Marked. Part II: Becoming Noah Baxter (18 page)

Chapter 28

Monday, March 31

7:13am

I wake to Jay's teeth playfully nibbling at my neck, “Time to wake up, baby. I need to talk to you.”

I can't tell by his tone if this is the kind of talk I want to have.

I flip to my back, my face meeting a smiling Jay.

“
You're so beautiful in the morning.”

This has me smiling, which in turn has Jay kissing me, and us getting tangled together.

Jay pulls back, “Wait, I can't get distracted.” His voice and face seem so young. “I need to go talk to Vault and work some things out.”

“
Anything I should be worried about?”

He grins, pecking my lips after every couple of words, “No. It's something I've fantasized about since the first day you kissed me, and I think it's time I made it a reality.”

“I'm intrigued?”

He pecks my lips for the hundredth time, “You should be.”

“You seem better today, more you.” With a little extra something that's not quite him.

Jay lights up, “That's because I am. I stayed up all night thinking about our future and what I was going to do with myself once we got home.” His lips smash down on mine and he holds them there like he's trying to fuse them together. When he pulls back he looks like he can't contain his excitement, “I wish I knew how to describe how incredible it feels to be thinking about that kind of stuff. I've never had this before; I've never dreamed and hoped about what my future may hold. I'm only twenty-five, Lily! I have so much time ahead of me, so much life to be lived!” His giddiness is pouring out of him and I can't help but soak it up like a sponge. “I mean, wow baby, the future is ours. How fucking cool is that?”

A tear escapes from the corner of my eye and his excitement slips while he frowns and wipes it away, “Don't cry. Why are you crying?”

“
It's a happy tear, Jay. I'm so happy right now. For you, for us, for the life that's going to be ours. The fact that you called where I live
home
.”

“
I know how much everyone means to you, so I figured you'd want to stay there. I go where you go. Besides,” his overexcited energy is back, “it just so happens to be the perfect place for me to live.”

“
Why is that?”

He hops out of bed, darting around like a bouncy ball, trying to get himself dressed, “You'll find out.”

“Jay...” I threaten, wanting no more secrets. 

He holds his hand up, “Wait. I plan on telling you. Today, I promise. First let me go talk to Vault and make a few calls. I don't want to tell you until I know it's happening.”

He playfully jumps on me, “I'll be quick.”

“
Jay quick or everybody else quick?”

The confusion on his face tells me it will be in Jay time, not having a clue time works differently for everyone else.

He sheepishly peers down at me, a flirtatious smile on the side of his mouth, “Can I borrow three million dollars?”

My mouth drops open and the grin he gives me reminds me of my brothers.

“You want to take it back?” Not that I mind; I wasn't comfortable with him giving it to me anyway.

He cheerfully nods his head, “Maybe, but I might not need it. I saved a bit for myself.”
Another quick kiss and he's flying out the door.

That was interesting. Now that he's expressing his emotions, they are all over the place; it's hard to keep up.

11:36am

Jay slams the door shut behind him, a huge smile plastered over his face, removing his shirt while he yells out to me, “Babe, I need you. Right now!”

I say good-bye to my mom on the phone, having just let her know I'll be returning home today.

I watch Jay kick off his shoes while he's unzipping his pants.

He barrels into me, lifting me off my feet, face diving into my neck to devour it. The minute I fall onto the bed, he pulls back enough to raise my nightshirt over my head.

“It's happening,” his lips are traveling all over me. “We finally get to go home and start our lives together.”

He's a completely different kind of possessed than he was yesterday. This time he's a man about to explode with happiness. I haven't seen this playful side of him since we were back at his place across the street from mine, except it's amplified like he's had one too many shots of espresso. 

“Slow down, Jay,” I try getting him to come back up to me because his mouth's all over my body, unable to decide where to go. “You're overwhelming me right now.”

He comes up on all fours and hovers over me, “What do you mean?”

“Look at you now, then look at you yesterday and the days before that. You're elevated to the extreme, bouncing all over the place.”

His lips begin sucking all along my collarbone, “
I know, but I've never experienced what it's like to have something to look forward to. It's making my whole body come alive. I thought adrenaline highs were the best, but I was wrong. Being crazy in love and knowing I get to stay that way, never having to say goodbye and getting to start a life with you...Christ, Lily,” he buries his face in my throat. “It's insane how good it feels.”

“
Tell me what happened with Vault,” I encourage, having been anxious all morning to find out.

His smile gets bigger. It's a smile so big I didn't think Jay would have been capable of it. It shines in his eyes and glows from his skin, “I'm buying the old racetrack! It's not official yet, but the owner agreed. The fucker made me offer way too much for the place, but it's worth it; this is what I want.”

“What are you going to do with a racetrack?”

“
God, I love your mouth,” his lips come crashing down on mine.

“
Jay, focus,” I mumble along his lips.

“
Right,” he shakes his head as if to clear it. “I want to start a drifting school. A place people can safely learn and have amateur races for the pure fun of it.”

I ponder for a minute, taking in what he said before exclaiming, “I think that is an excellent idea!”

“Yeah ya do!” Jay lifts his hand and I high five it, laughing.

“
Who are you and what have you done with Jay?” This guy's too playful and lighthearted.

His only answer is to attack my mouth with his.

I turn my head, not finished with our conversation, “Not to be mean, but you're not really a people person. How are you going to handle that side of things?”

“
Malik, he's going to help run it. I called him this morning and he couldn't say yes fast enough. You haven't really gotten to know him, but he's one of those guys that seems to be everybody's friend.”

I believe it. I remember how at ease and comfortable he made me feel when we first met, and how he has the kind of smile that instantly makes you like a person.

“I want in,” I blurt out before having really put any thought into it.

Jay tilts his head, “Really?”

The more I think about this, the more excited I'm getting. It has potential to be a lot of fun, “Yes, I want to be a partner. I want to help run it.”

He rolls off me and onto his back to stare at the ceiling, “Like a family business?”

I turn to my side, wanting to see his eyes and what he truly thinks about the idea, “I think I would be really good at marketing and the overall business aspect of it.”

“
Lily?” He whispers and my stomach drops, expecting him to reject my proposal.

“
Yes?”

In the same hushed tone he replies, “I think you'd be good at it too.”

“Why are you acting hesitant then?”

He turns his head to me, “I'm not, I'm just a little shocked at how perfectly things are fitting into place.” He rolls back on top of me, “I can't imagine a better person to run a business with than you.”

I smirk, “Good, because I wasn't going to give you
my
money unless you agreed.”

Jay laughs, “Now that that's settled, I need to exert some of this energy I have bottled inside me before we head home.”

Home. I like the sound of that.

I smile into his shoulder, my excited energy about to rival his.

Chapter 29

1:24pm

“
I wish you guys would stay here and work for the bank,” Arianna sniffles into my hair as she hugs me harder.

A part of me wishes that too. I love the people I've met and the mystery that surrounds them.

I try pulling out of the hug but Arianna won't let me.

“
You're the first girlfriend I've ever had and I feel like I'm losing you.”

“
You're not,” I reassure her. “We can talk all the time on the phone and visit–” Jay coughs to let me know that's not a good idea. “–or you can visit me,” I slyly look over to Jay to make sure this suggestion is acceptable. He reluctantly approves.

She sadly lets me go and turns to Jay, “I hope we can be friends too. We have a past, but I'd rather start fresh. Do you think that's possible?”

“It's more than possible,” Jay affirms.

Arianna beams at us both, giving me another hug before exiting Vault's office.

I twist Jay's ring on my middle finger, “I can't believe this is all over. You're really not worried about others looking for you?”

Jay takes hold of my hand, giving it a squeeze, “
Vault got the word out that The Marker's dead. We killed one another inside his office.”

I look over to Ben, “Will people believe that?” 

“That's why Vault was the one to get the word out. Whether they believe it or not, if Benedict Cole makes a statement he wants everyone to know, you better listen,” Jay answers. 

Ben gives a nod of agreement.

“So is this really it? You're finally free to live your life?”

Jay swipes his hand across his head, staring off, “I think it finally is.” He looks to me, his eyes big and wide, almost not believing it himself, the moment too surreal, “Shit, Lily, I'm still overwhelmed with how awesome it feels. That heaviness I have always felt isn't so strong anymore.”

Before I can join in his newfound happiness I have more questions to ask, “Really?”

He pulls me into him, “Yeah baby, it really is. And
nobody
will go against Vault.”

“
You're really not worried?” I can't seem to wrap my head around his freedom, needing all the reassurance I can get.

“
I didn't say that. I'll always worry, but it's different now; it's not so consuming. I can tolerate the amount of worry I will have for you – for us – but as the years go by, they will forget about Jay Lincoln. They will forget about Link.”

I look to Ben for confirmation, not that I don't believe what Jay says to be true, but it will help ease my mind to get a second opinion.

Ben nods his head, understanding what I'm asking without me having to say it, “I couldn't agree more with Noah. Nobody will go looking for him, and if they do,” he hands me a business card, “You call me and it won't be a problem anymore.”

My eyebrows lift, “
Noah?”

“
Didn't you hear?” Ben asks, a mischievous smirk indenting his left dimple, “Jay Lincoln is dead.”

I'm processing this, coming to terms with the fact that Jay can finally be the man he was born to be. He can finally be Noah Baxter.

Ben hands a manila folder to Jay/Noah (I'm not sure what I'm supposed to call him), “This is all of Noah's stuff. Your father had wanted it kept safe here. It's just a birth certificate, social security card, boring things like that.”

Jay swallows as he stares down at the envelope.

“You ready for my plane?”

“
I think I am. More than ready. Thanks, Vault,” Jay gives him a smile, the first I think he's ever given him.

“
I'm not Vault to you anymore. Noah would only know me as Benedict Cole,” he looks to me and winks, “or Ben if I like you.”

I smile at this, a little sad that it could be the last time I ever see him; I've come to care about him. I decide to share this with him, not wanting any regrets, “I don't want this to be the last time I see or talk to you.”

“It won't be. After all,” Ben taps the card still in my hand, ”my bank is in charge of your assets.”

I look down to find he had handed me his personal business card, with the direct line to his office. This has me wanting to cry.

“Call it any time, Lily,” his tone of voice lets me know that it doesn't have to be for business purposes, and all I can think to do is hug him – and by hug, I mean squeeze the shit out of him.

Ben awkwardly pats my back, not being very comfortable with affection. I let go before I start crying and make us all uncomfortable.

“I hope you know what you're getting yourself into by giving that to her,” Jay warns playfully. “You can expect her to call that number just because.”

Ben gives me a genuine smile, “I'm expecting you to. I want to hear what's so great about the
other side
.”

Okay, it's time to leave before the tears come falling down. I'm glad that Jay knows me so well and begins leading us to the door.

“Hey, Ben,” Jay stops to turn around. “I'm sorry about Susanna. I mean really, truly, incredibly, sorry.”

They both swallow at the same time, both their eyes appearing more moist than they should.

“I know,” is all Ben says in return, but there is a silent conversation that transpires between them for a few seconds after. I can't begin to translate what I can't read, but whatever it is has Jay – I mean Noah's – shoulders dropping a few inches, accepting that Ben means it.

Noah nods, not expecting forgiveness, just thankful that Ben knows the remorse and guilt he will always suffer from Ben's wife being murdered.

“Make it worth it,” Ben adds as we start to leave through the office doors.

Noah turns his head, “I plan to.”

We leave Cole Private Bank and Trust, hand in hand, ready to figure out a life together.

Finally.