Don’t interrupt me,” Hank cut me short. “That kid’s bad news, Jenni. Always has been, always will be, and you’d do best to stay the hell away from him.”
“Okay, can you slow down,” I said. “First of all, I’m not really dating him.”
“Just fucking him, then?”
“Dad!”
“Stating the obvious, here,” Hank said, holding up his hands. “And believe me, I’m not at all happy about it.”
I crossed my arms over my chest and frowned at him. “Fine, yes, just that. I thought there might be more to it, but apparently there isn’t, and I don’t think I’m going to be seeing him anymore.”
My father eyed me for a beat before leaning back and folding his hands on his belly, sniffing loudly as he tried to read me and see if I was pulling his leg.
“I’m serious, alright?” I said. “What happened yesterday, that was a mistake, and I’m sorry. But this really is the end of it, and I’m not just saying that to make you feel better.”
Hank scratched his nose, sniffed again and nodded. “Alright,” he said. “You know I’m only coming down hard on you because I love you, right?”
I nodded, smiling a little. “Sure.”
“And you’ll always be my little girl, so don’t even ask me to stop treating you like one, although I try not to.”
“I know.”
“But in the back room? Really?” Hank’s face shifted into a mask of disgust. “That’s just wrong.”
“If it’s alright with you,” I said, “I really don’t feel like discussing my sex life with my father.”
“Then keep your sex life out of my diner,” Hank replied. “Now go wash your face, try to at least look like you’re awake, and get to work.”
I smiled and saluted lazily. “Aye, aye, sir.”
I walked out of the office and made my way to the lockers just beyond the storage room. There was a small bathroom there reserved for the employees, and I locked myself in and gazed at my reflection in the mirror. I really did look like shit. I had no idea how I’d left the house looking like this, and quickly washed my face and adjusted my make-up and hair. When I felt like I looked at least presentable, I walked back out and took up my regular position at the bar, sitting down tiredly and sighing as I flipped through the pages of finances I had to re
vise.
After an hour, I quickly realized I was probably going to get nothing done today. I sat back, stretched, and watched the waitresses as they worked. I smiled at a few of the guests, got up to help when I felt the orders were a little too overwhelming, and manned the register while my dad socialized with some of his older friends. By the time afternoon came rolling in, I already felt like I needed at least a gallon of coffee or I’d pass out in the back office from the exhaustion.
“Hey, waitress, what’s good to eat here?” I jumped and turned just as Samuel Logan slid into his regular seat and Kelly jumped into the one next to him. She shot me a smile.
“Well, if it isn’t my favorite regular and his incredibly gorgeous granddaughter,” I smiled, the exhaustion taking an immediate backseat as I quickly looked over their shoulders to see if they had come alone.
“Hi, Jenni,” Kelly greeted, immediately grabbing the menu.
“Thought I’d show the little rascal where her grandfather has the best breakfast in Kent,” Samuel said, ruffling Kelly’s hair and rewarded with a scowl that would have burned down buildings.
I laughed. “A little late for breakfast, don’t you think?”
“Dad took forever to wake up,” Kelly said, rolling her eyes.
I looked at the door again, then back at them. “Did he drop you off?”
“He’ll be here shortly,” Samuel winked at me, and I raised an amused eyebrow at him in response.
“He’s getting his drugs,” Kelly said. “Apparently, he can’t go a day without them.”
I frowned and looked at Samuel for an explanation.
“Pain killers,” Samuel said. “He got shot a few months back. Still dealing with it.”
“Oh my god!”
“Drug bust gone bad,” Samuel said. “But he’s fine now. Just a bad leg that constantly nags at him.”
“And of course, it’s affected his capacity for rational thinking,” Kelly muttered.
I laughed again, and Samuel ruffled her hair once more, quickly dodging as she tried to slap his hand away. “I say get this one some food before her mouth gets the better of her.”
I took their orders, relayed it to the kitchen, and returned a few minutes later just as Alex walked in. He wore an open flannel shirt over a white t-shit that gave me the perfect idea of just what was hidden underneath, and I began undressing him with my eyes as he approached us, only realizing I was doing it when he frowned at me over a confused smile. I quickly snapped out of it and smiled back.
“Good morning,” Alex said, taking the seat beside his daughter.
“Afternoon, dad, seriously,” Kelly replied.
“She still hasn’t eaten anything?” Alex asked, looking at Samuel.
Samuel only shrugged and chuckled.
“Food’s on its way,” I said. “You want to give me your order so they can fix it up and bring them all together?”
“God no, get Kelly’s food first,” Alex said. “Or we’ll be facing the wrath of the antichrist before we know it.”
Kelly looked at him, shook her head in disapproval, then looked back at me while rolling her eyes. The dynamic between the two of them was entertaining.
The bickering and snarky comments went back and forth even as they ate, and I found myself amazed at just how sarcastic Kelly was, and witty. I had read somewhere once that wit was the sign of great intelligence, and the way this girl was shooting remarks back and forth had me smiling the entire time.
By the end of their meal, Samuel had to practically drag her away from her father, making up some excuse about showing her around town. When Alex offered to join them, Samuel quickly refused.
“I’d rather the two of you spend some quality time away from each other,” Samuel laughed and winked at me.
We watched them leave before Alex turned back to me and shrugged. “Sorry about that,” he said. “We do get along on most days.”
“I think it’s cute,” I replied, gesturing to the coffee pot. He nodded and refilled his cup. “You’re doing a great job with her.”
“Thanks,” he said. “Sometimes I feel like I’m in over my head, but she’s quick to put me back in my place.”
I laughed at that. I could only imagine what it was like behind closed doors between the two of them. Alex watching TV, Kelly glued to her phone, the two of them throwing side remarks at each other every few minutes just to see who cold annoy the other more. I felt like their life mirrored the life of roommates more than that of father and daughter. I found myself wondering what it would be like to share a living space with the two of them.
Careful, there, missy. You’re treading into dangerous territory.
“You never mentioned you were a cop,” I said.
Alex nodded. “DEA,” he explained. “Fighting the never-ending war on drugs and losing miserably one day at a time.”
“That’s a bit cynical,” I laughed.
“It’s the truth,” he replied. “Sure, we do the best we can, but the truth is we’re only getting small wins here and there. You’d be lucky to take down any of the big fish.”
“Must make the job hard.”
“It does,” Alex replied. “All you can really do is wake up, go do your job the best way you can, and pray you don’t get shot in the process.”
“I guess sometimes the prayers go unanswered?”
He looked up at me with a frown, then smiled. “Samuel told you about my accident, huh?”
“I wouldn’t really call getting shot an accident.”
“Yeah, I guess not,” he said, his voice drifting off a bit as he sipped on his coffee.
“So, is that why you’re really in Kent?” I asked. “Rehab?”
Alex looked at me, and I mentally slapped myself for prying. It really wasn’t any of my business. One dinner with the Logan family didn’t make it alright for me to ask too many questions.
“I’m sorry,” I quickly apologized, giving him a weak smile.
“It’s alright,” he assured. “Partly, yes. Was forced into a vacation, needed to reevaluate a few things, and decided to do that thinking here where I didn’t have the Miami hustle and bustle to distract me.”
“Well, I’m glad you did,” I said.
He smiled, took a sip from his coffee and just looked at the cup in his hands. The distant look in his eyes made me feel like I had just fucked up.
“So, what do you have planned for the day?” I asked, trying to change subjects and bring the conversation back to more comfortable ground.
“Nothing, really,” he said. “Wanted to look into a few things regarding investors who have been harassing my father about buying old family land. Want to figure out what it will take to get it to their heads that no means no.”
“Alexis?” I asked.
“Excuse me?”
“The company that wants to build a casino, right?”
Alex nodded.
“Alexis Hope,” I replied, shuddering at the disgusting taste the name left in my mouth. “She runs Hope Enterprises, or at least the branch of it that deals with real estate. Her company’s behind the compounds and dorm buildings all over town.”
“Really?” Alex asked. “Hope Enterprises? Sounds familiar, just can’t place it.”
“As much as I know, it’s a pretty low-key company, but definitely Fortune 500. Just doesn’t make a big craze about everything it does.”
Alex frowned and shrugged. “Why would they be interested in Kent?”
“The university,” I replied.
“We don’t have a university,” Alex smiled.
“We will in about a year,” I said. “Big plans, already bought the land and started digging. It’s supposed to bring in up to five thousand students. That’s a lot of business for Kent.”
“Right, and more investors, I get it,” Alex nodded. “Where university students go, the money follows.”
“Pretty much.” I leaned in and scratched the back of my head. “I mean, Kent’s seen major change just because of the
college. Imagine what an added university is going to do.”
“Well, at least you’ve given me a place to start,” Alex said, “and why Heath Collins is the middle of this.”
I cringed at the mention of Heath’s name, and decided to avoid talking about Garth’s involvement as well.
“Thanks, Jenni,” Alex said, standing up and pulling out his wallet.
“On the house,” I said quickly. “Don’t worry about it. Besides, Samuel’s in here every day, so your breakfast basically been paid for a hundred times over.”
Alex laughed and pocketed his wallet. “Fine, then at least let me get you coffee later.”
I felt my heart jump and smiled. “Coffee sounds good.”
“When do you get off?”
“Usually at three, but I’m going to have to be here until the paperwork is done,” I said. “So maybe six or seven.”
“Seven it is,” Alex said with a wide smile. “I’ll see you then.”
I watched him walk out the diner, giving my father a quick wave before he disappeared out the door. I looked at the time on my phone and already began counting down the minutes.
