Poison & Wine - Melissa Toppen Page 0,45

would have gotten through these last few days without you.” He reaches across the console and squeezes my hand.

The contact makes my heartbeat kick up speed. Even after all this time, the effect his touch has on me has not lessened.

“As long as you stay clean, I will continue to be here for you. It’s you and me against the world, remember?” I repeat something we said to each other countless times as kids.

“You and me.” Something passes over his features. Sadness. Regret. Hope. It’s a combination of so many emotions that I can’t pinpoint a single one.

He releases my hand and turns, pushing open the car door before stepping out into the warm morning sun.

“I’m going to head back to the car,” I tell Jace, gently touching his forearm. “Talk to everyone. Meet me there when you’re ready.”

Tommy’s services were basic. A small graveside gathering where a few of his co-workers spoke, as did Jace. The whole thing lasted less than thirty minutes, and even though I tried so hard to focus on what everyone was saying, I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the picture of Tommy propped up behind his casket.

Death is hard to process. One minute we’re here and the next we’re gone. It’s hard to believe that the lopsided smile that stared back at me throughout the entire service will never show itself to the world again. No one will ever hear his voice or his laugh. He’s gone. Just like that. With such finality.

“Wait.” Jace grabs my hand before I make it even one step. “Stay with me.” His request is a plea, one that has the emotion that’s been sitting on my chest all morning threatening to come to the surface.

I nod once, allowing him to wrap his fingers around mine. I try not to read too much into it. He’s hurting and right now he needs something familiar to hold onto. But I’d be lying if I said a part of me didn’t wish it meant more. That it could mean more.

I stand silently next to him as various people come up to pay their condolences. Out of the roughly thirty people in attendance, I don’t recognize a single one. But it’s clear that they all cared for Tommy very deeply.

Jace is talking to some guy named Mike when I feel him tense next to me. Swinging my gaze to the side of his face, I see something to the right of him has drawn his attention.

“Mother fucker,” I hear him grind out, interrupting Mike mid-sentence.

I arch forward to see what he’s looking at, my heart dropping into the pit of my stomach the moment I do.

Preston… Jace’s father.

I haven’t seen him since I was nineteen, and even with several yards between us I can see that the years have not been kind to him.

“Jace.” I touch his shoulder in an effort to calm the anger I feel radiating off of him.

Without a word he shakes off my touch, releasing my hand as he spins and takes off in the direction of his father. His feet hit the ground like heavy blocks, his fists clenched at his sides as he crosses the grassy terrain.

“Who’s that?” Mike asks from beside me.

“Jace and Tommy’s father,” I say, my voice thick.

“Oh fuck.”

Based on Mike’s reaction, I’m guessing he knows how deeply the bad blood lies within this family.

“Yeah, oh fuck.” I share his sentiment.

Nervous prickles pepper up my back as I watch Jace stop in front of his father. They’re too far away for me to hear what they’re saying, but I can tell by their body language that whatever it is, it isn’t good.

Knowing Jace’s temper and the resentment and anger he harbors for his father, I’m afraid of what he might do. Especially today of all days. Just minutes after he buried his only sibling.

“I’ll be right back,” I tell Mike, not actually looking at him before I take off toward Jace.

It doesn’t take long before I hear the angry voices accosting my ears. Just a few more feet and I start to catch snippets of what they’re saying.

“He was my fucking son!” Preston barks at Jace, straightening his posture as he pokes his finger into his chest.

I quicken my strides.

“He hated you. Just like I hate you. Now get the fuck out of here before I give you a taste of your own medicine.”

“Is that a threat? Big bad drug addict going to show me how tough he is now?” Preston mocks