The Strings Attached

Chapter 39 - Jace

"Is there anything we can do to help?" Loni offers.

Kim fluffs her hands. "No, no. Please, just make yourselves comfortable."

That's going to be a difficult task.

"Kimmy, have you seen the carving knife?" My father saunters out of the kitchen. He stops abruptly when he sees me. "Jace," he breathes.

God, I hate how much I look like him. I looked nothing like my mother. But my father and I share the same dark hair, same nose. We even have the same posture. And seeing him now, I'm pretty sure we are the exact same height.

"Oh my god, Jace." The biggest smile coaxes his lips and he walks toward me again. I'm not sure what I expected him to do. But I sure as hell never expected him to hug me. His arms are wrapped around me so tight I can barely breathe. When he pulls away, his hands are on my shoulders and he's smiling at me. "It's so good to see you, son."

Son?

Fuck, I thought I was done with the tears, but there is a sting in my eyes that I can't shake no matter how much I blink.

It's just something about him, standing here, looking at me, talking to me face to face, after all these years that sets me off.

"Who is this?" He asks, letting go of me.

Loni waits for a moment, but I take too long to introduce her. "I'm Loni. You have a beautiful home, Sir." She shakes his hand.

I wish I could be that cordial with my own father.

"Please, call me James."

After the quick introductions, Kim gives us a small tour of the condo while dad retreats back into the kitchen. I can't even focus on what Kim is saying. We are standing outside on the huge balcony and she is talking to Loni about the beach, or the traffic, I have no fucking idea. All I can think about is how I've entered some kind of weird parallel universe.

The man in that kitchen is not my father. Does he have a twin brother I never knew about? My father never hugged me growing up. Not once. Not out of love or comfort. He didn't pay much attention to me anyway to know if I needed love or comfort. But as soon as I walk through the door, he throws his arms around me and pulls me into a tight embrace.

I'm going back to my original thought when he first called me and invited me to this dinner. He has to be dying.

But he looks good. He looks in shape. His hair is barely showing any gray for his age. I mean, the guy could probably run a full marathon and not even get winded.  He has a pretty hardy appetite too.

He prepared a huge thanksgiving feast that is laid out over the excessively long table. The three of them waste no time digging in. But I don't think I have the stomach for any of this.

Loni keeps looking at me, squeezing my leg under the table anytime my shoulders start to tense up. But despite these motions, nothing is going to make me relax.

"How long have you two known each other," Loni asks.

"We've been friends for a few years," Kim says, taking my dad's hand. "But it wasn't until that Christmas party that you looked at me romantically." She's looking into his eyes and they both wear cheeky grins.

"How could I not," he coos, then looks at Loni. "You should've seen the dress she was wearing." He looks back at Kim. "You took my breath away. And from that moment I was hooked."

Loni hangs on their every word. But I can' help but think it's all bullshit.

I shove a forkful of mashed potatoes in my mouth to keep me from scowling, but it feels like acid against my tongue. I force down a swallow.