Roses

Chapter 38

Zoey

"You look like shit," Jack comments, his eyes assessing me like I'm a zoo animal.

"Thanks," I deadpan. "What the fuck are you doing here?"

"May I first come inside and see this wretched house that keeps hosting murders?" I roll my eyes and hold the door open so he can enter. I notice he's carrying a suitcase. "What the fuck?"

I turn around to find him staring at a red splotch on the floor. "It's like you said. Murders are an every day occurrence here," I mutter. Once the police left, I was clear to clean the space. I just haven't gotten around to doing it yet, choosing to nurse my broken heart first.

"I know what happened. It's just," he pauses to run his hand through his messy hair, looking around my living room space, "one thing hearing about it on the phone and quite another looking at it."

"You heard about it on the phone?"

"Yeah. Adam called me," he answers tentatively, slowly meeting my eyes. "I know you want to know everything. But first, I need to pee. I've been sitting on a bus for hours!"

That makes me chuckle slightly and I point him in the direction of the half bath behind the stairs. I enter the kitchen and grab the only liquor I have--a bottle of vodka--and two glasses, and set them down on the table. As I pour the drinks, I hear him get out of the bathroom and call him to join me.

"He called me early this morning. Told me about everything that went down here," he says after taking a sip.

"You mean how the serial killers attacked me?"

"Yes."

"And what about... our past?" I cross my arms and tilt my head.

"He told me everything," he says, matching my stance. The look on his face is serious, very uncharacteristic of him. "He has really fallen for you."

I snort. "Don't tell me it took him just a phone call to convince you!" I lean towards him, staring into his warm, brown eyes. "He lied to me the whole time, Jack.

"He blamed me for something I didn't do, and made elaborate plans to destroy me for years. I don't care he didn't go through with it. He did enough! Did you know he was responsible for all the rejection I faced in the publishing industry?"

I have to try really hard to keep my voice from breaking. My face is probably as red as a tomato. And from the way his face softens, I know he can tell how I'm feeling.

The betrayal is still fresh and talking about it stings. I don't know how long it's going to take till I can look back and curse him out without feeling like my heart is going to sink into my stomach, but I can't wait. My mind and heart desperately wish for the numbness they were used to before Adam came into my life.

He nods. "I told you he told me everything."

"But why? I don't understand." I empty the contents of my glass in one go, relishing the burn. "Are you here to do his bidding?"

"Not if you don't want me to." He leans back in his chair. "He told me he feels terrible, and that he's willing to do anything to get you back. But I'm only here for you, not him." He gives me a small smile and I'm reminded of the several times he was the only one to have my back.

"How long are you here for?"

"Two weeks." I smile, liking the sound of that. I hadn't realized before how much I missed him.

"How did you even convince your father to give you that many days off?" I scoff, remembering my stern previous employer.

"I didn't. Your Adam did." Hearing his name like that immediately slices my heart, but I focus on refilling our drinks.

"What do you mean?"

"He talked to my old man. May have even bribed him to get me the time off." He clinks his glass against mine, clearly overjoyed at the idea of not working for two weeks.

"So you are here to do his bidding." I raise a brow. "Why else would he do all that?"

"Because he wanted you not to be alone. Tell me honestly, Zo. Would you have reached out to me otherwise?" It's his turn to raise his eyebrow. When I look away, he mutters a 'that's what I thought'.

He's right. I didn't plan on telling him a single thing. Maybe about the killers. But the rest? Nope. Not a chance.

But that doesn't change the fact that I am glad he's here. It makes my feelings towards Adam go haywire. What sort of a man breaks your heart and then makes sure you aren't lonely during the fallout?

One who regrets his actions.

"You sound like you're on his side," my voice is so soft and sad, I hardly recognize it. "I would be mad if a part of me also wasn't."

"Did you love him?" He asks slowly. He witnessed my relationship with Arnie and a few others. He knows full well how fiercely I guard my love. So his question holds all the weight it should.

"Yes."

He extends a hand and places it on top of mine for a brief moment.

It's ironic that he can talk about the most insignificant shit easily but when it comes to the big things, he rarely uses words. And that has been one of the main reasons why he is pretty much the only person I call my friend.

His support is always silent and without judgement.

"Then don't force forgiveness."