Ever After

Chapter 21: The Girl From The Bar

I wake up to a lite sheet being pulled over me. I groan softly. "I didn't mean to wake you..." He whispers and I look down on the floor at the pillow and blanket. "You weren't sleeping here?" I say groggily. "Um no. I assumed you wouldn't have wanted me too." I nod softly. He picks his things up heading for the door but stopping.

"Teagan I'm sorry...I know that doesn't fix it but I want you to know that I didn't mean what I said. I love you." He steps off when I don't reply and eventually I get up. I change into a pair of shorts and a t-shirt before heading downstairs. I see him laying softly on the couch watching tv. I take a breath stepping off the last step. "Jackie..." He looks up at me. "I've been sleeping next to you for six years and I just can't sleep without you next to me. This is far from being over but will you please come to bed?" He turns the tv off nodding with a frown.

I know he's sad because he can't take back what he said but those words shattered me. They just hurt so bad. When we get to the bedroom I fall down into my spot and he falls into his. I scoot back some until my back is pressed to his. I cuddle up to my pillow and close my eyes. My phone lights up and I see it's a text from Jess. I click on it seeing the link with the text asking if I knew.

I click on the link and its an article about Jackson. At the top is a picture of him in a bar with a beautiful women next to him and he's smiling at her. He's genuinely smiling. "Get out of my bed..." I whisper and Jackson doesn't move. "Get out!" I yell and he jumps up. "Teagan wh..." I stand ripping the sheets from us. "Get the hell out of my bed and get the hell away from me!" He stands. "Baby what happened?" I throw my phone at him. "That happened! Don't you remember?!" He looks at the picture. "Teagan..." I sob softly. "No Jackson you have broken my heart for the last time!" There's a pause. "You looked at me like that..." I say before sobbing.

"Let me explain..." I shake my head. "I'd rather not hear it." He huffs. "Teagan I wasn't flirting with her and I sure as hell didn't sleep with her. Did you even read the article?" I shake my head. "Teagan I was smiling at her because she offered to be my new contractor for building my branch." I huff. "Yeah okay but what the hell were you doing in that bar anyways?!" He huffs. "I don't know Teagan. I was upset and I needed to clear my head. I had messed everything up. My job...my family....but than Luciana found me and she recognized me. She brought me great news when I told her my story."

I huff. "Even if this were true who in there right minds would let their fiancée work with someone who they look at like that?" He huffs. "Teagan why can't you trust me?!" I huff. "You just told me you would find another girl and when you do you expect me not to think crazy things?! Jackie I'm sorry but maybe..." He steps closer. "Don't you say it...."

I huff. "Maybe this...us...maybe it...." He kisses me. "Don't Teagan please don't. I've said some messed up things and I've hurt you with my words in ways I've never meant to but baby I love you and I can't do this without you. Don't say it was a waste. Don't say I was a waste. Please...don't leave." He says and I can see the tears as he clings to me. "Please baby I'd give up everything for you." I cling to him as he sobs into my shoulder. "Prove this to me Jackson. Prove to me that she is who you say she is and understand that no one comes before me." He pulls his phone from his pocket. He presses the phone to his ear. "Luciana I'm sorry to bother you but I assume the tabloids cut us in the bar together and it's gotten me into some trouble. Do you mind talking to my wife? I want you to tell her the truth. The absolute truth." He nods before handing me the phone. "Hello?"

"Hi you must be Teagan. Jackie talked lots about you. What did you want to know?" I huff looking up at him. "Non volevo essere scortese, ma sei andata a letto con lui? Ti ha comunque flirtato con te?" (I don't mean to be rude but did you sleep with him? Did he flirt with you in anyway?) She laughs softly. "No, no. Egli in realtà appena parlato di te per tutto il tempo e ho pensato a me stesso che cosa è un uomo che è così orgoglioso e felice con quello che ha fatto seduto in un bar così triste. Questo è quando abbiamo parlato di ciò che lo ha portato lì." (No no. He actually just talked about you the whole time and I thought to myself what is a man who is so proud and happy with what he has doing sitting in a bar so sad. That's when we talked about what brought him there.)

I nod. "Are you really his new contractor?" She hums. "Hopefully. I am trying to put together my team to offer them the job but more than likely yes. We will just have to see. Unfortunately I have to go. I hope I answered your questions." She hangs up and I hand him his phone.

"So..." I huff. "You passed but I'm not letting my guard down on this and I'm gonna go climb in bed with Emma. I don't know how comfortable I feel anymore Jackie but I'll always love you." I turn and he huffs as I leave. I head into Emma's room shaking her softly. "Mommy?" I smile. "Hey sweetie. I'm just gonna lay right her next to you tonight alright." She hums. "Okay mommy." I climb in and she clings to me before dozing back off and I'm not far behind her.

Enjoy!