Chapter 9

“Oh my god, it opens tomorrow” I said standing in the middle of the store with Joe.

“Excited?” Joe asked wrapping his arms around my waist

“And terrified” I said taking a deep breath. Joe kissed me on the forehead

“It’s going to be great” he assured me. I smiled and exhaled deeply

“And we party tonight” I said excitedly

“I’m really proud of you babe” Joe said

“Thank you” I said pecking his lips.

“We should get going” he said grabbing my hand. We made our way to the party venue. Pretty much no one was there at this point except Fran and the catering company setting up the party. People started filing in and soon the whole place was filled with people.

“This is pretty impressive Jay” Kevin said amicably slinging an arm around my shoulders

“Thanks Kev... so, how are you doing?” I asked him. Darcy broke up with him the week before and he didn’t take it the best

“I’m fine... whatever... life goes on” he said

“Try to have fun tonight... you deserve a break” I said smiling sadly at him. He nodded as Joe came over to us.

“Everyone I’ve spoken to is really excited for the opening Jay” he said kissing me quickly

“Are you serious?”

“Completely; now how about we go burn it up on the dance floor” he said holding out his hand

“I’d love to” I said happily as I put my hand in his. We went to the dance floor and just went nuts

“I need something to drink” I said to Joe. He nodded and we squeezed our way out of the crowd and grabbed some water.

“Well, if your store is as big of a hit as this party you’re going to do very well for yourself” Nick said as Joe and I sat down across from him and Vanessa at a table

“Thanks handsome” I said smiling broadly.

“I, personally, am so excited about the store opening” Vanessa said

“Oh man, you have no idea how excited I am... this is my dream come true”

“I thought I was your dream come true” Joe joked making a pouty face

“It’s all part of it” I said. Joe smiled and placed his hand on my thigh under the table.

“So, you two are still together?” a voice said from behind Joe and I. I turned to find Brad standing behind us with a smirk on his face and his arms crossed

“Not if you don’t want us to be” I joked winking at him. He laughed as I stood up to give him a hug.

“How are you babe?” he asked me

“I’m good... really good. What about you?”

“You know... getting by”

“I heard about the Hilfiger job... congrats”

“Thanks... this is such a big deal for me”

“I bet... don’t get too busy for me though” I said winking

“Pshh, like you’d let that happen”

“True”

“So, where’s Darcy?”

“Uh, she’s not coming”

“Why not?”

“She doesn’t want to see Kevin”

“You don’t think she’s back to... you know”

“God I hope not”

“You know, she has a habit of starting up after break ups”

“I know... maybe I should call her”

“It might be a good idea”

“I’m gonna go do that... have a good night” I said giving him a hug. He smiled and made his way away from me. I turned back to Joe, Nick and Vanessa

“I have to make a phone call... I’ll be right back”

“Okay” Joe said. I kissed him quickly as I bent down to grab my purse off the chair and pulled my phone out making my way to the lobby where it was quieter.

“Hello?” I sleepy voice said into the phone

“Hey Darce” I said

“Hey gorgeous, what’s up?”

“I was just talking to Brad and we wanted to see how you are”

“You mean you want to know if I’m back on drugs”

“We care about you Darcy”

“I’ve been off for over a year... I’m fine”

“Okay, we were just checking”

“How’s the party going?”

“Great... I miss you though”

“I miss you too... we’ll hang out sometime soon”

“Of course”

“I have to go though... I’ll call you later”

“Okay... bye” I said hanging up my phone. I turned around and came face to face with a man in his mid to late thirties.

“It’s good to see you” he said to me

“Um, do I know you?” I asked

“It’s me” he said

“Not ringing any bells” I said sarcastically as he didn't tell me who he was

“Your father” he said. My breath caught in my throat as I stared at the man. I didn’t recognize him at first, but under closer inspection there was no denying that this was in fact the man who impregnated my mother.

“Wow” I breathed

“I know this is a lot to take in right now, but I just wanted to see you... it’s been eleven years you know”

“I do know... I’ve been counting the days ever since the last time I saw you when I was six”

“I’m sorry... I want to make it up to you”

“You can’t... you left and I moved on. I needed you then, but I don’t need you now”

“Mable” he said

“Don’t call me that”

“Fine, Jay... I want to be your father”

“You can’t. Don’t you understand that? You can’t just come back and expect to be my father”

“I never expected you to just take me back... but I want to try”

“You’ve said that before”

“I have my life together now... I mean it this time”

“Well, it’s too late” I said brushing past him and back to the party. Tears were streaming down my face as I got to Joe. He stood up and cupped my face in his hands brushing away my tears with his thumbs.

“Can you take me home?” I sniffled

“Of course” he said. He looked to Nick and Nick just nodded. We went out to his car and got in. Once in the warmth of the car I started to bawl. Joe placed a hand on my shoulder and the other on my leg.

“He...he came back” I said

“Shh, Jay... calm down babe, breath” Joe said soothingly. My crying started to subside and Joe kissed my forehead.

“Can you just take me home now?” I asked

“Absolutely” he said. We drove home in silence and Joe walked me into my apartment. I sat on my couch and put my face in my hands.

“He wants to be in my life again” I said

“Who?” Joe asked

“My dad... he was there tonight and he said he wants to be my father again... it’s been eleven years Joe”

“Since he last time you saw him?”

“Or spoke to him or heard from him”

“Did you ever think maybe you could give him another chance?”

“He told me the same thing when I was six years old... he said he didn’t mean it back then but he means it this time... well, what makes this time any different?”

“I don’t know babe”

“When I saw him it was like a flashback to my sixth birthday when he left. He promised he’d be back soon and I believed him”

“Maybe you should tell your mom?”

“Oh no, when he comes back she’s the one that gets hurt the most... and it kills me. I just don’t know what to do” I said crying. Joe pulled me over onto his lap. I leaned into him and he kissed the side of my head. I guess we both fell asleep because we woke up to the sound of Joe’s cell phone.

“Hello? Yeah... Jay’s... Sometime tomorrow, er, today... okay, bye” he said closing the phone when he was done.

“Kevin?” I asked

“Yeah, he was just making sure I was here”

“That’s nice”

“What is?”

“That you and your brothers are so caring for one another”

“We’re best friends”

“I know... and I think that’s great”

“I’m a fan” he said grinning

“Well, I’m going to go to bed... I’m assuming you’re staying here tonight?”

“Mmm, you assume correct” he said kissing me quickly. We cleaned up and got into bed.

“Do you know what I realized?” Joe said to me

“What did you realize?” I asked

“You don’t have any of my clothes”

“Why would I have your clothes?”

“I don’t know... isn’t that something girlfriends do?”

“Steal their boyfriend’s clothes?”

“I guess... I mean, my old girlfriend’s did and I noticed Vanessa got a hold of one of Nick’s hoodies”

“I guess I’m not very good at this whole girlfriend thing... I mean we’ve been together for like what? Almost a year and I’ve yet to steal an article of your clothing”

“I don’t appreciate you mocking me”

“I’m sorry... well; do you want me to take something?”

“Whatever, it’s up to you”

“Fine, next time I’m at your place I’ll take something hostage”

“Alright, if you want to”

“Goodnight Joe” I said rolling my eyes and kissing him quickly

“I love you babe” he said

“Love you too” I said. The next morning I woke up and got ready for my first day at the store. I was already at work when Joe finally woke up and got ready for the day. I had been working for a busy three hours when Joe sauntered into the store from the staircase to my apartment.

“Hey babe” he said walking through

“Good morning sleeping beauty” I said as I was re folding some clothes that were messed on a shelf.

“How’ve things been going?”

“Amazing, I doubt every day will be this busy, but it’s going amazingly well”

“That’s great... I’m gonna head home, but what do you say to a celebratory dinner tonight?”

“How about you just come back here and you can cook for me” I said smiling.

“Sounds good... I’ll be back around 6”

“Uh...”

“7?”

“Well...”

“8?”

“Sounds good”

“I love you, have a good day” he said leaning over and kissing me quickly

“Love you too” I said as he made his way out of the store.

“Excuse me... I was wondering if I could speak to the designer of this hideous dress” a voice said behind me

“That would be me” I said turning around. I found Miley standing behind me

“Hiya Jay” she said

“Hey lovely lady, what do you think?”

“I think it’s amazing... I can guarantee that I’ll be coming back and referring you to friends”

“Thanks cutie, are you buying anything?”

“You bet”

“Great, I’ll ring you on up”

“You know... not many designers also work in their own stores”

“Well, I’d hate to grow up without having a regular work experience”

“I have no problem with that” she said laughing

“I’m sure you don’t” I joked. I rang up her purchases and she left the store. The day was crazy busy and I thought I was going to pass out from fatigue at 8 o’clock.

“Hey babe, I brought pizza” Joe said walking into my apartment. I groaned from my position lying on the couch and I heard Joe chuckle as he walked over to me. He crouched down beside me and brushed my hair out of my face.

“Long day?” he asked

“Yes... and now I’m sleepy”

“Well, I brought pizza and movies”

“Awe, you’re so good to me” I said as I sat up. He set up the movie and we ate the pizza right out of the box. We cuddled up on the couch for the rest of the night and once again Joe stayed overnight. That had become a reoccurring event. Joe had moved out of his parents’ house and into Kevin’s, but he regularly spent nights at my house. I don’t think it would be happening if he still lived with his parents or even if his parents knew, but Kevin didn’t really care because he trusts us and it gets his house back to being just his house again. Plus I didn't like being alone in my new apartment, so Joe made me feel safe... Joe always makes me feel safe.