Chapter 17
Seventeen
Jaclyn
Present
“Can I get the Pasta alla Norma and the kid’s pizza please?” Natalia asks before giving the menu to the waiter.
“I’ll just get the tomato soup.” I set down the menu and he takes it.
“Can I get you guys anything else? Maybe drinks from our specialty menu?”
Natalia raises an eyebrow at me. “I’m good. Thank you. The water is fine.”
“I’ll get a glass of your best wine. White, please,” Natalia says.
The waiter nods his head and then leaves our table.
It’s the next day.
I couldn’t sleep all night because all I could think about was Hayden and the feel of him.
The way his lips caressed mine and how his warm, rough hands held my face, making me feel like I was special and delicate.
I’m not going to sit and lie and say that I don’t miss him because god, after yesterday I miss him. I miss how he would hold me and touch me.
But then the memories of that night come back into my mind and I’m back to wanting to protect myself and my peace.
I may not be happy but at least I’m at peace.
But at what cost?
“So who’s coming?” I ask Natalia while sipping on my water.
Lilah is sitting next to her, watching something on her tablet instead of paying attention to our conversation.
She is kind of like Junior.
He is always wanting to watch TV or a video on his tablet or my phone. I sometimes don’t let him because I hate how focused he is on that. Sometimes I let him watch TV while we eat but only on rare occasions. Most of the time I want to talk to Junior about his day at school, what he learned, what he did, or how he got along with his friends and classmates.
Natalia arrived in Italy this morning and immediately wanted to have lunch. She also said a few people will be joining us which makes me assume it’s my old friends from college.
“Chris is coming with Max, Max’s boyfriend, and Kayden.”
I widen my eyes because how in the hell does Max have a boyfriend? “I didn’t know Max had a boyfriend.”
“They started dating like two or three years ago. After you left, he kind of hit a dry spell I guess, saying no one attracted him and he was just bored. But one night at a club he met Martin, his boyfriend, and they both got drunk before hooking up.”
“I would have never guessed he would run that way. He always seemed so cocky with girls.” I chuckle lightly and Natalia nods her head.
She looks behind me and her smile widens. “Speak of the devil.”
“Well if it isn’t Jaclyn Marie fucking King.” I turn my head and see Max. My smile widens and I stand up before bringing him into a hug. “Knew you couldn’t stay away from me forever, diner girl.”
I laugh and let go of him. I take a good look at Max and notice a major difference with him. He has short, platinum blonde hair instead of dark brown hair. He looks good with this hair color. I would never expect him to rock light colored hair but it looks charming on him. It fits him really well.
“You look great, Max. I love the new hair.”
Max smirks. “Me? You look just as beautiful as I remember.”
I force a smile on my face at the comment.
He’s fucking lying.
I mean look at you.
I look behind Max and see Kayden standing next to a guy I don’t know. “Hi, Kayden.” I walk towards him and hug him. He hugs me back. I have missed Kayden. He is the kind of friend that everyone needs in their life. Kayden listens and won’t judge, no matter how bad or crazy you are or sound. I let go of him. “How are you?”
Kayden still looks the same. Brown hair, light eyes, and the same brooding look on his face.
“I’m good. Have been busy with work mostly but I had to come out and see if you weren’t just a ghost and if Max was being serious about you being in Italy,” Kayden says. “How are you?”
“I’m good,” I say and smile, making sure he doesn’t see the facade.
But Kayden knows.
He is observant just like Hayden. “Okay,” Kayden says before nodding his head.
He knows I’m full of bullshit.
Max introduces me to his boyfriend Martin before we all sit down. Chris is sitting next to Lilah with Natalia next to her. I am sitting next to Max and Kayden with Martin on the other side of Max.
“Hayden couldn’t make it. He has to do some things with Rowan and Killian.”
Kayden rolls his eyes. “Better not be doing stupid shit.”
“He always does stupid shit,” Max chuckles.
“Killian is a horrible influence on Hayden. Rowan is the only one who keeps him in check,” Kayden mutters.
“Who are Killian and Rowan?” I ask.
“Killian is Hayden’s boss slash friend and Rowan is Hayden’s older brother.”
My eyes widen. Natalia had mentioned this but never explained. “Brother?”
Kayden looks at me and nods. “It’s a long story.”
One that I would like to know.
I can’t believe I wasn’t there for Hayden when he met his biological brother. It makes me feel like shit that I left him alone and wasn’t there for him when he found his brother.
“Anyways. Let’s change the subject,” Max says before turning his attention to Kayden. “This motherfucker won’t take pictures of me and Martin.”
“Because I don’t feel like taking pictures of you two having sex. Sorry.”
Max’s jaw drops and he looks like he wants to jump across the table and bitch slap Kayden. Martin chuckles and rests his hand on Max’s shoulder. “I’m going to kill you one day.”
“You keep saying that.” Kayden rolls his eyes before looking at me. “We have a lot to catch up on. Can you believe that Max was gay this whole time?”
“Shut up, dickhead. I am not gay, I’m bisexual. I like boys and girls,” Max says while glaring at Kayden.
“Do your parents know?” I ask.
I know Max’s parents are super strict and prejudiced.
Max nods his head. “I told them a month or two after I started dating Martin. When I told them they didn’t feel comfortable or happy with me swinging the other way. My father thought I was less of a man or whatever bullshit he makes up in his brain. My mother was more accepting. It just took her some time. She convinced my dad and they both had a talk with me and met Martin. Everything’s all good now.”
I smile while saying, “That’s great, Max. I’m happy for you. You look happy with Martin,” I say before looking at Martin as well.
Martin is looking at Max with love in his eyes and for a second I just wish I could have that.
When can I have that? Love seems so impossible now and all I want to do is give up sometimes.
But I know someone is out there for me who won’t leave.
There was and then you fucking ruined it.
God, I need to take my meds and possibly talk to Patience about these thoughts.
“Thank you. Martin makes me happy,” Max says, smiling at his boyfriend.
I look away from them when Max pecks Martin’s lips. I look at Kayden and his face looks similar to how I feel.
Longing, wanting, waiting.
But for the moment I fake the smile and pretend everything is fine because it is.
I need to focus on bettering myself.
I can’t focus on a guy, or Hayden, to be more specific.