Strings (1 of 2)

Chapter 31 - Her Call

[Dean's POV]

I sit at my kitchen table in jeans and a dark green t-shirt scrolling through the emails that have piled up over my week of mostly meetings. Ava lays across the couch a few feet away watching some reality show I've never heard of while she laughs at something on her phone.

I groan as I read some missed emails from my lawyers about issues with my company's latest merger with BCI. That's probably why my assistant kept telling me to call them back.

For a Thursday night, I guess this isn't that bad. But it feels off. Like I'm already an old and miserable man, swamped by work with no social life. My friends are all out drinking right now, laughing and carrying on without me. 

I don't regret or dislike being successful and busy, it provides for me well - for us well now. Somedays, though, I would rather be acting like one of my idiot friends and not have to worry about mergers and acquisitions and employees and all my other issues.

As I begrudgingly click another email that looks important, my phone starts buzzing on the table beside my elbow. I flip it over to see who's calling.

Jade?

She never calls. Well, not anymore.

I answer the call and step into the kitchen, out of Ava's earshot.

"Hello?" I say and all I can hear is blaring rap music on the other end. Maybe she butt-dialed me?

"Jade?" I try again to be sure.

"Dean," I hear her voice distantly.

"I can't hear you. Can you move away from the music?" I ask loudly, probably too loudly with Ava in the next room.

I keep an eye on the kitchen door as I listen to the music get a bit lower gradually.

"Dean." I hear Jade more clearly say again. "Dude, I hate to ask this but I need you." She says and my eyebrows shoot up, peaking my interest.

This has never happened before... we normally only really talk around Emily... years ago.

"What's wrong?" I ask, concerned. Something must be really wrong for her to call.

"I didn't know who else to call..." she trails off and I grow more worried.

"It's fine. Just tell me what's happening." I demand more urgently.

"It's Emily." She says quietly and my heart flips in my chest. What could be wrong with Emily? Is she hurt? Please god let her not be hurt...

"Jade. Tell me!"

"I don't know what's happening... she must be on something. She's not herself... taking shots... grinding on random guys... falling over... she's more than drunk, I've seen this before." She starts to explain and I pace frantically around the kitchen, tugging at my hair. 

"I didn't see her take it or who she got it from. Fuck... I should have paid attention. I know her history..." Her voice is worried and it makes me panicked. I have never heard her like this before.

"Where are you?" I cut her off.

She doesn't seem to hear me. "Look, I don't know who else to ask. She can't go home to her parents like this. I can't bring her home to mine. I need help. She won't leave with me... I don't want her to go home with some random while she is drugged out of her mind."

I waste no time in replying. I don't need to think about it. "I'll come. Tell me where you are. What club?"

She gives me the name and thankfully I know it. It isn't far from here.

"I'll be there in 15. Keep her close to you." I say sternly. I really want to say to keep her away from every man there... but I won't.

She thanks me and hangs up, hopefully going back to join Em.

I stand still for a second in the middle of the kitchen as my thoughts race. Irun my hands down my face, rubbing my eyes.

Fucking hell! She told me she wouldn't do this anymore.

I've seen her like this before, I know how to handle her when she is on shit. After Matt died, she couldn't cope. Sleeping with me was one way to deal. Another was partying. I didn't agree - or like it - but at least I was there with her to keep her safe, not showing up when she is about to come down from the high surrounded by strangers who just want to fuck her.

Bile rises in my throat thinking about some guy's hands on her hips, dancing with her, touching her skin. I need to get there before something happens.

We agreed she wouldn't do this again. She promised me she wouldn't take pills from strangers in the bathroom anymore. Not after last time...

I shudder remembering that night and try to force it out of my head as I walk back in the living room and grab my coat off the back of the chair.

Something bad must have happened for her to go back on that. I don't think she has broken her promise before, even through her extensive partying phase. I could tell in the magazine photos she was always drunk. Not high. I can tell the difference in her eyes.

"Where are you going?" Ava asks as she peaks up from the couch. Shit, I forgot she was here.

"I have to go to the office for a bit." I say without any better lie on mind right now. I don't know how to ask her to leave. I know I shouldn't ask the mother of my child to leave, but priorities. She can't be here when I bring Em back to sleep it off.

"Oh, ok. Stacy was asking me to come over anyways." She shrugs and I smile, relieved.

"Cool. Wanna head out now then and I'll lock up behind us?" I try to ask as calmly as possible despite the frantic heart beat in my chest pushing me to leave as soon as possible.

She nods and clicks the tv off and gets up, grabbing her coat off the back of the couch.

We both reach the door and slip on our shoes before I open the door for her to walk out. I shut it behind us and rush to lock it.

"Dinner tomorrow after you're done work?" She asks, turning towards me with hopeful eyes, making the guilt in my chest grow.

"Sure." I smile and kiss her quickly.

She grins and walks off toward her car. I stand there, watching her, for a second longer.

I don't want to lie to the mother of my child, but there is no way I can tell her the truth and make it on time to help Emily. I'll have to keep this small lie to myself. 

It's not cheating. I'm being Em's friend, helping her when she needs it. I can't not help her, she's my oldest friend. I'm not doing anything wrong, I tell myself, despite the gnawing feeling on my chest saying different.

Once she drives away, I hop into my Audi and grip the steering wheel tightly as I slam on the gas, eager to get there quickly.

Right or wrong, I'm going to that bar to get her.

Author's Note:

4 chapters later... I'm done! I thought this would be a better chapter to leave it on tonight, more of a cliffhanger ;)

Thanks for reading! 

I love writing from Dean's perspective :) This might be the last time in the book, but never say never!

Please vote, comment, and share!

Stay tuned for Ch 32 coming in a few days, hopefully by Sunday, when Dean arrives at the bar!