Chapter 41 #3
The first table was covered in pizzas with an array of toppings to suit everyone’s tastes.
Another table was bearing platters of hot dogs, hamburgers, wings, and a large basket filled with an assortment of chips.
The last table was a taco and nacho bar.
I had no doubt that the food was delicious and would be annihilated over the course of the night.
I saw a chest freezer at the end of the tables and as I walked closer, through the glass doors, I could see that it was fully stocked with novelty ice cream treats and popsicles.
Closer to the firepit was a tent that contained giant troughs full of ice. In the ice were different types of beer and malt beverages. Another contained different juices and soda, while a table bore at least twenty bottles of spirits, cups, and an ice dispenser.
Around the fire were chairs and benches set up for people to sit. Picnic tables were set up for people to sit and eat at if they wanted. As I drew closer to the fire, I noticed another table that had long roasting forks, marshmallows, graham crackers, and chocolate bars ready for ‘smores making.
“Wow, you and Bonnie really put a lot of thought and effort into this.”
“I wasn’t sure how everything was going to pan out. I wanted to end things on a positive note no matter how everything else played out.”
“Looks like I’m not the only smart one,” I teased.
“Don’t announce it to the world. I am the brawn, not the brains of the operation.” He gave me a cheesy grin. “Do you want a drink?”
“Sure, just get me whatever. I think I am going to go grab a slice of pizza.”
“Okay, I will find you.” He started toward the tent.
I made my way to the table that held the pizzas. As I was looking over the options, I felt someone come up behind me. Thinking it was Maddox, I turned around with a smile on my face that quickly faded as soon as I saw Ronan’s face.
“Joslyn, I’m sorry, about earlier.”
“Oh, we aren’t Ms. Lawson anymore?” I said, as I brought my eyes back to the pizza.
There were so many options that I was having a little trouble deciding and Ronan’s presence wasn’t helping me.
“I know dat I am not part of de five people dat are tasked wit making dose types of decisions. What ‘appened with Scott and Alexander isn’t something dat should concern me. I just worry about ye, and I don’t want others putting pressure on ye to make decisions dat ye might not necessarily want to.”
“No one is making me do anything. I think that you want to think that—but it’s simply not true. I have gone into everything with an open mind and didn’t let what others said cloud my judgment. I know you don’t believe me, but I am consciously doing things. I am aware. I have my eyes wide open.”
“Even more of a reason for me to apologize. I don’t want ye to look at me like someone dat ye ‘ave to fight wit to get yer point across. I am supposed to be de person dat listens. Dat helps ye, not tell ye what I think ye are doing wrong. It is not me place, and I am truly sorry.”
“I appreciate your apology. I want you to be able to do your job without your feelings for me, clouding your judgment. I am sorry that I didn’t make sure that it was what I wanted when I got involved with you.
I was hurting, and you were a reprieve—something that took my mind off the pain that I was dealing with.
I was in love with the idea of being with the boy I loved as a child.
I never meant to hurt you and for that I am truly sorry. ”
“I am not sorry dat it ‘appened. I know it’s not right, but I miss ye in dat way. I know dat’s not what ye want anymore. I am trying to work on accepting dat. I am normally good at it, but dere ‘ave been a lot of really big things ‘appening lately. I am a little off me game.”
“I try not to regret anything I do in my life because even the smallest things could end up being a huge part of who I am as a person. I do regret hurting you though—you are a good guy.”
“I am not always a good guy. Pretty sure I wished horrible things on yer boyfriend out of pure jealousy.”
“That’s part of being human. Don’t let it eat you up.” I smiled at him, trying to convey that I wasn’t harboring any ill will. “I think Maddox may hold a grudge, but I can’t tell him what to do any more than he can tell me.”
“I do care for ye, Joslyn, and if ye need anything I will be ‘ere for ye. Even if it’s just to pick up de pieces dat he leaves ye in.”
“We will have to agree to disagree on that.”
“Fair enough. So, can I meet wit ye tomorrow and we can get down to educating ye on dis new part of yer life? I know ye are eager to learn.”
“I will get in touch with you tomorrow and we can meet up. I want to lay out a plan to allow me to gain as much knowledge as possible without overloading my brain.”
“I look forward to it.” He smiled, and I could tell that he wanted to hug me—but he didn’t.
It could very well have been because Maddox was approaching, our drinks in hand. Ronan turned and left before Maddox reached the pizza table.
“What did he want?”
“He wanted to apologize and offered to help me study all the things I need to know.”
“I am personally done with him. I can’t trust him anymore. I don’t think you should either. That, however, is not my decision to make. I won’t tell you what to do—I know you love it when people do that.”
“Aw, you know me so well.” My words were laden with sarcasm as I put my hand on his forearm and took a drink. I brought my attention back to the pizza table and grabbed a slice. “Let’s go by the fire.”
As we approached, it looked as though everyone was grabbing food and making their way over. Bonnie was dressed in a knit sweat suit that was pale green in color. She was standing at the table nearest the fire unpackaging the graham crackers and chocolate.
“You outdid yourself again, Bonnie. This is an upscale kegger if I’ve ever seen one.”
“You flatter me.” She made a face, faking shyness.
I finished my slice of pizza and chased it with the beer Maddox brought me. Matthew and Oscar walked over from the food tent together—plates piled high. They found seats, while Heather and Lex trailed behind them—each eating an ice cream.
“Heather, are there any strawberry shortcake bars?” I started to get up from where I sat next to Maddox and handed him my bottle. “I will be right back.”
“Yeah, those and the chocolate ones.”
I hurried past the ladies making my way to the freezer—that somehow had managed to slip my mind.
I opened the glass door to get a better look because the front of the glass was currently fogged over.
I found the ice cream I was looking for and grabbed two of them.
I let the door shut and jogged back to the fire.
I handed one of the prepackaged treats to Maddox and sat down again.
“Thanks, baby.”
I smiled at him as I opened the wrapper and pulled it out by the stick.
I took a bite and closed my eyes—so I could taste it better.
The texture was soft and cold with a burst of strawberry flavor, and the crunchy bits—those were my favorite part.
It reminded me of my childhood. Charlotte and I would ride our bikes near the street.
We always made sure to have some money in our pockets, just in case the ice cream truck rang the bell nearby.
“Has anyone seen Charlotte and Alexander since the gala ended?”
“My guess is they will either be with us shortly or they aren’t coming at all. At least not here,” Maddox whispered to me.
I heard a few people giggle and realized what he meant immediately. I felt silly for not coming to that conclusion on my own.
“Yeah, I guess that was a dumb question.”
“There is no such thing as a dumb question,” Maddox responded.
“You have been alive, how long? I have only been alive for twenty-six years and I know that’s a lie.”
A few people laughed at that, too. The night wore on and people drank quite a lot.
Stories were traded—mostly about Xavier.
It had become a memorial, with people recalling when they first met him.
How much he had believed in Alexander, and his hope that he would eventually come around to the idea of working with The Order.
They talked about how he was pretty involved with a human woman for about four years.
Oscar had mentioned that Xavier kept that part of his life totally separate.
None of them had ever met her—only heard of her.
“He loved her. He told me that he didn’t want to expose her to the dangers that came along with dating him.”
“That’s really sad. If he loved her and wanted to be with her, couldn’t he leave if he wanted?”
“Sometimes we have to be two things at once. You should understand that. Xavier did what he thought was best for her. She knew everything, but he never wanted her near us. I believe Alexander knew her, because of how close him and Xavier were.”
Maddox turned to me as he spoke. “If you weren’t entrenched in this life already and you would have chosen not to accept the position—I would have left you alone.
I wouldn’t subject you to any of this so I could be with you.
That is why you are the first human I have been with since I was turned.
I would feel guilty—like I ruined your life. ”
“Then I’m glad this is my lot in life. You get to be my partner, and I don’t have to miss out on being loved by you.” He leaned forward and pressed his lips to mine.
“Awwww.” I couldn’t see them to know who it was, but about five voices in unison rang through the air. I blushed immediately.
“That’s a different kind of blush. That one is adorable.”
He smiled at me as he put his arm around my shoulders, pulling me against him on the bench. I settled into him and grabbed my beer.
The party kept going until the sun started to peek over the horizon. It was at that point that we all decided to head to our respective dwellings and get some sleep. We had matters to discuss when we woke up.