Poison & Wine - Melissa Toppen Page 0,81
least I can do. Besides, it’s your food. I just cooked it.” He grins, taking the seat across from me.
“Mama, Wace made pwancwakes,” Ellie informs me excitedly.
“I see that, baby.” I reach for my coffee.
“Two teaspoons of sugar and a lot of cream,” Jace tells me, gesturing to the cup in my hand.
“You remembered?”
“How could I forget? Every morning before school you had to stop by Pam’s for a cup of coffee. And you always got it the same way.”
“And you refused to get coffee.” My eyes dart to his coffee mug which is filled to the top with steaming black liquid. “You always hated it.”
“I did.” He nods, picking up his own cup. “During my second stint in rehab, I got hooked on the stuff. Once I got past the horrible taste that is.”
“Is that just straight black?” I ask, curling my nose.
“It is.”
“Well that’s your problem. That’s nasty.”
“Believe it or not, I actually quite enjoy the flavor now.”
I crinkle my nose. “To each their own, I guess.”
“I got milk.” Ellie holds up her sippy cup, clearly just wanting to be part of the conversation.
“You did? Yummy.” I reach forward and rustle her messy auburn curls.
“Wace gave me the wellow cup.”
“I see that. You love the yellow cup.” I turn my attention back to Jace. “Thank you for this. You really didn’t have to do all this.”
“I wanted to.” He sips his coffee before setting the mug back onto the table. “I have to work this afternoon and I need to run a couple of errands when I get off. But I was hoping that when I get back I could stop by. It might be a little late.”
“I’d like that.” I take a drink of my own coffee. “What kind of errands do you have to do?” I’m asking to make conversation, but for some reason it feels like I’m questioning if running errands is actually what he’s doing. Maybe it’s because a part of me is. I’ve learned the hard way that not everything Jace says is so black and white. At least it didn’t used to be.
“I’m gonna stop by a meeting. Then I need to take care of a few other things.”
“What kind of other things?”
“It’s nothing really. Just something I want to take care of.”
“You’re being awfully cryptic.” I can hear the accusatory tone in my voice.
“And you’re asking a lot of questions,” he counters, his irritation showing.
“Can you blame me?” As soon as the statement leaves my lips, guilt slams into me. I hate it. I hate that it has to be this way.
“No.” He shakes his head. “I can’t. But I will ask that you trust me. I know I haven’t earned it yet, but I will. For now, just know that what I’m doing is for you and leave it at that.”
“For me?” I question.
“Oakley.”
“Okay, fine,” I grumble, picking up my fork despite the fact that I have no food on my plate.
“Hey.” He reaches across the table, his fingers skirting across the top of my hand. “You don’t have to worry about me. I’m good. I promise. Hell, I’m way better than good. Right now, I feel about as close to perfect as I ever have.”
“Me too.”
“So, I’ll take care of what I need to take care of and then I’ll come by once I’m done.”
“Okay.” I reach to the center of the table and grab a pancake, dropping it onto my plate.
This is the part that scares me. The part where I’m expected to take him for his word and trust that he won’t end up with a drink in his hand, or worse, a needle in his arm. But this is what comes with the territory.
I knew bringing Jace back into my life would have its complications. I knew I would constantly be worried and looking over my shoulder. The difference is, I’m no longer questioning if it’s worth it. I know it is.
Chapter Twenty-Six
OAKLEY
* * *
I’ve been waiting for hours for Jace to show. He should have been home a long time ago. I’m honestly not sure what’s keeping him and it’s been hard trying to keep my mind from going to the worst-case scenario. I keep envisioning him lying on a couch somewhere with a needle in his arm.
I know it’s not fair. He’s given me no indication that he’s even been tempted to use since he came here. But when he says he’s going to run errands and come over after, but doesn’t show, what