Invisible Man (Completed ) ✅

♥ Fifteen ♥

They lay contentedly, debating on whether to actually waste the energy on getting a shower.  They decided that Oriana  would run a hot bath in their large Jacuzzi-style tub while Donnie went down and got them something to snack on.

Donnie padded downstairs in a pair of silk boxers.  Whistling, he poured some ice tea and arranged some fruit and veggies on a tray.  As he was about to leave the kitchen, the phone rang.

"Donnie Wahlberg, father-to-be."

"Donnie," a voice rasped on the other end.  "Don't tell Oriana  it's me."

"Lacey?"  He sat the tray down, amazed at the sound of her voice.  He had never heard her like this before.  "Don't worry, she's upstairs.  What's wrong."

"You know your friend, the pilot?  Could he fly me wherever I wanted to go, no questions asked?"

"Lacey, what is..."

"Can he?"  She demanded.  "I don't have fucking time for this, Donnie."

"Sure.  I just need to call him."  Donnie frowned, worried about his wife's best friend.

"I also need money, and I can't access my accounts right now.  You know I'm good for it; is there any way..."

"Anything you need, honey.  Just let me know where to send it."  He paused.  "Does Jordan know..."

"Um, yes.  He knows I'm leaving.  Don't talk about it with him; it will only upset him."  Tears ran down her face as she lied.  "And don't tell Oriana , okay?  You know how she is, and I don't want to upset her in her condition."  She smiled through her tears, sorry she'd be missing the site of her slender friend fat and pregnant.  "Congratulations, by the way."

"Thanks, Lacey."  He listened to her instructions, and barely had time to say goodbye as she abruptly hung up.  He quickly called the airport and made the arrangements according to her orders.

He slowly made his way upstairs, carrying the tray of food.

"It's about time!"  Oriana  called from the bathroom.  "What took you so long?"

"A...friend needed some help, and I needed to call some people."

"Figures," she said, knowing how kind-hearted he was.  She sank into the bubbles, and he joined her, placing the tray nearby.  As she chatted on about the baby, he wondered how angry she'd be when she found out that he'd helped her best friend run away.

Jordan trotted up the steps to Lacey's apartment, patting the small box in his jacket pocket.  He couldn't wait to finally propose to her.  He had waited months to make sure that she was really happy with him, that she didn't regret that he wasn't Joe.  He'd then searched far and wide to find the perfect ring: a simple diamond with a blue topaz on each side.

He unlocked the door, and stared at the empty wine bottle and two glasses on the living room floor.  "Lacey?"  He called.  He smiled.  Oriana  had probably come over, and the two had gotten sloshed, and were passed out in the bedroom.  It wouldn't be the first time.

"Baby , you'd better be sober.  I have a great surprise for you!"  He wandered into the bedroom, and stopped short at what he saw.  Joe lay on the floor among pieces of glass.  Jon rushed over.

"Joe?"  He shook Joe gently, staring at the scratches on his face.  Joe  groaned as he slowly opened his eyes.

"J..." he mumbled, slowly sitting up.  He grabbed his head and groaned again.

"Are you okay?  Where's Lacey?"

"She's not here?"  Joe asked , thinking fast.  "Well, that's an interesting end to this evening," he remarked.

"What do you mean?"  Jordan  asked, fearing the worst.  "What happened here?  What's going on?"

Joe stared at him mournfully.  "I'm sorry, J.  You weren't supposed to be home..."

"NO!"  Jordan yelled, reeling back and sitting down on the bed.  He looked so miserable that Joe actually felt sorry for him.

"We were drinking wine, and then we moved in here, and, uh, the next thing I knew, someone hit me.  I may have left the door open, and someone must have come in."  Joe picked up his wallet.  He saw how empty it was.  "Looks like he stole my money, the prick.  You might want to check your valuables."

"Fuck my valuables.  The most valuable thing in my life is gone, and you screwed her."  A look of pure fear crossed his face.  "What if...what if the robber..."

"I don't think so, J."  He pointed to the open drawers.  "She knew you'd come home and find me, put two and two together, and now she's out of here."  He sat next to his bandmate on the bed.  "Get over her, J.  Believe me, I don't know what you saw in her.  She's not all that."

Jordan turned on him.  "And just HOW many times did you try her to find that out, Joseph?"

"Um, just a few times."  Joe looked away.

"I'd appreciate it if you left now, Joseph.  I need to call the police, and think about this."  Jordan swung his legs around the other side of the bed, and saw something on the floor.  He instantly recognized it as a pregnancy test.

"If you're gonna call the cops, I'd better stay.  Witnesses and all."

Jordan sighed morosely as he looked at the piece of plastic.  "No, it looks like a basic robbery, and nothing is probably missing, except your cash...and Lacey.  Just get out Joe . Fucking leave now .  I need to be alone."

"I am really sorry you came home to this," Joe said sincerely.  He hadn't realized how much in love his bandmate  was.

"Fuck you, Joe.  Get the fuck  out NOW .  I don't want to even hear your voice right now."  Jordan refused to look at him.  He heard Joe's footsteps leaving the room, and then he heard the front door slam.

It was then he allowed himself to pick up the pregnancy test, and he began to sob.  Was it really this way?  Had she really been fucking Joe, leading him on all this time?  Whose baby was it?  He put his head in his hands and cried.

At three in the morning, Oriana  was awakened by their doorbell.  She shook Donnie.

"Babe, get the door."

"Why me?"  He mumbled from under his pillow.

"Because I'm your pregnant wife."

"That excuse is NOT going to work for the next nine months," he told her.  But he pulled on his boxers and went down.  A few minutes later, she followed him anyway.

Donnie turned on the outside light and checked the peephole.  He quickly opened the door.  "Jordan?"

"Sorry it's so late..." he mumbled, reeking of alcohol.

"Come on in, man."  Donnie helped him in the door.  Oriana  stopped at the end of the hallway.

"Jordan, you didn't drive, did you?"

"Nope...walked...from the bar on the corner...guess my car will be gone by tomorrow," he joked, referring to the high crime in the area.

Donnie led Jon to the kitchen table while Oriana  made coffee.  "What is it, J?"  Donnie asked gently.  Jordan attempted to hold his emotions back

"Joe...my Lacey..." he sobbed.  The couple's eyes met over his head.  It was then that Donnie realized that Lacey had lied to him.  There was no way that she and Jordan had fought, and that he knew she was gone.

"What about them?"  Oriana  said quickly.

"I came home...a bottle of wine in the living room...Joe passed out in the bedroom, Lacey's gone...they...he said..." he pulled out the pregnancy test and placed it on the table.  "She's pregnant, but they've been screwing for a while.  I don't know whose it is."  He stared at the cup Oriana  placed in front of him.