Pieces of Us

Chapter 22 Roads Untraveled

Amity

‘What the ever living fuck?’ Lily repeats over and over.

I’m lying on my bed, holding the laptop up, where Jagger is on the other end. Rome is swinging from left to right on my chair while Lily wiggles on my bed. I’ve just finished relaying the latest episode with Lincoln, thankful that all three of my best friends were available to drop everything and chat.

The dichotomy between my childhood friends and Jagger doesn’t exist. At one point, Lily was star-struck, but years later, we are all just mates.

‘I can’t comprehend any of what happened,’ I murmur, my mood souring by the second.

It has been three days since I spoke with him. He didn’t reach out immediately, but the next morning he hit me up with his usual good morning flattery, indicating whatever relationship we had left was far from over.

I didn’t bother replying. What else was there to say? He had lied to me about his history with Billie. If he had just told me instead of her blindsiding me, at least I could have had a bit more time to process.

It makes me sick to my stomach to think how a significant part of my history was altered because of his choices. And it makes me equally nauseous to think he made a child with her. Knowing their…passion was strong enough to create another human is excruciating.

‘So what now?’ Rome asks. He’s always the logical one out of the three, while Lily takes the cake for being my over-the-top ride or die, and Jagger is filled with testosterone and is fiercely protective over me.

‘I don’t know. Nothing? Maybe we could be friends. I get the feeling he has no real ones.’ I pummel the pillow, exerting all these jittery feelings. I’ve been stuffing my face with everything and anything that’s disgustingly fattening for the better part of seventy-two hours, and I’m pretty sure I’m hyped up on sugar.

‘Seriously? The fucker just admitted he knocked up your enemy, and you want to let him back in?’ Jagger says bluntly in between lifting weights. God, he is sexy. Both Lily and I are ogling his ripped muscles that have a faint sheen of sweat. The light is hitting all the right ridges.

‘I guess? I don’t want to feel so lethargic when I’m around him anymore, just a shell of who I was. I want to try, for the sake of my sanity, to be at least civil.’ I prop my chin on my hand as I watch Jagger work those weights.

‘Am I an idiot?’

‘Yes,’ all three of them say in unison.

Jagger and Rome smirk at me while Lily pleads with her eyes to not let the devil back in.

‘He’s made a shitload of bad choices, but he’s not a cunt,’ Rome says.

I look at Jagger to hear his perspective.

‘I don’t know the bro. You’ll always be my main concern…but if you think this is best, I’ll support you, baby girl.’ He winks as he starts his crunches. Shirtless. It’s a salivating distraction.

‘Hey, Jagger?’ Lily pipes up.

‘Yeah, Lil?’ he grunts.

‘Aim the camera a little lower. Wanna see what you’re packing.’

Rome chokes as Jagger winks and laughs at her audaciousness. They are friendly flirts, but that’s it.

‘What do you think, Lily?’

Lincoln had tried numerous times to reach out to Lily and Rome, and while they listened to his apologies, they never rekindled what they had.

‘If this is what you really want—and it won’t jeopardise your progress or your career—I’ll always back you.’ She holds my hand in solidarity.

‘What I still don’t get is why he lied to me about pretty significant life events.’ I gave him every opportunity to come clean.

‘He already lost you once. I reckon he thought this would be a sure fire way to lose you forever.’ Rome comes through with the logic again.

I stretch my neck, accepting that he’s probably right.

‘So, are you going to chat to him again?’ I snort at Lily’s sass, knowing she’s fed up with the back and forth.

‘Who the fuck knows. Probably. Just don’t know when.’ I shrug, trying to hide how fast my heart palpitates at the thought. Reaching over the bedside table, I grab the last Tim Tam in the pack and shove it in my mouth. The chocolatey goodness coats my teeth and tongue, reminding me of how damn decadent this quintessential Aussie treat is.

‘Would it help if I came to see you?’ Jagger sits up on his gym mat.

‘What?’

‘We’re knocked out of the NFL finals, so really there’s nothing else to do here until pre-season starts. I miss my girl. Let me come to Australia and make everything better,’ he croons.

‘Lincoln. Would. Die,’ Lily squeals, flattening her back on the bed and kicking her feet as if she’s a kid.

‘You’d hate it down under. It’s so slow compared to LA.’ I don’t know if it’s a good idea to have him here, but I sure do miss him. He brings the fun wherever he goes.

‘Maybe I need a break. Please, pretty please, let me come and see you.’ His puppy dog eyes get me. ‘I need to go down under again,’ he winks, insinuating we release a little tension when he’s here.

Ignoring how delectable that sounds, I give in. ‘Fine, but don’t say I didn’t warn ya.’ Relenting, I throw myself back on the bed.

‘This should be fun,’ Rome chuckles.

‘I’ll get my agent to set some charity appearances up and do some appearances for my new Nike apparel coming out.’

I don’t want to burst his bubble, but the NFL isn’t a big deal here, and he won’t be as recognised as he is in other parts of the world.

‘I’m sure you can squeeze a few things in.’ Having all of my people in the same city should be wild. ‘Oh, can you make it for Dad’s birthday?’ I pop my head back on the camera.

‘When is it?’ He takes his phone out to look at setting up plans. His fingers are typing rapidly.

‘A week from today. Plans are to be determined, but depending on how long you plan to stay here for, I’ll take you to Infinity. And let’s do a quick trip to Hamilton or Haymen.’

‘Pfft.’ Lily kicks my leg.

‘What?’

‘“Let’s just spend tens of thousands of dollars on a weekend away.” You both really do live the lifestyles of the rich and famous,’ Rome snorts.

I forget how abnormal it is to suggest something so spontaneous. The truth is, Jagger and I do fun shit like this all the time. He has this marble globe that we spin when we’re drunk, and that’s how we decide on our next impromptu destination. A few months ago, we ended up in Andorra, a tiny country between Spain and France, which took two whole days to get to. We took to the slopes during the day and warmed ourselves with vodka at night while we partied the night away. Jag always has a way of making me feel invincible, like every moment is meant to be lived to the fullest.

‘You bet your sweet ass we do. And you’re both coming with. Rome, my bro, I need a wingman.’ Jag’s infectious hooting and hollering is getting us all pumped up.

‘Fuck yeah.’ Rome slaps his hands on his thighs.

‘I’m in.’ Lily smiles, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. ‘If I can get off work. I’ve been doing extra to accommodate your dad and his recovery.’ Lily reminds me of what a godsend she’s been with Dad’s leg.

Hearing the commotion coming from inside these walls, a knock bangs on the door. It can only be one person.

‘Come in, Dad,’ I shout.

‘What’s all the racket?’ He limps on crutches towards us.’ Lily gets up and goes to help him sit on the edge of the bed.

‘Jagger is coming to visit next week, and then we’re going to go away for a few days.’ I fill him in on our plans.

‘All of you?’ Dad queries, looking at each of us, his eyes stopping on Lily.

‘Um, well, yeah, if I can get time off…and you don’t need me?’

Dad doesn’t say anything. I’m bothered by how tense and terse he’s being. He’s never stopped me from doing anything in my life before. Why now?

‘It’s fine. Go. Be young. Have fun. Do whatever you kids do these days,’ he brushes off his attitude.

Excited, I quickly run through the logistics, wondering what else we could get up to while Jagger is here.

‘Are you staying in a hotel?’ Dad asks him.

‘Haven’t even thought about it. I literally just decided, sir.’ Fuck, I love how American-preppy he is. He just called Dad, sir, which has Rome bent over in a fit of laughter.

‘It’s Mark, son.’ Dad grins. ‘And if you don’t stay at the most expensive penthouse, you’re welcome to stay here with us. Plenty of room,’ he offers.

‘I’d like that, Mark. I want to spend as much time with Amity as I can before we both head into pretty gruelling routines.’

‘Then it’s done.’ I clap. ‘Dad, can you let me know what you want to do for your birthday?’

‘Will do, princess.’ He grimaces as he shifts on the bed. ‘Lily, would you help me with some stretches and my pain meds?’ he asks. She shoots up off the bed and springs into action.

‘Hey, baby girl, I gotta go. Will text you my details, yeah?’ I nod, blowing him a kiss before he disconnects.

‘Fucking NFL superstar Jagger is coming to town, and he asked me to be his wingman. I’m fucking shook. I need to hit the gym if I’m standing near that guy. Catch you later?’ Rome stands, leaning over to give me a kiss.

‘Yup.’

I laugh as he fist-pumps down the hallway. Dad follows closely behind, trudging off with Lily, which leaves me alone once again to obsess over Lincoln and my future.