Reject You to Break You (To Reach You Book 2)

Chapter Twenty Seven: When Pigs Fly

North-

"Please, please tell me your joking," I plead on the phone. 

"Nope," Tate chirps. 

"That's the most--it's the most ridiculous thing I ever heard!"

"I like it, it's original and definitely going to be interesting,"

"This is how you want your wedding to be,"

"It's pre-wedding North," she answers, seconds away from adding a "duh". 

A 24-hour dance marathon. Gilmore Girl style. I wish I was joking. The night before the wedding she plans to make people dance for 24 hours with occasional breaks. Whoever is left at the end is the winner. With partners and shit. 

"Hey, sorry if this sounds bitchy...but can I skip out on your wedding?"

"DON'T YOU DARE...your tickets are already set,"

"You didn't pay for my ticket,"

"Oh, relax, the Monroes are loaded,"

"What day?"

"You're my maid of honor," she blurts out and my heart stops, I roll my eyes. 

"Very funny," 

"Well see there's no one else, besides you're--"

"Wait, you're serious?" I demanded, staring at the phone disbelievingly. No way in hell. 

"Well, you are my closest friend, and Dylan didn't want to wear a dress,"

That image almost makes me forget the main subject here. "Yeah, don't try, I have a half-shaved head, Tate"

"Yeah and in a weird way it makes you really sexy,"

I scoff at that. Sexy and I don't go together. "Yeah, whatever,"

"Oh I'm serious, remember when you found me in the bathroom that day? I remember thinking that I was lesbian I would totally hook up with you,"

"I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that,"

"I have your dress ready and if you say yes, I can promise it won't be pink,"

"And if I say no?"

"I'll stuff you in it, but then it will be pink and have ruffles,"

"You win Tatum,"

***

North-

"I assume you heard about the wedding," I say, trying to fill in the awkward silence. Ridge nods stiffly, pursuing his lips as he eyes the apartment door in front of us. We'd finally managed to track down what was supposedly Lee's family. 

"You wanna go ahead?" I say. 

"Ladies first,"

"Hey, you're the powerful Monroe's son, right?"

"I'm the youngest of the clan," he shoots back. 

"Still, you're the guy,"

"At the same time?"

"Whatever," 

We knock at the same time, my legs tapping on the concrete under me. I'm about to enter a criminal's home. Am I insane? Yeah, I think I established that a long time ago. 

The door opens to reveal a thin woman with black hair pulled back in a pony tail, green eyes, maybe Mexican or Spanish, carrying a boy, maybe four or five. 

"Can I help you, dear?" Her voice is kind, warm even, heavily accented though. Definitely Mexican. 

"Um...yeah...could we talk to you for a bit?" Ridge says, shuffling awkwardly. He doesn't know how to do this either. 

The woman looks confused but steps aside, "Of course, come in,"

"I'm Ridge Monroe and this is North Jacobs,"

The woman straightens. "Jacobs? Are you--"

"Do you know Kyle Jacobs?"

"Know him? He is a most horrid man, disgusting, a no good piece of scum--"

"Yeah, that's my dad," I nod in confirmation. The lady looks sheepish. "Oh, I am sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you,"

"No, it's fine, totally agree with you there, he's a dickwad," I nod in confirmation, shrugging. It stopped hurting a long time ago anyway. 

"Excuse me, but did you say Monroe as well? Son of Ezra Monroe, alpha?"

"You're um..." Ridge starts awkwardly.

"No, Lee was though, we are not mates in case you are wondering," This lady didn't mind sharing information, at all. 

"Oh, yeah, I'm his son, youngest actually,"

"Oh," she pauses, looking between us thoughtfully. "What an odd mating,"

How could it possibly be so obvious?

Seeming to answer my unspoken question the lady smiles. "His stance, he seems very protective, ready to take a bullet for you if the situation calls for it, do not worry youngest Monroe, one like me can cause no harm,"

Yeah right, Ridge taking a bullet for me, pigs would sooner fly. 

Seeming to agree with me Ridge shuffles away from me, stiffening. 

"Tea? Or perhaps coffee?" Mrs. McCafferty offers and we shake our heads. 

"We won't be staying very long, just some quick questions,"

"Concerning Lee, I presume,"

"Yeah actually,"

"Well then have a seat," 

We sit on the large floral sagging couch, shifting uncomfortably. 

"So...did Lee ever...discuss anyone...you know talk about anyone that influenced him to come into the house like that--you've heard of that...er...incident, right?" 

Mrs. McCafferty chuckles bitterly. "Yes, I have, please continue,"

"So yeah...did he ever mention who'd tell him to do something like that,"

"We were not mates, but Lee loved me very much, he wouldn't mention something like that to me since he knew it would put me in danger, and even he wanted to he couldn't have,"

I frown. "Why not?"

"Because...he did not know, Lee is mainly there to do the dirty work, they do not bother to tell him who the big people behind these things are, because they knew if he was caught he would say anything to get away...including confession of course, if it got him out alive,"

"Oh," That made sense.  "So he didn't know anything at all, Mrs. McCafferty?"

"Not that I know of, and please call me Eliza,"

Ridge clenches his jaw, this was useless. There was no way she would know who ordered her husband to do what he did. 

"Alright, well thanks, Eliza, anyway," 

She stands as we do. "Are you sure I can't get you anything?"

Ridge shakes his head. "Thanks, though, you're great,"

I start following Ridge to the door, but then stop, biting my lower lip, that sad look in Eliza's eyes haunting me. They weren't mates, but she definitely loves him. I turn back around. 

"You know, he can't be that bad, I mean if he loves you so much...then at least part of his heart is still right, I guess. And if you love him...he must have done something right," I say, shuffling awkwardly. This consoling thing this is new for me. 

Eliza smiles, eyes watering. "He's done terrible things, but...I just can't stop loving him,"

I nod and begin walking towards the door again. 

But not for my eyes lock on Ridge's confused frown.