All Chapters of Forever Jude: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

When I finally get a job offer, it’s from the most unexpected place. So, the main small forward of the basketball team that fired me got injured at the last game. He’s been ruled out for at least six weeks. The last thing I expected was to receive a call from his personal manager asking me to become his personal trainer during his recovery. The club has agreed for him to have a personal trainer besides their own, and lo and beyond, the director mentioned I could be a good fit–the manager’s words. Recommending me to take care of one of the most important players on his team at such a critical time is the biggest vote of confidence I could ever hope for. It might even shine brighter on my resume than my stint at the club. Oh, you personally took care of the Brent Harvey? Now, that says something! There’s one huge problem, though. Brent Harvey is an ass.A serious full-time asshole.So big of an ass that it’s making me question the wisdom of accepting a gig that will take my resume

Jude’s not home when I get back, and he’s not back by the time I give in to the sleep creeping on me. He’s also not back when I wake up in the middle of the night.I frown at the empty space beside me before reaching for my phone to check the time. It’s thirty four minutes past one. He wasn’t supposed to be this late. The last time we texted, he said he would be back around the time I did too.Worry sets in as I notice there are no new texts or missed calls from him. I sit up in bed and reach over to turn on the bedside lamp. I’ve just pressed his number to make a call when my eyes are drawn to a gap in the curtains. It allows me to see outside to the terrace, and I make out his figure in the moonlight. Sighing in relief, I quit the call and get out of bed. I cross over to the glass door and slide it open, then step outside. Jude is leaning over the parapet, his back to me. He’s wearing the same black long coat he was wearing when he left in the morning.It’s a chilly night and goos

Hunger is a powerful motivator. My pity party has been going on for barely an hour when I can’t take it anymore. I haven’t eaten anything proper since morning, okay? I only had a few snacks while we watched the games and that was it. And when Jude mentioned barbecue earlier? My mouth watered and my stomach started warming up for all the good food I was anticipating. I never followed through with that and now my stomach is growling in protest. It also doesn’t help that the aroma of what Jude ordered is making its way into the bedroom. I should have taken my share before announcing my need for isolation.I walk out of the room and turn straight to the kitchen. Jude is in the living room with his back to me. Football is playing on the TV. If I’m quick enough he won’t even know I was here.I open the refrigerator and find the food containers sitting right there. I reach for the first one but another hand beats me to it.Startled, I look behind me. He’s right there, reaching for the cont

On a Saturday morning two weeks after Simon leaves me fighting tears–unsuccessfully–outside the departure area, I’m sitting at the kitchen island, on a video call with Nicki.“What’s that on your neck?” she asks, making a gesture towards her own neck.I reach for my neck and raise my brow. “Like what?”“Like a hickey.” Nicki’s eyebrows pull together as she moves closer. “Wait…actually that looks more like a bite mark.” She sits back and wiggles her brow at me. “I suppose you are not taking it slow this time, uh?”I shake my head and wiggle a finger in the air. “Let’s not get sidetracked.”“Seriously, we need to get together ASAP! It’s been so long since we gossiped,” she whines.“We don’t gossip,” I say, popping a piece of apple into my mouth. She’s right, we need to get together. I didn’t get to hang out with her over the holidays because she went on a cruise with her boyfriend. And now, she’s busy with art school some six hours away.Nicki cocks her head, and her face is one big ‘s

My phone rings a few minutes later and I grab it quickly. It’s a strange number calling. I don’t waste time wondering who it could be before receiving it. “Hello?” “Hey, you need to come get your friend,” the person on the other side, a man, says.I get off the couch, frowning at the same time my pulse doubles. Is it Cole? Is it Jude? “My friend?”His voice becomes detached as he asks, “Hey, what’s your name?” A few seconds later, he says, “Name’s Cole. He’s outside Club Twenty on 7th Street.”He hangs up before I can ask any more questions. Not that there’s any need for that. Cole is outside Club Twenty on 7th Street, and I have to go get him.I hail a taxi and then rush into the bedroom to get dressed. I try to call Jude again, but his phone is still off. If he’s not with Cole, where is he?I head downstairs and wait in the lobby until my taxi arrives. The ride to the club takes twenty minutes, which seem like hours. Fortunately, the roads are clear at this hour, so there’s no del