Chapter 10
10
ZORA
I rub my tired eyes because I still can’t figure out whether I’m really awake. And why would I dream of Jackson of all people, after all this time?
It’s been twelve years since I’ve seen him in person. I’d seen a picture of him from the online new publication from the Champion Gazette but it couldn’t have prepared me for his larger than life presence.
He has the face of the of boy who used to torment me in high school, albeit more mature, but this version of him is all man. He seems taller than I remember if that’s even possible. A light stubble grazed his jawline, highlighting the sharpness of his features. His hair was slightly longer, falling just below his collar but it was still full, black and wavy.
His build was similar to the one he had in high school but his shoulders seemed broader and somehow he felt bigger, dwarfing over me like an intimidating harbinger of bad news.
It had to be bad news. Why else would he be here after all this time. We hadn’t spoken since that night An unidentifiable emotion welled within my chest? Anger? Anxiety? Annoyance? I couldn’t pinpoint which one exactly. Maybe it was all of them.
His eyes are still the startling aqua I remember them being and they slowly move along the length of me. It’s when I realize, I made a mistake answering the door in only my t-shirt and panties.
A slow smirk curves lips that have no business being so juicy and inviting for a creep like him. Despite all my years of therapy and training, all the resentment I’d once carried for him welled within me.
I won’t lie and say there weren’t times when I didn’t envision seeing him again. In most of those scenarios it was me slapping the shit out of him, but I guess that’s not happening, at least not while I’m in this state of undress.
“Is that how you usually answer the door?” His eyes are glued to my chest and that snaps me out of the shock of seeing him again.
I don’t know why he’s here, nor do I care.
I grip the doorhandle and attempt to slam the door in his face but before it can shut completely, he wedges his foot over the threshold. “That’s not very hospitable of you Zora especially since you don’t know what I’m here for.”
“You are neither invited nor welcomed so I don’t give a shit why you’ve come. You can leave the way you came.”
“Why would I leave when I’m treated to such a tempting sight?” Again those stormy eyes of his slide up and down my body like he’s appraising me for something. I’m not sure what but isn’t anything good.
His words take me back to that night twelve years ago when he pinned me against his bedroom wall and…
I shake my head to rid myself of memories I thought I’d long since buried. “If you don’t leave, I’m calling the police.”
Again he curves his lips into that knowing smirk, I’m starting to despise. “In this town? What do you think they’ll do when they arrive and see me?” He reaches into his pocket and pull out his phone. “I can save you the trouble and call them myself. I’ll do you an even bigger solid and call the chief. I was supposed to meet him for a game of golf tomorrow but what the hell, I’m sure he won’t mind the call.”
I’ve never wanted to punch someone in the face as much as I did in this moment, but he had a point. If the police showed up, in a town called Champion named after the ancestor of the asshole standing in front of me, I’m certain no one is going to take my side.
I’m exhausted, frustrated and sick with worry over my dad. And this demon standing on my doorstep isn’t helping matters.
I release a heavy sigh. “Just tell me why you’re here so you can leave.”
“I think you’ll need to sit down for what I have to tell you. How’s your father by the way?”
“How…? You know what I don’t care. I’m going to go put some clothes on. Just wait here.”
He licks his lips and grins. “You don’t have to change on my account. I like what you have on now. I just hope you don’t make a habit letting other men see you like this.”
I roll my eyes and head to my bedroom. I haven’t had a chance to unpack since my arrival so I dig through my suitcase for a bra and a pair of jeans. I catch my reflection in the full-length mirror that was mounted on my bedroom door and I shudder.
Did I really answer the door in my t-shirt and panties? The t-shirt barely covered my hips and the thinness of the material outlines my nipples. My ass is practically hanging out of my white bikini cut panties.
To top it off, I was still wearing my pink satin bonnet. I release a groan as I snatch it off and toss it on the nightstand. No wonder Jackson had stared at me funny.
As I get dressed, I contemplate what reason he could possibly have for coming to my house? We haven’t had contact since that night, and we’d never been friends yet I had a feeling that nothing good could come from his impromptu visit.
I give myself a quick glance in the mirror once I’m fully dressed. I grab a scrunchie off my nightstand to pull my two strand twists into a ponytail. This is the best he’s going to get. It’s not like I want to impress him anyway.
Of course he’s made himself comfortable in the living room, browsing through one of the magazines that cluttered the coffee table.
I cross my arms over my chest, annoyed by his presence. He was an invader. This is supposed to be my safe space which he’s not allowed in, yet here he is. “I didn’t say you could come in.”
He glances up from the magazine and grins. “You left the door open, so I assumed it was safe for me to enter.”
“Most people would have waited to be invited in.” I pinch the bridge of nose with my forefinger and thumb. My head is beginning to hurt from my lack of sleep and I simply don’t have the energy to argue with this man. “What are you doing here Jackson?”
“Maybe you should sit down. You don’t look so hot.”
I’m not sure if that’s a dig or genuine concern but I ignore his suggestion. “Just tell me why you’re here.”
He pulls himself up from the recliner he’d been seated on and straightens to his full height. Jackson made the already modest sized living room seem even smaller. “Then I’ll stand as well.”
I shrug. “Suit yourself.”
He stares at me for several silent moments and as the quiet lengthens I get a nervous ache in the pit of my stomach. I shift uncomfortably on my feet as I hope he’ll start talking.
“Well?” I prompt. I’m not sure why it’s so hard to look him directly in his face. Maybe it’s the brilliance of his eyes or because I’m not sure what he’s thinking.
“I wish I could have come here under better circumstances but as it stands, I need your help.”
I place my hand on my chest. “My help?” I snort. “What could poor little me possibly help the great Jackson Champion with.”
“Cut the sarcasm. It’s not like you.”
This motherfucker.
“You don’t even know me, Jackson. Not beyond what you and your cronies used to say about me.”
A muscle twitches along the side of his face. Perhaps I’ve hit a nerve.
“I know you better than you think Zora. But I’ll get to the point. I need to know where I can locate your brother.”
I furrow my brows. This conversation has taken a turn down a road I didn’t expect. Langston graduated four ahead of us, before we even started high school. As far as I know, Jackson and Langston would have no reason to cross paths.
“Langston?”
He raises a brow and smirks. “Do you have another brother I don’t know about?”
I wave my hand around the room. “As you can see, he’s not here.” I didn’t feel like volunteering any information further than that. Not like I could anyway. I haven’t seen or heard from that idiot brother of mine in ages.
“Clearly, he isn’t but I need to get in contact with him. I’m sure you have a number I can reach him by.”
“Nope.”
“I see. Perhaps I should ask your father if he’s been in contact with him.”
I stiffen. “My father isn’t available.”
“Then maybe I can wait around until he is.”
I clench my fists at my side trying desperately not to physically attack this bastard. “My father won’t be home for a while and he isn’t in a position to see visitors at the moment. Just tell me what it is you want with Langston and when I see my dad again I’ll ask him if he knows.”
“Where is your father?”
“What is this? Twenty questions? Who is it that you really want to see? Langston or my dad?”
“Langston. Look Zora, I’m not going to beat around the bush. Your brother is in a lot of legal and financial trouble. And he’s disappeared.”
My heart sinks because I know the first person Langston turns to whenever he’s in a bind is my father. It’s why my dad’s health and finances are in the shambles they are. My dad can’t hear of this, not now. Not in his current state. The added stress would probably kill him.”
“What kind of legal trouble?” I ask softly, almost too frightened to hear the answer.
Jackson nods toward the couch. “Maybe you’d like to take that seat now.”
This time I don’t argue. I walk about to the sofa and perch on the edge. I clench my hands together to stop them from shaking. How much more bad news could possibly be piled on me.
First time debt, the foreclosure, my father’s heath issues and now this. I don’t know if it’s because I haven’t slept in nearly 24 hours, the stress of worrying about my dad, or that I can’t remember the last time I’ve eaten. But it all comes crashing down on me.
And like a damaged dam that was holding back the floods the best it can, all my emotions break through, and I burst into a violent stream of sobs.
In front of the worst person in the world.