Chapter Forty-One
Jayson
After dragging the slut from hell out of the restaurant and making sure she left, Connor looks at me and says, “Dude, what in the fucking hell were you thinking getting involved with that scary piece of trash?”
Flipping him off, I ask, “And all of your one night stands and hookups have been any better?”
He starts to say something else and it’s pissing me off. With a glare, I say, “Why don’t you shut up about both of our choices in sexual partners? I don’t have time to shoot the breeze with you. I have to get back to the shit show we just left. Mom and dad didn’t know anything about Chloe’s past and now she was just outed in front of them, not to mention it being embellished. I don’t even know what I am going to say when I get back in there.”
Connor shakes his head and says, “Let’s get back and hopefully you can do some damage control. Whatever I can do, I’ve got your back. For what it’s worth, I don’t think mom and dad are going to be the problem, especially not with mom getting crazy and defending Chloe.”
Confused, I ask, “Then what do you think is going to be the problem?”
Connor sighs and says, “J, you’ve got a runner on your hands. That’s how she deals with things; it’s how she protected herself because there was no one there to do it for her. A few days of good sex and spending time with the family are not going to replace three years of the conditioning she has put herself through.”
Deep down, I know he is right. I’m just hoping she is still there when we get back inside. Walking back in, I breathe a sigh of relief because she is still sitting at our table. After settling back into our seats, we struggle to find a normal topic of conversation. Of course, my mom has to let Chloe know that no matter what we are all here for here. Chloe leans into me and I feel the tenseness in my chest let up. My parents begin talking about their plans for the backyard; my dad has this obsession with an outdoor kitchen. Finally, our food gets here and the talk dies down for a while as we all eat.
I keep looking over at Chloe and she has the look on her face like she is eating mud. I know it can’t be the food; she has to still be upset over what happened. I’m doing my best to show her how much I care, but she seems to be off in her own little world. Past experience tells me that this is not a good thing. ‘
Suddenly, she excuses herself to the restroom and I notice her telling Madison not to come. That seems strange because it is almost set in stone that girls go to the bathroom in pairs. She leans down and kisses me and I decide I am being paranoid; I need to put all of this behind us and enjoy our night.
Because I’ve been so busy talking to my dad, I don’t notice that Chloe hasn’t come back. I look over and see Madison whispering to Connor while looking towards the bathroom.
She pulls out her phone and opens up an app and then I hear, “Son of a bitch; I knew she wasn’t going to the bathroom. Her phone shows she is on the move. It looks like it is heading towards our apartment.”
I hear Madison’s words, but my brain isn’t taking in the meaning of what she is actually saying.
Sitting there, I just stare at her until Connor says, “Jayson, Chloe left…she is gone! Are you hearing us?”
Slowly, my mind starts to take it in and I feel a red hot heat cover my body. Motherfucker! She actually left me again ; I can’t believe that she would or could do this! She just up and left without a word to anyone. If she wanted to leave, I would have gotten her out of there in a heartbeat. Instead she actually goddamned kissed me, then fucking left me sitting here. I’m so livid right now that I feel my heart rate spiking and my blood pressure shooting up. I hear everyone talking at once, but it just sounds like white noise to me. I thought we had gotten through this, but obviously I was wrong.
Trying to be rational, I tell myself that she just went through a terrible shock with Alyssa humiliating her in front of my parents. Although it wasn’t as if everyone turned on her. My own mom stood up for her and told her it didn’t matter. I know I’ve made it clear to her that what happened in the past didn’t affect the present or our future. But, this fucking shit she just pulled, it may have a huge impact on our future.
Standing up, I tell Connor and Madison that I’m going after her. Striding away from the table without saying goodbye, my dad catches me by the arm. I have always looked up to my dad because he’s quiet and steady, which is most likely why he makes such a great doctor.
With concern on his face, he says, “Jayson, you need to calm down and think about this rationally. Obviously, she left for a reason and you need to respect that.”
I love my dad, but in this case he is wrong. “No dad,” I say, “the only thing I need to do is find her and spank the ever-loving shit out of her. I’m tired of all of this going back and forth. I don’t know what else I can do to show her I’m not leaving her or that I love her.”
He just shakes his head and it’s apparent that he disagrees with me. “All I am telling you is that you are treading on thin ice here. Maybe Chloe isn’t emotionally healthy enough for the type of relationship you want from her.”
Those words strike fear in my heart because it isn’t something that I haven’t thought myself. I just can’t stand the idea of being without her, but I love her enough to give her up if that is what is best for her.
My mom sees the look on my face and says, “We have caused enough drama for one evening; I can’t believe we are even still allowed in the restaurant.”
Looking at the rest of our group, she tells Connor and Madison to go on and go home and they would stay and take care of the bill. Then she tells my dad to, “add a big ass tip to it” so maybe we can escape with some dignity. Finally, she motions for me to follow her outside.
Once we are away from the entrance of the restaurant, my mom wraps me up in a hug. I don’t know what is happening to me, but here I go wanting to cry again. I’m glad my junk is permanently attached or I would think I was turning into a woman!
Pulling back from me, she says, “Jayson, you know I don’t like to disagree with your father in front of other people, but in this case, he is wrong. Chloe needs you right now. No, I am not agreeing with what she did. It was a selfish move on her part to leave you and the rest of us hanging at the table. If it wasn’t for Madison’s phone app, I would have been scared to death that she had been taken or kidnapped. Son, you need to go to her; let her know that you love her, but be firm with her that these disappearing acts cannot keep happening. I admire Chloe greatly; I think she is very intelligent, but her emotional responses have remained the same as when she went through her traumatic experience. So, give her a break, but not too big of one. Whatever you do, and don’t think I didn’t hear the part about spanking, don’t do anything out of anger or you will lose her forever.”
Knowing my mom is right, I feel my anger receding somewhat. I give my mom a hug and walk over to Connor and Madison.
I ask Madison, “Does it show if she has stopped yet or is she still moving?”
Madison pulls out her phone and clicks on the Family Map app and says, “It shows that her phone, at least, is at our apartment.” With a suspicious look, she says, “Why, what are you going to do?”
Before I can answer, Connor says, “He’s going to spank the hell out of her ass until she can’t sit down and then he’s going to fuck her into next week.”
Madison gasps and slaps Connor on the shoulder while telling him he is being an asshole.
I smile at her and say, “Something like that.”
Shaking her head at me, she says, “If that is your tactic to fixing things, it is either going to go very well or you will be minus a testicle and a girlfriend.” I shrug my shoulders and say, “We’ll see what happens…whatever it is…it will either be the beginning or the end of us.”
With tears in her eyes, Madison hugs me and hands me her house keys.
Connor walks part of the way with me and says, “Be sure you don’t hurt her, but you need to get her attention.”
I look at him strangely, but I’m too tired to question him. With a quick hug from my ever-surprising brother, I walk towards my truck wondering if I’m about to lose my world all over again.