Invisible Man (Completed ) ✅

♥ Seventeen ♥

For once, Jordan was sober, but he looked like death warmed over.  He was sprawled on his bed, flipping through a photo album. 

Jordan gently traced a picture of Lacey with his finger. 

He didn't look up.

"I thought I told you I didn't want to see you again, Joseph."

"I don't give a shit, J.  We need to talk."  He reached over and turned off the TV, then grabbed the photo album.  "I lied, Jordan."  Jordan slowly looked up.  His bloodshot eyes made Oriana  shudder.  Donnie put his arm around her.  "Nothing was happening between Lacey and me.  I made it all up."

A spark of life flickered in Jordan's eyes, the first in months.  "Go on."

"I knew you were out of town that night, and went over with a bottle of wine.  We had a small meal, and then I got her drunk.  I tried to seduce her, and she stopped me.  I followed her into the bedroom, and...well...I tried, and she refused, and then I grabbed her arm.  She lost her balance and fell into the mirror."  Joe uncomfortably stared at Jordan.  "I swear to you, J, I didn't throw her into it.  I did not mean for that to happen.  She pretended to relent, and then hit me with the soot shovel."  A faint smirk  crossed Jordan's face.  "When I came to, you were there.  She must have taken the money from my wallet and took off."  Joe placed his hand on Jordan's shoulder.  "That baby is yours, J, not mine.  She loves you."

"Then why did she run?  Where is she?"  Jordan asked sadly, sitting up.

"I don't know where she is, but she probably ran because I told her you would never believe her story about me attacking her, that you'd believe it was consensual.  I can never ask you to forgive me, J, but I can try to make it up by telling you the truth."  Joe stepped back , averting his eyes.

"I know where she is," Donnie said.  The two men  had forgotten that the Wahlbergs were even in the room.  They stared at Donnie.  "She's down on the coast .  She ran there that night, and made me promise not to tell you.  I didn't know she was pregnant, or anything that had happened.  I've been sending her money."  He handed Jon a piece of paper with an address on it.  "This is where I send it."

"Go get her, Jordan, please," Oriana  pleaded.  "If not for you, then for me.  I need her when I have my baby, and I want to be there when she has hers."

"She probably got rid of it by now," Jordan said glumly, but he stood and started for the bathroom.

"Jordan, pull yourself together, for fuck's sake!"  Joe screamed.  "She needs you, okay?  She's alone, and probably thinks you hate her.  Get a hold on yourself, quit feeling sorry for yourself and get the fuck to the coast, okay?"  Joe angrily stormed out of the house.

"Get him cleaned up," Oriana  told Donnie.  "I'll call the airport."  She left the room.

Jordan turned to Donnie.

"Is she always that bossy?"

                "You don't know the half," Donnie told him, leading him to the bathroom.

Jordan and Donnie came hurrying into the living room about twenty minutes later.  Donnie was carrying a large duffel bag.  Jordan was freshly  showered and shaved,  wearing khaki shorts and a light blue  polo shirt.  He stopped short and looked around his living room.

"God, this place is a pigsty!"  He exclaimed.  He looked at the couple.  "How in the hell did you guys put up with me?"

"It was rough, but you're worth it," Donnie told him, slapping him on the back.

"Here."  Oriana  handed Jon a slip of paper.  "This is your flight.  You have about thirty minutes to haul your ass to the airport."  She stood on tiptoe, as best she could, and kissed his cheek.  "My love to Lacey.  Bring her home, J."

"I'll do my best."  He grabbed his bag from Donnie and ran out the door.

Jordan  drove like a madman down the highway, cursing as he saw flashing lights in his rearview.  He pulled to the side of the road.

"Where's the fire, buddy?"  The policeman said, holding out his hand for Jon's registration and license.

"Officer, this might not seem like an emergency to you, but I need to get the airport.  The woman I love, the mother of my child, is in some small town on the coast , and I've got to go get her.  It's a long story, a soap opera, actually, but I have just a few minutes to catch my plane."

The police officer studied Jordan's face.  "Well, that's definitely the most interesting excuse I've had all night."  He returned to his cruiser, and pulled along side Jordan's car.  "Follow me."

The officer escorted Jordan right up to the airport exit.  Jordan flew down the exit ramp and parked in long-term parking.  He ran into the airport, and arrived at the ticket desk with five minutes to spare.