Chapter Thirty-Two #2
Never mind, they could go dancing in different kinds of clubs in New York.
And whenever they came back to visit Mimi, she’d try teaching him again.
Maybe Colt could help her; he had a spring in his step.
After Mitch and Kit placed fourth in team calf roping at a small rodeo last month, Colt considered himself sufficiently warmed up to Mitch. It only took him almost four years.
The song finished to a round of roaring applause from both dancers and the audience.
Lyla hugged her tightly. “Thanks, Jacks! It was awesome!”
Jackie laughed, hugging her back. “You’re welcome.”
Lyla looked into her eyes, her expression serious. “You know I love you like the sister I never had, right? I’m only sad we won’t be at the same med school, but we’ll still live together, and I can’t wait to become kick-ass doctors at the same time!”
Jackie blinked back a stray tear at this unexpected outpouring of emotion. Lyla was normally the opposite of sentimental. Even though she could’ve guessed she felt that way about their friendship, her heart swelled as she heard her say it.
“I love you even more, Ly. First day at UT was the best day of my life. Not only I got you as my roomie, but I met Mitch.” Dimples dug into her cheeks.
Lyla nodded. “Glad we’re on the same page. Now, excuse me, but Nick promised me a dance and I’m sure he hoped I’d forget, but I never forget anything.”
Jackie snorted, watching her walk away. She pushed her sweat-licked hair off her forehead, swaying her hips as she walked to Mitch. “Like what you see?”
He growled, pulling her close. “You were amazing out there.”
She bowed her head. “Well, thank you. Guess needing to learn that dance at school had its perks.”
He leaned in and kissed her on the mouth.
“Carrying Your Love With Me” by George Strait came on, completely flipping the atmosphere in the bar.
Lyla dragged Nick onto the dance floor, where so many other couples were swaying to the soft sound.
Jackie tugged on Mitch’s hand. “Let’s dance.”
He let her lead him onto the dance floor, planting both of his hands on her hips.
She laced her fingers behind his neck, resting her head on top of his chest.
Her heart rammed against her ribcage, its beat synchronizing with his breathing the moment their bodies connected. They fitted together like a custom-made two-piece puzzle.
His fingers moved up her spine achingly slowly. “You know I’m going to marry you one day, right?”
Jackie closed her eyes, letting out a fully contented sigh. “I hope so.”
“There’s nothing to hope for when it comes to us. I’m all in.”
They swayed on the spot, arms wrapped tightly around each other.
His words spurred her heart into a gallop. “So am I.”
If you are, you can’t keep secrets from him. You need to tell him about these damn letters.
The song finished, but Mitch didn’t let her go. “Because you and me? We belong together. It’s as simple as that.”
Jackie lifted her head, kissing the corner of his lips.
She’d tell him, soon. But not right now. There’d be plenty of time for that. Now, she would sneak him into the bathroom and have her quick way with him.
“Thank you for walking me home,” Jackie said two hours later, when they reached the bottom of her street.
“Of course. Though I have an ulterior motive.” Mitch squeezed her hand. “Lyla’s staying over at Nick’s, and with Amber out …”
“Let me guess, you want to come in.”
Mitch shrugged. His eyes snuck along her body. “I like waking up next to you.”
She liked it too, very much so. Welcoming a new day with his strong arms around her infused her with an inexplicable courage. She couldn’t wait to share his bed every day for the rest of their lives.
“Will you bring me coffee in the morning?” she asked.
He rocked their hands up in the air, eliciting a giggle from her. “I’ll even make you pancakes.”
Jackie beamed at him. “Choc chip ones?”
“As long as you have any chips left.”
A line creased her forehead, as she tried to remember the contents of their kitchen cupboards. She didn’t register a figure sitting at the bottom of the stairs to her building.
“Fred, what are you doing here this late?” Mitch asked.
Jackie shook off her musings, zeroing her tipsy gaze in on her father. “Dad?”
Fred stood, nodding to Mitch. “Mitch, how are you? Fancy a round of golf on Sunday?”
Mitch furrowed his brow, pushing his hands in his pockets. He blinked, before answering: “Maybe—” Mitch started, surprise and unease echoing in his tone, but Jackie cut him off.
“I thought you weren’t back for another two weeks. Is Mom okay?”
“She’s fine, nothing’s wrong. I got back earlier and thought I’d surprise you.” Fred smiled at her. “Though, it seems like I should’ve called.”
Jackie’s frown deepened. Since she’d received the first letter from Weronika, her relationship with her father had been a bit frostier.
He didn’t seem to fully know how to behave around her, and Jackie was annoyed at him for walking on eggshells.
She wanted her entire family to give these stupid letters a rest.
“It’s almost midnight, Dad,” she said.
“You know how it is with time zones.” Fred laughed, but it sounded hollow.
Mitch shifted awkwardly by her side. “Do you want me to go? You can catch up with your dad and I’ll see you in the morning.”
Jackie looked at him, unsure of what was happening. She blinked. “But I wanted pancakes.”
Mitch chuckled, hooking his pinkie with hers and placing a quick kiss in the middle of her forehead. “I’ll buy everything we need and come round early. You can stay in bed until I bring you a plate, and a coffee.”
She nodded, her gaze moving to her father. What could he possibly want, out of the blue and at such a later hour?
“See you later, Fred.” Mitch pushed his hands in his pockets and turned to head home.
“I’ll text you about Sunday!” Fred called after him.
Jackie crossed her arms, her right eye twitching. “You’re scaring me. What’s the matter?”
Fred chewed on the inside of his cheek. He cleared his throat. “Let’s get inside.”
She didn’t remember how she got her keys out of her bag or how they found themselves in her living room.
Slumping into a worn velvet armchair, she raised a brow when Fred started pacing the room. Tequila was fuzzing her vision a bit; everything was slower, or perhaps she was just tipsy. “Clearly, everything isn’t all right. Tell me what’s going on, Dad. You’re freaking me out.”
He stopped in the middle of the room. Overhead light illuminated his face and Jackie’s gaze traced the shadows under his eyes; his normally clean-shaved face was covered with a short stubble. His fingers shook as he dragged them across his jaw.
“Have you heard of Huntington’s disease?” he asked quietly.
Jackie leaned forward, propping her elbows on her knees. She grimaced, willing herself to focus. “I’m going to Columbia med in the fall, of course I’ve heard of Huntington’s. It’s a neurodegenerative genetic disease. A very cruel one. There’s no cure.”
Fred drew in a sharp inhale as he sat on the couch, cradling his face in his hands.
“Why are you asking me about Huntington’s in the middle of the night, Dad?”
He didn’t respond right away, instead blowing a pained breath through his fingers.
Jackie’s heart froze mid-beat. “Please tell me you don’t have Huntington’s.”
Slowly, Fred lifted his head and put his hands on his knees.
He looked her in the eye, and the weight of utter anguish in their depths stole her breath away.
“No, sweetheart. I’m fine. But Weronika has it.
And she’s been declining over the past few months.
That’s why she sent you those letters. She wanted to get to know you before she dies.
She wanted to apologize. That’s why she called me yesterday.
Apparently, she doesn’t have much time left. ”
Jackie frowned, feeling like either her brain was too dazed by the tequila, or her father wasn’t making much sense. “Apologize for what? Leaving me?”
He shook his head, his face crumpling. “For giving you a fifty-fifty chance of inheriting it from her.”