“Thanks,” she said, pulling out the chair. She took a seat and raised an eyebrow waiting for me to do the same. I felt a muscle twitch and my lips curve slightly as I took the seat in front of her.
I placed my palms flat against the table and kept my head down as my eyes bore into hers.
Come on girl.
Follow my lead.
She kept her eyes trained on mine and mimicked my stance, placing both hands flat against the table.
That’s my girl.
“I told you father something but I should’ve told you first,” I said, straightening up but kept my hands firmly where they were. “I should’ve told you a long time ago, should’ve told you when you came to the Dog Pound but instead I was cruel to you. Time you got the truth, girl.”
“Then give it to me,” she coaxed.
“Every word I said that night was a lie. You stopped being Jack’s daughter a long time ago. At first I didn’t want to see it, I didn’t want to see you but it was inevitable. You were created for me and only me. I told you were nothing more than...,” I stopped, shook my head unable to repeat the harsh lie and blew out a breath before I looked back at her. “You’re everything,” I whispered.
I caught the sheen of fresh tears in her eyes before I diverted mine down to her hands and saw her curl her fingers. She fought to keep the stance we were both holding, itching to move them and lift them to her face.
“Keep your hands flat,” I whispered.
She blinked, and the tears slipped from the corners of her eyes.
“You okay?”
She nodded.
“It’s coming,” I teased, winking at her.
My sweet Lace, full of life and so much strength left behind those dark eyes.
“I love you Lacey,” I whispered the words and gave her my smile, inching my hands closer to hers.
“I’m sorry you’re hearing it like this and not some grand way. I’m sorry I let you think for one second I didn’t give a damn.”
“Stop,” she croaked.
I furrowed my brows and stilled my hands.
“Say it again.”
My lips quirked.
“I love you, girl. Only you. Forever you,” I swore.
She smiled at me, making me forget she would walk away and I would go back to my cell.
“I love you too,” she said through her tears. “I knew you loved me,” she whispered. “In my heart I knew I had your love and when my mind told me it was a lie I fought against it.”
“You keep fighting,” I interjected. “You hear me? You walk out of here today and you keep fighting that shit, never let that maker win,” I stressed.
“I’m guessing my dad told you?”
I nodded.
“He was vague. You want to clue me in?”
I watched her look down, spread her fingers a part and slowly slide them closer to the middle of the table before she let them be.
“I’ve known for a long time,” she admitted. “Every breakdown my father has had made it easy for me to diagnose myself.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“You’ve got your own demons, Blackie. You don’t need mine,” she murmured.
“Yeah, babe, we both got demons we can’t stand, but you took mine and when I get out of here you’re going to give me yours,” I told her. “I don’t know when that will be so you’ve got to promise me you’re going to stay strong and do what you got to do to keep it quiet up there,” I said, motioning to her head with my chin.
“I’m in therapy,” she informed me. “And…,” she paused and took a deep breath, working through her confession. “I’m on lithium.”
“That’s good, Lace. Hey, look at me,” I said, waiting for eyes to reach mine. “It’s a good thing.”
“It is?” she laughed.
“Yeah, it means you’re not ignoring it and you’re not waiting for it to consume you. It takes a strong person to admit there’s something wrong and an even stronger person to follow through with treatment,” I said. “I’m proud of you, real proud, Lace.”
“So you don’t think I’m crazy?”
“Not that crazy but yeah, you got to have a little crazy in you to fall for a guy like me,” I said. I bit the inside of my cheek and watched the smirk play on her mouth.
I missed her mouth.
“What about you?”
“I’m fucking certifiable,” I admitted with a laugh.
“That’s not what I meant,” she insisted. “What about the drugs? Are you getting help?” She glanced around the room. “Is that even an option here?”
“I’m working it out,” I said, glancing over my shoulder to take in the positions of the guards. I kept my eyes on them as they were engrossed in a conversation and moved my hands across the table and covered hers.
The simplest touch was all I needed to remind me of how she felt in my arms.
I tore my eyes from the guards and stared at her as she looked at our hands, intertwining our fingers together.
“Did you ever think something as simple as holding hands would mean so much?” She lifted her eyes to mine. “When did that happen?”
“The day you forced me to drink a milkshake and reminded me I could still smile,” I answered. “Promise me something?”
She nodded her head.