End of Day (Jack & Jill 1)

“Has he told you about his past?”

“A little.”

“And has he asked you about yours? Your disturbing behavior that’s reared its ugly head again?”

“Not really. Well … that’s just it … he knows I need it, and he lets me … but he doesn’t demand to know why.”

“Christ, Jillian! You don’t need it! And he’s one fucked-up son of a bitch if he voluntarily lets you do it. If a woman, no matter how good she was in bed, ever went all Twilight on me, it would be over!”

“What if he needs it? What if he’s just as fucked-up as me? Huh? Maybe he needs to know that he can’t hurt me. Maybe—”

Jackson hunched down in front of her, resting his hands on her shoulders. “You’re not fucked-up. Okay? Jillian Knight lost her parents … period. But she had a normal childhood and normal relationships, and is in fact normal. Got it?”

Tears swelled in Jillian’s eyes. “But Jessica—”

“Is dead.” Jackson kissed her forehead. “You have to let her go or she’ll destroy you. You need to find normal. You need a guy that won’t let you be anything but normal. You may think that AJ needs Jessica, but she can’t save him and he can’t have her because she no longer exists.” Jackson wiped the tears from her cheeks. “Listen to me …” he whispered “… you either have to let Jessica go or AJ.”

“Dodge is waiting for me. I have to go.” She pulled away.

“I’ll go to my grave protecting you.”

Jillian stopped midway up the stairs, but she couldn’t turn around. A nod was all she could give without breaking down again. She felt the same. They had that unexplainable connection. When one was in trouble, no matter where the other was, they sensed it. They physically felt each other’s pain.

Jackson was known for his cavalier attitude toward women. But someday he was going to be someone’s jackpot. If the right woman came along and he decided to love her, she would be adored beyond words, protected to the ends of the earth, and given everything her heart could ever desire.

*

Stan stopped Jillian on the way to Dodge’s place. He was drenched in sweat and sporting denim cutoffs, the right leg three inches longer than the left.

“Did you read over the notes from the meeting?”

“Uh … yes.” Jillian smiled. She’d lightly skimmed them a few nights earlier when she needed help getting to sleep.

“Oh, good. What are your thoughts on the speed bumps? Since we don’t have sidewalks in our development a few people…” he rolled his eyes and waved his hands around “…namely my wife, wants speed bumps installed. I posted speed limit signs last year, but she doesn’t think people notice them.”

Jillian laughed a little. “You have like … six of them posted. I don’t think it’s that they don’t notice them. I just think they don’t give a shit. It’s a private drive, what are you going to do? Make a citizen’s arrest?” Jillian shrugged. “I agree with your wife. Speed bumps are the way to go. Sometimes you have to physically control people’s actions. I’m off to Dodge’s, see you later.”

“He’s probably still watching wrastling.”

Jillian turned. “You mean wrestling?”

“Yeah, that’s what I said, wrastling.”

She shook her head and kept walking. Dodge was indeed watching wrastling on the T.V. in his garage when she arrived.

“Who watches Lilith when you’re out here, old man?”

“Hey, Jillian! Beer?” He lifted the lid to the cooler on the back of his golf cart.

“I’m good, thanks.”

“No need to report me for wife neglect.” He held up a baby monitor. “I’ve got ears on her. Never hear much, usually just her crop dusting … thank God Almighty this thing doesn’t transmit odor.”

Jillian frowned, crossing her arms over her chest. “You do realize she’s probably going to bludgeon you in your sleep and not a court in the country will convict her.”

“Nah … she’s crazy ’bout me.”

Jillian held out her hand. “Go get your stuff done. I charge double when you’re inefficient.”

Dodge grinned, handing her the baby monitor. “Yes, ma’am. I’ve been ignoring the rumors that you work at night in a black leather corset yielding a whip. But I’m starting to think there might be some truth to it.”

Jillian opened the back door. “Whatever shakes your rocks.”

Lilith smiled, looking up from her book at Jillian. Of course, after Dodge’s comment, Jillian understood why Lilith always looked so happy to see her.

“Lunch?” Jillian pointed to the kitchen in her usual make-shift sign language.

Lilith shook her head, holding up an empty plate on the table next to her chair. Jillian took the plate to the kitchen.

“It’s a beautiful day and the sun is no longer hitting your deck so I think we should go outside for some fresh air.” Jillian looked inside the refrigerator. “Surprise, surprise, your crazy husband made some iced tea. And here I thought all he did was siphon beer from his cooler all day.” Jillian chuckled to herself as she poured two glasses then cut up a lemon. “I’m basically talking to myself, so really, who am I to judge.”