Still Dunno

Chapter 60 - A Mission

Wesley's POV

Three Years Later

The house looked exactly the same. I don't know what I was expecting. I didn't care for this house, but no one answered when I went to Ross. The pool house looked like no one lived there for years, so I tried Riker's house.

It's no secret Riker's not my biggest fan, but I was on a mission, and I wouldn't stop until I finished it.

Three years.

It's been longer than I thought.

I kept thinking I'd make it, and when it didn't happen after six months, I waited another six months, and when it still didn't happen, stubbornness set in. I didn't want to return a failure, yet here I was, standing in front of the door with my tail between my legs.

I have yet to hear from Janis after that day in my apartment.

She wouldn't return any of my texts or phone calls. She may have blocked me, which was good because there had been late-night calls where I felt lonely and missed her. My body ached for her. I'm not proud of these calls, but when you are all alone in the wee hours of the night, you do what you must to survive.

I kept in touch with Rocky, but we just talked about music. I couldn't bring myself to ask him any questions about Janis, and if I did, he would have answered them.

I knocked before I lost my nerve.

A few seconds later, the door opened, and Riker stood before me.

"Wesley?"

"Hi," I said.

Riker looked older. The lines around his eyes were deep. He'd put on a little weight, not that I'd tell him that. And his hair was thinner. I wouldn't say that to him either.

"What are you doing here?" he looked at me.

"Is Janis here?" I asked.

Riker laughed. "Really? You think she still lives here?" Riker ran his fingers through his hair. "She doesn't."

I figured as much, but I had to make sure.

"Do you know where I can find her?" I asked.

Riker looked at his watch. "She's still at school. She doesn't get home until around five."

"Is she teaching?" I asked.

Riker nodded.

"That's awesome," I said.

"She likes it," Riker said.

"Is Molly here?" I asked.

Riker's eyebrows furrowed together. "Um... Molly doesn't live here."

"What?" I asked, shocked.

If she didn't live with Riker, where did she live?

"Do you want to come in?"

I stepped in, and Riker closed the door behind me. He walked to the kitchen, and I followed behind him.

The house looked the same on the outside but utterly different inside. All new furniture filled the living room. The walls were painted a different color.

Riker went to the fridge and pulled out two bottles of beer. He tossed one to me and sat down in a chair on the island.

"Molly lives with her father," Riker said.

I stared at him, shocked. I was surprised to find out Joslyn knew who her father was.

"How..."

"Joslyn wrote Mike, do you remember Mike? I think he was still around when you showed up," Riker said.

I nodded.

"Joslyn wrote Mike a letter before she died explaining about Molly. Mike showed up six months later..."

"Six Months?"

"Yeah, he received it a few days after Joslyn died, but he was engaged and was afraid his fiancee would freak out and leave him, so he didn't do anything about it. Guilt got to him, and two nights before he was supposed to get married, he sat his fiancee down and told her. Sandy was understanding and said they would handle it together. They got married and went on their honeymoon. Mike showed up a month later and explained everything to me. He wanted to be a part of Molly's life, so he started coming over on weekends, and Sandy started coming with him. They'd take Molly for a day, then a night, and eventually a weekend. Mike asked if Molly could move in with them, and I felt like Molly should be with one of her parents, so I said yes. I still see her all the time. Sometimes they all come over on Sundays," Riker explained. "She's happy."

I nodded, shocked.

We sat in silence for a long time.

"How's everyone else?" I asked.

"Good, Jamey and Stephanie are engaged. Zack and Sabrina are doing well despite everything; their kids are good, too. Tristan and Rydel are still dating," Riker rolled his eyes. "I'm not sure how that happened, but they seem happy. Ross has a serious girlfriend, and Rocky and Ryland are doing what they do best," Riker said.

"How are your parents?" I asked.

"They're good. Their health seems to be okay, considering they are almost eighty years old. They bought a house in Arizona and are staying there for a few months," Riker said.

I nodded. The world does move on.

"Does Ross still host jam night?" I asked.

"Yes, but his girlfriend thought once a week was a little extreme, so now it's once a month. If she had her way, she'd end it, but she knows Ross loves it, so she puts up with us," Riker said.

"Would it be okay if I stopped by the next one?" I asked.

"Are you going to ask me?" Riker asked.

I looked at him.

"That's why you are here, right? You want to know about Janis?"

I stared at him.

"She is doing great!" Riker exclaimed. "She has a great job, her own apartment, and a boyfriend, who's pretty cool," Riker said.

My heart sank. "Oh."

I stood up. It was time to go.

"You'll have to ask Ross about Jam Night," Riker said, following me to the front door.

"I will," I said.

"Wes?"

"Yeah?"

"Leave her alone, she's happy, and she deserves to be happy," Riker said.

I nodded. "Good to see you, Riker. I'm sure we will see each other again."

I went to my car. I watched Riker close the front door.

Hitting the steering wheel hard. "Fuck!"

I took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

It didn't matter. Riker has never liked me. I came back for one thing only, and I wasn't going anywhere until I sat down and talked with Janis.