Him Her Them Boxed Set (21 page)

The lights flicker green, blue and red below as the walls vibrate with the thumping beat. Teeth glow fluorescent white as smiles and laughter abound. I stare at them jealous one minute and then loathing everyone the next.

Sighing I look at the floor between my clasped hands, my elbows resting on my knees as I sit. Useless. Me, here, useless.

"Hey dude! Come dance. I see a few hot chicks down there looking up at us!"

My gaze falls to the dance floor where Jacob is pointing as I notice two attractive women, a blonde and redhead with matching red halter tops looking up at us. The redhead has a mini skirt and the blond is wearing skin tight pants. Turning my attention back at Jacob he's giving his thumbs up with a hopeful smile, but I just can't. I turn my head and clasp my hands in front of my face as if I am praying. Praying my horrible life is replaced.

"Dude! Come on! They are literally eye fucking us! No woman that pretty has ever looked at me like that."

I glance back at Jacob in pity.

"Fine Jacob, go get them and bring them up here, but I can't promise anything."

"Yes!" He pumps his fist into the air and quickly runs down the stairs to get the women. I wish Corbin was here. Who am I kidding, I wish Josephine was here. I still glance over to the bar hoping I see that beautiful figure in white again. That somehow my life becomes like the movie 'Groundhog Day' and I am reliving the night I met Josephine over and over again.

I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket and fetch it. Corbin's texting me saying he will be here soon. Good, I won't have to put up with Jacob's crap much longer. I put the phone away and look up to see a redhead staring down at me. Her enormous breasts are almost blocking my vision. She bends down, giving me ample view of her cleavage before whispering in my ear, "Hi! I'm Sienna-- and you are?"

I look away and notice the blond already on Jacob's lap as they giggle and flirt.
Corbin please hurry!
I scoot over on the couch to offer Sienna a seat, but mostly to get away from her heaving chest.

She rests her hand on my leg and scoots as close to me as she can. I look out onto the club as I answer her.

"I'm Pierce. Nice to meet you Sienna."

"It's so very nice to meet you Pierce. I'm new to Baltimore, moved here from Chicago, so I am always happy to make new friends."

Did she just bump me with her boobs as she said friends? I turn to look at her as she licks her lips. A few months ago I would have been all over her, but now she just makes my stomach churn. No woman compares to Josephine. I try to get over her, move on. That's why I keep coming to these stupid clubs with Jacob hoping I find another Josephine. Someone who's beautiful, smart, sexy and challenges me but I find nothing even close.

"So, your friend seems to like Jacob." I say trying to direct her attention away from me. She nods.

"Yeah, Dina noticed him first, but I couldn't take my eyes off of you, Pierce." She bats her eyelashes like we are in a silent era movie. This woman is ridiculous. She's like a cartoon. Right as I'm about to tell her she is a mixture of Jessica Rabbit and Clarabelle Cow, I hear Corbin.

"Hey Pierce! Hey Jacob!" He is staring at Jacob who has no idea Corbin is standing in front of him as Dina seems to be stuck to his face. They are going at it pretty good and even I'm starting to become uncomfortable.

"Sienna, I'm going to go talk to my friend Corbin, feel free to order a drink, tabs on me." Her eyes widen as she nods and reaches for a drinks menu on the little table in front of us. I get up and make my way over to Corbin as we lean on the railing looking over the club.

"Hey Pierce, who's that woman with you?"

Corbin whispers in my ear, looking back at Sienna. I shrug my shoulders.

"Her name is Sienna. She is friends with Dina the woman Jacob is sucking face with. I'm making nice with her to help Jacob out. She is all over me, hopefully the free drinks will distract her enough." I smirk at Corbin who looks a little relieved by my statement. He has been trying to get Josephine and I back together. He thinks that Josephine made a mistake.

"Look Pierce I wanted to tell you something..."

My ears tune him out as I finally see her, in white, at the bar. I shake my head wondering if it's my mind playing tricks on me. But no, Josephine is there, the bartender is letting her behind the bar and she is making herself a drink again. I turn to Corbin quickly.

"Is it Groundhog's Day?"

He looks confused and shakes his head.

"What?"

"Is it Groundhog's Day?"

"No Pierce, that's not for, what..four months. Why would you think it's Groundhog's Day?"

I grab his head and turn it until he sees the bar. I let go and he laughs.

"Didn't you hear what I said Pierce. I got Luna and Jos to come with me tonight. Jos is feeling a lot better. She still has some things to deal with but apparently she has been seeing a therapist and Luna tells me she is almost totally back to her old self."

I am smiling like an idiot and force Corbin into a bear crushing hug. When I release him he's still laughing.

"I'm going down there Corbin, wish me luck." I give him Jacob's thumbs up as I move toward the stairs.

"Hey where are you going?" Sienna yells out to me. Crap! I forgot about her. I turn and display the old Pierce charm.

"Well, Sienna I didn't want you to have to wait for your drinks so I'm going to the bar to get them" I flash a smile and she nods. That satisfies her so I race down the stairs and hear her yelling back to me something about long island.

It's like déjà vu as I approach the bar with Josephine's head down, focused on making her martini. I can't help the grin overtaking my face. Suddenly a large plaid shirt is blocking my view, a man of average height filling the garment.

"Yes sir, how may I help you?"

I look into his dark eyes annoyed he's doing his job.

"Actually, I want to speak to her."

I point to Josephine who still hasn't looked up from the drink in her hand.

"She's not the bartender, I am. So, I ask again how may I help you?"

He emphasized the 'I' and crosses his arms in front of his chest to make a point. As irritating as it is that he is preventing me from getting to Josephine, I am glad she has people around to protect her. She needs that.

"I know her. Her name is Josephine. She loves the color green, chocolate covered fruit, her favorite flower is cornflowers, but she likes the smell of honeysuckles and she has unique opinions on Johnny Cash songs."

The bartender lowers his arms and his mouth opens as he turns to look at Josephine, who has since raised her head to look at me. She's more radiant than I remember. Her hair is shorter now falling just past her shoulders with a slight wave to it. It's stunning, she's stunning. Suddenly her face softens and the faintest of smiles creeps along her mouth.

"Yes I do know him. His name is Pierce. He's a big softy when it comes to his mom, loves 1940's and 1950's era pinup girls, he will always help and fight for those who can't, and he's sexy as fuck."

I love her. I want her to be in my arms right now. It's funny but I don't hear the music or see the flashing lights and even the bartender is disappearing from my sight.

"Well, if it's alright Jos, I'll leave you to it." The bartender pats her on the back and gives her a quick smile. She turns her head to nod at him.

"Thanks Adrian and also for the drink!" He winks at her as he walks to the other end of the bar. I didn't like that wink, but it's not my place anymore. The realization of that sends my heart racing. I have to get her back.

Josephine is walking toward me and lifting up the bar flap to move to the other side. Once she is facing me I can't help but grin as she eyes me up while drinking her Martini. She lifts her finger and swirls it reminding me of what she needs from me. I raise my hands in surrender and slowly turn around for her so she can see all of me.

"The verdict?"

"Hmmm. I don't know Pierce. You are still sexy as fuck, but that's not why I'm here tonight."

Her expression turns serious and I want to pull her in for a hug, but think better of it. She still may not want me to touch her. So, I lay out my hand for her to decide to take it.

"Will you walk with me Josephine?"

She nods and places her hand onto mine. A burning fire flows up my arm from her touch and I squeeze her hand so she can't let go. I take her back to that alcove we first discovered together.

It is like time reversed and I stand in that nook that perhaps once held a cigarette machine from times past, but is nothing more than a hideaway now. Only this time Pierce isn't touching me, he is now standing on the far side of the wall, opposite me. I still hold my drink, nursing and savoring its contents, but there is strangeness to our presence. It's odd and slightly uncomfortable.

He keeps glancing between me and the floor and past me to see if others are there watching, his dark brown eyes full of confusion. We don't speak. I am unsure as what I want to say. Are we getting back together, discussing the 'how do we stay friends' thing or is this something that he wants and I don't or vice versa?

How did I not think tonight would be awkward? Perhaps he has moved on. I saw him talking to that redhead on the balcony. It hurt to see that, but I only have myself to blame. I have spent many an hour talking to Dr. Reynolds about Pierce. I keep running hot and cold with it, Dr. Reynolds asking if I want Pierce back and one minute yes, without a doubt, but the next confusion and have no words.

"I missed you my dear."

That did it. I shut my eyes as the tears prick the surface. There is no stopping them. My hand is now covering my face as it scrunches up into a terrible sob. I want to crumple up onto the floor but I suspect that will just make things sticky.

I suddenly feel his warm breath by my ear, but he isn't touching me.

"May I give you a hug Josephine?"

"Yes." My voice is weak and the sound garbled from my hands covering my mouth, but it's all he needs as I feel his arms wrap tightly around me, pulling me close to his firm chest. I smell him. His scent clean and spicy and it fills my brain with images of him laughing, kissing and holding me.

He takes the drink from my hand and I hear it hit the ground. Funny how events repeat themselves yet it's quite different this time. I move my hands away from my face and wrap them around his torso. He feels good, like a comforting memory. But he's no memory, he's real.

"This feels good Pierce."

His body relaxes so I nuzzle my head into his chest. As his hand is stroking my hair I can feel him bury his face into my head.

"God I missed you so much Josephine."

"Can we stay like this, right here, forever?" I want this and am afraid of what will happen if he does more, pushes me further.

"Anything you want Josephine. I thought I would never see you or be able to touch you again. I can't even begin to describe how wonderful I feel right now."

"So, are you dating anyone now like that redhead I saw you with?"

I tense and can't look up at him. I know it's none of my business but I want to know. He pulls me slightly away from his embrace to look me in the eyes. His expression is serious if not concerning.

"No Josephine. I haven't been able to get you out of my mind. I love you. That's ... Sienna, I just met her tonight. She is friends with the woman attached to Jacob. I have only spoken to her briefly."

The biggest smile breaks my concern. It's what I need to hear, to know. I shouldn't be so happy he is alone, but I am. Luna told me how he suffered. She found out through Corbin that for three weeks he wouldn't leave his apartment. Finally when he did he had a beard and looked like the walking dead.

Her words struck me hard. A stop sign suddenly erected before me, slamming my sorrow to a halt. What Ryan did to me didn't just hurt me; it destroyed two people's happiness. I knew I needed to see Pierce again.

I had talked to Luna, to Dr. Reynolds and even to Corbin on the rare occasion I am in his presence, about all of this, but it isn't until Luna told me how Pierce suffers that I realized I am being selfish. My fear and depression is needlessly hurting another person. I took a moment to step outside of myself and look in, not liking what I saw.

Hearing Pierce's voice, feeling his touch again, helps me understand that I want him with me. That I need him.

"I love you." The words slip out of my mouth before I even realize what I am saying. There is shock in Pierce's eyes as they mirror mine. Do I mean that? Yes, I think I do. I have been through hell and back, even pushing him away when I needed him most, but through all that I cann't get him out of my head. I dream about him, see an ad on TV about pretzels and smile, hear a man laughing as I walk down the street and turn hoping it is him.

"Do you...I mean I...I love you too Josephine. I love you so much. Does this mean we are back together?"

I can see the unease in his gaze. He's so sweet sometimes and he has no idea how much I love his softer side. How he looks at me, trying to understand me and how to make me happy. It's so soft, so lovely and I miss it so much.

I lift my hand to cup his cheek and smile.

"Yes Pierce. I promise never to leave you again. I'm sorry that I hurt you, please forgive me."

He grins. Oh that Pierce smile I long for is back. He lifts me up and I wrap my legs around him as he kisses me. We are lost in each other not caring if anyone walks back to see us. For all I know people have, but I don't care. His lips are soft reminding me of who he really is.

It's funny how something as small as the soft touch of curved lips can melt away fear and remind me of all that is good and true in a person. Perhaps it's a combination of him, his scent, his words, this place where we were two months ago meeting for the first time and not just his lips. Either way I know for certain my fear is gone for I can say with full conviction I love Pierce Carver, aka Jack Ryan Thompson II.

He pulls his lips away and lowers me back down to the floor.

"There is nothing to forgive my dear. A horrible thing happened and you did what you thought best. I just wanted to be there to help you through it, that's all. How are you feeling now?"

His face full of concern as he cups my chin with his hand.

"I feel much better Pierce. There still are moments when the fear creeps back inside, but I try to focus on moving forward and keep positive thoughts in my head. Like seeing you tonight."

I run my hands along the roughness of his short beard. It's dark but I see small specks of white here and there.

"Why the beard?"

He shrugs taking hold of my hand and bringing it to his lips to give a soft kiss.

"At first it was just me not taking care of myself. There were many days I didn't shower, let alone shave. Then when I finally did start to take care of myself again I just decided to keep it. Something different I suppose."

"Well, I like it."

"Good. What do you say we get out of here? We can go get something to eat if you want."

"Can we go back to your place Pierce?"