Chapter38. Old Habits

Woody didn't know why I left Bear Creek. Neither did Mr. Danes', Linda, or anyone who'd been associated with me afterwards. They thought I did it for ambition.

But at times like this when I'd wake up in Woody's arms, sunlight streaming through the slanted blinds of the RV to our faces, I wish I could tell her. Maybe someday though. That's what I would always tell myself. Someday I'd let her touch me like how Genesis touched me. Someday, Woody and I would build a home. Have a child. Someday.

"Good morning, gorgeous." Those were Woody's first words upon opening her eyes.

I waited for her to shake off sleep, kiss me on the forehead, before telling her the news. "Today is the day."

"What day?" She chuckled when I pursed my lips, then wrapped an arm around me. Woody liked pulling me to her, which was what she did now. "Just kidding," she murmured. "You're going to talk to him today?"

She yelped when I bit her nose. Surprise attack.

"That's revenge," I said, leaning back. "For pretending to forget."

"You vengeful little cub."

Woody, you have no idea.

But I smiled at her. "Time to shower and get dressed," I said. "Are you doing anything today while I handle my stuff? I don't want you to be lonely without me."

"I made some plans." She chuckled again when I pouted. "Don't worry, I'm just talking to the Potatoes. Haven't seen them for ages."

All because of me.

But I smiled at that too. "Okay, let's get ready. You know how short Shorty's fuse is. Don't keep them waiting."

I was about to roll off the bed when Woody grabbed my waist and kept me by her side. "Not so fast," she said. "Close your eyes first."

My lids fluttered close. Same words. Old habits. But different woman.

"Just making sure you enjoy our kiss," she whispered after. "Come home to me, okay?"

Woody prepared breakfast while I ran over my schedule for the day. We've been in Bear Creek for two weeks. A productive two weeks, might I say. Everything was going according to plan.

After breakfast, we went our separate ways to meet people. I've been spending some time going back and forth Mr. Danes' office, reconnecting with dad, and pursuing some goals. But today the schedule was reserved for two honored guests— one of which waited for me in his office.

I parked the Harley on the street and got down. The guard recognized me immediately and opened the gate. "You're expected, Miss Jones," he said.

"Thank you."

I kept my eyes forward and straight, knowing I'd bump into someone eventually. It happened sooner than later, on the grand staircase leading up.

"You!" The collar of my blazer was clutched, bunched, and pulled. But Gabrielle didn't release me on the landing of the second floor. She pushed me towards a room and shut the door close. "You have the guts the show your face after what you've done!" she snarled.

"And what exactly is that?" I straightened my blazer with a sigh.

"You sold me to the authorities! It was you, wasn't it?!" Her hands balled into fists. Gabby still looked like Gabby. When would she realize that all that makeup was making her look like a clown? "I don't do coke!" she spat. "I may look like this, but I'm not a junkie!"

"Then you have no reason to fear." I moved forward and clapped a hand on her shoulder. "Especially me, Gabe. It's not like I went back to Bear Creek to ruin all your lives."

"Stay away from my sister, Destiny!"

"Oh?" I snorted. "Since when have you cared for her?"

Gabby's hand went to my wrist. I bit my tongue when her nails dug to my flesh, but looked straight at her eyes to meet her challenge. "Leave Genesis out of this!" she hissed. "You don't know what I've sacrificed to keep her innocent. You've done more than enough!"

"Not nearly enough." I yanked my arm away. "Now if you'll excuse me. This is getting too long, and I have a meeting with your father."

My heart was still pounding when I left Gabby, only to be greeted by the secretary outside the office. But my attention was not on her. It was on the man who was seated on his leather chair, behind the expensive desk that did not change over the years.

I closed the door behind me and smirked. "Mr. Morgan."

"Miss Jones, take a seat."

The scent of brewed coffee on his desk was the only thing that enlivened me as I went to the chair. So many years had passed, and everything was different. But the recoil in my stomach was still there, and so was the deep revulsion I get whenever I see him. "Good morning," I said.

"Let's cut the pleasantries and get to the point." He interlocked his fingers. "What do you want from me?"

"Nothing."

His laugh thundered around us.

Lyndon was a big man. His laughter echoed how colossal he was. How powerful. But he took up too much space. That was my point.

"Nothing?" His white teeth showed. "Then why are you back in town?"

"I'm running a campaign," I said, which was not far from the truth.

"And you think you'll win this with Danes? You think you'll have your revenge?"

I cut my eyes at him. "With all due respect, Lyndon. Why in the world would I have revenge? On who? On you?" I leaned forward, the surge of electricity going through my veins. "Because if I remember correctly, the perpetrator for my kidnapping was never found. He wasn't even tried. And no one knew the incident but me. Or did Dindo have a heart to heart talk to you about it?"

Lyndon's eyes flashed. "I don't know of such thing," he denied.

"Then like I told your eldest daughter, you have nothing to fear." The chair creaked when I stood. "That's all I came here to say. And oh!" I snapped my fingers. "I'm meeting with your youngest later this afternoon. But you don't need to send your guards after us. It's not like I'm going to screw her again."

The contempt on Lyndon's face was what dreams were made of. I shut the door behind me with a smile.

The park was crowded that afternoon, with people flying kites and children running around with their parents. It figures since it was Saturday, and though I wasn't that thrilled to have someone looking in my direction every so often, I was used to it. That's what you get when you go into politics.

"Destiny?"

My stomach dipped when I turned around. Her voice had thickened; smoother and huskier than I remembered. And I wish she'd worn something more formal like I did, but she was laidback in her jeans, shirt, and jacket. My eyes trailed to hers. "Genesis Morgan! I'm so glad you can make it." I motioned to the bench. "If you please."

Genesis frowned as she followed me to the wooden bench under the tree. She crossed her long legs soon as we were seated, then turned to me so she was looking at the side of my face. I remained gazing at the park visitors, at the kids who were running. "I'm glad you invited me," she murmured.

"Sure."

I didn't say anything after that. Just let her stare.

"So. . ." She cleared her throat. "How are you?"

"Fine."

"I'm not."

"Wasn't asking." I turned to her. There was hurt on her face. Pain. I smirked. "By the way, Woody sends her regard."

"Woody." If it wasn't obvious then, she wore the pain like a medal now. "You're together with her?" Genesis asked.

"For two years," I answered. "How about you? Found anyone?"

"There's only you." Her chest rose and fell. "There's always only been you."

"That's nice." I shrugged. "Must suck though."

A sharp breath from her. "Destiny, why are you doing this?"

"Doing what?"

She stood and exhaled. "Forget it."

I grabbed her hand before she could move away. "Where are you going? We're not through here." I didn't mean for my voice to get sharp, or my teeth to clench so bad I thought they would break. But I invited her, didn't I? It was only fair that she stayed. "Sit."

"No." She yanked her hand free from mine, and before I could complain, Genesis was running away, towards a group of kids.

She was dusting a little girl's knee when I got to them. "What happened to her?" I said.

"She stumbled." Gene straightened the kid's dress, then poked the girl's cheek so the child would smile. I turned away when Gene smiled too. What age was the child? Where were her neglectful parents?

Someone tugged at my blazer. "Why are you so mad?"

I glanced down to the kid. She was the one Genesis helped, a cloud of reddish blonde on her head. My breaths came out faster. "I'm not mad," I murmured. "I'm just. . . hungry."

"Hangry?"

"Yeah, hangry." I ruffled her hair but refused to look at her again. This was a bad place to meet, especially since another kid from the distance was bringing snacks over. Children have sweet tooth. I blocked Genesis' view of the incoming child. "I made dinner reservations for us," I rushed. "We should go. Now."

Gene gave me a confused stare but smiled quickly at the girl she helped. "Bye," Gene said.

"Bye," the girl said.

We walked away just when the child bringing snacks made it to them. The rest of the kids all yelled. They were all too happy to distribute cotton candies to themselves. And I was all too angry that one of the kids, with that age and appearance, could have been ours.

Dinner at Roberto's thankfully took my mind from that nonsense. They served risotto, oysters, and a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon that I poured onto Genesis' glass myself.

"What?" I said, as I placed the bottle down. Like the rest of the walk and dinner, Gene was still staring at me.

"You drink now," she observed.

"It's just wine. And besides," I put the glass in front of her, "two friends who haven't met for a while deserves a drink. Don't you agree?"

"Hmm."

There she was with her hmm again. I stopped myself from smiling by sipping from my glass.

"By the way," I said. "Did you like the food?"

"They were passable."

"I believe the word you should have used is impressive," I contradicted.

"Not when you're repeating our first date, it isn't." Genesis glared at me. She'd seen right through my motives, and I wanted it that way. "Are you having fun with this, Des?"

"Absolutely," I confessed. "Are you?"

The chair scraped on the tile when she stood. The rest of the patrons glanced at us, but the whispers didn't come until they've seen Genesis' face and mine.

"You've had your turn," she said. "Now it's mine." Genesis threw her napkin down, eyes flashing like it would combust. "Come with me, Des. Don't make me drag you to the door."

I was more than ready to play her game, but got irritated when we ended in the ruins. She wanted a shouting match. That was the only explanation to it. Why else would she drag me there where no one would see or hear us? Much more to my favorite place in the world?

"Here!" Gene said, her face reddening in the afternoon twilight. Her hair looked like they've been set in flames. And her eyes? A cosmic explosion. "Scream, Des! Slap me! This is the place where you should ask me to kneel for forgiveness."

"I will do no such thing."

"Why?" She went closer. "Because that goes against your new persona? The great and cool Destiny Jones, apprentice apparent to Mr. Julius Danes?"

I crossed my arms and leaned to the crumbling wall behind me. "You're not wrong, Gene. But you know where you're not right either?" I gave her a contemptuous smile. "You don't deserve a scream for me. You deserve silence. A long, dry, suffocating spell of silence like the one you did to me before. Doesn't it feel great?"

I waited for her to answer. Yes or no. That was it.

But she whispered instead. "I'm sorry for not coming with you, Destiny. You were hurt. You still are. And you're doing all this because you love me."

What did she say?

I grabbed Genesis' arm and pushed her against the wall. "Do you know what Lyndon did to me?! Do you?!"

"Desti—"

"Your father imprisoned me in a fucking water tank!" I hissed. "He threatened my family! And where were you then, Gene?! In your comfy room, sleeping in your soft bed, under your expensive roof! You didn't come with me not because you were scared. You didn't come with me because I was nothing! And now that I'm everything you ever dreamt of, you're telling me you miss me. And that I love you. But I don't!"

Her eyes squeezed shut. "Don't say that!"

"Why?! Does it hurt?!" I pressed myself to her. To feel the fast pounding of her heart was pure bliss. To know that I caused that to her— that I've somehow broken her inside was my mission in life. "Does it bother you that I'm with another woman now, Gene?! She's better than you! Kinder than you! She will never leave me when I need her most!"

Genesis' arms slackened. "Does she kiss you too?" she murmured. "Is she naked under you every night?" She smiled bitterly when I didn't speak, then seized my collar so I couldn't break free. "I'm your first, Destiny! You can't take that away from me!"

I pushed her away when she tried to kiss me, then pulled her right back and crushed my mouth to hers. Our lips formed together in a perfect fit. And then her tongue was playing with mine, her fingers unbuttoning my jeans.

"Stop!" I panted. But it was a lie. Gene was pulling me closer, closer, until we were down on the ground, nipping, scratching, touching each other in places that made us groan.

"Destiny Jones!" she moaned, just when I licked the crook of her neck. And I knew that whatever I did, whatever I said, old habits die hard.