Page 76 of Crave

“Yeah, me and Sandy. Listen, JD, I can help you get a lawyer. What the hell has she done this time?”

“Assault. It’s all fucked up. I’m over it. Let them decide what the fuck they’re going to do. How much begging did you have to do?” He changes the subject again, signaling an end to the conversation about his sister.

“A fair bit, but it’s all good now.”

“I’m happy for you, man. She seems like a good egg.”

“She’s amazing.”

“Yeah. I know your ass doesn’t do casual. It’s all or nothing. Your parents like her?”

“Yeah, they’re pretty happy about it. I feel bad because I’ve had her around my family, even Troy and Tracy last weekend.”

“She knows about the history?”

“Told her everything. I know it makes her uncomfortable, but she’s still here.” He nods again.

“No more fights between you and Troy then? You two co-existed last weekend without anyone throwing a punch?”

“I’m done with it. I won’t do anything that will make Sandy upset or uncomfortable. I even told Troy that I was done with it all and I simply want to co-exist. I’m even spending time with Tristan now. Oh, remember Emma? Tracy’s brother’s daughter? They’re adopting her, so whenever Tristan hangs out with me, she wants to come too.”

“Tracy’s brother, the alcoholic? Well, good for them. Isn’t she the one you used to babysit with Tracy when she was just an infant?” I look around to make sure Sandy hasn’t come out.

“Yeah, but let’s not rehash that shit. Let the past stay where it is. I’ve moved on.”

“It’s about fucking time. Good for you, but I don’t think Troy will be okay with you two just co-existing. He’s going to want more.”

“Well, he can fuck off. He’s lucky I didn’t drop him on his ass for approaching Sandy last weekend with his bullshit about loving and missing me.”

“See, he won’t give you up, Jake. After all this time and all the ugly shit you two have said and done to each other, he’s still reaching out.”

“I don’t think we can ever go back. I can have a relationship with his kids. I can be cordial, but I don’t see how it can ever be how it was. Our relationship is over,” I say with finality. “It pains me to say it, but the brother that I grew up with is gone. The sooner he accepts that, the better off we’ll all be.”

I lean back in my chair, tired and eager to get back to Dee. From the look on JD’s face, he has a lot more to say about the matter.

“I get it but take it from someone with a fucked-up relationship with his only sibling. I wish I even had the opportunity to get close to my sister. And I know he betrayed you, and that’s hard to get over, but you can move on from here. You two can’t go back and erase the past, but you can move forward. Maybe get to know each other again.” I snort at him and shake my head.

“You’re as hard headed as the old man,” I say to him, but he ignores that comment and continues.

“You’re in a good place, Jake. I got to know Sandy a little bit during our date.” He laughs as he says it, and I resist the impulse to punch him. “I know your ass, okay. You and Sandy are way more compatible than you and Tracy ever were.” I start to speak but he holds his hand up, shushing me. “I know it’s beyond Tracy, and it was ugly what they did, but forgiveness can be freeing. Don’t you want to be free to be with Sandy?”

“I am free. I told you, I’ve let that shit go, but there’s a big difference in letting it go and letting Troy back into my life. For the first time in years, I feel like I can finally forgive, but I’ll never forget. Enough about that. I had a great evening with Dee and I don’t want to ruin it by talking about old shit.” I stand up from the table. “I’m going to bed. You good?” He nods, and I walk away.

CHAPTER 25

SANDY

“I don’t want to be a tag along. I’ll wait for you in the car.” I try to pull my hand out of Jake's, but he doesn’t let go and ends up practically dragging me to the front door of his office building. JD is following behind, chuckling.

“It will be quick, then JD can go the fuck to work, and we can go back to being alone. If anyone is the tag along, it’s him. This reminds me, I have to change my locks.” We walk through the front door and run into Carol Healy again, who smiles at Jake and comments about how handsome he is, but barely acknowledges me or JD. That’s hardly surprising considering the fake smile and words she said to me when we met. When she turns her cold blue eyes on me, I see nothing but disdain, but I hold her stare until she looks away.

When Josh Clark comes out, he takes JD into a giant bear hug, practically lifting him off the ground. When he sees me, he does lift me off the ground after kissing both cheeks and taking me in his arms. Carol Healy still hasn’t moved from her spot. She watches like a snake waiting for the perfect time to strike.

“Carol, get over here! Have you met Jake’s girlfriend Sandy? I know you’ve met JD before.” Josh Clark is jovial and now has an arm around both men.

“I’ve had the pleasure. Each time was in the middle of the work week,” she says, fake smile in place, eyes squinted into two small slits as she studies us.

“How about lunch? I’ll call Troy. What do you say, Sandy?” I see Jake roll his eyes before he pretends to punch his dad.

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