He could tell Corey wanted to roll his eyes in the worst way, and it was a damned good sign that he didn't. It satisfied Liam enough to lean back in his chair and give him the steel-eye before telling him to get his ass in the shower.
“There's a change of clothes in the bottom drawer. Use them. You're not getting blood on my furniture.”
Quietly storming off with no response, Corey let the bathroom door close behind him with a click, and Liam rose up from the chair with a sigh. Seriously, this better be the last time his brother got himself into unnecessary bullshit. As it was, those fuckers were probably going to be looking for him. Maybe both of them. They'd do it under their Pres's nose, but Liam doubted they'd give it up anytime soon. Corey needed to lay low. And he definitely needed to keep Liam as far away from that nonsense as possible.
Checking his face in the mirror, relief flooded him. A couple nicks from the rings of the big dude he'd gotten into an impromptu sparring match with when the bald guy had hit the floor, but no lasting damage.
Thank God.
Things could have gone a lot farther south than they had tonight. He needed to get his head back in the game. No more distracting bullshit. As soon as he got the call, he'd be on the set of “National Ink” for 3 months. It was the promo spot of a lifetime, and he was determined to follow through with it.
Jackie
Jackie smiled at Roxy's quietly snoring body on the sleeper. It was good to have her back. She hated when Roxy picked up and left with no explanation. She worried about her, even though she knew she could handle herself. Stretching and tying her hair up in a bun, she tucked into the blanket on the opposite couch, still slightly buzzed but more concerned than anything.
They'd arrived at the tail end of a bar brawl, and had almost been turned away for the night, being dainty ladies no one wanted to see hurt if the madness started up again. But Carole had noticed them standing outside and told the bouncer to let them through. Then she told them all about the brawl, which had apparently started with Liam's brother and devolved in Liam jumping in with his friends.
She'd been shocked as hell to even see him there, but of course, there was a great deal she didn't know about him. She was at least warmed to the idea that he had no problems hanging around people that weren't on his hob-nob level. It said something about his character, and she couldn't deceive herself about how curious it made her to know more.
Merge that with Roxy's unexpected approval, even knowing that Liam was about to be Jackie's stepbrother. She was still wrapping her mind around that. It was the exact opposite of what she'd been expecting to hear from her dearest friend in the whole wide world, and it was chipping away at the part of her that had been fending Liam off.
The fact that Liam had barely even glanced at her tonight might have added in some intrigue, as well. The window of opportunity to change her mind was probably on the fast track to closing, and it bothered her more than she liked.
Yawning and stretching one last time, she pulled her blanket tighter around her and let her eyes slip closed. Exhausted. She'd... deal with it in the morning when her brain was fully operational. Her mind hadn't stopped running where he was concerned, yet. She was sure she'd be right back to the seesaw of emotions and decision making again, the moment she pried her eyes open.
~
“Your phone,” Roxy called out from her seat at Jackie's computer desk.
“Who is it?”
“Come answer it and find out.”
Frowning, Jackie spit out the rest of her toothpaste, rinsed the brush quickly and replaced it on the hook before rushing to her room.
“You couldn't have peeked?”
“I'm checking flights.”
“What? Why?”
“Answer the phone. I'll tell you later.”
Sighing, Jackie grabbed her cell from the bed, flipping it over to see her mom's name flashing on the screen. Should she bother? Ugh. Grimacing, she clicked the call on and lifted the phone to her ear.
“Morning.”
“Well, I'm glad you're alright. You left so abruptly, I wasn't sure what to think.”
Sighing quietly, Jackie took into a pace.
“Something came up.”
“Must've been important.”
“Yeah. It was. I had to get out of there. Everything alright?”
Her mother paused, seeming to digest her words and tone.
“Yes. I was calling to ask you to run to Claudio's to pick up a dress for the press conference. We're throwing a party after and there'll be pictures.”
Exhaling loudly, Jackie nodded.
“Alright, when?”
“Well, today. At exactly six, so you can be fitted. The tailor's not always there. We had to make an appointment.”
“Of course.”
Throwing her hands up, Jackie shook her head. “Alright. I'll be there.”
“Great. I knew I could count on you, Sweetheart.”
“Yeah. I have to run. Registering for an extra class while there are still slots open.”
“Oh. Well don't let me keep you.”
“Bye.”
“Bye, Sweetie.”
Bristling, Jackie clicked off the call. It sucked how much she loathed talking to her mother, well for social calls, anyways. The way she was handling business lately, talking to the step-creep-to-be about things that should never pass her lips without talking to Jackie first made it look like business talks were heading in the dreaded direction, too.
They hadn't been close in a long time, and it didn't look like the old version of her mother, post-breakdown, was ever coming back. Instead, she had this plastic version to endure. Possibly for the rest of her life.
“You should be easier on her,” Roxy offered, clicking her way through a travel site.
“I know.”
Liam
The fitter drew up the measuring tape, looking him over fondly.
“You have the look of a young Richard Grieco. Anyone ever told you that? I know just the suit for you.”
“Yeah?”
“Definitely.
“I don't get to pick?”
The tailor gave him a grin.
“Your father wouldn't like anyone else making those sorts of decisions.”
Sighing, Liam nodded his agreement.
“No, I suppose he wouldn't.”
Smile deepening, the older man stepped back.
“You're free to shop for your accessories, though. We'll charge it to his account.”
“No need for that,” Liam told him, bristling, but smiling his way through it. “I brought my card.”
Nodding with a kind of knowing, the tailor placed his measuring tape back in his carrying case.
“We'll keep that between us.”
Liam smirked.
“By all means, tell him.”
Liam wanted his father to understand that he didn't want or need his money. And though that was clear to the tailor, he was pretty sure the message wouldn't be relayed. Shrugging off, he made his way around the store, waiting with a certain tension for Jackie to show up. Donna had called earlier that morning to ask him to watch over her and make sure she was taken care of, and as hard as it was going to be to do that, he'd agreed.
Soon they'd have the whole mess behind them, and she'd be his "sister," whom he'd enjoy on a purely, platonic level because that's how she apparently wanted it. Far be it from him to impose his unwanted interest. He'd had some time to get himself back, and he wasn't keen on pushing for a damn thing. The sooner she arrived, got fitted, and picked out her jewellery, and whatnot, the better.