Bound
Chapter Two
"Thanks for meeting me, Kevin."
Kevin forced a smile to his face as Jenny took a seat across from him and gripped his coffee cup a little tighter. It was surreal—seeing his ex after years apart. It didn't seem like the last few years had been kind to her. Her blonde hair was pulled into a messy ponytail, looking more sloppy than artful. Circles hugged her puffy, bloodshot eyes, and she didn't seem to be wearing makeup. There was some kind of food stain on her shirt. While part of him took great pleasure in the fact that the woman who had smashed his heart into thousands of tiny pieces was looking so terrible, something close to pity twisted in his stomach as he took in her slouched posture and clear exhaustion. This was not the woman he remembered.
"Sure thing," he said. "What can I do for you?"
Jenny looked down at her cup and pursed her lips, seeming to become even smaller somehow—quite the feat for a woman who was barely more than five feet tall. "I just…" she sighed. "I'm getting a divorce."
"Oh." He shouldn't have been so surprised. The signs were right in front of him, written into the lines of her face and the conspicuous absence of her wedding ring. "I'm sorry."
"My husband just up and decided he didn't want to be with me anymore. One day we're happy, we're a family—the next he's packing a bag and telling me to expect papers from his lawyer."
Kevin frowned as he watched the blonde dab at her eyes with a napkin. "That sounds very difficult." The words sounded formal and stiff, and he gripped his coffee mug tight again, needing some release for the tension. He had no idea why she'd asked to meet him, why she felt compelled to tell him about her relationships status. She'd tossed him aside years ago for the man she'd ended up marrying. He cleared his throat, "You two have a kid, right? Will you be splitting custody?"
Something flashed in Jenny's eyes. Panic? Guilt? Kevin's question suddenly tasted bitter. The part of him that had never truly recovered from her betrayal relished in the idea that she might feel guilty. She shrugged. "I hope so. Being a single mom is bad enough, and I really want my son to know his father."
"I'm sure he'll come around," Kevin said. Silence settled in, occasionally punctuated by Jenny's sniffles, and Kevin drained his coffee, trying to think of a way out of the bizarre conversation.
"Are you seeing anyone right now?" Jenny asked suddenly.
The question brought him up short, but he recovered quickly. "I am, actually. Have been for just over a year now."
"A year?" Her eyes widened. "That sounds serious."
"It is. We've been living together for a few months. She's an amazing woman, and I'm lucky she'll have me. She's a detective, too. She graduated top of her class, and she's done great things for the NYPD." Kevin felt an uncomfortable string of tension knotting across his shoulders. His words, while totally true, had a shallow ring to them, and he realized he was bragging about Alexis in an attempt to prove to his ex how much better off he was without her.
"She sounds great."
"Yeah." He nodded then sighed, "Listen, I think I'd better go—"
"I'm so sorry," Jenny blurted out, tears running down her face again. "I'm so sorry for what I did to you. I think I understand now how much I hurt you. I'm getting a taste of my own medicine, and it's terrible and it makes me sick to think that you might have felt like this."
"Umm…" He had no response. Of course he'd felt shitty when she'd betrayed him, when she'd tossed him aside for someone better. "It's okay," he tried.
"No, it's not. It's not okay, Kevin. What I did isn't okay. And I don't expect you to forgive me, and I'm so glad you're so happy and you have the life you deserve. I just…" she dabbed at her eyes again, taking deep breaths to compose herself. "I just wanted you to know how much I regret what I did to you. That's why I wanted to meet with you. To apologize and to let you know that I've gotten what I deserved."
For a long, terrible string of seconds, Kevin was frozen in his seat, his hands glued to his cup, watching as his old flame fell apart in front of him. She seemed genuinely distraught, and he couldn't say he blamed her. Divorce. Single motherhood. The loss of a future she'd probably assumed would continue through the rest of her life. He knew the feeling all too well, and though he was sitting across from the cause of many of his own struggles, he found that her pain didn't satisfy him as much as he thought it would.
With a sigh, Kevin let got of his mug and and took the seat next to Jenny, wrapping his arms around her. "You don't deserve this, Jen," he said quietly.
She sank into his embrace, sobs still wracking her small frame. The position was haunting in its familiarity, but there was a stiffness there, a lack of the emotional intimacy they'd used to share.
After a few long moments, her sobs seemed to taper off and she pulled back. "Thanks, Kev. That means a lot to me." She forced a watery smile to her face. "I'd better go. You probably have things to do. Thanks for meeting with me." She took a deep breath. "It was really nice to have someone to talk to."
Kevin stepped back with a nod, watching her gather her things. She looked so small and sad, so hopeless. "If you ever need to talk again, you have my number."
Her eyes widened. "Really?"
"Yeah, I mean," he rubbed the back of his neck, "nobody should have to go through something like this alone."
She gave him a soft smile. "Thanks, Kev. I'll see you around."
"Bye." He watched her leave, something uncomfortable twisting in his stomach. His phone pinged, and he opened a picture message from Alexis that erased every thought of Jenny from his mind. She'd clearly been lingerie shopping recently.
"Home soon?" her message asked.
He was already out the door of the coffee shop, his fingers tapping over the touchscreen. "On my way."
Alexis walked through the front door just as Kevin had finished his phone call with Jenny. She had called to ask him if they could get together again, because she enjoyed having someone to vent to. Apparently she didn't have a lot of people to talk to. Her husband left her with very little time to keep in contact with her friends, so they weren't around for her anymore.
Kevin didn't want to come off as being naive given his history with Jenny, but he felt really bad for her. She had gotten the life that she had always wanted and as far as he could tell it had all crumbled her. She didn't have anyone to help keep her sane, to listen to her. He wasn't naive; he didn't forgive Jenny for the hurt and pain she put him through, but he also didn't want to be bitter about it. He wanted to help her. That's all he wanted to do and that's all he was going to do.
Hopefully Alexis would be as understanding as he thought she would be.
He was still standing at the kitchen counter, his phone still in his hand, and Alexis found him and gave him a warm smile. He set his phone aside as she slid into his arms and gave a him a quick peck on his lips.
"How was work?"
"Same as any other day now that I don't get to see you, dull," she answered.
"Yeah, trust me, I know what you mean."
"I do like getting to come home to you after a long day though."
He smiled and kissed the top of her head. He couldn't argue. He loved that he and Alexis were living together. He loved that he didn't need to make plans for her to stay at his place or for her to stay at his. He loved coming home to her, and he loved waking up next to her every morning.
"You hungry?"
"Starving," Alexis replied with a groan.
"Alright, you go take a shower, wash off your dull day and I'll get started on dinner."
She looked up at him and smiled. "You're the best, you know that, right?"
"You just figuring that out, Princess?"
"I've known it for a long time."
"And don't you forget it." He joked, giving her a quick kiss before she walked to their bedroom, with a smile on her face.
He started dinner while simultaneously trying to figure out how to approach Alexis about him seeing and spending time with his ex. He was nervous. On some level he knew that Alexis would mostly likely understand and that his worrying was all for nothing, but another part of him felt like Alexis wouldn't understand and that it would turn into an argument.
He loved Alexis, he didn't want to be with anyone but her, and he was fairly certain that she knew that, mostly because he had showed her that in every possible way he knew. He would just have to remind her that Jenny was part of his past and that he was only helping her because he was trying to be the bigger person.
He finished dinner, more specifically Alexis' favorites. It couldn't hurt to soften her up a bit, especially if she had a boring day. She loved his dinner choice and he watched in amusement as Alexis attacked the food as if it were going to run away at any moment. She wasn't lying when she'd said she was starving. It was just another reason why he loved Alexis so much, she was comfortable around him.
Not just when it came to food, but sex as well. The Alexis he first started sleeping with was different than the Alexis he was sleeping with now. She was a lot more open minded and put so much trust in him. He still couldn't believe how lucky he was to have her in his life.
"Is there something I should know?" Alexis' question grabbed his attention, making his smile turn to a frown.
"What?"
"You're staring at me pretty hard, Kev. Something on your mind?"
"Yes, but just so you know, I was staring at you because you're unbelievably beautiful and because it reminded about how much I love you." Her cheeks reddened and he smiled again. He would never get tired of making her blush, never. "But there is something else I wanted to talk to you about."
"What would that be?"
"You remember my ex, Jenny, right?"
Alexis nodded slowly. "Yes. Why?"
"Well, I ran into her into her not too long ago at a bar when I was having a drinks with Javi." Alexis nodded along, but that didn't stop Kevin from feeling anxious. "Well, she and I talked for a little bit and then we ended up meeting up and having coffee."
He was a cop, a trained detective, but he couldn't detect anything coming from Alexis. He almost wondered if she had even heard him.
"Oh," She said, wiping her mouth with a napkin, before taking a drink from her glass. "Okay. Well, I'm glad you told me about that."
He narrowed his eyes in on her and he couldn't sense any anger coming from her, so he took that as his confirmation to continue. "Yeah, she wanted to catch up since we hadn't seen each other in such a long time."
"Was it good, catching up?"
"Yeah," Kevin nodded. "I mean, it was a little awkward given our weird past, but it was good to catch up and see how she was doing." He stopped, his eyes still locked on Alexis. "You aren't upse, are you?"
"Upset?"
"About me seeing her?"
"No." Alexis immediately shook her head. "I'm not upset, just a little surprised you didn't tell me before you had coffee with her."
Kevin nodded. "I know, I'm sorry. I should have told you, but I didn't think there was anything to tell, you know. It was just two people catching up."
Alexis nodded. "Then why did you decide to tell me now that it is over?"
"Because Jenny called me, today. She wanted to get together again."
"Get together?"
"Yeah, when we had coffee she told me that she's been having a hard time because she and her husband are going through a divorce."
Alexis eyes snapped to his when she heard the last word of his sentence. "She's getting a divorce?"
"Yes."
"And while she's getting a divorce, she wants to spend time with her ex?"
Kevin wanted to be able to tell her that she was being absurd, but he couldn't. If the roles were reversed and Alexis was spending time with an ex who was getting a divorce, he would question what her ex's true intentions were.
"Yeah, I know, but she told me that she didn't really have a lot a friends, so I think she just wants someone to vent to."
"And you want to be that person?"
"I don't know. I mean if you don't want me to see her again, then I won't, but I like to think that you have changed me into a better man. I think I she really just needs someone to talk to and I'd rather not be bitter and turn my back on her. I'd like to help, if I can, but that's your call Alexis. If you don't want me to see her anymore, I won't."
Alexis was quiet for a while and he could tell she was thinking hard about how to move forward. He meant every word he told her. He wanted to be able to help Jenny, but if it was going to come between him and Alexis, he wouldn't do it.
Alexis leaned forward in her seat and pushed her plate to the side.
"You know her better than I do, obviously, what do you think? Do you think all she wants is just someone to listen to her?"
"I think so." Kevin nodded. "I mean if I were to meet up with her and I got the feeling that she wanted more, I would put it stop to it and never see or talk to her again."
He watched Alexis as his words settled over her. She bit her bottom lip a couple of times before taking a drink. She nodded. "Okay, if you think she just needs a friend, then I don't see there being a problem."
"You sure?"
"Yes. I trust you, Kev. I don't know her at all, but I know you and I know you won't let anything happen if she were to try anything, so I'm okay with it."
Kevin broke into a smile. Alexis trusted him. She had every right to tell him that she didn't want him talking to Jenny, but she didn't do that like most women in her position would, instead, she put her complete trust in him.
He moved to her side of the table, kneeling beside her and pulling her face to his, so he could kiss her. She kissed him back before laughing against his mouth. "What are you doing?"
"Showing you how much I love you." He deepened the kiss before picking her up from her seat.
"Kev!" She squealed.
"What?"
"What's this all about?"
"You just trusted me, blindly. I'm showing how much I appreciate that and you."
She smiled and kissed him back. "Where are you taking me?"
"Bed, because I'm not going to be done showing you how much I appreciate you for a while."
He felt her smile against his lips as they entered their bedroom. He gently laid her on the bed and stared down at her.
He wouldn't be done with her for a while.
She didn't really have a real reason to feel the way that she did. She didn't want to feel the way she did, because that meant that she didn't trust Kevin. Alexis did trust him, of course she did, but things were different now.
He'd been spending more time with Jenny than she was comfortable with. Maybe that was where her trust issues came from. Maybe she just didn't trust Jenny. How could she? She didn't know much about her, just what Kevin told her, which was very little. How was she to trust someone she didn't know?
Kevin told Alexis that he was just being a friend and lending an ear to Jenny who was going through a hard time. Part of her was happy that Kevin was so sweet and kind, and the other part told her that it was more than Kevin just being a friend.
She shook her head. She wanted to talk to Kevin about it, but she was afraid. She didn't want him thinking that she didn't trust him or that she was trying to control who he could and couldn't talk to. She didn't know what to do. She couldn't ignore it, either. It was already weighing on her mind too much.
"Yo, so get this," Javi's voice made Alexis sit up straight in her seat and try to focus her attention to her job, more specifically the case she and Javi were working. "I just got back from talking to the sister of our vic, Wilson, and she told me that she saw him having a hostile conversation with a man outside of his apartment a few nights before he died."
"Did she see what the man looked like?"
"Better yet, she knew who the man was. His name is Joshua Landon. It appears that Wilson and Landon were coworkers awhile back, things ended badly when Wilson got him fired."
Alexis nodded. "Okay, well, at least we have a lead."
"Yeah, I just have to track him down." Javi sat down and gave Alexis a once over. "You okay?"
"I'm just tired."
"You sure that's it?"
"I've just been having a few restless nights, that's all."
"Except that you don't look like you've been having a hard time sleeping. You looked stressed for different reasons."
"Seriously, I'm fine. I promise." She smiled at him, hoping to get him to lay off a little.
"Really? Or should I call Kev?"
Alexis' smile faded and Javi must have realized his mistake, because he quickly added, "Okay, maybe I don't need to call him. Is he the reason you're feeling stressed?"
"Not entirely."
"Okay." Javi walked over and sat at the edge of her desk. "So spill. What's going on?"
"Javi, we've got work to do."
"That means you better get started talking."
Alexis weighed her options carefully. She could either keep dodging Javi's attempts and try and focus on her job, but that would probably lead to her hurting Javi's feelings. Maybe he'd think she couldn't trust him. That wouldn't be good for the their partnership.
"Uh, I don't know. It has to do with Kevin. Maybe it's best I just try and work this out for myself."
"Doing a great job so far." His sarcasm almost made her smile. "I've had to deal with him for years. If you need someone to talk to about how much of a pain in the ass he can be, it would be me."
She gave it a serious thought. Javi had to know more about Kevin's past with Jenny, but would it be okay for her to go behind Kevin's back to seek answers from his best friend?
She wasn't getting any answers from Kevin or from herself, so it almost felt like she didn't have any other choice. She didn't know how much longer she could just be okay with Kevin spending time with the woman who he was once in love with. She didn't know if it made her petty to feel the way she did, but she didn't know how to change that.
Maybe Javi could be helpful.
"Are you sure?"
"Wouldn't have offered if I wasn't."
She nodded and leaned forward. "Kevin has been spending time with his ex, Jenny."
His eyes widened and his smirk turned upside down. He opened his mouth to speak, but as soon as he looked at her face, he quickly closed it.
"What is it?" she asked.
"Kevin has been seeing Jenny? Why would he do that?"
"Apparently Jenny has been going through a rough patch and needs a friend."
Javi shook his head. "So you're upset because—"
"I'm not upset. I'm just not sure how to feel about it. I mean, I trust Kevin, don't think I don't, it's just that I don't know Jenny. I don't know much about Kevin's past with her, so I don't know if I should trust her." Javi didn't jump to correct her, so she continued. "I can't go to Kevin about it because he might get upset and defensive."
Javi nodded. "Yeah, you're probably right."
"I shouldn't trust her, should I?"
"Listen, I don't know her anymore, so I don't know if you should trust her or not, but I know you aren't the jealous type, so maybe there's something more to what's going on. Why would he offer to be a friend to her?"
"From what I know, her marriage fell apart."
She watched Javi's jaw set. She couldn't be sure, but he looked beyond upset. That wasn't a good sign. Maybe she was right be worrying so much.
Javi shook his head before speaking up. "Okay, well we have work to do, so I think we should focus on that right now." Alexis sighed, but nodded. She couldn't just expect Javi to have the answers to her problems. "But, I'll talk to Kev, try and talk some sense into him."
"Really?"
He nodded with a small smile.
"Thank you so much, Javi."
"Anytime." He patted her shoulder before walking back to his desk.
Alexis was suddenly filled with some hope. Maybe she was wrong and was worried over nothing. If that were the case, she'd be okay with being made to look like a fool, but she couldn't take not knowing.
Hopefully a talk with Javi was what she and Kevin both needed to move forward stronger than ever.