Labeled Love (33 page)

After I surprised her showing up at her house, I haven’t stopped thinking about how we explored each other. I’m so ready to be with her. I can’t hold off too much longer, but I will. Our first time is going to be perfect. Oh shit, I almost forgot her main gift. I walk back to my room and open my drawer to my dresser and take out the little box with her present. I can’t wait for her to open it. I saved for months to buy her a charm bracelet. Carefully and thoughtfully, I chose charms that meant something to us. I can’t wait to give it to her.

Just as I’m about to head out, I hear someone at the door. I look up. Grace walks through the door. I wait in anticipation to see if she’s alone. I don’t feel like starting my day with any issues.

“Where are you going?” she asks, surprising me with motherly concern. Grace has never had any interest in what I do. She knows I’ve been working, and she knows the motorcycle parked on the curb of the apartment complex is mine, but she doesn’t ask many questions, ever. “It’s my girl’s birthday.”

“Her parents let her get on the back of that bike of yours?”

“I wouldn’t put her on my bike if I didn’t think she was safe.”

“That’s not what I asked you, Jace.” You know, sometimes I see little glimpses of a mother in her. If she wasn’t so fucked up, she probably could have been a good mom. I watch as she walks into the kitchen, turns on the faucet, and fills the glass that’s sitting next to the sink. She drinks the whole glass and then lights up a cigarette.

For the first time, she doesn’t seem out of it. I know her well enough to know that won’t last. I will probably come home tonight, and she will be shit-faced drunk and mean. She’s always nasty with hateful words when she’s wasted, which is ninety-nine percent of the time. I gave up hope years ago for the dream of a loving mother.

“I hope you’re careful with that girl. I’m sure her parents wouldn’t take it lightly if you hurt her.”

“I don’t know why you always assume I’m this bad person. You’ve never met Shay, and if you had, you would understand why I love her and would never hurt her.”

“Uh-huh,” she says, butting out her cigarette in the sink. She exhales all the smoke in her lungs and walks away.

Well, that was a great talk. That was the most Grace has said to me in a long time. It was almost a real conversation. I look over at the clock on the stove. I better get going. Shay is probably going crazy with no messages or a call from me yet. I grab my backpack and my bike key. I hope she likes where we’re going. We’ve never gone on a hike before, and Shay once told me she used to hike when she was a kid with her family. I don’t think she’s gone in years, so I want to take her for her birthday.

“I DON’T WANT
to go.”

“What do you mean you ‘don’t want to go’?”

“Is this really the first thing you say to me on my birthday, Dad?”

“I did say ‘Happy Birthday, Shay.’ You’re eighteen now, finishing your senior year of high school. You rarely work with Adam. It’s time to start thinking about your college plan.

“Dad, I got into every college I applied for, but my plan has always been to write music.”

“And…”

“And, I haven’t decided.”

“What about Berkley? That’s an excellent music school. A lot of artists attend there—”

“And, there are a lot that never attended any college, Dad,” I interrupt him mid-sentence, pulling the covers over my face. “Leave me alone.”

He yanks the covers off my face. “That might work with your mother, but I’m not as nice as her.” He gives me a tight face, trying to be serious. He’s such a softy for the girls in the house.

“That’s for sure. I don’t know how Mom puts up with a bad boy like you.”

“Excuse me?”

“Don’t play dumb, Dad. I heard all about your bad boy days.”

“Melody, get in here!” he yells. I start laughing.

“What?” Mom says, running into my room, out of breath, with a bowl of pancake batter in her hands. “What’s wrong?”

“Why would Shay say I was a bad boy?”

She looks over at me, catching her breath, giving me a look that says
you’re going to get
it
. Don’t worry. I would never talk about your bad boy days. She’s just messing with you.” She rolls her eyes.

“I was never a bad boy.”

“Honey, you were never a bad boy. Just a little mischievous.”

His eyes soften. “Don’t act like you didn’t like my rougher days.” When she gives him a shy smile, he looks back at me. “Don’t let your mom fool you. She’s got a little wild side in her.”

“Steven, stop!” She smacks him on the back. He laughs and grabs her, kissing her right on the mouth.

“Okay, too much PDA going on here. Both of you, out of my room so I can get up.”

“Don’t forget what we talked about, Shay,” Dad says.

My mom leaves my room first. “Dad, most artists never attend college. Would you be disappointed if I didn’t?”

“Well, that depends on your reasoning. Are you recording? Are you writing? Those are the only two things I find acceptable. If you find success doing what you love, then no, I won’t be. But, I still would like to see you get a degree.”

“But, it’s my choice, right?”

“Beau wasn’t given a choice when football ended. He went right into acting. The only thing I want for all my children is to be happy. I’m all for whatever makes you happy,” he says, scratching the back of his neck.

Tapping the side of my doorframe, he makes his way out into the hall. I call him back in. “Dad? Can I ask you another question?” He turns back to me. “Do you like Jace? I mean, does it bother you that he doesn’t have money and doesn’t go to college?” I cast my eyes down. My dad’s approval means a lot to me. He walks back over and sits on my bed.

“Shay, I really like Jace. I didn’t come from money. Money doesn’t mean anything to me. Providing for your mother was all I cared about when I was younger. It just really worked out for me. Determination and drive are what I like.

“I don’t think we know anything about Jace’s home life, and I think there is a reason he keeps that part of him separate. I admire him for wanting to keep you away from what he thinks is not good for you. He’s young; he’s at the age now where he can make a life for himself. I have no doubt that he’s going to figure it out.” I see the love in his eyes. “Do you know why I like Jace?” I shake my head. “I like Jace, because when I see him with you, I see the way he looks at you. I see the way he holds your hand. I see a boy that does everything he can to be with you. I see a boy that truly cares about my daughter. As long as he loves you and always treats you with respect, then I will always support your relationship.”

“I really love him, Dad.”

He kisses my forehead. “I know you do.”

“Dad?” I say as he gets up.

“Yeah?”

“The first day I met Jace… That morning Mom was making pancakes, and you came into the kitchen. You said ‘good morning’ to all of us and then you went up to Mom and cupped her face with your hands and kissed her. I watched you. I was only twelve years old, but I remember telling myself, one day I want a boy to kiss me like that.”

“Let me guess. Jace kissed you just like your old man kissed your mom?” he asks. I smile.

“Just like I wished for. Do you want to know what else?” He raises his eyebrows, waiting. “It wasn’t until I was days away from my sixteenth birthday that he gave me that fairy-tale kiss,” I say. Dad shakes his head in approval.

“I like him even more now.”

I giggle, saying, “Yup, he really cares about me. And, isn’t that the most important thing we can ask of someone, Dad? To love us and take care of our heart?”

“Sounds like a romantic guy,” he says, kissing my nose. “By the way, I kiss your mother like that because I cherish her. I always have.” He winks at me. “Even in my so-called ‘bad boy days,’ she was always the one for me, from the very moment I laid eyes on her.”

“You’ve always shown us how to love, Dad, so thank you.”

“Remember, Shay. Love isn’t always perfect. You’re going to have times of struggles, but if you really love each other, even with your differences, you can make it. One of you might have to work a little harder to get it right, but when you do, it will be the most rewarding accomplishment you can ever achieve.” We hear Mom yell for us to come eat my birthday breakfast. “I’m going to get in the kitchen before your mother starts the sass that you Stark girls all seem to have. I’ve been noticing Tatum starting to get sassy, too.” Putting his hand over his heart, he shakes his head. “I don’t know want I’m going to do with all three of you, with your hands on your hips, rolling those beautiful eyes around here.”

“Well, at least you have Tristan playing football soon to look forward to.”

“I know. I can’t wait to get another boy in pads,” he says with a gleam in his eyes.

“I think Tristan will be as good as Beau by the way he works with him,” I say excitedly.

“His brother was pretty special.”

“Yeah, he was, but he’s proving to be pretty special on and off the field.”

“By the way, Dad, I bought Jace a guitar.”

“Can I ask what the occasion was?”

“It was for his birthday.”

“Why didn’t you tell us? You know your mom would have made him a cake.”

“He wouldn’t have wanted anyone fussing over him.”

“Sounds like Jace.” He smiles at me as he walks out of my room.

I get out of bed, grabbing my cell phone to check if I missed a text. I’m disappointed when I see I have none. I know I shouldn’t be. It’s still rather early. Jace might still be sleeping, so I go downstairs to eat a huge blueberry pancake with fresh strawberries.

AFTER WE FINISH
eating, I help Mom clean up the dishes and then head to my room to shower. Taking my phone off my bed, I check again for a text from Jace.

Nothing.

I take a shower, disappointed. When I’m done, I slather on some of my birthday gifts from my parents. When I walked into the kitchen for breakfast, Mom had a basket full of my favorite coconut-infused lotions, sunblock, chapsticks, and pretty much every other product that smells like a tropical paradise. Jules stopped by, giving me gift cards to a few of my favorite spots in town. It’s funny; she knows I’m going to use them for both of us.

So, here I am waiting. Still no word from my boy. I go out back to lie in the sun and read the book I’ve been trying to get through, and that’s when I hear it.

My heart flutters happily.

I have no doubt who’s coming up my driveway. A part of me wants to stay back here and make him come to me, but I can’t help myself. I’m too excited to see him. I throw my book down and head to the front of the house. Just as he’s getting off his bike and setting his backpack onto the ground, I whisk myself in his arms.

“Happy birthday, pretty girl.”

Whispering against his strong neck, I say, “You tortured me all morning without texting or calling me.”

“Baby, it’s only ten o’clock.”

“I’ve been up since seven,” I tell him, pouting.

“Well, I didn’t get up until eight. Plus, I was getting all your birthday gifts ready.”

My face warms. I’m sure I have pink cheeks. Just the thought of Jace putting together something for me makes me happy. He pulls me into him.