Poison & Wine - Melissa Toppen Page 0,85
exactly like it. I assumed you made it for her. And then I remembered I still had yours. I thought maybe you’d like it back. That’s why I was in Parkview. I didn’t know if it would still be there after all this time, but it was.”
“But Jace, you were gone the entire night.”
“I was, because I took the bus and by the time I made it back to the station, there were no more buses going to Briar until morning. My phone was dead. And there isn’t a single person in that town I felt like I could go to. So, you want to know where I was all night? I was sitting on a bench at a vacant bus stop.”
“All night?”
“All night. And you know what, at the time I thought it was worth it. Now, I’m not so sure.”
“Jace.” I grab his arm when he pushes past me, but he easily shakes off my grip.
“You know the worst thing about all this, Oakley.” He pauses right inside the open doorway and glances back at me. “Is that you didn’t even give me a chance to explain before you assumed the worst. Run your fucking test.” He gestures to the kit sitting behind me on the counter. “We both know you’re going to anyway.” With that, he turns and quickly exits the apartment.
“So let me get this straight. He took a bus all the way to Parkview just to get your old bracelet?” Keira asks from where she’s sitting on the opposite end of the couch, her body angled toward me.
She brought Ellie home for me after I gave her a condensed version over the phone, knowing she’d want all the details once she got here.
“Yep.” I run my finger along the woven thread now back where it belongs on my left wrist. It’s strange. In a way it feels like it’s been there this whole time.
“That’s oddly sweet.” I can tell she doesn’t want to admit it, but the gesture is not lost on her. She knows how close I was to my grandma and how much I cherished this bracelet.
But it’s not even about the bracelet. It’s about Jace and what he was trying to do for me. Which only intensifies the guilt weighing so heavily on my chest that it feels difficult to take an actual breath.
“And he didn’t call when he got stuck there, why?”
“He said his phone died. And since I don’t have his number, I couldn’t call him, not that it would have done me any good if what he’s saying is true.”
“And you believe him?”
I shrug. “I made him take a drug test,” I admit, not entirely proud of myself.
“Holy shit. How did that go over?”
“Well, he’s not here, is he?” I gesture around the room.
“So not good then?”
“He took it and stormed out. I haven’t heard anything from him since.”
“And?”
“And what?”
“Did he pass?”
“He did.” I nod slowly. “Though I’m not sure it really matters at this point.”
“Don’t say that. It’s only been a few hours. Maybe he just needs a minute.”
“Maybe.”
“Oak, after the hell you two have been through, I highly doubt he’s going to let something like you making him take a drug test derail all the progress you two have made.”
“I don’t know. You didn’t see the look on his face. It was like he didn’t even recognize me.”
“I’m sure he was upset. Who wouldn’t be? But you asking that of him isn’t unreasonable. You have a daughter to protect. I, for one, am very proud of you for having the courage to do that. I know it couldn’t have been easy.”
“No. It certainly was not.” I blow out a breath. “Hey Ki, if you don’t mind, I think I need to try to get some rest.” I don’t want to be rude, but right now I want to crawl into my bed and cry myself to sleep.
“You want me to stay? I can get Ellie to bed for you?”
“No, you don’t have to do that. I’ve got it.”
“Okay.” She pushes to a stand at the exact same moment I do. “You’ll call me if you need anything?”
“I will.” I walk with her to the front door before tugging it open.
“He’ll come back, Oak. You’ll see.” She squeezes my forearm before stepping onto the front porch.
I throw her a little wave when she reaches her car before closing the door and locking it behind me.
Heading down the hall to Ellie’s room, I push open her door to find