Returning Hearts

Chapter 22: Work Party

Jackson is pacing the floor as he looks at his watch. Carter has been in bed for over two hours and he had expected August to return by nine at the latest but it is now almost eleven. He finally hears talking outside causing him to walk over to the window. He sees Cade and August approaching the front door holding hands and talking. Jackson feels his chest tighten as Cade begins to kiss August's lips. He closes his eyes painfully wishing he had never looked out of the window as he moves over to the couch to pretend he wasn't spying on them.

August quietly comes in the door as Jackson puts a book down on the coffee table he was pretending to read. "Hey." He tries to act calm and uncaring rising from the couch.

"Hi. Sorry I am getting home so late."

"No. It is fine. Carter was good. I gave him a bath and had him in bed by eight."

"Thank you for watching him."

"Anytime." He wants to ask about her date but he refrains as he puts his coat on.

"Oh. We are going out again next weekend if you want to watch him then too?"

Jackson feels pain thinking about her going back out with Cade but he forces his thoughts away. "Sure. Which night?"

"Sunday night? That way you can have Saturday night with Isabelle."

"Okay."

"Speaking of next Sunday, it is Easter. We are going to have a little get together at lunch and let Carter hunt some eggs. Since we are friends again, I would love it if you could come for Carter."

"I wouldn't miss it."

"Isabelle is welcome to come also. And I will warn you, Cade will be here too."

He nods his head as he opens the door. "Okay. Goodnight."

"Have a good night."

He fights his feelings for her closing the door behind him.

Jackson begins to feel like a family as he and Dolly spend the evenings through the week with August and Carter. They have dinner together and give Carter a bath almost every night all the while Jackson unknowingly begins to feel differently towards August.

Saturday night, he arrives at Isabelle's apartment to pick her up for their date. Isabelle opens the door dressed in a business suit. "Hi."

He feels inadequately dressed in his jeans. "Hi."

"I have a business party tonight at work. I was afraid if I had told you sooner you would have backed out on me. Do you mind to go?"

Jackson feels slightly annoyed that he is being ambushed. "I am not dressed for that."

"Oh, that is okay. We have to drive right by your place anyway and you can change." Isabelle moves towards his car leaving Jackson feeling stunned and motionless for a moment on her porch.

He reluctantly begins to follow her to his car and then drives to his apartment. He quickly changes and they are on their way to Isabelle's work. Jackson tries to suppress his feelings of being annoyed and uncomfortable as they enter the large glass doors of her work building. The entrance is filled with display screens running basketball game replays. The smell of alcohol circulates the room as he feels overwhelmed by all the coworkers Isabelle is introducing him to. "This is Jackson."

"Hi Jackson. You look like you need a drink." A husky man in a suit slaps him hard on the back. "The bar is this way." He starts toward the bar but Jackson turns back to find Isabelle and notices she is talking to a group of men already with her back to him. He follows the stranger toward the bar and sits next to him on a stool. "I am Slay by the way."