Over. (This. Is. Not. Over. #2) (29 page)

             
Marla 8:48 pm:
I’m so excited!

             
Me 8:48 pm:
I’ll call you when I get in.

             
Marla 8:48 pm:
Can’t wait …

              “Danny, I’m going to head out.” I lean over and whisper to her.

              “Everything okay?” She whispers back. I look up and see Malcolm look at us and then away. He’s annoyed as hell.

              “Yeah, I’m catching a flight out tonight.”

              “Why?”

              “I need to handle some things in preparation for the move.” I lied.

              “Did a client just text you or something?”

              “They did.” I lied again.

              “Okay.”

              “But I’m going to take Nicky with me.”

              “You sure?”

              “Yeah, I’m going to take him up to New York for a few days once I settle this business.”

              “Just leave him here if you have business to handle.”

              “No, I’ll take him. We’ll be back in Boston by the time you get there.”

              “Okay.” She smiles, I rub her back and then stand.

              “I have to head out I’m sorry.” I say to the table.

              “What happened?” Jax asks.

              “Business before the … you know …”

              “Ah, gotcha.”

              “I’m taking Nicky with me.”

              “Yesss!” Nicky says as he jumps up. He’s just as relieved as I am to get the hell away from this table. “Come on dad! Bye Ma! Bye Mac!” He says to Malcolm before grabbing his coat and walking towards the door.

              “Well give me a
hug
! Goodness, gracious.” Malcolm says as he stands. “Just said bye, threw me the deuces and walked away.” The table laughs … even some the usuals.

“Nicholai St. James, get your butt over here and give me a hug.” Danny says.

Nicholai heads back to the table and starts his rounds of hugs beginning with Danny and ending with Malcolm. I’ll be a bigger man as Malcolm hugs my son right in front of me. I
will
be the bigger man. And as I put Nicky’s coat, hat and mittens on, I listen to everyone say how beautiful he is, how well-behaved he is and how much he looks just like Danny … and still no one acknowledges the fact that I helped create him. To them, I no longer exist. My character was killed off in the last story.

              Everyone screams
Feliz Navidad
to Nicky while giving me a passing wave before I walk out of Italiano’s and officially out of Danny’s life. We’re done. Our story is over.

Laura

10:30 p.m.

“Why didn’t you tell me about this dinner? I’m starting to think I can’t trust you!”

“You can’t be here! And you stood
me
up, remember? Look, why are you here? It was risky for you to come here; anyone could have seen you through the window.”

“Get her out here now.” I
say as I watch Danielle talk to Malcolm’s mother. Malcolm’s mother is smiling, running a hand along Danielle’s hair, looking at it in awe. It’s red, she’s black, what’s the big deal!

“Listen, just give me the diary and I’ll give it to her, but you can’t talk to her. Not here.”

“Are you serious? Me give you the diary? No, I don’t think so. Get her alone now. I’ll be waiting.”

“God, why me?”

“Just do it!”

“Fine. Wait here and I’ll get her alone.”

“Hurry.”

Malcolm

10:30 p.m.

“Shit, she’s here.” Jacob says to me from behind his scotch glass.

“Where?” I look around Italiano’s. Please don’t let Laura be in the building, not with Red’s father here. I can take Laura acting like a nut job in front of anybody but him.

“Outside. She has a wig on.” I look out of the windows, hell yeah, that’s her. “
They’re
talking.

“Fuck.” Jacob says as he slams his scotch glass on the table.

“Relax … where’s Danielle?” We both look around the restaurant. “She’s with my mother.” I nod towards the bar.

“Okay, I’ll go out there now.” Jacob says as he begins to stand.

“Alright, I’ll grab Danielle.” I say as I begin to stand.

“And I’ll–”

I look at Jacob to see why he didn’t finish his sentence, he’s looking towards the windows where Laura is.

             
“What’s wrong?” I ask.

             
“She’s gone.”

             
“Oh shit,” I look back at the bar for Red, “Danielle’s on her way outside.” I head over to stop her. “Jacob, grab Winnie.”

Danielle

10:30 p.m.

             
“Danielle! Come here!” Winnie says with that signature smile of hers. “Let’s talk, it’s been two days.” She gives a pout.

              “Winnie, I was really shaken after the fire, I’m so sorry. It wasn’t personal and I don’t want us to have problems.” I say as I hug her.

              “Jacob told me about you and the stalking thing.” She whispers in my ear.

              “It was terrifying.” I whisper back.

              “Did we ever find out who it was?”

              “No.” I lie.

              “I can’t imagine, but I do see why the fire spooked you. But we’re Family now, we stick together right?” She pulls me into another hug. I know Winnie’s probably tipsy right now but she’s beyond lovable.

              “Sorry Winnie.” I hug her back. After losing Lola as a friend, it’s nice to have Winnie around.

              “I’m glad I have you alone,” She says as our faces are within a breath of each other. “I wanna talk to you about Malcolm.”

              “Danielle, can I speak to you for a second.” Speak of the devil. Lola.

              “Lola, now may not be the best time.” Winnie says with a smile as she glances around. “No one likes a party pooper and if you’re here to talk about Laura and Cadence–”

              “It’s not that.” Lola closes her eyes and drops her head back and then looks at me. “I’m not sure how much you’ve heard; I haven’t been able to get in touch with you for a couple of days. But Cadence was in the house when it caught on fire.”

              “What?” I ask.

              “Lola, here you go.” Winnie says with an eye roll.

              “I’m not going to dwell on it, but it would be nice to talk to Danielle about it. We’re always there for each when we’re having husband problems. And as you can imagine Danielle, this all has been devastating for me. ” Lola looks me in the eyes and then flashes hers off to the side. She wants to speak with me alone.

              That’s not happening. I don’t give a damn if Cadence was in that fire or not and if Lola intends on coercing me into a friendship because I almost killed her husband, she’s got another thing coming. Sorry Lola, but I don’t feel guilty about almost killing your husband. His ass shouldn’t have been in that house.

              “I’m glad Cadence is safe.” I say to them as I back up. “Winnie, I’ll be right back.” I walk away from the two of them without waiting for a reply.

              “Red, let me speak with you for a minute.” Malcolm says as he comes from behind me and gently takes my arm into his hand. Damn he smells good but I’m mad at him still. I’m not going to even look at him because if I do, I’ll see those chocolate eyes, that square jaw, that Roman nose and will eventually cave, just like last night.
No, I’m not turning around to look at you Malcolm Blair. I’m not going to cave.
“It’s important.”

              “Give me a second Malcolm.” I say as I continue to walk and slide my arm free.

              “Red–”  I hear him say as I open a door that leads to Italiano’s pier and see Jasmine standing on it. I’m glad she’s out here, I’ve wanted to get her alone. She’s my oldest friend and I want to salvage our friendship. To me, it’s worth it.

“You were acting weird at the table, is everything okay?” I ask Jasmine as I walk up behind her. As I move further away from the heat pouring from Italiano’s, I start to notice just how cold it is. “I ran out of there in a rush and didn’t even think to put a coat on. Damn, it’s freezing.” She says nothing, just continues looking out into the water, her arms crossed over her chest. So she’s still mad at me I see.

The moon is reflecting off of her coal black hair that’s blowing in the Carolina wind. Chocolate skin, black diamond hair. Jasmine’s a fox, always has been. She looks the exact same as when we were kids. I can’t imagine growing older without the comfort of my oldest friend nearby. “By the way you look gorgeous tonight. Why I even thought I saw Jacob stealing a look or two at you, with Winnie right at the table. That Jacob, he’s such a–”

              “Danielle, why do you want this man?” She asks without turning around.

              “Jasmine …”

              “Jon is a perfectly suitable mate for you, he’s safe and nice and you have a history with him–”

              “A perfectly suitable mate?” I laugh at the expression. “Jasmine that sounds boring as hell.”

              “Yes,” She turns around to face me. “But it’s safe.” We lock eyes for a moment as my smile fades. It’s no secret that Jasmine isn’t a Malcolm fan but until here recently, she’s tried to keep her opinion about my love life to herself. But I don’t want to talk about this here while everyone’s inside drunk, singing along to a Dean Martin song. Which, by the way, is a remarkable difference from just two hours ago when I was scared to breathe at the table. That’s how uncomfortable I felt. Yet, when Jon left, everyone started to get along marvelously. That is, everyone except for Jasmine who didn’t say another word.

              “Jasmine, is something else going on?” She can’t be this hurt over Jon and me. No one would be this anxious over another person’s love life.

              “I just wish you’d see Malcolm, Jacob, Cadence and Nat how I see them.”

              “And how’s that?”

              “They aren’t genuine. That’s what I wanted to tell Winnie when she asked me how Jacob was in high school. They all were completely bogus, well not all of them, I’ll give Nat the benefit of the doubt. But Malcolm, Jacob and Cadence, they were all full of it. And they still are.”