27. Ritzy + Risk

Part 1/2 for this update 🤗

~

For perhaps the first time in my life, I have dressed myself for a fancy event with absolutely zero help from Presley.

And I think I've done a pretty decent job, all things considered. When I asked Jayce what I should wear, he tried to get me to agree to let him buy something for me, but I had vehemently declined. I'd already let him in too much, trusted him too much, bore too much of my heart to him. And given what he confessed to me poolside Sunday night, I wasn't exactly keen to let him in any more.

I know, I know. He's just being sweet and what-fucking-ever else. He "cares" about me. Blah, blah, blah. He can spin whatever words together he wants. The bottom line is, guys like Jayce are all the same. They're all literally wired for one thing, and one thing only. And yet, to him, I wasn't even good enough for that. It doesn't matter what he says or how he justifies it, his actions communicated pure rejection.

All I know is, after we figure out this bullshit with our parents, Jayce Solis can fuck the hell off.

I found several "you-don't-need-a-man" mantras that I've been repeating to myself since Sunday. After all, this year was supposed to be about focusing on what's really important. My sexual needs and Jayce's curls were not on that list, as I had told Presley at lunch today.

She insisted that one of the "really important" things was having a full high school experience, and that included homecoming, which was this Saturday. She had refused to go with a date, citing that she had more fun dancing with lots of people once she got there, instead of feeling like she had to dance with one dude all night.

I told her I wasn't going because I didn't want to spend the money on a dress, but she didn't seem to accept that answer.

I glance at the clock on the barely-functioning dash of my car. It reads 6:32pm. Jayce is two minutes late, which normally wouldn't bother me, but right now waiting for him at all has got me feeling lame and pitiful. Unfortunately, there's nothing I can do but keep waiting since I literally can't go in without him, seeing as I'm not invited unless I'm on his arm.

Celia and Haven (one of whom had been a mess of blushing and fidgeting all evening) had gone inside as soon as we got here, claiming it would look less weird if we went in separately.

I was parked outside of a ritzy restaurant called 1213 Steakhouse, well-known as being the best restaurant in town. Also known for serving only Duende Vineyards wine, of course. I hadn't been inside since dad died.

After what feels like an eternity, I spot Jayce's navy Mustang pull into the parking lot and watch as he screeches into the space next to mine. Killing the engine, he pops open the door and steps out, looking at me over the top of his car and doing that damned head nod that makes my stomach turn inside out.

I roll my eyes and climb out as he makes his way to me, squeezing between our cars to hold my door open, effectively eliminating the space that really should exist between our bodies. He's in a crisp, white button up with a dark grey suit and shining black dress shoes.

"Sorry I'm a bit late," he starts with a charming smile, running his free hand through his curls. "I was just–"

"–Getting your dick wet?" I grin up at him angelically.

"W-what?" He half scoffs, half laughs, looking a bit befuddled as I maneuver past him and walk toward the restaurant, somehow managing to not touch him.

"Nothing," I giggle, smiling smugly to myself as I hear him shut my car door.

"Is that actually what you think I do in my free time, Tink?" Jayce is beside me, looking down at me with amusement on his lips. "Fuck any girl I can get?"

I shrug, returning his amused expression as he opens the restaurant door for me. "Something like that," I muse as I brush past, trying to ignore his marvelous smell.

He shakes his head and looks like he's about to reply when a squeaky voice asks, "Do you have a reservation?"

I turn to face the hostess, who I think goes to our school. She's red in the face, staring at Jayce and doing a horrible job of hiding the fact that she's completely star-struck by him.

"No," he says with a friendly smile that probably made her night. And would probably make her hyperventilate later, when she tells her friends who she talked to at work. "We're with the meeting in the back room."

"I see," she sets down the menus she had gathered. "Follow me," she trots off through the dining room, leading Jayce and I through a maze of dimly lit rooms, all made of wood and decorated like the most expensive log cabin I'd ever seen.

Glancing around, I can't believe how many well-put-together people are in this place. I didn't realize people were this fancy in Goldcrest. I thought you'd have to go to Sacramento or San Francisco to see a restaurant filled with so many seemingly high brows. Or maybe they were all just trying to seem posh, like me. Either way, I was impressed, but still felt rather out of place.

The hostess walks us to a tall glass door, opening it wide and pulling back several layers of sheer cranberry and gold curtains.

Jayce holds out his elbow and smiles down at me warmly. Rolling my eyes and telling my butterflies to go the fuck to sleep, I wrap my arm around his and place my hand right above the inside of his elbow, feeling the firmness of his biceps beneath his suit jacket.

We step through the door into an ornate room - the wall behind us is completely glass, covered with the sheer curtains. The walls before us and to our right are crafted of dark wood that's covered in intricate carvings, while the wall to our left is impressive floor-to-ceiling wine racks, stuffed with probably a thousand bottles.

Round four-top tables dot the room, all the tablecloths a deep ruby red which causes the shiny white plates to pop. Beautiful, simple centerpieces decorate the tables. There are probably 30 people in the private, dim room, not including the handful of intimidating security guards in the corners. Chatter and tasteful jazz fill my ears as I scan the mingling guests.

I didn't recognize most of the people, but I spotted Goldcrest's mayor and her son (our school principal) sitting at the head table. A second man, and a woman with stunning red hair sit primly with them. Our principal, the second man, and the redheaded woman all had to be siblings. It dawns on me that I'm looking at the Wright family.

A shudder runs down as I process the fact that there are actually people on this earth who must deal with being related to Layla.

Poor saps.

Though, on second thought, they definitely don't look poor.

Celia is talking to the redheaded Wright woman, but I don't see Haven anywhere. Jayce leads us to a table in a corner where I notice Arthur and Madeline waving and smiling at us in that warm, welcoming fashion that only grandparents seem to have.

"My, my. Jayce Solis and Fallon Rhodes showing up... together?" Madeline raises an eyebrow as her blue eyes glint teasingly. "Your families would have a fit."

"Only if they find out," Jayce winks as he pulls out a chair for me.

Madeline reaches over and takes my hand in hers. "So glad to see you again, darling. We wanted to reach out, but also wanted to respect the boundaries your mother gave us the last time we saw her."

I nod once and smile hesitantly. Part of me wished they had just gone ahead and screwed what my mom wanted. But, they seem like the kind of people who don't want to start any unnecessary drama, which I completely understood.

"How have you two young troublemakers been, hmm?" Arthur asks, already leaning back in his chair and rubbing his belly.

"Not gonna lie, Artie," Jayce starts, folding his hands on the table in front of him. Aww. Artie. "We've been finding some pretty crazy stuff about our parents and the time they spent in business together."

Arthur and Madeline exchange a look that I can't decipher.

"Really?" Arthur leans forward and studies Jayce knowingly, taking a sip from his champagne glass. "And why would you be telling us this, son?"

"We don't have anyone else to talk to," I blurt honestly. "Mom goes crazy when I bring up my dad."

Jayce nods, "And I can't talk to my old man about anything. And mom just defends him. You're probably the only people in the world who can actually give us some straight answers about our family histories."

Arthur and Madeline are silent for several moments. Arthur thoughtfully strokes his salt and pepper beard while Madeline adjusts her lavender hat.

"It's just a touchy subject, y'see," Arthur begins, a bit sternly. "Both of your fathers are amazing men and I'm not going to speak ill of either of them. So, if you're coming to us looking for reasons to be mad at your parents, then you're talking to the wrong people."

Jayce shakes his head, pushing his hand through his curls, "We're just wanting to understand what happened. We found something pretty concerning, but I don't think we have the full picture. That's why we're here. We want your opinion on something."

"What did you find?" Madeline asks, curiosity clearly getting the best of her.

Jayce explains the out-of-place section in the contract while I stay glued to their reactions. Arthur gets a deep scowl and Madeline's face falls, morphing into an expression of sadness.

As soon as Jayce finishes, Arthur take a deep breath. "Your father came to me soon after he found that. He wanted me to help him get back at Ben somehow. I said I wouldn't help, I couldn't." Arthur shakes his head and looks down at his empty plate.

"Alexei was consumed with vengeance," Madeline says, still looking sad. I'm shocked that they're both still so affected by the memories. It must have been a really intense time. "He was convinced that Benjamin had found a way to blackmail or bribe Jeffers into keeping him in the contract."

"We tried to reason with Alexei," Arthur gently takes his wife's hand in his, stroking it with his thumb. "Tried to get him to talk to Ben before doing anything he'd regret. But he wouldn't listen. He was unwavering, totally steadfast in his belief that Ben had betrayed him."

I might vomit right here at the table. I feel like I'm sweating bullets and my heart is beating in my ears. I hate hearing this. I hate that my father was being treated like a thief by his best friend... And I hate even more that it might have been because he really was.

"Do you think my dad was right?" Jayce asks, his voice calm and soothing. "Do you think Benjamin Rhodes betrayed my father?"

"I don't know," Arthur sighs, leaning back in his chair again. "All I know is that Ben was one of the most honest, valiant men I've ever had the pleasure of knowing. And your father is an equally incredible man, Jayce. But if we were going off of my instincts... I'd say Benjamin Rhodes was framed."

My heart jumps at his concluding sentence. God, I hope he's right. I feel the threat of tears pricking at my eyes as I revel in Arthur's words. Honest. Valiant. That's my dad, I know it.

Madeline nods, making eye contact with me. "We tried to tell Alexei that we thought Ben was being wrongly accused, that something was amiss, but at the time he was too wrapped up in bitterness and betrayal to hear it." She gives me a sad smile. "I'm so sorry, sweetheart."

I shake my head, carefully crafted blonde waves falling over my shoulders. "No need to apologize. I wouldn't have known what to do, either."

Arthur gives me a grateful grin as Celia and Haven appear next to the table.

"Haven Artie Rhodes! Is that really you?" Madeline exclaims, knocking her chair over as she stands up, clinging to Haven like he just came home from war.

"How are you, my boy?!" Arthur booms as he too rises, clapping Haven on the back and then pulling him into a bone crushing hug of his own.

Haven looks a bit dazed, while Celia looks rather unhappy.

"What am I, chopped liver?" Celia grumbles, crossing her arms. "Good to see you, too, Gram and Gramps."

"Oh, shush," Madeline tuts, giving Celia a warm hug. "You know we love you more than anything."

Celia's bright smile shines.

"It's been far too long since I've seen you, my namesake," Arthur beams at Haven, who looks like he's seen two ghosts. Happy ghosts, but still ghosts, nonetheless.

"Namesake?" I ask, my brow furrowing as Jayce and I get out of our seats so Celia can sit with her grandparents.

"Haven Artie," Arthur says, nodding proudly.

Whoa. I remember Jayce calling Arthur "Artie" not five minutes ago. Haven is named after this guy... They really must have meant a fuck ton to our parents.

Madeline rolls her eyes and smiles playfully at her husband, "He never let me hear the end of it, either. Wouldn't shut up about how Ben and Angelina liked him more," her blue gaze turns to me. "That is, until you came along and they used my name for inspiration, Fallon Adeline."

"What the fuck?" Celia looks absolutely dumfounded, her mouth hanging open.

"Ceely!" Madeline smacks Celia's forearm with her lavender handbag, which perfectly matches the rest of her outfit, all the way down to the pair of lavender kitten heels. "Why don't you and Haven have a seat and we'll explain? Dinner is about to be served. Jayce, I believe you're at your family's usual table. I'm happy to see it will finally have someone sitting at it," she beams at him.

Jayce nods and gives them all a dazzling parting smile, leaving a speechless, flustered and nervous-as-all-get-out Haven to slowly sink into his chair.

~

An hour and a half later, Mayor Wright thanked everyone for coming, announced that all the meals were already covered and that this evening was a grand 'thank you' for everyone's service on the Council, and to Goldcrest.

Jayce asked me if I wanted to meet the mayor, but I said hell-fucking-no. I can only imagine that conversation. "Nice to meet you, Mayor Wright, it's me, the girl who beat up your hellion of a granddaughter." Yeah, that'd go over real well.

I'd done my best to keep an eye on Haven throughout the meal, to make sure he was loosening up and not too incredibly uncomfortable. But alas... rich people food and Jayce's ability to make me laugh for literally hours had kept me well distracted.

But by now, we had placed our dessert order and the evening was beginning to wind down. I had ordered a slice of triple chocolate cake and a decaf coffee, while Jayce opted for tres leches and Horchata.

I watch Jayce's face screw up into a hilarious expression as he finishes telling me about this past summer when Adam's parents had come home in the middle of a party at their house, and Adam had started sobbing, senselessly apologizing and swearing to never do anything bad again.

I crack up at Jayce's expression as he mocks Adam's pitiful sobs.

"I swear I'll never let him live that down," his expression returns to normal as he tilts his head back and laughs. "His girlfriend at the time broke up with him afterwards."

"No wonder he was so eager to have someone play with his balls," I giggle, remembering when Adam had screamed at me from his car, only to show up with a black eye the next day.

A more serious look crosses Jayce's face, "Yeah, that was uncalled for."

"I never did ask..." I glance at him. "Were you the one that gave him that black eye?"

Jayce smiles proudly in response.

I glance up at him, giving a small smile, "Well, thanks for that."

"It really is lame that we've been going to the same school for the past two years and we only met this semester," Jayce leans his elbows on the table, his brown eyes as enticing as ever.

"Why's that?" I ask, raising an eyebrow.

"There's so much we could've done together. Places I could've shown you. Photoshoots we could've done. Pick-up soccer games we could've played."

"You sound like you're at a funeral," I roll my eyes, despite the pinkness creeping into my cheeks.

He chuckles lightly. "It just sucks that there was such an incredible person so close to me, and I didn't even know it," he shrugs, his eyes meeting mine. "I feel like I've really missed out these past two years."

"Oh, come on," I smile teasingly, tossing my hair over my shoulder. "You have so not missed out."

"What does that mean?" He laughs as the server comes by to deposit our treats.

"Jayce," I raise an eyebrow challengingly. "You're the most popular guy in school. Your parents are celebrities. You can have whoever and whatever you want, whenever you want it. You have so not missed out. You've got it easy."

He chokes on a sip of his horchata, coughing and laughing as his eyes water and cheeks redden from the strain. He finally manages to not die and takes a long drink of water, setting it down with a thud before turning to me, his eyes filled with amusement.

"It's such a relief that you know all about how easy my life is, Tink," he says sarcastically, smirking at me like he's got me in a corner.

"I don't," I reply. "I'm just saying, there's no way you can tell me that money and privilege has made your life harder."

One of the corners of his mouth flicks up. "Uh huh. Well, first of all, I don't agree with that. But, I'll humor you. How would having 'celebrity' parents make my life easier?"

"You've never had to deal with the real consequences of anything," I tell him as I stab my slice of cake, detecting an inexplicable hint of saltiness in my voice.

He looks shocked, taken aback even. "Seriously? And where are you getting that from?"

I shrug, popping another bite into my mouth. Damn, this is good cake. "Money and power makes the world go around. If you got in trouble, your parents, who are loaded, important members of the town, and know the principal personally," I gesture to the fact that we're literally dining with the mayor and school principal. "Would just have to make a phone call and you'd be in the clear."

"Is that so?" Jayce asks mockingly, his eyes wide as if I just revealed the secrets of the universe.

I nod whole-heartedly.

"I wonder, oh, All-Knowing One, if you've ever thought that maybe there's some pretty huge downsides to money and power? And that perhaps the simplicity of having less is actually more?" Jayce's voice is mysterious as he raises his glass to his lips.

"Enlighten me?" I quip, resting my elbow on the table and placing my head in my hand as I continue devouring the cake.

"Nice try," he smirks. "I'm not going to get into an upstairs-downstairs debate with you."

I stick out my bottom lip in an exaggerated pout. "Not even a little bit, rich boy?"

He rolls his eyes, but a smile still tugs at his mouth. He suddenly reaches his fork to my plate and smoothly swipes a large chunk of cake, shoveling it into his mouth before I even have a chance to react.

"Not my cake, bitch!" I laugh, trying to stab at his tres leches, but he does an excellent job of parrying my fork jabs.

"Ghotohfumcomingwifme?" Jayce laughs with a full mouth, continuing to duel me over our desserts.

"What?" I giggle, my eyes trained on his brown ones.

He holds up his pointer finger while he finishes chewing.

I victoriously snag a bite of his cake, which seems to melt in my mouth, but he doesn't seem to mind anymore.

He takes a long sip of his drink before grabbing my hand and leaning forward, looking me straight in the eye. "Will you go to homecoming with me, Fallon?"

I swallow hard, my heart thumping as a bit of sweat bursts on the back of my neck. "It's in three days, and I don't even have a dress. Plus, your dad could find out."

He shrugs, his smile sweet and dangerous all at the same time. "Come on, Rhodes," his eyes glisten as he gazes at me. "Just take the risk."

Scandalous thoughts swim in my head as I study him, so full of trust, his wild curls, goofy grin and deep brown eyes getting the best of me. How can I stay mad at him? Yeah, sure, he's still a fuckin' mystery... But maybe going to homecoming together would help unravel that a little bit more.

"Okay," I decide as a huge smile breaks across his face. "Let's do it."

~~~

Ayeee double update strikes again !

Also, I wanted to put it out there that all the characterss thoughts and opinions are not the same as mine. I see them all as their own people with their own set of beliefs and life experiences, and therefore, their own opinions that are more often than not, different from mine! Just wanted to make sure that was clear !

Anyway, y'all are the best readers on the planet 🤗 💙

⭐️ Tap the star ⭐️ and then read on for part deux !