Chapter 12

"Is this date with Alcazar?" Jason asked Carly

Will she ever get her fill of hooking up with the wrong men? Jason thought.

"Now why would I date the man I am divorcing?" Carly asked, moving around the pool table to stand in front of Jason.

"This guy is not even from Port Charles. I have already sampled," she gave Jason a grin "every interesting man in this town."

"What's his name?"

"Since when do you care who I date?"

"I don't."

She gave him a unconvinced look.

"The name, Carly." Jason said, raising his eyebrows.

"Why?"

"How do you know that he's not working for Morales?"

"Oh please. That is a stretch but fine. It's Jagger Cates."

How can she have such lousy taste? Jason asked himself. He ran his hand over his cheek and shook his head.

Jagger was not a spy for Morales but he was worse in Jason's mind.

"What do you know about him?" Jason asked casually, leaning back on the pool table.

"He lives in San Francisco and is only in Port Charles for tonight. He says he lived here years ago and came back to see some friends." Carly shook her head and shrugged her shoulders. "I don't get why you care. I married Lorenzo, who you despise. Don't deny it I know you do."

"Ya." Jason said in a " that much is obvious" tone.

"And," Carly continued " you made less of a deal out of that marriage than this one little date. Just because I had a few failed marriages under my belt doesn't mean I can't date. I don't want to spend the rest of my life alone."

Jason cringed at that statement.

She

maybe the reason I survive
The why and wherefore I'm alive
The one I care for

through the

rough

and ready years

Elvis Costello lyrics

Carly immediately reacted to Jason's

hurt look.

"Oh, Jase," she touched his arm " I didn't mean that you would spend your life alone because you and Sam broke up. Who needs her? Hey, you know you always got me, right?"

"Right." he said in a flat voice.

"Okay, I should get back before he comes looking for me. Seeing me with you would scare him off for sure. You give him one look and he would never call again."

You wouldn't want a guy like that anyway, Jason thought. Or maybe she would? He could never figure out her choices in love.

"Have fun kicking your own ass in pool." Carly said and turned to leave.

"Say hello to your date, the cop, for me." Jason tossed out as she walked away.

"The what!"

When Carly got back to the table she placed her two hands on it and leaned forward, meeting Jagger's eyes.

She had been filled in by Jason on how Jagger used to date Brenda and then married Scott Baldwin's daughter Karen and became a San Francisco police officer. And, worse of all in Carly's mind, he was the brother of Stone, who precious perfect Robin loved and lost back in the day. This was no stranger to waste a few hours on, away from real life.

Carly figured she must have heard about Jagger before but she couldn't be bothered to remember every little detail of lives that meant nothing to her.

She gave Jagger a stern look and said,

"Sorry, sexy , but this date is over."

"Work emergency?" Jagger asked "We could meet up again later. I want to get to know you better."

"I'm sure you do. But I don't date cops." Carly shook her head sadly, "Damn, you are fine. Still you got to go."

She motioned to a security guard. Jagger Cates was out of her life as quick as he came in.

Carly didn't want to fall into another relationship too fast but one date with a stud who she didn't have to ever see again would have been fun.

As she walked outside to go home Jason was just getting on his bike.

"Take me out of here." Carly said and crawled on behind him.

Jason passed back a helmet without a word and then they were off.

Carly didn't know where they might end up but the destination didn't matter. She leaned into his body as they took a curve and felt free from stress for the first time in years.

In front of her , Jason was thinking of how he almost didn't return to Port Charles.

"Now this was worth coming home for," he said, knowing she couldn't hear him over the sound of the wind.

Me,

I'll take the laughter and her tears
And make them all my souvenirs
For where she goes I've got to be
The meaning of my life is
She.

Elvis Costello lyrics