Spark in the Dark

Chapter 97

"Shit," Shawn said in distress. Juice pulled her into a hug.

"I know. But we'll find him, okay? We're hiring that mercenary and he will help us find him. We're going to get him back," Juice said as he tried to comfort her.

"I just wish I could help. I mean, there's absolutely nothing I can do."

"You're doing it right now. You're being here for me. It's been up to me, the bounty hunter we're working with, and now the mercenary we're about to hire to find him. You got to keep me sane until Abel's back, okay?"

Shawn sighed and rested her head against his chest. "What do you need me to do?"

"Well, for starters, when's the food coming? I wasn't kidding. I'm starving."

"It should be here soon. Hey, how did that party thing with the porn girls go, anyway?"

Juice winced. "Not that great. Opie got pissed and started a big fight."

"Because of Lyla?"

"Yeah. By the way, I have something to tell you, but you're not allowed to get mad," Juice said. Shawn narrowed her eyes. "You're already mad, aren't you?"

"Not mad. I am cautiously curious. I have no idea what you're about to say."

"So the party was with the Chinese. They were there the night we got you off Weston?" Juice reminded her and she nodded. "Well, the Cara Cara girls were all with the Asian guys, so all the Asian girl were..."

"Hitting on you guys?" Shawn said with a smirk.

"Yeah. You're not mad?"

"No. I know you didn't cheat on me."

"Oh. Okay, good."

"That's what you were worried about telling me?"

"Well, it's just this one girl spent most of the party hitting on me while sitting on my lap. And I figured I better tell you just in case Lyla did."

Shawn smiled broadened. "How was she sitting on your lap?"

"What do you mean?" Shawn put her hands on Juice's chest and shoved him down onto his couch. Juice laughed. "What are you doing?"

"You want me to keep you sane, right? This is me keeping you sane." Juice was smiling as Shawn straddled his lap. "Was she sitting on your lap like this?"

"No."

"Good," Shawn said and kissed him.

"Pretty sure you're not keeping me sane. I think you're actually driving me crazy," Juice said and dove back in for another kiss. Before they could get too far, there was knocking on Juice's door.

"Cock blocked by the delivery man," Juice said as Shawn stood from the couch. "It's like our first date all over again."

"You were not cock blocked by the delivery man on our first date."

"You and I remember our first date very differently."

Shawn answered the door and paid for the food. After she shut the door and turned back towards Juice she held up the bag in here hands.

"I am suddenly really regretting ordering Chinese food."

Juice smiled and they sat down to eat. They were only a bite or two in before Juice sighed.

"I shouldn't have let you pay for this."

"Why not?"

"You're not working right now," Juice pointed out.

"It's fine. I might have a job soon enough."

"Where at?"

"Uh, actually, Lyla told me about this guy at Kip's wake. He's a producer that just hired her. I guess he mentioned me to her."

"He wants to give you a job?"

"According to Lyla," Shawn nodded.

"If that's what you want to do," Juice told her. "It's not Caruso, right?"

"No. Lyla called him Dondo."

"Oh, okay," Juice said knowingly.

"What? Do you know him?"

"Not really," Juice said, suddenly acting awkward. Shawn raised her eyebrow at him. "He used to, you know... Act."

"You've watched his pornos before?" Shawn said, laughing.

"In high school!" Juice defended himself. "I wasn't exactly getting any back then. I had to improvise."

"Well, if I get the job and you ever come visit me at work, try to not check out my boss."

"I didn't watch for him. Plus, I'll be too busy checking you out."

"Missing my skimpy work clothes?"

"Little bit," Juice said with a smile. Shawn smiled back for a moment, then looked sad. "What's wrong?"

"Abel. He's gone and no one knows where he is or who's he with and we're sitting here enjoying ourselves. It feels wrong."

"Shawn, you've been through enough. You deserve a chance to catch your breath. Relax and let us take care of this," Juice said as he reached over to grab her hand.

"It would just be better if I felt like I was doing something to help. I know you said I can help you blow off steam or whatever, but I'm really not doing anything I don't normally do."

Juice didn't know what to tell her. He understood her feeling of uselessness. "Have you talked to Jax since it happened?"

"Not about Abel. I don't know what to say."

"Maybe start with him. He could probably use a friend right now. I know he doesn't talk to us the same way he talks to you."

Shawn nodded. "Yeah. Okay. I'll check on him tomorrow then."

Juice leaned over and kissed her temple. "You're a good person. I'm proud you're my old lady."