She just broke him, then attacked the pieces.
Engaged?
This isn't the kind of pain that can be covered up with a band-aid. This isn't like a cut or bruise.
It was in the back of his skull and he swore it was like a pulse. Only Jack knew the pain was there, streaming through his bloodline like a disease.
"To who? Who the hell could you possibly be engaged to only after two months we've been broken up?"
"Keith." She casually said.
"Who the fuck is Keith?" Jack's deep voice bounced off the walls as Selena began to shift in her seat.
"You know who Kei-"
Before Selena could remind him, Jack remembered and his eyes drilled into hers.
Despite his haunted eyes, his voice became calm and steady, but rage was still clear in it.
"Keith? The one who you dated when we weren't together? The older dude?"
"He's only thirty-one."
Although anger was the emotion he was feeling more than anything, hurt was worn on his face and it seeped it's way into his words.
"How'd this happen, Sel?"
Selena let out a breath, Jack hanging onto it. Her expression clouded over as she looked out the window. For a brief moment, she's no longer there.
Selena's face mirrors his, pain and regret, then her eyes bored into his.
"He called me for the first time in years when we were in California and he wanted to see me, but I told him I was with you. Then we broke up and I called him, and we went on a few dates and stuff then I went to rehab and after that he took me on trips almost every weekend and when we got to Paris, he proposed to me. It was just that simple."
A stranger. Jack's heart was getting torn into two right now by a stranger. This wasn't Selena. She never jumped into relationships or rushed anything. This wasn't the person he loved. It couldn't be.
Jack's breath shuddered out of him. She placed a hand on his, but he snatched it away as if it burned.
"Is it cause he has money?"
Selena's eyebrows are drawn together as her jaw falls. "What? No!"
"You're a fucking sellout."
"A sellout? How the hell am I a sellout?"
"Cause you're always talking about how money should have nothing to do with love, but look at you now."
Selena laughed, but it lacked it's usual humor. "You're not just a guy from the hood or streets of Detroit anymore. You have money now, but I'm not with you. Am I? I love Keith, he's a good man and doesn't fuck girls behind my back unlike you!"
Jack scoffed. "Oh really? Where is he now?"
Selena folded her arms. "Work."
"Yeah, right. He's out there fucking the fuck out of another girl, not even remembering you exist and you know it."
"Fuck you, Jack." Selena spat, a hot tear sliding out the corner of her eye.
"Let's be honest for a second, Sel. If he's so damn good to you, where the fuck was he when you were getting your ass beat by Sean? Where was he when you were getting help for drinking every damn hour of the day? Where was he when you got raped by Ethan? Where was he when you were in a coma? Where the fuck was he when T got killed?!"
Selena's chest was heaving, but she had yet to say a word. She didn't know what to say, so it gave Jack the permission to continue.
"Shit, you should've called Keith when them damn nudes were posted online. Then you wouldn't had to help me break in a damn loft, he could've paid the photographer to delete the pictures. You knew Keith for three years, and that was before all this shit happened, so he could've helped you with all this shit instead of me!"
Jack chuckled and shook his head. "I murdered someone for you and risked going to damn prison. I did go to prison. You're so in denial about the role I play in your life, you try to act like none of this shit happened."
Selena's heart was stomping and screaming. Throwing a tantrum as if she was a four year old. Everything he said was right, but she never downplayed what he done for her. If anything she was completely grateful, but that didn't cancel out all the times he hurt her.
"When the fuck did I ever try to deny the shit you did for me? How about the shit you done to me?"
Jack's eyes darted around the room, shamefully, not trying to look at her.
"You were about to be a damn father to another girl's child. Do you have any idea what that did to me?"
He refused to look at her and ignored the question.
"Huh?" She grabbed him by his chin and forced him to look her way, but he didn't respond and only exhaled strongly through his nose, glaring down at her.
"To know that the man I love and have been in love with since I was seventeen and been dating since I was sixteen, was going to be the father of another girl's child while ours was stolen from us. I don't care if it was a lie or not. You gave her the opportunity to do that to you and to us."
Jack shrugged. "What did you expect me to do, Selena?Abandon my child?"
"You're missing my entire point. Just forget it Jack. I wouldn't be surprised if you ended up like your damn useless father anyways."
And like a switch, Jack shuts off.
Those words hit his gut hard. He heard someone say it before, but coming from Selena? She never said anything like that to him. She knew it was a soft spot and he never wanted to talk about it, especially after meeting them.
A huge wall stood between them. Impersonal and frigid.
His eyes went from cold and dark, to a slow, dawning terror. Without another word, he leaves out the door.
All the power, the determination, and decency, she associated with him is stripped and torn, leaving him vulnerable and unsteady on his own two feet. But, she didn't try to stop him from leaving, and she didn't want to.
"When exactly are you moving to Hollywood?"
Jack shrugged at Angel as he finished another glass of whiskey, sitting it down on the wooden table of the bar. "I'm gonna go stay over there for awhile in the hotel and take my time with the house searching, so I'm not sure."
"But why move to California though?" Jerry asked.
"Why not? Nothing is here for me anymore. My work is over there, not here. Detroit is dead, and I can't be here any longer. I'm going on tour in a few days, so it doesn't matter."
They all sat in silence that only existed at their table, surrounded by the jangle of voices,tinkle of glass on glass, and the sounds of a winning pool game.
Bobby slams a beer bottle on the table and let's out a satisfied breath after swallowing the liquor. "Cracker Jack, we've been talking about this for awhile, and since you're our baby brother we feel like you should know, but we're going to Lena's wedding."
Before Jack could add his opinion, Jerry jumped in. "Yeah, Selena asked us to come, I'm not sure how we would've said no."
"Um, how about, no?" Jack's hands curled into tight fist, his fingernails digging into his palm.
Angel sucked his teeth. "C'mon Jack Jack. You know Selena is like a little sister to us. We're supporting her, not the relationship."
"Then you say, 'That's great to hear Sel, I'm happy for you.' Not go to the damn wedding." Jack then let out a chuckle that was devoid of humor. "I'm your brother. She's the ex of your brother, but for some reason this logic is to hard for y'all to understand, but whatever. When did y'all find out?"
"Earlier today. Probably a little bit before you, but you haven't been answering your calls all day, so we waited until now."
Jack only shook his head and shrugged.
"You sure you don't want to come? It'll probably mean a lot to her." Jerry said.
Jack snorted, gulping down his sixth glass of whiskey. "Fuck that bitch."
A young woman politely smiled at the couple as her fingers danced across the keys of the piano.
"Wow, this place is completely empty." Selena studied the fancy restaurant with red clothed tables and candles placed in the center.
"Because I rented it out, my love. It's only us this evening." Keith kissed her temple then placed his hand on the small of her back and led her to their table.
He pulled out her chair before he took his own. To Selena's surprise, her favorite - chicken parmesan- was already waiting for her on the plate.
"How'd your trial go today?" Selena asked, sipping her white wine.
"I gave my closing argument and the jury found not guilty, so we won. But I knew we were going to. It wasn't any kind of way, killed that woman. It just wasn't right...But enough of me, what about you?"
Selena shrugged. "Nothing much. I worked then I came home, took a shower and relaxed. That's all."
Keith's brown eyes searched her face for a moment, wishing for her to continue, but she didn't.
"I had pulled up to the house to pick you up, but I seen someone's car, and I circled around the block and came back to see if it was gone, and it wasn't until I came back the third time. You mind telling me who it was?"
Selena closed her eyes and let out a sign. "It was Jack, but nothing happened. He just wanted me back and I we ended up arguing." She stabbed at a piece of chicken, avoiding Keith's eyes.
"Selena, look at me." He tucked his finger under chin, forcing her eyes to meet his.
His eyes weren't hard or angry, they were soft and understanding. It comforted Selena, telling her to relax.
"I know it's hard to forget your first love, and it's okay that he was over there trying to win you back. I know I won't ever replace seven years of what you two had. The only thing I can give you is our future, but only if you are honest and willing."
Selena melted as she nodded. She really loved this man who sat in front of her. He was so kind and understanding. Everything a girl could ask for.
"I love you very much. And I don't want to lose you, but if you want to be with him, then just let me know and I won't hold you back from your happiness." Keith's brown eyes sparkled as he leaned in to gently kiss her.
Selena's heart almost throbbed out of her chest once he pulled away and straightened out his blue blazer and ran his hand over his stubble, chuckling.
"I made an appointment with the wedding planner Saturday. I'm sure you already have things in mind." He smiled, eating a piece of his lobster.
"Yeah I do. I have to start looking for a wedding dress soon too."
"Do you mind if my mother and sister tag along with you? They've been bothering me to go with you to help."
Selena held back a hard eye roll and groan. He hated his mother and sister, and she knew deep down they hated her as well. They always threw snobby comments at her, but Selena always bit back a smart remark, after all, their money was going to the wedding.
"Of course they can come. You know they don't have to ask. I love their company." She forced a smile as Keith grinned widely.
"Amazing! I'll let them know first thing tomorrow."
"Mhm. Amazing."
Who else is crying on the inside?