Moon Shadow
Chapter Ten
A knock on the car window woke up a startled Pacey. Rubbing his eyes and trying to regain consciousness he saw the half-scowling, half-smiling face of Joey.
“Hi.” Joey greeted after Pacey had rolled down his window.
“Hi.”
“So you been out here all night?”
“Something like that.” Pacey replied.
“Here.” Joey produced a cup of black coffee. “I thought you might need this.”
“Thanks.” Pacey paused as he accepted the cup and took a large drawn gulp of the hot beverage. “Jo, what’s going on between us?”
Joey looked down, somewhat ashamed. “I’m sorry Pace. I haven’t been handling this very well. I’ve been avoiding you and avoiding how I’m feeling. I’m scared. I don’t want to lose you.”
“You’re not going to lose me Jo.”
“If the department ever found out about us they would split us up as partners. Forget that we have the best record the district has seen in years. Forget that we have the highest solve rate for cases. They’d split us up without a second thought. And I’m not sure if I could work with someone other than you, Pace. You’ve spoilt me. You’ve been the best partner I’ve ever had.”
“And you’re the best partner I’ve ever had too, Jo. It’s not like I want us to be split up. I want to remain your partner. But somewhere along the line we have to choose. Partners or lovers? I know what which one I would choose, without a doubt. So the question is…what will you choose?”
Joey bit her lip, a war raging in her mind. She knew what she wanted to say but at the same time she wasn’t sure if she was ready to say it.
“Jo?”
Taking a deep breath Joey looked at Pacey. Really looked at him. She saw a man who was her partner, her best friend and her lover. She could see the man who could very well be her partner for life (beyond work) and the father of her children. Joey saw deep, soulful blue eyes, a warm smile, and messy brown hair. She saw a man who hadn’t slept, his clothes were unkempt and untidy. Finally Joey saw the stain of red lipstick and the beginnings of a hickey on the left side of Pacey’s neck.
Joey instinctively took a step back, her back stiff.
“Jo?” Pacey repeated concerned at her reaction.
“How did your dance lesson with Anna go, Pace?”
“What’s that got to do with anything Jo?”
“Did you have a good time?” Joey’s voice was hard and shrill.
“We talked and we caught up on old times. What does this have to do with what I asked you?”
“Nothing. Everything. Nothing.” Joey answered. “It just seems like it isn’t necessary for me to make a choice since you’ve already made one for the both of us. It seems to be a common problem we’ve been having recently, doesn’t it Pace? One of us making the decision for the other. Maybe we’re not such a great team as we think we are.”
“Jo? You’re not making any sense.” Pacey stared at her confused.
“It looks like you and Anna really did catch up on old times. Was it as good as you remembered?”
“Jo??”
“I’ll see you at work, Witter.” Joey replied as she walk steadfastly back to her apartment.
Slamming his hand hard against the steering wheel Pacey vented his frustration. He had no idea what had just occurred between the two of them. Just when Pacey had thought they were making some headway Joey closes up on him again. Not to mention she was angry and spouting all that garbage about his history with Anna, although he had no idea why. Sometimes Pacey felt that he really didn’t understand Joey.
Glancing in the rearview mirror Pacey inspected himself. He was a mess. A complete and utter mess. He’d have to go home and clean himself up, not to mention brush his teeth (his breath really stank). Trying to comb his hair (with his fingers) to a somewhat decent appearance, Pacey moved his head just a fraction of angle. He froze mid-movement.
Anna’s red lipstick and the beginnings of a hickey from last night mis-adventure.
“Damn!” This time Pacey banged his head on the steering wheel causing the horn to let out a wail.
At least he now knew why Joey was upset although it also meant that Pacey had a lot of explaining to do. A lot of explaining. Then there was the fact that Pacey still had several dance lessons scheduled with Anna. He may act a little emotionally retarded at times but Pacey Witter was not that stupid. He knew that the dance lessons would Anna would not help matters, especially considering the shape his and Joey’s relationship was in at the moment. That is, of course, if Pacey and Joey still had a relationship.
Pacey banged his head on the steering wheel once more for effect. Once again the horn wailed much to the annoyance of several people in Joey’s apartment who took the time to pop their heads out of the window and yell at Pacey. He didn’t care. Everything was a mess at the moment and all Pacey felt like doing was banging his head against the steering wheel until the horn died from over use.
Pacey watched in surprise as Joey came storming out of her apartment building and back towards his car.
“Jo?” Pacey asked hopefully.
“I forget my cup.” She sniped.
“Oh.” Pacey stared at the half empty cup of, now cold, coffee. “Here’s your cup.”
“Thank you. By the way you’re making a lot of noise and the neighbors are getting upset.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Are you?”
“Jo, I can explain about Anna.”
“What? Let me guess. Anna Evans is actually a gigantic mosquito disguised as a woman so she can suck the blood out of unsuspecting men. And you, Pacey Witter, just happened to be one of her victims.”
“No.”
“Well that’s the only reasonable explanation I can think of as to why Anna’s obviously enjoyed a suckfest on your neck and why you have red lipstick all over your collar. Red lipstick I might add which is a horrendous color and it looks like the lipstick is a cheap brand.”
“Nothing happened Jo. We didn’t end up doing anything.”
“Well your nothing happens to look like a whole lot of something Pacey.”
“Jo…”
“No. No! I don’t want to hear it Pace. I had to deal with this crap when I was with Chris. I never expected to have to deal with it from you and frankly I’m not up to it.”
“Joey.” Pacey was desperate as he reached out to grab her arm.
Pulling herself free from Pacey’s
grasp Joey turned around and flung the remaining coffee onto Pacey’s face
before she ran off. Staring at his white shirt that was now stained and feeling
the cold wetness of coffee, Pacey Witter knew he had really screwed up. And
Josephine Potter was mad. She was really mad.