Jordyn had to go out of town to help her brother out with some stuff, and was gone for two weeks. Her and Nick talked periodically on the phone, but he was busy in the studio and busy with Brayden.
She arrived back in Florida early on a Monday afternoon. She got home and unpacked everything before she picked up the phone to call Nick, it had been two days since they had last talked.
Three rings, and still no one picked up. 'Well..he could be out with Brayden or something..,' She thought as she tapped a finger on the counter.
Finally, on the fifth ring, someone picked up. "He..hello?"
It was Brayden. She smiled, "Hey sweetie, it's Jordyn."
"Hi Jordyn! Can you come over?"
"Well, I just got home a little while ago..is your dad there?"
Brayden paused and then whispered, "He's sleeping."
She wasn't used to hearing him like this, so it worried her a little bit, "Are you by yourself Brayden?"
"No..he just went to nap...."
"Is he okay?"
"I dunno..."
"Brayden, you're not helpin' me here..."
"He's..not daddy today Jordyn.."
She sighed, knowing something was wrong, "Well..how about I come over here in a minute and I'll check on him, ok?"
"Can we watch a movie?"
"Sure sweetie..just wait by the front door okay? And be real quiet, I'll be there soon. Don't open the door for anyone but me, ok?"
"Ok..," He said in a small voice.
"Alrighty..I'll be there soon.."
"Okay...bye.."
"Bye Brayden."
Jordyn hung up the phone and grabbed her purse and car keys, before heading out of her apartment and to her car.
It took her a little over ten minutes to reach Nick's house. She pressed in the security code and drove through the gates once they opened.
She parked and tore the keys from the ignition before hurrying up to the front door and knocking.
The sounds of someone unlocked the door were heard and it was pulled open to reveal Brayden. He smiled up at her, "hi!"
He hugged her, "I was bored.."
"I bet..let's go put a movie in, ok? And then I'll go see if your dad is okay.."
"Okay..."
"Was he up this morning?"
Brayden nodded his head as he found a seat on the couch, "He got up and made breakfast...but he in bad mood..."
"Do you know why?"
He shook his head, "Nope..can I watch 'The Lion King'?"
"Sure.," She replied, finding the video in their extensive collection.
Jordyn popped in the video and left Brayden sitting contently on the couch. She walked up the stairs quietly and down the long hall that led to the master bedroom.
She knocked twice, but there was no answer. Then, Jordyn opened the door just a bit but couldn't see anything because it was so dark inside.
She opened the door further, but he had turned off all the lights and pulled the curtains and blinds closed to block out any light coming in from the outside. "Nick?," She said, almost jumping at how loud her voice seemed in the silent room.
"Go away...," His cold voice replied.
"Where are you?"
He didn't reply, but her eyes finally got used to the darkness after she shut the door a little ways. Nick was crouched down beside the bed, his knees brought up to his chest, his arms wrapped around them. "Nick..."
"I thought I said 'go away'...," He said, his voice cold once more.
"Do you know your son is downstairs wondering about you?"
"I don't care....I'm a screwup anyways..."
"Why do you think that?"
He looked up, "I am..I know I am.."
"Nick..why are you acting like this?"
He sighed and stretched out his legs, "I have no idea really..it's a bad day..I have them sometimes...usually when Brayden is at my moms' place.."
"Well..now he's home...where's your mom?"
He shrugged, "I dunno.."
Jordyn sat on the floor next to him, "What brought this on?"
"You were gone....I missed you.."
"I missed you too...but you knew I was coming back.."
"I know...but still..."
"I'm sorry..."
He sighed and ran a hand through his hair, "I just....I can't function today for some reason..I get like this sometimes...I don't want to be around anyone, I don't want anyone around me...I just want to sit in my room until the feeling passes.."
"He's worried about you. And frankly, so am I."
"Don't be. It will pass."
She sighed and got up off the floor, "Well..while you mope around, I'm going to take Brayden out for lunch and to play a little bit...that okay?"
"Sure..whatever.," He replied listlessly.
She sighed, "You have my cell number in case you need it.."
"Yea...go away now."
Jordyn rolled her eyes and left the room, going down the stairs.
Brayden looked up, "He awake?"
"Somewhat. He's not having a good day, I don't think. Are you hungry?"
He nodded, "Yep!"
"How about you take me out to lunch?"
"I have no money.."
She smiled and ruffled his hair, "Well...I'll pay, but we can just say you're my date, ok?"
"Okay!"
"Alright, let's head out...your dad is going to hopefully get out of the mood he's in by the time we get back.."
"I hope so.."
Jordyn cast a glance back up the empty stairwell, "Me too Brayden, me too."
Back to the "Ready to Fall" Main Page
To Chapter 18
Back to the Main Page