When Tomorrow Never Comes (15 page)

I couldn’t wait to get home to find out what had happened with Jayce, but at the same time a part of me was reluctant to know.

I wanted to shelter myself.

It was the only way to avoid getting hurt again.

Dear Diary,

It’s been a week since I saw you last and honestly it hurts. I miss seeing you, even if you were only memories. I wish I could talk to you one last time…

At the end of the school day I rush to get out of the school before Liam had the chance to offer me a ride home.

I wasn’t ready to go home yet.

Instead I wanted to walk.

There was a small pond on the way that I wanted to stop at so I could gather my thoughts together and sort through my feelings.

I figured that it would also be a good place where I could talk to Cole.

I got the whole idea from a poster I had seen somewhere. It had been of a man sitting on a bench overlooking an amazing view of a beach somewhere.

The question that was beside the picture was what had caught my attention most of all.

It had asked a simple question. If you could bring one person back from heaven to talk with for an hour, who would you choose to share that time with?

My answer to that question was simple.

I would bring back Cole.

If I had the chance to talk with him for an hour I would ask him why he had decided to leave me all alone, and then I would apologize.

Walking through the parking lot I ignore Liam as he calls out.

Instead of listening to him telling me to stop I move faster.

Halfway down the road his voice fades away and I breathe out a sigh of relief as I continue on my way towards that little bench beside the pond that was calling my name.

It only takes me a couple of minutes to make my way to the small park.

I turn onto the short path that would take me to the bench overlooking the pond.

Once I spot the bench I sigh softly as I slowly approach it.

I don’t know why but as I moved closer to the bench it felt as if a heavy weight was being placed upon my shoulders, a weight that I had thought was gone.

Sitting down on the rugged wooden bench I close my eyes as I lean back, allowing the light breeze to fan over my face.

It felt as if Cole was brushing a soft kiss against my cheek.

Opening my eyes again they quickly fill with tears as my emotions get the better of me.

Instead of talking like I had wanted to only a small whimper leaves my lips.

Quietly Liam sits down on the bench next to me before wrapping his arm around my shoulders as I lean my head against his shoulder.

As we sit there together I cry silently as his hand rubs my arm up and down in a soothing manner.

It was the first time in a long time that I had felt this comfortable with him. I wasn’t fighting against any unwanted feelings and he wasn’t pushing for me to spill my emotions to him.

We were just two friends sitting together remembering a loved one.

Once upon a time we really had been good friends, but that had been lost the day that we had taken that step towards something more.

“I miss just being friends with you.” I whisper softly, breaking the silence that had surrounded us.

“I’m still your friend, Eve. That never changed.” Liam replies softly. “You can still talk to me like we use to.”

“How can I talk to you like that, we aren’t just friends anymore, Liam?” I sigh as I gaze up at him.

“I know, but I can ignore my emotions. You know I’d do anything to make you happy. That’s all that matters to me.” He replies.

Nodding my head I turn my attention back to the pond.

The sun was setting behind us casting a soft glow across the top of the water as the darkness seeped in around the edges.

The trees were shadowing us like a blanket and the cool air was growing colder with every breath we breathed in.

Our moment is cut short when car lights bath over us and a car door opens before slamming shut.

Liam glances back before letting out a low string of curses.

I’m about to ask him what was wrong but Jayce storms his way up beside me.

“What are you doing, Eve?” Jayce growls out as he pins Liam with a glare. “Why are you here, alone, with him?”

Ignoring Jayce I glance up to Liam. “Can you take me home now?”

He nods. “Yeah, I can take you home now.”

Standing to his feet Liam holds his hand out to me while keeping his eyes on Jayce.

Once I’m on my feet I let Liam’s hand free before moving around the bench and towards Liam’s car that was parked next to Jayce’s.

“Eve, what the hell…” Jayce barks out as we leave him behind.

It was a childish move but I was only treating him how he had when he had left me earlier this morning.

He could talk to me later when he wasn’t sizing up Liam.

I wasn’t about to play games with Jayce. Either he was in this relationship with me fully or I was going to end it.

I didn’t want to feel as insecure as I had been feeling all day.

All I wanted was the truth, I needed some reassurance that he wasn’t just going to up and leave me behind, brokenhearted.

Liam holds the door open for me before shutting it to walk around to the other side.

Before he can open the driver’s side door Jayce steps into his way. “What do you think you’re doing with my girl?”

Liam only shakes his head with a laugh. “You need to check yourself, Jayce. Ask yourself why your girl is with me right now and why she’s refusing to talk to you. Maybe after I take her home you should try and talk to her.”

With that Liam pushes his way past Jayce in order to open his door before slipping in.

Jayce shuts his door for him and then walks away.

Sighing roughly Liam shakes his head and turns his keys to bring the car to life. “God, he’s an idiot.”

Sighing again Liam looks over at me. “He’s a lot like my brother was, you know.”

I nod my head and then lean it against the window as Liam places the car into reverse before shifting into drive.

As we pull away from the small park I stare out at Jayce as he stares back at me.

I silently beg for him to follow us. I needed him to follow us home so that I could talk to him and figure this all out.

Pulling up in front of my house Liam parks his car before turning in his seat to face me.

He takes my hand in his. “Are you going to be alright?”

I nod and smile. “I’ll be just fine, Liam.”

He nods and then reaches behind him before producing a cell phone. “Here I want you to have this. You need one in case something happens and you need to call someone for help.”

“I can’t take that from you.” I whisper.

“Yes, you can. It’s not exactly from me. Cole bought it and had me hide it. It was supposed to be a birthday gift. All I had to do was pay to activate it and I’ll continue to pay the bill for you.” Liam explains.

Taking the phone from his hand I smile down at it as I slide my fingers across the deep red sparkly case that enclosed it.

It was my favorite color.

I could even remember the day I had seen this exact case when I had been in the mall shopping with Cole.

“I can’t believe he bought this for me.” I whisper.

“He loved you, Eve.” Liam replies with a sad smile.

“Yes, he did and I broke his heart.” I whimper.

Not another word is said between us as I open my door and slip out.

Before I shut it I look inside at Liam. “I did love you too, you know.”

He smiles sadly as he nods and turns his attention forward. “I know.”

A second later I shut the door and watch as he drives off down the road away from my house and his.

I instantly find myself worried about him.

That worry fades away as another car pulls into the spot that Liam had just left.

It was Jayce this time.

He turns his car off before jumping out of it as I turn to walk up the sidewalk and into my house with him following close behind.

I stop in the entrance as Eric and Matt rush out to greet me.

“Is everything alright, Princess?” Eric grunts first.

I nod and glance back at Jayce. “Everything is fine. We just need a little time to talk.”

“Do you want something to eat first?” Matt asks next.

I nod again. “Could you make something for when we’re finished talking?”

Matt nods. “I have dinner in the oven if you want to wait for that. I made more than enough for all of us to eat together.”

“That will be fine.” I reply and then motion upstairs absently. “Do you care if we go to my room to talk?”

“Go ahead.” Eric replies.

With a grateful smile I then lead the way up the stairs and then into my room.

Once Jayce shuts the door to my room I turn around to face him as I place one hand on my hip while pointing towards him with my other.

“Talk, now.” I demand.

Jayce shakes his head as he pins me with a look. “What were you doing with him?”

“What were you doing with Maggie?” I question back without answering him.

I thought it only fair that he answered me first.

After all I wasn’t the bad guy here.

“She wanted to talk to me about something. That’s why I took her to school but then she ended up getting sick on the way so I had to bring her back home. Since no one else was home I decided to stay with her to make sure she was going to be alright.” He sighs.

I could easily see that he was lying to me.

There was more to his story that he wasn’t saying to me.

“Why did you leave me here without saying a word?” I ask next.

He shrugs. “I didn’t think it would matter.”

I’m shocked by his words.

Did he really think that not talking to me didn’t matter?

“Do you really think it wouldn’t bother me?” I whisper.

“Answer my question now. Why were you alone with him?” Jayce snarls instead.

“I wanted to be alone, as after school I went to the park to think. All I ended up doing was cry. Liam came along to make sure that I was alright and to give me the support that I needed in that moment.” I reply softly.

Pointing a finger at the new phone held in my hand against my hip Jayce growls. “And he just so happened to give you a new phone?”

“Liam didn’t give me this phone Cole did. Liam just gave it to me since Cole never had the chance to.” I reply as a fresh tear rolls down my cheek.

The fight instantly leaves Jayce’s eyes as he steps forward before wrapping his arms around me.

“I’m sorry. I should have said something to you before I left. Ben said on the phone that you were worried about me but I never thought that you would worry that badly.” He whispers gently.

“After what happened to Cole I am always going to worry.” I reply.

Leaning me back Jayce wipes my tears away as he searches my eyes. “Forgive me?”

Nodding my head I smile. “I forgive you but please don’t disappear on me again like that. Now you have no reason not to tell me what’s happening.” I state as I hold up my new phone.

“I won’t leave you in the dark again.” Jayce promises.

Grinning he then leans in for a tender kiss before leaning back. “How about we go have that dinner now? Whatever your dad is making it sure smells good.”

“Not until you kiss me again.” I reply with a naughty grin.

Smirking Jayce leans in again to press his lips against mine.

Dear Diary,

My heart is telling me to shield myself but my body screams for more. I’m caught between wanting him and knowing that he’s drifting away from me. What am I supposed to do...?

“We better get downstairs before Matt and Eric come up here after us.” Jayce sighs softly as he kisses my bare shoulder.

Groaning I roll over to face him. “Can’t we just stay in bed forever?”

“I wish we could, Babe.” Jayce grins before kissing my lips.

After a moment he pulls away and then rolls away from me and off the bed to stand up on his feet.

I watch him as he picks his clothing off of the floor, slipping on each piece before grabbing my clothes to toss in my direction.

Laughing I catch my shirt before climbing out of bed to begin the task of slipping my own clothes back on.

“If you don’t mind I’m going to head down and talk with your dads while you finish getting ready.” Jayce grunts as he slips on his shoes.

“I don’t mind.” I reply as I slip on my panties.

Moving in close Jayce kisses my lips once more before backing away towards the door while watching me with heated eyes.

It was obvious that he wanted to remain in the room with me.

And to be honest I would have loved nothing more than to stay in bed with him for the rest of the night but we needed to return downstairs to talk with Matt and Eric.

“Go, I’ll be down in a minute.” I wave him on.

Without another word Jayce thankfully turns and then walks out the door, shutting it behind him with a soft click.

Moving around my room I slip on my shirt and jeans before slipping on my socks and then shoes while sitting on the edge of my bed.

Suddenly my phone chimes with an incoming call.

I pick it up from its spot on my nightstand and smile at seeing Liam’s face on the screen.

Swiping my finger across the screen I answer the call and place it up to my ear. “Hello?”

“Hey, I’m just checking up on you. Is everything alright now?” He asks.

“Everything is fine now, Liam.” I sigh softly as I lay back on my bed.

“Good, you sound better.” He replies.

A comfortable silence surrounds us for a moment before I break it. “Liam, could you come over later after Jayce leaves so we can talk?”

I don’t know why I was asking him to come over but the words had left my mouth before I could stop them.

“Yeah, I can come over, just text me when he leaves.” Liam replies.

“Thanks, Liam.” I whisper and then end the call.

Closing my eyes I lay in silence for a minute before reopening my eyes as I move to stand to my feet.

I still needed to go downstairs.

Sighing softly I toss my phone onto my bed before making my way to my door and then out into the hallway before moving on downstairs.

I walk into the kitchen where Jayce was talking dramatically with Eric while Matt was laughing as he stirred something over the stove.

They all looked so happy together, like a big happy family.

It was just as I had always wanted.

When I had been with Cole we had shared moments like this with his mother and father and Liam.

But unlike then I kind of felt like an outsider right now.

I wasn’t exactly happy either.

“Come over here, Eve.” Jayce calls out for me.

Snapping out of my trance I paste on a smile and join Eric and Jayce as they continue to talk about some action movie that I had never even heard of.

I try my hardest to pay attention but it doesn’t work.

All my thoughts turn towards the bench at the pond. I think about how I had hoped that I could talk to Cole there and in a way I had.

I had sat there with him, it was just through Liam.

Cole’s presence had been there with me, I had felt it while Liam held me. The way that Liam had been holding me was the exact way that Cole would have held onto me.

“Is everything alright, Princess?” Eric suddenly questions as he steps in front of me and places his hands on either side of my face.

I shake my head. “I suddenly don’t feel very well, Dad.”

His eyes instantly search mine with worry.

I never just called him Dad.

Matt becomes alert as well at my use of words. Wiping his hands on a dish rag he moves over next to Eric.

“What’s wrong? Do you have a fever or something?” He questions as he places the back of his hand against my forehead.

“I don’t know. I just don’t feel very good.” I reply softly.

“Alright well why don’t you go back upstairs and lay down. I’ll be right up in a few minutes.” Eric insists before turning his attention towards Jayce. “Can you carry her up?”

Jayce nods and then picks me up into his arms before carrying me through the house and back upstairs.

Laying me on the bed he watches me with concern in his eyes. “Is everything alright, Babe? I didn’t hurt you earlier, did I?”

“You didn’t hurt me, Jayce. I don’t know what’s wrong, it just hit me all of the sudden. I’m sure it’s nothing though.” I reply softly.

“Are you sure?” He pushes.

“I’m sure, Jayce. I’ll be fine.” I reassure him.

Matt and Eric join us a few seconds later.

Sitting on the edge of the bed Eric picks up my new phone before inspecting it. Without a word he hands it over to me and I place it on the nightstand beside me.

“How are you feeling?” Matt asks.

“I’m still the same, Dad.” I sigh softly.

“I’ll go make you some soup.” Matt grunts and then rushes out of the room.

Eric chuckles lightly. “He’s going to go all mother hen on you again.”

I laugh and shake my head. “I won’t mind.”

“Good, now you need to get some rest.” Eric sighs and then turns his attention towards Jayce. “You should go home. If anything changes you’ll be the first to know, okay.”

Jayce nods. “Alright, it’s probably better that way.”

Leaning down he kisses the top of my head. “Call me if you need anything, okay.”

I nod and smile softly as he leans away and then turns to leave my room.

At the door he pauses for a moment to glance back at me before leaving completely.

Once the front door shuts downstairs Eric pins me with a look. “What’s going on, Eve? Is there something we’re missing here?”

“There’s nothing going on other than the usual. I was upset today that’s all.” I reply softly.

“What about Liam? Why were you with him earlier?” He then questions.

“He took care of me when Jayce wasn’t there for me today.” I answer simply.

“He wasn’t at school?” He questions with a raised brow.

I shake my head. “He didn’t even drive me to school, Ben did. After Jayce left here he supposedly took Maggie to school but she got sick so he brought her back home.”

My tone easily gave away my unease about the situation.

“Maybe you need to talk to him about it. It’s probably just a misunderstanding, Princess.” Eric replies gently.

“We did talk, but I still don’t feel good about it.” I reply honestly.

“Well, then just distance yourself from him a little bit until you do feel better, okay.” Eric suggests.

I nod in agreement. “That’s probably for the best.”

“Yes, it is.” Eric nods.

Matt rushes into the room carrying a tray ending our conversation. “I’ve got hot chicken soup and some saltine crackers. I hope that’s alright.”

“That’s perfect, Dad.” I smile brightly as I sit up in bed while he places the tray onto my lap.

He then rings a small bell at the edge of the tray. “This is for you in case you need anything. Ring it and I’ll come running.”

“Thank you.” I reply as I take the spoon held in his hand and stir the soup.

Both of them watch me until I bark out in laughter. “You two can go now, I’ll be fine, and I have this little bell if I need anything.”

Eric nods once and stands to his feet before grabbing Matt’s hand to pull him from my room.

They shut the door behind them and I sigh softly before reaching for my phone on the nightstand.

I stare down at it for a moment before laying it down on my tray.

My fingers were itching to call Liam. I wanted him to comfort me again.

Those feelings were what I needed to fight against though.

Jayce was my boyfriend not Liam.

And Jayce was who I should have wanted to comfort me.

Closing my eyes for a second I decide against calling either of them right now. I would get to it after I ate my soup.

Lifting my spoon I make quick work of my soup and crackers.

Once I’m done I lift my little bell and ring it.

Matt rushes into the room within seconds. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m finished.” I snort in amusement.

“Oh, okay. Do you need anything else?” Matt asks.

“No, I think I’m just going to sleep.” I reply with a light yawn.

Lifting the tray from my lap he places the bell and phone onto my nightstand before moving off towards the door.

He stops to look back at me. “Just…”

“Ring the bell if I need anything.”  I finish for him. “I got it, Dad. I’ll be just fine.”

Grinning he nods his head. “Goodnight, Sweetheart.”

“Goodnight, Dad.” I reply.

His smile only grows wider. “I love the sound of you calling me dad.”

After a moment he walks out of my door shutting it quietly behind him.

I listen until his footsteps fade away down the stairs before I get up in order to change into something a bit more comfortable.

Once I’m in a comfy pair of grey flannel pajama pants and a matching dark grey tank top I move over to my window.

Unlocking it I stare out into the darkness for a moment before moving back over to my bed.

Laying down I snuggle under my blankets before shutting off my light.

After only a few minutes the window opens quietly and then closes before the bed dips down behind me as a warm body moves in close.

Wordlessly I turn to face Liam before snuggling into his chest.

This is what I had needed.