Page 20 of End Of Never

Grabbing my towel, I wipe my drenched, red-hot face before chugging my water bottle. Sitting on the bench, slowing down my intense breathing, and refueling everything I just unleashed. A large man in a grey cut-off shirt and gym shorts stands next to me, placing his gym bag on the bench, his dark coal eyes find mine.

Just as I remove my earbuds, his deep voice reaches me, “Looks like you had a helluva a workout?” His thick eyebrows arch as he asks the question, then a smirk lifts his full lips, showing off his snowy-white teeth.

“Yeah, it was much needed.” He laughs, running his hand along his short obsidian beard.

“Gotta watch out, she’s fiesty, always has been.” I jump to my feet, capturing the attention of Mr. Nosey and Captain Asshole, flying off the bench as if it’s on fire.

Turning towards Jace, I stare him down. He wears black athletic shorts and a bro tank, matching his friend. Cute. I roll my eyes, looking towards Jace, “You.” Standing up, I grab my stuff off the floor. Jace’s neck muscles flex as he looks at his partner with a grin, then back at me.

“It’s Jace, in case you forgot, and this is Hayden.” I wave at Hayden and give him a kind smile, turning back to Jace, with shooting daggers and pressed lips.

“Hmm, it’s Lilla, in case YOU forgot. Hayden, nice to meet you.” Throwing my towel over my shoulder, I pass them, shoulder-checking Jace. Looking at Hayden, I see his cheeks lifted so high in a smile that I laugh. “Keep an eye on this one, he’s quite a magician; he has the disappearing act down.” Jace’s brows furrow together as I turn back around, making my way towards the gym door.

Hayden yells in my direction, “Nice to meet you, Lilla!” I send him a wave back.

“Yeah, nice to see you again, Lil!” Just as I push the door open, I flip Jace off, sending him the middle finger, without looking back. Jerk.

Chapter 20

Jace

I stand with Hayden, completely taken aback by her attitude and the way it made me feel. Feral, like I wanted to push her up against the wall, and kiss her until I calmed her storm. The more frustrated she got, the hungrier I became. My body itches to be near her, to see if she molds into me like she did when we were young. It wasn’t love at first sight; it was an addiction. It was the addict in me, craving for another hit of her. At every party, I wanted her eyes on me; I wanted to be the only one she saw. Then, the night I left, I got a taste of her; she was temptation wrapped in my arms, teasing me with everything I couldn’t have.

I know I fucked up, I left, but I can’t change the past, or make her forget. I wasn’t ready to be the person she truly needed. Yeah, I promised to protect her, and I would have, but I couldn’t love her the way she deserved. I would have broken her heart, one way or another. I was an addict, and now I understand that. It was never me ‘living my life,’ it was me killing the life my parents gave me. It was fun at first, drinking, smoking, random sex escapades, until it became a lifestyle, a deadly one. Silently, I dived into the rockstar life, and slowly it killed my parents watching their son fall. Sending me away was the best thing that could have happened to me, and the worst that happened to us. I stare at the door, hoping like hell she marches back in to scold me some more, to give me some sort of feeling on her end, instead of glares followed by one word.

Hayden walks to the bench, “Damn man, I like her.” He starts putting on weights.

“Yeah…” He nods his head, smirking as he pulls his headphones off around his neck.

“You’ve got a lot of work to do, brother.” He throws on his headphones and gets to work.

Don’t I fucking know it.

After our workout, Hayden and I get ready for dinner at his Dad’s tonight, we are the chefs. We hit the grocery store before heading over, getting ready to whip his old man something worth eating, instead of those frozen TV dinners the man's been living off of for the last few years.

Mr. Wilder is sitting in his rocking chair, watching the news, in his grey sweatpants and slippers, four blankets covering him completely. He looks like a mummy, all tucked in, when his house is sitting at sixty-eight degrees.

Mr. Wilder is in week four of his cancer treatment, and it’s really taking a toll on him. Hayden and I got here when Mr. Wilder really needed us. The heads up from Hayden’s dad made the transfer easier. With the firehouse expanding, we were fortunate that everything lined up. Hayden and I have been taking shifts, making sure he is comfortable and has everything he needs. Lately, he’s been fatigued, losing weight from a loss of appetite, and his hair is starting to fall out. We try to keep him in good spirits by watching Fight Club for the hundredth time and taking small outings around the house.

Hayden and I also take him to appointments. Unfortunately, at his last appointment, they told him that the treatment wasn't working, and his body is shutting down. They said that the cancer was advancing too rapidly, as it does with stage four prostate cancer. The disease has now spread throughout his bones and lymph nodes. After a lengthy discussion, he decided to stop treatment, to live the remainder of his life with his son, and we do just that.

Hayden and I have to take alternate shifts, so one of us can care for him at night. Right now, Mr. Wilder can go quite some time without help, but that will soon change. We are being proactive and want nothing more than to give him the best care in his home, where he is comfortable.

Hayden starts sauteing the veggies, and I begin seasoning the steak, per Mr. Wilder’s request. “He seems good today.” Hayden shakes the pan, sliding the veggies around and coating them with olive oil and garlic. The fresh aroma fills the kitchen, pulling his dad’s attention from the news. Using his cane, Hank shuffles out and takes a seat at the kitchen table.

“Jace, tell me about this girl whom I’ve heard about. My son here says she got you by the balls.” His raspy voice quickly turns to a laugh, followed by a cough.

I flip the steaks, lifting the tongs, and I point them at Hayden. “Are we telling stories?” Hayden puts his hands up in defeat.

Before I have time to respond, Mr. Wilder cuts in: “Hayden’s mom was a spitfire. That woman knew exactly how to rile me up, and boy, did she enjoy it. We used to go back and forth like you wouldn’t believe. Sometimes it was for fun, and sometimes she meant business; both times, I followed it with a kiss. She was my sweetheart, and boys, let me tell ya, I’m ready to see my wife again.” He looks out the window as if he’s reliving the good old days.

Hayden gets the plates set at the table, “Yeah, Pops, this girl here, she was something. You should have seen Jace, it was like the man was mute.” We all laugh because Hayden isn’t lying, Lilla came in guns blazing, and I was not about to give her any more reason to shoot.

Taking our seats at the table, we begin to eat when Mr. Wilder looks up. I decide, hell with it. If anyone can help me get her back, Mr. Wilder can. “How do I get the girl? She's sassy, like salt, not sweet like sugar.” He sets his fork down on the table, and Hayden dies of laughter.

“Don't tell her that.” Hayden laughs at my comment, cracking himself up.

“That’s why this goof doesn’t have a woman. Don’t listen to him.” Mr. Wilder sits straighter, “Tell her. Tell her everything, even if you think she might not like it, but when you do it, do it from a place of love, a place of caring. She isn’t a mind reader, and if she’s as stubborn as my wife, she isn’t going out of her way to find out. It’s your job to tell the lady what you're thinking, what you want, and when you do, be sure to brace for impact. Son, women are easy. You just gotta listen to what they’re saying, even when they aren't using words.” Right… I know I look as puzzled as I feel.