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Chapter Seven
Pacey glanced out the window after the waiter removed their appetizer dishes. The city skyline sparkled brightly as it reflected off the East River as twilight gave way to night. The lights from the Brooklyn Bridge hovered above the River Café finishing off the picturesque setting.
When Drue Valentine of all people suggested this spot as a perfect place to wine and dine a hot date, Pacey had had his doubts. It was Drue after all.
However, Pacey was a rather good connoisseur himself and everything he'd heard about the restaurant– from the canvas canopy ceiling to waterfront dining to the pricy menu- was true. Sure, it was slightly more upscale than the Icehouse and Scully's restaurant. But it was all worth it, he thought, directing his warm gaze to the brunette before him and seeing a relaxed yet curious smile curving her lips.
"Why are you giving me that look?" Pacey asked, wagging a finger in her direction.
Joey's forehead wrinkled, "What look?"
"The look that says you really want to say something, but are holding your tongue, which I know kills you beyond measure."
Joey rolled her eyes, "Oh really? And what am I just dying to say?"
Well," Pacey replied, gesturing with hands, "Something like 'Thank you, Pacey, this is exactly what I needed.' "
Joey laughed, "Pace, why are you still acting as if you had to lasso me and drag me out of the apartment? Although I must thank you for giving me five seconds to change into something more appropriate for this fine dining experience."
Pacey grinned, his eyes appreciating the top of her cream colored spaghetti strap dress in the soft glow of the small lamp on their table. His gaze then met hers again, "You do look beautiful, Jo."
Her lashes lowered almost shyly, reminding him of the sixteen year old girl he'd danced with at junior prom, the girl who lowered her lashes after he'd described her as simple, elegant, beautiful, the girl who then melted into him as they became lost in the dance, in each other.
Her eyes lifted back up and met his again as she said softly, "I was giving you that look because you amaze me, Pace." She smiled. "Just when I saw my night going one way, you do something like this….even if it's just an overly expensive meal with a breathtaking view.
Pacey gave a small smile.
"And I guess what I'm trying to say is, this is exactly what I needed," Joey laughed.
Pacey broke out in a full grin before saying simply, "I'm glad."
As the evening went on, they enjoyed some Maine lobster while keeping their conversation light. Joey told him about Dawson's call and what their friend wanted her to do. Pacey initially thought was that it was an odd request. If the tables were turned, Pacey knew that it would be awkward to hear intimate details of Joey's relationship with Dawson or any guy for that matter.
Wait, what was he thinking? He'd already been there, Pacey thought.. He may have put on an award-winning performance as the supportive ex-boyfriend, but it killed him to see Joey move on after their breakup. Every time Pacey saw her with another guy or even spoke of another guy jealously reared its ugly head.
Especially with Dawson.
It had been a punch in the gut watching Joey try again with Dawson. Pacey didn't have a clue how he'd kept his cool. But it was a hell of his own making, so he'd learn to live in it.
"I know what you're thinking, Pacey, "Joey replied, cutting into his reverie. "But I think we're all passed the angst of our youth, even Dawson. He's looking at the past in a strictly professional light."
"Well," Pacey said, his lips curving up slightly, "I give the guy credit, then." His voice took on a humorous note as he asked, "But do you really want to take a walk down our memory lane?" he feigned a shudder, "All that fighting."
"And making up," Joey added, her doe-like eyes sharing him down.
"Can't forget that, "Pacey said huskily, then cleared his throat. "Do you…uh…really think Dawson needs to know those details, though, Jo?"
Joey rolled her eyes and replied dryly, "Well, I wasn't planning on getting that explicit, Pacey." She then shrugged, turning serious, "I don't know….I just think it will be nice right now to remember those times. Back then, we had our angst while becoming closer and getting together. And then we had our angst as a couple. But everything seems simpler now looking back and I need that now…I don't know if I'm making any sense," she laughed.
Pacey nodded and smiled, "You are." And it was true, he thought. Pacey just hoped Joey realized that they could have simple times right now in the present and the future. Those times weren't over yet, not by a long shot. She just needed to remember that.
…
As they made their way out of the entryway of the café, Joey felt contented and happy as she took in the glittering lights adorning the surrounding trees as a gentle spring breeze swept across her face. Even with the Brooklyn Bridge overhead and immense view of Manhattan on the other side of the river, there was something about this niche of the city that reminded her of the cape, of home.
"Hey," Joey tugged Pacey's hand, pointing a finger toward the old-fashioned fireboat house next door. "I have a taste for a double scoop chocolate cone. How about you?"
His gaze turned toward the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory and then assessed her smiling face. "You're a bottomless pit tonight, woman. You just had a three course lobster dinner, followed by a hot soufflé."
She arched a brow, "But who can say no to ice cream?"
Pacey grinned boyishly, "Good point."
Once they got two double scoop cones, they sat down on to nearby by bench facing the East River. The two of them were peacefully silent for a little while, taking in the sights and sounds of the city.
Pacey finally broke in, "You know what this reminds me of?"
Joey turned toward him, "Home?"
Pacey gave a little smile, "In a way, I guess, but I was thinking more along the lines of us, you and me."
Her lips curved up slightly as a faint memory flashed in her mind, "You mean when your six year old self snatched my cone at the annual carnival and then licked it once with an evil gleam only to hand it back saying my girl cooties made it taste bad."
Pacey chuckled at that but replied, "No, actually I was thinking of our time at sea going from port to port, small town to small town, taking in everything and just being together just like now."
"Hmmm, " Joey whispered, "the good times." She remembered those times and held them close to her heart. Accompanying Pacey on his sailing trip to the Florida Keys was one spur of the moment decision that Joey did not, could not regret. How could she regret falling asleep under the stars, visiting different small towns along the east coast, just being happy and in love? Even taking odd jobs as dock hands and dishwashers was liberating, Joey thought. In a sense, they'd pretended to be different people at each port, being free and not thinking too far into the future.
Joey wished that they could go back.
"The best," Pacey murmured as his gaze pulled her closer while his hand caressed her cheek.
She closed her eyes as she felt his lips descending upon hers. The kiss was light at first, then slowly deepened, warming her from the inside out.
Pacey pulled back and Joey opened her eyes. She looked into his blue gaze darkened with desire. His voice raspy as he said, "Let's go home."
Joey simply nodded.
…..
That night in Pacey's arms Joey pretended that they were back on the Atlantic. Nothing existed but the two of them. Nothing mattered but the two of them. There was no pain, no scars, no worries of tomorrow. With each kiss and each caress, she felt desired and whole. Even as his hand gently touched the small bandage covering the side of her breast, she felt no insecurity. And while his lips traveled down her body, she felt nothing but want.
She had everything she needed. The moment was everything she needed, she thought as he pushed her over the edge, falling into bliss.
…..
The following afternoon at work, Pacey whistled as he placed a Philly cheese steak on a plate, his mind still consumed with thoughts of last night and Joey.
"I don't think I've seen you this happy before," Donna smiled as she took the order from him.
"I'm just happy we're so busy today," he told the new waitress of two weeks.
Donna gave him an odd but amused look before she left the kitchen.
Well, it was partly true.
Scully's restaurant had a fairly decent crowd for lunch, which kept Pacey and the new prep cooks busy in the kitchen. Every so often Scully McAvoy came in with exuberant energy whenever another large group of patrons entered the eatery. Pacey couldn't help but liken Scully to Carroll O'Conner's character in the way too sappy romantic flick, Return to Me, Irish accent and all, which had gotten him a laugh out of Joey when he had told her about his new boss.
And a laugh from Joey always made him feel good.
But that was beside the point, Pacey reminded himself, pushing thoughts of Joey to the back of his mind. The point was that for a guy who had very little culinary talent, Scully put his heart and soul into making this venture work. When Pacey had first met the man, he'd thought that Scully was a bit odd to say the least. Anyone who would hire a head chef after a two second introduction had to have one or two screws loose. However, Pacey had learned over the last month or so what made Scully tick.
His passion for this place came from his love for his late wife.
One evening during closing, Scully had told him, "Maureen, God rest her soul, loved to cook and I wanted to keep her happy. She loved this place and bossing me around. But we were partners in business and in life." He'd shrugged, "She may not be here now, but I still want to keep her happy."
Pacey could relate. Thoughts of the night before rushed to the forefront of his mind yet again, making him smile as he handed another order to another waitress. The night wasn't just about sex, Pacey thought, or even a romantic dinner out. He felt as if they got back to the place that they were at when they'd first got back together, before worries about tests, biopsies, and results started to plague their lives.
Pacey knew that Joey's troubles were not over, but he thought that she was at a good place, that they were at a good place.
Drue walked through the swinging doors and eyed Pacey for a moment before saying, "Someone got lucky last night."
Pacey's grin faded and he was about to give a dry retort when-
"Who got lucky last night?" Scully popped into the kitchen at that very moment, looking back and forth between the two men. Rudy, one of the prep cooks, snickered beside Pacey.
Furrowing his brows briefly at Drue, Pacey chuckled uncomfortably before replying,, "It's….It's nothing, sir. I just took my girlfriend out on the town."
"Ah," Scully smiled, "that's good, that's good. So, your girl is feeling better, huh?"
Pacey's lips curved up "Yeah, I think so. Yeah." Pacey had not given his boss the full story about Joey, but he'd given him enough to understand that he had needed the day off for her biopsy and that the results were good.
Scully nodded before heading back out, "You be sure to bring her by sometime." He called back.
Drue chuckled after the man left and said, "Sorry about that."
"Shouldn't you be tending to the bar?" Pacey asked. He really needed new acquaintances in the city, he thought. Pacey had confided in Drue more and more over the last few weeks. They'd developed a good co-worker rapport and maybe even a friendship Drue had appeared to have grown into a genuine human-being and Pacey had needed a good ear. Now, however Pacey was rethinking his judgment.
Ignoring the question, Drue replied, "You owe me for the restaurant recommendation. Have you mentioned to Joey about you guys having dinner with Kathy and me one evening?" he asked, referring to his girlfriend of two months and counting.
Pacey closed his eyes, trying to find a good excuse, but went with the truth, "Drue, I don't know if it is the right time to ask Joey." Drue had asked him this before, but Pacey hadn't thought that he was serious.
Drue nodded, "I get it." He laughed, "I understand I'm not exactly Joey's favorite classmate."
Pacey chuckled, "That's putting it mildly."
"Look, "Drue said, "Tell Joey, I want a fresh start. I have to show Kathy that I do have long-term friends. She met my mother last night and let's just say… that well, she now knows I'm from a dysfunctional family."
"Drue," Pacey replied, "Everybody has a bit of dysfunction in their family, man."
"Would you be saying that if we were talking about your family?"
Drue had him there. "Okay," Pacey relented, "I'll ask Joey."
But he already knew Joey's response.
….
"Pacey, are you insane?" Joey asked as she closed the refrigerator and tossed him a water bottle while holding one for herself. It had been a long, but productive day at work. Joey had been looking forward to another evening with Pacey, although she didn't think she could keep them in an isolated bubble for long.
The sex was great last night, the whole evening was great, but it was a night of pretend, of blocking out reality. A familiar feeling Joey knew quite well.
How long could she put off reality this time?
Joey turned off that train of thoughts and dealt with the trivial of the here and now. "You seriously want us to have a dinner date with Drue Valentine?" she asked taking a gulp of cold water before turning around to retrieve two plates from the cupboard.
"Well," Pacey offered, lowering the heat on the stove, "You do want to take a stroll down memory lane."
Joey rolled her eyes as she carried the plates toward him and placed them on the counter, "Not with Drue, Pacey. Do you remember our last double- date nightmare with him, Pace? You ended up being a shoulder to cry on for his date and a week later she offered you sex as a thank you."
"Okay," Pacey replied as he drained the water from the pasta, "that's not exactly how it went." He turned his warm gaze on her as his voice softened, "And we both know how that night at the ski lodge ended."
The corner of her mouth tugged up, "That's beside the point."
Pacey stared her down, giving her that look.
"My," Joey started to get lost in his gaze, then she blinked and whispered, "My point is-"
"Yeah?" Pacey murmured, bowing his head toward hers, his mouth a breath away from hers...
The home phone rang.
Pacey caught her in a quick hard kiss. "Muah," he grinned, backing away from Joey.
Another ring.
Joey smiled as she turned around and checked the caller ID, picking up the wireless phone off the counter, "It's your dad." She handed it to Pacey.
Back to reality.
Pacey sighed. Even though there had been very little drama with the Icehouse lately, Joey knew that Pacey dreaded each call from his father. According to John Witter's younger son, the former sheriff wouldn't be happy unless he had something to complain about.
While Pacey walked into the living room with the phone to his ear, Joey poured some marinara sauce over the pasta.
"Hey Pop," Pacey said and a few beats later, he replied, "What? Calm down, Pop…Well, is the Icehouse still standing?"
Joey froze and turned toward Pacey. His hand went to his forehead. A familiar pose, Joey realized, almost every time he received a call from Sheriff Witter.
"What do you mean, Pop?" Pacey asked. "I'm not taking sides. I don't know the full story. Yeah, yeah, I'll be there as soon as I can," he sighed ending the call.
"What is it?" Joey narrowed her brows as she walked toward him.
Pacey turned toward her and in a wearisome voice, he said, "It would appear that my father just had your father arrested for theft?"