"I thought you called me here to work on your car?" Tom said sarcastically.
"Nice to see you too," Jason shot back giving his long time friend a weary look.
"I just thought we were here to work," Tom said trying to adjust his tone but not fairing all that well.
"Car's not going anywhere," Jason said truthfully.
"I guess," Tom muttered feeling as though the three of them were starring at him as if he were under a microscope.
"I really better get to the hospital," Elizabeth said again. "Who knows what I'll find when I get there," she laughed trying to break the strained tension that filled the air since Tom's arrival.
"I'll walk you out," Leo said as he reached for Elizabeth's arm. There was just something about Tom Boudean that didn't sit right with him.
"See you tonight," Jason said as they walked away.
"Bye," Elizabeth said with a smile and slight wave. The idea of the upcoming evening sent a chill down her spine as did Jason's bright smile. "You know I didn't really need an escort. I'm quite capable of finding my way to the parking lot," Elizabeth said when they were safely outside and out of earshot.
"I never said you weren't," Leo countered causally.
"Then why the sudden need to walk me out?" she asked not able to stop a strange look from crossing her face.
"I just missed you," Leo joked.
"Spill it Jorgenson. What's going on?" she prodded.
"Is it just me or does it seem like Boudean has a few screws loose?"
Elizabeth honestly didn't know how to answer that. It wasn't like she hadn't thought that herself a few times. But for Jason's sake she had done her best to brush those thoughts off. "Well he is a little different," she agreed.
"Different? He's downright weird if you ask me." Leo just didn't trust him on so many different levels, especially when it came to Elizabeth, he just couldn't put his finger on why.
"He's Jason's friend," Elizabeth began.
"I know but that still doesn't change that I think he's a little off."
"And that's why you walked me out?" Elizabeth raised her brow with that remark. She herself had gotten a weird vibe from Tom when he first joined her father's team – like she had caught him starring at her a little too closely or seemed to be everywhere she was but lately she hadn't noticed that as much and just chalked it up to him trying to get adjusted to being part of Ryan Racing.
"Maybe," Leo said a little sheepishly.
She loved Leo for the way he always felt the need to swoop in and protect her. He was like the big brother she never had. "No need. I'm fine really. But I won't be if I don't get to the hospital. See you tonight," she said planting a quick kiss on his cheek.
"Yeah, see ya," he said as he watched her race across to the other side of the parking lot.
"What did we need these for?" Tom asked tossing the boxes of parts Jason asked him to pick up on the work bench his voice still burning with ire.
"I just thought it would be a good idea to replace a few parts. Things wear and it's better to be safe than sorry," Jason said as he gave the new parts the once over suddenly feeling the need to be more diligent. He still couldn't help wondering if he had been all those years ago perhaps something might have been different today.
"Whatever," Tom said with sarcasm in his voice again.
Jason watched as his friend walked over to his large red tool box and haphazardly began opening and closing its drawers without much thought to what he was doing. Jason leaned against the workbench trying his best to make sense out of his friend's actions. He hadn't seen Tom so off – well he never had. Tom always knew exactly what he was doing and he had become part of Jake and Jason's well oiled machine quite easily so to see him fumbling around in his tools seemed very off to Jason. "Hey man, what's up? You okay?"
"Why wouldn't I be?" Tom spat back all the while thinking to himself what do you care.
"I don't know – just seems like something's up."
"We're here to work right? So let's work," he announced. He buried his head in the engine compartment of Jason's stock car and did his best to ignore his friend's prying eyes. In all honesty Tom couldn't stand to even look at Jason at the moment because every time he did all he could see was Elizabeth's face smiling at Jason adoringly. All he could hear was the sweet sound of her voice when she said Jason's name. All he could see was the how she responded to Jason's gentle touch. All of that was driving Tom to the brink of insanity and even he knew it was starting to show but he was powerless to stop it.
"You want to go grab a beer when we're finished here?" Jason asked as he pulled the creeper away from the wall.
"Don't you already have plans?" Tom countered remembering parts of the conversation he heard earlier.
"Yeah but there's no reason you can't come too." Jason was trying his damnedest to figure out what was going on with his best friend. Things between them had been on a noticeable decline since they had joined Ryan Racing. He only wished he knew why.
Just great, Tom thought to himself, like I want to be the fifth wheel. "I don't think so," he stated with obvious irritation in his tone.
"Come on man, it'll be fun."
"Yeah, right," Tom scoffed under his breath. "Replacing this tie rod – does it have anything to do with what you found out in Texas?" he asked just as Jason was about to roll under the front end of his car.
"Maybe a little," Jason said hesitantly. "About that," he began as he sat up and rolled the creeper around to the other side of car. "I'm sorry I bailed on you the way I did. I just needed to see Jake."
"So I gathered," Tom agreed.
"I'm sorry if I was an ass to you. I just can't explain what it was like reading that letter and finding out the cause of my dad's crash. It sent me into a tailspin. I know saying I'm sorry for the way I acted isn't enough but it's all I have. And really I am sorry," Jason said truthfully.
"So what did Jake say?" Tom asked really wanting to know.
"That it was a faulty part and not the mechanic that caused the accident. He basically had to beat it into my head though," Jason said now able to joke about it all.
"I already told you that!" Tom retorted. "Why'd you have to go the whole way to Texas to find out what I already knew?" What Tom really wanted to add was and why did he have to take Elizabeth Ryan with him. For Tom it all boiled down to that. In his heart Tom truly believed that had Jason gone on his own to see Jake he could have dealt with being left behind, but it was the fact that Jason had taken Elizabeth with him that Tom couldn't swallow.
"I just did," Jason said a little stunned by Tom's attitude. He knew he had treated his friend poorly but he actually thought that Tom would have been more understanding given the fact that he knew how much Erik Morgan meant to Jason. And if what Jason thought to have been true really was it would have devastated the younger Morgan.
"If you ask me it was a wasted trip," Tom snapped.
"Not from where I was standing," Jason countered in return.
Tom heard himself snort as he swallowed the words…apparently not if you were able to get into Elizabeth's pants…before they were able to leave his lips. "Whatever, are we going to put these new parts on or what?"
Jason stood up suddenly more than a little ticked off at Tom and the last thing he wanted to do was spend anymore time with him in this conversation. "You know this can wait. I have some place else I need to be."
Tom watched as Jason strode across the garage and he almost called him back to apologize but the green eyed monster that lived in him reared his ugly head and squashed those thoughts before they were ever able to leave his mind.
Elizabeth pulled down the visor mirror and checked her make-up once more. Nothing had changed since the last time she had done the same thing minutes before – except perhaps the knot in her stomach had grown a bit larger during the passing of time. She was a bundle of nerves sitting there watching the door to the bar swing open and close as its patrons entered and exited with ease.
She looked around the parking lot once more and searched for Jason's car. She wasn't able to find it sitting among the sea of vehicles before her. Part of her was relieved and yet another part was disappointed. She couldn't help feeling a bit anxious about seeing Jason again. Since they had returned from Texas she found herself completely focused on where they were headed. She so badly wanted a real relationship with the handsome driver and as much as the tiny voice in her head told her to run as fast and as far away as she could from him there she was standing her ground ready to jump in the deep end of the water once more. Elizabeth couldn't help thinking what a fool she was – a fool for love. Love – she thought to herself. That word freaked her out and she hadn't even dared let it pass her lips but still the mere idea of loving Jason sent her into almost a tailspin. The emotions that Elizabeth had coursing through her body when it came to Jason Morgan were dizzying at best. She was still in many ways torn unsure of what to do fearing no matter what did do it would be the wrong thing. She hated being that unsure of herself – hated that Billy had caused her to doubt her ability to see the truth beyond someone's façade.
Shaking her head trying to rid herself of all those thoughts Elizabeth pulled her cell phone from her purse and dialed Melanie's number one more time. She hadn't been successful in locating her friend that day. She hadn't been at the hospital, wasn't at home and hadn't been picking up her voice mail messages either. Elizabeth had left at least a dozen with no response. She was a little disappointed since she was hoping to move forward with her plans of bringing her two best friends together finally.
Elizabeth almost reached for the visor one last time but stopped herself. "Enough," she said aloud. "Enough already – just go inside for god sakes," she instructed herself. She let out a heavy breath and closed the car door behind her and strode determinedly toward the bar.
The harsh smell of smoke blasted her in the face the minute she pulled the door open and the deep base from the jukebox vibrated the floor beneath her feet as she waded deeper inside the dimly lit room. Milling around for a few minutes she finally spotted Leo across the room sitting at a corner booth, as Elizabeth drew closer she was shocked to see Melanie sitting across from him engaged in a conversation. For a moment Elizabeth stopped short trying to gather her thoughts. She had never for a second expected to find Melanie there with Leo especially that happening without significant prodding from her first. Elizabeth hid a smug smile as she weaved her way through the crowd to the back corner of the room.
Quietly she slipped into the booth. "Well, well what do we have here?" she said before either of her friends realized she was there. "Cozy aren't we?" she chided in an all knowing way only Elizabeth Ryan could pull off.
Jason looked at his watch and chastised himself for being late. After his rather uncomfortable confrontation with Tom that day he couldn't seem to shake off the strange vibe he was getting from his friend, so he had spent the day driving around town trying to figure out a way to fix what was broken though he wasn't sure what that even was. He hated the tension between himself and Tom. Normally the pair were in sync with one another and had been for years now, except for those few times when a girl had been involved and even then the two of them patched things up eventually but this time Jason just couldn't get a read on what was bugging his friend.
As he rounded the corner looking for a parking place in the overly crowded lot, Jason caught sight of the tail end of Elizabeth's black chevelle. The setting sun gleamed off its chrome bumper. He smiled starring at her car for a minute. It was so Elizabeth. Every inch of that black machine screamed her name and that's what he liked best about her – that she went for the unexpected. Most girls he knew drove some little sporty car but not Elizabeth Ryan she went for the heavy muscle, he couldn't help but laugh at that thought of her petite frame nestled behind the wheel of the large automobile.
Finally finding a resting place for his own vehicle, Jason turned off the engine and sat for a minute collecting his thoughts. He was already late so what was a few more minutes he thought. He had been trying to keep his anxiety about seeing Elizabeth at bay. And now knowing that he was only a few feet away from her the butterflies in his stomach had taken flight all over again. He was fixated on the kiss they shared not so long ago. He hadn't expected to lean in and kiss her the way he had but he wasn't sure what came over him and it seemed like the most natural thing for him to do almost like his own breathing. It was something he didn't have to think about he just did and he wanted to do it again.
Pushing down those thoughts, Jason exited his car and made his way to the door easily finding his friends sitting at a back booth. He slipped in next to Melanie King across the table from Elizabeth. Immediately she took his breath away. There she sat dark hair framing her face, bright blue eyes dancing with excitement and large ruby red lips trying to curb a smile begging to be seen. All he wanted to do was reach across the table and take her hands in his but he held back fearful of what Elizabeth's reaction might be. "Sorry I'm late," he said finally.
"How about we grab a couple beers?" Leo suggested basically pushing Elizabeth out of the booth. He had never been so happy to see Jason arrive. Elizabeth had been having a field day with both he and Melanie since she arrived. Heading to the bar was a welcome escape.
"Sure sounds good to me," Jason agreed standing to follow behind his friend. "Either of you need another?" he asked the two young women at the table with them even though he focused his attention on Melanie rather than Elizabeth. He feared if he looked at her his voice might crack when he spoke – oh how he hated feeling like some freaked out teenager.
"I'm fine," Melanie said showing him her half full bottle.
"Me too," Elizabeth chimed in all her focus on Melanie thinking that this was a great time to get some answers from her red headed friend. "Okay spill it King! What's going on here?"
"What do you mean what's going on? I'm out for a rematch at the dart board," Melanie stated bringing the long neck bottle to her lips.
"Oh yeah like I believe that!" Elizabeth scoffed. "What are you really doing here?"
"Exactly what I said I am." Melanie fidgeted in her seat as Elizabeth's sapphire eyes bore holes right through her.
"How'd you even know about this little rematch?"
"Leo called me." Melanie regretted those words the minute they left her lips.
"Oh Leo called you did he?" Elizabeth suddenly looked like the cat that had just swallowed the canary.
"He just thought it would nice if we kicked your butts this time," Melanie said desperately trying to back pedal but failingly miserably.
"Yeah right," Elizabeth mocked.
"He did," Melanie protested.
"He did what?" Leo asked as Elizabeth slid out letting him claim his seat again.
"Nothing," Melanie said quickly praying that Elizabeth would let the conversation they were having drop.
"It doesn't seem like nothing," Jason added taking notice of the coy smile on Elizabeth's face. He had to wonder what the girls had been talking about in their absence. He had a pretty good guess and figured it had something to do with Leo, Melanie and Elizabeth's need to make them a couple.
"It's nothing really. So who's up for that dart game," Melanie's voice was rushed as she did her best to turn the conversation away from anything but what she and Elizabeth had been discussing.
"You think you two can beat us?" Jason said as he pointed between himself and Elizabeth.
"Damn straight!" Leo announced.
"I got twenty bucks says you can't," Jason said throwing a crisp twenty dollar bill on the table.
"You're on Morgan!"
"Ladies," Jason said standing before the table ushering Elizabeth and Melanie to their feet. He brushed his hand slightly against the small of Elizabeth's back and even that barely there touch made her weak in the knees.
"Two out of three," Leo said pulling the last of the darts from the board. Elizabeth and Jason had been successful in beating Melanie and Leo twice already. "Our luck's about to change. I know it!"
"It's your money man," Jason laughed. "Can you believe this guy?" he asked taking the empty bar stool next to Elizabeth. "He's already into me for forty bucks. He doesn't know when to give up."
"Let's hope not," Elizabeth said as she stared at both Melanie and Leo over her drink. Watching the interaction between the two of that evening had definitely gotten the wheels in Elizabeth's mind turning. She was now more determined than ever that her two best friends were meant to be together.
"What's going on in that mind of yours?" Jason asked knowing for sure she was up to something.
"Nothing," she said innocently.
"You don't fool me Ryan, what are you thinking?" Jason questioned.
"That I was right all along."
"Right?"
"About Leo and Mel. Look at them. They are perfect for one another. I'll be damned if I'm going to sit by and do nothing."
All Jason could do was shake his head and feel sorry for both Melanie and Leo since he knew what Elizabeth was like when she got an idea in her head. She wasn't about to let it go until she accomplished her mission.
"Double or nothing," Leo said handing Jason the darts.
"Like I said it's your money man," Jason laughed. "You ready?" he turned to Elizabeth and asked.
"Oh yeah!" she said with an evil grin curving her lips. "You're going down," she blew Leo a kiss and waved good bye.
When the dust cleared and their third game was over Elizabeth and Jason had won easily and begrudgingly Leo shelled out the then eighty dollars that he owed Jason. "You keep it man," he said handing the money back to Leo.
"No, no you won fair and square. It's yours."
Jason felt a little awkward taking money from his friend especially since it was all supposed to be in fun. "I don't feel right about… …"
"Take it," Leo said pushing away Jason's outstretched hand. "We lost – you won. I've learned my lesson. I won't ever bet against the two of you again!" Leo joked and inwardly thought how much of a double meaning his words held. He had been watching both Jason and Elizabeth and how they interacted with one another and it was easy to see that even though they were both trying to hide it their connection was undeniable.
"At least let me buy you both a drink," Jason offered.
"Not with my money."
"It's my money now!" Jason stressed. "And I want to buy you both a drink. So what it'll be?"
"Beer for me," Melanie said.
"Me too," Leo added.
"Two beers coming up," Jason said waving his hand to get the bartender's attention.
"Look at them," Melanie said as she and Leo sat at back at their table watching Jason and Elizabeth dancing in the middle of the floor.
"What?" Leo asked trying to play it cool.
"I don't know if they know it yet but god they're in love."
"What makes you think that?" Leo asked even though his thoughts were the same.
"Isn't it obvious? Look at the way he's looking down at her and believe you me the way Liz has he head resting against – well it screams love!"
Leo tried not to laugh. He found it incredibly amusing the way girls read things. "Oh really?"
"Yes really! Why is it men are so dense?"
"I don't know why don't you explain it to me while we dance?" Leo asked hoping that she would be so into making her point that she wouldn't see how much he wanted to hold her in his arms.
"Look – look!" Elizabeth stated picking up her head from Jason's chest.
"What?"
"Look over there! Leo and Melanie – they're dancing! They're dancing!" Elizabeth said excitedly.
"I see," Jason said enjoying the enthusiasm dancing in Elizabeth's bright cerulean eyes. "Happy?" he asked tightening his hold around her slim waist enjoying the closeness it allowed them.
"Very! Very happy. I just knew they would make a great couple." Elizabeth was just about to jump out of skin she was that thrilled by what she saw.
"Who says they're a couple?" Jason eyed her cautiously.
"Of course they are a couple. Anyone with eyes can see that! Just look at the way they are dancing. Leo's holding her close. Mel's got her chin resting on his shoulder. It screams couple!"
Jason thought about what she just said and wondered about them. They had been in the very some positions not that long ago so did that mean Elizabeth thought them to be a couple? He liked the thought of that. He wanted it to be true. He wanted them to be a couple in every way possible and for the first time since this roller coaster ride between them began he actually thought they just might have a chance.
Theresa pushed her way to the bar hoping that the take out she ordered for her and Billy was ready. She hated waiting. As one of the bartenders when to the kitchen to retrieve her order she scanned the overly crowded bar, immediately her attention was drawn to Jason Morgan and his dancing partner – Elizabeth Ryan.
Instantly Theresa Kennedy was seeing red. There was Princess Ryan laying claim to another one of her father's drivers. She continued to stare as the pair was huddled close on the dance floor as her mind filled with a myriad of ways getting rid of the mighty Miss Ryan. She had done it before and Theresa was sure she could do it again. In her mind it wouldn't take hardly any effort to show Jason Morgan the error of his choice.
"Here you are," the guy behind the counter said as he placed the large brown sack in front of her.
"Thanks," she said with a smile however she never took her eyes off of Jason and Elizabeth. "Smile while you can missy," she said under her breath as her mind began plotting.