Saving Jay, page 2
part #3 of Breaking Free Series
The time away from home had given me some perspective, but I’d continued to self-destruct. Partying and sex had been the easiest ways for me to numb the absence of the substance I needed. Somehow, I’d still managed to earn good grades, and I’d graduated near the top of my class. Despite it all, I’d still had potential.
When I’d returned to Virginia, I rarely saw or spoke to my parents. I’d opened my club, Red, and slowly tried to create a life I could be proud of, one I could stand to look at.
About two years ago, I’d thought my success had opened my father’s eyes. Maybe he’d finally deemed me worthy of his love. So, when he’d offered me the position of CEO in his corporation, Clarke Industries, I’d been shocked and honored when I should have been skeptical. Years of trying to recover from his absence had been wiped away with one opportunity to prove he was wrong about me. I’d abandoned all my defenses for the chance of becoming the son my father had always wanted.
That had been a mistake.
It wasn’t until my father had been diagnosed with ALS nine months ago that my family had slowly begun to reunite. It was ironic how the threat of death could encourage you to live the life you wanted.
“How was your date with Leslie, dear? She was lovely, wasn’t she? Such a looker, that girl. Did you know her father is a very successful surgeon? He’s also one of your dad’s golfing buddies.”
I was in my Mercedes, driving down the highway, while my mother’s voice came out of the speakers. This had become a new ritual for us. After each blind date, she would call me to see how it had gone.
My mom and I had never really been close. As I’d gotten older, she’d tried to make things right between us, but I knew where her alliances lay. She’d made that perfectly clear from the beginning. She always followed my father’s lead, no questions asked. I wasn’t sure if it was devotion or fear that kept her by his side. Either way, I saw her blind submission as weakness, and she’d lost my respect. My father had stayed busy making money while she’d tried to reassemble our crumbling family with superficial glue, painting over the cracks as if we’d never been broken.
“Yes, I know, Mom.”
“So? Did you ask her out again? I hope you were a gentleman.”
I sighed as I prepared to disappoint her.
“No, I didn’t ask her out. She’s just not the type of woman I’m looking for.”
My mother was always trying to set me up, and although all my dates so far had been horrible, I’d found it hard to tell her no. Since we’d found out about my father’s diagnosis, I’d realized that no matter how many mistakes she might have made in the past, she was still my mother, and I loved her. The news was shocking, but I wasn’t sure if she’d really come to terms with it yet. I wasn’t sure any of us had. Suddenly, there was an expiration date on my father’s life, a constant reminder that our time together was limited.
I thought she was more concerned that he would never meet his grandchildren. I didn’t have the heart to tell her that children weren’t likely to come. I’d watched so many people settle for a life they had been pressured into, and I refused to become one of them.
She huffed into the phone. “Jason Andrew Clarke, what do I need to do? These women are beautiful, they’re smart, and they come from good families. What else do you want?”
“I don’t know. Maybe some personality? Maybe someone who can actually have a stimulating conversation? Perhaps someone who’s done more with her life than spend her daddy’s money?”
“Not all women are fit for the type of life we lead, son. It’s better to commit to someone who can relate to you, someone who knows how to conduct herself…properly.”
“You mean someone who comes from money.”
“No, I—”
“Mom, I know you’re just trying to help, but have you ever thought that maybe this just needs to happen naturally? Maybe, just maybe, if I’m meant to be with someone, I’ll meet her on my own.”
She scoffed, “Oh, please. If I left it up to you, I’d never see you get married and have my grandbabies.”
I shook my head and rolled my eyes toward the sky. “Mom.”
“Don’t worry about it, son. You enjoy your lunch date. I’m sure this next one will have a wonderful personality.”
There was no point in arguing. I was already on my way there. “Bye, Mom.”
“Good-bye, Jason.”
I held my thumb over the disconnect button, waiting to hear her hang up, when she said, “I love you.”
I felt an ache in my chest at her words. My mother rarely told me she loved me, but now, she would say it every time we spoke. I supposed this was her way of trying to make up for all the times she hadn’t said it, but it would only remind me of why she was saying it in the first place—because he was dying.
“I know, Mom. I love you, too.”
Even if she had been a pain in my ass, I’d spoken to my mom more in the past few months than I had in years, and it’d felt good.
I hadn’t known much about ALS before my father was diagnosed, but I’d learned that the disease affected the nerves in the brain and spinal cord. Some patients would live years after being diagnosed even though those years were usually spent slowly deteriorating. Patients would begin to lose muscle control, speech, and even the ability to swallow. My father was always a very proud man, and I was worried how he would handle things once his disease progressed. All I knew was, I wanted to be there for him and maybe build the relationship that I’d always wished we had.
It was Friday morning, and I’d left work early to stop by the tattoo parlor before going on another blind date. I’d been talking with my tattoo artist, Neil, about a back piece for a while now, and I’d finally decided I was ready to get it. I wanted to stop by to let him know and go over our ideas.
When I pulled up to the brick building across from the mall, I was surprised his truck wasn’t there. Instead, there was a bright blue Camaro in its place. Climbing out of my car, I made my way across the parking lot toward the front door. The sign said Closed, but I decided to knock anyway.
A few seconds later, I watched through the glass door as a woman I didn’t recognize walked out of the back room and approached, suspiciously eyeing me. She had long black hair that flowed down one of her shoulders, but the sides of her head were shaved, creating an edgy style. When her eyes met mine, I couldn’t look away.
“We’re closed,” she said, looking up at me from the other side of the door.
“Where’s Neil?”
She was uniquely beautiful with high cheekbones, flawless bronze skin, perfectly shaped pouty lips, and hazel eyes. She watched me for a few more seconds before unlocking the door and opening it.
“You didn’t hear?” She left the door open as she went to get something from the front desk.
I stepped inside the shop and looked around. Everything was different.
She handed me a card with Neil’s name and an address in Chicago. “He moved a few weeks ago. Sold the shop to me. Is there anything I can help you with?” she asked, moving to lean against the front of the desk.
It was impossible not to notice how attractive she was. She was wearing a pair of tight jeans that helped accentuate her long legs and an old Misfits T-shirt that was cut so that the collar was hanging off one of her slender shoulders. Her arms were covered in tattoos, and so were the tops of her feet that were peeking out between her jeans and her bright blue heels. I made sure to look her in the eyes before responding to her question although I was sure she hadn’t missed the fact that I’d checked her out. When our gazes met, she gave me a small smirk, but she didn’t seem fazed. I was sure she was used to it.
“Neil was supposed to do a back piece for me.”
Her eyes lit up, and a smile curled her lips. “What are you getting?”
I shrugged and scratched the back of my head. I felt a little uneasy about sharing my idea with her since it was so personal. “I don’t know all the details yet. I just have an idea. I wanted to see if he could draw something up.”
“I’m Jade, by the way. My friends call me J,” she said, grinning and extending her hand for me to shake.
I smiled as I took her small hand in mine and met her gaze. “Nice to meet you, Jade. I’m Jason. My friends call me Jay, too.”
I expected her to laugh at our similar nicknames.
Instead, she just stared at me before saying, “Wow. When you smile, it’s like…” She started making noises resembling an explosion and gestures with her free hand.
Now, I was the one laughing.
She wasn’t hitting on me. Things didn’t feel awkward at all. She was just making an observation and felt confident enough to tell me what she thought.
“So, Jay,” she said, smirking, as she scooted back to sit on the edge of the desk, “you wanna see some of my work? I know you wanted Neil to do your back piece, but he’s not here, and I am. I have a portfolio on my website if you’d like to check it out.”
Reaching behind her, she pulled another card out of a holder and held it out to me.
JADE HOLLIDAY
EXPRESSIONS TATTOO
757-435-9876
WWW.JADEHOLLIDAY.COM
“I will. Thanks.” I slipped the card into my back pocket.
Lifting one of her shoulders, she let it drop before standing up. I guessed she was hoping I’d make a decision now, but I wanted some time to think it over first. This back piece would be a big job, and there was no way I would let just anyone do it.
“Well, it was nice meeting you, Jay. I’m booked for the next three months, so if you decide to make an appointment, I suggest doing it sooner rather than later.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Our gazes locked for a few seconds before I smiled again, and she did, too.
There was definitely something in those eyes that I wanted to explore. Jade carried herself with an ease of confidence, and she seemed fun and lighthearted, but when she’d first looked at me, I’d caught a glimpse of someone more guarded, someone a lot like me.
I considered asking her out, but just as the thought crossed my mind, we heard a loud bang come from the back of the shop.
A guy yelled, “It’s cool! Nothing broke! I’m good!”
Jade turned to look, distracted by the commotion, and I decided it was time to go. I told her I’d be in touch before making my way back outside.
A three-month waiting list was pretty impressive, especially since she’d just taken over the shop. I definitely wouldn’t mind spending a few months getting inked by her.
I grinned as I imagined my mother’s reaction if I were to bring Jade home. My mom didn’t like tattoos at all. She’d nearly lost her shit when I came home from college with my first one. Over the past two years, I’d added more to my right arm. It was now covered, and soon, my back would be, too.
Sitting down in my car, I paused to look back at the shop, and I saw a man with a Mohawk walking toward Jade. She laughed at something he said, and just as I was about to look away, her eyes met mine again. She gave me a warm smile, and I grinned back before driving away.
Jade
Damn, that man is sexy.
I watched as Jay drove off in his black Mercedes, and I couldn’t help but hope that he’d come back.
At first glance, I’d thought he was lost. Dressed in slacks and a perfectly pressed shirt, he hadn’t looked like my usual clients. It wasn’t until I’d taken a closer look that I noticed his right arm, under his rolled-up sleeve, was covered in ink.
He was devastatingly handsome with piercing blue eyes that squinted in an endearing way when he smiled. His nose was perfectly straight, and his lips were full and inviting, especially when he’d licked the bottom one. His body looked amazing, too, but that wasn’t it. I’d seen and tattooed a lot of hot guys, so those things alone weren’t enough to pique my interest.
There was something about Jay that had intrigued me. In just those few minutes, I’d forgotten that I was pathetic and brokenhearted. I’d actually flirted with him. I’d felt a little spark of excitement in my gut when his hand touched mine, and I wanted to know why.
Jay
After leaving the tattoo parlor, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I’d missed an opportunity. Jade was beautiful, and her tattooed body had instantly caught my attention. I’d always had a thing for tattoos, and the fact that she was an artist only heightened my interest. There was something about the rebelliousness and individuality that I found incredibly sexy.
I was driving toward the country club for my next blind date. This time, I’d asked my mother to arrange a lunch. Candlelight dinners put too much pressure on an already awkward situation. Going on a date with someone I’d never met was weird enough. I was dressed in a pair of gray slacks and a plain white dress shirt that I had tucked into them. I had the sleeves rolled up to my elbows, exposing the tattoos on my arm. I wanted this to be casual. I was growing tired of the uncomfortable first dates where the woman and I had both wasted time getting overdressed just to discover nothing was going to happen.
After dropping my Mercedes off with the valet, I made my way inside and ran into my friend John as he was leaving.
“Jay. Hey, man. How have you been?” he asked as he extended his hand out to meet mine.
John was a lawyer, and my father’s company, Clarke Industries, was one of his biggest clients. He and I had become friends when I had worked there. He was a good guy—honest and hard-working. John also reminded me of my ex, Asia, since he was married to her best friend.
“I’ve been good. Busy. How are things with you and Hailey?”
John’s smile gave him away before he replied, “She’s pregnant.”
My eyes widened, and he chuckled as I shook his hand again, a little harder this time.
“Congrats, John. Wow. You’re going to be a dad, huh?”
He nodded with a look of pride in his eyes that I’d never seen in them before. “Yeah. I’m lucky, man. What can I say?”
Resting my hands on my hips, I smiled at my friend. “Well, you deserve it. You’ll have to let me take you out for a drink sometime, so we can celebrate.”
“Absolutely. I’d like that. Please say hello to your father for me. If your family needs anything…”
I nodded. “Thanks, John.”
Smacking him on the shoulder, I gave it a quick squeeze. “I’ll be in touch so we can have that drink.”
We said our good-byes before I watched him leave. I was happy for John and Hailey. They were good people who deserved the life they had together.
Taking a deep breath, I ran my hand through my hair and made my way toward the dining area.
Here we go.
Thirty minutes later, I was starting my second drink, and my date was still talking. I could tell she was nervous, and I wanted to assure her that she could relax, but I couldn’t get a word in.
“So then, I tried the recipe without onions because my sister hates onions, but it was awful. Who knew onions could make such a big difference? Anyway, it got me thinking about cooking and possibly going to culinary school. But I’m not sure I’m good enough yet. Maybe I’ll just take a few cooking classes first.”
I lifted my glass of beer to take another sip, and she seemed to finally realize how much she’d been monopolizing the conversation.
She smiled and covered her red cheeks with her hands. “Oh my god. I’m so sorry. I’ve been talking nonstop, haven’t I?”
I grinned and put my glass back down.
When I opened my mouth to respond, she continued, “I’m horrible at this. My mother has been sending me on all kinds of dates because, apparently, being twenty-seven with no husband is a curse. She thinks I’ll become a sad old maid who hoards cats in her apartment. I mean, since when is being single a crime, you know?”
She paused to take a drink, and I almost got the chance to speak that time, but I was still too slow.
“I mean it’s two thousand fifteen. Times have changed. Am I right?”
I didn’t bother with trying to answer. I just watched as our waiter placed our lunches down on the table, and I started eating as she continued talking and talking and talking.
Jade
Social Distortion was playing on the shop’s sound system, and I was shading in a red rose, part of a memorial piece for my client. He’d come all the way from Washington State to get this tattoo. I’d acquired a pretty large following after my apprenticeship with David Bryson. I was eighteen and a freshman in college when he’d agreed to teach me, and I’d dropped out of school to move to Boston. Chasing my dream and becoming an artist had been one of the hardest and most rewarding decisions of my life.
Last year, MTV had offered David his own reality show and a shitload of money to do it. He’d agreed to do one season. As much as he’d hated the idea of selling out, it would have been almost insane to turn down their offer. Not only were they paying him to do the show, but he was also getting the largest platform to showcase his art.
I, on the other hand, hadn’t felt comfortable with being filmed, and on top of my problems with Damon, it had become just another reason for me to leave. So, after being on the show for a few weeks, I’d decided it was time to go out on my own.
The first episodes had aired just last month, and it was hard getting used to the extra attention I had been getting. All of a sudden, everyone thought they knew me when they didn’t. The response I had been getting on social media was so disturbing that I’d closed all my accounts and tried to keep what little privacy I had left. It was crazy how alone I’d felt once everyone wanted a part of me.
Jay was the first person I’d met in a while who hadn’t already known who I was, and I liked that about him.
“I’m going to Chipotle! You want somethin’?” Dustin yelled from down the hallway.
My client and I were in the back room while Jackson and Trix were tattooing at their stations in the front of the shop. I’d met both of them while living in Boston, and they’d agreed to move to Virginia to help me get my shop off the ground. They were like big brothers to me. While Jackson was older and wiser, Trix was crazy and protective, and I loved them both.
