CHAPTER TWENTY SIXAmelia reached her father’s side, her eyes immediately locking onto his face as she saw with relief that he was awake as her mother had said.His weary eyes lit up with relief as he saw her and he tried to smile, wincing as his body protested that movement.He remembered collapsing at the wedding but that was all he could remember “Hey pumpkin” he rasped, his voice filled with the love that he felt“Don’t joke right now, dad” Amelia chided, her heart flooding with relief "I'm fine, sweetheart. It was just a scare and you know I had been dancing too much.” He told her“You had a heart attack, dad… that is more than a scare. We almost… we almost lost you. Don’t ever do that again” she whispered, tears welling up in her eyes as she moved closer, her hand gently touching his arm.Her father's smile widened as he reached out to touch her arm.“I promise it will never happen again” he told herShe laughed at this, sniffling as she rose to give her mother a chance to
CHAPTER TWENTY SEVENJackson was awoken by the sound of his phone, thrilling incessantly.He groaned, turning around to pick it up before the third beep.“Hello” he muttered into the receiver “I cannot believe you are still asleep. Where are you? We need to talk ” Liam’s voice rang out.Liam was a long time friend and someone he had not told about his journey.“We cannot meet right now… I am not in the country”“You are kidding” “I wish I was” Jackson muttered, climbing out of the bedThe day before had been a hectic one and after he and Amelia had gotten to the club, he had rang for food for her, drawn up a bath and had woken her up so she could eat before going back to sleep.“And you did not think to tell me that you were leaving the country? I hear it from you now?” Liam’s shock was evident in his voice “I am sorry, it totally slipped my mind and I have been dealing with some things; I will make it up to you so tell me what is the matter? Why have you called so early and is i
CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT“I know that I should probably not be saying this but I overheard your phone call with your father and it seems you both are in a really bad place” Amelia finally said on their way back to the hospital.She had placed a phone call to her mother and there was nothing for her to worry about because her father was fine and the doctors said he was definitely going to be better.“They say he is out of the worst of it” she told them“I will be back this morning, is there anything you would like me to get for you? You have been there throughout the night and if you would like to take a break…”“That is not necessary… you can just get me a change of clothes and I will figure out the rest when you are here” her mother responded.Amelia hung up with her mind on how suddenly changed her mother had become because of what had happened. She wasn’t sure what to make of this new version of her but she wasn’t going to push her luck with her.“It is nothing to worry yourself about
CHAPTER TWENTY NINEJackson was on his way back to the club when he received a phone call from an unknown number; he thought about ignoring it since there wasn’t a caller ID on it but decided against that and proceeded to pick it up“Long time no see” Sophia’s soft voice filtered through.He took a deep breath, unsure of how to react seeing that they hadn’t spoken in years… ever since their relationship ended and she had threatened to ruin him if they ever did cross paths again“Sophia…” he started“I know you must be shocked to hear from me seeing as we haven’t spoken ever since the… anyways… I need us to meet” she told him.He chuckled bitterly at the sheer audacity of her calling him when she had almost ruined his life… no, she had ruined his life.“You have some nerve calling me after all that has happened between us” he growled, angry at how worked up he was getting.He had thought he was over the fact that she had almost allowed him go to jail for something that had been totally
CHAPTER THIRTY“You invited him” Sophia sniffed in disdain as soon as she sighted both men at the bar.She was never one to get along with Liam and he liked nothing about her too. They were like the proverbial cat and dog and there wasn’t anything she wouldn’t do to get him as far away from Jackson as possible.She was sure he had a hand in Jackson not running back to her the first chance she made available to him and that was simply not acceptable in her books.“It is good to see you too” Liam responded, his words dripping with sarcasm.He hated that he could do nothing but respect his friend’s wishes when all he wanted to do was kick her out and make sure she is never anywhere close to him.“I wanted us to have this conversation alone” she whined, drawing closer to Jackson who did not back away as he observed her.He felt betrayed at his body’s reaction towards her when all he had done for the past years was hate her in his head and heart. She still looked exactly the same as she di
CHAPTER THIRTY ONE“What are we going to do about this?” Liam asked as soon as Sophia sashayed away into her car after promising they were going to see her soon.He did not doubt her for one minute and although he did not want to believe that she was back in their lives causing chaos again… he had to accept the fact.And there was also Jackson to think about who had not said anything since Sophia left.“What do you mean?” He asked“What are we going to do about Sophia and do not pretend you do not know what I am talking about right now, Jackson. She is back and we have to face that and she has begun spinning her tales…”“You also think she is lying about my father,. Don’t you?” Jackson interrupted Liam’s tirade “I do not think she is lying… you know that too and it is something that your father is capable of but I do not want her to turn you into that person you were years ago.” Liam told him “She is not turning me into anything and I am not going to believe a word she says”“But?”
CHAPTER THIRTY TWOJackson stepped out of the car with Liam following directly behind him and walked to where Amelia stood. She had not yet noticed his presence because she was in a very lively discussion with Sophia.He cleared his throat as soon as he neared them and watched her jolt “Hey” she smiled at him, her eyes moving to survey Liam.He could see the recognition in her gaze but he was unsure of whether it was because she knew him as a celebrity or there was something Sophia had told her.“Hey” Jackson responded, not taking his eyes off her“Meet Sophia, she is my mother’s best friend and a sister to me” she introduced, turning to Sophia“Meet my boss, Jackson; he has been a tremendous help” she introduced “I am sure he has” Sophia purred, putting out a hand towards JacksonHe made no move to take it… ignored it totally even as he turned towards Liam“Meet Amelia… Amelia, this is Liam” “Yes, I know… he is quite popular” She laughed, her cheeks reddening in embarrassment Lia
CHAPTER THIRTY THREEAmelia excused herself the following day to visit her father or at least that is what she had told Jackson who offered to drive her and was pretty stunned by her refusal “I do not want you to have to drive me everywhere and I am not going to take long” she told himHe nodded, not arguing although Amelia could tell that he did not think it was a bother to him.She wanted to have a conversation with her mother and then Sophia about what she had been told and she needed to know the exact reason Sophia was here.“We will be leaving tomorrow, I hope that is okay?” He asked her“It is perfect, I will see you soon”Liam waited until she was gone before he asked the question that had been plaguing him since they got back to the club and he had excused them “So?” He asked“So what?” Jackson shot backHe knew exactly what he was asking but did not want to hear his friend’s voice of reason right now“What did she say about being with Sophia?” Liam asked pointedly “You hea