Lasting Love

Jordan

Jim watched as Jordan downed yet another Heineken

"Hey kid I'm cuttin ya off "

Jordan felt his stomach churn and the room spin.

Fuck

He said he wasn't gonna do this shit . Not again. He should've called Jon He'd been his sponsor for years after Jordan started his recovery program

Drunkenly Jordan whipped his phone from his pocket while trying to maintain balance .

Jordan was fucked up . He had fucked up and he knew it .

Composing a text he prayed his brother would come pick his sorry ass up.

Jim forced him to sit down at a table with a bottle of water

"C'mon kid you know better than this shit .What's got you so tied up in knots?"

Jim always had a way to get Jordan to open up. Must be the whole idea that bartenders were better than therapists.

"I just found out I have another bouncing 6 foot baby boy who hates my guts "

Jim rubbed his chin with his forefinger and thumb , anyone who knew him knew this was his signature move when he was deep in contemplation looking for just the right advice .

"Wait Jordyn's kid is yours ain't he ?"

Jordan nodded taking another drink from the bottle of water.

"I thought so "

Just then the bar door swung open as the topic of their discussion sauntered in.

Jordan looked at his phone

Goddamnit he'd texted Jordy instead of Jon.

Fuck

And she sent their son . The last person who would want to do anything for his father

"Mom sent me to come retrieve your drunk ass since you sent a text to her . You're pathetic. Why didn't you bother your ex or one of your brothers . You could've left my mother alone.You did enough that's why her wrist is all fucked up "

Marcel's eyes were so dark if they looked like coal. Jordan could see the anger laced through them. He knew it was anger because his eyes reacted the very same way.

Marcel stared Jordan right in the eye ,not flinching

"I'm only doing this because my mother asked me to otherwise I'd leave your piece of shit drunken ass here. Let's fucking go Dad"

Jim assured Jordan his suv would be safe there until morning and that he'd have someone bring it to his place

He slumped into the passenger seat of Marcel's old beater , a car Jordan recognized as the one he'd bought for Jordy when she got her license.They'd spent a lot of time in that car.Driving for hours going nowhere but talking , laughing ,planning for the future he'd fucked up.

Marcel spouted off going on and on about how they'd been perfectly fine until Jordan showed up unwanted.

Pulling into the driveway of his mother's house Marcel turned to the man he despised.

"For some reason my mother is worried about you and insisted I bring you here instead of to your own house. "

Jordan looked at his son "I don't live far I'll walk home.You're right coming here would be a mistake."

He pushed open the door and got out .

Marcel was out of the car leaning on it's hood waiting to see what Jordan was going to do.

"It's gonna piss her off ya know .Not that you give a fuck all you know how to do is leave without explanation.

Jordan didn't know if it was his temper finally getting the best of him or the beer he'd consumed but the cocky look on Marcel's face royally pissed him off.On unsteady feet he waver but didn't miss his target .

The sound of palm hitting flesh echoed into the silence of the night.

"Motherfucker !"

Marcel roared as he sucker punched Jordan .

The commotion in the driveway startled Jordy out of the movie she was curled up in the recliner watching.Jumping up she ran to the sliding glass door off the dining room.By the time she got there she found her son stradling his father as he repeatedly punched at will landing blows to Jordan's face , sides and stomach.Jordan fought back but his senses seemed dull as his blows landed far from their target.

"Marc!! Stop it !!" Jordyn screamed but her son kept on,his knuckles covered in blood .

"Marcel Jordan GODDAMNIT I SAID FUCKING STOP IT !"

Marcel looked over as he heard his mother's tone

Panic , fear and anger permeated within it.

Marcel pushed himself up, wiped his hands on his jeans glaring down at his father

"Fuck you we don't need you. We never did ."

"Marc! Get in the fucking house !" Jordyn ordered

Jordan lay beside the car dazed . Everything spun as he attempted to sit up.

"I'll go in after he fucking leaves."

"Marcel go call 911 NOW "

Jordan's voice was raspy "No . No ambulance I'm good "

Gaining some of his equilibrium Jordan pushed himself to a standing position.He wavered as he stood but balanced himself quickly.

Jordyn gasped when she saw his face . Jordan's left eye was swollen shut, he had a gash above the eyebrow of the left eye that seemed determined to keep bleeding.His bottom lip was swelling rapidly and bleeding .

Jordan brushed off her concern"I'm fine .I'll see you around Jordy " he told her as he looked back at their son ,shook his head in disbelief and walked down the street toward his own.