Chapter Twenty-Six
Seeing Jack standing in front of me with a look of confusion on his face is one of the best things I’ve seen during our entire friendship. He’s glancing back and forth between Tonya and me, unable to grasp what’s happening. It’s taking all of my self control not to double over in laughter.
“I’m selling my condo, asshole.” I chuckle and Jack slowly lowers his arm.
“You’re what?” His face twists into a shocked expression.
“I’m moving back to Central Falls. I’m tired of not being with Ry every day so we can deal with shit together. I was planning on surprising her in a few days once everything is packed up and ready to go. That”s why I came back this morning.” I can’t help but grin as his eyes go wide.
“Oh, thank fuck. I was ready to kill you both.” He groans, scrubbing a hand down his face.
“Uh. I’m gonna go, Mr Mancini,” Tonya stutters. “I’ll be in touch when we have a buyer for both locations.” Tonya takes a wide step around Jack, looking incredibly nervous.
“He won’t hurt you, he’s my girlfriend’s big brother and takes the protective detail a little too far sometimes.” I shake my head.
“I’m really sorry, my brain hadn’t quite caught up with the situation. I really wouldn’t hurt you.” Jack holds his hands up in surrender.
Tonya doesn’t respond, just waves back at us as she retreats to the elevator.
“Come on in, dumbass,” I chuckle as I move aside for him to go into my place.
He walks past me and into my space. Without a word, he crosses the open floorplan to my couch and takes a seat, waiting for me to join him. I shake my head, a soft chuckle passing my lips as I take a seat across from him in the arm chair.
“So, you’re really doing this?” He asks, his voice low.
“Yes. She may not have told me she loves me, but I know she does.” I smile at the memory of the joy in her eyes when I confessed my feelings for her. “She’s afraid I’ll leave and I want to prove to her the only way I’m leaving this relationship is in a body bag.”
“Ok. Fine.” He pulls out his phone and types something out before sliding it back into his pocket as his lips twitch into a soft smile. “Let’s get packing, I want to get back to my man too.”
We spend the next three days loading things into boxes. It concerns me that Ryan hasn’t responded to any of my messages over these past few days. It’s super out of character for her, but I try not to let that bring me down, knowing she has a hard time when I leave.
I purge things that won’t be necessary back home. We don’t have a beach or ocean in Central Falls so my surfboard can definitely be rehomed. When we finally get my condo packed up–with the exception of Ellie–on the third morning, Jack and I venture out to my tattoo studio.
We take the short walk from my building to my shop. Opening the door and taking a step inside, the first thing I see is one of my artists, Niall, sitting on the couch watching The Great British Baking Show. Smiling, I shake my head. This is where he always is if he doesn’t have a client. His long, dirty blonde hair is pulled back in tight viking braids. His muscular arms covered in elaborate ink are on full display, the tight white wife beater shirt now hiding much of his physique.
“Oh, what episode are you on?” Jack asks as soon as he sees the TV, before Niall realizes he’s not alone.
“Fuck man!” He jumps to his feet, holding his hand to his chest. “Make a noise next time asshole!” He glares at me before looking at Jack. His eyes soften when he responds, “Series eleven, the pastry episode, I just started it a few minutes ago if you want to join me?”
Jack’s face turns crimson at Niall’s obvious eyefucking. I clear my throat, bringing the attention back to me.
“Yea we’re not going to have time for that today, Are C and Loki here?” I ask.
“Yea they’re in Lo’s room, what’s up?” Niall’s eyebrow raises nearly to his hairline.
“Give me a minute and we’ll all talk,” I say as I walk toward the back of the studio. I knock on the door to Loki’s room. “Put your dick away, C. I need you both up front now,” I call through the door, hearing an exasperated “Fuck” through the wall.
I walk back up and lean against the counter, waiting for the others. Jack and Niall are talking about the show and Jack is going on about how he doesn’t have a favorite episode but is obsessed with the entirety of the 2018 season.
After a few moments, I hear Loki’s door open, and they walk out, heads down like they are a couple of kids with their hands caught in the cookie jar.
“I don’t give a shit if y”all fuck as long as no one is here. Just don’t be stupid about it.” I roll my eyes knowing damn well I have no room to speak considering the first time I took Ry was inside of Alchemy Ink. “That’s not why I wanted you two out here,” I continue.
Niall stands, ready to interrupt me, but I put my hand up, motioning for him to wait.
“I’m moving back to Central Falls, effective immediately.” Lo’s hand goes to their mouth, their eyes showing the shock they’re feeling as I continue. “I’m not closing the shop here and I will come back occasionally. However, if one or all of you are at a point that you’d like to buy me out together we can talk terms.”
“Ryan?” C asks as he rubs a hand over his shaved scalp a sly smile on his face as he wraps an arm around Loki’s waist.
“Of course. Her brother Jack even came to help me pack so I could get back sooner to surprise her.” I grin back at him.
“I’m so happy for you, boss man, but shit. I’m gonna miss you!” Lo says as they run toward me, wrapping their arms around me. Long, pink, just-fucked hair tickles my nose a second before they pull away. I barely hold back a chuckle.
“Thanks, kid. Now, if any of you need anything while we’re figuring out next steps, please reach out. I’m only a call away and if I need to come back for anything, I will.” C steps forward to pull Loki away as he and I shake hands.
Niall is the last one to move. “I have been telling you to go back home since I met you, Your heart was always back there with her, man.” His wide grin warms my heart. “Congrat’s, dude.” He pulls me in for a half hug, patting my shoulder before backing away.
After a few hours of back and forth, we’ve hammered out the specifics of how the shop is going to run while I’m gone, or at least until they determine if they want to buy me out. We finish up and Jack and I are finally ready to say goodbye. Lo wraps me in another embrace before C pulls them off of me chuckling. Loki has always been emotional and hates goodbyes, so I expected this reaction when I dropped the news on them today.
Jack and I head back out into the June heat and walk a block south to a restaurant to grab take out. We’re chatting for a bit as we eat, Jack telling me more about Bennett and how they met. While the visit may have started off on a sour note, the past few days of reconnecting with my best friend have been something I will cherish forever. Finally finishing our lunch, we make our way back to my condo. Packing the remaining items of Ellie’s, I put her on her harness and leash so she can walk out on her own like the proper lady she is instead of being shoved into a carrier. We place the few things of hers in the back of the U-haul before climbing in the cab. Jack settles into the passenger seat and takes Ellie from me when I pull myself up into the driver side.
As I pull away from what has been my home and city for the last few years, I feel a weight lifting from my chest.
I’m pulling onto the highway just as Jack’s phone rings. He smiles, and I know it’s one of two people calling. I’m putting my money on Bennett with how big the smile is though. Sure enough, he swipes at the screen before bringing the phone to his ear.
“Hey baby, we’re on our way ho—” He doesn’t finish the sentence when I notice his face fall. He goes white as a ghost a second later. “How long?” he asks.
I can’t make out the other end of the conversation, my heart is pounding so hard it may turn into a chestbuster.
“Do you have any leads?” Jack’s voice is low, and he’s holding back tears. I haven’t heard that kind of emotion since his mom passed away.
No, I shake the thought from my head. Absolutely not.
“It’s going to be a few days before we get back home. It’s a twenty-nine hour drive” His voice cracks as he speaks.
“What the fuck is going on,” I interupt him before my imagination conjures up anything worse than it already has.
“Pull over.” Jack looks at me before he goes back to the conversation. “I’ll call you when we have an ETA. I love you, baby.”
I pull over, putting the truck into park, staring at Jack while I wait for an answer.
“She’s missing. Her car and phone were found a mile from the airport the day we left.”
His words hit me with the force of a Mack truck.