Page 57 of Broken Butterfly
Chapter 17
“Jules, stop being a pussy and come to lunch.”
Julien pokes his head out of the open fridge and glowers at me. “I’m not being a pussy. I’m pissed. There’s a difference. And why do you want to go so damn bad? You hate Fallon.”
“Not going for Fallon.”
Jules crosses his arms and pouts like a petulant five-year-old. “She left us. She promised me she would never leave again, and she left. I’m not ready to forgive her.”
I stayed up all night thinking about what Liz said. She thought I wasn’t paying attention, but I heard every damn word that came out of her gorgeous mouth. I still think it’s bullshit. I don’t know what voodoo Fallon has over her, but clearly his claws have dug deep into my girl. I’m the one who’ll have to clip them. She can try and convince herself that night was a mistake, that she wants to be with Ryder, but I know it’s all a lie. Liz is just scared. I need to prove to her that she can trust me, that I am the man who will protect her heart and love her for the rest of her life. My plan had been working too—like that night in the hospital when she thought I was going to kiss her, or when I gave her the heart pendant of our daughter. She kissed me as we sat on the kitchen floor. When her memories came back, I was the one she ran to, the one she couldn’t get enough of. My Liz was back.
“Fine, Jules, have it your way. If you change your mind, you know where we’ll be.”
I grab my keys and wallet and head out to my truck. I look over at her house. It took us an hour to board up the back door yesterday. When we were done, Liz left with Ryder and Fallon. Julien and I went back home where we got questioned by our parents about Liz for the rest of the evening. It wasn’t fun. This Thanksgiving sucked ass. To top it all off, I was woken up this morning by a work crew who came and installed a new back door and frame at Liz’s house. I had only gotten a couple hours of sleep because I couldn’t stop thinking about her. It kind of freaked me out seeing her so out of control, wielding the bat like a sledgehammer and then kicking the door in. Liz never acted like that before. She also never used to hit people, but I’ve been the recipient of her punches and slaps twice now; once when I barged into her apartment, and then yesterday.
When I park my truck in front of Ruby’s, I see Liz through the front glass window. She has her hair up in one of her favorite messy buns. I used to take great pleasure in pulling out her hair band, mesmerized by how her pale blond locks fell around her shoulders. I could spend hours threading my fingers through her silken hair. The older she gets, the more beautiful she becomes. Sometimes it hurts to look at her, she is that stunning. I watch as Ryder leans over and kisses Liz, and my teeth clench. Those should be my lips on hers, not his. Then Fallon says something that has Liz throwing her head back and laughing. It’s impossible not to notice the special dynamic between the three of them. It’s like what she, Julien, and I used to have. That special bond, the closeness, the familiarity. I miss it. I miss her. She was my sunshine and I’ve been stuck in the darkness for far too long. It’s time I open the curtains to let the light back in. It’s time I got my girl back.
I open the diner door and head to their booth. Liz is the first to see me and her smile does wonders to brighten my mood. It’s as if our fight yesterday never happened. She taps Ryder on his arm, and he stands up so she can slide out of the booth.
She smiles at me. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
“Wouldn’t miss seeing you for the world. Besides, it was my idea,” I reply and press a lingering kiss to her cheek, causing her to blush. Fallon coughs out an “asshole” under his breath beside me.
“Is Julien coming?” I shake my head no and her smile falls. “Oh.”
“Don’t worry, princess. He’ll come around. Have you ordered yet?”
“We were waiting for you.”
Liz slides back in the booth and I quickly follow, leaving Ryder standing there, then having to sit across from us with Fallon, where he belongs.
“What’s up, Ry?” I casually throw his way. I catch the muscle twitch in his cheek.
“Hey, man.”
“What’s up, fucker,” Fallon quips and opens a menu. I feel Liz’s leg move past mine under the table as she kicks Fallon in the shin and gives him a look that says to behave.
“This is almost like old times,” I comment and throw my arm behind Liz on the back of the seat.
“I was thinking the same thing,” she replies. “Do you remember that waitress who used to work here? The one who hated us because we were always throwing food or shooting spitballs at each other?”
Ryder and I both chuckle at the memory. Fallon, however, just stares at Liz with a smirk across his face. He has always been obsessed with her. It’s creepy.
My fingers graze the back of her neck and they touch something delicate and metallic. She’s wearing the locket necklace I gave her in remembrance of our daughter. And just like that, my mood sours.
“Jayson, what’s wrong?” Liz whispers near my ear. She could always sense my moods.
I slip my finger under the chain and lift her locket out from beneath her sweater, folding my fingers around it.
“I miss her too,” Liz says.
“I passed by Kinlay Park the other day. The one we used to play at as kids. I found myself sitting in my truck watching the parents and their kids run around. I could perfectly picture me pushing Elizabeth Ann in the tiny swing. You know the one that has those leg holes in it? I could hear her giggles as she begged me to push her higher.”
Liz gives me her sweet smile. “You paint a beautiful picture, Jayson. Perhaps we can tell her that story when we visit her grave next month. I’ve already bought a couple of books I want to read to her.”
I bring the locket up to my lips and press a kiss to it. Liz’s breath hitches and tears pile up around her green irises. Our moment is broken when the waiter comes over—some high school kid—and takes our order. Fallon is glowering at me as he clips off his order to the kid. Ryder’s expression is inscrutable. I tuck Liz’s necklace back under her sweater, my gaze never faltering from the stare-down with the two men across from me.
The waiter asks Liz what she wants. She asks for a large basket of fries and a side bowl of mustard.
