Chapter 151 - Trust Me

Jack. 

We have been fighting.

Okay, maybe not fighting. Things have been weird between us since that night. He doesn't want to trust me and I don't know what else I can say or do to prove to him that I am on his side. He has something that is bothering him. It must be something big.

Something that I want to know.

It has been two days since Lance went back to his apartment. He could probably tell that things are weird between us and if I know my best friend, he wouldn't want to be an intrusion. 

I have also noticed that Trick seems to be spending more time at work. He talked about moving. I don't want to move. My dad is still here and I need to be checking on him. He might hate my guts but I still want to make sure he is alive. He has to live long enough to see me make something of myself. 

This move that trick wants, it doesn't seem like it will just be once. He is running away from something, and as long as that thing keeps chasing him, he will keep running. 

I would have been on his case if lance's drama hasn't been so overwhelming. It has completely taken over my life because It is pretty serious. Ford is still in the hospital. It doesn't seem like needs to be there. This just seems like a vindictive plan by his father. 

To me, it seems like he is winning. 

I hate when the bad guys win. 

I woke up this morning and he wasn't in bed. Patrick never leaves without telling me. today, he just up and left. I know he is trying to avoid me. I wish he would just tell me to leave his house. I mean that is the best way to avoid someone. Why bother tiptoeing around me. 

I hate that he can't just trust me. 

I am like the most trusting person. I mean, nothing screams untrustworthy about me. is he scared that I will judge him?

It's been a couple of hours since he snuck out of his own apartment. Staying in his room, eating his food, it all seems weird now. There is a part of me that feels off about the whole situation. His mother hasn't come back to the apartment. I kind of wished she would. Maybe she would give me the explanations that he doesn't want to. 

That night, after we talked. He hushed me up. Indirectly telling me that the conversation was over. I wanted it to continue. I still have so many questions but for two days, I haven't even had a normal conversation with him. 

I leave the apartment and go down to the convenience store outside the apartment. Fred looks up from the counter as I grab a couple of beers from the fridge "your dad?'' he asks. I usually get beer for my dad but this time, it is for me. it seems like a good idea to get drunk and just forget about everything. I don't want to keep overthinking. Worrying that something terrible happened to Trick and there is nothing I can do to help him get out of the situation. 

"Yeah,'' I lie as I pay for the drinks and go out of the store. 

Once outside, the cool air hits me and it feels very nice. I know drinking during the day is not a good idea but I just really need to get wasted.

"Excuse me.''

I turn around and a middle-aged woman is standing by the curb, peering at me. she is dressed in a beige flower print cotton dress and flip flops. There is a shawl around her shoulders and her hair is let down, messily if I must say. I don't know who this is but it seems like she knows who I am. 

"Me?'' I ask in confusion.

She manages a smile "You are Patrick's friend…right?"

Oh, this could be who I think it is. His mother, the woman that stopped by that day. How does she know me? 

He said I shouldn't talk to her. 

I wish I had the courage to walk away from her right now but I am so curious that is it beginning to mess up with my relationship with him. I am sure if I know what it is and can show him that I don't think any differently about him, things will get better. 

"yes,'' I manage.

She takes a step closer towards me and I watch her as she stops in front of me "I need your help," with those words, she grabs my hands in hers and squeezes it gently "Can you help me?'' 

I don't know what she wants but I nod anyway "I need to talk to my son. Can you bring him to me?'' 

Her request is outrageous, she can't possibly expect me to force him to see her. he doesn't want to see her. 

"You can't refuse me. please help me,'' there is desperation crawling out of her voice. I can't promise to help her because Trick will never forgive me if I ambush him in this kind of way. 

"He doesn't want to see you,'' I tell her honestly. 

She shakes her head "You have to help me. you have to get him to see me. I need to talk to him, urgently.'' 

"Will you tell me what is wrong?'' 

"I need to find my husband. Patrick knows where he is. Help me please.'' Tears fall out of her eyes. This has me confused because it seems like Trick ran away from home. What made him run away?

"He wouldn't listen to me. Trick has a mind of his own,'' she furrows her brows in confusion, in between sniffs. "Patrick,'' I correct myself.

"help me set up a meeting. I will handle the rest.'' 

This is not a good idea. It doesn't even feel like a good idea but I don't know what to do. She is begging me; she is desperate and crying and it will be terrible of me to ignore her right now.

"Are you here with good intentions. Do you have any plans of hurting him?''

I know she could lie. I mean, I have a shitty parent. I just don't know if his mother is one too. She seems a wreck right now. Almost like I am her last hope and I don't want to disappoint her right now but Trick is my priority. He is the only one that should matter and maybe if I give him the closure he needs from this woman, things will get better. 

"I just need to talk to him. Give me the chance to meet him. He wouldn't answer my calls.'' 

"okay. I will try. Just come by his apartment by seven.'' I tell her. this might be a mistake. He might not talk to me after this but I have to at least try. Since he wouldn't even talk to me. 

"Thank you so much,''

I leave her with the promise that I hope I will not regret. 

I spend the rest of the day in his apartment, waiting for him to come home. At exactly seven-thirty, he comes home. I am seated on the couch when he walks in. I see the shock on his face—or maybe regret to see me waiting for him. I don't even know what is going on anymore. Things were good between us but now it seems like there is a huge wall in front of us and no matter what I do, I can't get through to him.

"Hi.'' I walk up to him, wanting a little bit of affection. 

He stands in the middle of his living room; he doesn't hold me. even though it is pretty obvious that is what I was going for. "Are you avoiding me?'' I ask immediately, wanting to know if he wants me away. 

"No,'' he shakes his head immediately. 

"Then hold me,'' I plead. I guess his contact means a lot more to me than I thought. I am not the clingy type. I can understand when someone needs space but I don't want to give him any space right now. 

He takes a deep breath and then a step towards me. now we are as close I will like to be. His arms wrap around me and for the first time since his mother's visit, I feel the connection. I feel the calmness that comes with him. "I am sorry I have been too distant. I guess my mother's visit took a toll on me." he breathes into my ear. Communication sounds like music to my ears. 

I wish he would just talk to me. 

"I know it must be a lot, I know I am a lot but I am here for you through it all. You can trust me.'' 

"I know. I completely trust you." 

I hope he doesn't go back on his words once she gets here. Maybe this is not the best way to go with this but there is no going back now.