Page 68 of Heartbreaker

Chapter 26

Jackson

“I don’t give a fuck what you say, Jake, I’m going over there.” Pacing the length of my kitchen I glare at my brother. He arrived about twenty minutes ago, he’s been trying to convince me to give Ashley time, but fuck that, she doesn’t need time she needs to listen to me.

“If you go over there like this she’s going to kick you out on your ear,” he reasoned. He and I hadn’t mentioned our fight and it had been a long time coming. Part of me felt bad for decking him, but the other part felt he’d had it coming. I love my brother, but I was sick of feeling second best. He had the perfect wife, perfect kid, another on the way. Mum was always on my case for more grandkids.

Sitting down opposite him I look at his black eye and the cut on his lip, and regret fills me. I was wrong he didn’t deserve that, I was a drunk prick who lashed out at someone I care about just like I did with Ashley.

“I’m sorry man, I was a dick.”

Jake laughed and rubbed his chin. “You’ve always been a dick bro. Seriously don’t sweat it. At least you didn’t break my nose this time.”

I chuckled at his words. “I forgot about that, can you believe I broke your nose with a lightsaber.”

“Uh, yeah I have the crooked nose to prove it.” We both laughed as we thought back to earlier times, happy times.

“Do you think I’m like him?” I ask finally. We never spoke about our father, but Jake knew who I meant.

“Not in the fucking slightest. You just got hurt by that bitch Jade and never met anyone worthy until now. I got lucky, but don’t think I haven’t fucked up. Sadie and I nearly split last year.”

His words stop me short. “What?”

He nods and looks at his hands, twirling his wedding ring round and around on his finger. “A woman at work was hitting on me and like a sap I fell for it. Nothing happened but she kept calling me to fix her shit, first a fuse, then something else. I had no idea what she was up to. I genuinely thought she just wanted a friend to help her out. Sadie and I fought about it, I told her she was being jealous and needy and imagining everything. I went around there to help her move some furniture and when I got there she was laying naked on the sofa.”

“Fuck, man,” I say complete shock edging my tone.

“Yeah, I left straight away and went home to beg Sadie to forgive me. She did, but it was hairy there for a while. Needless to say, I learnt my lesson. She and Maisy are the most important people in my universe apart from you and mum and I’ll never put her second again, not to anyone or anything. So, you see baby brother I am far from perfect.”

My phone buzzes on the counter in front of me where I threw it after texting Ashley for the hundredth time. Picking it up Taylor’s number dances across the screen and for some reason my heart drops to my guts.

“Taylor?” I answer.

“Thank God.”

I stand and the look on my face alerts Jake that something is wrong. “What’s the matter, where’s Tinkerbell?”

“She is in her flat, but I can’t get to her and Ethan won’t let me in. Something’s wrong, Jackson, I can feel it. Please hurry. I’ve called the police but you’re closer.”

I hear tears in her voice and that spurs me on as much as her words, Taylor is not one to overreact. “I’m on my way.” I hang up and look at Jake who is already at the door with his keys in his hand. All the way over in the car my thoughts are all over the place. Why is Ethan in her flat? Who is he to her? Has he hurt her? My fists clench as I think the last. If he has, I’m gonna kill him.

Arriving outside Sweet Heaven I’m shocked to see two police cars and an ambulance. Jogging closer I see Taylor being comforted by Corey. She sees me and rushes over.

“What’s happening?”

“The police are getting ready to go in, he says she is unconscious, but he won’t let them in until they guarantee he won’t be arrested. He says it was an accident because she wouldn’t listen,” Taylor finishes on a sob. Corey pulls her into his arms and comforts her as I sink to the kerb beside me. I feel my insides shaking with fear. I’m terrified that something has happened to my Tinkerbell and I never got to tell her I love her. It hits me like a truck that I love her. This crazy beautiful eccentric woman owns my heart and instead of telling her I acted like a complete tool.

I feel Jake sit beside me, but I can’t speak, fear has robbed me of speech.

“She’ll be okay,” he says as he nudges me with his shoulder.

I nod and fight back the tears. She has to be, because whether she forgives me for lying about my job is irrelevant. A world without her in it is incomparable, a world in which she does not forgive me is dark but at least I would know she is alive and safe.

A commotion at the entrance to Sweet Heaven has me coming to my feet. I’m striding that way before Jake can stop me. Three police officers emerge with a man struggling between them. Fury burns through my blood when I catch sight of him.

“You,” I growl and launch myself at Alex. Jake and Corey grab hold of me as I fight to get free. I’m going to rip his fucking head off.

“No, you’re not meant to be here, she is mine. I love her more than you.” His eyes are crazed as he screams obscenities at me. Two hefty policemen walk him past me and shove him into the police van as he carries on his tirade.