Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
JAYSON
Rubbing the grit from my eyes, I stumble into the kitchen in a desperate search for caffeine. I slept like shit last night after Julien told me Ryder had spent all day with Liz. Fucking go-karts and arcade games. I’ve tried texting her a few times over the past week, and other than polite hellos, she has avoided me, and it’s making me jealous of the time she is spending with my brother and Ryder.
Julien keeps telling me to be patient, but all I can think is how I’ve lost a year with my girl. How she was hurt and in pain, and I wasn’t there to take care of her. How scared she must have been when she woke up and couldn’t remember anything. I want to make it better for her. I want my girlfriend back.
As I pour myself a very large cup of coffee, Ryder comes strolling in wearing board shorts and a swim shirt. I pass my mug to him and grab another from the cupboard.
“Thanks.”
“You look like you’re heading out to the beach,” I comment.
“I’m taking Elizabeth surfing.”
I’m surprised the coffee mug in my hand doesn’t shatter under the pressure I’m strangling it with.
“Liz doesn’t surf.”
“She wants to try it out,” is his reply.
Ryder finishes his coffee and starts to pack a cooler with snacks.
“Hold on. You were just with Liz all day yesterday.”
“Yeah, and?” He looks over at me, a challenge in the way he cocks his head my way.
“And nothing. Forget I said anything.” I back down even though I’m pissed as hell. “Why don’t Jules and I join you?”
“Join what?” Julien heads straight for the fridge. His hair is still wet from the shower he took after his run this morning.
“Join him and Liz today at the beach.”
“I’m in, but Elijah has to work today,” Jules says and chugs down a protein drink.
Ryder throws a few bottles of water in the cooler and closes it. “Not up to me. You need to ask her.”
I hold up a finger and dial her number. It takes two rings for Liz to pick up.
“Hello?” she answers a little too hesitantly for my liking.
“Good morning, Princess.”
“Good morning, Jayson. I’m putting you on speaker.”
Muffled noises come over the line and a clack that sounds like a cabinet slamming shut, then the gurgle of a coffee maker.
“I’ve only got a minute,” she says.
I despise the invisible distance between us. It feels like an impossible chasm to traverse, but I won’t give up.
“Jules and I want to know if we can crash your beach day.” I try to sound cheerful, but when Liz doesn’t answer for several seconds, my enthusiasm dissipates quickly. “Liz?”
I hear her sigh. “Yeah. Is Ryder there?”
“Yeah, he’s here.”
“Can you give him the phone, please?”
I grit my teeth. “Yeah. Hold on.” I shove my phone at him. “She wants to talk with you.”
He takes it and walks down the hallway to his bedroom.
“Hey, I’m here,” is all I catch before he shuts his bedroom door.
“Motherfucker,” I growl.
“Jay, let it go.”
“Easy for you to say. You’ve gotten to spend time with her. That’s all I want, Jules—just to spend some goddamn time with her. I don’t care where or when or how. It’s not fair.”
“I know. You know I know, and I get it. Time and patience, brother.”
Ryder walks back in and hands me my phone.
“What’s the verdict?”
“She suggested we meet up for lunch later.”
Oh, this asshole.
“What the fuck, Ry?”
“You don’t like it, take it up with her.”
He knows I won’t do that.
“Fine. Where and what time?”
“Around noon at Seaside Grille on Pier 3.” Ry grabs his bag and cooler. “Jay, I know this sucks, but if we’re going to be a part of her life right now, we can’t push, and we have to defer to what she wants, not what we want. It’ll get better,” he promises and pats me on the shoulder before walking out.