Chapter 49
Jake
This is another meaningless activity. Chelsea came up with this one. We are apparently having a water balloon fight. Peter spent two hours filling the balloons with water. Though I doubt that he spent the entire time filling balloons. He brought his homework with him, which is driving everyone bananas. The guy is going to run himself into the ground.
Tia smacks me in the face with a balloon. It pops with no effort, and I find myself wincing. The water is in my eyes and nose. And some of it has even gone down my throat. Before I clear my vision, I finally decide that there is going to be some pay back. I had been standing by the stairs, trying to figure out how I was getting out of this when she got me. I walk over to one of the six buckets that hold balloons and pick one up. Where is Tia? She’s hiding over by the shade. Everyone is too busy running around that they don’t notice her. Maggie is inside with the kids, and I’ve never envied someone so much. But Tia is going down. That brat only got me in the face because I called her annoying during breakfast. I couldn’t help it. Tiller made pancakes, and Tia wanted a grapefruit. But there wasn’t any left in the fruit bowl. She then threw a tantrum and tossed her food against the wall. After I demanded her to clean it up, she stormed out of the room. When she resurfaced two hours later, she tried to apologize, but that’s when I lost my temper and called her annoying. Peter had to clean up her mess. And that didn’t sit well with me.
I’m about to close in on my target when I hear the sound of the back door thudding against the wall. My father rushes out. He looks around, and when his eyes land on Alex, he frowns.
“Jake, we need to talk,” he shouts. No kidding, why else would he be here? This can’t be good. I walk up to my father and stand in front of him, my head held high.
“Do you want to talk somewhere private?” Dad winces.
“Son, I’m not here to yell at you. You’re in the news again. I drove here as fast as I could, “he tells me.
“What happened?” Dad’s eyes are tired.
“Three things,” he responds, and I brace myself for the news.
“Give me the worst thing first,” I request. My father seems at a loss for words, which doesn’t make any sense because he was the one who drove here. He had to have prepared some meaningless speech.
“Is everything okay?” Carmen asks as she takes my hand. I frown at her.
“I’m not sure,” I answer. Dad glances at our entwined fingers and raises an eyebrow.
“You two are together?” Dad asks, his voice tight.
“Yes,” we both respond in unison.
“Carmen, your father is here. Why don’t we all join him in the living room,” he suggests. I hate that Dad’s on my property, and is trying to direct things. Carmen must notice my thoughts because she squeezes my hand. I decide to nod at my father, and he leads the way into the house.
“Carmen, it’s good to see you,” her father says in a voice that’s best described as forced. Carmen waves at him.
“How are you feeling?” she asks.
“Fine.” Carmen and I sit in the love seat and I release her hand and wrap my arm around her shoulders. It feels really nice to have her tucked up against my side. I feel warm and content. Our fathers are sitting side by side on the couch. They both seem reluctant to speak.
“Do you want me to turn on the television to find out what’s wrong?” I ask bitterly. For once, I wish that the media wasn’t talking about me. For goodness sakes, when it comes down to it, I’m an accountant. I’m not an entertainer. I didn’t ask for this.
“Jake, Sharp Michaels was in a real bad accident. The wheel of his Hummer fell off while he was on the highway, and he crashed into another car,” Kenny begins. That sucks for Sharp. I hope that everyone’s all right. “Everyone in the car was hurt.” So he’s going to give this to me in small pieces? I hope that no one’s injuries are life threatening. “Jake, Adriana is severely injured. She has a lot of broken bones. She almost didn’t make it. I’m sorry.” So that’s why my father had driven all the way here. He wanted someone that cared about me to deliver the news. He didn’t want the Five O' Clock news to tell me this. I don’t know how to feel. Adriana was my ex-girlfriend. The last time that I spoke to her we argued. We didn’t get to make peace. Though, I didn’t think that I needed to. I just hate that it takes an accident to realize that maybe I was too harsh on her. Guilt sucks. Worry is another emotion that I prefer to suffocate. What if she dies? What if Adriana never accomplishes her goals in life? This is a weird thought, but what is she doing about the reality show? Are they going to market this situation? If Adriana pulls through, they will probably do a special on it. Media.
Something occurs to me.
“Who else was in the car?” Dad and Kenny both frown, as if they hadn’t expected the question.
“Jill, Wildflower, Ashley, and Derrick,” Kenny replies.
“Wildflower?” Carmen asks, confused.
“She’s a part of the cast. Apparently, the network found her interesting,” Kenny answers.
“Is Jill all right?” Carmen inquires.
“Everyone else has broken bones but nothing life threatening. I think that time will heal their wounds,” her father answers and suddenly it’s all too much. Can something go right? First, Chelsea gets kidnapped. Then, Carmen gets shot. An idiot tries to ruin my sister’s wedding. My ex shows up, and I blow up on her. My girlfriend aunt’s a killer. And oh, finally, a terrible accident involving everyone that I’m having issues with, makes me feel like crap. Man, I might actually cry.
“Jake, I’m so sorry. I wish that I could change what happened,” Dad says, and at first I’m confused about what he’s saying. Then, Carmen gently brushes her fingertips against my jaw. Oh, I must look devastated because of Adriana. Don’t get me wrong, I feel horrible that she’s been severely injured. But Dad and Kenny probably assume that I’m torn up about the accident.
“It’s sad, Dad. She is really young. I hope that she pulls through,” I manage to say, which is the wrong thing apparently. Dad glares.
“Jake. Son. That’s all you have to say. The love of your life just got into a terrible accident, and that’s it? What are you going to do about it? Are you going to visit her in the hospital? Are you going to send her flowers?” He’s on the verge of a lecture, which is annoying. What does this man want me to do?
“Dad, she wasn’t the love of my life,” I correct. “We were teenagers when we dated. And I will send her flowers. But I don’t know about going to see her. We didn’t end on good terms,” I tell him.
“I’ve officially raised a sociopath for a son. You don’t feel a damn thing,” Dad says before standing, and he’s about to leave the room but Carmen releases me and steps in front of him.
“Wait,” she pleads. “I…”
“You can just sit down and stay out of this, Carmen. This matter is between me and my son.”
“That’s not what I’m trying…”
“Carmen, if you would excuse me, I have flowers to send in my son’s name. I’ll tell her family that he’s really sorry. Though, I’m not sure what excuse I’m going to come up with for the reason he’s not going to visit her. Now, Carmen, excuse me,” my father says unkindly. Finally, it all makes sense. Dad doesn’t believe that I’m really in love with Carmen. He probably thinks that I’m using her as a distraction.
“Dad, Carmen’s got something to say. So sit down,” I snap. Shocker, the man actually sits. But he does send an icy glare my way.
“You do not talk to me that way,” he nearly shouts at me.
“Sorry. Darling, sit and ask your question,” I tell Carmen before patting the cushion beside me. She sits down, and I wrap my arm around her a little bit more tightly.
“What are the other two things that you were supposed to tell Jake?” she asks. Oh yeah, I had forgotten about that. Clearly, my father has as well.
“Oh, right. Well, Alex has been found out. Wildflower gave a detailed report to a magazine ed
itor about how Alex danced for money. She also talks about how she has a drug addiction and took money from sugar daddies. Jake, I don’t know anything about her. But this does not look good for the campaign. We’re not sure if your uncle will get reelected. People are already criticizing him for never helping Alex. He knew I had a daughter the entire time and never told me. Well, I…” Rage. That’s what takes hold of my father. He can barely speak.
“What’s the third thing?” I ask, hoping that this would be happier.
“You were named playboy of the month by some gossip magazine. Ashley’s comments didn’t help your reputation,” Dad tells me and for the first time, I can care less about what everyone says.