Broken Pieces, L. S. [brene brown rising strong .txt] 📗

Chapter Twelve

I was right, Carter didn't drive me to the airport. I didn't even see him when I woke up. Marcus told me that he had an early meeting that's why he couldn't make it but I know that he is just making an excuse for him to make me feel better but that didn't help me at all. Although I expected his absence I can't help myself not to feel sad and hurt cause the last time that I was able to talk to him was when he decided that I should go back to Florida for a while.

My flight was good. Phoebe booked me on a first class flight. I arrived at the airport at noon. Last night I talked to Nicole and she was supposed to fetch me but she wasn't feeling well last night so I told her that I'll just grab a cab going to the club. Keith is also expecting my return.

I was standing on the taxi waiting lane when a black Camaro stopped in front of me. The passenger window opened and I was so surprised to see Nate on the driver seat.

"Jillian, get in." He smiled.

I smiled back at him with the obvious confusion on my face.

“What are you doing here?” I asked as I watched him put my luggage inside the trunk of his car.

“Nicole told me she was supposed to pick you up today but she catch a flu so I told her I can pick you up since I don’t have anything to do today,” he explained.

He even opened the door on the passenger seat and I hopped in.

“Thanks, I really appreciate this but you really didn’t have to do this, I am really fine just grabbing a cab going to the hotel,” I said,

A month ago Keith found my replacement so Nicole got a new roommate so I really didn’t have any place at the house where I used to live and also Phoebe made a reservation for me to the hotel near the club.

I really didn’t want to inconvenience any of them by my sudden visit, I know that a lot had changed since the last time I was here. To be honest this isn’t the visit I thought I’d do. What I had in mind was its gonna be and Carter, we will walk in the hand in hand on the beach and swim all day but in the end I came here alone without having to even see him before I left. I felt that familiar pain in my chest by thinking how things ended between me and Carter.

“No worries okay? And about the hotel thing, please cancel the reservation cause I told Nicole that you can just stay in my house, you can stay on the extra room I have,” he said as he started the engine and drove our way out of the airport.

I shook my head, just before I left this place I had this kind of awkward moment with Nate when he told me he had a crush on me.

“You really do not have to do, I am fine staying at the hotel, besides its just near the club so I can be able to easily visit Nicole whenever I want to,” I declined.

He smiled at me and shook his head. Nate is really good looking, his skin got even fairer compare to the last time I saw him.

“That is okay Jillian, please don’t say no, I really wanna do this for you, all of us misses you a lot and we want to spend some time with you especially Nicole, you were once a part of the family and you’re still are so please let me do this for you okay?” he said.

I was really touched with what I’ve heard but what Nate said just added another pound of pain I feel in my chest. I am happy that despite of me leaving this people who took me in when I was in trouble they still consider me as a family and would still want to take care of me.

“Alright,” I nodded, “But if ever I will be a burden to you please let me know okay? I can always move to the hotel,”

“Don’t say that, you will never be an inconvenience to your family Jill,” he smiled and reached for my and slight pressed my palm. 

Nate dropped me off the club so I could see Nicole right away, he took my things with him and told me that he will set up the room for me while I am with Nicole.

I went straight to Keith’s office first to say hi.

“Jillian my babe, good to see you,” he said and gave me a slight hug.

I noticed that he got a little mature with his new spiked style hair cut. He is wearing a white buttoned down shirt and faded jeans.

“I hope I am not interrupting you,” I smiled.

“No, of course not, I am just signing some paper work here.” He said as he pointed the pile of papers on her desk.

“How’s the business?” I asked.

“Well, good as always, just the same, how about you, how is my California girl?”

I laughed with what he just called me. Keith as always is a real entertainer. I told him about my school and the things that I was doing in Beverly Hills. I haven’t told anyone about what is happening about me in California, Nate already asked me earlier but I just shrugged my shoulders, I don’t want them to think that Carter kicked me out and that we’re not in good terms. I also don’t want their impression towards him as the rich/kind bachelor to change.

After a while I left Keith so he could continue with his office work and I walked towards the back of the club and went straight to the Missouri house where I used to live at.

I found Nicole lying on her bed looking very weak with no makeup at all. Her new housemate Jordan was out running so I wasn’t able to meet her.

Nicole sat on the bed when she saw and I gave her a tight hug. God! I missed her so much, I had friends in LA and I also have Christy and Brooke who never left me even after the scandal came out but no one can really replace the kind of bond and friendship I have with Nicole. Maybe because we’ve been together since day one, she was the reason why I finally got my freedom and the person who stood out for me.

“I missed you,” she whispered.

“I’ve missed you too,” I smiled at her, “How are you feeling?”

“Worst, god I hate this flu, the timing is just so bad,” she complained, “My whole body aches and I can’t even go out of this fucking room,” she cursed and rolled her eyes.

I gave her a slight smile. I couldn’t stop myself from smiling even though she is not feeling well but I just missed every inch of her personality. I missed seeing how she rolled her eyes when she is pissed. I even missed hearing her cursed.

“Just take your medicine on time okay? And take a rest I’ll be here to take care of you if that will be okay with your new housemate,”

“Of course it’s okay with her if she doesn’t want me to kick her out,” she snorted. “I’ve been praying for a new housemate that can cook and God gave me a girl who can’t even hold a fucking pan,” she shook her head. “If I just didn’t know that you have a better life in LA, I’ll beg you to come back and cook for me again.”

“I can cook for you while I am here,” I assured her.

She hugged me again.

“Thank god so for how long will you be here then?”

I stopped for a while because I really don’t know what to tell him. I didn’t have the chance to talk to Carter and clear this out to him if I should stay here for a week, a month, for the whole summer or maybe forever.

“What’s wrong sweetie?” Nicole asked sweetly.

I shook my head and was about to tell her that everything is okay, that I am fine but it was too late cause the tears I have been trying to keep for days fell my from my eyes non-stop.

“Jillian, what’s wrong?” she asked as she pulled me out into an embrace.

“I don’t know if I can still go back to LA, I think Carter just kicked me out,” I cried.

“Oh my god! What happened?”

I told Nicole everything that happened from the day I met Adriana until the time Carter asked me to go back to Miami Beach. I was crying the whole time and even after I was done telling her everything. It just hurt me so much that I really don’t even know why. I mean I am not even in love with Carter, right?

“If he doesn’t want you anymore, then let him, you don’t have to force him to take you, you can always go back here Jillian, Keith will take anytime of the day,” she said with aggravation.

Nicole was upset with Carter and she didn’t like how he handled the scandal. Like me, she thought that Carter shouldn’t take his aggravation and frustration out on me since he is the one who initiated the idea of me coming with him in LA.

“I know and I am really thankful for that, I’m just sad because I thought I have already established a life there, I was so happy that I was able to go back to school and for the first time I felt normal, I could be myself there, people don’t know me and couldn’t judge me, I was really happy there so it makes me sad if I won’t be able to continue that,” I wiped my tears, “I don’t want to go back doing this Nic, I can take any kind of job just not this anymore.” I cried.

“I know and don’t worry we will figure it out okay?  The two of us together just like before.”

She hugged me again. I am so happy to be here with her. Like old times she is the only person who can make me feel better despite the pain I am feeling. She is the only person who can see the bright side of a very dark situation.

 

 

Before the club opens Nate drove me to his home cause he had to stay in the club for the night. He left me with everything that I need and might need while he is gone. He even gave me a spare key to use. His apartment is very cozy, just plain black and white from the walling up to the furniture; everything has a touch of either black or white, another place of a normal bachelor.

After taking a quick shower and immediately hopped on the bed to take a good rest. My original plan was to stay with Nicole for the night but she insisted that I should take a rest.

I was lying on the bed while staring at my phone, I have nothing on it from Carter, no missed call, no voicemail message or even a text. I also checked my email hoping that he left me a message but I found nothing. It hurts me to know that he didn’t even bother to check on me. He didn’t even tried to know if I landed safely or if I was