35–Joey
The trip back from Chicago to New York had been filled with conversation and laughter.
Yuka Takada was one of the most intriguing men I had ever met.
He didn’t look his age, he was softly spoken and had an air of authority, which was not overbearing. I marveled at how firm, yet gentle he was with the men around him, and how quickly they responded to him. They all revered him and that was especially noticeable with Alex.
The pair had a special bond, and I often found myself watching them talking quietly on the plane and if I didn’t know any better, I would have mistaken them for father and son.
After making sure Yuka was home and safe with his wife, Sota drove us to Alex’s residence. A large townhouse in East Village, New York, no more than three streets from Yuka.
Alex let us into his home, and I stopped in the foyer.
“Oh.. wow.
Alex stepped past me, shrugging off his coat and hung it on the hook by the door. “Yeah, that’s what I thought, when Yuka offered it to me. I told him it was too much, and I was happy to stay in the apartment I had, but he told me I was being an idiot and needed a place I could eventually raise a family in.”
A family..
I looked at Alex and suddenly, my mind went to the image of him being a father. Kids toddling after him, or Alex asleep on the sofa with a newborn on his chest….
“Joey”
I blinked and looked at Alex. “Huh?”
“Let me show you to your room.” I nodded and followed Alex up the stairs to the second floor, he stopped on the landing, and I stopped next to him. “There are two guest rooms up here. So, take your pick. I will bring your case up a little later.” “Where is your room?” Alex smirked and looked at me, raising an eyebrow. “I mean, so I don’t accidently…ugh.”
“My room is up on the third floor.” He chuckled, “Along with my office.”
“Okay.” I nodded. “Stay off the third floor.”
Alex chuckled again and I turned, walking back down the stairs and started to wander through the house, looking at everything. I found the kitchen, the laundry room and the living room. It was tidy, if not a little sparse, and it screamed bachelor. It showed Alex spent little time here and I wondered if the reason he’d asked me to come was because he was lonely.
“So, I know you’ve just gotten here, but we’ve been invited out for dinner,”
I turned and looked at Alex. “Really?”
“Yes, you remember Oliver?”
“Oliver!” The name did ring a bell, but I just couldn’t quite…
“Do you remember Wendy?”
“Oh…”
The image of Jake asking Wendy Taylor to the prom, over me came flooding into my mind, along with the memory of Oliver Taylor, the ‘star‘ quarterback, throwing Jake up against the wall of the gym in front of everyone, for fooling around with his sister, after the prom-
That had been a nightmare, because the rumors started after that, affected me too, because I was a naive friend who tried to stand
up for him, and in the end, copped the brunt of the bullying because I was an “idiot” for believing Jake when he said he didn’t do anything. I later found out he had
“Oliver Taylor. Wendy’s big brother.”
“Yeah, we’re still friends, closer than ever. He’s married to Yuka’s only daughter, Jade. They’ve invited us over.
“Oh. Okay. Sure.” I replied, smiling. “Sounds like a plan.”
15 Joer
*Awesome. It’s at Ollie’s club, the Jade Dragon. One of the most popular places in East Village. Alex smiled, tapping away on his phone and he shoved it into his pocket “So, there is a bathroom between the two guest rooms, if you want to shower and change before we go..” I blinked and Alex looked at me. “Are you okay?”
“Uh..“I looked back to the single case near the front door, before I turned back to Alex. “I don’t really have much to wear.” Alex looked at the case, then to me. “I was wondering if you’d forgotten a case, but I didn’t want to ask.”
“No, I didn’t forget one. That’s all I had. That’s all I left Miami with. It’s got my scrubs, a couple changes of regular clothes, some shoes and a spare handbag, toiletries and a photo of my parents.” My voice was choking up with emotion, at the idea I was showing Alex how little I had. “I’m sorry. I might not be able to go after all.”
“Fuck off You’re going. Alex said, stepping closer. “Looks like we’re going shopping.”
I shook my head and stepped back. “No. I’m fine. I just won’t-”
“Jelene.” Alex cut me off and stepped closer again. “Doll, I am going to take you shopping and you’re going to buy yourself something really nice, and we’re going to go out for dinner.”
I looked up at him, frowning. “But… but why?”
Alex smiled, his hand coming up and he caressed the side of my face. “Because you need to be shown what it is like to be treated like the goddess you are. If that means I have to spoil you, the whole time you are here, then I am going to spoil you the whole time you are here.”
I closed my eyes, on the verge of tears and Alex stepped closer, wrapping his arms around me and pressed his lips against my forehead
“I want you to forget about what you left behind in Miami. I want you to think about yourself for once and let someone take
care of you
“Til pay you back. “I muttered, clinging to him, trying not to fall apart. I had been so good at keeping calm for the last month “Tll find a job at one of the hospitals while I am here and pay you back.”
Alex sighed, holding me closer, “If that’s what you think you need to do, fine. But for now, let’s go and find you something
to wear
