Seeing Black (8 page)

“I don’t trust him.” Alexander said.

“I know, Xander, but you have to trust me. I’m
telling you he’s a good man and he’s my father. So I am going to
get to know him.”

“When are you seeing him again?”

“Wednesday for lunch. Why don’t you come too?”

“Okay, fine. I’ll make my own assumptions after
meeting him.”

“Fine.” She replied with a childish pout.

Without giving her a chance to brace herself, he
planted his lips on hers for a soft and slow exploration that left
her speechless.

A southern drawl reminded them that they had an
audience. “I’m way too hung over, tired, and dreading the awful
mess that awaits us to have to put up with all that sweetness
coming from y’all.”

Jill chuckled and snuggled closer to Alexander, who
smirked. “You a little jealous, Heather? I know someone who would
love to stick his tongue down your—”

“Alexander!” Jill, Heather, and Oliver interrupted
him in unison.

“What? Oh, please, it’s so obvious.”

Heather was crimson. She looked as if she were going
to throw up, and it wasn’t from the hangover she was nursing;
Oliver looked speechless.

“Oh, sweetie, don’t listen to him. He’s an ass.”
Jill said to Heather while smacking Alexander with a pillow.

“I’m not an ass, just trying to pick up the pace a
little. By the time these two hook up, I’ll be an old man.”

“Alexander!” All three yelled again.

“Stop ganging up on me. I’m just saying. Heather,
y—”

“Stop saying anything, Alexander.” Oliver
hissed.

“Whatever. You guys need to just make out and get it
over with.”

“That’s your solution to everything!” Jill
replied.

“Well, in our case, it worked,” Alexander said with
a smile.

“Yeah, but she had to make out with your brother
first. That’s just weird!” Heather scrunched her face.

“We didn’t make out,” Oliver replied. “It was just a
kiss, and it meant nothing. It was awkward.” Oliver scrunched his
nose towards Jill. Jill did the same.

“Oh no. No, no, no. That drama was resolved. I don’t
even want to talk about this. There was no spark between us, but
just because it wasn’t there for you and me, doesn’t mean it won’t
be there with someone else.” Jill glanced at Heather then back at
Oliver.

“Sorry, Heather. This is kind of embarrassing.
They’re masters of subtlety,” said Oliver.

“Yeah, I see that.” Heather pushed herself up. “I’m
going to take a shower and pep myself up for the cleaning that
awaits us and for the change of conversation.”

“Wait,” Oliver jolted. All three of them looked his
way. “Um . . .”

“Spit it out, brother.”

“Shut up, Xander! Um. You guys all want to go out
next weekend? Just the four of us? Dinner, maybe?”

“Yeah, sure. Sounds fun!” Jill replied quickly. This
was Oliver’s way of asking Heather out. It was cute. So sweet.

“How ’bout dinner and dancing? There’s a new club
that opened up in downtown, and everyone’s been talking about it,”
Heather answered.

“Do we have to dress weird?” Alexander asked.

“If by weird, you mean eighties, no. You can dress
normal,” Heather laughed.

“Okay, then I’m in too.” Alexander replied.

After a half-assed cleaning job, a nap, some
sandwiches, another nap, and a homemade vegetarian dinner prepared
by Heather, the guys were ready to leave for the evening.

“Come on. Come with me, babe.” Alexander asked for
the umpteenth time.

“I have to sleep. Like, really sleep. I’ll see you
in class tomorrow.”

“Fine.” He sulked, pulled Jill into him, and said
goodbye in the form of a long inappropriate kiss.

“Uh, guys,” Heather said.

“Just wanted to remind her of what she’s
missing.”

“You’re so full of yourself.” Jill laughed. “Go.
I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Alexander gave Heather a quick kiss on the cheek
before he walked out. Oliver first gave Jill a hug and a kiss on
the cheek then went to Heather and did the same, but it was awkward
and sweet, and Jill smiled. When the door closed behind him, Jill
went to say something to Heather, but Heather cut her off. “Don’t
even say it. It’s just awkward.”

“That’s ’cause he likes you.”

“A week ago, that boy was sure he was madly in love
with you. There’s no way he likes me. Alex made it awkward.”

“No. Well, maybe he did. But it’s awkward because he
likes you and doesn’t seem to know how to act around you.”

“I don’t think so, sugar.” Heather began to walk to
her bedroom. Jill followed.

“Really? Then tell me why we just made plans to go
to a club next week? Never once, in all the years I’ve known Oly,
has he ever mentioned wanting to go dancing. Not once has he made
plans a week in advance. I’m telling you he likes you, really likes
you. You saw how angry he was on the island when that Brian guy
used you. He wanted to kill him.”

“That’s because that boy has a huge heart. We’re
friends. He felt obligated, as
friends
, to protect me or
whatever.”

“Yeah, or whatever,” Jill smirked. “I’m telling you,
he completely forgot I exist from the moment he met you.”

“Then why all the drama and jealousy all those
months?”

“I think it was because he thought he loved me for
so long. We were both confused. It’s you he wants.”

“I don’t know. It’s weird. He’s weird around me.
Uncomfortable. It almost seems as if he doesn’t like me.”

Jill rolled her eyes. “Think about it. The signs are
all there.” Jill squeezed Heather’s shoulder and walked to her
room.

***

Rocco didn’t seem to be caught off guard when Jillian
entered the small Spanish bistro on the agreed upon Wednesday, hand
in hand with Alexander. He stood and held out his hand. “You must
be Mr. Jacobs?”

“And you must be the infamous Rocco Taylor,”
Alexander said as he shook Rocco’s outstretched hand.

“Infamous implies something negative,” Rocco replied
with a toothy smile.

Left hand still tightly interlaced with Jill and
without any sense of humor, Alexander responded, “Precisely.”

Jill elbowed Alexander. “Behave,” she countered and
then leaned over to greet Rocco.

“My dear. You look lovely, as always.” He leaned in
and gave her a hug and a peck on the cheek before gesturing towards
the chair. Alexander pulled out her chair before he sat down
himself. Rocco signaled the waitress, who rushed over.

“What would you like to drink?” Rocco asked them; he
was already sipping on what appeared to be Sangria. Jill asked the
waitress for a diet soda, and Alexander requested a beer. There
were a few moments of awkward silence as Alexander and Jill looked
at the menu. Jill was so nervous that she paid no attention to the
words on the menu. Noticing the obvious tension, Rocco reached over
and placed his hand on hers and smiled. “You seem a little jittery,
dear.”

“Nope. I’m fine.” She knew her fake smile didn’t
quite reach her eyes, but seeing Rocco’s reassuring grin set her at
ease.

Alexander looked at her questioningly but didn’t say
anything. After the waitress came and took everyone’s order,
Alexander broke the ice by speaking first. “I’ll just come right
out and say it. I’m not comfortable with you and Jill meeting. What
exactly do you want with her?”

“Alexander!” Jill hissed.

Rocco chuckled and took another sip of his red
fruity drink. “You really care for her, don’t you?”

“No. I don’t care for her. I’m in love with her, and
I won’t allow her to put herself in danger. I don’t care if you're
her father. She . . .” He looked at Jill as if what he was about to
say would hurt but said it nonetheless. “Well, she tends to be too
trusting.”

“No, I don’t,” Jill whined.

Alexander ignored her and continued. “She does, but
that’s because she has a big heart and believes the best in people.
But I’m not her. I’m not naïve, and I just don’t trust you. What
exactly do you want with her?”

Jill’s head was turned to her right, staring at
Alexander, dumbfounded.
Naïve? What the hell!
She couldn’t
believe Alexander had gone there guns blazing. He was not going to
give Rocco a chance, and nothing Rocco could say or do would likely
change Alexander’s opinion. Bringing him was a big mistake.

Rocco put both hands on his lap and sat up straight
and controlled. As usual, he spoke softly and calmly. “I don’t have
much family. I only have a brother. My entire life has revolved
around my work. After Jill’s mother died, nothing else seemed
important. I think you can understand that?” Rocco looked at
Alexander. “When the woman you love is gone, you can’t seem to do
anything other than try to forget the pain, and in my instance, I
focused all my attention on business. When I discovered Jill hadn’t
died in the plane crash, I was so excited. The thought of finding
her consumed me. All I desire is to get to know my daughter.” Rocco
reached for his glass again and slowly took a sip. “And I think she
wants to get to know me too.” Jill noted that Rocco had left out
the other reason, the one who would send Alexander through the
roof, the one involving blood and scans.

“Yes. I do want to get to know him, but,” Jill
scowled at Alexander who was about to say something but
intelligently decided to keep quiet, “even though he has an
abrasive way of verbalizing it, Alexander is right. As I told you
at your home, I’m still apprehensive about trusting you.”

Alexander interrupted. “You broke into her house and
left her a mysterious note on her bedside table, for Christ’s
sake.”

“I wasn’t the one who left a note. It was one of my
employees. I needed to know if she was psychic—”

“You could have picked up the phone and asked.”

“Well, I have my ways of doing things, but it wasn’t
a threatening note. It was just a puzzle, a puzzle she solved
perfectly. I apologize if it made you nervous.” Rocco said to both
of them. “I know you don’t trust me, but if you give me the
opportunity, you’ll see that I just want your affection. I can
teach you so much, Jillian. You and I have a connection that no
one,” he glanced over at Alexander, “else shares, and I’m not
talking about you being my daughter.”

Alexander took a swig of his beer and very
matter-of-factly spat, “What? The psychic shit.” Both Jillian and
Rocco’s head turned and locked on Alexander’s brash response.

“Shit?” Both Jill and Rocco said incredulously.

“Oh, relax. I didn’t mean it like that. I meant the
psychic thing is what you are hanging your hat on? That’s the
connection you’re using to get Jill to trust you. You know she
doesn’t embrace it quite the way you do. Learning to control those
unforeseen visions is something you know she wants, so you’re using
that to gain her trust. The fact that you’re her father is beside
the point. She has plenty of people who love her and consider her
family. She doesn’t need a stranger to, what? Teach her how to
drive, throw a ball, how to swim? Jesus, Jill, you’re not buying
into this bullshit are you?”

“Stop it, Alexander.” She grabbed his forearm.
“You’re wrong on so many levels. Sure, you’re in my life now, but
that’s it. I have Oliver and Heather, and I just met Heather like
what? A few months ago?” Alexander gave Jill a look that said,
I
have a lot more to say on the subject but we’ll discuss it more in
private.

After some awkward silence between the three, Rocco
spoke. “Let’s just enjoy this lunch. I’m glad my daughter has
someone who cares about her this much. All I ask is for some time
with you, dear—a few lunches or dinners—that’s all. Just to get to
know each other.” Jill looked up at Rocco between bites of food and
gave just the tiniest nod. Alexander probably didn’t even notice.
They finished their lunch with some light small talk and a lot of
uncomfortable silence. Before they left, Rocco shook Alexander’s
hand. “It was a pleasure to meet you. Even if you don’t care for
me, I still want to thank you for taking care of my daughter so
well.” Alexander’s face was impenetrable. He did not look happy at
all. Rocco then turned to Jill and embraced her with a hug and a
kiss on the cheek. “I hope to see you later this week or weekend,
my dear.”

“I don’t want you seeing him anymore,” Alexander
said outside the restaurant as he helped Jill with her helmet.

“Excuse me?”

“You heard me. No more.”

“Have you lost your damn mind, Alexander? Whatever I
decide to do, it is my decision to make, not yours. You can’t
forbid me to see him.”

“Like hell I can’t.”

“You’re not listening to me. Do you know how
difficult life is for me? Not knowing when I’m going to go blank
and stare off into space for what could be thirty seconds or an
hour. I shouldn’t even fucking drive. I’d be mortified if it
happened in the middle of class or in a supermarket or anywhere
strangers were around.” She sucked in a breath and continued,
louder this time. “It. Can. Happen. Anywhere. Can you understand
that? Forget the embarrassing part of it. It’s not safe. I lose
most of my faculties. The thought of being able to eliminate the
fear from my life is huge.”
Huge!
How could he not see
that?

“I get it. I do. But I don’t think being around him
is worth whatever silly training he wants to give you. You asked me
to meet him. I met him, and I don’t like him. The guy’s bad
news.”

“Silly?” Jill stomped her foot and groaned. “You
don’t know what you’re talking about!”

“I can tell. I don’t know how, but I just can. He’s
up to something. I feel it. You’re blinded by him.”

“No, I’m not. My eyes are wide open. I didn’t just
ask you to meet him. I asked you to give him the benefit of the
doubt. You didn’t do that, Alexander. You came in there already
judging him. Why can’t you just be supportive?” She hopped on the
motorcycle. Alexander followed. The motorcycle roared into life,
and Jill grabbed on to Alexander’s waist tightly. No more words
were spoken until they arrived back to Jill’s apartment.