Touching the Heart of Ace

I stared at my phone, trying to make it ring with the call I was expecting for so many hours.

It never came.

It was good, right?

This was what I wanted. This was what I had longed for. The day Robbie forgot about me.

I wished I had bit more time to prepare myself. Hell, I thought I was prepared for it.

The call came at noon, when he was having his lunch. I was running around making sure there was enough food on the table. He had skipped his breakfast again, I thought I could break him off his nasty habit. But he came back earlier than expected, hungry to eat a cow. His words, not mine.

??Angel, this is enough.??

??No, eat some more, God knows when you will eat next.??

He was not lying when he said he was hungry. I poured him water to wash down his BLT. I had made some fries to go with it. The air fryer was a good choice. I could make him, his favourite fried foods without giving myself a heart attack.

He punched his chest, to stop himself from burping.

I rolled my eyes. ??Burp Robbie, there is no one else here.??

He burped loud as if he was waiting for my permission. ??I was not holding it in, I was trying to make a big one.??

Of course!

Then he burped liked a dragon again!

??Now, that is just plain gross.??

??Why? Thank you, kind sir.?? I giggled when he made a bow.

??I made you some ginger lime tea.?? I poured him a big glass and waited for him to take a few sips. ??Good???

??Mmm hmm.??

Then my world was broken with a call.

I knew what the new was, when his face went from annoyed to serious then to utter happiness tinged with fear.

??I have to go.?? He handed me back the glass looking frantic. ??Angel... I...??

??I will get your bag.??

I ran to the bedroom and pulled out the bag I had prepared for him. When I was helping Robbie with Bobby??s stuff, I went through so many online articles. There were a few parents who added that they were so focused on making their nursery so beautiful that they forgot to pack themselves a bag if the water broke unexpectedly.

So, I had just... Well, it came in handy. It was noon; I thought it would at 2 in the morning.

I handed him the bag. ??Here.?? I was not looking at his eyes. This was the day he was waiting for. I took some chocolates from the kitchen counter and put in the side pockets. ??If you decide to skip dinner.??

He kissed me hard. Tasted like ginger, lime and good bye.

??I will call.??

I had forgotten to ask when.

It had been 10 hours, 29 minutes and counting since then. I did not want to cry but...

I stared at my phone again.

Ace this is exactly what you want.

Yes, it was. It was exactly what I wanted; Robbie forgetting me. I could chase my dreams now, my own boyfriend who would be my own husband and one day we would have my own baby.

All I had to do was change the face of the man that came into mind when I heard boyfriend, lover or husband. It was okay. If Jason could forget Gabe, if my mom could live without my dad, I sure could live without Robbie.

I picked up the phone and dialled the number.

??Jason.?? I did not mean to cry.

??I will be there in a few.??

Sometimes it was a curse and a blessing to have a best friend who understood you more than anyone.

I just wanted to talk to him preferably without letting him know that I was crying. Oh well!

There was nothing wrong. Everything was the way it was supposed to be. But I was scared.

And that made no sense at all. Why was I scared?

All those times in the beginning I was scared of Aunt Marie finding out that Robbie touched me.

Then I was scared if anyone would find out I was into it as much as Robbie.

Somewhere along the way the feeling had completely morphed to fear of losing him.

??Oh! Dave.??

The more I tried not to cry more the need pushed out of my chest. I hadn??t meant to sob. The moment Jason pulled me to his chest, I was bawling my eyes out.

??I can??t bear it, Jace. I am scared.??

What could he do? He was talking but I could not hear it over the sobs. And they kept on coming, like a tornado.

??Jace, am I dying???

??No, you are not.?? Then why was I feeling like it? He hadn??t called me. Jason removed my shirt, slowly rubbing my chest. ??Please, stop crying like this. Jesus, Dave. Please.?? ??I... I...?? The hiccups were making my head hurt. ??Jason, I am so scared.?? I gagged. ??I do not feel so good. I am scared. Robbie... He...??

??Shit.?? I watched him calling someone. ??Man! I need your help... I don??t care... He is my brother... Hyperventilating... Okay... Please come faster... Please... No... No... Yes...?? I felt Jason pushing something onto my mouth. ??Breath to this. DAMN IT!!! BREATHE!?? I felt pain on my back.

??Jason, am I dying? Mom??? I repeatedly gagged, ??Jace... Where is mom???

??No, you fucking pain in my nose. You are fucking okay. Jesus Christ. I won??t fucking let you die!??

I saw someone else running to me. ??Robbie??? I tried to stand up and fell on the floor.

??Dave, stop it. Please do something... Please... He is... Please...?? I felt a familiar embrace engulfing me.

I felt a prick on my hand. ??R... Robbie... I d... d... Mom...??

Why was he not calling me?

Robbie...

I was squirming under his stare. Robert Brantley was an asshole. What was he doing here anyway!

??Who was he???

??Who???

I watched him stand up. I gulped. Why did it matter? It was not like this man had any claim on me. Then why was I nervous? I did nothing wrong, then why was I feeling guilty? ??Ace...?? He stood right in from me. His hands in his pockets, looking calm and collected where I was sitting on this chair looking like a lost kid.

I was never called to Headmaster??s office for scolding but I thought this would be how students felt.

??I...??

He kneeled down in front of me. I leaned away when his face came close... too close.

His eyes were searching mine. ??I am going to ask, one more time. You will answer me truthfully. Got it???

??I don??t have to tell you anything.?? Just because he tied me up and... and... Just because I did not tell anyone about that, did not mean, he was my anything. He was a fucking asshole. He could ask and demand things from his wife. I hated him!

His eyes were thunderous. I was not afraid of his anger. I was not one of his conquests; I was most certainly not his good-for-nothing business dogs, to wag my tail when he talked. He could shove his demands up his ass. My mom trusted him, I used to trust him too; but not anymore.

He leaned in closer and I stood my ground. Well, I was sitting but that did not matter. He was not intimidating me.

His eyes slipped to my lips, before resting back to my eyes.

I turned my face away blushing. He... He was so fucking annoying. I crossed my hands in front of me feeling him figuratively undress me with his eyes.

??Did he kiss you???

??None of your fucking business, Robert Brantley!??

??Did he???

??Yes! In fact, we did more than kissing. Now, if you kindly take your nose out of where it does not belong.??

He laughed. He freaking laughed standing up. ??Now, that was not so difficult to admit, was it???

??Look here, asshole...??

Someone was pushed into the room and my eyes widened in horror. ??What is he... what is he... what???

??This is not what you told me.?? He turned to the man, who had asked me out on a date. I did not even remember his name. What was he doing here?

??I swear to God, this shitface lying. We did nothing, I did not kiss him. I...??

Robert punched him on the face, the man fell on the floor clutching his jaw. I jumped up from the seat in shock.

??What did you call him???

??I am so...??

??WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU JUST CALL HIM???

??Shitface, I called him shitface. I am sorry, he was lyi...??

Robert pulled the man up by his collar. ??Isn??t he beautiful???

??No...?? Robert twisted his wrist. ??Yes... yes... please... yes.??

??Very beautiful.?? Robert was staring at me.

??Ye... yes... very beautiful.??

??Good, now tell me. What happened???

??I asked if he was interested...??

??Interested in what???

??In... in...?? The man was shaking.

??Robert, please stop.?? I clutched on his arm. ??Please.??

He stared at me with unconcealed anger. ??Call me Robbie...??

I blushed bright red. ??Please.??

He twisted the man??s wrist again and he screamed again.

??Please Robbie... let him go.??

??Not yet. Continue. Interested in what???

The man was shaking in his boots. ??Please... I did not know...?? He gulped noticing Robert??s stare. ??Interest in going to a stall with me...??

??Go on.??

??He said he is not the type to fuck strangers. I am sorry... I... I held his hand when he tried to leave... I am sorry... I took it back when he glared. I said, I would take him on a date...??

I saw Robert fisting his palm ready to punch him again. The man noticed too. ??He said no... He said I would not touch him again or I would regret. I am sorry, I didn??t know he was taken...?? Robbie nodded. ??Tell me rest of the story??

??That is it... There is nothing more...?? Robert stomped on his foot. God! He fell on the floor clutching his leg.

??Tell.me.the.rest.of.the.story.??

??I let hi... him go... he climbed in a car... I said I would wait eternally for him to change his mind... I... I am sorry...??

??Now that is what confusing me. Why would anyone shout he would wait eternally for someone he only met once? You are not telling me the whole story.??

??I swear to god! It was a joke...??

??A joke? Try harder.??

??Please, he is telling the truth. I do not even know his name.?? I pulled on Robert??s elbow trying to make him understand. I held back his hand when he raised to punch him again.

??I swear, man! Please... I swear... I thought he was trying hard to get.??

??Oh he is hard to get, alright. I understand, man. Anyone would wait eternally for him. I mean, I would. I did. And I do. So... Now, onto important topics. Which hand did you use to hold his hand???

Jesus Christ!

??ROBERT!!! Stop it! He is telling you the truth. Let him go.??

?? You did more than just kissing.??

I gulped. ??Please let him go...?? Robert waited and I added blushing. ??Robbie, please...??

He yanked me to his chest, whispering to my lips. ??Tell me this is what happened and I will let him go. Whatever you say. You tell me and this man goes.??

??He is telling you the truth. Nothing happened. He tried to give me his number...?? I turned Robert??s face to me when he tried to glare at the man on the floor. ??Robbie... please... I did not accept it... I forgot about him until you started bugging me. Let that man go now.??

??But...??

??You promised.??

Robert kept on staring at me.

??Go!?? I told the squirming man.

??My sister. Please tell him to call of his men. Please. She knows nothing about this... Please... She is innocent... Please...?? The man was crying as my heart dropped in horror.

??Wh... what??? I noticed how creepily Robert was smiling. ??His sister? You hurt his SISTER?????

??Now, now. I haven??t... yet. I wanted him to break up with you if you were in relationship. He is not going to obey me just like that, now would he? I wanted ammunition.??

??Please...?? The man begged.

??Call off your men, now! ROBERT! I am serious.??

??So you will break things off???

??Jesus Christ, there is nothing to break off! I do not know his fucking name! Let her go!??

I checked his suit pocket as the man laughed in happiness. I thrusted the phone onto the laughing psycho??s face. ??Call now.??

The bastard merely sent a text message. ??Done!??

The man desperately searched through his phone, dialling immediately.

??Hey... How are you?... No, Mol, I am not crying... You okay?... Are you really? No one with you?... Haha... It is funny... Sure no one with you? Not even looking at you... I am crazy... Haha... Yes, I will bring it...

I love you more... Okay... WAIT!... Sorry, just... ask dad to pick you up today... Please... I am your big brother... I worry... Love you too...??

He hung up the call, sighing in relief. I watched him shaking.

??I am so sorry, please... She has nothing to do with... please... I would never come near him... I did not know he was yours. Please...??

??Leave.?? Robbie spat, still staring at me.

??Go!?? I begged the man as he scrambled off the floor.

Robert called someone again. ??Take him to hospital, pay the bill... I don??t care.??

I watched him throw the phone to the wall.

His hand tightened on my hair making me wince.

??Did he not kiss you? TELL ME!!! DID HE FUCK YOU???

??He did not. I promise.??

??How do I make sure???

??Wh... what???

He slammed his lips on mine.

??No... You... No... NO!!! NO! You bastard! NO. Robbie... Robbie...??

I woke up groaning, trying to take deep breaths. There was emptiness in my chest.

I cleared my eyes, noticing Jason watching worriedly at me.

??Did he call???

??No.?? Jason blinked back his tears.

I did not bother with mine. Let them fall.