Royal Pain in the Ass, page 23
Xavier shook his head. “No, I’m quite alright.”
“Then I think I should tell you, the movie is that way, dude. You’re missing it.”
“That’s alright.”
“No, it’s definitely not alright. It’s Casablanca. Missing it is not alright. Watch the movie, mister.”
Xavier let out a small laugh but turned back to the movie. “It’s cute how into this you are.”
“Shut up at watch.”
Xavier continued to tease me throughout the movie. We were at the part where Rick is telling Ilsa to get on that plane or else she would regret it when Xavier burst out laughing. I was gaping at him as Rick’s famous speech came up before Ilsa leaves with Victor.
“How are you laughing?”
“Because it’s ridiculous.” Xavier laughed.
“You are ridiculous. Casablanca is pure cinematic gold.”
“You need your rest. You are delirious.” Xavier smiled as he crawled out of bed. Xavier kissed my forehead. “Good night, Juliet. Sweet dreams.”
“Get back here and enjoy Casablanca!” I shouted as he closed the door.
Eventually I got comfortable and snuggled up with Loki and managed to fall asleep. I was awoken to a fit of laughter and Xavier growling to ‘get off of that bed this instant’ and Amanda’s mom tone. I knew who was jumping on my bed.
“Auntie Juliet! Wake up! We should play!” I looked into an adorable pair of hazel eyes and fuzzy hair that was currently cut into a mohawk.
“Good morning, Maverick.” I smiled up at him.
“Maverick, I said to get over here this instant.” Amanda warned. Maverick pouted and Amanda’s eyes narrowed. “Mommy said now.”
Maverick burst into tears. “I just missed Aunt Juliet! I just wanted to play!” he cried as he ran over to Amanda and cried into her jeans. She sighed and gave me a look I knew too well.
“That’s sweet, and all, but when Mommy says something you have to listen.” Amanda soothed as she knelt down. “Look at me.” Maverick did. “Right now, Aunt Juliet has a few booboos and we need to be careful with her. She has a few owies, and we don’t want them to get worse, do we?” Maverick shook his head. “I didn’t think so. Now, if you want to and she’s feeling up to it, you can play in a little while. Until then, I think we should go make her breakfast.” Maverick’s face lit up like a Christmas tree.
“Aunt Juliet, do you want chocolate chip pancakes or French toast?”
“Whatever your little heart desires.” I smiled at him.
“YES! CHOCOLATE CHIP PANCAKES!” Maverick practically sang. “Come on, Mommy!” he grabbed her hand and dragged her out of my room. I couldn’t help but smile.
“How are you feeling today?” Xavier asked. “He didn’t hurt you when he jumped on you, did he?”
“No, Maverick is fine. He just hasn’t really gotten to see me much since I’ve been back.”
“I just don’t want to see you hurt.”
“Xavier, I’m not made of glass.”
Xavier let out an exasperated sigh. “Juliet, you will never understand, will you? Forget it.” He huffed and left the room. I was staring at the closed door a few moments when Amanda walked in.
“Hello gorgeous.” She smiled and plopped herself on my bed. “I’ve missed you. How are your ribs?”
“Well enough.” I smiled back and pulled her into a hug. “God, I’ve fucking missed you!”
She squeezed me back and the pain didn’t even phase me. I missed this girl. She may as well have been my sister. “Me too! It’s been crazy without you!” Amanda held me at an arm’s length and gave my arm a gentle slap. “A phone call doesn’t hurt every now and then. I never did get to yell at you like I should have for the way you left.”
My grin widened. “Too true, I’m pretty sure I’m due for a punch from the pacifist by now.”
Amanda sighed. “Too bad for you I’m a Buddhist now.” She smiled. We caught up, chatted and laughed. I loved that it felt like only an hour had passed since I’d last hung out with Amanda. I found out she almost had her master’s degree in anthropology and she was still working as a nurse for now. Amanda was a gypsy at heart and we both knew it. Everything seemed normal again until Amanda went quiet for a moment.
“What is it?”
“Chase made bail today.”
“What?”
“Yeah, he showed up at my parents house.”
“Are you guys - ”
“We’re all fine. I’m still worried, he’s not well. His father agreed to bail him out so long as he goes through rehab. But, it’s Chase.”
I nodded. “What all did he say?”
“He really wants you back. Apparently, since you ended things with him, he’s been in a downward spiral.”
I nodded. It broke my heart to hear it, but didn’t really surprise me either. Chase had been my first love, hell, he’d been a lot of firsts for me. The Chase he used to be would always have a special place in my heart. That wasn’t the Chase he still was today.
“I don’t care how guilty you feel, if you ever go back to that sorry sack of shit, I will personally kick your ass, Buddhist or not.” Amanda teased, with that serious undertone. “I just thought you had a right to know. Stuffy McI’mBetterThanYouPants doesn’t want you to know. He doesn’t want you upset, but I know you better than he does. You’d be pissed if I kept this from you, so I’m telling you.” I nodded. She was right. If she had kept this from me I would be pissed, in fact I was a little upset Xavier wanted to keep it from me. “I’m pretty sure he has the best of intentions, but they pave the road to hell with those. How are you feeling about this?”
I shrugged. “Chase is Chase. He’s definitely not the guy I used to love, he stopped being him about sophomore year I think, to be honest. I’m worried about him, sure, but I can’t have people like him in my life anymore.”
Amanda nodded. “Sounds like you’re thinking clearly, then -”
“AUNTIE JULIET!” Maverick slammed the door open and he had a plate in his hands. It was a chocolate chip pancake with egg and bacon on it in the shape of a smiley face. “I HAVE BREAKFAST FOR YOU! And I made it myself.” He beamed. Xavier was trailing behind him and made a small cough and Maverick sighed. “Well, he helped a little.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Well, you little monster, where’s Mommy’s?” Amanda asked, her hands on her hips, but a smile on her face.
“In the kitchen. Your legs aren’t broken.” Maverick teased, sticking his tongue out. “Only Auntie Juliet can eat in her room. We have to eat at the table like civilized people. Nana always says we weren’t raised in a barn.”
“Oh, we’re quoting Nana now? How about what Nana says about tv?”
“Nana’s not always right.”
“What did Nana say about tv?” Xavier asked, looking very amused.
“That television will rot my brain so I shouldn’t watch it.” Maverick retorted in a very matter of fact tone. “But it’s okay, Nana’s old.”
“Well, I’ll be sure to tell her you said that.”
“I always tell Nana she’s old.” Maverick shot back.
Amanda laughed. “Well, come show Mommy what you made me.”
“I made it for Aunt Juliet, Mommy, not for you.”
We all burst out laughing.
“Great, Jules, my kid will cook for you, but not for Mommy.” Amanda chortled. “Well, I’ll give you two a little bit of time. Let’s go have breakfast, Maverick.” Amanda picked Maverick up and closed the door behind herself.
“So, did you or Maverick make this?”
“I made it.”
“Alright,” I took a bite and it was fantastic. “You seem thrilled to be dealing with a toddler.”
Xavier seemed tense. “Yes, children are something else.” He muttered.
“You don’t like little kids?”
Xavier looked at my over his glasses, lips pursed. “They’re lovely, so long as I’m not the one caring for them.”
“Aww, you don’t want to babysit Maverick?”
“No, I’m quite alright, thank you very much.”
“Aww, that’s so cute.” I noticed a tinge of pink on Xavier’s cheeks. “Aww, you’re blushing.”
“I most certainly am not.” Xavier snapped, his cheeks flushing a deeper shade.
“Aww, you’re adorable when you’re embarrassed.”
“Juliet, I, your nurse is here to check up on you.” Xavier stammered and hurried out.
My nurse drew blood, checked my vitals and told me everything looked good. I spent the day watching movies, playing monopoly and sorry with everyone, Maverick and I teamed up and won them both, and just relaxing. This was the home I remembered. This was how home was supposed to feel. Finally, I was home.
Chapter XXVII
Things were looking up. After another week, I was cleared and allowed to do some stuff for myself again. I was cautioned against physical activity, which I would have ignored if not for Xavier’s careful mothering. Don’t get me wrong, it was sweet, but annoying. I was excited for the chill in the air of fall. Fall was my favorite season growing up. Everything just seemed to be winding down and family was always close at hand around this time of year. Things were definitely looking up.
I was taking Loki for his usual walk when I stopped dead in my tracks. Leaning up against a tree was a crooked nose and icy blue eyes I didn’t want to see.
“What are you doing here?”
Loki sensed my tension and raised his hackles as a low growl vibrated through him.
“I came to talk.”
“I don’t want to talk to you, Chase.”
“Come on, Jules, at least let me apologize.”
I sighed. “Chase, I can’t trust you. You need to leave me alone. Come on, Loki,” I turned and started to walk away when someone grabbed my arm and spun me round. Loki’s growl thundered through him now, teeth bared. “Let go of me, Chase.”
“Call your dog off.”
“Let go of me, Chase.”
“If your dog bites me, I’ll see to it that it gets put down.”
“And you wanted to apologize? Loki, come.” I tried to yank my arm free, but Chase’s grip tightened. “Chase, you’re hurting me, let go.”
“Juliet, I need to apologize.”
“Not like this. You’re hurting me, now let go or I’m going to call the cops and press assault charges and get a restraining order.”
“Look, Jules, you remember my father don’t you?” Chase asked as he loosened his grip. “He wants to set things right.”
“You mean he wants to protect his precious image.” I pointed out in a flat tone.
Chase gave me a sheepish smile. “Yeah, you remember him. So, can I apologize to you?”
“If you’re truly sorry, you’ll find a way to show it, words mean nothing to me.”
“Jules, he’s campaigning, just let me apologize in public.”
“I’ll make you a deal.”
Chase looked up. “Really?”
“If you will get out of my life, completely out of it, and I mean for the rest of it, I will let you.”
Chase smiled and visibly relaxed. “Thank you.”
“When and where?” I sighed. I can’t believe I was actually going to do this.
“Dad is hosting a benefit dinner, he’ll be talking a lot of campaigning so a lot of his benefactors will be there.”
“When is it?”
“Next Saturday night.”
“What time?”
“The dinner starts at 8 so be there around 6?”
“Where?”
“Our house.”
I nodded. “I’ll be there, but Chase, I meant what I said.”
“I know, Jules. I’ll make it up to you, baby. I swear I will.”
“Don’t call me baby.”
“Sorry, old habits die hard I guess.”
“Let go of me, Chase.”
“Oh shit, sorry.” Chase let his hand drop and Loki relaxed.
“I’m leaving, don’t follow.” I growled as I turned and went straight back home to tell Xavier what had happened.
“Absolutely not! This is ludicrous! You should not be within one hundred miles of that cretin.” Xavier was nearly shouting by this point. I told him what had happened and what I had agreed to.
“Xavier,”
“He nearly murders you and you agree to see him for an apology? Are you mad?”
“Xavier,”
“What were you thinking, Juliet? He could have hurt you! I already can see the bruise on your arm!”
“Xavier,”
“What if he hurts you again? I will not stand idly by and watch this happen!”
“Xavier!”
“What?”
“You need to calm down!”
“I need to calm down? Oh no, my dear, I most certainly do not,”
“Xavier, shut up and listen to me! I am not a child, so do not speak to me like I am one. I’m a grown woman, I can tie my own shoelaces and everything. Shut up and let me tell you the whole story, okay?”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m not doing this for Chase, I’m doing it for the rest of his family. Come sit down and I’ll tell you everything from the beginning.”
I sat down and Xavier sat next to me and I recounted to him the story of Chase and me, how we happened.
It started my freshman year. I was terrified, I was going to the University, and it was huge. Physically, it was the largest campus in the States. It had a way of making you feel small. I had Communications 1 just like every other freshman, and I just so happened to have it with Chase. I didn’t even notice him at first to be honest. I was so absorbed in class, I wanted to do well. I was in the front row and he sat towards the back. There were about three hundred people in this class. I don’t even know how he saw me. Right around midterms he started sitting next to me. I still remember our first conversation, if you can call it that.
“Hello there,” he smiled at me flashing his perfect teeth. This was a smile that made me melt for him for a while there.
“Um, hi?” I wasn’t sure who he was talking to me, it certainly couldn’t be me. Quiet, nerdy, little me.
“What’s your name?”
“Juliet. You?”
“Chase.”
“Um, cool?” I had no idea what to make of him.
“So, how are you doing in this class?”
“Okay, I guess.”
“Really? Cause I’m totally bombing.”
“Oh no, do you know why?”
Chase crossed him arms on the desk and rested his head on his arms. “I supposed it’s because I’m a lazy good for nothing as my father likes to put it.” He smiled languidly up at me.
“That’s terrible. Why would he say something like that?”
“Because he’s probably right.” Chase shrugged lazily. “But I’m the least of his concerns. He wants me to try to find someone to study with. Want to come study with me?”
“Um, I’m already in a study group. Do you want to join us?”
“So long as you’ll be there I’m game.”
Little did I know Chase had access to the best of everything, including tutors. He started regularly attending study group with me and he would always stay late and we would talk. I didn’t really believe he liked me at first. At first I thought he really just wanted a better grade, or at least to not fail, but we always were talking. He always found a way to be touching me. He would bump into me, lean up against me, whatever, and he wasn’t exactly subtle about it either. Eventually I figured it out, or rather he asked me out on a date. Chase made me feel special. Out of all the girls at school he chose me. I’d never had a boy take an interest in me before. It was nice. He made me feel like I was the only girl in the world when I was with him. It didn’t take long before we were inseparable. Things were really good for about a year or so, then about halfway through sophomore year, Mom started to get sick.
We didn’t know what it was at first. About this time, I was really into drinking and I smoked my fair share of pot. When I came home and Mom was just lying there unconscious . . . I called 9-1-1 and it was then we found out she had cancer.
Mom was sick and when I was around her, I was sober. Every bout where she was in the hospital and stuck there, I was getting as shitfaced as I could. I was schmammered every single night. Chase loved to party with me, but he would get really angry when I would leave to see my mom or go to work. I still passed all of my classes, the lowest grade I got was a B+ that I convinced the professor to round to an A. I was out of it for over a year. I just couldn’t handle it. Then the doctors gave Mom and expiration date. They gave her six months, she live eighteen. Mom was a fighter all the way. About the time Mom got sick, Chase got distant. I figured it was Mom being sick at first, but all the signs were there that he was cheating. I just didn’t want to see it. When it was just about the end for Mom, I came home one day and walked in to find my then best friend and current roommate alone, naked, with my boyfriend, who was also naked.
I couldn’t deny it anymore. He was cheating on me, and Hailey wasn’t the only one he was cheating with. That one just hurt the most. That girl was supposed to be my best friend and she did that? I kicked Hailey out and dumped Chase. He tried to “explain” and so did she, but there is nothing to explain. My best friend and my boyfriend were fucking, it was that simple. To add insult to injury, I caught them in my own bed. After that, I was almost always messed up. The only time I was sober was when I was with Mom. I was even showing up to work out of it. This was about the time Amanda moved in with Maverick. She was going through a divorce and needed a safe place for her and her son. I had the room. I let her move in. Since Maverick was here, I didn’t have alcohol in the house anymore. Amanda is the reason I got pulled out of my drinking binge, and my other bad habits. If not for her I would probably still be in that slump. She got me to quit the drugs, I wasn’t on pills anymore and then I got that letter from James. I haven’t used in months. Chase actually came and found me about this time I got that letter.
